SNIPPET OF A FAIRYTALE

Of Recollections and Coldness

She looked at her reflection once more.
The girl in the mirror stared back at her. Emotionless. It's funny how she could miss her own smile, how she could long for the sound of her laugh.

"Arci. The bus is here." A voice outside her room pulled her out of her thoughts.

"Pasabi ate, pababa na ako." She picked her things from her bed, and glanced at herself in the mirror again.

"For Zoey." She whispered.

---

Exactly three weeks na lang before graduation. And It has been two weeks of hell for them.

Gumigising sila sa umaga, pumapasok sa school, gumagawa ng activities, at umuuwi ng bahay. They still talk, but not like before. They can't even remember the last time they actually laughed and became happy. Feeling kase nila it would be so unfair for Zoey kung magiging masaya sila habang sya in coma sa hospital at walang kasiguraduhan kung mabubuhay.

Araw-araw nilang dinadalaw si Zoey sa ospital. Kinukwentuhan, at dun lang sila nagkukunwari na masaya para kay Zoey, baka kase sakaling naririnig sila nito.

Andeng did her best to get Chino out of his room. Kung di pa nya tinakot si Chino na mauuna syang magsuicide, kesa mamatay si Chino sa hunger strike, di pa ito lalabas ng kwarto. At sobrang thankful naman ng parents ni Chino kay Andeng dahil dito. Kahit malala pa rin ang state ni Chino for now. The guy couldn'f forgive himself for what happened to his friend.

"It's not your fault Chino. May sariling desisyon si Zoey. You're such a good friend to him. And my son is lucky to have you." sabi ng Mama ni Zoey nung kausapin sya nito para humingi sana ng sorry.

That helped him a little. At least nakakapasok na sya ng school. But he 's not the usual makulit and energetic Chino. He's always there lurking, on one corner of the room. No one dares to talk to him except Andrea.

While Arci, she's trying to be strong... And rational. Because she knows that, it would be what Zoey want her to do. Even if she wants to blame people for what happened to him, she keeps everything to herself. In her mind, she could hear Zoey telling her that nobody would want that to happen that's why it's called an accident.

She tries to smile, and comfort her friends. Even if in fact, it is her who needs to be consoled the most. She never wants to leave Zoey's side. But she also knows that she has to go to school because she doesn't need to add more stress to the situation if she fails due to absences.

Kaya ngayon, kahit mas prefer nya magstay sa tabi ni Zoey kailangan nyang sumama sa Tagaytay para sa retreat ng klase nila. Ayaw kase sumama nila Pibi, Chino, at Andeng for some reasons. Kesyo it would feel like cheating raw kay Zoey, kung sila enjoy don tapos yung kaibigan nila lantang gulay sa ospital. She was nearly convinced, but Nathan talked her out of it.

"I know, hard times to Arci. But... If you could just think about it. We have to refresh our feelings, and minds. Toxic na tayo sa lahat nang nangyayari satin. We need this the most. But they won't listen to me, iisipin nila I don't understand how they feel. Pero ikaw, makikinig sayo yung mga yon." Nathan said to her.

She never felt powerful before, sa barkada nila she used to being inferior with the others. She's the most rational, yes. But she never tells her opinion to them unless they ask her. And most of the time, they listen to Zoey. But without him here, she feels responsible for her friends.

"Sure. I'll do what I can." She replied.

Kaya naman kahit puro palusot ang narinig nya dun sa tatlo hindi nya sinukuan hanggang sa makulitan sa kanya at napilitan na rin sumama.