Regrets are Always at the End

Kabanata 15

Michelle's POV

It was a Saturday today at nakapagplano na kami ni Princess na gagala. We're going to Tagaytay kasi she wanted to treat me for getting the job. Proud na proud kasi siya because hindi siya makapaniwala that I got the job, right on the spot, walang ek-ek bureche daw.

"Beshie, are you all set?" narinig kong pagsigaw ni Princess sa may pintuan ng penthouse ko. "Baka kasi matraffic tayo if we don't leave now."

"All set, beshie," sagot ko sa kanya and went out of my room. Nakita ko siya sa sofa ko, nakaupo. Medyo naguluhan ako kasi prepared na prepared siya para sa araw na ito. "Akala ko ba kakain lang tayo dun? Eh ba't parang party yung pupuntahan natin?"

"Eh kasi beshie, ininvite ko kasi si Diego kaya alams na beshie," sagot niya sakin habang naghahairflip. "Dapat magandang maganda ako."

"Oo na, oo na. Ikaw na ang pinakamaganda sa lahat," sabi ko sa kanya at tumawa kaming dalawa ng sabay.

I grabbed my purse from the couch tapos sumunod kay Princess palabas ng penthouse ko. Bakas sa mukha niya yung pagiging excited niya. Naisip ko nga na baka ginawa niya akong bridge para makapag quality time silang dalawa ni Diego eh.

"Beshie, nasa labas na daw ng building si Diego," she informed me. Bigla niya akong pinaharap sa kanya at tumingin ng diretso sa mga mata ko. "Tell me honestly beshie, okay na ba yung ayos ko? Yung outfit ko? My makeup?"

"Beshie, kalma ka lang. Breathe in, breathe out," kalmado kong sabi sa kanya. "Hindi ka lang maganda, sobrang ganda mo. Kaya huwag ka na magpanic about today, okay? For sure magugustuhan ni Diego yung ayos mo ngayon."

Huminga siya ng malalamin at ngumiti ng malawak sakin. Sinuklian ko siya ng ngiti tapos inayos yung bangs niya. Nung tumunog na yung elevator, indicating we were on the ground floor, naglakad na kami ni Princess papunta sa labas ng building. Yung sasakyan na lang daw ni Diego yung gagamitin namin para makapagtipid ng gas. When we saw him, leaning on his car, biglang napahinto si Princess sa paglalakad at naramdaman ko yung paghigpit ng hawak ni Princess sa kamay ko.

"Everything's going to be okay," paalala ko sa kanya. Tumango lang si Princess kaya nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad.

Diego immediately opened the passenger's door, nung medyo malapit na kami sa sasakyan. I gently pushed Princess towards his way para naman hindi na magpanic si prinsesa niyo. Dumiretso naman ako sa pinto para sa back seat. Bubuksan sana ni Diego yung pinto pero pinigilan ko siya para mabigay niya yung buong atensyon ni kay Princess.

"Everyone's buckled up?" tanong ni Diego nung nakasakay na siya sa driver's side. We both nodded so pinaandar na niya yung sasakyan. "To Tagaytay we go."

The whole drive to Tagaytay wasn't boring at all. To be frank, I never liked long distance travel, lalo na kung road trip kasi it was so boring. But today's trip, was an exemption. Sobrang daldal kasi nila Diego at Princess. Tila hindi sila nauubusan ng kwento. And there I was, listening to their stories. Well, sumasabat naman ako paminsan minsan. Pero I'd rather give them their quality time. My eyes were getting drowsy, so little by little, nakatulog na ako.

Ganella's POV

"Love, stop sulking okay?" Jason told me for the nth time. "Isang buwan na ang nakalipas since Gizelle's death."

"Eh parang panaginip lang yung nangyari kay Gizelle," sagot ko sa kanya. "I know I should be focusing sa internship ko but then, I just miss my sister."

"I know you do. Even I do miss her," sabi niya sakin. Umupo siya sa tabi ko tapos hinawakan yung dalawang kamay ko. "But our lives need to go on. Hindi ibig sabihin na Gizelle's gone, you'll act like you're gone, too."

"I know, love. And I'm sorry," I apologized. Sumandal ako sa balikat niya at huminga ng malalim. "Just give me a little more time and for sure, I'll be the old Ganella."

Tumango lang siya at saka hinalikan yung noo ko. Tama si Jason. Hindi ibig sabihin na namatay na si Gizelle, ay papatayin ko na rin yung buhay ko. Yes, Gizelle had and will always have a part in me, pero hindi ko dapat hinahayaan natuluyang itigil yung buhay ko. There are so many people around me who loves me and is always there for me.

"Come on, let's go," sabi ni Jason sakin. He stood up, still holding my hand. "We still got rounds to do, love. Ayaw mo naman siguro may mamatay sa pasyente mo diba?"

"Kainis ka talaga," giit ko sa kanya tapos tumayo. He gave me one big hug at tapos hinalikan yung ulo ko. "Thank you, love. Thank you for always being there at times that I am so down."

"My pleasure," sagot niya sakin tapos hinila na ako palabas ng intern's room.

I was in the middle of doing my rounds when my phone rang. Tiningnan ko muna yung screen and my smile went upside down. It was Sean, and I had a bad feeling na kukulitin na naman niya ako about Gizelle being alive. I excused myself sa pamilya ng pasyente tapos lumabas ng room.

"Hello, Sean, how are you?" pagkakamusta ko sa kanya.

"I'm doing fine naman ate," sagot niya sakin. "How's mama and papa? Pati na rin sila mommy, daddy, kuya Myricks and you?"

"We're all good. Well, except sakin," sagot ko sa kanya. "Hindi pa rin kasi ako maka move on sa pagkawala ni Gizelle. I mean, it's just too much."

"I know how you feel, ate. Ganun din naman ako eh," his voice cracked as he told me. Kung nandito lang siya sa harap ko, I'm sure umiiyak na siya. "May mga panahon na I dream of her, of our happy moments together. And when I open my eyes, it's back to reality again. She's gone."

"Pero we can't let our lives be hindered from her loss," payo ko sa kanya, sa aming dalawa. I couldn't believe I'm advising my brother-in-law to move on from Gizelle's death, when in fact, hindi ko magawa. "Come on, cheer up, bro. Kailangan mong galingan dyan para naman maproud si Gizelle sayo."

"I sure will, ate," sagot niya sakin. "Well, I need to go back to sleep. It's still 4 am here in France. Good night ate."

"Good night, bunso," I bid him farewell tapos pinatay yung tawag.

I sighed in relief kasi sa wakas, Sean has given up on trying to convince me that Gizelle is alive. It's time that we all give Gizelle the peace she needs. Bumalik ako sa loob ng kwarto ng pasyente na may malawak na ngiti sa mukha. Thank you for the happy memories we have bunso. I will surely treasure them. I love you. But I need to live my life the way it was before. Don't worry, I will never forget you.

Third person's POV

Kakalabas lang ni Samuel sa ospital kung saan hinatid yung sunog na katawan ni Gizelle. May dala-dala siyang malakig sobre, mga dokumento ang laman. Sumakay siya sa sasakyan neto at tinawagan yung boss niya, para ipaalam yung nadiskobre niya.

"Good news po, sir," sabi ni Samuel sa kausap niya. "Hindi po katawan ni ma'am Gizelle ang nakita dun sa bahay na nasunog. Unidentified body po yun."

"I knew it!" sagot ni Sean sa kabilang linya. "Salamat sa tulong mo, Samuel. Pero hindi pa dito natatapos ito. I'm going to send you the follow up instructions. Kailangan natin mahanap si Gizelle."

"Masusunod po, sir," sagot ni Samuel at tsaka pinatay yung tawag.

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Sobrang laki ng ngiti ni Sean sa ibinalita ni Samuel sa kanya. Masayang masaya siya kasi napatunayan niyang buhay pa nga ang asawa neto. Agad agad niyang kinuha yung macbook niya para masend niya kay Samuel ang kasunod na gagawin neto.

"I'm going to find you, Gizelle," sabi neto sa sarili. "And we're going to build a happy family. I'm going to tell you how I truly feel at hinding hindi na ako aatras sayo, kahit ipagtabuyan mo pa ako palayo. Ganun kita ka mahal."

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