Lost In Paradise (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 11

IT'S NOVEMBER 28, we've been in Amarathine for twenty-four days already. Napag-alaman din namin na fiesta pala ng Amaranthine. Ayon din kay Peony ay walang magaganap na activity para sa Tribunal dahil makikisaya sila sa nasabing araw.

She wanted us to join and make new experiences with the other people and Amaranthine's residents. May bukas na mga perya at may fireworks display pa mamayang gabi.

Mayroon pa nga silang tinatawag na Trip With You kung saan may mga bangka at sasakay doon ang magkasintahan. May ticket para roon at sa bayan din mismo mabibili.

"What about you, Leigh? You'll bring her with you?" Tanong sa'kin ni Jorgensen habang kasalukuyan kaming nakaupo sa wooden bench sa ilalim ng malaking puno.

Abala ang ibang mga miyembro ng Tribunals sa paghahanda para mamaya kapag pupunta na sa bayan. They all look so excited and ready to get along with new people. They seem so happy to try the rides and all.

"I'll ask her later. Kung papayag siya ay mas maganda kung hindi naman, I'll just spend my day with her." Bahagya akong ngumisi dahilan para matawa ang huli.

"Man, you're badly smitten! Hindi na nakapagtataka pa 'yon. Moli is such a sweet and kind woman," he said.

I nodded. "Yes, she is."

After knowing that Monina's life couldn't be extended, I did my best to act like she's still the same. I mean, yeah, there's nothing wrong about her. Nothing changed. But, the thought of her dying is just so different to me. I don't even want to think about it. I just want to spend my everyday with her.

Tinapik ko sa balikat si Jorgensen at tumayo na. I need to go see her. I'll ask her if she could be with me and enjoy Amaranthine's fiesta. The last thing I could do for her is to make her happy— until the end.

"I gotta go, Jorge. I need to see her."

"Sure, man. Pakisabi sa kan'ya nag-hi ako from Jorge the handsome!" Bahagya pa itong humalakhak at kumaway sa akin.

Napapailing na umalis na lamang ako sa kan'yang harapan at tinungo ang kalawakan ng palayan bago ito tinahak. It's just eight o'clock in the morning and the sun is so bright.

Surely, Uncle Sam isn't around. Nasa Farm ito panigurado at nag-aalaga ng mga hayop at kung ano pa man ang tinatrabaho niya ro'n. Sometimes, I guess it's not bad to help him there, I think.

Nang makarating sa cottage nila Monina ay hindi ko siya naabutang nagdidilig ng mga bulaklak. There's no sign of her outside the cottage.

"Maybe, she's just inside," I murmured.

Tumango-tango pa ako bago nagtungo sa pintuan ng cottage at bahagyang kumatok ngunit walang nagbukas ng pintuan. Wala ba siya rito?

I knocked again and even call her name. "Monina?"

No response.

Wala na akong pagpipilian pa kaya naman tinulak ko na lamang ang pintuan at nagulat akong bukas ito at hindi naka-lock. Tuluyan ko itong binuksan at bumungad sa akin ang sala nilang walang katao-tao.

"Monina?"

I roamed my eyes around but I couldn't see her. I closed the door behind me and tried to look for her in the four corners of their living room. May kalawakan din kasi itong sala nila kahit cottage lamang ito.

Dumiretso ako sa pintuan na katabi lamang ng kuwarto ni Uncle Sam. I know it's her room. Noong unang pasok ko rito sa cottage ay nalaman ko na agad na ang katabing kuwarto ay kay Uncle Sam noong magpaalam itong magbibihis lamang.