Remember (MaiDen Fanfiction) | Wattys 2019 Winner

Chapter XXX

This is the last chapter. Thank you for making it until here. Next update will be the Epilogue.

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Life teaches a lot of lessons to learn from. Some may say that it is unfair, but a fair life will not teach you anything at all. People commit mistakes to make it right. Nobody is perfect. Nobody's life is indeed perfect.

We are living in a world of reality. Hindi lahat ng gusto natin ay masusunod. Hindi lahat ng hilingin natin ay mangyayari. We cannot expect everyone to like us just because we want to. Iba-iba rin naman ang opinyon ng bawat isa sa mundo. The only thing that binds us is love.

Love is a universal language that nobody need to speak. But it has to be felt. Love can understand. Love will make you realize how wonderful life can be. Love can make you smile.

Though love is not about all the happy things and thoughts. Love can also be painful, but it has its lessons. It might be full of struggles and problems but in the end it's going to be worth it.

Meng had learned a lot in life and love. It wasn't all good but it wasn't that bad. There really are ups and downs in everyone's life but you have to be brave and strong in order to survive.

She smiled while looking at the white roses in the garden. Hindi niya alam kung bakit nitong mga huling araw ay gustung-gusto niya iyong pagmasdan. Natutuwa siya sa tuwing may mamumukadkad na bagong rosas. It makes her feel solemn and in peace. Like nothing can ever go wrong.

"Lola..."

Naramdaman niya ang paghawak ng kung sino sa kanyang balikat. Hindi na niya kinailangan pang lumingon dahil nagpunta na agad ito sa kanyang harap. Naupo ito sa upuan sa harap niya. Hinaharangan ang view para makita niya ang mga rosas.

"Don't block my view." Malumanay na saad niya sa magandang babae sa harap. Hindi niya alam kung kailan niya ito nakita ngunit tila nakikilala niya ang mukhang iyon.

"Tomorrow's his death anniversary, Lola." Saad ng babae at malungkot na ngumiti sa kanya.

"Sino ka ba?" tanong niya rito. "Why are you in my house?"

"I'm Maine, your granddaughter. Remember?"

Ang mga mata nito ay tila katulad ng kanya. Ang bibig at ilong ay pamilyar. Ang hugis ng mukha ay katulad ng nasa isip niya. She looked like her. So much. Na parang nakatingin lamang siya sa sariling repleksyon sa salamin.

"Maine..." ulit niya sa pangalan nito. "Nasaan si RJ?" she asked and looked around. Umaasa na makikita ang mukha ng lalaking kanyang minamahal.

"He's not here, Lola."

"At bakit?" muling tanong niya. "He should be here."

"Wala na siya, Lola."

Saglit siyang natigilan sa sinabi nito. Hindi alam kung paniniwalaan ba niya iyon o hindi.

"He was here. Sinusundo na niya ako, hija." She smiled at the woman in front of her. "Babalik siya bukas para sunduin ako. Sasama na ako sa kanya." 

The woman cried. Agad na pinalis niya ang luha sa magandang mukha nito. Hindi nababagay sa mukha nito ang mga luha. She should smile often.

"Do not cry, hija. It was meant to happen. It was the reality of life."

"But Lola---"

Magaan ang loob niya rito. Like she will understand everything that she'll say. "Naghintay ako sa kanya nang matagal. Araw-araw akong naghintay na sana makita ko siya kahit saglit lang. Ni minsan hindi siya nagpakita man lang." Ngumiti siya rito. "Until he came one day. It was the happiest day of my life, hija. Because I waited for fifty six years to see him again."