Last Requiem

Any Names, place, events are purely fictional and coincidental. copyrights 2021

********************

It was a rainy day, busy na naman ang lahat ng tao sa kanya-kanyang gawain habang ito ako naghihintay ng masasakyan sa parahan ng jeep. 

 Halos alas singko na ng hapon ng makasakay ako sa jeep, inabot ko ang bayad at namahinga sa aking pwesto. Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at binuksan. Ni isang notification or text message ay wala akong narecieve.

 'Ano na ba nangyari sakin?' 

 Pumikit ako at inisip ang lahat. I have a stable job, naka graduate na din lahat ng kapatid ko sa kolehiyo dahil sa akin. Nabigyan ko na ng sariling bahay at lupa ang mga magulang ko. May sarili din akong condo unit na tinitirhan at kaya kong bilhin lahat ng luho ko. I have trust worthy friends. Pero ano yung kulang? I felt incomplete whenever I see myself on the mirror. Sure I was happy with all those achievements but it felt like something was missing. A big part of me was missing. The chitchat in the vehicle became louder as the sound of ligthning harmonize with them. I felt a vibration coming from my cellphone. As it flickered many times a name appeared on the screen.

 'Davie' 

Ano naman kaya ang kailngan ng lalaking to? He is a type of guy na hindi mangangamusta kung hindi importante. I answered the phone call.

" What do you want Dave?" 

"Ligaya did you already heard the news?" Napaisip ako, wala naman akong natatanggap na balita or any update coming from our friends.

"No, why meron ba dapat akong malaman?" Somehow it made me nervous as if something really bad happened.

"I need you right here, pumunta ka sa club house nandito kaming lahat ikaw nalang hinihintay namin. Hurry up." Then he hanged up the call.

What's wrong with them? We only gather on important matters or special occasions. As far as I remember wala namang may birthday ngayon or what.

I decided to head directly on the club house. As I entered the room I roamed my eyes within the vicinity, Davie is in the stool chair in the mini bar together with Seige. Rowa is in the sofa sitting comfortably with Nale, Phan is busy using his phone on the single chair infront of Rowa. Anver is busy looking at them.

I entered and directly sat in a single seat sofa. Nilabas ko ang vape ko and inhaled a small amount and puffed it on my nose.

" I thought we were complete? Where is Leon?" Sheesh that man, lagi nalang late and lagi kaming pinaghihintay. 

None of them answered me, I took a glimpse of them and begun puffing my vape again.

"I guess old habits never die noh? " I chuckled but none followed my laughter, what's wrong with these guys?

"You guys okay? Bakit ang tahimik nyo naman ngayon? May nangyare ba na hindi ko alam?" 

"Leon is dead, Ligaya." Ang panget ng joke ha, hindi nakakatuwa.

"Don't joke around, Davie. Kung yan lang rin naman sasabihin mo at puro ka kalokohan mabuti pang umalis nalang ako. I have more important things to do." Of all the things that he can make a joke, bat sa ganung bagay nya pa gagawin. It ain't funny.

"Davie is serious, Ella. Leon is dead. Do you think we will do these petty things? Sa tingin mo ba pupunta kami dito lahat sa club house for nothing? Para ano? tumambay? We also have jobs to do and a family to sustain Ella." Seige while looking at me dead in the eyes.

" If you guys are doing this just for the sake na baka magkabalikan kami. Just please stop. I'm not going to stay and accpet a man who got his heart broken by his senior highschool lover and got dumped." I looked at them with contempt in my eyes.

" I don't want a man who is broken as heck na hindi nya kayang bumangon mag isa."

" That's enough Ligaya!" Davie shouted. What? I was just saying the truth!

"What? Did I do something wrong? Totoo naman ah! I was there when he needed someone by his side! When he can't pick his self up! I was waiting patiently! I was hoping na he could forget the past and have new memories with me!" And this time I knew, the emotions will began to rush in me again.

"But he can't even forget that one girl who hurted him, he can't forget the pain that was inflicted by Achi. What am I supposed to do? I did my best, I loved and gave him everything that I have. Pero bakit hindi pa rin sapat, Was I lacking in any manner? Why can't he move on and change? I was there eh, supporting him in any way that I can do." Tears flowed down  my cheeks.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Leon was the biggest missing part of my life. He was the love of my life until now.  But I stayed still. Because I don't want to be hurt anymore. Lahat ng emosyon na naipon ko within this past 3 years burst like a bubble.

"All I was asking from him was that he changed for the better. If I can't changed him, I am sure someone can and I know it's not me anymore."  I was so frustrated right now. Why do they still keep insisting that Leon is dead? I will never believe that!

" And now you guys keep saying that Leon is dead? hahahaha! Unless I see a corpse I'll never believe you!"

"So you want proof then, call tita Lena. Confirm it yourself or better go see it with your own eyes." Said Phan. 

"Yeah I will. You better pray that this is all a joke. I will never forgive you. Never."

I stormed out of the room and head directly to my condo. It is already 8 pm, I don't feel hungry. Out of the blue I decided to find our old photos together. There is this one na nasa camping site kami and kasama ang buong tropa. We were all smiling at the  camera. 

Another photo was taken on our first date, we really look cute together. I looked for the pictures left. I found a piece of paper and a sentences written on it.

"You saved me from drowning. I love you for eternity, Ligaya. Please don't leave me. Please bare with me.'

I cried.

##########

09/17/21