The Second Time Around (The Starving Squad #1)

Epilogue

Nag-aalala na si Fresia kay Bullet. It's been days since his grandmother passed away. Madalas itong nakatulala sa kawalan, hindi nakikipag-usap kahit kanino. Palagi itong naka-kape o sigarilyo. Ayaw matulog. Ayaw kumain. It breaks her heart to see him like this. It's worse because she's already there with him but she can't do anything about it.

Nawalan na ng kinang ang mga mata nito. Nawalan na yata ito ng ganang mabuhay. Palagi siyang nakabantay rito sa takot na baka may gawin itong hindi maganda sa sarili.

They already talked about their relationship. Well... it's more like she talked and he just stared into space. Ipinaliwanag niya rito kung bakit magkasama sila ni Richard noong gabing nakita nito sila. She told him about the diary and apologized for what she did and didn't do.

But it wasn't enough to lessen the pain of another loss.

"I'm worried about him, Mona."

"Basta huwag ka lang aalis sa tabi niya," sabi nito. " He'll come around."

"But he's destroying himself. He doesn't even sleep!"

Kanina pa ito nakatayo sa tapat ng kabaong ng lola nito. Marami nang tao ang nagbigay ng pakikiramay dito. Even her parents were there. He wasn't handling it well. He's not breaking down but she knows that he's already broken inside.

Nilapitan niya ito at kinapitan sa braso. "Maupo ka muna," sabi niya.

Hindi ito gumalaw.

"Bullet, you need to rest."

"I'm not tired."

She sighed. He's already beyond tired.

"Hindi magugustuhan ng lola mo ang ginagawa mo sa sarili mo." She tugged on his arm. "Let's get you something to eat."

Although he didn't agree on what she said, he didn't complain when she pulled him away from his grandmother. Dinala niya ito sa kwarto nito. Pinaghintay niya ito roon habang kumukuha siya ng pagkain. Good thing Manang Sinyang cooked something in the kitchen.

Ikinuha niya si Bullet ng kanin at ulam, saka juice. Saka siya bumalik sa kwartong pinag-iwanan dito.

Hindi pa rin ito gumagalaw sa pwesto nito. She left him sitting on the side of the bed. She found him in the same exact position, staring blankly at the same bedroom wall.

Inilapag niya ang pagkain sa lamesang nasa tabi ng kama. Naupo siya sa tabi ni Bullet. "Hey... kumain ka na."

"I'm not hungry."

Bumuntong-hininga siya. "Hindi ka pa nakakakain nang maayos."

Hindi ito nagsalita. Nakatitig pa rin sa kawalan.

Yumakap siya sa braso nito. "She made me promise."

Sa wakas ay tumingin din ito sa kanya. His eyes reflect the pain he's feeling these past few days. Nahawa siya sa sakit. Ramdam na ramdam niya ang pangungulila nito, ang pakiramdam ng iniwan at inabandona.

Lalo na nang itanong nito sa kanyang, "Bakit lahat ng mahal ko, iniiwan ako?"

Ramdam niya ang pangungulila nito sa amang hindi nito nakagisnan, sa inang labinlimang taon lamang nitong nakasama, at sa lola nitong naging ama at ina nito nang maraming taon.

"Nandito pa rin naman ako, di ba?" She placed her chin on the crevice between his neck and shoulder. "I won't leave you."

He pressed his forehead on hers and asked, "Will you stay with me for good?"