"Jamie naman" Brix is mad already. Nagsisi na si Thirdy at Bea na pinilit pa nila ang dalawa magusap. They are inside the car while Jamie and Brix are talking sa parking lot a few cars away.
Hindi na din nagsasalit si Jamie. Trying to accept kung ano man ang sasabihin ni Brix. "Maybe this is why she wants to ghost him. Kasi wala namang magandang rason bakit kailangan niyang iwan si Brix"
"Ghosting is for kids. Okay na yan at least diba alam nila yung huling nararamdaman ng isa't isa." he said
"huling nararamdaman?" Bea turned to him curiously
"Teorya yon ni Anton. Sabi niya kung ano yung sinabi o kinikilos nung taong mahal mo sa pamamaalam yun yung mararamdaman nung taong yon bago siya tuluyan makalimot. Look at Brix, he's mad. He will continue to be mad hanggang sa maging okay siya. Look at Jamie, tahimik. Naiiyak. Parang may gustong sabihin, she'll always be like that pagdating kay Brix" he explained clearly
Bea got his point. "Anton is so wise" she commented
"Loverboy kasi yon" Thirdy chuckled remembering lahat ng pinaiyak ni Anton na babae at mga babaeng pinaiyak siya
Tahimik sila ng binuksan ni Jamie ang pinto ng kotse at sumakay. Thirdy didn't know kung dapat na ba siyang magdrive o ano. So he's waiting for Bea to say it.
J immediately broke down pag sakay ng kotse. She's silently crying. Bea went down out of the car at sumakay sa likod katabi ni Jamie.
"I like him so much" she whispered to her bestfriend
"I know, J." she taps her back while hugging her. Atyaka sumenyas kay Thirdy to drive
"Why is it so hard to say goodbye, Bei? Paano mo nagawa yon" She asked referring to Joshua's death.
"I didn't say goodbye, J. I told him I'll see him soon. That time will come when we will meet each other again and we don't need to part ways anymore"
Thirdy is just listening to them thinking sinong ex ni Bea ang tinutukoy ni Jamie.
___________________________
excerpt from the past
"You need to say goodbye now" the doctor advised Beatriz
Pepper is now roaming around the hospital room. Trying to smell everything. Like he's memorizing the scent of his father's life.
She just nodded at iniwan na siya ng doctor. Joshua is so weak already. Pale, bald, and thin. Ni hindi na nga halata na athlete siya. Their families are actually visiting, trying to take a glimpse of Joshua's last days.
"Honey" she whispered trying to hold her tears
"It's okay now. Pep and I can do this. I will see you soon. Wait for me." she's crying now. She saw how his lips rose into a smile. The doctors told her na kahit nakapikit si Josh, he still hears everything. He held Bea hand tighter, as if it is the only thing he can do. A simple act but that's enough for Bea to feel that Joshua loves her even on his last breath. That's enough for her to fulfill the covenant they made "In sickness and in health"
"I love you, Joshua Torralba. I'll meet you there" she said clearly before breaking down. And like magic words, the machines all rang, telling her, the nurses and the doctors that it is all gone, the pain, the medicines, the sickness, and his life.
__________________________
Jamie fell asleep easily because of crying nonstop noong pauwi na sila.
"Will she be okay?" He asked looking at Jamie na kakalapag lang niya sa kama ni Bea
"Yep. You can go home na. Baka matraffic ka pa or antukin habang nagddrive" she demanded
"Yeah yeah. Ingat kayo bukas and see on Friday. Okay?" he said before kissing her forehead again. Hindi parin sanay si Beatriz sa ganito.
She fixed Jamie at hinayaan itong matulog. She opened her laptop and check Gail's email about sa mga papers na maiiwan niya. Noong nakaramdam na siya ng antok, she showered at humiga sa tabi ng kaibigan. She hugged her and smell her scent.
"She smells like you, hun" Bea whispered before dozing off.
____________________________
The two of them woke up a little early. Jamie told Bea na wag na silang kumain ng breakfast since she likes to eat in the car habang nagddrive
"You are so weird." Bea rolled her eyes at J's request pero sinuod padin ito
"Wala ka na nakalimutan ah" she said habang nakatingin sa mga gamit ni Jamie na nasa likod ng kotse niya
"Yeah. Tara na please." Yamot na yaya ni Jamie na nakaupo na sa shotgun seat.
Bea closed the back door of the car atyaka nagdrive. Dumaan muna sila sa Mcdo at nagorder ng breakfast.
"Sobrang dami mong order" reklamo ni Bea
"Broken hearted ako so hayaan mo ko" inis na sabi ni J sakanya.
Bea just chuckled at tinext si Thirdy habang naghihintay ng turn nila sa pagkuha ng order.
to: Thirdy
On the way na kami. We just ordered food kaya ako nakapgtext. Ingat. :)
She locked her phone pag kapindot ng send
The drive is a little fast baka kasi dahil weekday sila nagdrive at maaga pa. The Torralba's has a big house. Swimming pool, huge garden, fountain, name it. Meron silang lahat.
Pagbaba ng dalawa sa sasakyan. Jamie's mom welcomed them.
"My baby girls are home" she said hugging them
Jamie made face at agad naman itong sinamaan ng tingin ni Bea para umayos sang kaibigan.
"Buti naman sumama ka, Beatriz." She said after letting them go
"Uh yes, Ma. Sorry. I've been busy lang sa company" she smiled
"Oh okay yan. I like your coping mechanism"
Jamie rolled her eyes. J is never a fan of her mother. Ever since bata sila ni Joshua. Favorite na nito ang kambal niya. Even when she found out na may sakit si Josh, sinisi niya si Jamie for not telling it to the family. Sabi niya baka maagang naagapan.
"Where's Dad?" Jamie asked
"Nasa kwarto nagbibihis. Palabas na din yon. Let's eat?"
Bea nodded and smiled. Their house brings back a lot of memories. She's starting to hate this scent.
Pagdating ng dad ni J, she stood up to give him a kiss on the cheek. "I missed you, Pops" Jamie said
"Hello! Long time no see, paborito kong mga anak" he greeted both of them
"Jamie, wala pading boyfriend? We need apo" He said and let out a chuckle
"As if may papasa sa standards ng pamilyang 'to" Jamie jokes
"Bea passed" sabat ng mom niya
"Oh Beatriz, wala bang umaaligid sayo? You're young and successful. You can remarry" He said while eating na kinasamid naman ni Bea.
"Of course, Beatriz is still mourning, love. Hindi pa siya nakakamove on. Right, Bea?" sabat ulit ng mother-in-law niya.
Nakasimangot si Jamie at mukhang magsasalita na when Bea squeezed her hand.
"Magiisang taon na din naman. I don't see any problem kung magkakaboyfriemd si Bea. Para ko na ding anak yan" her father-in-law argues
Hindi na alam ni Bea ang sasabihin. Wala na din siyang gana sa kinakain niya.
"She is actually seeing someone" Jamie blurted out. Her mom's eye pop out and her father's lips parted.
Bea chuckled softly.
"Is it true?" her mother-in-law asked
"Yes po." she confirms
"Happy for you, Beatriz!" her father in law genuinely said
"I'm sure, my boy is much as happy as I am" he added.
