Rome's POV

It didn't last long before Zoey's papa died. She's alone. Looking so small in front of her papa's casket.
Like what I did during her mama's wake and funeral, I stay beside her until a guy asked her if he can talk to her alone.

They talked in kitchen. I was about to check on her when I saw her hugging him and crying at the same time.

I don't know what to feel, so I left.

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"Rome, I need you to go with me." My dad called me.
Pinasakay niya ako ng kotse kasama si mommy. Lumabas kami ng Country Club at paluwasng Metro Manila.

"Dad, saan tayo pupunta?"
Hindi kumibo si daddy kaya hindi na ulit ako nagtanong.
"Dad, kailangan nating bumalik ngayon, walang kasama si Zoey." I remind him. Tumango siya at hinawakan ang kamay ni mommy. Si mommy naman, walang kibo at nakatingin lang sa bintana.

My dad parked his car at Saint Luke's Hospital. Nagtataka man ako, sumunod ako sa kanya. Dinala niya ako sa office niya. Naghihintay na doon ang secretary na. Binigay sa kanya ang isang folder bago niya kami iniwan.

"You have to take a seat, Rome." My dad motioned for the vacant chair in front of his table.
My dad started when I took the seat. "I want you to listen to me."

Tumango ako. Kinakabahan...

"We need to do a cesarean to Zoey in two weeks time." My dad said.
"Is there something wrong? Ano ang problema, dad?" Binalot ng kaba ang buong katawan ko. My mom's shoulder started to shake. She bends her head and cover her face. She's crying. My dad is like about to cry.
"The babies are fine. Zoey made sure of that." Huminga ng malalim si daddy. "But Zoey is not fine."
"Ano problema kay Zoey?"
"She has cancer. Ovarian Cancer." My dad replied.

When we were kids, Carlos kicked a ball and I was hit at my face. For second, I felt nothing, heard nothing. It was like time paused and my vision and hearing disappeared. Then the shock of the pain came in. This felt like that. For a second, I couldn't process what dad is telling me.

"What did you say?" Tanong ko ulit.
Parang hirap na hirap si daddy na magsalita.
"She has a cancer." He said again. Then reality hit me.

Napasandal ako sa upuan. Nanghihina ako.

"Paanong..." Namamanhind ang buong katawan ko. Iyak ng iyak si mommy sa tabi ni daddy.
"She had a cyst on her left ovary. It was active and she was on her early second trimester when she found out."
"Bakit hindi niya sinabi sa akin?" Sari-saring emotion ang nararamdaman ko. Betrayal and hurt are two of those.
"She's saving you Rome. Can't you see, she loves you and she's saving you everyday? She's doesn't want you to look at her and feel like she's dying everyday. She's saving you from everyday pain." My mom answered me through her tears.
"Hindi ba ako nasasaktan ngayong nalaman ko? Alam ninyo, pero hindi ninyo sinabi sa akin? Bakit ngayon lang?"
"It's her decision Rome." My dad replied.
"And anak ninyo ako. Anak ko yung pinagbubuntis niya." I pointed out.
"Hindi kayo kasal Rome. Hindi mo siya pinakasalan. If she wishes to hide it from you, she can." Mommy answered back.
"It's her decision. I am breaking the protocols in here just to tell you this. But I need you to understand. She chooses your babies kaysa iabort at iligtas niya ang sarili niya." My dad get's emotional now.
"Pinili niyang hindi iaabort ang mga bata kahit active ang cancer cell niya. Pinili niyang buhayin ang mga bata at hintayin maipanganak bago siya magpagamot."

Hindi ko namalayan ang mga luha ko.
"She will make it, right? Dad?"

"Honestly, hindi ko alam Rome. Kailangan namin siyang operahan pagkatapos mailabas ang mga bata. Kailangan siyang matest kung hanggang saan kumalat ang cancer cells. Kung kaya ng katawan niya ang chemo." Sagot ni daddy.

Napadukmo ako sa table ni daddy. What have I done?

"Rome... Act like you don't know her situation." My mom hugged me.
"Ayaw niyang nakikita kang malungkot kaya tinago niya sayo. Be strong for her, Rome. We need to do that for her."

"I love her." I whispered.
"And she loves you, that's why she kept." I hugged my mom and stayed that way until I calm.

Why am I always late?!... As I cried my hearts out, my parents hold me like a child.

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A/N
I can feel his pain while writing this..
Can you?!