Euphoria: Dosage of Rhapsodies

Epilogue

E L I A S

"I still can't believe she'll do such a thing." Standing beside me was Corrine's face, who couldn't stop herself from whimpering as she stared at a long, white coffin where Stacy's lying down. "Tapos alam mo 'yong masakit?"

Natunghayan ko na't lahat ang pag-iyak niya, still she's trying to hide it by looking up at the sky. It's the day para ihatid sa huling hantungan si Stacy. Pamilya na rin nina Corrine ang nag-decide na ilibing ora mismo si Stacy.

"On the very last day of our taping, hiniling ko na sana 'yong gabi na rin na 'yon ang huling araw na makikita ko ang pagmumukha niya. As if she heard that... she made it true. Ang sama-sama ko, Eli."

Ang isang bagay na alam kong kaya kong i-offer sa kanya sa ngayon ay ang mainit kong yakap. Inilayo ko muna siya sa harap ng bangkay ni Stacy as if I'm hoping she could calm down if she's no longer seeing the remains of her long lost sister.

"She did what she thought the best for you, Corrine." While caressing her back, her whimpers continue. "Aware siya kung gaano mo siya ka-hate since day one na nagkakilala kayong dalawa, at mula no'ng araw na itinanim mo sa utak mong ang pagdating nilang dalawa sa buhay n'yo ang bagyong wawasak sa pamilya n'yo."

Iniharap ko siya sa akin at nginitian, and I dried her face using my palms. "Your thoughts didn't lie. It's her mother, who happened to be yours as well, only plans to cause havoc in your life, Corrine. Bilang gustong bumawi sa iyo ni Stacy at para na rin mabura lahat ng sama ng loob mo sa kanya since then, I can't blame her if umabot siya sa point that she sacrificed her life para lang hindi buhay mo 'yong masira. She's indeed a thoughtful sister you never imagined her to be."

"And while she's doing me a favor silently, ako itong walang ginawa kung hindi kainisan siya at kainggitan na lang palagi." Her laugh seemed to be sarcastic. "Should she be the antagonist in my own story turns out to be me. Because at those times she's been caring to me behind the mask I sought to hate, lagi ko siyang tinitingnan na kakumpetensya. Ang laki ng insecurity ko sa kanya after all the hard work and achievements I earned when I finally crafted my name in the showbiz industry."

"Tapos kung kailan gusto ko nang gumawa ng bagay para makabawi sa kanya, ngayon pa siya nawala. Yeah, I want her to be out of my sight the day I thought of wishing her to be gone out of my eyes. But not exactly I want her to die. I will never wish someone to die kahit na sobrang sama ng loob ko sa kanila. But this fvcking life... Eli, this fvcking life ended the beat of her heart..." Inihilamos niya ang kamay niya sa basang-basa niyang mukha. "To forever be gone in my sight. And I'm not liking this!"

Nilingon ako ng papa ni Corrine at sinenyasang ilayo ko muna ang anak niya sa harap ng kabaong habang dinadasalan ito ng pari. Ilang hakbang ang layo namin sa kumpulan ng mga taong nakiramay hanggang sa huling yugto ng buhay ni Stacy, mas masakit pa rin marinig ang walang humpay ng paghagulgol ng babaeng pinipilit kong pakalmahin sa mainit-init kong yakap.

Pili lang ang mga taong nakipaglibing, and given that Stacy is a public figure now, desisyon ng pamilya na 'wag mag-imbita ng media para i-cover ang nangyayari.

"Pardon my language, but... do my life a living fvcking joke, Eli?"

"Someday, you'll find the significance of everything you're suffering these days. You'll find the reason beneath the tears you've shed. Someday."

Through my fingers tightening my hold to her shoulders, mula rito ay sabay naming pinanonood ni Corrine ang unti-unting pagbaba ng kabaong para ibaon sa ilalim ng lupa, and those white roses thrown by some of her relatives and friends signified her memories she left with us, with each of us, will never be forgotten.