Turn The Page

Chapter 81

One week later

"Where is she? What's taking her so long?" May asked nervously while she paced back and forth in the church lobby. "May, get it together. Papunta na yun dito. This is for Page, hindi yun mali-late," July tried to calm her friend down. "She's already late. Ang dami ng tao, who are these people anyway? Ang dami pa nyang aayusin," May replied as she fidgeted in place. "Baka mga kaibigan ni Page? I don't know. No one looks familiar. Tsaka 'wag ka na nga mag-worry dyan, you're just stressing yourself out. That's why we're all here, para tulungan sya with anything that we can. We're not going to let her do all of it on her own," July tried to reassure her. "My heart, Julz. My heart," May said as she swallowed. "I know, mine too," July agreed while she patted her own chest. Then the two of them sighed heavily at the same time while they looked around waiting for their friends to arrive. "There's Keeper and Sandy," May said as she watched the mother and son walk towards the front steps of the church. Keeper had on a white polo shirt that snuggled well into his body and black pants. In his head were sunglasses that covered his eyes. Sandy wore a white dress. Then she took off her sunglasses as she approached the women. "Sorry, are we late?" She asked as she gave each of them a hug. "No, pero the people are piling up inside," July replied. She held on to Keeper as tight as she could when they hugged. "Oh Keeper," May said. Tears fell from her eyes when it was their turn to hug. July wiped her eyes as well. Keeper gave them a little smile after they hugged. "I'll go inside, mom, titas," he said to the women in front of him. "Sige, go ahead, Keeper. Susunod kami," May nodded her head while she rubbed his back quickly. The other two women nodded at him for him to go. "How is he?" May asked Sandy. "He's okay," Sandy answered. "Okay lang kayo? Is June with you?" May asked again. "We're okay. Wait—no, she's not. I thought she was here already. She left early. Sabi nya mauuna daw sya dito kasi marami pa daw aasikasohin. Then I told her na pupunta pa din kami sa mall ni Keeper because he didn't have anything na plain white," Sandy informed them. "Hala," July said as her eyebrows met. "Wala pa sya hanggang ngayon," she told their friend while she looked around worriedly. "Oh no. Dapat ba sinamahan na lang namin sya papunta dito?" Sandy asked. "May lakad pa kamo kayo eh, kami yata dapat yung dumaan sa kanya," July said trying to calm herself down. "Maybe she's with April. Is she here already?" Sandy asked. "No, wala pa si April. Wala naman sinabi si April na magsasama sila ng ate nya. Now I'm getting worried," July said trying not to panic. "I'll go ahead and call her," Sandy told them. "Okay, I'll go check on them sa loob. I'll talk to the priest too, mamaya bigla sya mag-start ng wala pa si June," May said. Then she hurried inside the church.

A few minutes later, Sandy shook her head. "No answer," she informed July. "How many times did you call?" July asked. "I don't know, but it was more than five times. She wouldn't put her phone on silent, not now at least," Sandy replied. "Have you tried calling mang Joel?" July asked. "He's the one who drove us here, I think he's parking the car," Sandy replied. "Then who drove Juney and which car did she use or kanino sya sumabay?" July asked again. She was starting to feel nervous. "I need to call April, this thing is just making me way too nervous," she said as she excused herself to make a phone call. Within a few rings April answered. "I know, I know, ate. I'm on my way. Eto kasi si Mike last minute na dumaan ng flowers eh, sabi ko asikasohin na yun before today pero ngayon lang sya nagka-oras," she said over the phone. "April, are you with your ate June?" July asked. "No, I'm not. Wait, wala pa sya dyan?" April asked. "Baka she's running late," she guessed. "Dito? Dito pa talaga sya malilate? June is never late," July reminded her. "Is everybody there?" April asked. "No, you're not here yet, and your brother's not here yet either," July said. "Okay, I'll be there soon. Balitaan moko, ate, please," April requested. "Okay, I will," July replied before the two of them ended the call.

Meanwhile, June sat quietly on the driver's seat as she drove. Her eyes scanned everything, taking in as much of everything as she could. Then she took a deep breath as she thought of her daughter. Tears poured out of her eyes immediately. She was exhausted. She could definitely use some good sleep. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes while she waited for the light to change colors. It's been a long week. Then the light turned from red to green as she opened her eyes. She stared straight ahead while her foot stepped on the accelerator. As the car she was on approached the intersection, another car coming from her left tried to beat the red light. As soon as that other car crossed the intersection, it slammed on the driver's seat where June was and sent her car rolling a few times before it finally turned into its side. June squinted as blood dripped from her head, nose, and mouth. Then she looked down as she struggled to breathe. The steering wheel was stuck by her chest and was squeezing the life out of her. She tried to take a breath but couldn't. Instead, she made gasping sounds as if she was choking. Then more blood came out of her mouth. Her eyes started to roll in the back of her head as she slipped in and out of consciousness. "Mama," a voice suddenly called out from a distance. "Page?" June mouthed weakly as she struggled to breathe. "Mama, halika na. Kanina pa kita hinihintay," the happy voice said to her. Then everything turned bright so June squinted her eyes even more. Then a hand was held in front of her. "Tara na mama," the voice said again. "I'm coming, Page, anak ko. I'm coming, sweetheart," June whispered before she happily took the hand that was offered right in front of her.