After Departure • SB19 Justin [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 21: Persistence

Unedited

Chapter 21: Persistence

Mela's Point of View

I was looking for Justin all over the place where I know he would be after Saoirse's burial but I still haven't seen him for a while. When I asked Tita Gemma if he's at their home in Malabon, she said yes.

Naiintindihan ko na ayaw niya munang makipag usap kahit na sa pamilya niya mismo dahil sa sakit ng pinagdaanan niya, I clearly know that.

So I gave him time before approaching him again and try to make him feel better as long as I could. Just like what I always do even before.

Sinubukan ko siyang puntahan sa Malabon pero wala siya doon, I also tried looking for him at his cobdo but he isn't there either, he's not at his and Eleinah's house too. Tinetext at tinatawagan ko siya pero nakapatay ang cellphone niya. So I decided to go to the last place I thought that I might find him.

Sa 'di kalayuan ay kita ko agad ang itim niyang hoodie habang nakaupo sa damuhan at nakabaluktot ang mga binti. Nakatalikod man siya sa akin ay kilalang kilala ko parin siya.

I smiled a bit, I was right, he's here.

I silently walked towards him. Nang malapitan ko na siya ay naupo ako sa tabi niya at ginaya ang posisyon niya. He didn't even bothered to take a glance at me. Nakatingin lang siya sa kawalan at walang ekspresyon ang muka.

"Sabi ko na nga ba nandito ka." pagbasag ko sa katahimikan.

He remained silent. Tanging ugong lang ng hangin ang naririnig sa katahimikan ng buong lugar.

I sighed then looked at the sky. "Tulad ng lagi kong sinasabi sa'yo, hindi hihinto ang oras para sa atin, life goes on whatever happens. Life is big, broad, full of the tiniest things that you can't even imagine. We've got a lot to explore. And we wouldn't be able to get to see the real world if we kept on hiding in the dark. Madadapa pero babangon ulit, mapapagod pero hindi susuko, 'yan ang laging sinasabi niyo ng mga kagrupo mo 'di ba?"

Nilingon ko siya para tignan ang ekspresyon niya pero ganon parin sa dati, walang pinagbago.

I smiled a bit. "You've been there, right? A lot of times." I asked. "Wag mong sabihing ngayon ka pa susuko?"

I patted his back softly then caressed it afterwards. "It's okay not to be okay. I know it's hard for you to experience all of this, but I know that you can overcome this. Ikaw pa ba? Saksi ako sa maraming beses mong pagkadapa at muling pag bangon. This is a tough one but I still believe in you."

I smiled at him fully then continued to caress his back. Tumingin nalang ulit ako sa langit habang nakangiti parin. He didn't spoke on the other hand.

It also makes me sad and hurt whenever he's hurting and struggling. I knos since then, it's not right to like someone who's already married and even worse to take advantage of his situation. But I can't just do nothing while seeing the man I like hurting alone. I can't stand seeing him face these problems all by himself.

Yumuko ako at binasa ang pangalang nakasulat sa lapida na nasa harapan namin. Saoirse Marie, miss ka na namin lalo na ng Daddy mo.

"Thank you."

Agad akong lumingon sa kaniya nang marinig ko ang mahina niyang tugon. Ngumiti ulit ako at mahinang tumawa.

"You're always welcome, Jah, always." wika ko habang nakatitig sa kaniya.

Napuno ng katahimikan ang buong lugar. Sunod-sunod na malakas na hangin nalang ang naririnig at mga tunog ng dahon na nagliliparan. Sobrang payapa ng lugar na 'to.