Without Her (Edited/TagLish)

Chapter 10

It's now December 21, 2014. Hindi ko na binisita pa si Sarah sa sementeryo kahit na gustong-gusto ko siyang puntahan. Hindi na rin ako pumunta pa sa bahay nila simula no'n. To make the story short, it's been four months that I am living without her, totally.

I have built a business with Emmy last September. We have a photography studio. Its name is ChriEmmy, pronounced as creamy. I don't know but it's Emmy who have thought about that name and I'd liked it. So much. Noong una ay natawa ako pero nakita ko naman ang creativeness niya kaya naman sumang-ayon na ako. Mahirap nang kontrahin si Emmy at baka batuhin na lang niya ako bigla ng camera.

For the past four months, lagi kaming magkasama ni Emmy. Ang totoo niyan ay sinabihan ko siya na sa tuwing babanggitin ko si Sarah ay hampasin niya ako o kaya sampalin. Kapag gusto kong puntahan si Sarah, kina Emmy ako pumupunta.

Last October, it was Emmy's birthday. I gave her a bracelet. Engraved there was the combination of our name, ChriEmmy. She didn't expect that I'll give her any birthday present. Me, too. I didn't expect myself to give her any gift. Pero noong nasa mall kami ng pinsan ko na si Roselyn na nagbabakasyon ngayon dito sa Laguna dahil semestral break nila nang dalawang linggo, pinaki-usapan niya ako na samahan ko siyang gumala sa mall dito until she spotted a known jewelry store here, the Silverworks. There's a bracelet that caught my attention as soon as we entered there and for the very first time, it's not Sarah who crossed my mind. It's Emmy. So I bought it for her.

Last month, we just went to Enchanted Kingdom and I really had fun with her. Emmy asked me to try all the rides and I agreed with her but when we were on the Space Shuttle ride already, Emmy didn't do anything but to shout and to hit me so hard while saying, "Tell them to stop this ride! Oh my god! I'm gonna die! Aahhhhhh!" And believe me, I was laughing the whole ride while watching her like that. Masaya ako na si Emmy ang dahilan kung bakit ko na nagagawa ang tumawa ngayon na parang kung iisipin ko noon ay napaka-imposible ko nang gawin simula noong namatay si Sarah.

Again, as what I have said, today is December 21. I am at the studio with Emmy.

"Hey, Chris. Do we have a shoot next week?" she asked while cleaning the lenses of her dSLR camera. I checked our schedule and next week will be our free week. No reservations listed.

"We don't have any reservation next week. Why did you ask?" I asked her while I am busy with my laptop, editing the photos of our dear costumers.

"Well, my cousin, Ella, asked me to spend my Christmas there in Benguet. So I guess, I can be with them now," she said and I was upset. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit bigla akong nalungkot na hindi dito magpapasko si Emmy. So, it means that I'll be celebrating the Christmas alone?

"How about you? Aren't you going to visit your mom?" she asked. Hindi ko pa pala nasasabi sa kaniya na pumunta ng California sina Mama at Lola last week to spend a white Christmas there.

"Nope. She's in California with grandma," I told her and I smiled a little. Halata yata sa mukha ko na nalulungkot ako kasi wala akong kasama sa pasko.

"Oh! So, that will make you to celebrate the Christmas alone?" Bigla akong naka-isip ng isang idea para hindi na ako mag-isa sa pasko. Nginitian ko si Emmy at lalo pang lumapad ang ngiti ko noong nakita ko siyang sumimangot. Ang ganda lang din talaga ni Emmy kahit laging nakabusangot ang mukha niya.

"I won't celebrate the Christmas alone if you will allow me to go with you in Benguet. May I?" I asked. Halos mapanganga si Emmy dahil nagulat siya sa sinabi ko pero sa huli ay pumayag na rin siya. Hindi niya naman daw kasi hahayaan na mag-isa lang ako sa pasko. Sa December 23 kami aalis papunta sa Benguet.

Tonight, Emmy and I will hang out with our common friends, David and Aya, in Bonitos Restaurant at exactly 7 in the evening.

I wore a black polo shirt with a touch of white and tight black skinny jeans which I have matched with white toms.