Glaiza's POV
"Di ko talaga alam na ikaw yung batang babae na sinagip ko. Matagal na kitang gustong makitang muli...
Patawarin mo ko kung di ko nailigtas ang ate mo.. sinubukan ko, sinubukan ko talagang iligtas siya pero wala akong nagawa. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry Rhi." umiiyak kong sambit habang hinawakan ko ang kanyang mga kamay.
Pareho kaming nanlumo sa rebelasyon na aming nalaman. Di ko mawari kung dapat ko bang ikasaya o ikalungkot ang katotohanang siya yung batang babae na sinagip ko noon sa kaalamang kapatid siya ng batang di ko nagawang sagipin na hanggang ngayon ay dala-dala ng konsensya ko.
Para akong binuhasan ng tubig nang dahan dahan niyang hinila ang kamay niya sa mga hawak ko at malumanay na tumingin sa akin, namumuo na rin ang mga luha sa kanyang mga mata.
"You don't have to say sorry. Uhm.. I'm going outside for a stroll. I just badly need to breathe." sabi niya bago tahimik na tumayo't nagbihis.
Pinagmasdan ko lang siya hanggang sa tuluyang na siyang nakalabas ng pintuan.
Rhian's POV
There are days when I feel like as if it was just yesterday that I have lost my sister. Nadine was the only sibling I had. Though we fought about many silly things but we always had each other's back. She was more like a twin than a sister. And when I lost her, it felt like a big chunk was cut off from me. And there are really those days, though I try not to, I still blame my self for what happened then.
"Di ka ba nilalamig or nagugutom?" out of nowhere, Glaiza spoke with a concerned tone. I know I'm making her worry, it's been hours since I left her house and stayed here by the shore.
I glanced at her. I tried to force a smile and shook my head from side to side. After, I returned my gaze to the vast sea in front of us.
Dahan-dahan siyang umupo sa tabi ko, not too close but not too far. It's as if she's telling me that I can have the space that I want but she's still there whenever I need her.
"Kung ayaw mo kong kausapin, okay lang. Kung gusto mo kong umalis, maiintindihan ko. Pero kung may gusto kang ilabas diyan sa puso mo, makikinig ako. Promise Rhian, kahit ano man yun makikinig lang ako at tatanggapin ko. Sumigaw ka kung gusto mong sumigaw. Umiyak ka kung gusto mong umiyak. Magalit ka kung gusto mong magalit." Glaiza told me.
But I still remained quiet. What would I say? That when I was younger, I would even wish it was me instead of Nadine that drowned that day? and how I wish it was Nadine whom she saved instead of me? I shouldn't drag her to my personal issues. It never is Glaiza's fault anyway.
After few minutes had passed, I hear her take a deep breath.
"Pasensya ka na Rhian, baka kailangan mo ngang mapag-isa. Andun lang ako sa resort kung kailangan mo ko." Glaiza broke the silence. She stood but before she can leave, I reached for her hand and spoke.
"Don't leave. Please stay with me" I uttered softly and looked upwards to her.
Glaiza slowly nodded and sat back beside me. She brought my hand she was holding to her lips and gently pressed a kiss on it. Her eyes were soft and gentle.
I returned my eyes to the waters in front of us before speaking.
"It was my 11th birthday. I remember being too excited that day. I sneaked out of our hotel room. Hindi ko talaga napansin na gising na si Nadine at sinundan niya ko. She stopped me before I could swim, kept convincing me to go back cause the weather seemed bad. But I didn't listen and nung nabitawan niya ko I swam to the open sea as fast as I could. It may be hard to believe but I was a swimming champ back then.
