Why Can't It Be?

Chapter 41 - The Memories

Evening came and Camilla still stayed on the floor. Her head was resting above her knees as she mindlessly played with the petals she found scattered around. She felt cold but no Jan was there to hold her anymore.

Camilla was taken back to her senses when she  heard steps.

"Anak?" her father entered. Enrico lowered himself to look at Camilla. She was just sitting there, staring at nothing, hugging her knees close. Enrico hesitated to speak at first. He slowly reached for her arm.

"Let's go? Gumagabi na." he said softly.

Camilla turned to him when she heard his words. Saka lang napansin ni Camilla na madilim na sa labas.

Camilla nodded and just agreed without saying anything.

Before leaving, Camilla turned to look at Jan's portrait again one last time. Her tears automatically sheds. She didn't want to leave if it was an option.

Wordlessly, Camilla wiped away her tears and followed her father out.

Her heart was weighed too much as she got inside the car. Her eyes lingered at Jan's tomb as they drove farther from there.

Palabas na sila ng Everlasting ng magsalita muli si Camilla.

"Dad?"

"Hmm?" Enrico replied checking her from the front through the mirror.

"Can you drop me somewhere else? Sunduin niyo na lang po ako bukas ng umaga before we head to the hospital." sabi ni Camilla. She was talking to Enrico but her eyes were outside the road.

"Hmm, saan anak?" Enrico asked again.

"Are you going to sleep at Keira's place?" her mother also asked.

"Hindi 'mmy." Camilla said looking at her briefly before returning her eyes on the road.

"So saan?" Monalisa asked. She keeps on giving Enrico a look. As if telling him not to allow Camilla.

As parents, they had a hunch as to where Camilla wants to sleep.

"I want to stay at Jan's place. Sa condo niya po ako magpapahatid." Camilla said nonchalantly.

"Camilla." Monalisa immediately opposed.

"Please 'mmy. I want to be alone--" Camilla closed her tired puffy eyes and leaned her head to the seat.

"We can leave you alone in your room. Kung ayaw mo kameng kausapin, fine." Monalisa insisted. She watched how Camilla gently pressed her nose bridge and frowned. She was starting to have a headache.

"No, it's not that. I just want to be with Jan kahit sa ganitong paraan na lang po Mommy." she was still calm and then her voice breaks a little "I want to be alone with Jan's memories."

"Mona, let her be. She needs this." Enrico said in a low voice trying not to raise it.

"Pero Enrico. She's not okay to be left alone." Monalisa still insists.

"I am not asking for your permission 'mmy. I just informed you." Camilla said and the both of them knew it was final.

"Camilla, huwag kang magalit sa Mommy mo. She's just worried." Enrico glanced at his daughter whose eyes are still closed.