This Another Life

Another 2: Laureen

Multimedia: Trace, Laureen, Lorenzo

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《PRESENT LIFE》

Lorenzo Gutierez's Pov
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Date: July 23, 2023
Wednesday
4:43pm
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When I and Annys were still together, I am always wondering why she's always making a paper boat. Palagi ko syang nakikitang gumagawa non. Araw-araw. So I asked her why.

Then she told me, nabasa nya raw kasi na kapag daw nakagawa ka ng 1000 paper boats, matutupad ang hiling mo. Tinawanan ko pa sya don dahil imposible naman kasing matupad ang kahilingan mo dahil lang sa paggagawa ng bangka. I told her to stop because it's really a nonsense idea, but she didn't. Ipinagpatuloy nya lang ang paggagawa. Kaya sabi ko nalang, tutulungan ko nalang sya kasi nung time na yon 428 paper boats palang ang nagagawa nya. Pero sabi nya bawal daw magpatulong kasi mawawalan daw ng bisa yon.

Funny, isn't it? But admit it, it's interesting.

Pinabayaan ko nalang syang gumawa nang gumawa ng bangkang papel. Kaso hindi nya rin naman natapos yon e. She died when she reached 946 paper boats and she couldn't even continue it.

At dahil sa sobrang lungkot, sa sobrang sakit at sa sobrang pagkadesperado kong makita sya ulit, I decided to start making paper boats. Umaasa akong matutupad ang kaihilingan ko. Kaso nung nasa kalagitnaan na, itinigil ko rin. I realized that it's really fucking nonsense. Like, how am I supposed to see a dead girl by crafting those filthy paper boats?

How?

I realized that it's really impossible. Besides that, naging busy rin naman ako dahil binigay na sakin ni Tito Diego ang Oren Bar. And I also realized, I still have a life that I should fix. I still need to have a better future.

Until I succeed.

Hanggang sa lumipas nang lumipas ang panahon, nakita ko ulit yung kahon na pinagtaguan ko ng mga bangkang papel na ginawa ko dati.

Then I decided to continue making paper boats again. Alam mo yung kahit imposible, pipilitin mo paring kumbinsihin yung sarili mo gamit ang mga salitang "baka" o kaya "malay mo". Na malay mo naman pwede. Na baka naman posibleng makita ko sya ulit, makasama, makausap, mayakap. I really missed her so much.

Until this, until I finally see her face again.

Is this because of the 1000 paper boats that I finished after 26 years? Or we were just destined to meet again?

She's looking at my eyes right now.

Shit. I missed it. I missed her eyes looking at mine. I missed seeing her. I badly missed her.

"Sir?" Nabalik ako sa huwisyo nang magsalita sya. "Okay ka lang, sir?" Tanong nya kaya napataas ang dalwang kilay ko. "Bakit ka po umiiyak?" Mas lalo akong nagtaka sa sinabi nya. Umiiyak?

Pinahid ko ang pisngi ko at bahagyang napakunot ang noo ko nang makita kong basa iyon.

Am I crying?

Kumuha sya ng tissue at inabot iyon sakin kaya muli akong napatingin sa kanya.

"Tissue po." Sambit nya. When I stared at the tissue in her hand, I could feel my heartbeat quicken.