Sorrowful Souls

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5

Tahimik lang kaming tatlo habang naka-upo sa labas nang isang convenient store. His brother, Jax Maguire, is silently eating his sandwich.

I am holding the hot coffee he bought me, pinapainit nito ang kamay kong nanlalamig.

He also bought me a disposable towel to dry myself.

"You're not crying anymore, ate."

Napalingon ako sa batang nagsalita. Pinaningkitan ko siya nang mata.

"We saw you in the – in the..." Putol niya na parang hindi maalala ang sasabihin.

"Cemetery.." His brother whispered.

"Right! There!" Tiningnan ko sila ni Lazarus. Hindi ko kasi maintindihan ang sinasabi nang kapatid niya.

"We also sent my parents and sister.."

"Kuya said they're going to heaven and it will take so many years to see them again." Napatigil ako sa sinabi ng batang lalaki at blangkong tinitigan siya.

Like me, they also lost someone.

My eyes started to water when I comprehended his whole words. Oh no.

Tila nataranta silang dalawa nang biglang nagsipatakan ang luha ko.

"Oh no! I didn't mean to make you cry ate!"

Lazarus who's sitting beside me lend me his handkerchief. I take it from his hands and wipe my cheek.

So wala na silang magulang? How cruel the world can be. Inagawan niya nang magulang ang batang 'to.

Life is so unfair.

Nag kwentuhan kaming dalawa ni Lazarus, he told me his parents and little sister was involved in a car accident and hindi daw sila naka survive dito. I was about to tell mine when he said he saw my face in the television days before.

Jax is now sleeping in his brother's lap pero patuloy parin kaming nang kukwentuhan.

It feels like kailangan lang naming magsalita ng magsalita kasi kailangan at para makalimot.

Naputol lang ito nang maramdaman kong tumunog ang phone ko.

"May plano ka bang umuwi ha Torah?!" Inilayo ko ang telepono sa tenga ko.

"Pinag-aalala mo na kami! Kanina pa kami tumatawag sa 'yong babae ka! Wag mong hintayin may gawin si Seraphine para maka-uwi dito." Mahabang litanya nito.

"Tito is also worried, Torah. Umuwi ka na." Napa buntong hininga ako. Pinatay ko ang tawag at tumayo.

Lazarus look up to me asking me what's happening.

"Pinapauwi na ako. Uwi na tayo? It must be uncomfortable for Jax."

Tumango siya at binuhat ang kapatid niya. Binuksan ko ang passenger seat para duon niya mailagay si Jax. After we settled Jax na tulog na tulog ay pinagbuksan ako ni Lazarus ng pintuan sa front seat.

Binigay ko sa kanya ang address ko. The drive went slow because of the wet roads and the ambiance is serene.

We both met while we're having the hardest time in our lives. Only pain and sadness reign in our hearts.

Pinagtagpo kami sa mga panahong hindi namin alam kung makakabangon kami.

We lost different people, but we felt the same pain.

He lost is family, I lost my dear sister.

I know meeting him will surely change my life.

NASA tapat na ako nang gate namin nang lingonin ko si Lazarus na nakatayo parin sa gilid nang sasakyan niya. I did not know if I was thinking straight or not but I felt my feet walking towards him and swinging my arms to wrapped around his neck.

"I don't know if you need one but I feel like I need to hug you." I whispered while still tip-toeing to reach his ears.

Naramdaman ko nalang na sinuklian niya ang yakap ko. Mas lalo niyang hinigpitan ang yakap sa akin na pag hindi niya binitawan ay mamawalan ako ng hinigna.

"This is enough. Thank you."

We stayed like that for I don't know how long. Pero nang binitawan namin ang isa't isa alam ko na may nagbago.

We know from that very moment. A friendship will blossom.

"You should go, anong oras na. Tuck in Jax properly to his bed." Telling a guy stranger like this as if we've been friends for so long is weird.

Tumango siya at bumalik na sa sasakyan niya. Hinintay ko muna silang maka-alis bago ako pumasok.

Naabutan ko si Emerald sa sofa namin habang naka harap sa kanyang macbook.

Tumayo siya nang makita ako. She glared in my direction and started walking towards my direction.

"San ka ba nag pupunta ha? Mygahd! Torah Brielle! Buti nalang napigilan ko si Seraphine. Alam mong mabubulabog ang buong Pilipinas kapag hindi ka niya makita."

Umiling-iling ako. I've been friends with them since middle school kaya alam ko na ang mga galawan nila.

She look at my face and started roaming her eyes to my semi drenched dress.

"Oh my goodness! San ka galing. Come! Come!" Gayak niya sakin papunta sa kwarto ko.

Napatigil ako nang madaanan namin ang kwarto ni Avery. I heard her sighed and dragged me to my room.

"Si Sera pala?" Tanong ko habang kinakapa ang buhok ko only to find out that my snow-clip is missing.

"Umalis, may gagawin daw siya saglit pero babalik daw siya mamayang 4 a.m."

"Natutulog ba yang si Sera?"

"Beats me. That girl is so weird but we love her."

"Si dad?"

"Pinatulog na din namin." Tumango ako. I'm very thankful na I have friends who supported me in this kind of situation.

Matapos kong maligo at mag patuyo nang buhok ay tumabi na ako kay Emerald. Seems like dito din siya matutulog.

"San ka ba galing?"

"Naglakad-lakad lang."

"Torah, Sera and I will always be with you." I hummed and went to sleep.

I know.