Broken Promises (Epitome Series #2)

Kabanata 48

That same day, we hurriedly went back to France to see Leilana. I was just trying to compose myself as I walk inside the morgue. But when I saw her face, I just lost it all. Hindi ko napigilan ang sariling hindi mapaluhod sa harap ng malamig na katawan ng kaibigan.

"No! This can't be! You're not supposed to be there. Why are you there?"iyak ko habang hindi mapigilan ang pagbuhos ng mga luha ko.

"Leiii! I can't do anything without you! Please!"pagmamakaawa ko pa kahit alam ko. May parte sa sarili kong kahit anong iyak at pagmamakaawang gawin ko sa kanya, hindi na siya babalik pa.

Nanatili ako roon nang halos tatlumpung minuto kakaiyak lang. I blamed her for everything that she did. Kung bakit ang aga naman yata niya akong iniwang mag-isa. I have so many things in front of me. How could I ever fight it all without her by my side?

Tahimik lang naman si Chester habang nakatayo sa gilid ko. Sandro is hurting. I know that. Kahit gaano niya man pilitin ang sariling maging matatag, alam kong sobrang sakit ng pakiramdam niya ngayon.

Tita Amanda went to our house that same day. She comforted me hanggang sa tuluyang nakatulog dahil sa patuloy na pag-iyak. Then, the next morning she let me mourn for the loss of my best friend. Hinayaan lang nila ako. Nang dumating na si Leilana sa isang chapel kung saan dinala ang bangkay niya, I was just silent the whole time.

"Hija, why don't you rest for a bit? Go home and sleep"suwestyon ni Tita Amanda habang hinihimas ang balikat ko. Umiling lang ako. Nararamdaman ko naman ang marahang paninitig ni Chester sa akin mula sa kung saan pero hindi ko iyon pinansin.

"The day before finding out that Leilana was dead, Sandro told me that Archimedes went to talk to her. Sa pagkakaalam ni Sandro, he's asking for you. Hinahanap ka niya but maybe when Leilana didn't told him about your whereabouts, he plotted her accident that leads to her death"paliwanag ni Chester habang tahimik lang naman ako.

Kaya siguro sobra nalang ang takot niya nang makita akong kausap si Archimedes that day. Dahil isa si Archimedes sa mga pinaghihinalaan nilang sangkot sa aksidente. He's now under investigation in the Philippines. Maybe the next day, he will be transferred here para mas mapadali ang imbestigasyon.

Parang may parte sa akin na nagsisisi kung bakit ganoon nalang ang naging reaksyon ko sa ginawa ni Chester. He must have been scared to death after knowing that Leilana's dead.

Leilana's family arrived the next day. Sobra ang pagdadalamhati ng kanyang pamilya lalong-lalo na ang kanyang ina. Halos nahimatay pa nang papasok palang ng chapel kaya agaran ang pagtawag ng emergency. The responders are aiding and assisting her while Leilana's father is already weeping.

I mourned with them throughout Leilana's wake. Kahit ang pamilya ni Sandro ay dumating din kinabukasan. I was also hoping to see Stan coming here but I couldn't even reach him. May iba pang mga kaibigan si Leilana na bumisita rin. Some people made their eulogies but I couldn't even utter a single word to anyone. Mas lalo lang nagtagal ang pananahimik ko hanggang sa nilibing na si Leilana. Her family wants to bring her remains after the cremation pero ang sabi ni Sandro, she'll stay here. We were just so lucky that Leilana's family were understanding. They know what Leilana want and where she really want to rest. It's with Sandro.

Masakit ang ulo ko kinabukasan. Halos mag-iisang buwan at kalahati na ang nakalipas pagkatapos ng burol ni Leilana. Nakauwi na rin ang pamilya niya at iba pa nilang kakilala. While Tita Amanda chose to stay here with me for the mean time. Kahit si Chester, sumama na rin sa kanila pabalik. Napakurap-kurap ako habang tinatanaw ang Eiffel tower mula sa hindi kalayuan. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa dami ng sleeping pills na nainom ko kagabi o dahil sa tolerance ko sa gamot. No matter how much I tried to sleep, nahihirapan parin ako.