Ice cream

The sun is already rising, though, it's still cold.

We're on our way to the center of the town, where the shops are at. It's still too early, but I'm sure that there are some shops that are already opening.

Nauuna ulit sa 'kin si Rena, at wala akong reklamo roon. Mas gusto kong nakikita siya sa harapan ko, nang sa gano'n, masisigurado kong hindi siya mawawala. Kumpara sa ekspresyon niya kaninang umaga, may kaunting buhay na ang mga mata niya ngayon.

I smiled, watching her. I really love seeing her like this, as if nothing changed. . .

Nakarating kami sa gitna ng bayan. Kagaya ng inaasahan, kaunti pa lang ang nagbubukas. Ang iba ay nakabukas na ang mga ilaw, pero hindi pa bukas ang mismong shop.

"It looks like ice cream needs to wait for now, Rena," ani ko.

She pouted. "Hmp no! We'll get- Oh!" Nahinto sa pagsasalita si Rena nang mapunta sa iba ang atensyon niya. Napako ang tingin niya sa isang pamilyar na shop na mukhang hindi pa bukas pero bukas na ang mga ilaw.

"There!"

Hindi ko pa nagagawang makasagot nang hilahin na 'ko ni Rena. She took the end of my shirt, as I carefully move myself to prevent myself from touching her. Lakad takbo kaming pumunta sa shop na tinutukoy niya.

Umangat ang tingin ko sa pangalan ng shop, saktong pagtingin ko rito ay may pumasok sa isip ko. Another scenario from the past, when Rena and I used to go here and buy some sweets with our pocket money.

"Mamiiii!!" Rena called the owner.

Isa 'to sa pinakatambayan na shop dito sa Casus. Lalo na ng mga kabataan, lalo na't maraming snacks dito at may arcade pa sa loob. Tita Cita is the owner of this shop, together with her husband who passed away 3 years ago. 

I still remember tito Roal's Secunda Vita. He spent it with everyone by giving sweets and snacks, and playing with the children. It's sad to see Mami manage this shop all on her own.

Mami is not her real name, but everyone calls her mami, since she's more like a mom to all of us here, from kids to teenagers, even some adults.

"Mamiiii!!" Rena called again. This time, she rang the bell outside.

"Rena, I think she's still asleep," I said.

"But the light is already on! Mami always wakes up early to open the shop," she answered.

I heaved a sigh. 

"Mami!-"

Rena stopped when we heard a noise inside, as if someone opened the door. Sabay kaming napatingin sa salamin at sumilip sa loob.

"Sandali lang-"

Mukhang kagigising lang ni Mami at mapupungay pa ang mga mata niya. Pero kaagad itong namilog at natulala nang makita kami mula sa salamin. Her expression change when she saw us— saw Rena rather.

There's a hint of sadness and disappointment on her eyes.

"R-Rena. . ."

The opposite of her reaction, Rena's face lightened as she wave. "Hi Mami!!!" masiglyang aniya.

Bakas pa rin ang lungkot sa mukha ni Mami nang pagbuksan niya kami ng pinto.

"Rena. . . you're-"

"Yup!" Rena answered her. "Today is my Secunda Vita!" she said with a cheerful voice.

Napatingin-tingin siya sa loob. "Do you have some ice cream ba, mi? I want some ice cream."

Kahit alam kong may tanong si Mami, pinili niyang hindi na lang magsalita. She just smiled and nodded. Binukas niya nang malaki ang pintuan, senyales na pinapapasok niya kami.

"Go get anything you want, it's on me."

"Yey!"

Like a child, Rena immediately went inside with a cheerful expression. I watched her went in first, before taking a glance at Mami. How funny it is that even though this is a small town, and everyone is like family. . . we won't know someone died unless it's their Secunda Vita.

"I'm sorry Zack, hindi ako nakatulong sa burol," malungkot na ani Mami.

"It's okay po, hindi naman po gaanong matrabaho 'yong burol." Pilit akong ngumiti. "Nasa isip ko na kaagad ang Secunda Vita niya. . ."

Mami's face softened. "How did-"

"Zacky! Zacky!!"

Sabay kaming napalingon ni Mami sa tumawag sa akin. Rena's in front of the freezer is looking at us, holding 2 ice cream flavors.

"There is 1 cookies n cream left." She pouted, with matching puppy eyes. "Can I have it?"

I heaved a sigh, followed by a smile. We both love cookies n cream, but most of the time, there's only 1 left here.

And I always. . . always give it to her.

"I'll have vanilla instead," I answered.

"Yey!" Rena took the ice creams. "We'll have these, Mami!"

Nakangiting lumapit sa amin si Rena.

"Iyan lang? Chocolates? Candies?" Mami asked.

Umiling ang kasama ko. "Too much sweets early in the morning will cause stomach aches."

Mami smiled, but her eyes is telling otherwise.

"Okay, okay. . . you can come back later for more."

Dumaan na si Rena sa harapan niya para lumabas. "Sure! See you again, Mami!"

Rena handed me the ice cream as she walks. I wave Mami goodbye before following her.

I opened my ice cream and started eating it. "So, what do you want to do?"

Rena's hopping as she walks, eating her ice cream. "Sunset. . . I want to watch the sunset."

"Come on, the sun is not yet even rising completely."

She stopped walking that made me stop too. She then looked at me from behind.

"Then, let's meet all of the people here in town. . ." She smiled.

"I want to see them all. . . for the last time."

☩ 

We did what Rena wanted, everything she wanted.

From what she wants to eat, to what she wants to do.

Everything. . . I made sure to make this day the best day of her life, so as mine.

I didn't even realized that it's already getting dark.

We're about to do the thing she wanted to do the most.

Watch the sunset.

We're back at the view deck now, sitting, waiting for the sunset.

"Finally. . ." ani ng kasama ko. I glanced at her, she's beside me.

I smiled. "Yeah. . ." There's a hint of sadness in my voice.

The sun is already setting, the day is about to end.

Rena's Secunda Vita. . . is about to end too.

Nalipat ang tingin ko sa araw na palubog. I took a deep breath.

"Today is the best. . . and saddest day of my life. . ." I started a conversation. 

"It's the best because I'm with you the whole day. . . but the saddest because it will be the last."

"Still, I'm happy to spend this day with my best friend." And the person I love the most.

Rena smiled, also looking at the sun set.

"Well, today is the best. . . and worst day of my life."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya, nalipat ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

"It's the best because I spent the day with the people in town, and doing the things I love. . ."

She looked at me, still with a smile on her face. But then her expression darkened.

"But it's the worst, because I've spent my whole day with you."

"My killer."

☩