Multimedia: Raphael (1997)
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《Past Life》
November 1997
Friday | 10:15 PM
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Tahimik ang rooftop. Malayo ang ilaw ng siyudad. Hangin lang ang maririnig at ang mahinang tunog ng lighter.
Click. Click. Click.
"Hindi ka pa tapos?" Napalingon si Raphael sa isa sa mga tauhan nyang nakatayo sa may pintuan.
"Malapit na," sagot niya, saka sinindihan ang sigarilyo.
Humithit siya sa yosing hawak nya at dahan-dahang binuga ang usok.
"Sigurado ka ba d'yan?" tanong ng lalaki. "Mukhang personal na 'to."
Napangisi si Raphael.
"Personal?" he echoed softly. Then he chuckled.
"Matagal na."
Lumakad siya palapit sa gilid ng rooftop. Tanaw ang buong Oren Bar mula roon.
"Alam mo ba kung ano ang nakakainis sa kanila?" he continued.
"Ano?"
"They act like they own everything." His jaw tightened slightly. "Talent. Attention. Loyalty..." Humithit ulit siya. "And her."
Tahimik lang na nakikinig ang kasama niya.
"She wasn't even supposed to be part of his world," Raphael added. "Pero tingnan mo, she fits perfectly." His eyes darkened. "Too perfectly."
"Eh anong problema doon?" tanong ng lalaki. "Girlfriend niya 'yon, diba?"
Raphael let out a low laugh. "Girlfriend," he repeated. Then he shook his head. "You really think this is about that?" He turned. Now facing him. "She chose him."
Diretso. Simple. Pero puno ng galit.
"Maraming beses," dagdag niya. "Hindi lang isa."
Muli nyang binalikan ang ala-ala sa bahay-ampunan kung san sila nagmula ni Lorenzo. Pareho silang walang magulang. Dahil sa napakamurang edad, si Lorenzo ay namatayan, habang sya naman ay ayon, pinili lang talagang iwan.
At isa pa, kay Lorenzo, may umampon. Pero sa kaniya, wala, nanatili lang don.
"She looked at me once," Raphael continued, quieter now. "Same way."
Alalang alala nya pa nung madalas pang dumalaw sina Annys at Tito Diego roon, labis-labis ang sayang nadudulot nito makita nya lang at maramdaman ang presensya ni Annys.
"But not for long." His expression hardened. "Because Lorenzo walked in."
It's still vivid to his memories,
Annys laughing. Lorenzo laughing with her. That same warm and certain look.
It was always Lorenzo.
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...
