Nang mga sumunod na araw, pinagpatuloy pa rin namin ang pamamasyal. In my hometown, after we visited my mom's grave, we stroll around next to the places where we both once visited. Pinuntahan uli namin ang ocean park, skateland, maging ang sikat na skytower.
Habang nakatanaw sa malawak na siyudad na kitang-kita mula sa itaas, ang laman ng isip ko noo'y iyun na ang huling sandali na masasaksihan ko ang napakagandang tanawin sa lugar na iyun.
"Gabi, dito uli natin icelebrate ang birthday mo, okay?" hindi ko inaasahang sasabihin ni Darlene at hinawakan nang mahigpit ang kamay ko.
She smiled warmly at me with hope. My eyes blink a couple of times because it's started to get teary again. Whenever pessimism invades my being, she never fail to show me her light that takes me back on track. Ako, na pamaya't mayang sumusuko at inihahatak niya pabalik. This girl deserve everything in this world. I smiled back at her at hinalikan ang noo niya, expressing my heartfelt gratitude.
Ang mga sumunod na lakad namin ay pasyalan uli ang mga lugar na pinuntahan namin noon kasama si Paolo. Most of it were recorded on Darlene's journal, ang wishlist na ginawa niya noon, but even without it's aid, the good memories are still inside my head.
Nauna naming puntahan ang japanese restaurant where we first had in her wishlist. We ate in our hearts content. Sunod ang karaoke bar. We sang different songs hanggang sa mapagod kaming pareho. Hindi mawawala roon ang pang-aasar niya dahil sa pagkanta ko. Hindi nawala sa lista ang amusement park maging ang pagbisita sa apartment ko, preparing foods to eat there.
Ang iba na nasa wishlist ay hindi pa namin napupuntahan uli because of it's distance, especially in Paolo's hometown.
"After graduation, let's visit Paolo..." suhestiyon ko.
"Sige! Basta siguraduhin mong magpapalakas ka lalo. Mahaba ang biyahe papunta ro'n." she said.
"Gusto mo bang isama si Theo?" tanong ko. She hum and nodded her head instantly.
"Nagrereklamo eh. Di daw natin sinasama... eh busy nga siya lagi..." sabay hagikhik niya. I chuckled and hold tightly on her waist para hindi ako mahulog sa pagkakaangkas ko.
"Kapit ka nang maigi... by the way bigat mo..." aniya at mas binilisan ang pagbibisikleta.
"Then I'll drive it. Ikaw na umangkas..." I said and frown that made her laugh.
"Di naman mabiro!"
I smile and lean my head on her back. Angkas niya ako sa bisikleta niya habang papunta sa Ilarde College.
As we arrive, nagsimula na kaming mag-ikot. Weekends at wala halos estudyante. Maybe most of the students that currently here ay may mga inaasikaso pa. Ang iba sa kanila ay binati at kinamusta ang kalagayan ko. It's not that I plan to talk to them so casually but Darlene is watching me.
"Tama na kasing pagiging anti-social... kausapin mo naman, nangangamusta rin sila sa'yo. They're worried, don't be rude..." nagtataray ang itsura niya, that's why I don't have a choice. She's right anyway.
We visited the rooftop, ang tambayan namin ni Paolo, and where he loss his life. Darlene put the flowers she brought on the pool side before closing her eyes to pray.
Wala na nang tuluyan ang tubig sa pool bed. The white floor of it hurts my eyes whenever the sun rays hit its shiny texture. Before, this place was my tranquil turf, but now reminds me of a tragic memory.
"Hindi niyo man lang ako isinasama dito noon. Ang daya niyo ni Paopao..."
Kaagad ko siyang nilingon. She's already at the rooftop edge at nakatanaw sa malawak na lugar na sakop ng campus. The wind blows and it ruffles her beautiful hair.
BINABASA MO ANG
𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬✓
Fiksi Remaja[Soon to be Published] BLURB Eve I. Meneses, a principled fourth year Architecture student and an artist who started hating people after what happened two years ago which changed his outlooks in life. The loathing in his heart created an overwhelm...
