Lifetime (Ben&Ben Series #1)-COMPLETED

Epilogue

Optional, but recommended: Listen to Baek Ji Young's Don't Forget. Link here:

https://open.spotify.com/track/5kWUuYakyla2yR6R4whEXf?si=d3ef8619e6b64a46

2045

"And now let's welcome on set, Ms. Aira Peña!" She waved and smiled as she entered the set, welcomed by the cheering crowd. After a few common greetings and catching ups, the host started the real interview.

"So eto na nga ang tinatanong ng karamihan ng fans mo, myself included. Madaming naiintriga sa latest book mo entitled 'Lifetime', is it about a relationship you had before?" Everyone could feel the author tense up, but she quickly stifled a smile and said.

"Hehe no po, it's about my tita." You can see confusion register on the faces of the audience.

"Oh that was a surprise, may kapatid pala si Mrs. Peña?" She smilingly shook her head, the mood getting heavier by the moment.

No, she was my mom's closest friend. She and my mom took turns in taking care of me as I grew up. She said, feeling nostalgic. And being on the showbiz industry, the host was then pressed to ask more questions.

"Oh so is it about her love story? Ang sweet naman ng ending nila, di ba guys?" The host queried and the crowd squealed in approval, but what the author said next left the crowd in deafening silence.

"Actually no po. For as what my mother told me, tito Ezekiel didn't survive the accident." The silence triggered her to go on,

for her aunt.

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Tito Ezekiel was dead on the spot after being hit by the truck that night in Caloocan, attaining intense head concussions which rendered him irrevivable. And all of it happened right before my tita's eyes,way before she could even tell him how she felt. Tito Ezekiel was a very kind person, kaya ang daming hindi makatanggap na nawala siya. One of the greatest casualties of his death was tita Kia. She loved tito Ezekiel so much to the point na she gave up on finding love, focusing herself on doing her job as a medical professional after their graduation.

There were times that I would hear my mom pleading for her to just move on, but I remember tita Kia's reassuring smile as she declined.

"Alam mo kung gaano siya kahalaga sa akin, Tati. He gave his life for me, pero ano ginawa ko? I denied his feelings dahil sa takot ko na maging totoo sa nararamdaman ko. The only thing I can do right now is ituloy yung pangako namin sa isa't-isa, na hindi sya mawawala sa akin kahit ano mangyari. Na kahit mawala siya sa mundong to, his memories will linger in my heart. Yun na lang ang naging motivation ko para mabuhay after ng lahat."

"Pero kia, alam kong gusto din ni kiel na maging masaya ka. My mom was already crying that time and I couldn't quite comprehend why." But tita Kia's smile never faltered and she gave her a hug.

"Napaka-iyakin mo talaga Tati. Oo, alam ko naman na yun din yung gusto ni Kiel. But just because I chose not to fall in love with another, it doesn't mean that I am unhappy with what I have right now. This is my choice, and I think I am happy fulfilling the dream we never got the chance to do together." Doon lalong lumakas ang iyak ni mama.

And for the first time, I saw a tear escape from tita Kia's eyes.

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Alas-dos na rin nang natapos ang interview, at dumiretso na siya sa gate ng cemetery. Her mom and dad were there already, nagmano siya at inilapag ang bulaklak sa harap ng puntod.

"Kamusta yung interview, nak?" Her mom asked, forcing herself not to cry again. She stifled a smile as she nodded, then turned to the two gravestones with tears in her eyes.

"Tita kia, kamusta na diyan sa heaven? Nagkita na ba kayo ni tito kiel? Panigurado inaasar ka na naman niyan."She managed to finish her sentence with a shaking voice and she can feel her mom crying already.

"Alam mo ba ta, ang daming naiintriga sa story nyo ni tito Kiel. Ayan ah, ginawan ko na kayo ng happy ending. Kahit sa libro man lang magkaroon kayo ng chance na maging masaya, happy birthday tita ha." As the wind blew past them in a comforting embrace, she managed to keep her smile as her tears flowed.

"Sorry natagalan ah tita, di ko alam paano ikukwento story niyo. Sila mama umiiyak pa rin kahit ilang taon na kayong wala, sermonan mo nga." She joked as their hearts continued to break, the fate of those left behind.

Ezekiel C. Fajardo

December 2002-December 2022

Kiana Rae Dela Vega

March 2002-March 2032

The end.