Love Me, Susie (Completed)

Chapter Sixteen

The next day...

TAHIMIK ang buong kabahayan nang magising si Susie mula sa isang panaginip. In her dream, she saw her parents and Erik playing on the beach. Nakatawa ang mga ito, masayang-masaya at papalubog ang araw. She was just sitting there, looking at them, enjoying the beautiful view. Nakita niya ang masasayang ngiti ng kanyang mga magulang. Nakita niya ang guwapong mukha ng kanyang kapatid, then they all waved at her. Kumaway rin siya pabalik sa mga ito.

She opened her eyes, hindi niya alam na lumuluha na pala siya. She looked at the wall clock, alas singko y media nang madaling-araw. Wala na siyang balak na bumalik sa pagtulog. Nagtungo siya sa banyo at nag-ayos ng sarili pagkatapos ay pinatungan niya ng roba ang suot na manipis na pantulog. Tahimik na tahimik ang buong kabahayan pagkalabas niya ng silid. Parang may sariling isip ang kanyang mga paa na naglakad palabas. Tinanaw niya ang payapang dagat.

The sun was steadily peeking into the bed of clouds above the horizon. The sky was lit up with array of purples, oranges and reds, too beautiful for her eyes to witness. She walked closely to the beach imagining the scenes she had in her dream. Katulad ng napakagandang tanawin ng papasikat na araw ay ang maaliwalas na mukha ng kanyang mga magulang at ni Erik ang nasa isipan niya.

The breeze lightly kissed her skin as if telling her that it was okay, there was new life, new hope. She did not need to let them go and move on, she just needed to keep their memories alive. Great memories. The only way she can cope up with pain was to recognize that it was there, in her heart, and like what Jeric said, it was okay to cry, to mourn, dahil hindi na siya nag-iisa.

Natagpuan na lamang niya ang sariling naglalakad sa beach. Dumadampi sa kanyang mga paa ang pinong buhangin. It was not perfectly white, but it was perfect for her. Naramdaman niya ang lamig ng hanging pang-umaga. She had never felt this free in her life, ngayon lang. The dream she had was like a message from her family as if telling her that they were okay, they were happy, and it was okay to move forward and forgive herself.

Forgive myself...

She smiled as she wiped her tears again. Napansin na lamang niyang malayo na siya sa resort at malapit na siya sa dagat. She saw an image of a man walking towards her. It was Jeric. Nakapajama terno pa ito. He looked surprised and amazed at the same time.

"Hey..." he said as he stopped in front of her.

"Hey," aniya. "Good morning."

Awtomatikong tumaas ang mga kamay nito para haplusin ang mga pisngi niya. He looked at her as if she was a better view than the sunrise.

"'Morning. You are on the beach." He said, smiling.

Napangiti siya. "Oo nga."

"Did you get scared?"

"Kaunti lang. Thank you nga pala, nakausap ko si Dr. Jen kahapon and she said I might have thalassophobia base sa mga naikuwento ko sa kanya. It is a big help knowing that this is what's causing my extreme fear of the ocean. Gusto kong unti-unti kong labanan 'to and I know that you'll be with me in the process."

"I will always be here for you. You know what? I'm so happy to see you like this." Inakbayan siya nito. "Let's walk and watch the sunrise together," nagsimula silang lumakad nito, ang kamay niya ay kumapit sa baywang nito.

They walked as she told him about her beautiful dream.

*****

KINABUKASAN ay nagtaka si Susie nang lumabas siya ng silid. Jeric did not come home. Mataas na ang sikat ng araw nang buksan niya ang bintana at agad niyang nilanghap ang sariwang hangin. She cleaned up. The room looked like nobody ever used it. Nang makapag-ayos ay bumaba siya. Wala rin si Manang Gloria, Tatay Pio at Pat.