Comeback

Chapter 13

EPHRAIM

COLDNESS FLOODED my entire body, but there were heat deep within. Like the heat amid cold war. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman. W-Why is she like this? Bakit nakahandusay ang kaniyang katawan sa puting kama at iba ang itsura?

Nangangatal ang labi ko sa panginginig. No, I refuse to believe this. Maybe I'm just dreaming? Kung ganoon nga, hindi magandang panaginip 'to.

"Naila, wake up... Naila..." I shook her body to wake her up but I received no response. "Hey, please wake up. I brought you the ice cream you requested."

From that moment, I had closed my eyes and prayed to God. I am not a religious person, but I don't want this sight in front of me right now.

God, please wake me up. This is not true.

I opened my eyes to see if I was now awake but disappointment rushed in my system when I still saw the scenery I was hoping to be gone. Para akong binagsakan ng mabibigat na gamit. It was as if gravity's pushing me down to the ground.

"No, nagkakamali lang ang mga doktor. Naila's still alive, she's not dead."

Yes, in front of my very own eyes is my Naila's cold body. The doctor and nurse said she's dead, but I refuse that. Kani-kanina lang ay tumawag ito sa akin. She was in her apartment, studying for her upcoming exam. That's why I asked her what she wanted and she said she wanted ice cream. Kaya may dala akong supot na ang laman ay ice cream.

"Hey, baby. Wake up. Nandito na 'yong ice cream na ni request mo." Halos pumiyok ang boses ko. "Naila, baby, wake up. This is not a good joke. Is this a prank?" I wandered my eyes around to see if there were hidden cameras around.

But my vision was blocked by tears as they race to fall along my cheeks. Sunod-sunod ang bagsakan ng aking luha habang ang dibdib ay sikip na sikip. Kani-kanina lang ay rinig ko ang kaniyang tinig at munting tawa. Then why the hell is she lying in this narrow bed with a cold body with no blood?

"Doc, can you please check my girlfriend? She's not waking up."

I knew from then I couldn't accept Naila's death. Kinulit ko ang mga doktor pati mga nurse. Nagalit pa ako nang sinabi nilang patay na ang nobya ko. They said it was an accident. May nagputukan daw ng mga baril sa lugar nila at sa kasamaang palad, may mga naging ligaw na bala. And Naila was shot by it.

Gaano ba kamalas si Naila para mapunta sa kaniya ang ligaw na bala? Does God really want to get rid of her in this world?

We were happy together. We were satisfied with each other. We had plans for our future, but now it seems the future ahead is dark and cloudy.

Nasa morgue na ang katawan ni Naila. Nakasalampak ako sa sahig at hindi kumikibo.

"Sir, i-co-contact na po namin ang mga kamag-anak niya para kunin po itong katawan." Tumaas ang tingin ko sa nagsalitang lalaki.

Walang buhay akong tumayo. "No, I'll handle it."

I didn't bother tidying my looks right now. My eyes feels heavy probably from crying. Hindi na ako magtataka kung namamaga ang mga ito. Gusot din ang damit ko at ang dala kong ice cream ay tunaw na.

I contacted a funeral homes service to take care of Naila's body. I told them to bring her body in a casket in my house. For some reason I didn't tell her family about her death. Walang ibang nakakaalam sa pagkamatay niya kung hindi ako, at ang mga tao sa ospital na umasikaso sa kaniya.

Pinagmasdan ko ang mukha niya. Pain started to engulf my chest. I clenched my fist while thinking about the person who killed my dear Naila. Wala siyang kwentang tao. Whoever did this to her deserves to die. They don't deserve to live in this world with no suffering.