Will You Survive? (Inspired Series #1)

SC : I

Author's Note:

Hello, as a gift for Will You Survive anniversary. Here's a special chapter.  Enjoy reading!

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Akala ko makakalimutan na kita, akala ko masasara ko na ang librong sinulat ko kasama ka. Pero hanggang ngayon, nandito pa rin ako, naghihitay ng mga tugon mo. Nakabukas ang libro, kung saan nandoon ang kwentong sabay nating binuo. Iyon ang huling kwentong tinapos ko at hanggang ngayon hindi na ako muling nagsulat pa.

Nilagay ko ang bulaklak na dala ko sa puntod niya. Nakahawak sa 'kin si Reves. She wants to meet his daddy.

"Hi, JD," I say. "Reves is with me, she want to meet you."

"Hi, daddy JD," Reves uttered.

"She's Aris beautiful daughter," I told him. "Tayo rin sana . . . kung nandito ka lang."

I am still yearning for your warm embrace, Architect. I trace his name in the tombstone. Your name has the same effect to me until now, JD.

"Are you living your best life there?" I asked.

"Tumigil na ako sa pagsusulat, hindi dahil sobrang sakit ng kwento nating dalawa. Ngunit hindi ko na talaga kaya. Maybe writing isn't for me. I quit writing and focus on my job. My cousin, Aris, she an engineer at the same time and author too. Yes, she got promoted. Masaya ako para sa pinsan ko. Dati pa man, no'ng mga bata kami, mahilig na talagang magsulat si Aris. I always watch her crafting on her notebook since we're kids, that's why I tried too. It's fulfilling to finished one chapter and another chapter on another day.

"When I finished our collaboration story, I decided to closed our book, our story, but I kept on opening it again and again, I still didn't fully closed it because I can't move forward. Araw-araw ikaw pa din, JD. Alam kong gusto mong magpatuloy ako, pero siguro matatagalan pa. Five years is still not enough, kasi hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin dumating ang liham na ibibigay mo sa 'kin. So yeah, I'm still into you, love. Ikaw pa rin, at ikaw lang nag-iisang Architect ng buhay ko." Hindi ko namalayang umiiyak na pala ako habang nagsasalita.

Kung si Aris nagpaubaya, ako iniwang mag-isa. Si Honey at Krizza parehong nasaktan, pero sa magkaibang dahilan. Malas ba talaga kami sa pag-ibig?

There doesn't seem to be anyone who can make me feel the same way you do. The way you look at me, the way you pronounce my name, and the tone of your voice when you genuinely care are all very telling. I love you so much that I fear I will die from the agony that consumes me day and night. Now tell me how can I forget you? If the only love I am aware of is yours.

They kept on asking if I am okay . . . funny how I answered yes but never mean it. I am still stuck in the the memories that you left with me. You were my first love, someone who knew me so well.

Nagulat ako nang may naglapag mg isa pag bulaklak sa puntod ni JD. Kaya napalingon ako sa kanya. I almost lost my balance when I saw his face. Anong ginagawa niya rito? After five years, ngayon ko lang ulit siya nasilayan.

Raven Dylan Russo, the man who's the reason I stopped writing for months that happened, year 2020. He's also the reason why I met JD. Kasi kung hindi niya ako sinaktan at ni ghost noon, hindi ko makikilala ang lalaking nagbigay sa 'kin nang pag-asang magpatuloy. Ngunit simula noong iniwan niya ako, hindi ko alam kung kaya ko pa bang magpatuloy ng hindi siya kasama.

Siguro tatandang dalaga nalang ako kung hindi man si JD ang makakatuluyan ko.

"Vera," he call me. I smiled on him, he look differently now . . . well people age.

"Raven, long time no see," I muttered. I wondered why is he here?

He must knew JD.

"Kaano-ano mo si JD?" Hindi ko napigilang magtanong sa kanya.

"He's a good friend of mine," he answered. "You must be his girlfriend, right? Ang swerte mo sa kanya, Vera." Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya.

"More than lucky, Rave, hindi lang ako swerte sa kanya. Isa siyang biyaya sa buhay ko," sambit ko habang nakangiti.

He suddenly glance at the kid beside me.

"Your daughter?" He asked.

"No, pamangkin ko," agad na sagot ko.

He just nod at me.

"So you always visit him, huh," he says. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. How did he knew?

A realization hit me.

Wait, don't tell me . . . he's the man with a cap and face  mask everytime I went here? Siya ba iyong lalaking lagi akong naabutan dito na umiiyak? He's always silent as if he's listening to my cries.

"Yes, I am that man," sagot niya sa mga tanong na nasa isipan ko.

All this time, he was with me. As if he didn't let me to embrace the pain alone.

A sudden wind was embracing me. It feels freeing. Parang may pinapahiwatig ang hangin sa 'kin. Lumingon ako kay Rave na siyang nakatingin na din sa 'kin ngayon. He beamed on me, I felt something while he flashed those smiles on me.

Free yourself from me, love, but never forget me.

JD, what are you up to?