Still You

The Ending

July 03, 2020— Story status: Completed

You've finally reached the epilogue! Thank you for loving and appreciating my first ever babies: Aeolus & Serene. It has not been easy for me to write this story continuously (I started writing the first day of April) because of my struggle in putting my thoughts together and putting them into words. So, thank you for keeping up with me and finishing this story with me. May you find a love that understands, forgives and withstands. Just like my Serene, may you always choose to be kind, open your mind and be understanding of those people around you no matter how cruel most of them are. And just like my Aeolus, may you never stop loving even if it's already tearing you apart. Love hurts, but it so does heal.

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I wanted to follow her.

Pero alam kong hindi ko siya basta-bastang masusundan doon. I'm also mad at her. I don't think I could bear to see her now. Masakit pa rin sa akin ang nalaman kong sumama siya sa lalaking iyon. 

Inaantok kong binuksan ang front door ng aming bahay. I think I drank too much Bacardi in my car. The alcohol is making me fucking nauseous. 

I lazily walked towards our staircase. Natigilan lang nang bigla akong tinawag ni Mama mula sa dining. Kahit pagod at inaantok ay naglakad ako roon para magpakita.

"Son, sabayan mo na kaming mag dinner-" hindi niya natuloy ang sinasabi at napasinghap siya nang makita ako.

Naroon na sila sa dining table, kasama si Papa at si Kuya.

"Did you drink, Aki? You look wasted!" ani Mama na nag-aalalang tumayo at nagmadaling lumapit sa akin.

She held my face and examined me thoroughly. I sighed and shook my head.

"I only need to sleep, Mama." pagod kong sabi.

"Ang aga-aga, bakit lasing ka na naman?! And you're driving drunk, Aeolus! Do you know how dangerous that is?!" 

I actually don't understand myself anymore. Kahit galit ako kay Serene, I always find myself in front of their house, drinking inside my car, waiting for her to miraculously appear in front of their gate and come to me.   

Marahan kong inalis ang kamay ni Mama sa aking pisngi. Nasulyapan ko sina Kuya at Papa. Kunot ang noo ni Kuya habang nakatingin sa kaniyang pinggan. Si Papa naman ay blanko lamang ang ekpresyon na nakatingin sa amin.

I looked at my mother.

"Diyan lang naman sa malapit, Ma." hinilot ko ang aking sentido. I feel so tired.

She stopped and got silent for some seconds.

"Galing ka na naman ba sa bahay nina Serene?" she gently asked with pure concern in her voice.

"Hijo, I don't think it's right to wait for her like this. She's hurt you, you should just move on from her," my mother whispered.

Her words somehow tugged my heart. Move on? From Serene? Is that even possible?

Nilapag ni Papa ang kaniyang mga kubyertos at gumawa iyon ng kaonting ingay kaya napatingin kami sa kaniya.

"I see... Your girl has already left you. Sinaktan ka na at iniwan, hahabulin mo pa rin? Son, I knew she wasn't good for you from the very beginning. Good thing, I fixed your marriage with Krisa."

"Abraham!" saway ni Mama.

Bumilis ang aking paghinga at may namuong galit sa akin para sa ama. I looked at him straight in the eyes.