"Congratulations to your book, Xerena!" Bati ni Silvestre sa akin. We were drinking as Raya and Lucas babysits Savvy sa May kwarto. "Naks. Yan ang talented naming bestfriend oh, shot!"
"You made it, congrats." Bati ni Syg sa akin.
Cianna poured more wine on my glass bago nya ako tabihan. "I took a day off just to celebrate this, we're all so happy for you. Namiss ka namin ni Rainne nang sobra."
"Ako? Miss si Xerena? As if!" Biro ni Rainne at natawa na lang kaming lahat na nandoon. "I'm glad we had this reunion though. Lahat tayo naging busy na..." bulong ni Rainne. Totoo naman, we got busy with our own lives.
Ako with my company, Lucas as well, Raya even. Cianna and Rainne as a surgeon and a nurse, Syg was busy with law, Silvestre with handling his bar. Lahat kami may kanya kanya nang ginagawa. I can't blame them.
"It's been years since we last got together completely like this. Nung college graduation ba natin?" Tanong ni Silvestre sa kanila Cianna.
"Yeah. Grumaduate kayo non nila Xerena and Lucas eh."
It's been so long, a lot has happened in those years...and even in my years during my coma as well. "That Cleo girl you always talk about, she must've inspired you a lot." Bulong ni Cianna sa akin.
"Of course she did! Kung hindi, I wouldn't be able to write a single word you know?" Sagot ko sa kanya as I drank my wine. "She gave meaning to every word of that story." Mahinhin ko na bulong. I have a book signing event sa mga nakapag reserve nang limited stocks, it would be this week.
"No plans pa rin ba maghanap nang lalaki?"
"No, Rainne. I'm not yet ready for that." Nakangiti ko na banggit sa kanya bago ako sumandal muli sa counter. "But maybe when time comes, I might get into a relationship again."
"Wag mo na kasi jowain ang di naman nageexist nakakaloka ka din paminsan minsan!" Mukhang mas stressed pa si Rainne a love life ko kaya natawa na lang ako sa mga nagiging reaksyon nya.
"Love will come, Rainne. No need to worry, magkakaroon din ako nyan, ayoko lang talaga magmadali. I want to focus on my daughter first before falling." Dagdag ko pa dito.
We partied all night long pero syempre, I didn't drink too much dahil aalagaan ko pa si Savvy. "Iinom ka pa ba?" Tanong ni Tres habang nagsasalin na naman nang alak sa mga baso namin.
"Hindi na. Ayos na ako. Sasamahan ko na lang muna si Savvy." Pagpapaalam ko sa kanila bago ako pumasok sa bahay ni Tres at papunta sa kwarto ni Savvy.
Bungad sa akin na payapa syang natutulog, nandoon at naka bukas pa rin ang nintendo switch na binigay ko sa kanya kanina para laruin.
Umupo lang ako sa tabihan nya at binigyan nang halik ang pisngi nya. "Sleep tight, my sweetheart." Bulong ko bago ko patayin ang ilaw.
Lumipas na din ang ilang araw and I was at a book convention, nandito rin ang ibang sikat na writers! I felt nervous obviously but of course, I wanted to thank everyone who was there reading my works along my journey.
"So miss Chavez, what inspired you to write the book?"
Flashing lights welcomed me the moment I opened my eyes at that day. Tandang tanda ko pa ang masaya na mukha nang nga magulang ko noong gumising na ako. Cleo. What a beautiful name.
BINABASA MO ANG
Find me in your pages | THE WATTYS 2023
RomansaTO LOVE AGAIN TRILOGY OO1 "I am no good with words, they might not reach your ears." Xerena whispered with the old poems she wrote for her still in hand. "But I wish that in my poems, it's my thoughts and feelings that you hear." The sunset started...
