My Happy Accident

15

I instantly fell asleep after I dropped Deanna off at the airport when my sleep was disrupted by a call. Actually, I was flooded by tons of them, as were my messages and other social media. Another call came. It was from Ate Ly. I answered it, still not having the slightest idea of what news was coming.

"Hey, Bunso. We've been calling you since forever. Have you seen the news?"

Ate Ly's obviously panicking. She even sounded out of breath.

"Huh? Why, Ate? What happened? Are you crying?"

I innocently asked her.

"Please just see for yourself, because I can't."

I ended the call and checked my socials.

My feed was flooded by the same news, with the headline "Plane Crash in Cebu City."

The next paragraph says, "No survivors were recorded after Flight 15A to Cebu failed on its attempt for an emergency landing."

I need not finish that article to call Deanna's number. I know it's hopeless. Her phone can no longer be reached, so I dialed Ate Ly's number, and she answered.

I feel numb, like I can't get myself to feel anything. It's like I'm frozen at my spot.

"This can't be happening, Ate Ly."

I don't know if it's me trying to convince her or me trying to convince myself.

"I dropped her off the airport just an hour ago. She can't be gone. We need to get to her. Maybe she's terribly hurt and she's got no one to take care of her."

I said to Ate Ly. My voice is already shaking.

"Please, Ate. Tell me this isn't real."

This time, I'm already sobbing.

"I'm sorry, Bunso."

The only words Ate Ly managed to say. I don't really think anything or anyone could ever comfort me after what just came to my knowledge.

I broke down on the floor when Mafe called me. I didn't even bother answering it. I turned my phone off so nobody could reach me. I can't handle any news telling me that Deanna's already gone. Forever.

I woke up with my younger sister beside me. The last thing I remember is that I fell asleep on the floor after hours of crying. I also saw my dad walking towards me. What's this? A family reunion?

"What are you guys doing here?"

I'm really in no mood for company.

"What do you mean, what are we doing here? We already know what happened.

"Don't, dad. Let's speak of this no more."

I got out of bed and went to my condo's balcony because everybody's presence is suffocating.

"Ate," my sister called me as she held on to my arm.

"Could you just please leave me alone?"

I accidentally pushed her, causing her to fall. I saw her walk away from me while crying. God, I can't believe I just lashed out at my baby sister.

Despite drowning in my own grief, my heart couldn't take seeing my sister in tears because of me, so I followed her. I saw her crying her eyes out at our father.

"What do you think you're doing?"

My dad's a bit fed up by now.

I broke down in tears again while hugging my baby sister.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to hurt you."

We both cried, and I felt her hugging me back.
"I understand you lost Ate Deanna, but we lost her too. We almost lost you once. We're not going to let that happen again, so please, just please, don't push us away."

This is really one of the most heartbreaking things for me. Seeing my sister in tears. I always have this soft spot for her.

I wiped her tears as I continued to console her.
"I'm sorry, baby. I promise I won't."

I realized all of us are crying now. Deanna's the closest thing to family for us. She's never left our side-my side-even once. And the moment she left, she left us forever.