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"Hoy, Jah!"
"Bakit?"
"Nagpaalam ka ba kay Kuya?"
"Josh!" Pag iwas sa tanong ni Justin kay Stell. "Justin." Tawag ni Stell, Hinahabol na nila pareho si Josh nasa kasalukuyang naglalakad papunta sa bahay.
"Bahay ni Lola Terria" Sambit ni Josh nang makalapit na sa gate ng nasabing bahay. "Jah! Bakit dito?" Pasigaw ngunit mahina na tanong ni Stell.
Lola Terria House, Ang bahay tambayan nina Josh, Stell, Justin, Ken, at Pablo noon, elementary, highschool at hanggang sa mag college sila ay palagi silang nag papalipas sa bahay na ito. Lola Terria is Ken's Lola. Ngunit noong nasa kolehiyo, second semester nila ay pumanaw na si Lola Terria dahil sa inatake ito sa puso.
Hindi naman ito 'Haunted House' ngunit minsa'y tinatawag ng ilan, marahil sa mga naka display na lumang playground sa harap ng gate. May lumang slide na medyo marumi at puro dahon, may swing na sira, seesaw na marumi dahil sa lupa, Mayroon din 'tong malawak na bakuran pwedeng pwedeng gawing takbuhan.
Pero kahit pa na ganoon ang naka display sa labas ng bahay ay napaka ganda naman nito sa loob. Maraming memorya at masasayang halakhak ang naiwan dito.
"Bakit hindi?" Justin said and proceed to follow Josh who's already going inside the house. "Anak nang." Napaka iling na lang si Stell, at walang nagawa kundi sumunod na lang rin sa kan'yang kaibigan.
"Nakaka-miss. Sobrang dami nating memories dito," Josh said while wandering around the entrance hall, the house is a big mansion na may pagka vintage dahil sa lumang disenyo.
"Buti pa dito ang linis kahit hindi natitirahan, paano naman sa bahay namin na laging may tao pagka rumi rumi naman!" Pagsinghal ni Stell, natawa naman si Justin sa inakto nito.
Hindi na namalayan ng dalawa ang kasama nila na si Josh, dahil umakyat na ito sa taas.
Sa kanilang tatlo na magkakaibigan, si Josh ang madalas dito sa bahay, hindi lang dahil paborito ito ni Lola terria maliban sa kan'yang sariling apo na si Ken, ay palagi niya kasing nakakasama si Ken, kumbaga ay mag kababata sila.
"Hoy! Inato, nasan na si Josh? Malay mo may iba na pala tayong kasama dito."
"Wag ka ngang manakot!" Justin Mewl.
Sabay namang napalingon sa taas ang dalawa ng makarining ng malakas na tunog. "Sabi sayo e may iba tayong kasama!" Patuloy na pananakot ni Stell. Tumakbo naman ito kaya napatakbo rin si Justin. Umakyat sila sa taas para sundan kung saan ng galing ang ingay.
"Anong nangyari sayo d'yan?" Pagtatakang tanong ni Stell nang makita si Josh na naka upo sa sahig, sa anim na kwarto nakita nila ang kanilang kaibigan sa pangalawang kwarto.
"Nahulog 'yung bag ko, may inaabot kasi ako."
"Ang liit mo kasi, Ay!" Hindi mapigilan ni Stell na matawa sa banat ni Justin. " Baliw ka talaga!"
"Ano ba kasi 'yang inaabot mo?"
"May nakita kasi akong kahon, ayon oh!" Pag turo ni Josh, Bumaling naman ng tingin ang dalawa sa taas ng aparador, may box nakalagay duon na medyo kumukupas na kulay blue.
Pumunta naman si Justin sa aparador para abutin ang nasabing box, dahan dahan niya itong binaba at nabahing dahil sa kapal ng alikabok nito. "Uy! Yan 'yung 'time capsule' na'tin!" Stell pinpointed at the date that is located at the bottom part of the cover.
"Ay shala naman ang tagal na pala nito e, 2007 pa, ang tatag naman nito buti hindi inanay."
Josh stood up and also took a look at the box, "Ayan 'yung gustong ibaon ni Pau sa may ilalim ng swing." Josh suddenly smile reminscing the fun memory. "How sad hindi nakasama si Kuya Pau." Jah pouted.
"E teka lang, ano ba kasi laman neto?" Stell is too eager to know what's inside the box. "Ewan, edi kung binuksan mo edi sana nalaman natin diba." Stell gave Jah a look before opening the box.
"Uy! Eto 'yung blayblade ko!" Itinaas ni Stell ang laruan na unang pumukaw sakanya. "Mahilig ka pala sa pink dati."
"Ang angas kaya."
"Diba favourite magazine 'to ni Ken?" Agad naman na napalingon si Josh just because he heard Ken's name.
"Oo! 'Yan pa nga 'yung ginagaya gaya niya 'yung posing." Stell made a funny pose that made the two laugh.
"Baliw ka talaga!"
"Oy! Oy! Oy! Eto oh, Favourite 'to ni Josh, Ayaw n'ya pa ngang i-let go 'yan e." Stell raised the robot toy, "Uy diba 'yan si Roboestro? HAHAHAHA!" Jah can't help but to laugh because of the toy's name.
"Oh, anong masama sa pangalan n'ya? kami kaya ni Ken ang nag imbento n'yan!" Josh defending himself.
"Jusko! Idadamay mo pa si Ken!"
"Totoo naman!"
"Ah bala kayo d'yan, ayokong maging referee n'yo ha." Stell gave the two an offensive look before going back to the box to look futher more to see if there's a new interesting thing they owned.
After enjoying half of their time, the three of them started to claim their own rooms to spend the rest of the days.
They planned on staying at Lola Terria house for the past 3 days, It's also a treat for Josh, because he's gonna be flying to another country after a week, so most of the time they would love to spend it with each other.
"Oy si Justin mag huhugas!" Stell said.
"Bakit ako?"
"Ikaw nahuli e, kaya mo na 'yan, 'di ka naman sasamahan ng mga multo d'yan." Pabirong saad nito bago tumakbo palayo.
"Ano ba 'yan e! mas lalo akong natakot." Pagmamaktol ni Jah.
"Oh sige ako na mag huhugas, sige na umakyat ka na don tapos pahinga na." Josh initiate. "Ay hindi ako na, joke lang naman 'yun" Pag ngiti ni Justin, "Ako na. Sige na pahinga na." Wala naman nagawa si Justin kaya't umakyat na lang rin ito patungo sa kwarto n'ya.
Naiwan naman si Josh sa kusina upang maglinis ng kanilang kinainan. Sinasabunan na ni Josh ang masesebong pinggan na ginamit nila ng may maramdaman itong presensya.
"Ang sipag naman n'yan." Napangiti naman si Josh ng marinig ang pamilyar na boses. "Ako pa." Nag banlaw si Josh at lumingon naman ito matapos. "Ken."
"You came!" Ken hugged him super tight!
"Okay okay, Let go!" Josh chuckled.
"Na-miss ko 'yang bebe na 'yan e." Ken suddenly pinched Josh cheek making Josh flutter.
"Tapos ka na ba?" Ken referring to the dishes, Josh only nodded and smile sheepingly. "Okay, Lets go upstairs na." Ken guide Josh out of the kitchen area down to the stairs up until to the bedroom Josh choosed.
"What a nice room you choose."
"Holds a lot of memory."
"Why? It's because this is where you got your first kiss from me?" Ken ask In flirty, "Hindi naman dahil don! Assumero mo." Josh sat on the bed followed by Ken who's now leaning at the head board.
"Did you miss me?" Ken suddenly ask,
"I miss you everyday." Josh glance at Ken because he was seating at the opposite direction.
"Buti naman pumunta ka, akala ko 'di ka na babalik dito e." Ken started after the long silence. "Ikaw pa ba? I will never forget you and this place. Mahal na mahal ko kaya 'tong bahay na 'to."
"'Yung bahay lang ba mahal mo?" Ken ask in his sad tone, ask if he's heartbroken. "Syempre ikaw din, mahal na mahal kaya kita, kaya nga i will never forget you e, kasi naka tatak ka na sa isip ko." He said confidently.
Bigla namang nanghina si Josh ng maramdaman niya ang hininga ni Ken sa tenga n'ya. Agad naman itong namula ng bigla itong bigyan ng halik ni Ken. "Uy! A-ano ba 'yang ginagawa mo"
"I thought you miss me?"
"Iba ata definition mo sa 'miss' eh. I miss you like your whole characteristic. 'Yung ikaw." Josh explained, "Ofcourse that's what you meant." Ken let out a small chuckle.
Umayos naman sa pag kaka upo si Josh at sumandal rin sa head board. "It's been a long time. I heard pupunta ka sa ibang bansa." Ken said, looking at his lover. "Sabi ni Kuya e." Josh referring to kuya yani.
"Anong sabi ni Pau? Nag usap-usap na ba kayo?" Ken held Josh hand and spoke with a soft tone.
"Kasama ko si Pau."
"Hindi ba ko pwedeng sumama sayo?" Ken asked, This time he's serious. He don't want Josh to leave without him.
Agad namang napatayo si Josh nang marinig na may kumakatok sa pinto, he slowly walk towards the door to see who's behind it, "Oh? Jah, Bakit?" Josh slightly open the door enough only to see Justin, "Nakalimutan mong inumin 'yung vitamins mo. Baka 'di ka tumangkad n'yan." Justin joked, He gave Josh a pack of medicine that has a label on it.
"May water ka na ba d'yan?"
"Yes. You can go na, iinomin ko 'to. Don't worry." Josh gave Justin a reassuring smile, Jah eventually leave knowing Josh would do what he said.
Josh closed the door and proceed to grab a bottled of water, he grab the medicine and open it to swallow all the pills.
"Are you done?" Ken asked.
Josh nodded and went to bed. He's now facing Ken and lean in to cuddle with him. "Don't leave." Josh said before closing his eyes. "Good night, My love." Ken gave Josh a kiss on his forehead.
As both of them fell asleep into the warm of each other's embrace.
.
.
.
"Hoy Justin. Kumag 'to." Stell gave Jah a look, they plan on sharing a room since 'natatakot' daw si Justin mag isa.
"Bakit? Ako nanaman?"
"Hinayaan mo si Josh mag ligpit kagabi, alam mo namang bawal ma stress at mapagod si accla."
"Ano gagawin ko? baka mamaya umiyak pa 'yon pag 'di pa 'ko sumurrender."
Justin rose from the bed and fold the blanket he used. "Ano? Nandon?" Nagtaka naman si Justin sa tinatanong ni Stell, "Ha? Anong nandon?" Umikot naman 'to para tignan ang kaibigan.
"Ken"
"Ah, 'di ko alam, nung binigay ko 'yung gamot niya parang wala naman s'yang kasama. Pero nung pabalik na 'ko may narinig akong nagsasalita." Justin shrugged his shoulder and left Stell inside the room.
Saktong pag sara naman ni Justin sa pinto ay nakita n'ya si Josh sa likod nito. "Ay palaka! Jusko Josh, ano ba 'yan, bakit?" Gulat na tanong ni Justin.
"Si Ken?"
Silence started to envolve around them, hindi alam ni Justin kung ano ang isasagot n'ya rito. "Ah, E, ewan ko. Baka ano nag lakad lakad ganon." Justin carefully said. Tumango naman si Josh at naglakad na pababa. Justin sighed in relief.
"Ay kalabaw!" Nagulat naman si Justin ng bigla may humawak sa balikat n'ya.
"Hoy! Anong tinatayo tayo mo d'yan?" Stell didn't wait for Justin to answer, he then proceed to go downstairs, Jah also did.
It's their second day today, alot of things already happened yesterday, and it's not enough to explore the mansion. Things inside are ready to unbuckle by the three when all of the sudden...
"Josh! Josh!"
"Josh!"
Nakita ng mag kaibigan si Josh na naka higa sa sahig, at walang malay. Inilibot ng dalawa ang kanilang mata para malaman kung anong nangyari.
"Hindi ba't naka kandado na ang kwartong 'to?" dali dali namang pumunta si Stell kay Josh para buhatin ito. "Jah.. Jah! Tumawag ka ng ambulansya bilis!" Naalarma naman ang dalawa, Justin immidiately called an ambulance.
The ambulance took a minutes to arrive but in relief they're on their way to the nearest hospital.
"Tawagan mo si Kuya! Justin bilis!"
"Na-Natatakot ako"
"Mas matakot ka dahil hindi na'tin alam kung ano ang gagawin! Akin na nga!"
Stell snatched the phone and dialed Justin Brother.
"𝑶𝒉 𝑱𝒂𝒉? 𝑩𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒕?"
"Si Josh po."
"𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍? —𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕?! 𝑨𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒚𝒂𝒓𝒊?!"
"Malapit na po kami sa Perpectual Hospital."
"𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒏 𝒏'𝒚𝒐 𝑱𝒐𝒔𝒉. 𝑻𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒂 𝒔𝒊 𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏, 𝒘𝒂𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏." Kuya Yani ended the call, Stell gave the phone back to Justin.
"Galit?"
"No."
.
.
"Sorry. Sorry." Justin is now facing the tiled floor. "Ano ba kasi 'yang nasa isip mo ha?! bakit sa dinami daming pwedeng puntahan sa bahay pa na 'yon?! Justin isipin mo naman na ginagawa namin 'to para sa kaligtasan ni Josh!" Julian can't help but to raise his voice.
"You're so selfish. Alam mo naman na pwedeng ma-trigger si Josh don. But still, Pumunta pa rin kayo! Ano ba 'yan ha! Justin hindi ka namin pinalaking gan'yan! —"
"I did it for Josh!" Hikbi ni Justin.
"I did it for him. Hirap na hirap na'kong makita si Josh na nangungulila kay Ken. Siguro kahit konting oras lang makasama n'ya si Ken,"
"Justin, mas pinalala mo e." Pablo interfere the two.
"Hindi ba pwedeng bisitahin n'ya 'yung pinaka mamahal n'ya? Am i too selfish to want them to say good bye to each other? Kuya aalis naman na si Josh e, pupunta na siya sa ibang bansa to have his treatment, hindi ba pwedeng kahit isang beses na lang? Josh will forget his love! So why not gave him a one last me—"
Justin didn't expect this, to earn a slap from his very own brother.
"Oo. Josh wanted to be with Ken, pero hindi naman pwedeng mabuhay si Josh sa panaginip, Justin wake up! Josh need his ordinary life back! He can't be living in his imagination forever. Hindi pwedeng isipin n'ya pa na buhay si Ken kahit hindi na! Ken died years ago, isipin mo naman na nahihirapan si Josh to move on!" He paused.
"He developed this disease. And hindi na'tin alam kung paano pa na'tin s'ya maibabalik sa dating s'ya! Kaya nga as much as gustong bumalik ni Josh sa bahay na 'yon, hinding hindi ko siya ibabalik don. Worst is, baka mamaya nakita n'ya uli 'yung kw—"
"Don namin nakita si Josh." Stell said, Hindi na niya kinakaya ang ingay ng dalawang bangayan ng mag kapatid.
"We saw him lying on the floor, walang malay. Akala ko naka kandado na 'yung pinto sa kwarto na 'yun. Kagigising lang namin, and i suppose he's about to go outside. But he saw the room."
"Just like what happened when he died."
It was summer, buo silang mag t-tropa kasama nila si kuya Yani to guide them. Nag bo-bonding ang lahat sa bahay ni Lola Terria, because they promised her to remain the the laugh, fun, and lovely moments inside her house. Its been a week since pumunta sila sa bahay, and its sunday morning. Josh woke up without Ken by his side, he checked the clock and saw that it's already 9 in the morning.
Josh rose from his sleep to eat breakfast and to find his lover. Just as when he's about to go downstairs he saw Justin leaving the room. He asked him if he saw Ken but Justin response that maybe Ken is outside. So Josh leave and ready to find Ken.
But in suprise, as he was about to go outside he saw a room slighty open, he saw a silhouette, he thought that maybe someone is inside the room, so he came to check.
He was right, there is someone, and that someone is his lover, "Ken!" He was shock to see Ken hanging at a rope, Josh is ready to put him down but ken kick the chair already, the rope suddenly tight on his neck. "Ken! K-Ken!" Josh started to get teary, don't know what to do.
"J-josh.. I-I L-lo-ve Y-you"
He never spoke again.
Josh never saw his smile, his laugh, and his sparkly eyes ever again.
"He never saw him again. And he's making a delusional things, just to keep him." Stell said. Justin can't help but to cry, not because of the slap. He's now blaming his self because of what is happening right now. He didn't thought about this, ang akala n'ya everything will be alright if he risk it.
But as much to his dissapointments, everything went terribly wrong.
"Gising na si Josh." Justin cried. He thought he's just hearing voices. "Thank you Ken." He look at Ken who's smiling with his sad eyes. " No, thank you. Thank you for fullfilling my one last wish." Ken gave Justin a meaningful smile. "Please let go of Josh already. He need to rest, i promise you, he will not forget you fully."
"Introduce me as his friend. I would accept that. Visit me."
"We will. And i will, thank you for loving and giving him the best time of his life. I assure you Ken, you will always have a place at his heart." Justin smiled when he saw Ken smiled. Ken nodded and went inside Josh room.
"Can i bid my last good bye?"
"Ofcourse." Justin toned his voice down. Not wanting to draw attention to him, as if the others would be confuse on why is he is talking to himself.
Ken slowly walk to see Josh, He's now resting, Sleeping peacefully. The others were beside him, watching how beautifuly Josh sleep.
"As I leave and rest, I wanted to let you know that I will miss you terribly. I know that it's time for me to go and for you to explore new opportunities, but I want you to know that you will always hold a special place in my heart. I hope that you can forget me enough to fully embrace all that lies ahead, but not so much that you forget the love that we shared.
You have no idea how much you mean to me, and saying goodbye is never easy. You have touched my life in so many ways, and I will cherish the memories we have made together forever. I hope that life treats you well and that you find all the happiness and success you deserve.
Remember, even if we are not in each other's lives anymore, I will always care about you and love you from afar. I will now see Lola Terria, I promise you to tell her all of our love stories. I love you my love."
Justin can't help but to cry hearing Ken's vow. He saw how Ken vanish slowly and slowly until he is completely gone.