The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Wakas

Wakas

"Are you sure about this?" Atlas asked me.

I nodded. "Yes, love. Yona's not an ocean type of person so she wouldn't like it if we scattered her cremains there."

"Alright then. I'll drive now."

It was 5:30 in the morning. Gamit ang Convertible ni Priamos ay tumungo kami ni Atlas sa Timog ng La Fortuna. The roads here were lined with tall and serene trees. Wala ring naglalakihang mga mansiyon dito maliban sa iilang establisyemento kaya ito ang napili kong lugar para sa gagawin namin. I was now holding the jar containing Yona's ashes. According to Kiro, Yona told him that she wanted her ashes scattered by me and she wanted it anywhere except for the ocean.

Sumabog ang buhok ko nang magsimula nang magmaneho si Atlas. I was seated on top of the shotgun seat's backrest as the coldness of the morning breeze seared through my skin and the occasional bolts of sunlight seeped through the leaves and branches above me. Dahil umulan kagabi, basa ngayon ang kalsada at pati na rin ang lupa sa kabilaan nito. Everything was moist—the green trees, the grasses, and the ground itself.

The haze surrounding the forest became thicker as we dipped down the hill. Slowly, I opened the jar. I took a handful of her ashes and stretched my arm sideways, allowing the wind to take them through its natural course as we drove. I smiled when the aromatic and ancient scent of the forest filled my nose. Everything here screamed life. At 'yon ang gusto ko para kay Yona, because deep inside me, she continues to live still.

"Can you tell me about her?" Atlas asked suddenly.

Sinipat ko siya. He was driving slowly although I told him to speed up before we started. Pasaway talaga. Natatakot sigurong baka ma-outbalance at mahulog sa sasakyan ang fiancee niya.

"Magkaiba kami," wika ko.

"At?"

"At lamang siya sa 'kin sa kahit anong aspeto ng buhay ko. We look the same but the way she carried herself... it was something that I can never replicate. She was kind and compassionate. Alam niyang siya ang paborito nina Mom at Dad kaya bilang kompromiso, ako ang naging paborito niya. I love her so much. And I hope... I hope," tears fell down my cheeks, "she didn't die."

"She's at peace now, love. Don't worry, I'm sure she lived a beautiful life. She sounds lovely."

"She is... baka siya pa nga ang napili mo kapag nandito pa rin siya, e." Walang halong pait 'yon. It was what I truly expected to happen.

Marahan siyang humalakhak. "I don't think so. I had already chosen the perfect twin for me. It's you, Io."

"Hm, may punto ka," halakhak ko na rin ngayon. "'Tsaka 'di naman ikaw ang tipo no'n. Gusto niya 'yung mga presko at mala-boy next door."

"Bakit, ano ba ako?"

I grinned. "Ikaw 'yung maginoo pero medyo bastos."

Umiiling siyang napangisi. Walang nagsalita sa 'min pagkatapos no'n. I took another handful of Yona's ashes and let it be blown by the unsettled wind.

"She's proud of you princess," Atlas said after a while.

Mapait akong ngumiti. "I know."

"Do you want to name our baby after her? I mean, if the baby's a girl, of course."

Namilog ang mga mata ko. Just when I thought that I couldn't love him deeper, he does things like this... and now I couldn't seem to love him any more.

"Let's name her Sebella if she's a girl."

Inangat niya ang tingin niya sa 'kin bago marahang ngumiti. Hinuli niya ang kabila kong kamay at saka hinalikan ang likod no'n. My heart swelled in happiness.