Our Story

Chapter 3: City of Stars

MELCHOR

"Does she know na nandito ka nasa Pinas?" I asked. Naglalakad kami sa kalye papuntang convenience store. Malalim na ang gabi at tanging mga sodium light lang mula sa mga poste na nadadaan namin ang nagbibigay gabay at liwanag sa amin.

Pinatid ni Mark ang maliit na batong nananahimik sa gitna nang sementadong daan. Tumilapon ito ng ilang metro at gumawa ng mumunting ingay.

"I don't know. Probably not." He keeps on kicking the stones on the floor. "Hindi na importanteng malaman niyang nandito na ako. Tahimik na buhay niya, sapat na iyon para sa akin."

"So you've checked on her? Like knowing her status, ganun?"

"I tried. I visited her Facebook account but nothing's new to her timeline or maybe she wasn't using it anymore. The only contact that I have from her before is unavailable so... Hindi ko alam."

I shoot a glance at him. He's pacing so fast. "Baka naman naghihintay lang."

"Malabo." Nagsawa na siyang pagpapatirin ang mga bato sa sahig. Tumingin siya sa akin. "Kumusta pala si Napper? Hindi ko pa siya nakikita simula nang umuwi ako. And you haven't mentioned him."

Para akong nasamid nang marinig ang pangalan na binanggit niya. I cleared my throat and avoided his stares.

"Bakit?"

He doesn't know. I breath deeply. How am I supposed to tell him? That the person he was asking was already six feet below the ground.

"Mark." I called him. Nahinto ako sa paghakbang, kaya siya nahinto rin.

"Bakit?"

I could feel the tension inside of me. The tears that are about to droll down my face. Do I need to tell him? Does he need to know the truth?

Damn it! Bahala na. I can't lie to him. Either way he'll know the truth. Mas mabuti nang sakin niya malaman.

"Napper is dead. Two years ago." I said like dropping a bomb in front of him.

Hindi kumurap ni Mark. Nag staring contest kaming dalawa, but I loss. Kumawala ako sa pagtitig dahil sunod-sunod na bumagsak ang mga luha ko sa tuyong daan.

"Don't mess with me Mel."

"I'm not!" I spat at him as if lunging a sharp knife on his chest. "I'm sorry but it's the truth. He's dead."

"Fuck you, Melchor!"

∆∆∆∆∆

Mark stood straight in front of the head stone. He's head was hanging low. Sa batong iyon naka-ukit ang pangalan ng taong binanggit niya kanina.

His face was casted with his own shadow but I can see a hint of sudden grief in his eyes. It must be an awful surprised knowing your best friend being dead. Ang masaklap wala ma noong mga panahon na 'yon.

I breathed out some air. Ramdam kong nakatitig siya sa akin.

"I'm sorry." Napapikit ako nang maalala ang nangyari. "He died of cancer."

Damn! I said I can't lied at him but here I am telling lies. I wasn't completely lying, I am telling half a truth. He has cancer and he died because of it, that has to be the truth that Mark should know. I have to protect him for all cost.

"I have no idea," he cried. Seeing him crying was like swallowing thousands of needless at once. "I shut my social media and networks that time. I thought everything was just, right and fine."

"Shit happens." I said. Trying not to break.

"Tangina," he cursed. With that single word I felt how much he was hurting. "I should have been with you guys. Dapat hindi na ako umalis pa. If only I've known, hindi na dapat ako lumayo."

No, Mark. Everything that has happened were meant to happen. It just us who can't accept it.

Tumayo ako sa tabi niya. "We can't change the past but we have the chance to make the future right and worth a while. And as long as we are alive he will live through our memory."

He maybe dead, gone physically, but he is very much alive within my heart. Mark looked at me with despair and sighed.

"He maybe gone but his memories will leave through the people's hearts he truly loved. And we are both lucky we felt that love from him. We are lucky to his friends."

I know, this is hard for him. They're best of friends. But life, sometimes, sucks. Walang papantay sa sakit na naramdaman ko noong nawala siya sa akin, ano pa kaya para kay Mark na walang kaalam-alam sa lahat.

That day. That was the most painful and most devastated situation that I can't truly forget. Seeing your love one dying on your arms, on the spot.

∆∆∆∆∆

"Ang dami ko palang na-missed, no?" He fake a grin. "Ang dami."

In the back of my mind I was asking myself what it felt like to be left by time. To be unaware of the happenings in the lives of your friends. I'm sure Mark was under the mist of oblivion.

"God!" Bulalas ni Mark, he was frustrated. "Napper..."

Hindi na niya natuloy ang gusto niyang sabihin nang tuluyang kumawala ang kanyang mga luha. I sighed heavily. I can't bear to look at him crying like a child. Ramdam ko ang bawat hikbi niya, it broke out kahit tinatakpan niya ang kanyang bibig gamit ang mga nanginginig niyang kamay.

"I'm sorry, Mark." Iyon nalang ang nasabi ko.

I stood in front of him while he was sitting on a stone bench just a few steps away from the memorial's fence. The air that was coming beneath the cliff was cold. Sa harap namin makikita ang kabuan ng siyudad. Mula dito parang mga bituin ang mga ilaw na nagmumula sa mga nagtataasang mga gusali.

It was like a reflection of what's above us.

End.