Epilogue

"You know what, Chance? I still remember that day when Aline was still a kid. She told me na kahit anong mangyari, pipiliin niya ang pangarap niya. That time, she's into painting already and I can say that she really has a potential."

Bilang Mama niya, medyo nalungkot ako nang sabihin niya 'yon. Mas pipiliin niya raw ang pangarap niya kaysa sa kahit ano. Ako na ang humihingi ng tawad sa 'yo in behalf of my daughter. I'm sorry, she didn't choose you before.."

The wind blew hard as Tita Jani said those words to me. Napangiti na lang ako nang mapait habang ini-imagine si Aline na ganoon nga ang sinasabi.

Truly, she remained faithful to her dreams. She became successful and she chose her dreams over anything else, even over me.

"Now that she's gone.. how could she even reach her dreams? Masyado pang bata ang anak ko!"

I immediately comforted her when she started to cry again. Nakatingin lang ako sa mga humahampas na alon at hindi ko balak magsalita. Wala akong gana para kumilos pa.

"I didn't know that it was brain hemorrhage! Akala ko normal lang ang pagsakit ng ulo niya!" sabi niya pa. "Nagtiis ang anak ko, Chance! Her doctor just called, matagal na palang alam ng anak ko ang tungkol dito pero ayaw niyang mag-alala kami! She didn't tell us about this!"

My eyes widened with what she said. She had a brain hemorrhage that's why her head bled that time? Oh, Aline! You should've told your parents about that!

May parte sa aking sinisisi siya sa nangyari. Kung sinabi niya lang sana nang maaga, pwede pang maagapan. She could've been treated by experts! She could've survived!

Muntikan nang mabitiwan ni Tita Jani ang jar na naglalaman ng abo ni Aline kaya ay kinuha ko 'yon sa kaniya. Her husband just looked at me when he suddenly came and took his wife with him.

Tinitigan ko na lang ang jar. I didn't know why she's cremated. But I somehow feel calm because I can still feel her even she's now gone.

I'm also blaming myself with what happened. Natamaan ko noon ng bola ang ulo ni Aline that's why she fell off to the ground and collapsed. I didn't know that, that accident could lead into something worse. I didn't expect that.

Hemorrhage is caused by head injuries and accidents. After the day that Aline died, Gymmo admitted that he's responsible of Aline's death together with his cousin - the one named Stella.

Sa una ay hindi ako makapaniwala. Inisip kong kumukuha lang siya ng atensyon but who would want to be connected to someone's death, anyway?

They admitted that they were the one who kidnapped Aline before. Again, I didn't know about that. Gymmo was the one who hit Aline's head with a baseball bat, according to him. And that Stella is obsessed on Sam, kaya niya sinubukang patayin si Aline. I believe that she is a psycho and her cousin, Gymmo is a stalker.

I cursed them to death!

Matagal na pala niyang gusto si Aline! Sinusundan niya na pala ito no'ng una pa lang! I noticed someone who's following Aline before but I didn't mind it at all!

Now, they are living in jail. I hope they rot in jail forever.

Nanghihina ang katawan kong lumapit kay Lolo. Mas lalo pa akong nanghina nang malamang siya ang nagsabi kay Aline na paalisin ako.

"Lo, how could you do this? Alam mong gagawin ni Aline 'yon para lang sa business namin! She's that kind to make me stay! Sinunod ka niya! Pinaalis niya ako!" My voice is now loud because of anger.

Napayuko naman siya. "Sorry, Chance, hijo. Iniisip ko lang naman ang kapakanan-"

I sarcastically laughed. "All this time, I thought Aline really made me leave! I thought she abandoned me! Walang araw, Lo, na hindi ako nalungkot dahil malayo siya sa akin! Walang araw na hindi ko siya sinisi!

You should haven't told that! Habang nagpapakasaya ako sa America, si Aline nandito! Hindi ko alam na naghihirap sa sakit niya! Now she's gone! Wala man lang akong nagawa!"

I left him without saying goodbye. I forcefully wiped my tears as I walked towards the shore.

"Aline!" I shouted so loud, hoping that she would hear me wherever she is right now.

"Bakit hindi mo naman sinabi sa akin ang sitwasyon mo? I could've helped you, baby.."

Sumigaw-sigaw ako hanggang sa halos mapaos na ako. I tried to cry just to ease the pain away but everytime I cry, I just remember how Aline died.

I suddenly remembered about the time capsule that I bought two years ago. Kaagad ko 'yong hinanap. When I found it, it saddened me more when Aline didn't able to achieve her goals anymore. Nandoon pa rin ang picture naming dalawa, pati ang copy ng painting na ginawa niya.

I dragged myself to the shore as I brought alcohol with me to drink. Maswerte akong nakakuha ng bangka para makapagsagwan.

Sa bawat paggalaw ng bangka at pag-inom ko ng alak, naaalala ko si Aline. I just hope that she stays here forever. Even though she died, she will always remain here in my heart.

I'm blaming myself right now. I should've just stayed here even she pushed me away. Kung 'yon pala ang dahilan kung bakit niya ako pinaalis, dapat pala nagmatigas na lang ako.

Dapat pala, hindi ko na lang siya sinunod.

Hindi na lang dapat ako umalis.

The time that I was enjoying my life when I was still in USA, that is also the time that Aline is suffering with her disease and I didn't even know that.

Bakit hindi niya pinaalam sa akin? Sa amin? I think she's just so kind to the point that she sacrificed her own health, her own life just for us to not worry about her. I know her, she doesn't want someone to worry about her condition.

Ayon nga siguro ang dahilan.

I looked up at the sky again even with a blurry vision now. The alcohol is now affecting me. Kahit nanlalabo ang mata ko, nakita ko pa rin kung paano nagsimulang bumuhos ang ulan at lumakas ang paghampas ng alon.

I should panic right now but I remained calm as I drank one more alcohol.

Lumakas uli ang alon at sa puntong 'to, natangay na nito ang bangka pati ang katawan ko.

"Aline.. bakit mo naman ako iniwan?"

Tuluyan nang lumubog ang bangka at tinangay ako kasama nito. I didn't try to swim anymore.

I didn't move.

I'm now happy because today - 6th of October - the day that I was born would also be the day that I would die.

For the last time, I smiled because anytime, we would be together again. If that happens, there will be no hindrance anymore.

Finally, Aline and I would be together on her Ocean of Stars.

-- The End --

2021 • aouieai