Orologio

000: proem

proem
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"Ang sabi nila, 'time heal all wounds' but I don't agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone, but will I ever forget them after all that they've done?" tanong nung babae sa kanila, but it's also the question she, even herself can't answer. 

She took a glance at the sea, so vast that seems so endless. Air are dancing like there's a celebration to enjoy. The tents that are installed are holding well with those white fiber adorned them, which are also dancing through the air as the low mellow music playing at the back ground.

Squinted her eyes and masked her sadness with heartwarming smile. He noticed, a guy who wore plain white shirt. Camera on his right hand. Walang intensyon makinig sa kwento pero wala itong magawa. Trabaho niya ang kunan ng coverage yung mga nangyayari sa conference.

"Ate Henlien kahit ngayon rin po ba?" he took a shot as he saw how curious the little girl is. Ang hindi niya alam he also anticipate what's her answer.

"Honestly, I can't naalala ko lagi even from small details" agad napalingon si Henlien when another hand raises. She smiled and gesture the boy to shoot his question.

"My mom said it's unhealthy to dwell from past po ate especially if it's hurting you." the boy has a point yun ang nasa isip ni Henlien but she can't do anything. Maybe she will, slowly.

"Yep, it's unhealthy but I'm doing my best to accept and overcome. That's why we should keep in mind what's our purpose and our goal. Why are here? What  role and what we can do for ourselves and for others. Mahirap talaga kalimutan yung nakaraan, there's regret, pain, longing and happiness. Especially if it did play a great part of your life. Like I said everyone, you are here because you still have role to play for other people but also for yourself" 

Flash. the last shot he took for these event. Scanned the other tents and dipped his foot into the sand. 

"Now I'm done" tinabi niya yung camera and scratched the event as he finished documenting the event for this morning.

"Sundial, our lunch just arrived. May kailangan rin tayong eh fill up. Let's go?" 

"Yeah, sure Braize" and started to take a step farther.

Henlien started to finish up her talk with the kids that assigned to her. She immediately gave them each package she prepared for the kids. 

Time for her to bid the kids and finishes her schedule for today-

"Shoot, I need to meet my people and I shouldn't miss it. Kasalanan talaga ito ni Cievere." startled when her phone started to ring. Cievere

"Speaking of- Ano na naman" 

A long talk.

After the call napa-upo si Henlien and unpacked the food delivered. The food package no longer warm. "Swerte, hindi pancit kundi hindi ko mauubos" she talked to herself.

Taking her sweet lunch, napansin niya ang isang bata.

An oblivious girl stabbing her own dolls with the pen that the organizer provides them. She saw tears slowly fell down and the latter harshly wiped it away that caused her cheek to bleed. Her sobbing continues. She stood up at lalapitan na yung bata when someone went instead of her.

"What's wrong?" tanong nung lalaki. She eyed them.

Wearing formal suit, one of the heads. Maybe. Henlien decided na bumalik nalang and let the staffs handle the girl.

"You can have it all but just not all at once, you can have the bear for awhile but you can't own it. Your friend over there needed it the most" that statement stopped Henlien from her tracks

'You can have it all but just not all at once, you can have me for awhile but you can't own me'

She remembered those words, those voice it keeps on replaying in her mind as if a broken radio. Immediately turned her head para tignan yung kumausap sa bata and they're no longer there. She practiced her breathing exercise. Plastered a smile.

"Kaya ko toh" she cheered herself habang tinatapik ang sarili. 

Maybe you should have been contented why did you force it all out?

Napakagat si Henlien sa kanyang labi. She's starting to get frustrated. Of all the things that keeps playing in her head yun pa talaga. 

"Hey, are you ok?" napatalon siya sa gulat nung tinanong siya. She's too unfocused kaya tumango nalang siya. 

"After finishing your lunch please clear out this area. The executives are here" turo nung isang staff doon sa isang room na malapit sa mga tents. 

She stared for too long for her to be noticed. 

With black blazer and white plaited shirt underneath. His black hair styled up naturally. Those piercing eyes. She knew it all too well, did she?

"You shouldn't be here, your existence perished that night. That 12th wish" 

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