The Fighter

Epilogue

⍟HARLEY⍟

Nanatiling nakatingin lang ako sa bagong lagay na lapida sa harap ko.

Here lies:

Jackson Harata
19×× - 20××
A loving son and friend

Hindi naman kalayuan sa akin ay nakarinig ako ng pagkulog at naramdaman ko naman ang paunti-unting ambon.

Pero nanatiling nakatayo pa rin ako doon.

I let out a sigh at saka tumingin sa katabing lapida nito.

It was his mother's grave.

"I'm sorry, I failed." I mumbled and again, I heard a rumble from the sky as the light rain starts to get stronger.

Ibinalik ko naman ang tingin sa lapida ni Jack.

"Let me make-up to you when I see you in the afterlife." I said and lightly chuckled.

The rain starts to pour on me pero hindi pa rin ako umalis doon.

Pati ang langit nakikisabay sa pagda-dalamhati ko.

Bahagyang napakunot naman ang noo ko nang hindi ko na maramdaman ang ulan sa balat ko.

I looked up and I saw an umbrella then I looked beside me and I saw Ken.

"Hi." He greeted.

"Hi." I mumbled.

"Condolences." He said and I nodded at saka ibinalik ang tingin sa lapida. "I'm sorry I am not there with you." He added.

"No...please don't." I said at saka tumingin sa kanya. "You have your job at isa pa, it was our mission..." I explained.

"But still...Jack is my friend and you are my special friend...I should be there with you." He argued.

"Special...friend?" I asked in confusion and he grinned.

"Don't mind that." He said.

"Whatever." I mumbled as I rolled my eyes at saka tumingin sa paligid. "I just realized na ako na lang pala ang mag-isa dito, thank you for coming...sino ang tumawag sayo?" I asked.

He laughed lightly then shakes his head. "Hindi ba pwedeng kusang loob lang akong pumunta dito?" He asked.

Hindi naman ako sumagot at nanatiling nakatingin sa kanya.

"Sheesh woman, wala ka ba talagang tiwala sa akin?" He said. "Fine, Gemma called me pero hindi ko alam na nandito ka pa okay!" He explained.

"Fair enough." I said.

"Are you ready to go?" He asked.

"Yeah...I am..." I answered.

"Then let me have a short prayer before we go." He said and I nodded.

Hinawakan naman niya ang kamay ko and he closed his eyes then starts to mumble under his breath. Bahagyang napangiti naman ako sa ginawa niya.

I almost forgot that he is a 'religious' guy.

I mean, I don't classify myself as atheist because I still believe that God is there.

But I am not like him who always prays.

"Let's go." He said.

"Hindi mo bibitawan ang kamay ko?" I asked and he glanced at our hands.