Infinity

12

Lumapit ako nang onti-onti kay Finilene, nakasuot siya ng puting bestida—parang anghel. Step by step, my heart felt heavier. She was so beautiful in white, like I always imagined, but this wasn’t the moment I wanted. Gusto ko siyang yakapin, sabihing mahal na mahal ko siya, pero alam kong wala na siyang maririnig.

She wasn’t walking toward me; she was being taken away for good. Ang aisle na dapat para sa kasal namin, now turned into a cold, silent path leading to her coffin. Instead of seeing her smile at me from the altar, I could only see her through the glass, eyes closed forever, peaceful but unreachable.

“Ang pogi mo talaga,” Finilene would say, laughing as she pinched my cheek. I’d roll my eyes, pretending to be annoyed, but deep down, I loved how she said it, the way her voice wrapped around those words.

“Ikaw lang naman nagsasabi niyan,” I’d reply, trying to act cool.

“Eh kasi totoo,” she’d grin, her eyes twinkling like they always did when she teased me. Those little moments stuck with me—every laugh, every soft whisper in the quiet of the night.

I remembered how she would rest her head on my chest while we watched the stars. “Gusto kong ganito tayo palagi,” she’d say, her voice soft. “Yung simple lang, pero masaya. Kasama ka lang, buo na ako.”

One time, I surprised her with flowers. “Alam mo, hindi mo na kailangan ng bulaklak,” she said, holding the bouquet close. “Ikaw lang sapat na.” Then she kissed me on the cheek, her smile bright as the sun.

Now, all I had left were those memories—her laugh, her words, and the love we shared. But no matter how many memories I held on to, nothing could fill the empty space beside me where Finilene should’ve been.