Meet Me at the Crossroad (Artist Series #2)

Chapter 22

As time passed by, everything's just getting worse. I just found out that Clary attempted to take away her own life. I was really shattered. She's my best friend, my human diary... she's almost my sister. Ang hirap tanggapin. It hurts me how her mind can make her feel so many bad things.

Ilang gabi akong umiiyak. Inatake na naman ako ng sakit ko but I locked myself inside my room dahil ayaw kong mag-alala ang pamilya ko. Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa oxygen mask habang patuloy na umaagos ang luha ko. I can't help but to blame myself because I wasn't by Clary's side during her downfall. It had been very hard for her and she had nobody to lean on.

While she was hospitalized, I always checked on her. I made myself available at every call. I want to make her feel that she's not alone and she is loved. I want her to stop hurting. At hindi ko hahayaang may mangyari ulit sa kanya.

Si Sean naman, thankfully, nakalabas na ng ICU. But his condition won't get any better. Lumalala na ang sakit niya.
As for Iggy, nagkikita naman kami kapag dinadalaw namin sa ospital sina Sean at Clary, but I never heard anything from him. All I know is that he's still hurting dahil sa nangyari sa pamilya niya.

It hurts me so much to see my friends suffer. If only I could take away all of their pain. If only I could make them feel better. Kung para sa mga taong mahalaga sa akin, I'm willing to give all of me...

Kahit na nauubos na rin ako.

"Iya, narinig mo naman siguro ang sinabi ni doc. Huwag mong kalimutang uminom ng gamot sa tamang oras."

Tumango-tango na lang ako sa paalala ni Mommy. "Yes. Uminom na ako kanina."

I was preparing the decorations for the celebration later. Today is Clary's birthday, and the four of us decided to surprise her. I wanted this day to be special kahit sa maliit na surprise party lang. Matapos ang mabigat niyang pinagdaanan, she deserves to be happy and feel appreciated.

I bought her a gift -- a golden necklace with a semicolon pendant. When I saw the necklace in an online shop, I immediately thought that this would be a perfect gift for her.

I printed some of her pictures and our pictures in a polaroid, and cut some letters that say "Happy 18th Birthday Clary." I also bought a party popper. Hindi pa nga ako nagse-seventeen tapos nadagdagan na naman siya ng isang taon. Ang tanda na ni gaga, char.

Kinuntsaba pa nga namin ang papa niya, sabi namin isu-surprise namin siya. 'Yon, siya na raw ang bahala sa food at kami na sa drinks. Ang venue naman ay sa hospital room ni Sean. Palagi namang naroon si Clary, kaya naisipan naming doon na lang idaos.

Mommy helped me to prepare the decorations and put it inside my bag. Napalapit na rin kasi ang loob niya kay Clary dahil madalas siyang imbitahan ni Mommy sa bahay.

Pagdating ko sa ospital, wala pang nakasabit na decorations pero nagpapatugtog na sila. Sumasayaw na ng 'Touch by Touch' 'yung dalawa nina Pat at Iggy habang tinatagay 'yung softdrinks. Walangya.

"Guia! Shot ka muna!" inabot sa akin ni Pat ang isang plastic cup.

"Pahinaan niyo 'yung music, my god! Baka pagalitan tayo sa labas!" sita ko. Akala mo'y nasa inuman ang dalawang 'to eh.

Kinabit na namin ang decorations dahil baka abutan na kami ni Clary. Nanggaling pa nga sa birthday ni Ate Jacky 'yung ibang flowers and balloons. Baliw talaga 'tong si Iggy.

"Nag-text ang papa niya. Malapit na raw sila,"

Nag-panic agad ako dahil sa sinabi ni Sean. Agad-agad? Hindi ko pa nga naaayos 'yung letter cutting! Gosh.

"Gagi, magtago na tayo!" natatarantang sabi ni Pat.

"Hindi pa ako tapos! Tingnan mo, tabingi pa 'yung 'happy'!" reklamo ko naman.