Chapter 36 – A testimony.

"Mr. E, here are the reports that you asked me to prepare," sabi ni Michael na nakasunod na agad sa kanya sa opisina niya pagdating na pagdating pa lang niya.

"Has Ms. Reyes called yet?" he asked while opening his laptop.

"Yes, Sir. They already found a match for Angel. Right now, they are determining the best time to do the operation."

"That's good. But what's taking them so long? Put Yanah on the phone," aniya. Bahagyang natuwa sa balita pero slightly na nairita rin.

"Yes, Mr. E." Kaagad na tumalima sa utos niya si Michael.

A few minutes later, nasa linya na si Yanah.

"Mr. Montenegro, don't worry. Everything is fine," sabi nito agad.

"Ms. Reyes, you know that Angel's case is close to me. I want you to do everything you can to save her," malumanay niyang sabi.

When he came back to the shelter, hinanap niya ang batang nagpakilala ng Diyos sa kanya. He found out that she was there by herself. Dahil ulilang lubos, at nagkasakit pa, iniwanan na lang ito sa shelter ng kapatid ng ina nito.

Mula noon, siya na ang tumayong sponsor nito. Lahat ng pangangailangan nito, siya ang sumasagot.

Bukod pa ito sa ilang cases din na personal niyang binabantayan. Dahil wala naman siyang masyadong pangangailangan na sa pera, he was taking a huge part of his income to the shelter.

Makatulong man lang sa mga nangangailangan ng financial help.

"I understand. But we can't just do the surgery without proper preparations. Kailangan ding nasa best condition niya si Angel para mas guaranteed ang success ng transplant," paliwanag ni Yanah. "Don't worry, she is doing good."

That calmed him down a little. Nagka-trauma ata siya sa past experience niya kaya ang bilis niyang mag-alala.

"Besides, if you're worried that her condition would reach that of Allison, have peace, Angel's case is different. She will survive this," Yanah added.

Napabuntong hininga siya as his gaze shifted from the worksheet in his computer screen to the framed picture of a woman beside his laptop.

"I know. I'm sorry. Alam mong slightly traumatized ako sa nangyari. Isa pa, Angel is too young for this."

"No worries, Mr. Montenegro. I perfectly understand."

"I trust your process, Ms. Reyes. By the way, how about those two who were supposed to start their chemotherapy yesterday?"

"About that—"

Yanah was explaining but Ethan's attention was already on the smiling picture of Allison. Natagpuan na lang niya ang mga daliri niya na hinahaplos ang larawan ng pinakamatapang na na babaeng kilala niya.

He smiled within himself as he remembered when that picture was taken.

Noong araw iyon na irelease ito mula sa ospital. The time he took her home with him.

"Mr. Montenegro, are you still there?" untag ni Yanah na nagpabalik sa kanya sa kasalukuyan. "I'm about to enter Angel's room. Would you like to talk to her?"

"Yes, sure," he agreed.

"Hold on a minute," tugon ng babae bago ilang saglit pa ay narinig na niya ang boses ng bata.

"Daddy Ethan!" Angel happily said. "Kailan mo ako dadalawin? I already miss you and Mama Ally!"

Namutawi ang ngiti sa mga labi niya. "Soon, sweetie. Have you been taking your meds?"

"Yes po! Like a good girl!"

"Very good. You have a prize on my next visit."

"Bring Mama Ally with you, please? I have a question for her. Tita Yanah said that I'm getting a transplant probably next week. I'd like to ask Mama if it hurts. I'm scared…"

Allison never did the surgery as she was not found a match. Kaya nauwi sa terminal stage ang sakit nito at hindi na naagapan hanggang sa tumigil na nga sa pagresponde ang katawan nito sa gamutan.

But God was gracious and merciful to him and Ally.

For six months ago, on the very day of their wedding, Allison was declared dead after a futile attempt to revive her.

When Shanna told him that Allison was gone, she did not make a mistake. It was true.

But having experienced God's presence himself, Ethan didn't believe that Ally died. In fact, kalmado siyang bumalik sa ospital kahit na iyak nang iyak si Shanna sa tabi niya.

May kakaibang kapayapaan sa puso niya ng mga sandaling iyon. A peace that even him couldn't comprehend. Yet he held onto it because he believed with all his heart that whatever happens, he had already placed everything in God's hands.

At nang makabalik nga sila sa ospital, kung hindi pa sapat na buhay si Ally, she was sitting on her bed and smiling at him when he arrived with Shanna.

Everyone couldn't believe what happened. May limang minuto na kasi itong nadeklara ng patay when she started breathing again. Tigagal ang mga Doktor nang bago maalis ang mga aparato sa katawan nito ay bigla na lang nagkaroon ito ng heart beat.

But Ethan wasn't surprised. He prayed for a miracle, didn't he? God honored his prayer and gave him the miracle of Ally's life.

That episode turned out to be just like one of Ally's passing out moments. Ni hindi ito nahirapang maka-recover dahil nga pagdating niya ay nakaupo na ito sa kama nito at kausap ang ina nitong awa ng Diyos ay hindi inatake ulit.

And the most unbelievable part of it, Allison started getting stronger from that time. Gradual pero hindi na ulit ito nakaramdam ng sakit. Makalipas nga ang ilang panahon, pinayagan na itong makauwi.

Ethan believed that Allison was already cancer free from the very time he felt God's presence at the park. But science needs enough time to declare Ally cancer free.

It didn't matter. Basta alam niya, alam ni Ally, alam ng bawat taong nakasaksi sa pangyayaring iyon that Allison was cured from her illness that day. At that exact time Ethan prayed for a miracle and God gave it to him.

Bilang pasasalamat sa kabutihan ng Diyos, Ethan, together with Allison, promised to serve God for all the days of their lives henceforth. Their story, Ally's miracle story, was a testimony worth sharing for the world to know.

And Ally already started sharing the story of hope in the shelter. Sa mga kapwa nito pasyente. Dalawa sila ni Bea. For it was the same story of faith that made them overcome death.

"I will tell her," tugon niya kay Angel bago natagpuan ang sarili na isinasara na ang kabubukas pa lang niyang laptop. "I have to go, sweetie. I'll visit you soon."

Daddy at Mama ang tawag ni Angel sa kanila ayon na rin sa request ni Allison. She was fond of Angel at napag-usapan na rin nila na kupkupin ito.

"Okay, Daddy! Bye!"

Nang mawala ito sa linya ay muli pa siyang napatitig sa larawan ni Ally. Larawan iyon ng tagumpay. Ang ngiti nitong iyon ang pinakapaborito niyang ngiti nito na nakuhaan niya.

It was worth remembering. It was worth celebrating.

He pressed the intercom and called Michael in. Ilang sandali lang at nasa harapan na niya ang assistant niya.

"Cancel my meetings. Or go on my behalf. I need to be somewhere important," sabi niyang tumayo na bitbit ang mga gamit niya.

Hindi na nagulat si Michael. Kabisado na siya nito. Alam nitong ang somewhere important niya ay pauwi lang sa bahay. Sa bahay nila ni Allison.

Paano kasi, ang asawa niya ay binilinan na ang kaibigan nito na kung maaari ay pigilan siya kapag wala namang matinding dahilan ang pag-uwi niya nang bigla.

Gayunpaman, siya ang boss. Kahit kaibigan ito ng asawa niya, siya pa rin ang masusunod.

Asawa…

Six months later, Ethan couldn't still believe that Allison was alive, more so, his wife. Ang tawagin itong asawa ay hindi pumapalyang humahaplos sa puso niya sa tuwina.

"Mr. E, your parents will be arriving tonight. You and Mrs. Montenegro are expected to be at your house for dinner," Michael reminded him.

Of course, the Mrs. Montenegro that he was referring to was Allison.

"Yes. I'll just call Mama later," sagot niya. "And Michael, no calls while I'm not around, okay? Save for urgent life and death matters."

"Yes, Sir."

Mabilis siyang bumaba sa parking area pagkatapos. He couldn't help it, hanggang ngayon, kapag naiisip niya si Allison, naroon pa rin ang takot niyang baka bigla itong mawala.

Kaya kapag alam niyang wala naman siyang napaka-importanteng gagawin, umuuwi na lang siya ulit para lagi itong nakikita at makampante ang puso niya.