3- Ako pa kayang-kaya ko toh!

(Araw ng Sabado)

“Oh? Bakit ka nandito ngayon? Di ba day off mo?”, tanong ni Dylan nang makita niya akong lumabas ng elevator.

“Uhmmm... may gusto lang sana ako sabihin kay Roseta...”,

“Uy! Rachel, anong ginagawa mo dito?”, eksaktong pagdating ni Roseta.

“Si Ma’am.. uhh. May koneksyon na ba kayo kay, Ma’am?”, pagkukunwaring tanong ko na lamang.

“Rachel, alam kong mahirap.. pero wala pa talaga. Siguro susubukan ko na lang uli siyang tawagan. Umuwi ka na muna, magpahinga ka ok?”,

Umalis na muna ako at dumiretso sa Cafe na dapat naming puntahan.

Isang oras pa akong naghintay, gusto ko lang talaga siyang makita... hindi ko na kayang maghintay.

“Ma’am! Dito po.”, sigaw ko nang makita siya na papasok sa Cafe.

“Rachel! Oh kamusta naman na kayo sa office? I bet Roseta’s taking good care of everything!”,

“Uhmmm... mag order na po ba ako?”,

“Go ahead Rachel. I’ll just have what your having.”,

I filled out our order and kept talking while we were waiting. She was smiling... but why do I feel this way? HAHAH!

“Ma’am? Okay lang po ba talaga kayo? Sorry to bring it up now, but I’m worried. Please don’t keep it bottled up inside. You’ve helped our co workers through so much. Let me help you.”,

She was still smiling, we received our orders, and entered personal business.

“Rachel, with or without your help I’ll stay being myself. Nothing can ruin me. Not a miscarriage and not even a break up. Ask ko nga lang ha. Matatandaan mo pa ba ako kahit sumikat ka na sa pagiging magaling mo sa pagsusulat?”,

Ma’am, ano po ba yang sinasabi mo?

“Bakit naman po kita kakalimutan? Your my biggest ally and friend. Walang makakalimot sa inyo.”,

Was it enough for her to hear me say that? Ma’am don’t do this to yourself....

“Can you write something for me one day?”

Ma’am... no..

“Of course po. You’ll be forever remembered.”,

She gave put a smile of contentment...

She’s ready huh? Why now though....

“Hay nako! Kain ka na nga lang. At tsaka may check up pa ako mamaya kaya bilisan na natin.”,

She seemed fine, although looks can be deceiving. Our whole conversation felt so normal, I could at least do it for her... she’s done so many things for us anyway.

After our little meet up, I wanted to tell the others, but I couldn’t since I never asked her about it... her secret’s safe with me for now.

I wrote things like I normally would.. my article stayed for good now.

A month or so after our conversation, she was posting all kinds of things while travelling..... it was her own travel vlog, and that’s one way for everyone to communicate with her again.

Though that’s not the end of her story it was just getting ready for the big twist.

After she got home from Laguna, our Head, told us something terrible.

Pumasok siya ng office na parang paiyak na.

“Uhmmm.... gather po muna tayong lahat at, magdasal.”.

Mataimtim kaming nagdasal, malalaman na nila... after that she told us what was on her mind.

“Kahapon ng 2 o’clock ay iniwan na tayo ng dati nating katrabaho na si Ms. Christina Lopez. She was having hard time with her miscarriage and the fact that her long time boyfriend cheated on her with her own sister. She was probably tired, which made her take her own life. You can still visit her until sunday at their residence. Please send your last regards and wishes. That’s all. You can go back to work now.”,

She left our office with a devastating look on her face.

“Guys, bumisita na lang tayo. Ano pa bang magagawa natin? Go back to work everyone, we still have work to do.”,

Our whole company mourned for her, we visited only in our free days because we weren’t exactly given time off. But when her funeral came we closed the building and invited everyone who can come.

Her ex and her sister were also there, but they didn’t say a word... they were also further away from everyone.

“Kita mo yan, walang awa. Namatayan na nga ng anak yung kapatid niya, kumabit pa. Like, why?”, galit na sabi ni Roseta.

“Roseta. Behave yourself, we’re in a funeral for crying out loud!”, bulong naman ng isa naming senior.

“Hindi naman mali si Roseta, but please respect the dead.”, dagdag naman ng isa pa.

We proceeded with the eulogy, and headed to the cemetery.

We threw roses, and prayed for her safe crossing, noone can replace you, you’re one of a kind. I’m not good at words but I hope you can understand that this is all I can say to you for now. Hinding-hindi po namin kayo makakalimutan, mami-miss namin kayo, Ms.Lopez.

(End)

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