Her Sweet Redemption

04

CHAPTER FOUR | FLIRT BACK

Lauren

MY FOREHEAD slightly creased when I read a text message from an unknown number. Sunod-sunod iyon pumasok at pulos pare-pareho lang naman ang laman. It's from an unknown number. I believed these spam messages came from the survey forms I filled out several times before. Inignora ko iyon at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Papunta na ako ngayon sa Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum bitbit ang isang miniature violets bouquet para kay Abby. Violets were Abby's favorite and I make sure not to forget to bring a bouquet today. Ito ang unang beses na dadalawin ko siya makalipas ang halos dalawang taon. Today marks as her second year death anniversary. Kaya kahit naglalakad palang ako ay hindi ko na maiwasang maging emosyonal.

Miss na miss ko na ang kaibigan ko at kung pwede ko lang araw-arawin ang pagdalaw ay ginawa ko. But I know Abby, she doesn't want to hassle everyone even now. Mas gusto niya na magpatuloy kami sa buhay at laging piliing maging masaya araw-araw.

Huminga ako nang malalim. I hope you're happy wherever you are right now, Abby.

Malakas na umihip ang hangin at isinayaw noon ang takas na mga hibla ng aking buhok. Huminto ako sa paglakad at pinagmasdan ko ang mga puno sa palagid. The air danced all of the branches as if someone is happy to see me. I smiled as I collect my hair and tucked at back of my ears.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad hanggang sa makapasok ako sa loob ng Mausoleum matapos ko mag tirik ng kandila sa labas. I immediately walk towards the glass niche where Abby's urn is placed. I smiled when I saw my best friend's smiling face picture inside beside our picture together. It was taken in middle school fieldtrip in Baguio. Background namin iyong pine trees at pareho kami ng suot na jacket dalawa.

"Hi, Abby!" Masigla kong bati sa kaibigan ko at dinikit ko na sa gilid iyong miniature bouquet na aking binili kanina. "I'm sorry if I'm late. I went through a lot since you die. I'm happy to say that I'm getting there. You taught me how to be brave so I faced all the consequences of the deed I'd done before." Huminga ako nang mamalim saka kinuha iyong malinis na basahan. I wiped Abby's glass niche using the clean cloth. Sa kabilang side ng urn ni Abby nakatayo iyong name tablet niya katabi ng family picture nila. "I'm working in a café and restaurant near Brooklyn Heights. Lagi mo sinasabi na gusto mo ang view ng Brooklyn Bridge at kapag tumitingin ako roon ikaw ang naalala ko. The owner is a dear friend of my father. Do you remember Summer? She's the only friend I have right now. I still have Dashiel as a friend, and he continues to communicate with me. Gano'n din iyong asawa niya - si Dreya. She has your eyes, and it's well taken care of. They have three beautiful kids now."

Naipon iyong mga kwento ko para kay Abby. Since then, Abby was a good listener. Lagi akong excited kapag uuwi sa Pilipinas dahil bukod sa kikitain ko Dashiel, pupuntahan ko rin si Abby. My late friend and me will talk nonstop until morning. Kahit video chat gano'n kaming dalawa ni Abby pati na ni Dashiel.

But things changes as the season did. May mga priority na si Dashiel at hindi na ako kasama doon. I have no hard feelings now unlike before because I grew maturely in jail. Masyado kasi ako natakot na maiwang mag-isa kaya noong malaman ko na may gustong iba si Dashiel, napuno ng galit ang puso ko at nagawa ko manakit. I learned my lesson now and I can proudly say that my attitude is continuously improving.

But I am a work in progress.

"I'm still attending an anger management counselling group in Downtown Manhattan, Abby. I do it as part of my plan to be a better version of myself. Ayoko na bigyan ng sakit ng ulo si Mommy at Daddy. I did yoga and tried attending parties with Summer, but it bore me now."

Pinaglapat ko ang mga labi saka matipid na ngumiti. Marami pa ako na-kwento kay Abby at pakiramdam ko na pinakikinggan niya ang mga iyon kung nasaan 'man siya naroon. I stayed in the mausoleum for another hour then decided to live when I noticed the cloud's darkening nearby. Kailangan ko mabalik bago pa bumuhos ang ulan. Mas ma-traffic kapag naabutan ako ng ulan sa daan. Habang naglalakad hinahanap ko sa bag ko ang payong na alam ko naman na dala ko. Isang dahilan kaya hindi ako nakatingin sa aking dinaraanan at bumangga sa matikas na bulto na agad dumaing.