Paradise in the Middle of Hell

Twenty-One

• Renz's POV •

 

 

"Loren..." I frowned when I heard my real name. No one dares to call me that name except for my Mom and Dad. 

I heard someone giggled and I saw a girl in white dress sitting on the bermuda grass. Wait, I know this place. I smiled as my eyes roam around and sudddenly the picture of the place became clear.

"Nakanaide." (Don't cry) A girl in blue dress patted the little me on the head. I remember this, I was still a crybaby when I became friends with Miko. Miko was the little girl in blue dress and I'm the one in white.

We met in this beautiful place. There was a grand meeting of some businessmen that includes our parents. We played tag and I accidentally tripped because I'm such a klutz. 

"Waaaaaa! Datte!" (Because...) I cried. She kneeled down and took out her girly handkerchief and tied it to my knee. I got a scratch and it hurts a lot. "Yumiko! Nagsasalita ka na naman ng Japanese! Nahahawa na rin tuloy ako." I pouted. 

She just giggled like a young lady. We were ten years old but I act like a 3 year old child. "Ang hirap kaya!" I laughed at her accent. "See! Your making fun of me!" Pagmamaktol niya.

"Ah! Ikwento mo nalang pala yung lalake na nakilala mo sa Japan." Masigla kong sabi at bigla naman siyang namula. "Yiiiie~ kinikilig siya." Panunukso ko pa.

Nang bumuka ang bibig niya ay bigla nalang nagbago ang lugar. Nasa isang kwarto na ako na puro puti. 

"Renz.." Dali-dali akong lumingon sa gawing kanan ko at nakita ko ang nakangiting si Yumiko wearing a glowing white dress.

"Miko..." I felt my tears falling like a waterfall. I've been holding my tears back for too long since last April. Since the day we burried her body, I'm not allowed to cry.

I made her a promise, if one of us died, we are not allowed to cry. Dahil hindi magiging masaya ang isa sa amin kung kami'y sumakabilang buhay man. But now, I can't stop my tears. I can't stop the sadness that envelops my heart for 3 months.

"Nakanaide." She uttered smiling.

"Argh! Ikaw kasi eh! Now I know I'm dreaming." I wiped my tears and laughed. "Mamamatay na rin ba ako? Diba yun yung nangyayari pag malapit nang mamatay yung isang tao, mapapanaginipan niya yung mga naunang namatay sa kanya? HAHA. Like DUH! Yun kaya nangyayari sa movies, ang OA naman. Pati ako naexperience na rin." I uttered laughing and she laugh along too.

"Ikaw? Mamamatay? Naaaah. Matagal pa bago mangyari yun." Again, we burst out in laughter.

"Renz, do you still remember the boy I told you ten years ago?" Tanong niya and I simply nod. "Ang pangalan niya ay--RENZ! RENZ!" Naguluhan ako.

Magkapangalan kami? At saka, bakit siya sumisigaw? "Renz! Renz!" I opened my eyes and quickly close them as the bright light welcomes me.

"Gising ka na!" Kita ko ang tuwa sa mga mukha ng mga bata ko. Di na naman nasabi ni Yumiko pangalan ng batang lalakeng yun. I frowned. 

"Loren!" A woman ran towards me. She looks so worried. "Bakit nandito na naman kayo? Kayo ang may kasalanan kung bakit nasa ospital anak ko!" Sigaw niya sa mga kaibigan ko.