A week after the funeral, the weight of Miyuki's absence lingers heavily in the air. At Gio's condo, everything feels muted, as if life itself has slowed down.
The usually bright and energetic Sari is now a shadow of herself, her vibrant energy replaced by a quiet stillness. She moves slowly, as if each step requires immense effort, and her gaze often drifts to nothing in particular, lost in memories and grief.
Gio watches her, deeply worried but unsure how to reach her. She’s seen Sari in pain before, but this emptiness is something new something she can’t fix or distract her from.
Sari spends most of her days sitting by the window, looking out over the city in silence. Sometimes, she holds one of Miyuki’s toys, running her fingers over it absentmindedly, as if holding onto the last pieces of her daughter.
Gio tries to offer comfort, bringing her tea or asking if she wants to go for a walk, but Sari barely responds. She just nods slightly, sometimes whispering a soft "thank you," her voice hollow.
Nights are the hardest. Gio hears her quietly sobbing in the bedroom, muffling her cries into the pillow. Gio sits outside the door, feeling helpless, listening, wanting to comfort her but knowing that Sari may not be ready for it.
On one particular evening, Gio finds Sari in the darkened living room, sitting on the floor with one of Miyuki’s favorite picture books in her lap.
Sari traces her fingers over the illustrations, her expression one of profound sadness and longing. Gio quietly sits down beside her, offering silent support.
“hindi ko alam kung pa'no ako makaka move on, Gio,” Sari whispers, her voice cracking. “Everything… everything reminds me of her. Pakiramdam ko andito lang siya. I can still hear her laugh. But then I remember, and… it’s like I’m losing her all over again.” She chokes back a sob, and Gio places a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Gio’s own eyes fill with tears, her voice soft. “bebe, alam natin pareho na inilaban talaga ng anak natin yung sakit niya. Pero.....pero hindi niya kinaya. Tahan na,” She pulls Sari close, and they sit there in silence, sharing the weight of the loss together.
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One quiet afternoon, as Gio is washing dishes in the kitchen, her phone buzzes on the counter. The screen lights up with "Mom" next to Sari's mother's number.
Gio wipes her hands quickly, glancing toward the living room where Sari sits motionless by the window, still lost in her thoughts, before answering.
“Hello, Tita,” Gio says softly, keeping her voice low. She feels a pang of worry in her heart, knowing how closely Sari’s mom has been watching over her daughter, especially now.
“Hi, Gio,” Sari’s mother’s voice sounds tentative, concerned. "I just… I just wanted to check in on Sari. Kamusta na siya?" There's a pause, and Gio can hear the unspoken fear, the motherly worry woven through each word.
Gio sighs, glancing at Sari, who hasn’t moved from her spot by the window. “ganun parin po, Tita. Laging tulala, at madalang din kumain,” Gio says carefully, trying to find the right words.
A sigh escapes from the other end of the line, filled with sadness and helplessness. “I was afraid of that,” Sari’s mom says, her voice breaking slightly. “You know, ever since Miyuki left us… she hasn’t been herself. I knew she’d grieve, but I never imagined it would be this heavy on her.”
Gio closes her eyes, her hand gripping the phone a little tighter. “Naawa na po ako sa kalagayan niya, Tita. I’m trying to be here for her, to help her through it, but… it feels like nothing I do reaches her.”
There’s a moment of silence, and then Sari’s mother speaks, her voice trembling. “I don’t know what to do either, Gio. She’s lost the most precious thing in her life, and as her mother, it’s… it’s unbearable to see her in so much pain. I feel so far away, like I can’t protect her from this.”
Gio takes a deep breath, feeling the weight of Sari’s mother’s words. “Maybe… maybe it would help if you visited. I think she needs all the love and support she can get right now, from everyone who cares about her.”
A small silence fills the line before Sari’s mom speaks again, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you, Gio. For being there for her. I’ll come over soon, even if just to remind her that she’s not alone. Please… keep watching over her.”
“I will, Tita,” Gio promises, her voice steady. “I won’t leave her side.”
They exchange a few more words before hanging up. Gio stands there for a moment, feeling the weight of her promise.
She looks over at Sari, who’s still by the window, lost in a world of memories and sorrow. And as she watches her, Gio silently vows to do everything she can to help Sari find her way through this, no matter how long it takes.
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MY FIRST AND MY LAST S2 (HAMBEBE AU)
Fanfiction(🐰) and (🐨) A couple deeply in love and committed to building a life together. From the early days of friendship that blossomed into romance, they face life's highs and lows side by side, showing what it means to be partners in every sense.
