Multimedia: Iris (2022)
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《PRESENT LIFE》
August 4, 2022
Friday | 8:46pm
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"Finally, we are complete now."
Bakas ang pait.
Bakas lungkot na pilit ikinukubli.
Ngunit hindi rin maitatanggi, may bahid ng tuwa.
Napatingin ang lahat kay Sir Lorenzo nang sabihin niya iyon. Ngumiti lamang siya habang isa-isang pinagmamasdan sina Cleo, Yuen, at Laureen, na tila ba parang may binabalikang alaala.
"Same faces, different people," he whispered then chuckled softly. "Unbelievable."
How unfair it is to be the only one who's left behind.
They all began another life...
no pain,
no promises,
no memories.
While he continues his own...
bitbit ang lahat ng iniwan nila,
lalo na si Annys.
"I'm sorry, sir... but what do you mean?" Cleo can't help but ask, curiosity laced in her voice.
Mapait na natawa si Sir Lorenzo, ngunit agad niya rin itong pinigilan. "Nothing," sagot niya at bumuntong hininga. "Pareho ko kayong tinatanggap sa trabaho. You two can start tomorrow."
Agad na napangiti si Cleo nang marinig iyon. "Really?" wala nang interview? Gusto niya sanang idagdagn kaso wag nalang, baka bawiin pa. "Thank you so much po!" puno ng saya ang kanyang tinig.
"Salamat po." Yuen simply nodded, a quiet relief settling on his face.
Pareho silang natanggap, kahit isa lang ang kailangan.
Lucky, Laureen thought.
But something about them didn't sit right. They both carried themselves like rich kids, too polished, too composed for a place like this.
Inilapag ni Trace ang apat na baso sa bar top at tahimik na pinagmamasdan silang apat.
Si Cleo at Yuen, mga bagong mukha. Si sir Lorenzo, at si Laureen na nasa tapat nila.
"Butterfly." bulong ni Trace, wala sa sariling namutawi ang salita.
Napakunot ang noo niya.
Why did he say that?
"Weird," he muttered, about to turn back to work but..
"Trace, bukas na lang daw ako bumalik sa trabaho, sabi ni Sir Lorenzo," sambit ni Laureen. "Mauna na ko sa'yo, ha."
"Are your legs okay?" Hindi mapigilang magtanong ni Trace.
"Yeah, don't worry." she answered.
Tumango siya, then let out a quiet breath. Tinalikuran na siya ni Laureen para umalis nang muli siyang magsalita.
"Uuwi kang mag-isa?" kalmado ngunit nakakunot ang noo nito.
Huminto si Laureen. She turned back, then nodded. "Malamang. May trabaho ka pa, eh."
Magkalapit lang ang apartment nila kaya madalas sabay silang umuuwi. Ngunit ngayong gabi, hindi iyon pwede.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Life That Echoes
FantasySome love don't end. They linger-soft, distant, and aching like echoes that refuse to fade. Lorenzo once had a love that felt like forever. Annys was his home, his future, his everything. Until death took her too soon, leaving behind a silence he n...
