Hey, Jules

HJ 030

As soon as Jules arrived at Cohen's place, he was surprised when he saw not only his friends and their families but also his and Hasley's mother.

Isa lang ang kulang.

Ang babaeng matagal na naghintay sa kanyang bumalik.

Iginala niya ang mata niya sa loob ng bahay. Nagbabakasakaling mali ang nasa isip niya. Umaasang nasa isang sulok lang ang dalaga, nahihiyang magpakita sa kanya. But instead, he saw everyone's tearful eyes and upside-down smiles.

"Hindi..." He whispered. "Huli na ba ako?" He asked himself.

Minerva, his mom, approached him.

Nang maramdaman ni Jules ang yakap ng kanyang ina, agad na bumuhos ang mga luhang kanina pa niya pinipigilan.

"Ma... s-sabihin mo sakin– buhay pa s-siya 'diba?"

Umiiyak na lumapit sa kanya ang mga kaibigan.

"I'm sorry, Jules..." Angela sobbed. "Before she left, she asked us to take a video of her dedicated to you."

Jules looked at Angela. "Anong video?"

Tumingin naman si Angela sa nanay ni Hasley to ask for permission, at tumango naman ito. Kinuha naman ni Kokoy ang remote para buksan ang TV.

Agad na bumungad ang dalagang kanina pa niya gustong makita.

"Hachi..." He mumbled.

Humiwalay siya sa pagkakayakap ng ina. His shoulders were drooping. His eyes were filled with water. And he's not blinking as he stares at Hasley on the screen.

Mas lalo siyang nawalan ng lakas dahil sa Hasley na nakikita niya ngayon sa TV.

Hasley was wearing a white dress. Her skin is pale, sobra ang ikinapayat, wala ng buhok, kita rin ang pasa sa braso, at halata mong nanghihina na.

Pero kahit na ganoon, ang ganda pa rin ng mga ngiti niya.

"She was smiling for you, Jules." Hasley's mom sobbed.

"Ang pangit ko naman! Wala ba kayong liptint d'yan? Baka hindi na magandahan sakin jowa ko nito."

Nanghihinang biro ni Hasley ang bumungad nang i-play na ni Kokoy ang video.

"You're still pretty, Hachi..."

Lumapit naman si Kris kay Hasley at nilagyan ng liptint ang labi ng dalaga.

"Okay na ba 'yan?"

"Maganda na ba ako?"

"What do you mean? Maganda ka naman talaga!"

"Tapos na ba kayong dalawa? Naka-video na oh."

"Edit mo 'yan, Kokoy, i-be-break kitang siraulo ka."

Natawa naman si Hasley ng mahina, kaya natawa rin si Jules kahit na patuloy pa rin ang pag-iyak.

"Ready na, Hash?"

Hasley nodded before smiling so sweetly.

"I missed you, Hachi..."

"Hey, Jules!"

"H-hey..."

"Una sa lahat, gusto kong humingi ng tawad sayo."

Jules shook his head.

"Baka hindi na kita mahintay pa. I know, once na mapanood mo 'to, baka wala na ako–"

"'Wag mo ngang sabihin 'yan, bruha ka!"

Hasley just rolled her eyes at someone behind the camera. And it made Jules laugh.

"Remember when we were in high school and you told me you like science so much? Lalo na kapag 'yung topic ay about the universe, the planets, the stars, and the sun. And when I asked you why you love that subject so much, you responded with the brightest eyes–"

"Because I like to unweave things that are twisted and stitched together limb to limb." Pagsabay ni Jules sa sinasabi ni Hasley.

"See? I am always listening to you. And you know what's my favorite? Your stories about satellites, the Sputnik. I can feel it now, Jules. We are like the Sputniks. You orbited my world once then it burned afterwards."

"No, Hachi... I'm still orbiting."

"Jules, you loved me good, and your tenderness remains with me forever like a touchstone. I am thankful, for once, that you orbited my world. Your heart can transcend the cosmos. If only I had known, I never would have allowed us to wander; instead, I would have kept us alive until we were reduced to ashes. And finally, I wanted to let you know that even though we've turned into the remains of deceased stars that have colonized everything and nothingness, there are still some places that you haven't visited. I also wanted to let you know that if you had asked me to come over in another life, I would have still given you the same universe, but I would have loved you for a longer time than this one, and I promise that even the sun would have known about it."

Everyone in the room was crying their hearts out.

It hurts, listening to Hasley's voice, habang naririnig ang bawat hikbi ni Jules.

"Even though I don't understand, Jules, I would have truly enjoyed hearing your science-related anecdotes in another life. Before I wrap up this video, Jules, I want you to know that you are the rightful owner of my pounding heart. Sayong-sayo lang, mahal."

"Tapos na?"

"Teka hindi mo sasabihin?"

Jules looked at Kristina, who was crying on Kokoy's shoulder.

"Ang alin, Kris?"

However, Kokoy gestured for him to just listen until the end of the video.

"Kailangan pa ba?"

"Tanga, syempre!"

"Wala na, naudlot na iyak ko."

"Sabihin mo na!"

"Hindi na siguro kailangan? Deserve niyang makanap ng bagong magmamahal sa kanya. Wala namang kasiguraduhan kung makakabalik pa ba ako ng buhay eh."

"Makakabalik ka! Gagaling ka!"

Naguguluhan, tumingin si Jules sa mama ni Hasley. "Ano pong meron?" Pero bago pa makasagot ang ina ng dalaga, narinig na niya muli ang boses nito.

"Jules, aalis ako ng bansa para magpagaling. Kukunin ako ng lola ko na nasa Canada para doon magpagamot. But don't worry, you don't have to wait me. Basta, ano man ang mangyari, mahal na mahal kita." 

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buhay ba si hasley or not?

epilogue next ud! 

thank you for staying with me!

wala pa ring kuryente,
jobi.