When The Flower Withers (Fleur Series #1)

Epilogue

TW: self-harm and abusive words

January 1

I had no idea that the start of New Year for me would be that great... it was by far beyond the best New Year of mine.

Ever since I saw her again, I couldn't get her out of my mind anymore... not that I tried to. It was the third time I saw her in the Clubhouse. Walang bago, masungit pa rin... Pero maganda talaga siya walang duda ro'n.

Langya. 'Di ko talaga alam kung normal pa ba 'to na napapangiti ako kapag naiisip ko siya.

"Sungit no'ng babae sa clubhouse kahapon--" Aivanns glanced at me twice before he stared at me. "Pota? Ba't ka ngumingiti mag-isa?!"

"Inggit ka? Ngiti ka rin mag-isa," sagot ko at inilagay ang gitara sa loob ng bag nito.

"'Di na, uy. Ayaw kong pumuntang Mandaluyong." Uminom siya sa hawak na beer at basta na lang kinuha ang binabasang libro ni Garette. "She started kissing my neck down to my chest as she reached for my coc-"

Bago pa matapos ni Aivanns ang binabasa sa libro, kinuha na 'yon ni Garette mula sa kaniya. Ayos talaga, eh. 'Di na yata siya makapaghintay kasi kanina pa kami tumutugtog. Pero ayos na rin 'yong nagbabasa lang siya kasama namin... Kung mag-isa lang 'yan, matik na may ginagawa na 'yang milagro.

Gaya nga ng sabi ni Aivanns... Tatahi-tahimik lang daw 'yang si Garette pero mapanganib... Hindi ko na lang sinagot na mas mapanganib siya kasi ilang beses ko na siyang narinig na umuungol habang tulog.

Nadadala niya yata sa panaginip 'yong ginagawa niya sa totoong buhay.

"Fuck you," bulong ni Garette habang sinisilid sa loob ng bag 'yong librong binabasa niya kanina.

"No, thanks. Go home and fuck yourself, Squidward." He raised his middle finger at Garette even if he wasn't looking at him. He just nodded at me before he went out of my condo, tumango lang din si Garette sa akin bago lumabas.

"'Yan... basa pa ng bold," pahabol ko kay Garette. Bago siya tuluyang makalabas, tinaasan niya ako ng gitnang daliri.

Inayos ko ang kalat ni Aivanns sa sala bago naglinis ng katawan. I was watching a Psychology-related movie when someone knocked on the door. Pinause ko muna 'yon at pumunta sa tapat ng pintuan... Upon seeing who it was throughout the peephole, I suddenly had a hard time breathing.

I inhaled and exhaled until I calmed myself down before I opened the door.

"What are you doing here, Mom?" Hindi niya pinansin ang sinabi ko at basta na lang pumasok sa loob. Inis kong kinamot ang batok bago isinara ang pintuan at sumunod sa kaniya.

Tss. 'Yan na naman siya.

"I had a meeting with Engineer Agoncillo earlier at the restaurant in Eastwood. I've bought some of your favorite food..." She looked at me while preparing the food she was talking about. "Have you had your dinner yet?"

Tumango ako. "'Di mo sinagot tanong ko. Bakit ka na naman nandito?"

Gaya ng palagi niyang ginagawa, nag-iwas siya ng tingin at umakto na parang walang narinig... Gaya ng dati.

"Ikaw na lang kumain. Kakakain ko lang kasama ng mga kaibigan ko," sabi ko bago kinuha ang remote at pinatay ang tv.

Sayang, ang ganda na ng panonood ko, eh. Wala naman kasi akong sinabi na pumunta siya rito, ba't ba siya punta nang punta?

"Come on, these are delicious. It's lonely to eat by yourself, isn't?" she asked, giving me a fake smile... acting like nothing happened... acting like she didn't turn her back on me too many times.