Part 4

Embracing the Freedom

Nanibago si Dazly na walang ''Jervis'' na biglang sumulpot sa first subject nila at mag-interrupt ng klase.

He's not late? So, is he absent? Her mind ask herself pero agad din syang nag-focus sa lesson nila dahil naalala nya ang pag-iyak nya dito noong nakaraang gabi.

She inevitably wait for his presence pero wala pa rin iyo.

So? Absent nga? Bakit kaya?

''Nabalitaan nyo ba ang nangyari kay Jervis?''

''Oo nga, grabe daw ang parusa sa kanya eh. Puro pasa daw sya sa katawan.''

Maya-maya ay dinig nyang usapan ng mga block mates nya pero naguluhan sya lalo. 

Parusa? Pasa? Bakit? she asked again.

Another one... two... five days until one week wholly passed but there is still no sign of Jervis.

Nalaman ni Dazly na naparusahan ang binata ng fraternity nito pero hindi nya alam ang dahilan. Aminado syang hindi nya maiwasang mag-alala para dito subalit ayaw na nyang mangialam.

He warned her before, that's enough.

She's just staring at the passing clouds at their university field when two strange girls hurriedly ran close to her.

''Daz! Diba kaibigan mo si Jervis?!'', tila nagmamadali ang mga ito at nababahala. Upon hearing his name and seeing their reactions she rush into panic.

''Hah? Oo. Bakit?!'', natataranta na sya.

''Something happened to him!" sagot ng isa sa mga ito.

''Tara! Sumama ka na lang!", dagdag ng isa pa.

Those girls hold her wrist and pull her gently. Her heart beats faster than normal and she's starting to mumble a short prayer.

  When she open her eyes, nagulat syang nasa isang simbahan na sila. Her eyes start to become blurry because of tears.

''God, dito agad? Hindi ba pwedeng hospital muna? Hindi ba pwedeng nasabi ko man lang ang feelings ko sa kanya? Ba't ngayon pa?''

Naramdaman ni Dazly na hinihila pa din sya ng dalawang babaeng sumundo sa kanya, she look around at nasa loob na pala sila ng simbahan.

Her family was there too together with Jervis' relatives. 

So? Dead end na? Seryoso?!

She saw the white coffin in front and the flow of her tears tripled.

God, ang sakit! Hwag nman oh!

And now, she's so near to the coffin pero...

The heck!

Hindi 'yon kabaong! It's just a white long box where a people can be fit in pero bulaklak ang nasa loob nito.

She look behind and saw everyone smiling at her.

Nakatayo sa entrance ng simbahan ang lalaking mahal nya na akala nya kanina ay kinuha na sa kaniya. He's holding a bouquet of her favorite purple-petal roses.

Upon realizing what's happening she cry even more. Hanggang sa namalayan nyang nasa harap na pala nya si Jervis.

''Hey! Curse you Jervis!''

''I love you too, my dazzling Dazly."
She stiffend and her tounge got stucked. She's totally speechless.

Bigla namang nagsalita yung isa sa dalawang babaeng humila sa kanya kanina.

''Ate, hehe... May nangyari po talaga kay Jervis, he realize that he loves you and he can't live without you.'', then she smile and gave her a peace sign.

At tuluyan na itong naupo kasama ang iba pa. Bumaling naman sya sa pasimuno ng lahat.

He just smile at her tenderly na nagpa-pula ng pisngi nya.

''So, akala mo patay na ako?'' Pagbibiro nito sa kaniya.

''Oo naman! One week kang absent tapos biglang may sumundo sakin at dinala ako dito. Someone who get involve in this kind of situation may think that someone died too!'', depensa nya dito.

''You want me to die?'', tila nagtatampo na tanong ulit nito.

''O-Of course not. Iiyak ba ako kung gusto ko diba?'', nahihiyang pag-amin nya dito. Her face burn much more.

''I love you, sorry for all my mistakes Daz.", sinserong wika ni Jervis at tinitigan siya.

''Curse you!''  Sigaw nya dito.

''Sorr--''

''That means I love you. I curse you today and onwards, Jervis. Swear.''

Everyone cheers and laugh after that. Lalo na ng namula ang mukha ni Jervis na tinalo pa ang  mansanas.

**EnD**