I Followed Him In The Dark

10

Aria felt that someone moved her head but she just ignored it. Few minutes later someone was patting her cheeks to wake her up. When she woke up she realized that the van is not moving, sign that they're already in their destination. She moved her head and realized that she's leaning on someone's shoulder and was shocked to know who it was.

Jeoff spoke.

"We're here, kanina ka pa namin ginigising.", sambit ni Jeoff.

Aria is still in the state of shock so she ignored him. She slept in Jeoff's shoulder and that's what she knows. She looked at Rhoge beside her and he's just staring outside the window.

Binuksan na nila ang pinto ng van at nagsimula nang bumaba. Nangalay ang leeg ni Aria ngunit napansin niyang sa kabilang parte ang nangalay, mas nangalay ang kanang parte ng leeg niya at hindi ang kaliwa na siyang naka expose ng matagal. Bumaba naman si Rhoge kasunod niya at napansin niyang hinihilot nito ang kaniyang kaliwang balikat.

Rhoge is standing and just looking at his friends while they carry the flowers and light the candles for their parents, Jian approached him.

"Kita namin 'yun kanina.", mapang-asar na sambit nito.

"What?", he asked.

"Sa'yo nakasandal si Aria tapos nilipat mo sa balikat ni Jeoff.", sambit ng kaibigan.

"Her head's too heavy.", he simply said.

"Isa't kalahating oras yung biyahe, magdamag si Aria sa balikat mo. Tapos nung tumigil na yung sasakyan tsaka mo lang nilipat yung ulo ni Aria sa balikat ni boss Jeoff. Wag ako Almirez! Hindi ako patola.", pamimilit ni Jian.

"Tss, baka kasi kiligin siya. Crush ako nun baka umasa.", sagot nito.

"Bakit ikaw? Hindi mo ba siya crush?", tanong ni Jian.

"Tigilan mo nga ko.", inis na sambit nito.

"Yieee, hindi tumanggi."

"Hindi ko din kinumpirma."

"Pero di mo tinanggi."

"Shut up, Sandoval!"

"Yieee torpe."

"I said shut up! Or else I'll shoot you.", sambit ni Rhoge at bumunot ng baril.

"Hindi mo kaya! Love mo 'ko!", pang-aasar pa ni Jian.

Hays, what am I going to do with this bastard. Aniya sa isip at bumuntong hininga.

Inilibot ni Aria ang kaniyang paningin at napansin kung nasaan sila, isang abandonadong palaruan, ngunit ang mas nakaagaw ng
pansin niya ay ang sunog at abandonadong building sa tapat nito.

So ito pala 'yun, this is where their parents died. She thought.

She looked at her friends and saw them putting candles and flowers around the building. After putting her flowers and uttering a short prayer, Novie went to Aria who's standing a little far from the building.

"This is where our parents died, and yung palaruan na yan diyan kami nagkakilala lahat.", sambit ni Novie.

"You do this every year, ate?", tanong niya.

"Yes, well this is supposed to be a sad day. Pero every year ginawa na naming tradition na mag picnic dito as a celebration ng pagkakakilala namin. You see, we lost a great family but we found an even greater one from each other. Look at them, this is a family Aria, this is home.", sambit ni Novie.