Seven Days In Paradise

Family will always matter

Bea/Contessa's POV:

Gabe was still family to me, no matter how I looked at things. Kaya naman nang marelease na ang bangkay nito sa Morgue, ako na ang umayos sa bangkay nito. Dinamitan ko ito at inayos ang mga bagay na hindi kayang ayusin ni Pearl. She's been crying all day. Speaking to herself mostly. I watched as tears flow down her eyes.

Andito na kami ngayon sa chapel kung saan ibuburol ang mga labi ni Gabe. I approached Pearl and hugged her.

"Pearl, tama na ang pag-iyak mo, wala na si Gabriel. Pero andito pa din ako para sayo. Hindi kita pababayaan at ang pamangkin ko." I said as I soothed her from crying.

She briefly paused from crying, she speaks to me. Her voice breaking at every word.

"Magbabayad si Zoey sa pagkamatay ni Gabriel." She whispered.

"Pearl, Zoey is still your best friend. Hindi siya ang may sala sa nangyari kay Gabriel. Si Gabriel mismo ang may kagustuhan na pasukin ang gulong ito." I said as I pulled away from the hug.

I looked into Pearl's eyes, I saw in her eyes all the rage and anger she was feeling at the moment.

"Magbabayad ka din, Bea." She threatens me.

Tumayo na ito malapit sa casket ni Gabriel. Umiiyak at tumatangis sa wala nang buhay na bangkay ni Gabriel. I could only look at her at naawa ako sa kanya. I understand her situation, I was there myself almost a year ago. Andito ang mga magulang ni Pearl, so I decided to give them some privacy and go out.

Nasa labas na ako ng chapel nang makita ko si Zoey na papunta sa chapel.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" I asked her as soon as she approached me.

"I just wanted to see you, love." She says so.

"Wag ka munang papasok sa loob, Pearl was threatening to hurt you." I said to her.

"Love, hindi naman siya o si Gabe ang ipinunta ko dito. I wanted to talk to you." She said.

"We could talk sa Canteen. Tara." I said to her.

We walked to the canteen. I got us two cups of coffee. Naupo ako sa tapat niya at inilapag ang isang paper cup na may kape, black yung kanya habang sa akin ay may cream at sugar.

"Thanks, love." She said to me.

"Welcome love." I answered her.

She smiled at me softly, upon hearing me call her love. Saglit kaming nagkatinginan, nanantya kung paano sisimulan ang paguusap namin.

"I'm sorry about your loss, love. Alam ko si Gabe na lang ang natitirang pamilya mo." She says so empathetically.

"If this happened noon, tiyak ko na malulungkot ako na mawala siya. Pero nagbago na si Gabriel, iba na siya sa batang inalagaan at prinotektahan ko noon." I smiled weakly at her.

She held my hand, and drew lazy circles at the back of my hand. Before she speaks again.

"Love, I'm also sorry about Marco. Kung alam ko lang, nagsalita na sana ako." She says apologetically. 

"Zoey, wala yun. Pinapatawad na kita at ganun din si Gabriel. Sorry din, kasi wala ka namang kinalaman sa pagkamatay ni Marco. I'm very sorry Zoey." 

"Okay lang yun." She smiled at me.

I squeezed her hand and looked into her eyes. I feel at ease right this moment. There's something in her eyes, these brown orbs could melt away every anxiety or stress. I smiled as I looked at her.

"Zoey, I want you to listen to me. Pabayaan mo akong magsalita." I said to her.

"Okay, ano bang sasabihin mo?" She smiled at me.