SELA'S COLLECTION OF CLICHÉS III

EPILOGUE

"..and that's why I don't have a husband."

After my speech. Founder's day ngayon ng dati naming school nung highschool at naimbitahan ako na mag guest.

"Mayor Guia, I would like you to meet Governor Vincent's wife."

"Uhm, have we met before?." Tanong ko.

"I'm Abby. You probably don't remember. I used to be your psychiatrist."

"T-talaga?."

"But then I married Vince kaya napalitan. How are you na pala?." Hmm.

"Mommy mommy--" may biglang lumapit na batang lalaki, siguro he's about 5 to 6 years old.

"What is it Seby?."

"Si Becka kinagat ng dog!."

"Ano?!. T-teka lang ah I'm really sorry Mayor. I'll be right back." Nagmamadaling labas nila.

KINABUKASAN

Today is a special day. Nag-ayos ako at bumili ng flowers, the artificial ones. Excited nakong makasama siya ulit.

Nakasakay nako sa sasakyan ko nang biglang tumawag si Ate Aya.

Hello Ate.

Where are you?

Papunta po kay Abby. Celebrating our 5 years of marriage.

Ngayon ba yun?. Naku, sorry. Sige. Ingat. Happy anniversary.

Thank you po.

Anyway, nevermind. Bye.

Bye.

And this is it. Andito nako. Bumaba ako sa kotse at naglakad na papunta sa tomb niya. Abelaine T. Guia. 10th wish granted.

FLASHBACK

"Yung about sa last name mo, ano yun? Magpapakasal ka?."

"Pwede rin."

"Kanino naman?."

"Gusto ko sana pareho tayo ng apilido eh."

..

I woke up after 2 years of coma only to find out that Abby didn't make it. She died in that accident.

"Abby, andito nako. Happy anniversary. Miss na miss na kita." Hindi ko nalang napigilan ang sarili kong maiyak ng sobra sobra. Pero pilit ko paring sinasaksak sa isipan ko ang mga sinabi ni Abby.

..

".. I don't want to die in your arms Sela. Gusto ko na kahit mawala man ako, hindi mo isasara ang puso mo na magmahal ng iba because I don't want you to suffer and be miserable for the rest of your life alone just because you don't want to allow people to replace me. I don't want to be the reason why you don't want to love again."

Pero yun yung nangyari. She died in my arms.

Kung hindi rin lang si Abby ang makakasama ko, mas gugustuhin ko nalang na mag-isa.

PRESENT

It's already dark outside, lowbat ang phone ko at andito parin kami, stuck in the school library. Pareho kasi ata kami kaninang nalunod sa mga binabasa namin, hindi kami napansin ng librarian. Nagulat nalang kami nang biglang namatay lahat ng ilaw.

May biglang nag on sa ilaw pero nang sinubukan naming lumabas nakalock na pala ang front door ng library. Ang tangi nalang naming magagawa ay hintaying mag-umaga.

"S-she died?."

"In the story."

"So, it's not real?."

"Of course not."

"P-pano mo nalaman lahat ng yun?."

"I made that up inside my head while I was bored in class Abby." I smiled.

I've always been the school nerd, and Abby is the opposite one. She's popular, of course because she's beautiful, friendly and smart. Hindi ko inexpect na makakasama ko siya ngayon dito. For the past 3 years na naging schoolmate ko siya, hanggang tingin lang ako.

It's her hair and her eyes today
That just simply take me away
And the feeling that I'm falling further in love
Makes me shiver but in a good way

All the times I have sat and stared
As she thoughtfully thumbs through her hair
And she purses her lips, bats her eyes and she plays with me
Sitting there slack-jawed and nothing to say

Para syang bituin na gusto kong abutin and now I finally got the chance I've been waiting for. In just 3 hours of talking and sharing my made up stories parang pakiramdam ko buong buhay na kaming magkakilala.

"So, to answer your question. If  I'd be given a chance to write a book, I'll probably call it--Sela's Collection of Clichés."

'Cause I love her with all that I am
And my voice shakes along with my hands
'Cause she's all that I see
And she's all that I need
And I'm out of my league once again

Magkasama naming pinanuod ang kabilugan ng buwan ng gabing yun. This is way better than my imagination.

TO BE CONTINUED...