SWEET SORROW
by: Lloyd Psyche Baltazar
Early in the morning, a fifteen year old boy Jay, is walking excitedly to go to his school because it is the first day of class of the school year. While walking, he bumped into a girl that he never met before. He stared at her for several seconds and then a spark came into his mind. He abruptly apologized to the girl and the girl also apologized to him. jay helped the girl pick up her things and after that he resumed walking. When he reached the school, he went to his classroom and when he reached the door of the classroom he stopped walking and his eyes were shocked that the girl he met earlier is his classmate. there was no other vacant seat in the classroom except for the chair beside the girl. Because he had no choice, he decided to sit beside the girl. The girl looked at him and said, " You're the man I met earlier, aren't you?". " Oh, yes. i'm the man you met earlier. I'm sorry for what happened earlier." Jay replied. " No it's nothing. By the way, I am Kharelle Cruz.", she replied. " I am Jay Pascual. Nice to meet you.", he said. Suddenly, the bell rang and their teacher came in. The students were running to go back to their seats and make some silence.
Jay and Kharelle are currently fourth year high school students. They belong to the first section. Kharelle is a transferee student from Manila. Since Kharelle is a transferee student, jay toured her after their class in the school campus. They walked together, laughing and giggling together. from that moment, they became friends and after several days they became close friends. They make their assignments together, study their lessons in the library together, and eat together during recess and lunch.
Sometimes, Kharelle will go to Jay's to make their assignments, projects and have some discussions about their lessons. Kharelle noticed that Jay and his mother were very close to each other. They helped each other in making the household chores and in short they have strong bonding. And she noticed That Jay's father is not around, so she asked Jay, " Where is your father?". " My father? I don't have a father.", Jay said. " Why? Where is he?, she asked. " He left us when I was one year old. That's what my mother told me. I never seen his face even in a photograph." he said. " What's her job?", she asked. " She is an accountant in a bank in Claveria Street.", he said. " Ah, I see. I like your mother. She has a positive outlook in life. She never gave even though she is a single-parent.", she said. " Yes. That's why I'm very proud of her and of course she is my inspiration to go to school and to continue my life.", he said smiling. " That's good! By the way, I will go now its getting dark. We're already done with our project.", she said. "Thank you for everything." Jay said.
One dark windy afternoon in the middle of November, while Jay's mother was crossing the Rizal Street to go home, she turned her face and saw a very bright light coming towards her. In the same afternoon, while Jay was in his Mathematics class he received a call from his mother's cellphone. He went out of the classroom and answered the phone call. He wondered why a man was speaking in his mother's phone. So he asked, " Who is this?". The man replied, " Good day! I am Marvin. Inspector Marvin from the San Pedro Police Office.". Why my mother's cellphone is in you?", he asked again. " I'm sorry to tell you that your mother was bumped by a car a few minutes ago.", the man replied with a gentle voice. " What did you say? Would you say it again?", he asked. " I said your mother was bumped by a car. She is now in the Davao Medical Hospital. Her condition is critical.", the Inspector replied. He pose for a moment and a tear drops slowly from his eyes and his heart is like paper being crumpled many times. He was very shocked of what he had heard. He immediately get his bag and went to the hospital.
When he was in the hospital, his knees were shaking and his whole body cannot move like he was paralyzed when he saw his mother covered with blood and unconscious inside the ICU. A few moments later the went out and asked Jay, " Are you the son of the patient?". " Yes doctor. I am.". " Well, I'm sorry to tell you that your mother is in comatose and I don't know when she will become conscious." the doctor said with sympathy in his voice and walked away. Jay didn't say anything but a tear drops slowly from his eyes. He thought that his world had stopped revolving.
One morning, Kharelle wondered why Jay didn't went to school for several days. So she went to jay's house in Buhangin in the afternoon. She knocked the door many times but no one opened the door so she decided to just open it. There, she saw the room was very dark, some papers were scattered on the floor, the room was messy and a corner of the room she saw Jay alone , crying. She put her arms around him and asked with a gentle voice, " What happened? Where is your mother? Why you didn't go to school?". Jay didn't answer the questions. Kharelle asked the questions again. And Jay replied with anger to himself, " I want to die!". " Why? Don't say that.", she said. " I am worthless! I am a stupid son!", he said. " No! You're not worthless and you're not a stupid son. In fact, you're a very intelligent and a very good son. What really happened?", she said. " My mother was hit by a car five days ago and she is now in the hospital. She was unconscious.", he said crying. " I'm sorry for that. But you don't have to die. Your mother is still alive. Do you think your mother will be happy if she see you in this condition?", she said. " No.", he said with a low voice. " Yes. That's right! Don't give up. Don't lose hope. I know that your mother is a strong woman. She will be okay." she said smiling. " It's easy for you to say that because you're not in my situation. You don't know how I feel.", he said. " Yes. I am not in your situation. don't lose hope. Continue your studies. Your an intelligent man. There were only four months left before graduation. You must go to school!", she said. " Shut up! Get out!", he said loudly. Kharelle went of the house and left.
One day while Jay was sitting in the sala, a photograph flew into him. He picked it up and reminisce the past he saw himself and his mother smiling in the photograph when he was in elementary during the parent's day, they joined the sack race and won. A few moments later, he cried and smiled. He realized that Kharelle was right that whatever struggles in life he may encounter , life must go on and he must not give up. He decided to go back to school. Kharelle was very happy when Jay went back to school. Jay and Kharelle studied very hard. Every afternoon they will visit Jay's mother in the hospital. The doctor said that Jay's mother is getting better.
On the 30th of March 2013, it was the day of their graduation. Jay and Kharelle were wearing their togas with a very big smiles in their faces. Kharelle graduated as the class salutatorian while Jay graduated as the class valedictorian. They happily received their awards and diplomas. Jay run quickly to the hospital to visit his mother and tell her that he was the class valedictorian of their batch. As he entered the room, he let his mother hold his diploma. And suddenly, his mother's hand moved and he was shocked. Then, her mother's eyes opened slowly. Jay was very happy that his mother was now conscious. His mother smiled at him and Jay hugged his mother tightly. His mother asked him why he was wearing a toga. Jay said that, that day was their graduation day and he was proud to say to his mother that he got the highest honor. His mother was very proud of him. Jay was very thankful to Kharelle who gave him the strength during the dark days of his life.
The next day after the graduation day, Jay was very excited to visit his mother. He brought some fruits and vegetables and fruit juices. When he entered the room, his mother was smiling at him and said, " I am very proud of you. Excellent work! You did very well my son." " Thank you mother. I'm more happy because you are now conscious.", he said with a very big smile in his face.
Several minutes later while chatting from each other, he's mother's eyes became sad. Jay wondered why his mother had that kind of expression in her face. His mother hold his hands and said once again with a very low voice, " I am very proud of you." . And suddenly, she smiled and the wind blew very strong from the window. She slowly closed her eyes like the leaves of cherry in fall, dropped in the ground slowly. And tears fell down on Jay's eyes.
- The End-
