Untold Romance (COMPLETED)

42: Last Words

She felt like she was slowly falling into an oblivion, drifting away from the painful reality. And as she was passing through the vivid scenes of her yesterday's memories, she saw Rio—but only as a figment of her imagination. She was strangled in her emotions, beaten down to her knees and within a second, she gasped and breathed for air.

She was awoken.

Tears and sweat visible on her bare bruised skin.

Dawn breathed and thanked the heavens, "You're awake."

Her eyes couldn't stop from watering, it kept on flowing like a well overflowing with water. Dawn hugged her, "He's not here, not anymore." she tried to pacify Synthia. But she knew very well that she cannot pacify her, her presence not even Cyrus' can make her feel alright. All she could do was stare at her in compassion as her sobs filled the corners of her hospital room.

"I need to see Rio, I have to see if he's—"

"Gone."

"Wasn't it only a nightmare?"

Dawn shook her head and came to her. She was taken aback as the sharp pang of loss hit her hard. No, it wasn't a nightmare that she can easily forget. But her heart could feel his presence, his love and she felt ashamed all of a sudden "Alam ko sa puso ko na buhay siya, Dawn. Ramdam ko." her eyes were certain and it was painful to see how her conviction would turn into tears in a few seconds.

"Ngayon mo pa ramdam kung kailan wala na siya." Her cousin sighed, trying to overcome the agony of losing Rio.

"Take me to his wake." She demanded. Her body wouldn't be able to handle everything, her brittleness would easily show up the moment she pulls herself out of the clouds. Meanwhile, Dawn was unsure of what she demanded "I don't know—"

"Take me." she said as she gritted her teeth. And in a second, her jaw loosened and her eyes drooped with tears jerking off. With a forceful smile and a painful whisper "Please. Gusto ko na rin makita ang anak ko."

Dawn heaved a sigh.

Past 4 PM, Synthia could name each guest; the Geverola's and the rest of the Ravena's. She was being pushed by Dawn on a wheelchair as they made their way inside the mausoleum where the wake of her husband is. No, Nio was nowhere to be found around the area. Her system wobbled and melted on the seat of her wheelchair as she saw Rio's face displayed infront and an urn where his ashes are contained. Dawn carefully kept her sobs to herself as Synthia's silence lasted for the duration as they walked on the center aisle, to Rio. She could remember that day from 4 years ago, she made her way to the very end of the aisle where Rio was waiting—now she's making her way to the same man at the end of the aisle but the only difference is he is inside an urn with his name embossed on it.

"He wouldn't like to hear only your silence, Syn." Dawn spoke "He'd love to hear your voice."

"I can't... He's gone." she was breathless as she was right in front of his ashes. She extended her hand and reached for the urn. Her fingers carefully ran across the embossed letters. "You entered alive and you got out dead; returned to me inside an urn." She whispered as if he could hear her.

"Rio, why now?" she asked and wrapped her arms around it. Dawn let her be, letting the grief come right out of her eyes as she mourn over Rio. They started to hear astounded chatters, Dawn looked behind her and saw Nio timidly kissing all the tita's cheeks but he had no idea of where he is. Sharon and Lea was with Nio, dressed in the darkest shade amongst the colors—black. "Nandito na si Nio, S-Syn." Dawn's voice was low, almost sounding reluctant to say that her son is here.

Syn returned the urn to it's place and asked Dawn to turn her to Nio.

"M-mommy!" Nio was teary eyed to see her at last. He ran to her, thumping in joy and quickly melted in her arms. Syn gently lifted him up on her lap, sniffing the scent of home. "You're back!" he rubbed his eyes as he mumbled those words. Nio looked up and was petrified to see her scratched.