Franki's POV
Kumakain na kami ni Diana.
"So, what's your hobby when you were younger? Syempre, except sa healthy routines nyo ni Argel." Tanong ko.
"Writing, singing and drawing. All the indoor stuff. Hindi kasi ako madalas pinapalabas dati ni Dad."
"Hala, bakit naman?."
"Ano, ah bawal kasi akong mapagod."
"But you're a kid, you should've enjoyed your childhood outside."
"Na enjoy ko naman ang childhood ko Franki eh. Hindi lang talaga katulad ng sa ibang mga bata. Masaya ako na mag-isa, syempre I'm doing the things I love."
"Sa bagay, may mga tao talagang ganun. Sabi nga nila, talagang matatalino din kadalasan ang mga introvert."
"Matatalino din naman ang mga extrovert eh. I wish nga na I have their skills in persuading people and their ability to be more empathetic. Minsan kasi pag lagi kang mag-isa, more or less sarili mo lang talaga ang iniisip mo. Pero tina-try ko naman, lalo na ngayong ako na naghahandle ng company namin."
Four days later, I woke up alone. Asan na ba yun si Diana? Hinahanap ko siya sa buong bahay pero hindi ko parin siya matagpuan. Bigla kong naalala ang sinabi ni Argel that Diana's life is in danger. Baka nakidnap na siya o napatay. Pano kung ako ang maturo nilang suspect kasi ako ang huli niyang kasama. Pero yung kotse nya nasa garage parin at ang susi ay nasa kwarto namin.
8am na ng umaga. I tried calling Argel but he's out of reach. Dina dapat nakauwi na siya ngayon? Baka naman magkasama lang sila ni Diana at nag grocery lang sila. Pero impossible, puno pa ang ref ni Diana at yung food sa kitchen cabinets parang pang buong taon na.
Then my phone suddenly rang,
It's Maza calling.
OMG Franki,where are you?
Dito sa bahay ni Diana. Bakit? What happened Maz?
Hindi mo ba nakita sa news kanikanina lang? Si Argel.
Why? What happened to Argel?!
Naaksidente siya kaninang 5am. He's dead Franki. Hindi siya nakaligtas.
Maza. That's not funny.
I'm not joking.
Is this a prank?haha you almost got me there girl.
Hindi ako nagbibiro. He's dead Franki. Papunta na kami ngayon dun sa punerarya kung saan dinala ang katawan niya. Are you coming?
Text me the address, I'm coming.
As soon as I received her text, naligo na ako at nagmadaling pumunta sa punerarya. Iyak lang ako ng iyak once I saw his face. Argel's dead. Puno ng pasa ang mukha niya at may maliit na crack sa skull niya.
Argel, whyyyy? Why do you have to leave me like this? It's so unfair! Papakasalan mo pa ako diba?! Nangako ka!
Lumipas pa ang ilang araw. Ni isang beses, hindi pumunta si Diana sa funeral ni Argel. Patay narin ba siya?
Nagulat ako when she showed up sa burial. She's wearing sunglasses. For sure, grabe din ang iyak nito. Niyakap niya lang ako ng sobrang higpit sabay iyak.
It's been 3 weeks. I can't believe Argel's gone.
Nasa kwarto lang ako.
"Franki! Lumabas ka na please! Tatlong linggo ka nang nagmumukmok diyan sa loob. Maawa ka naman sa sarili mo." Rinig kong sermon ng kaibigan kong si Jodie.
"Leave me alone! I need Argel!."
"Franki. He's dead! He's not coming back for goodness sake!." Galit na sabi ni Julia.
"You're just saying as if it was that easy because you don't know how I feel! All of you!."
"Franki. We're your friends and we care for you. Makinig ka naman. We only want you to feel better." Mahinahong sabi ni Maza.
"Well, you're not helping! I don't need you! I need Argel. I want him back!." Iyak ko pa.
"Franki. It's me, Diana. Open this door please."
"There's no point Diana. There's no point of life anymore."
"There is Franki, if you open this door. Please. At least let me in. I know accepting the fact that he's gone is hard, but I'm telling you Franki, you will soon get over this if you try. It could take days, months, years or even decades before you forget it. But trust me, you will and you can. You don't have to forget all about him, all you need is to find your way back to happiness without Argel. He's not the world Franki, he's just an occupant. So your life isn't supposed to revolve around one person. I'm here. I will help you live this life again without him." And because of that, I finally opened the door and found light.
The following days are still depressing but Diana is there to make that burden weigh less.
Pinipilit niya ako lagi na lumabas like walk in the park, eat in a restaurant and play arcade. It was so much fun but I still don't find happiness in those. Lahat kasi ng mga yun ginagawa namin ni Argel, hindi nga lang lagi but I truly treasured those memories I had with him. Sobrang hirap.
Pauwi na kami sakay ng kotse ni Diana.
"Why? What's wrong?." Diana asked a bit worried.
"I miss him Diana."
"Me too. But Argel want you to be happy Franki, and the only way to do that is to give yourself a chance."
"But I can't help it. Parang kahapon lang nangyari ang lahat."
"Yesterday is yesterday, today is today and what lies ahead is not tomorrow but results of the test we had in those days. Too bad, we can no longer change them. Sometimes it's a curse, sometimes it's a blessing, but most of the time it leaves you permanent lessons."
"How did you get over it that fast?."
"I never did because I believe he's not completely gone. A part of him is still in here." She said pointing to her chest.
Maybe she's right. It depends on me. Even when a person is gone, they would always be living inside our hearts. Sometimes, we have to understand that people come and go.
If it's their time, it's their time. Stop feeling bad about things you can't control.
I guess our story isn't supposed to have a happy ending.
