Just Like In The Story <COMPLETE>

Chapter 25

Sometimes things happens in our life in some unexpected manner. Some of this unexpected things would somehow make us feel extreme happiness but some would also make us feel extreme sorrow. And usually this unexpected things would turn our life around, not just a 180 degree turn but a total 360 degree turn. And with that turn, we will become so dizzy and all dazed up that we don't know how to function back in our life. And that likely had happened to me after that call from Tita Grace informing me that Xander is dead.

"Patay na siya Liz."

"I found him dead on his bed."

Ang boses ni Tita Grace na halos nagrereplay sa utak ko all throughout ng byahe namin pabalik ng Cadiz. Hanggang sa marating na namin ang bahay nila Xander. Hanggang makita ko si Xander na nasa loob ng kabaong. At hanggang ngayon na ililibing na siya ay hindi pa din mawala-wala ang boses ni Tita Grace sa utak ko.

Siguro dahil hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa din nagsisink in sa akin na patay na si Xander. Hindi ko pa din tanggap na ang best friend ko ay wala na, patay na.

Maybe my heart is in much pain that it just can't accept that fact that he was dead. And my mind is still thinking that it is just all a dream. A nightmare. That I might just woke up and that Xander is still alive and waiting. And that we are not going to bury him today.

"Liz."

Napa-angat ako ng tingin. Nakatayo si Blake sa harap ko tapos umupo ito sa aking tabi. He looks restless and stressful. Halos wala kasi kaming tulog na dalawa dahil tumutulong kami kay Tita Grace sa pag-asikaso ng burol.

Kinuha niya ang kanang kamay ko at hinalikan yon tapos pinisil. "Are you okay?"

Tinignan ko siya. "Would you believe me if I say that I am? That I am okay?"

"No." Bumuntong hininga siya. "Dahi kahit ako ay ganun din ang naman ang nararamdaman. We both lost our best friend Eliza, so I know what you feel."

"Good then don't asked me again if I'm okay!" I snapped at him. Medyo nagulat siya sa pagsabi ko pero tumahimik lang ito. I then felt guilty by snapping at him. I know naman na concern lang naman siya sa akin.

I took a deep breath and hugged him. I felt him tense up from my surprise hug but then relaxed himself and hugged me back. "I'm sorry Blake." Bulong ko. "Hindi pa din kasi ako makapaniwala na..na..wala na siya..wala na si Xander." Hindi ko mapigilan at humagulgol na ako ng iyak. It was the first time that I cried after I had learn that Xander was dead. Siguro dahil ito lang ang pagkakataon na innaccept ko na talaga na patay na siya. Nawala na talaga siya.

Blake held me tight as I cried on his chest. And he cried with me as I felt some wetness on my shoulder. And with that I also held him close. Tama siya, Xander was both our best friend at dahil dun ay kaming dalawa din naman ang magdadamayan sa sitwasyon na to.

"Do you still want to go to the funeral?" He asked after we had poured our pain to each other. Medyo namumula ang ilong at mata niya sa pag-iyak. There is something manly with a guy who just cried. Yong lalaki na hindi kinakahiya na isa siyang tao at normal sa pagiging tao ang pag-iyak.

Tumango ako. "Pero pwede bang sa sementeryo na lang tayo? Ayokong pumunta sa simbahan."

"But Tita Grace might need us." Sambit ni Blake.

Pumikit ako at huminga ng malalim. "Sige but I will not give any message."

*****

"Elizabeth." Sinalubong ako ni Mama ng yakap pagkadating naming sa simbahan. Kakadating lang niya galing Singapore at si Papa naman ay nagpa-iwan dun. "Xander is in peace now gah."

"Yes, he is Ma." Sambit ko pagkatapos ay kumawala sa yakap niya.

"Hello Tita." Pagbati ni Blake at ngumiti naman si Mama sa kanya.

"How are you Blake?" Tanong ni Mama sa kay Blake.

Blake smiled sadly. "Same as your daughter Tita."

Tumango lang si Mama na may pagiintinde tapos hinanap nito si Tita Grace.

"Nasa may unahan po siya Tita." Sagot ni Blake. "Kasama ng mga kamag-anak nila."

"How is she taking this?"

"More calmer than we do." Blake retorted.

"Siguro dahil pinaghandaan na niya na ang araw na to." Sambti ni Mama. But I doubt it. I doubt na napaghandaan ito ni Tita Grace because her voice that was still lingering in my head beg to differ. Alam kong katulad namin ni Blake ay tinatago niya lang din ang sakit na nadarama.

The mass started and the church was full of mourners. Mostly are from school. Xander was really popular I must say and made a lot of friends.

Pagkatapos ng mass ay tumayo si Tita Grace at pumunta as may stand. Like Blake and I, Tita Grace also look restless and vulnerable with her white dress with a black pin on her left chest and black sun glasses.

"Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat at sa pagpunta niyo ngayon para sa aking anak na si Xander." Pagsimula nito. Her voice was in control not wanting to show anyone how broken she is by the death of her son. "Hindi ko man kayo kilalang lahat pero for sure ay kilalang kilala niyo ang anak ko. I knew Xander was popular but I never thought that he was this popular." Tita Grace gave a sad chuckle. "Hindi ko na sasabihin kung gaano kabuti ang anak kong si Xander dahil sa pagpuno niyo pa lang sa simbahan na to ay isa ng malaking ebidensya na naging mabuti ang anak ko habang siya ay nabubuhay. That he had touch so many life when he was alive. That his live didn't go in vain. Sa uulitin po, ako po ay nagpapasalamat at sana po ay kahit pagkatapos nito ay maalala niyo pa din ang anak ko na si Xander."

Tumahimik ang lahat pagkatapos nun. At in mist of that silence someone clap. And then everybody followed. We clapped for Xander. We clapped for what he did to our life. We clapped for him being able to take part of our life. That our life would have been one boring piece of nothing without him in it. At kahit ngayong wala na siya ay napasa pa din niya sa amin ang saya na bibigay niya noong nabubuhay siya.

After ng speech na yon ay nagsilabasan na ang lahat para sa paghatid kay Xander sa sementeryo. Mama and I rode with the Valenciano family. And the ride going to the cementery was silent. It was just plain sad silence.

Hawak kamay kaming dalawa ni Blake ng pumasok ng sementeryo. Sinalubong kami ng barkada sa pagpasok at sumabay kami sa paghatid kay Xander papunta sa pantiyon ng mga Villacorte. Humigpit ang hawak ko kay Blake ng palapit na kami at napatingin ito sa akin. "Are you sure you can take this Eliza?"

Napatingin ako sa kabaong ni Xander na nilagay muna sa labas ng pantiyon. "I don't know Blake but I know I have to let him go."

He let go of my hand and cupped my face. "I know that it hurts Eliza pero oo, dapat na nating bitawan si Xander dahil wala na rin naman tayong magagawa kundi iyon."

Tumango ako sa sinabi niya kasi tama naman siya eh. Wala na kaming magagawa kundi bitawan si Xander. "Good, be strong for Xander Liz." He mumbled then place a kiss on my forehead. "Now c'mon, we are going to say our last goodbye."

Pagdating namin sa may pantiyon ay nakabukas ang kabaong ni Xander at parang nagpapaalam dito si Tita Grace na may dalang puting rosas. Napaangat ng tingin si Tita Grace at nakita kami ni Blake.

"Hali na kayo." She wave at us. "Kayo na lang ang hinihintay niya."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Blake bago lumapit sa kabaong ni Xander. Blake and I took one last look at Xander that was restfully laying inside the coffin then put our own white rose.

"Salamat pare." Sambit ni Blake. "Salamat kasi kung hindi dahil sayo ay hindi ko makikilala ng lubosan si Elizabeth at kung hindi dahil sayo ay hindi siguro kami nagmamahalan ngayon. I owe you big time Xan and I will really miss you."

Napangiti ako na naluluha dahil sa sinabi ni Blake. "I will also miss you Xan not just me but also Eros, we will miss you so much. My life will not be the same without you Xan pero kailangan kitang bitawan. I know you are now in a better place. I love you bestie." I place a kiss on my fingers and then place it on the coffin. You will not be forgotten Xander, you will always be in our heart.