I went to the garden. Sobrang lawak niyon, hindi pa kasama ang malaking garden labyrinth na kasintaas ng tao ang mga halamang nagmistula nitong mga pader. It is located at the eastern part of the facility where the first ray of sun came.
Inikot ko na ang hindi maliparang uwak nitong paligid sa labas, but she's not around. I checked the garden benches one by one pero wala siya, and one option left is to search inside the garden labyrinth.
The three of us often visited the labyrinth garden noon kaya't kabisado ko na ang pasikot-sikot, yet after walking the paths, hindi ko siya nakasalubong hanggang sa makarating sa daan patungong gazebo, the heart of the labyrinth.
Nakaramdam na ako ng pagkapagod habang tinatahak ang daan. Suddenly I remembered the number given by Theo kaya't kinuha ko ang cellphone sa bulsa at tinawagan si Darlene, but before I could hit the call button, I saw her in the gazebo. Nakatalikod at halatang umiiyak dahil sa pagkukusot ng mata niya at pamaya't mayang pagpahid nito ng pisngi gamit ang palad.
Still, I decided to call her phone. Nilakad ko ang pathway papunta sa kinaroroonan niya while my phone at my ear, listening at its ringing.
I watched how it startled her as her phone finally rang, her eyes widen as she checked her phone. Nakailang ring pa iyun bago niya mabilis na sinagot ito. I heard how she cleared her throat to compose herself, still though, naririnig ko ang payaka-yaka niyang pagsinghot.
"B-bakit ka napatawag ha?" I noticed her trembling hand that's holding the phone from a distance.
"I'm sorry..." I uttered na nakapagpatahimik sa kaniya. I stopped when I'm already a few meters away from her, enough para hindi pa rin niya ako mapansin.
Napahinto siya then slowly, her shoulders shake and I'm hearing at the other line her faint sobs na pilit niya pa ring pinipigilan.
"K-kung hindi lang rin bukal sa kalooban m---"
"I mean it. I'm sorry..." I sincerely uttered. Walang tigil nang pumatak ang mga luha niya.
"T-then why are y-you apologing by j-just calling? T-try to be sincer--- Teka, andiyan ka pa ba??? Gabi?!" tanong niya nang putulin ko na ang tawag and stood right behind her. I spoke before she could attempt to call back.
"Forgive me..."
Kaagad siyang napalingon at gulat ang rumehistro sa mukha niya.
"A-anong ginagawa mo r-rito?"
"You said it yourself. If I want to apologize sincerely, then I must be here in front of you. That's what you mean, isn't it?"
Tuluyan na siyang napaharap sa akin at hawak ang cellphone niya ng mahigpit, she start weeping loudly while looking at me.
"I'm sorry... please forgive me... I---" bago ko pa man matapos ang sasabihin, she hugged me and cried on my chest.
"N-nakakainis ka... sobrang nakakainis ka! Masamang d-damo... a-ang itim ng b-budhi mo... y-yet I can easily f-forgive y-you... moron E-ve... d-dummy..." she said while sobbing and punching my chest gently.
I smiled, not happy nor sad, just a relief kind of smile. Paolo might've said it in his letter, but I choose to not let this lady cry again, even without his will to me.
"T-this is the first time you called me… p-pero sa ganitong pagkakataon pa. Y-you're the worst…" she murmured.
"I know... i am, so please... forgive me..." i said and hug her tightly while my tears are falling on my cheeks.
*****
The summer will fade to fall soon. Tila ba'y naapektuhan ang takbo ng utak ko sa init ng panahon. A lot of things happened and by now, I'm just reflecting on everything a little late.
YOU ARE READING
PAINTED CANVAS (Under Revision)
Teen Fiction[Soon to be Published] BLURB Eve I. Meneses, a principled fourth year Architecture student and an artist who started hating people after what happened two years ago which changed his outlooks in life. The loathing in his heart created an overwhelm...
