San na ba si Rese? Kanina pa ako dito sa SM, siya naman pala ang late kairita.
Dito muna ako sa Starbucks nagpapalamig ng ulo.
I saw someone familiar. Wait.
"Louise?" tanong ko.
Lumingon ito sakin at nanlaki ang mata.
Teka napalakas yata pagtawag ko.
"Is that you Avi?" tanong niya na para bang naninigurado.
"Of course. Long time no see Louise" sabi ko habang ngumingiti.
"Gaga wag mo nga akong tawaging Louise, alam mo naman na mas gusto kong LG" sabi niya.
"Pake mo? gusto ko Louise Gayle eh" pang- aasar ko sakanya.
"Alam mo Avrielle Maxine tatamaan ka na talaga sakin" umamba pa siyang susuntok.
Tinawanan ko na lang siya at nag tanong.
"So how's life?" tanong ko.
"Super busy lalo na't ako naghahandle ng Airline business ko. Pero syempre nag pa-paid off naman ang hirap kase unli travel" loko nitong sagot.
"Good for you. Sila Sky at Athena ba?" tanong ko.
"Ayun si Sky busy sa restaurants niya, very alike sila ni Luna. Tapos si Athena ayon lawyer na tsaka busy sa anak niya" sagot niya.
Well, if you're asking who's Louise, Athena, and Sky, they're our friends in the organization nung teenage years namin pero they quitted for some reasons.
"Buti naman, I remembered nung buntis pa si Athena sobrang down niya. I'm glad I was able to help her kahit konti before I flew to US" sabi ko.
"I'm sorry we weren't there nung namatay si tito. That was also the time na sobrang down pa rin ni Athena" sabi niya.
"It's okay, I understand naman" sagot ko.
"By the way, I have something to tell you-"
Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko dahil nakita ko si Rese.
"Sorry girl matagal natapos ang trial, imbyerna yung lawyer ng kabilang kampo" bungad nito.
Halata naman talaga na galing sa court dahil naka corporate attire pa ito.
"Hi LG, long time no see" bati nito sa kausap ko.
Kumaway lang ito at tumawa kay Rese.
"So pwede na ba tayong bumili ng gowns?" tanong ko.
Agad naman kuminang ang mata ng gaga at para bang nawala lahat ng pagod pagka rinig.
"Of course. Let's go" sabi nito at agad na naglakad.
Napailing nalang ako at lumingon kay Louise.
"Louise, can you call Sky? I have something to tell you about Jayce. Sabihin mo kita-kita tayo sa labas ng firm ni Athena" sabi ko.
Tumango ito at tinawagan si Sky.
After an hour of buying our needs for tonight's party, lumabas na kami at dumeretso sa law firm ni Athena.
We saw Sky waiting for us outside kay nag park kami.
Kumaway ito saamin.
"Hi Rese and Avi, long time no see" she said and hugged us.
"Long time no see Sky" sagot namin.
Nakita namin si Luna na kakarating lang din.
Wait, who called her?
Agad akong lumingon kay Rese at tumango lang ito.
Louise told us na papasok na daw kami.
"Bakit nandito kayong lahat?" bungad na tanong ni Athena.
"I heard someone's coming back" sabi ko.
"Yes, but I don't know what she's up to" she said.
We're referring to Jayce, the ex girlfriend of Athena. The other mother of their daughter Zarniah.
Yes, ex girlfriend.
"If that girl will cause you any harm, wag na wag talaga siyang magpapakita sa amin" Rese said.
"I'm just here to confirm the news" sabi ko.
"Iba talaga radar mo Avrielle, abot saang lupalop ng mundo" lokong sabi ni Louise.
"Ingay mo Louise, eh ikaw rin naman" pambabara sakanya ni Athena.
"Ano na ang balita sa organization? may bagong mission ba?" tanong ni Luna.
"For now, wala pa pero the other day someone's following me. The organization is conducting an investigation about it as well as Rese and me" sagot ko.
"Is there something we can help? Miss ko na rin makipag basag ulo" sabi ni Louise.
"If you want to, you can train in the HQ. I'm sure na miss din kayo ng ibang reapers. I also feel that something big is about to happen so mas better that we'll train early incase na may mangyari nga" mahabang sabi ko.
Agad kaming napalingon sa pinto nang may marinig kaming katok.
There we saw a lawyer with Jayce. I signalled the girls na umalis na since it's a private matter.
Pagkalabas namin ay nagsalita si Sky.
"Girls i'm sorry I have to go, tinawag ako ni Darius" oh right. her boyfriend.
"Okay, take care Sky" sagot ni Louise.
"Hoy Avi, alis na rin ako. Mag b-beauty rest pa ako" sabi ni Rese.
"Edi umalis ka, wala namang nagtanong" sagot ko sakanya.
Umismid ito at umalis.
"Avi, una na rin ako may aasikasuhin pa ako sa resto" paalam naman ni Luna.
Tumango ako at kumaway.
"Louise, san punta mo ngayon?" tanong ko.
"Babalik na rin ako sa trabaho, baka pagalitan ako ng secretary ko. Tamad pa naman ako magtrabaho" tumatawa niyang sabi.
"Loko umalis ka na" pagtataboy ko sakanya.
Ako nalang pala natitira dito.
I drove my car to the memorial park.
"Hi dad" bati ko sa puntod ni dad.
I saw white roses, maybe it was mom who visited him.
"I brought flowers for you. Hays, I miss you" sabi ko habang nakayuko.
"I always wonder na what if buhay ka, ano kaya ginagawa ko ngayon, maybe i'm flying to my favorite places. But I know hanggang what ifs nalang talaga yun, sorry it took me so long to visit you again. I still can't accept it dad. I know you'll be happy to see mom now from above. She's coping up dad and for sure magiging proud ka sa achievements niya ngayon" kwento ko.
"Dad i'm going through something now but I know you're there for me" sabi ko.
It felt like the wind was hugging me.
"I'm here to tell you that I will give you the justice you deserve. I know the Monteverdes are making a move. I'll catch them dad" sabi ko.
After a few hours of talking, I stood up and said goodbye.
"Wait for me dad"
-
"Rese, on the way na ako sa bahay niyo" sabi ko kay Rese.
"Okay, ready na me" sagot nito.
Pagkarating ko ay bumusina agad ako. Nakita ko siyang nagmamadaling pumasok sa sasakyan.
"Naks ganda mo naman ata ngayon bes" sabi niya.
I'm wearing a red satin simple open back dress and paired it with a 3-inch heels.
"May pinaglalaban ka ba? daring mo madam" dagdag pa niya.
Hindi ko siya pinansin.
"Ay alam ko na, may gustong kabugin mamaya 'to, huwag ka naman pahalata madam" sabi pa nito kaya naman nilingon ko siya at bintukan.
"Excuse you Ashlynn Rorese, ganito talaga ako manamit. Dami mong satsat di naman halata na naghahanap ka ng lalake jan sa suot mo bruha" sabi ko.
Tinawanan lang niya ako, aliw na aliw sa pang bubwisit sakin.
She's wearing a black choker maxi dress and 5-inch heels. Walang hiya talaga.
We're here.
May pa red carpet pa eh masquerade ball naman.
I saw several businessmen walking with their wives and date.
I even saw Luke and Luna walking, grabe artista datingan.
Rese started to walk gracefully. Sakanya tuloy na focus ang camera. A head turner indeed.
I walked normally then suddenly all the cameras are on me. I feel awkward but when I remembered what I came here for, I walked proudly and lift my chin up.
Everyone was in awe.