#Wattys2023 Winner: Best Characters Award
❝This was probably what people meant when they said they disappeared into a moment.❞
*****
College exes Laurine Antoinette "Laurie" Navarro and Simeon Lee Aguirre didn't really expect to meet again. But with...
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❝Lee would always assure her she shouldn't feel guilty for feeling things.❞
— ❁ —
FOR THE last twoweeks,Laurie hasn't heard anything from Lee. Magsisinungaling siya kung sasabihin niyang hindi ito ang una niyang hinanap pagmulat niya sa ospital. Ilang beses din siyang naalimpungatan. And then, she saw some guy with the same build standing outside the door.
The morning after her birthday, Malie found her unconscious. Mabuti na lang at naisipan siya nitong sorpresahin at ipagluto. Kung hindi, malamang ay ilang araw siguro siyang namilipit sa pananakit ng sikmura.
"Alam mo, Lau, p'wede mo naman kasing tawagan," nakangiwing sabi sa kanya ni Malie. "Kanina ka pa nakaabang d'yan sa pinto, e, what if hinihintay ka lang din no'n?"
Bumuga ng hangin si Laurie, nakatutok pa rin ang mga mata sa pintuan ng café. "He's probably mad. If I were him, I wouldn't want to hear anything from me either."
"But you're not him. Hindi naman mapagtanim 'yon." Inagaw ng best friend niya ang sinisimsim niyang thermos. "Golden retriever boyfriend nga, 'di ba?"
"Ex-boyfriend," pagtatama niya.
Malie made a face before scrunching her nose. "You're talking to me, Lauwie. 'Di mo kailangang magpanggap sa harap ko." Walang sabi-sabi nitong binuhos sa sink ang natitirang kape ng thermos. Sinamaan ito ng tingin ni Laurie. "I can stalk him for you. Aminin mo lang sa 'kin na miss mo na."
Laurie grimaced. "Over my dead body."
"Bad joke 'yan," Stefan mumbled as he made his way to the coffee bar. Walang imik na nakabuntot dito si Theo. Kunot-noong ipinatong ng kapatid niya ang palad sa noo niya. "Sorry, ngayon lang ako nakabisita. You seem fine but I'll ask anyway. Are you okay?"
Frowning, she swatted Stefan's hand. "You're two weeks late and yes, I'm okay. Drop the concerned brother act. Hindi bagay sa 'yo, Steffie."
Maarte nitong ipinaikot ang mga mata. "By the way, Dad said he dropped by. Anong nangyari? May sinabi ba siya sa 'yo? Is that what sent you to the hospital?"
Laurie sighed exasperatedly. After that, she gestured at Malie and Theo. Iniwan niya ang dalawa at hinila si Stefan palayo. Doon sila pumuwesto ng kapatid sa mesang katabi ng bintana. She sat up straight, her arms crossed over her chest. "Is he dying?"
"Who?" Stefan asked while properly hanging his jacket on the chair. "Sinong mamamatay?"
"Si Dad," walang-preno niyang sabi. "I know the question makes me sound like an ungrateful bitch but that's the only explanation I can think of."
Stefan chuckled heartily. Umuga pa ang magkabila nitong balikat. "Bakit ba? Anong sabi sa 'yo?"
"Nothing. He kept saying he wanted to see me which doesn't really make sense," nakapangalumbaba niyang sabi. "Huli niyang message sa 'kin, disappointed daw siya tapos biglang gano'n. That's weird, right?"
