I'm basically lying if I said that the impact of that incident had completely left my conscience. For the past months, I did everything I could to forget that day. After I shamelessly mourned for his death, I continued my daily routine. I buried myself with the new job I landed on hoping it would help me forget everything. But it seemed to me that the more we push ourselves to forget something, the stronger it comes back and stays in our memory.
"Hey, Raffy! We'll grab dinner together, want to come with us?" Jake invited, the employee across my cubicle.
"Thanks but I already have plans," I politely declined.
"Too bad. Will you promise us next time, then?"
"I'll try."
The conversation ended like that without trouble. For two weeks, Jake has been trying to invite me for their dinner get-togethers. And within that period of time, while sharing only that kind of conversation, I sensed he has come to understand me perfectly well. He would immediately drop the conversation after hearing my firm decline.
There were a lot of Jakes after I got this new job. They would always invite me and I would consistently decline them. Some tried to talk to me and establish some sort of connection but I would cut it before they could even start. Most of them would give up after trying a few days. I wonder how long will Jake last this time?
I picked up my bag and left the office. I hurriedly rode a jeepney that was enroute for my destination—the Basilica. Thankfully, the mass was just starting but the worst part of it was there's no more seats left. I stood during the whole mass along with massive people gathered here together.
It has been my routine to attend this mass every Friday, so I didn't really lied to Jake when I said I had plans. The Basilica was the biggest Catholic church in the City and had millions of devotee so a single mass crowded with thousands of people like this is no longer a surprise. I expected as much when I almost missed the Penitential Rite, the most important part for someone like me. It's the part where we simply acknowledge we are sinners and to some degree, have sinned during this week.
I closed my eyes and prayed one thing during the whole ceremony: God, forgive me.
After the mass, I lit one candle before I left the church. Feeling renewed and blessed, I was at the same time hungry, so I immediately headed some random fastfood chain for dinner. After having a rather rushed dinner, I went to a cake shop and bought some cakes for my sister. It's not her birthday and it's not a likeable food for her either which is why I always bought it for her. It's my way of kicking her out of the house. Anyway, but for some reason, I feel like kicking her out... I mean buying her a cake today. Apparently, Mike clearly agrees with her leaving me with the house but she's just as stubborn as a gum. Sometimes, I would wonder if being insanely smart could also make them super stupid.
While looking over the flavourful and attractive slices of cakes, my mind suddenly wandered back in time. I heard a familiar voice in my back and saw two familiar individuals in their highschool uniforms sitting on one of the tables near the counter.
"Remind me again why we are here when the library was doing perfectly fine in accomodating us?" I asked, annoyance was evident in my face.
"I need to replenish my supply of glucose as talking to you has drained me lately," he answered offensively. Our butt just touched the chair and this is how he starts the conversation.
My brow quickly raised upon the insult I just received and slammed the table. "I see. It must've been hard living that kind of life. I pity myself for trying to make this whole thing work," I said and stood up.
Only then I realized that the few people inside the shop was looking at us. I ignored them and was about to head for the exit when I was suddenly surrounded by the staffs. And then they suddenly sang a birthday song in an unusual rhythm. One that is beautifully unique.
I gazed at Von who looked at me with his emotionless eyes reducing my assumption into dust. Is it him? I'm crazy to even think that. There's no way he would know—
"Happy birthday, Raphaela Deverra of Class B. Now, would you please come back so we could continue our lovely conversation?" he suddenly said in a purposively loud manner. It's as if he wanted everyone inside the shop to hear him.
I just looked at him in pure astonishment. Everyone at the shop were giving me certain looks as if I'd been proposed to. I inwardly whisked away that thought as to avoid getting thought poisoning and might embarrass myself more by vomiting. I forced a smile and politely said my 'thanks' to the staff and went back to our table with a cake in my hand.
"It's not my birthday," I said as soon as I sat. It's a lie, though. I had to test him.
"Nobody asked."
I narrowed my eyes into a slit and looked at him. "What's with that show, Mr. Lucena? You really are more childish than I thought."
"Please, if you'll mistakenly interpret it like that I'd be hurt," he plainly said.
I scoffed. "The magnitude of my hatred towards you is now unmeasurable," I said while caressing my temple.
"I'm thankful for that compliment but that's not an important matter for now. I ask you to at least act like you're pleased or else everything will go down the drain. Elisse is watching us if you haven't noticed."
My eyes quickly widened. "You're kidding right?"
"She followed us," he replied. I am honestly impressed how natural this man can act like his enjoying this conversation and that unpleasant cake he's slicing with his fork.
"And here I thought...nevermind," I sighed. And here I thought you really knew my birthday, Von.
"Miss? Excuse me but will you take that blueberry cake? You've been staring at it for minutes now," the lady at the register politely asked. I should thank her for pulling me out of that awful memory.
Who knew looking at that blueberry cake would remind me of him? How childish Von. You're starting to haunt me now that I almost forgot about you. You didn't even let me finish a year.
"I'll take it," I said and paid for it.
As I left the shop, I raised my head to look at its name so that I would remind myself not to enter this shop again. Blue Ribbon, I inwardly said as I silently read it. My mood has now completely turned into one-eighty. At times like this, there's only one place to go.
I arrived shortly at 'The Cove' which recently became my number one spot to get some fresh drink... if you know what I mean. I went straight to the vacant stool in front of the performing bartender.
"Dashing as always," I greeted as I dropped the box of cake at the counter.
"Good evening to you, too, Raffy."
Harold continued his mixing show while I just stared at him wishing he'd be done with it as quick as he can. Shortly after, my wish was heard. As he poured the drink on one of the customers, the people surrounding the counter elegantly clapped in pure amazement. Of course, I did, too.
"The usual?" he asked.
"Nah-uh. I want something stronger that would knock me out as soon as I reach my bed," I replied.
"Did something happened?" he asked while his hands were busy preparing my drink.
"Nope."
"I see, you're still a terrible liar," he remarked, leaking a smile. His dimples momentarily appeared.
How come I didn't notice this beautiful attraction back in the day? Maybe things would run different.
I wasn't really able to talk for long with Harold for his service was so in-demand. In the end, I drank alone and went home without leaving a sound. I was slightly drunk but I was still able to hail a cab and get home safe. I paid the taxi driver, thank him for driving me safe and got off.
I started making my way to the small pathway towards our house with my unsteady feet. I almost stumbled halfway there which would've been disastrous if not for the small tree that gave me some support.
"Careful—"
Huh?
I raised my head to find the owner of that awfully familiar voice. To my surprise, a man in his dull-colored casual clothes was standing before me wearing those worried eyes.
"Damn, this is not good," I muttered, shaking my head.
I ignored what I just witnessed thinking it was just one of the side effects of being intoxicated by alcohol so, I continued walking while still trying to find my balance. But I sensed his presence was following me so I stopped. While slowly turning around, I made a cross out of my pointing fingers and directed it to him.
"Go away you evil ghost! In the name of my broken soul, get lost!" I yelled, my words slurring.
"Just how much did you drink? You even took a cab in this state. What if you—" I canceled out his voice, those genuinely worried voice.
I placed both of my hands in my ears, my bag dangling from my elbow while shaking off the idea that a ghost appeared in front of me. I turned around and started walking again away from him.
"Ghosts can't talk, Raffy. If they can, then you should run. Right, I should run," I muttered to myself.
So I ran. I rushed into the house like a mad person. My sister called out to me from the kitchen but it was no time for me to even threw a single glance. Though, her voice seemed like he wanted to say something.
I drank just to forget him. How could he just show up just before bedtime?
As soon as I reached my room, I dropped my bag on the floor, whisked away my shoes and jumped straight to my bed face down. Tears quickly trickled down from my eyes as I felt thousand of needles piercing my chest at the sight of him. If I only I could turn back time and go back to the days were he was incapable of hurting me. If only a genie would appear and grant my wish. If only I didn't heard his voice and saw his insulting eyes that day. The course of events would've been different that I didn't have to cry myself to sleep up until 2 a.m. and nightmares wouldn't have appeared everytime I'm in deep slumber.
REBECCA
I rose from the dining chair as soon as I saw Raffy entered the door. I was beyond excited as I called to her and tell her the good news but she just walked passed me in a hurry. The lingering scent of liquor in the air tells me that she was drunk. I took a deep breath and returned the unfinished ice cream to the refrigerator.
After cleaning up, I head for the stairs and went straight to Raffy's room. But before my hand could even touch the surface of the door and knock, I stopped. I heard her little sobs from inside and as I stood there listening, my heart felt like it's sharing her pain. I sat outside her room until her crying stopped. When I checked the time, I figured she's been crying for three hours.
My sister never cried that painfully since our mother left. Whoever or whatever was the reason for her tears today, I hope she'd come to me and share her sorrow. I'm not sure whether it's the death of the Mayor's son that still affects her or tgere were other reasons. As her sister, I could only pray for her pain to stop.