Jared Travi
Gloomy blue sky with white clouds on it. The sky is happy but opposite of it is what we feel right now. People are wearing black and white shirts. In front of us is a white coffin. I can hear sobs and cries.
“Take this.” Ysa handed me a handkerchief and then caressed my back. I’ve been crying since that day and my eyes are already hurting.
“Thanks.” I uttered, still can’t manage to smile and then took it. My gaze turned to the coffin in front. I’ve been longing for my little guy. I want to feel his embrace and hear his voice again. I miss him so much.
“Ysa.” I heard Pia called her best friend. “Why is the coffin closed? ‘Di ba it’s supposed to be open during the wake?” She whispered.
“It’s his sister’s decision.” I was the one who answered as I looked at Zeia who’s not even crying. Strange. “I can’t do anything about it. I should be thankful dahil pumayag pa rin siyang pumunta ako dito.” I badly wanna see my little guy’s face but I respect their decision.
They didn’t answer and just focus on the priest infront. He then gave the holy water to us para wisikan ang kabaong. Then the worst and my hatest part came. Unti-unting nagsilabasan ang mga luha ko habang pinapanood ko ang pagbaba ng kabaong. I don’t want to say goodbye but I need to.
“I love you, little guy. Sa susunod na habang buhay, ikaw pa rin ang pipiliin ko.” I whispered as I let go of the rose that I’m holding. I closed my eyes. I don’t want to watch his coffin going down.
Sumabay na ako kay Staive pauwi sa apartment. Pagkabukas ko pa lang ng pintuan ay bumungad na sa akin ang malamig na hangin.
I know you’re here, little guy.
I just changed my clothes and then lay down on my bed. It’s just a normal sized bed but it feels so much bigger now. I hugged my pillow as I remember how I hugged Zion before whenever we went to sleep. I miss those days that we’re happy and those nights that we’re together, looking at the sky. I miss the old us. I miss him so much. If I can go back to the past, I will change our fate. As I closed my eyes, tears fell down again on my cheeks. How can I endure this kind of pain?
Gumising akong masakit at mugto ang mata, masakit ang ulo at nanghihina na. I didn’t eat anything at lunch and I still don’t have appetite. It’s already 5 in the afternoon. The sun is almost setting and the sky turned to orange. I found myself getting in my car, started to drive and stops in front of a building. I sighed as I slowly walks until I reached my destination. The orange sky and clouds welcomed me as I enter the building’s rooftop. I took out my phone as I sat on the ground and leaned on the wall. Zion’s photo flashed on the screen. I can’t help but stare at his photo. I really miss his innocent face and sweet smile. I badly want to embrace him right now and tell him how much I love him.
Every afternoon, it became my routine to go here and wait for him to come back. People may call me stupid for waiting for someone who just died months ago, but I don’t care. I want to wait for him to come back in my arms again.
“I want to be with you my little guy.”, I thought and stand up and looked at the sky.
I bravely step on the rooftop’s rail as my tears begun to fell on my cheeks again. Zion, you always make me cry. I felt my legs fazing and my vision starts to get blurry.
“We’ll be together again, my love.” I whispered to the air. Then my surroundings became all black.
Nagising ako at pagkamulat ko ay nadatnan ang isang puting kisame.
Where am I?
A beeping sound is all I can hear and there are some machines that are connected to my body. My head is hurting as I move it and looked at my surroundings. I saw Staive sitting on the couch with a frowning expression, busy with his phone and he’s kind of texting. Hindi na nga niya napansing gising na ako.
“S…S…Stai…ve.” I called him with a weak voice.
He lift his head quickly and looked at me, “B-Bro! Finally, you’re awake now.” He went nearer. “What do you need? Are you hungry or thirsty? Water?” He asked in sequence then accompanied me to get up and gave me the bottled water.
“T-Thanks, bro.” I managed to smile after drinking a bit. I wandered my gaze again. Shia, I’m in a hospital room. “What happened? Why am I here?” I asked.
Staive paused for a second before answering, “That day, you’ve been kind of suspicious. You’re not replying to our messages, not answering our calls and even not showing yourself to us. We’ve been trying to reach you but we always failed. That day, I tried to visit you in your apartment but it’s locked. I also tried to call your parents but they said you’re not there. I also tried to contact your sister and asked if you moved abroad but again, she have no idea on where you are. Then I tried to call the owner of the Qlassique Apartment, hoping that I may found you here. Fortunately, he said you’re at the rooftop. Time exactly made it’s way to save you. I found you lying on the floor with a bloody head, hugging Z-Zion’s picture.” He even hesitated to say that name. “You’re unconscious for almost a week, by the way.” Staive slowly explained, making me remember some of the scenes.
I nodded as an answer. I tilted my head as I remember something. “Wait, wait. Who’s Zion?” I asked, no idea on who that guy is. “Is he my friend? A workmate?” I added.
Staive looked at me with a wide yet confused eyes. “What do you mean? Bro, are you serious? Or is this a prank?”
My brows furrowed, “What the heck, dude? I am dead serious here. Why would I prank you? Pranking isn’t my thing and you know that.”
I heard him whispered something, maybe for himself, but I didn’t understand it really well. He’s like in a deep thinking right now. Staive told me that he will going to call our friends first and awkwardly smiled at me before going out. What’s wrong with him … or it’s with me?
“Staive, Glysa, Pia, and Gary…” I tried to recall my friends name. I really don’t have an idea about who really Zion is. “Ahhh!” I screamed when my head started to hurt. I put my hands on the top of my head when some scenes starts playing.
The door opened, “Bro, what happened?!” Staive, who’s already panicking, still manage to ask me.
“Bro, I …” I can’t finish what I’m going to say when my head started to hurt again. “Ahhh!” I screamed again. “Who really are you, Zion?! Why do you keep on showing on my head?!”
YOU ARE READING
Right Time To Fall ( PIP BL COLLABORATION )
Teen Fiction• PUBLISHED UNDER PAPERINK PUBLISHING HOUSE! For Jared Travi Jimenez, his college life were as colorful as their flag. He's a fourth year college student, taking up Journalism. His life seems so fine and busy, not until a shocking and unexpected thi...
