after 3 months

Napangiti si Zia nang matapos ang arrangement niya sa isang bouquet of flowers.

She put up her own shop last month.

"Meg alis nako." paalam niya sa isang crew.

"Sige po.. Ah Mam dadaan pa po ba ang mama niyo dito?"

"Hindi na, tutuloy na yon sa cemetery. Thanks Meg."

"Ok mam ingat."

*****

Zia place the candle at the gravestone and prayed for a while.

Maya-maya pa ay may lalaking lumapit sakanya.

She smiled. "You're here?"

Napangiti si Kane. "Alam kong andito ka."

"Yeah." she said.

Silence...

"Zia.."

"hm?"

"Can we talk?" He asked.

"Hm.. you mean here?"

"Ah.. yeah?"

"Sure? kung ok lang na umupo ka sa damuhan."

"But of course." nag Indian seat siya sa tabi ni Zia.

Again, there were silence.

"I love you Zia." he said.

She smiled bitterly. "Kane..."

"I can't tell you how hard it was for me..."

She looks at him. She saw pain in his eyes.

Hindi siya nakapag salita. Well, ano ba ang tamang sabihin?.

Para sakanya pareho lang silang naging biktima ng pagkakataon.

Things meant to happen beyond expectation.

They were both broken.. at different cause.

"Kane, diba nag usap na tayo?"

Tumango lang si Kane. "Yeah... im sorry."

Tumingin siya sa malayo. "Im sorry too... I'm so sorry Kane." she said.

"I have a question." si Kane.

"Hm?"

*****

"Hello dear."

"Hi ma."

She stood up and kiss her mom. "Kaka alis lang ni Kane."

"Really? sayang di ko siya na abutan. Traffic." reklamo ng mama niya. "Kung nag ka taon papagalitan nanaman ako ng Daddy mo."

Umupo ang mama niya at nagsindi ng kandila. "Im sorry Wil, im late.. nan lalake pa kasi ako sa Cebu. Happy birthday."

Napa napangiti siya habang pinapanood ang mama niya.

They stayed there for a couple of hours.

Her mom just arrived from Cebu kaya na miss niya ito. They talked about many things...

****