Zach cried.
Betty's funeral was held at their mansion. Everybody mourned, people were shocked, people were livid and some relatives were putting the blame on Betty's dad for neglecting his daughter.
Ang Daddy ni Betty ay hindi nagpakita ng kahit anong emosyon kahit na binabato na s'ya ng mga masasakit na salita.
He just stood there, with no emotions. It almost looked like he does not care about the death of her daughter, nor he's not bothered that Betty died because she committed suicide, in her own room, in this very own house.
That made me mad. Home was supposed to be the safe place of everybody, a peace bubble, but it seems the opposite for Betty.
Her life became a living hell as she was under the care of his father.
Naramdaman ko ang pag-akbay saakin ni Tripp. Inangat ko ang tingin ko sakanya. My eyes watered with tears again.
"Shh." kinulong n'ya ako sa mga braso n'ya at umiyak ako sa dibdib n'ya
"I'm so sad, Tripp." I cried even more
Sila Jack, Zach, Corbyn at Jonah ay katabi namin sa mahabang sofa sa loob ng bahay nila Betty. Wala masyadong tao dahil ang iba ay nasa garden para mag-meryenda. Dinalhan lang kami ng katulong ng makakain.
Tahimik lang akong umiiyak, walang nagsasalita kahit isa saamin. Sobrang bigat ng hangin. Si Zach ay namumula pa ang mga mata galing sa pag-iyak.
I understand him, though. Betty became close to them and they treated her well.
Sobrang nalulungot ako sa realidad na wala na talaga s'ya. Nakakaiyak isipin. Pakiramdam ko ay hinintay n'ya lang talaga na makahingi s'ya ng tawad saakin bago n'ya 'to gawin. Mas lalo akong kinain ng konsenya. May nagawa sana ako.
"She's annoying, you know." Corbyn suddenly muttered, lahat kami napatingin sakanya, nakatulala lang s'ya, "But she's sweet and thoughtful and funny, It's so sad to think that a wonderful person like her ended up in that coffin." his voice was hard
"Tayo ang lagi n'yang kasama," Jack broke his silence too, "Pero bakit hindi natin napansin? We did not notice she needed some saving. We could've done something, we could've helped her come out from her own misery."
"Great pretender, damn, she's so good. It makes me sad to think that behind her playful character, pain and sadness is eating her." Jonah muttered, muntik na naming hindi marinig sa sobrang hina.
And again, I broke down.
Tripp kept me warm and whispered sweet nothings in my ear.
"I'm her bestfriend, ako dapat ang nakakaalam kung kailan s'ya hindi okay. B-Bakit hindi ko napansin? I'm such a bad friend." halos hindi na ako makahinga sa sobrang lakas ng mga hikbi ko
"Shh, baby, no. Stop that."
"This is all my fault. T-This... is m-my faul-"
"It's not, Raffie. Please stop blaming yourself, baby. Stop it." may katigasan na ang boses ni Tripp kaya hindi na ako ulit nagsalita pa at tahimik na lang na umiiyak
But it stills bothers me, I feel like it is my fault. I already knew about her troubled life and then... Tripp and me happened. I am a hundred percent sure it affected her so deep.
Oh God, I'm feel much more guilty.
"I'm going to Betty's room." paalam ko sakanila
Agad tumayo si Tripp, "Samahan kita."
"No, please. Stay here, babalik rin ako agad." mahinahon kong sabi sakanya, he nodded understandingly.
Hindi na ako nagpapigil at inakyat ko na ang pangawalang palapag ng bahay nila. Alam ko kung saan ang kwarto ni Betty dahil iilang beses na din kaming nag-sleep over ni Betty dito.
