On the Seventh Day of May [Seven Series #2 | ✓]

Epilogue

Kenneth's injuries were severe. The doctors tried everything they could to save the young man. But, after two days of deep slumber, he passed away.

Ruby was devastated.

Bakit kinakailangang maging ganito ang kahihinatnan ng lahat? Hindi ba pwedeng maging masaya? Those thoughts played on Ruby's mind when she received the news.

She wept for days, pero alam niyang wala naman iyong magagawa. It could not make him live again.

Wala na siya, wala na.

Noong araw nang burol, siya ang nagbigay ng eulogy sa harap ng mga nakikiramay, ka-pamilya, at mga kaibigan.

"He was the most wonderful guy I have ever known," she said in between sobs. "He was caring, kind, intelligent, and funny. He was indeed one of a kind. It was the first time I've known and loved someone who was such a beautiful person—inside and out. He may no longer here with us physically, I know he's still here with us witnessing what is happening right now with a smile on his face. We all love you. We will always love you. Your memory will remain in our hearts and minds forever. Goodbye for now. I know we will see each other again someday."

Goodnight, sweet prince; And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest, monologo niya habang nilalaglag ang bulaklak sa hukay. Of course, there were tears in her eyes.

"It's okay, Ruby. Ganito talaga ang buhay. Think positive na lang. At least hindi na siya mahihirapan pa," pang-comfort sa kanya ni Josel matapos ang libing ni Kenneth.

Michelle said the same thing. Dinagdagan nga lang nito nang: "Naranasan ko na ring mamatayan ng mahal sa buhay, Ruby, and I agree na mahirap but, you see, kinaya ko naman. Kung kaya ko, kaya mo rin. Ikaw pa!"

Samantalang, pinatawa naman siya ng kambal sa pamamagitan ng pambu-bully ni MJ kay RJ.

"Alam mo, Ruby," hirit na lamang ni RJ, "may kasabihan tayong 'Kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga—"

"T*** inang iyan," putol ni MJ. "Huwag kang maglabas ng kakornihan dito, Roberto Juan!"

"T*** ina ka rin." Binatukan ni RJ ang kakambal. "Hindi naman ako nagbibiro! Seryoso ako, seryoso! Hindi ba halata sa mukha ko?!"

Tinitigan ni MJ ang mukha nito. "Ah. Seryoso ka pala. Makita ko pa lang kasi ang mukha mo, natatawa na ako. Hindi tuloy halata."

At tuluyan nang nag-trash talkan ang dalawa habang sila naman ay nagtawanan. Those two never failed to amuse her kaya nang sandaling iyon ay nawala ang lungkot niya.

However, it didn't mean she was fine because she still felt incomplete. Wala na si Kenneth.

She sighed before she looked up at the sky. I badly want to see him, really. Miss na miss ko na siya...

Two weeks later...

IMINULAT ni Ruby ang mga mata. Matapos mag-stretch para mawala ang antok, kinuha niya ang cell phone na nakapatong sa tokador para tingnan ang oras.

"Naks, ang aga kong nagising. Six a.m. pa lang," ngingiti-ngiting sabi niya sa sarili. "Iba talaga kapag excited ka."

Nilinis niya ang kwarto. Nang matapos, bumaba na siya.

Sa ibaba, nadatnan niya ang mga magulang na kumakain ng almusal.

"Good morning po, mommy, daddy." Nag-kiss siya sa mga ito bago dumalo sa hapag.

"Morning din, hija, kain ka na." Inabutan siya ng plato ng mama.

Kumuha na siya ng kanin pagkatapos. Tapos, natigilan siya nang makita kung ano ang almusal nila. Napawi tuloy ang ngiti niya.