My Girl Bestfriend: Dylan Cole Delavega

CHAPTER 2: Deal

Samantha

Doctors said Dylan had to undergo a stem cell transplant. Ito daw ay procedure kung saan papalitan ang bone marrow niya ng isang malusog na bone marrow na magmumula naman sa taong ka-match niya.

But before that, Dylan also needs to receive high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy to destroy Dylan's diseased bone marrow permanently.

"N-No.."

"Dylan, 'yon lang ang mabilis na paraan."

"I said no! Lumabas ka na lang kung hindi mo ako susundin. I don't need you," mariin niyang utos sa akin habang nakaturo siya sa pinto ng silid.

Napanganga ako sa tinuran niya at hindi kaagad nakasagot.

According to doctors, siblings are the most common match. At bukod kay Dominic, at mayroon pa rin siyang mga kapatid sa iba pang mga babae ng daddy nila.

"Huwag na huwag kang lalapit sa kanila kung ayaw mong magalit ako sa iyo," matigas pa rin niyang sabi habang nakatitig sa akin ng mariin.

Bumaling ako kay Alliyah na nasa kanyang tabi at maging siya ay wala ring masabi.

"All right, I'll talk to the doctor. Maybe they can find a way to match you with someone else."

He didn't answer, so I turned my back on him and left the room. I leaned against the wall and didn't know what to do.

I felt weak, but I couldn't give up, lalo na sa kundisyon niyang ito.

***

"It's sometimes possible to get a match from someone outside the family. This is called a matched unrelated donor."

"T-Talaga, Doc?"

Suddenly, I was filled with hope at what the doctor had said. We're inside the office, and I talked to him in-depth about Dylan's current state.

He also said that the doctor needs to know all the information on why Dylan's siblings can't donate even though this is the faster way, and they are the ones who usually donate to patients with this type of disease.

"But it's not that easy to find a match with others. We need many people whose tissues have already been tested."

"Is there an effective way for us to find those people?"

"We need to search national and international registers to find a match for him. We can do this by contacting one of the UK registers."

"U-UK?"

Napanganga ako dahil lugar ko iyan at naririyan ang pamilya ko.

"There are different donor registers in the UK. These work with each other and international registers to match donors with people needing stem cells. This helps doctors find donors for their patients as quickly as possible from anywhere worldwide. This is the British Bone Marrow Registry or BBMR organisation."

"Doc, I have relatives in the UK. Makikipag-ugnayan ako sa kanila para mapadali ang paghahanap natin."

"That's good."

Noong araw ding iyon ay kaagad akong nakipag-ugnayan sa mga pinsan ko na pwede kong pagkatiwalaan sa maselang bagay na ito. Humingi ako ng tulong sa kanila upang lumapit sa BBMR na sinabi ng doctor sa akin.

"Please, Pia. I need it right away. If it takes money just to help us, then do it," mariin kong sabi sa pinsan kong nasa linya ng telepono.

She is my first cousin and the closest of all our cousins.

"All right, I'll go to their office to talk to them clearly and properly. I'll let you know right away."

"And please, sa atin na lang muna ito. Don't let mom and dad know about it."

"Do they still have no idea what you did before?"

"No, please. Promise I'll never involve your name here."

"Tsk. That's not what I'm worried about. A'right, I'll just call you to see what the news will be. Ikumusta mo na lang din ako kay Dylan, nami-miss ko na rin kamo siya. Kung ayaw niya sa iyo, baka para sa akin talaga siya."

"Tss. Bye."

Kaagad ko na ring ibinaba ang telepono at hindi na lamang pinatulan ang sinabi niya. I know she's just teasing me.

Napahinga ako ng malalim.

Marami na akong itinatagong sikreto mula sa pamilya ko. Alam ko rin naman kasi na against sila sa lahat ng mga gawain ko sa buhay ko. Ang pagsama ko noon kay Dylan patungo dito sa Pilipinas ay mahigpit din nilang tinutulan noon ngunit sadyang napakatigas ng ulo ko.

Sumama pa rin ako at ang buong akala naman ni Dylan ay alam iyon ng pamilya ko. Maaari niya rin kasi akong pabalikin sa ibang bansa kapag nalaman niya ang totoo.

***

Kinagabihan ay kaagad din akong nakatanggap ng tawag mula kay Pia. Maaasahan ko talaga ang babaeng ito.

"They said they'd just contact the doctor in charge of Dylan. They also received a call from there and are now looking for a match with Dylan. So, for now, the only thing we can do is wait patiently. Nangako naman sila na gagawin nila ito ng mabilis."

Napahinga ako ng malalim at napatango-tango. Kailangan pa rin naming maghintay.

"Thank you, Pia. I owe you this one."

"Huwag ka nang masyadong mag-alala. I'll also pray here that we'll be able to find a donor for his fast recovery."

"Thank you."

Ibinaba ko na ang linya at saka muling huminga ng malalim.

Minutes later, I was in front of the sacred altar, still inside the hospital.

I couldn't take my eyes off God nailed to the cross. I knelt in front of the altar, which I always really do. I've never forgotten to visit Him at church or pray every day.

Marami akong hiling sa kanya at isa na nga doon si Dylan na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako pinagbibigyan.

"Pero sana naman, sa isang ito ay pagbigyan niyo na ako. Kahit ito na lang. Pagalingin niyo si Dylan. Bigyan niyo pa siya ng isa pang pagkakataon na mabuhay ng matagal. Bago man lang siya mawala sa mundong ito ay naranasan man lang niya kahit minsan sa buhay niya ang maging masaya. I want to deal with you. I want to deal my life with you...in exchange for his life."

"Ms. Samantha Heisenberg?"

Bigla akong napalingon sa pinto ng altar at nakita ko doon ang doctor na siyang humahawak kay Dylan.

"There's good news from BBMR."

Bigla akong napatayo at tuluyang napaharap sa kanya.

"They've found someone who matches Mr. Dylan Delavega's bone marrow."

Saglit akong natulala at hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi niya. May donor na si Dylan? Gagaling na siya? Isa-isang pumatak ang aking mga luha sa pisngi.

Kaagad ko rin siyang tinalikuran at muling humarap sa Panginoon.

"Ang bilis niyo. God, you finally heard my prayer. Nothing is impossible for you. I don't know how to thank you, but thank you so much, my Lord."

Muli akong humarap sa doctor, habang nagpupunas ng basa kong pisngi.

Ngunit nagtaka ako dahil imbes na maging masaya ang doctor ay hindi ko ito nakitaan ng kahit anong ngiti. May lungkot at tila disappointment sa mga mata nito na hindi ko maintindihan.