Our Journey To Happy Endings

At Least Try (The Movement Entry)

We were allowed by The Council to post our works after the results were released, so here's my The Movement Entry. Thanking Ate Ysai for the feedback.:)

September 23, 2014 | 3:10PM

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at least try

“Hi, Jill!”

Tinabihan ko siya nang may ngiti sa labi. Today is a great day and I am feeling elated. It is the first day of Summer and the beach is at its glory. The warm summer breeze is so comforting. The trees are dancing freely and the birds are singing beautifully. Hindi rin masyadong malamig ang tubig na tumatama sa mga paa namin, just perfect for a relaxing 5th of April afternoon.

Walang imik na nakatungo sa buhangin ang katabi ko. Tinitigan at pinagmasdan ko nang maigi ang mukha niya. Blank. No expression at all. Nakatunganga lang siya na parang walang buhay. Hindi ko alam kung napapansin niya na nababasa na ang pantalon na suot niya.

“Why the long face, Jill?”

Mukha namang narinig niya ‘yung tanong ko. She looked at me for about five seconds. I waited for a reaction. A raised brow, a hiss, or a smile, maybe… anything. But I got nothing.  She looked away again.

“You okay?” I asked, still hoping she would give me something—and even though I already know what her answer’s going to be.

She just stared in the vastness of the blue sky, her eyes wandering in the clouds, her mind somewhere far. I should really be frustrated. It is my second favorite season of the year, yet here is my favorite person in the world second to my Mom, all gloomy and seeming lost in her thoughts.

“Do you want to take a walk, Jill?”

Again, nothing.

I should really feel bad, but I understand where she’s coming from.

I have known Jillian since I was just a young boy. She was this bubbly little girl who makes everyone around her smile. She was a happy child.

Up until High School, she had always have this contagious smile. A smile that brightens up the room and makes every situation seem light. Everybody wanted to be her friend. She was that influential. Pero hindi niya pinaabot sa ulo niya ang bagay na iyon. She remained humble and true.

In spite all the attention she was receiving, Jillian wanted to keep a low profile. She was talented and really very pretty, but she preferred to have a normal High School life where people won’t judge her by the way she dresses, speaks or walks; or kung sino ang kasama niya at anong klaseng pelikula ang hilig niya.

Nagsimulang humangin ng malakas. Bahagya akong nanginig dahil sa biglaang paglamig ng hangin. Nilingon ko siya kaagad, “Hindi ka ba nilalamig?” I asked, but she uttered not a single word.

I have always looked out for her. We are good friends, pero parati na akong nasa tabi niya beyond its literal meaning. I don’t know. I guess I have always wanted to be the one to be there for her… to make her feel loved and cared for no matter what happens.

I always loved being with her because she… she makes me happy, and I always hoped I make her happy, too.

Kung hindi pa obvious, here it is: mahal ko si Jillian. Always have, always will.

That’s why seeing her hurting kills every inch of me. She does not vocally express her pain but I know that her heart is broken and shattered. The emptiness of her eyes mirrors the excruciating pain she’s experiencing until now.

“Baka gusto mo nang bumalik sa loob, Jill? It’s getting chilly here.” Pinagsalikop ko ang mga palad ko at maya’t-maya ay kinikiskis ang mga ito.