𝙲𝙻𝙸𝙲𝙺𝚂 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚃𝚂 | 𝙲𝙾𝙼𝙿𝙻𝙴𝚃𝙴𝙳 ✓

chapter 38

Isabella’s POV

Pagkatapos ng gabing iyon, pakiramdam ko ay parang isang malaki at mabigat na bato ang nawala mula sa dibdib ko, pero alam ko na hindi pa ito tapos. Madalas ko pa ring naiisip si Tita Helena at ang lahat ng ginawa niya para sa amin—ang mga pagtatago, ang mga sikreto. I can’t just forget everything she did, but at least now I understand where she’s coming from.

Isang linggo na ang lumipas mula nang magkita kami ni Tita Helena. Ngayon, nandito ako sa park, nagpapahinga at nagmumuni-muni. I needed this break from everything. Masyado nang maraming nangyayari sa buhay ko, and I’m still trying to process it all.

“Isa,” narinig ko ang pamilyar na boses ni Rica mula sa likod ko. Lumingon ako at nakita ko siyang nakangiti habang papalapit sa akin, may hawak na dalawang cup ng coffee. “Thought you could use a pick-me-up,” sabi niya habang inabot ang isang cup sa akin.

“Thanks,” I said, taking the cup and giving her a small smile.

“Paano ka na?” tanong niya, umupo sa tabi ko sa bench. “Ang dami nang nangyari, I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

Umiling ako, not really sure how to answer. “I don’t know. Parang okay ako, pero at the same time, parang hindi pa rin. Alam mo yun?”

“Yeah,” she nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. “It’s normal, Isa. Hindi naman madaling kalimutan lahat ng nangyari. You need time.”

Tumango ako, staring out at the trees in front of us. “Kailangan ko lang siguro ng konting oras para maisaayos ang isip ko. Everything just happened so fast. Hindi ko akalain na ganito pala kahirap magpatawad... even if I want to.”

“You don’t have to rush it,” Rica said softly, resting a hand on my shoulder. “Ang importante, you’re healing, kahit dahan-dahan. You’re stronger than you think, Isa.”

Ngumiti ako sa kanya, grateful for her presence. Minsan, we don’t realize how much we need our friends until they’re there to pick us up when we’re down. And Rica has been that for me—always there, always understanding.

*****

Alexander’s POV

Naglalakad ako papunta kina Isa at Rica habang hawak-hawak ang camera ko. I’ve been taking more pictures lately—parang therapy ko na rin para ma-distract ang sarili ko sa lahat ng drama. I took a few shots of the trees and the sunlight filtering through the leaves as I approached them.

Pagdating ko, nakita kong tahimik lang silang dalawa, both deep in thought. “Hey,” I called out, raising my camera. “Smile naman kayo dyan, ang seryoso niyo.”

Rica grinned at me, habang si Isa naman ay napangiti nang konti, pero halata pa rin ang bigat sa mukha niya. I snapped a few pictures of them, capturing the moment.

“Ang drama niyo, ha,” biro ko habang naupo ako sa tabi ni Isa. “Puwede bang kahit isang araw, maging light and happy lang tayo?”

Rica laughed and rolled her eyes. “Mahirap ata yan, Alex, given everything that’s happened.”

“Yeah,” Isa agreed, pero may ngiti sa mukha niya. “Pero sige, I’ll try. Para sa’yo.”

I grinned at her and took another picture. “That’s more like it.”

For a few moments, it felt like we could breathe. Nasa gitna kami ng mga problema, but moments like this remind us that there’s still joy, kahit papaano. After everything we’ve been through, these small, quiet moments mean a lot.

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Rica’s POV

Habang nagkukulitan kami nina Alex at Isa, napansin ko na kahit paano, mas magaan na ang atmosphere. Hindi pa rin naman nawawala ang mga problema, pero nakikita kong si Isa, kahit papaano, ay nakakapag-adjust na.