Rhythms and Skies

Epilogue

Dalia woke up, sweating.

She was having a nightmare. She wondered why did that happened because she never got one before, akala niya hindi na siya magigising but she felt someone tapped her cheeks kahit wala namang ibang tao sa kwarto niya.

Inayos nito ang buhok niya at tinignan ang orasan sa gilid ng kama. It was 5:45AM in the morning. Sa sobrang takot nito na maulit ang bangungot niya, hindi na ito natulog.

She went to her inbox, scrolling up and down. It was christmas yesterday, all of her so called friends greeted her, she never replied though.

Kasi bakit pa? She's not friends with them anymore. She got no time to play around. Sabi nga ni Lilac, tanga nalang siya kung makikipagkaibigan ulit siya sa mga taong pinaglaruan siya.

The only friends she greeted was Lilacaine pero hindi ito sumasagot.

Wala bang signal sa lugar na pinuntahan niya ngayon? Isip niya.

She was about to dozed off again when Ethan chat heads pop-up on her phone. Nanlaki pa ang mata nito dahil bakit naman siya i-chat ng isang Ethan?! Really, Ethan, her crush?

They never talk through phone before!

Agad naman niyang binuksan ito. It's just Ethan calling her name, Dalia.

But his next message stopped her heart from beating. Parang kinapos ito sa hinga, nanlaki ang mata at natulala.

Nag-jojoke time ba 'to?

I know, you're friends with Lilac. I just want to let you know that Lilac left the world already, she left fighting. Our friend is a fighter. I can text you the details if you can come to her funeral.

Uncounsiously, she started to cry.

Was it Lilac who woke her up on her nightmare? Kaya ba hindi ito sumasagot sa mga text niya? Then, everything made sense to her.

Kaya pala noong huli silang magkita sobrang higpit ng yakap nito sa kanya. Grabe, hindi man lang niya alam, sana pala hindi siya umuwi kaagad, sana pala sinamahan niya pa ito. Hindi man lang niya alam na iyon na huling beses na magkikita sila ng kaibigan niya.

Then her eyes caught the bracelet she's wearing...galing iyon kay Lilac kaya mas lalo itong naiyak. She know she promised she would read the letter Lilac gave her on New Year pa pero kinuha niya na iyon sa cabinet niya para basahin.

She's reading it with tears on her eyes, nahihirapan pa niyang basahin iyon.

Dear Dalia,

Did you read this letter a bit early or on exactly new year? Nevertheless, it doesn't matter. Kung binabasa mo 'to, I am not sure if I'm still alive o kung pinaubaya ko na sa itaas. I'm sorry if I don't have the courage to tell you my situation, however, I am still thankful that you came to my life.

I don't know how to thank the heaven when you sat infront of my chair in Tagaytay. Then, instantly you became my very first girl friend. Hindi ko nasasabi sa'yo pero I am thankful na may nakakausap ko about my girly stuff. It was you, so thanks a lot. We met in such a small amount of time but you'll be forever part of my story.

To you, I hope you find the love that you deserve. You are an amazing woman, Dalia. 'Til then, until we met again.

Toast me a wine on my funeral, bestie.

With love,
Lilacaine.

Flyn hugged his mom who was waiting for them in the airport. Hapon na ng makauwi sila together with Lilac body on the coffin.