Heaven Academy

30 - Chaotically Grieving

30 - Chaotically Grieving

"I'd like to introduce Iris—"

"Kilala ko naman 'yan, ah? Nakalimutan mo na bang kaklase n'yo rin ako?"

"I'm introducing her as my girlfriend."

"What?!"

"She's my girlfriend now. Aren't you happy? You now have a sister."

The sound of my cellphone hitting the floor echoed in my ears. It felt like a wake up call, so I won't go crazy.

[ "Iris is dead. The representative of Clavano family just released a statement." ]

Iris Clavano. Aster's girlfriend. That angelic girl that I know. She's... dead?

Iris is gone?

Hindi ko na naisuot pa ang coat ng uniform ko. Nagmamadali akong lumapit sa pinto at lumabas. Saktong lumabas din si Charlotte sa kwarto niya.

"Tell me it's not true," was the first thing I said. But even before she opened her mouth, her swollen eyes crushed every bit of hope left in me. My eyes watered as I whispered, "please."

Napahikbi siya saka pumikit, pinipigilang mapaiyak. "Let's go, Erisk. Iris is waiting for us."

She wasn't.

"I need to see her! Let me see her!" Hindi na ako nagulat nang isang nagwawalang Luther Magalona ang nadatnan namin sa hospital. Hindi na rin ako nagtaka kung paanong nauna siya ro'n, kahit pa pare-pareho naman kaming nanggaling sa Heaven Academy.

It's not because he's Luther, at kaya niyang gawin ang lahat pagdating sa babaeng matagal niya nang gusto. It's because it is about Iris, na kahit gusto kong husgahan ang buong mundo, walang ibang tumatakbo sa isip ko nang mga oras na 'yon kung 'di siya. No matter how bitter I was with how perfect she is, she's someone I could consider close to me. Kahit naman itinatanggi ko sa sarili ko na kaibigan ko siya, si Iris mismo, kapatid ang turing sa'kin.

Kaya hindi ko rin matanggap na ayaw nila kaming hayaan na makita siya. Bakit? May itinatago ba sila sa pagkamatay niya? Malisyoso na kung malisyoso. Damn, I couldn't think straight that time. She's too young. She's not even sick. Why is she suddenly dead?

"Erisk!" Sobrang higpit nang kapit ni Luther sa magkabilang braso ko. Halatang wala siya sa sarili. "Erisk, tell them, I need to see Iris! They might listen to you! Please! Tell them, I need to see her! Please! Just for the last time, please!"

My tears fell down as Luther kept on shaking me, begging for me to do something. It frustrated the hell out of me that I also want the same thing but I just couldn't help. I never felt so useless my entire life.

"Call Dom!" sigaw nanaman niya. "They might let me see her if he's the one who made the order!"

I did. I tried calling Dominic. I also had my hopes up, but he didn't come at the hospital.

Multiple events flashed in my mind that time. Iris and Dominic at the camp, at the school. I knew something was off. Damn, is there a foul play in Iris's death? Fuck, those threats she had been receiving—only Dominic knew about them. Did they find out something behind those letters? Was that train hostaging incident just a front?

I didn't remember feeling dizzy nor losing consciousness, but I woke up inside Heaven Academy again. Mabilis akong bumangon. Putangina, bakit nasa school na ako? Hindi ko pa nakikita si Iris. Hindi puwede.