Epilogue

117 37 29
                                    

"Do you think, she's in heaven now?" Ivana  looked at Cleofe who's approaching on where she stood. Kalalapag lang nito ng bulaklak sa ibabaw ng puntod.


"Siguro. Pwede." sagot ni Jem na kararating lang din.


"I don't know. I haven't been there." sagot naman ni Cleofe. "Ikaw?" balik-tanong nito.


She crossed her arms at tila nag-isip nang malalim. "Hmmm... I don't know. I might not go to heaven too but I'm sure I taste like heaven." nakataas-kilay pang sagot nito.


Binatukan siya ng kararating lang na si Ladyma with Paco. "Let's go. Kanina pa tayo hinihintay sa Watch Tower." Bungad nito. Doon icecelebrate and birthday ni Dionne. At the same time, it's the  12th Anniversary of the Security and Investigation Firm she founded. Nasa bungad na ng cemetery ang kotse ni Shaza at Saul. 


They decided to visit first in the cemetery. "Who's she Mommy?" Tanong ni Jj, Jem's son, na kunot-noong nakatitig sa lapida at  binabasa ang pangalang nakaukit doon.


"She's a friend." si Ladyma ang sumagot. She's so fond of the little children kahit na halos nagbibinata na si Jj. Kaya nga madalas  tuksuhin ng mga kaibigan nila na gumawa na ng sarili nilang little children.


"Come on, we'll be late."  pasigaw na saad ni Shaza mula sa nakabukas na car's front door.


They smiled at each other like a mutual understanding not to talk anout the past anymore and just live and enjoy the present. Nilisan nila ang lugar na iyon after praying at dumiretso na sa isa sa mga function hall ng Watch tower na nasa third floor.


The program already started when they arrived. They went straight to their reserved seats, trying not to get every guests' attention. The speaker has started her speech, half-way. Kumaway pa ito sa kanila.


***


 "Bakit hindi ka gumaya sa mga kapatid  at pinsan mo?"


"You'll never make it."


"You're just wasting your time into some worthless acitivity."


"You're a failure."


"Wala ka bang ibang dadalhin sa pangalan ng pamilyang ito kung hindi kahihiyan?"


"I'll just marry you off to a rich man para may pakinabang ka."


"Feeling maganda. Eh, iniwan naman ng jowa."


"Di hamak na mas maganda at matalino yong ate niya."


"Mayaman lang naman family niya pero wala naman siyang maipagmamalaki kung tutuusin."


"She can't make nothing out of her family connections."


Breaking Free From EnvyTahanan ng mga kuwento. Tumuklas ngayon