This may not be the greatest story ever known to mankind. But certainly, this is a remarkable ordeal of a man with a real heart. Let us unfold his untold story...
I am Jaycee Versoza, born on the 27th of September, 1986. I am presently
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| Jack Emejas, the Writer... =) | |
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residing in Ceris 3 at Canlubang, Laguna. I'm the youngest in a brood of three. I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. And because of that, my father had to work abroad just to give us a better life to enjoy and live with. I was not born yet when he left. Maybe that is the reason why I am not that close to him, but I am certain that he occupies a big space in my heart.
My parents have given me the best education anyone can possibly ask for.
They always put me and my other siblings in a good school where big amounts of money were involved. Though it is very hard for them to bear all the responsibilities, they wouldn't say a thing. We've stuck through thick and thin which kept us more intact. They loved and accepted me for what I am. I love them very much and I wouldn't trade them for anything in this world.
I personally fear the word R-E-J-E-C-T-I-O-N, that's why I always take time in making friends. I like people who are sincere enough to like me as I am just like how my family treats me.
When I give my trust to someone, I expect him/her to do the same. Because I won't ask for something I, myself, cannot give. For me, just like my family, friends are God-given gifts that have to be treasured. As a student, I've met lots of them in my elementary days- Pat, Andy, Rose, Dave and Love to name a few. Pat is very cheerful and shares a part of his snacks. Andy, despite of his talkativeness, instructs me how to handle things in an organized way. Rose, one of my closest friends, is very helpful and nice. She always invites me in her house whenever there's a gathering. Dave, one of the brightest students, teaches me in every lesson that I find difficult.
I won't forget all of them because they have surely become a part of my life...most especially Love...
Love and I were of the same batch, but she belonged to another section. She's the youngest and the only girl in a brood of two. Her father died when she barely opened her eyes. Though she wad raised single-handedly by her mother, they had more than enough. Her mother had a good and stable job.
Honestly speaking, I had not known her that much personally. One of the few things I knew about her was she's very pretty. She's also a weakling because every time there's a flag ceremony, it's either she's sitting on her place or staying at the clinic. Many of us wondered why she's acting like that. Many had thought that she's a "prima donna". But none had felt that it's an indication of a worsening health.
The last moment I remembered being with her was when she asked for a favor which I declined. At that time when she approached me to help her to look for someone; I had been preoccupied of thinking about many things: my grades, my savings and my rank. So I didn't bother to attend to what she's asking me to do. If only I had known that it's going to be the last time I'd see her, I would have gladly granted her favor.
Few days had passed after our last encounter.
One ordinary noisy Tuesday morning, a few days before the third quarterly examination, a sad looking face entered the door of our classroom. As always, I had been busy playing and chatting with my friends, when we suddenly heard a tormented voice. It's our adviser. I wasn't bothered at first so I continued the usual thing that I always do. But when our adviser uttered the shocking news that one of our batch mates was on the verge of breaking down, everyone in the four corners of the room was astonished and had almost stopped breathing. Silence deafened everybody with the gesture that our adviser was portraying, everyone felt helpless or more so, hopeless.
Days before that one ordinary noisy Tuesday morning...
The third quarterly examination was coming. One more quarter before the batch would graduate in elementary, everyone was fearful yet excited. Since my friends and I were in the honor list, we were giving the best shots of our lives to soar higher in the ranking to graduate with flying colors.
After hours and hours of memorizing and studying...
Love was feeling nauseous; she's really pushing herself to the limit. She didn't even bother to touch her snack.. Notwithstanding what she's feeling, she just continued. A few minutes later, she suddenly experienced severe unbearable headache and then, she fainted. She was rushed to nearby hospital and in a flash, she was critical.
After our adviser delivered her shocking news, the whole class paused for a while and prayed. For a moment, I tried to figure out what I should do. Follow Love to the hospital? But there was nothing I could accomplish there, I convinced myself. There were lots of doctors and nurses to attend to her needs, and nothing I could do or say would affect the outcome of it. Be there for moral support? What for? Well, maybe, but I knew she'd be surrounded by her relatives who could provide more than enough comfort and support. But I guess the best thing I could do for the moment was to pray.
A day after that one ordinary Tuesday morning...
When I woke up the next morning, I thought I had a bad dream. As I ate my breakfast, I had seen the calendar and it's a Wednesday. It's the day after the shocking news of our adviser. I didn't want to see a sad face or hear a tormented voice anymore. I really wished that my prayers would come true. But my expectations were all wrong.
A stupefying news struck my heart so much when our adviser told us again in a quiet tremulous voice that Love had died, a victim of sudden death.
From what seemed an eternity, I was stunned silent.
The doctor said she suffered from Aneurysm. and there's nothing medically that could possibly save or prolong her life. She had an inborn disease in the blood vessel near her brain. Whenever she's stressed up, it is dilating. It's causing her excruciating pain whenever it's triggered. Because the weak blood vessel could not any longer tolerate much stress from memorizing and studying, it had lost its elasticity and erupted. It caused her an internal hemorrhage and also ruptured her eyes.
That inherent disease explained why there were times when she would complain of severe recurring headaches. Many judgmental people easily accused her that she's faking it. I also misunderstood her a couple of times. I sincerely feel sorry from the bottom of my heart.
I wept incessantly because something appalling happened to someone. And I was powerless to change the outcome of it. All I could do was stand by and watch it happen. Even my prayers were not enough to save Love's life.
My mother and I, as well as my schoolmates and their families, went to Love's wake. Many went to her burial. I knew in my heart that it could be the last time I could ever see her physically. As I was watching her in her coffin, she really looked pretty and peaceful. Even though she had struggled and endured so much pain before she died. It's very painful for her family to cope with her untimely death. So we extended our condolences to her family especially to her grieving and agonizing mother. A mother who had not only lost her husband but also lost a precious pretty angel.
On the day of our graduation...
During the ceremony, there was a part that brought me into tears. It's not because I only graduated as Salutatorian. I cried when the notable speaker told us, the audience, that one of our batch mates couldn't march anymore and couldn't continue her journey in life. And that was Love.
Love tried to open up my heart but I didn't bother. But when I finally realized to unlock my heart, she's gone and it's too late. I felt remorseful. I've tried to question God over and over again, but it always boils down to only one realization. God has His own plans and it's His prerogative. Maybe it's really her time. Maybe she had fulfilled her goals and missions in life. Or maybe her purpose was to mend and reform a shattered spirit just like mine.
Love's death made me realize that I should treasure every little moments in my life. That I should be closer to my father in order for me to love him more. I really felt selfish. Because it took time for me to appreciate what he had sacrificed just to give me a dignified life. Now, I'm truly thankful for all the love he had given me. I know that as long as my heart keeps on beating, it's never too late to reciprocate that love.
Thank you Love, although you're not here with us, I still consider you as my treasured and beloved friend. Because you made me realize so many important lessons in life. Your impact has drastically changed and moved my life in mysterious ways. You made me a better person.
Until now, I still remember Love, that's why I always remind myself that life can change in an instant. And certain events can happen in a blink of an eye. So, in every second of our lives, we should give our utmost love and care to the people that matter to us. Even to those that we consider "passersby". We don't need to lose someone just for us to know his or her own worth.
Sometimes, it takes a tragedy to regain one's perspective in life. And from that experience, I learned that the most important thing in life isn't the status you attain, the money you make, or the honors you achieve. The most important thing in life- is the time you spend with your loved ones, or the time when you're just somebody else's friend.
Friendship is more than a word, it has a deeper meaning. for me, it is a little garden planted in the corner of every one's heart FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.
