Saving Serene [Wattys2020 Winner!]

Chapter 27

TRIGGER WARNING!!!

This book contains content that some may find disturbing. Hallucinations, depression, pessimism in every chapter, suicidal thoughts and suicide will be tackled in this story.

RATED SPG: flashback scene of sexual harassment and a bed scene

Read at your own risk.

Chapter 27

Have you ever tried doing something you never thought you would do in the first place?

Few hours have passed, the sun is almost setting. It's been only few minutes ago when Serene realized how beautiful and white the sand they were walking on. It's like the sands are shining because of its whiteness.

"Ang ganda pala ng buhangin, ngayon ko lang napansin," sabi ni Serene sa bartender nang umupo ito sa tabi niya at binigyan siya ng maiinom.

"Yeah, because you're focused on your negativities, you forget to look on the brighter things around you."

Napanganga si Serene nang marinig iyon. Tumingin siya sa bartender na kasama niya at nakitang nakatingin lang ito sa malayong parte at naninigarilyo.

"A-Ano?" tanong niya.

Parang kaninang madaling-araw lang, may sinabi rin ito sa kan'ya na halos katulad ng sinabi ni Cody. Tumingin ang bartender sa kaniya; napaiwas siya ng tingin dahil dito.

"Anong a-ano?"

Serene chuckled at how he mimicked her. "Wala. May naalala lang ako."

The bartender chuckled. "Boyfriend?"

Kinuha ni Serene ang sigarilyo sa daliri ng lalaki tsaka ito hinithit. Napaubo si Serene matapos niya iyong gawin na siya namang nakapagpatawa sa bartender. Itinuloy niya lang ang paghithit sa sigarilyo kahit na hindi niya gusto ang lasa nito, bago sumagot sa tanong ng kasama.

"Imaginary friend," Serene smiled.

"Seryoso?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ng bartender.

"Oo."

"Fuck, you're so serious," bahagyang natawa ang lalaki. "So, anong nangyari? Wala naman na siya ngayon?"

Tumango si Serene. "The moment you realized what they really are, that's the moment you lost them."

Nang maubos na ni Serene ang sigarilyo ay kinuha ng bartender ang upos nito at pinatay ang sindi, tsaka tinapon sa malapit na basurahan sa kanila.

Napatango ang lalaki sa sinabi niya. "Eh 'di ibig sabihin, mas okay ka na kaysa noon?"

Serene smirked. "May okay ako noon kaysa ngayon. That imaginary friend is the only thing that holds me from killing myself. Ewan ko ba anong nangyari, bigla ko na lang napagtagpi-tagpi ang lahat...na ako lang talaga ang nakakakita sa kaniya."

"Hmmm..." the man is lost for words. Hindi na niya alam ang sasabihin niya.

"That moment you told me that I was waiting for someone while I left that one shot of Jack Daniel's? That's for him. Kaya pala hindi niya iniinom kasi hindi naman siya totoo."

Nangilid ang mga luha niya nang maalala iyon.

"That one friend who gives me comfort... hindi pala totoo. It was just me, comforting myself. It was all me, trying to save myself. And now... all I want is to pursue this plan on leaving this world for good."