Lost and Found • mikhaiah au

30. Epilogue

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over. Agnes called out impatiently, her voice echoing slightly in the surrounding. "Hoy! Dalian mo nga! Tayo na lang wala oh!"

Maiko, with a grin on her face, jogged towards Agnes, her laughter bright and carefree. "I'm coming, wifey!" she called back, her voice teasing. She reached Agnes and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before falling into a step beside her.

Agnes tried to maintain a stern look, but her eyes betrayed her amusement. "Kainis, papansin!"

As they approached their destination, the sound of laughter reached them from ahead. Casey's voice rang out, teasingly, "Ano ba naman 'tong lovebirds na 'to! 'Di mapaghiwalay, may pa kiss pa! Kita ko 'yo—"

Before Casey could finish, Jovanna chimed in with a grin, "Lovebirds? 'Di ba dapat love fishes, kasi swimmers sila?"

"Tantanan mo 'ko ha! Feeling relevant! Hiwalayan kaya kita now na te?"

"Sure, sure I close my eyes!"

"Gago!"

The group burst into laughter, their laughs mingling with the serene ambiance of the setting. Colleen, standing nearby, shook her head with a mock stern expression. "Piskit, feeling bata ang mga matatanda!" she said.

The banter then settled into a quiet hush, as they all watched Agnes, carefully kneeling down, placing the flowers on the ground, with Maiko, beside her, gently clearing away the fallen leaves that had gathered around the stone, her fingers brushing softly over the names etched into it: Maki Lim and Althea Arrieta.

All of their eyes softened at the sight as they watched the two; Colleen then stepped forward alongside, placing her arms around Agnes' and Maiko's shoulders, pulling them into a gentle hug.

Her voice, though filled with a hint of sadness, carried warmth and love as she spoke. "Maki, Althea," she began softly, addressing the names on the stone as if they could hear her. "I want you to meet Agnes and Maiko—"

She paused, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "They may look like you both," Colleen continued, "—but they have their own hearts, their own dreams, their own paths, just like you two did. And in so many ways, they've helped us heal. They've brought back the light that we lost once," Her voice trembled slightly, but she smiled, her gaze shifting between the stone and the two young women beside her.

Malia stepped forward, her voice steady but emotional. "It's true. Agnes, Maiko—you two have been such a blessing to us. I think Maki and Althea would've loved you both so much. You've shown us how to find new hope, to see the future in a way we couldn't before."

Glen's voice chimed in, soft and sincere. "And you both have given us so much joy. Watching you two grow, watching you find your way—it's like seeing a part of Maki and Althea again, but also seeing something completely new and beautiful."

Casey nodded, adding, "You've reminded us of the good times, the laughter and the love that never faded. And you've made new memories for us to cherish—memories that are yours and yours alone."

Sienna, always one for lightening the mood, wiped a tear from her cheek with a chuckle. "Oh! Wag kalimutan yung gulong dinala niyan ha! Pakaba 'eh!—"

Laughter then echoed through them. "But honestly, it's been a joy, kayo. Kayong yung saya na Ate Maki and Ate Althea would've been proud of."

Jovanna took a deep breath, her smile gentle. "You know, sometimes, I think I hear their laughter, like they're still here, watching over us. And maybe they are. Maybe they never really left. They live on in us—in the way we love, the way we laugh, the way we remember."