Chapter 71
"Kairi."
For years, Kairi had imagined hearing that voice again.
Narinig niya iyon sa mga panaginip na ayaw naman niyang mapanaginipan. In crowded streets when strangers sounded almost like her. At sa mga gabing hindi siya makatulog, when memory became cruel enough to replay the parts she'd spent years forcing herself to forget.
She had imagined this moment countless times.
Kung ano ang sasabihin niya. Kung magagalit ba siya. Kung hihingi ba siya ng mga sagot o tatalikod na lang nang hindi na lumilingon.
But now that it was real, now that Miss Herrera was standing in front of her saying her name like no time had passed at all, Kairi couldn't answer.
She just stared.
They were standing too close, barely a step apart. And Kairi hated how quickly familiar things came rushing back.
Naamoy niya agad ang pabango ng dating guro. Same clean scent that used to linger on her sheets, her clothes, and even her skin.
Akala niya matagal na iyong nabura ng panahon.
Akala niya enough na ang halos tatlong taon para lumabo ang mga ganoong detalye. Pero mali siya. Naalala ng katawan niya ang lahat before her mind could fight it.
Her eyes drifted over Gianna almost on instinct.
Napansin niya agad ang mga pagbabago.
Mas mature na ang features niya, pero parang may bigat pa rin na dala-dala. Halatang may tension sa mga balikat niya na parang matagal na siyang naghahanda para sa gabing ito.
And then there were the things that hadn't changed.
The way she looked at her.
The way her lips parted slightly, na parang marami siyang gustong sabihin pero hindi alam kung saan magsisimula.
Kairi hated that she noticed any of it.
Hated that after almost three years, ang dali pa rin niyang makilala.
Then, Kairi's gaze dropped to the beer soaking through the front of Gianna's shirt and for a second, she almost laughed at how absurd it was. The collision should have been the point. The spilled drinks, the awkward apology, and the stupid accident. Instead, none of it mattered.
Kairi looked back up.
"You're here."
Her voice came out flat, enough to hide everything underneath, pero ramdam pa rin ang disbelief at accusation sa bawat salita.
Napalunok si Gianna bago sumagot. "Ella invited me."
Kairi blinked.
And then the realization landed.
Ella.
Agad niyang nilampasan ng tingin si Gianna hanggang makita ang pinsan niyang papalapit na na mukhang matagal nang inaabangan ang moment na ito.
Pagdating ni Ella, agad siyang pumagitna sa kanilang dalawa. Lumipat ang tingin niya sa natapong beer, saka sa mga mukha nila. Isang tingin lang, alam na ni Kairi na alam nitong hindi naging maayos ang lahat.
"Okay," Ella said, exhaling as if trying to steady the situation bago pa ito tuluyang lumala. "This is not exactly how I thought this would happen."
Halos hindi siya narinig ni Kairi.
"You knew?"
Bahagyang tumigas ang expression ni Ella.
"Kai, listen—"
"You knew."
"I didn't know before," mabilis na sabi ni Ella. "I'm serious. I only found out recently."
Napatawa si Kairi. Isang maikling tawa, pero walang kahit anong amusement doon.
"Ella, tinanong kita!"
"And I told you the truth."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"Yes, Kai." Ella stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Because I'm telling you the truth now."
Before Ella could say more, Gianna spoke.
"Kairi, don't do this to Ella."
That made Kairi turn back to her and whatever confusion had been there hardened into something colder.
"Don't do this to Ella?" She repeated, halos hindi makapaniwala. "That's what you're worried about?"
Gianna's jaw tightened, pero hindi siya umiwas ng tingin.
Kairi stepped closer. The glasses were still in her hands, pero parang nakalimutan na niya ang mga ito.
"Bigla kang nawala! You left without a word and you think you get to stand here and tell me what not to do?"
"Kairi—"
"No!"
Mabilis niya itong pinutol.
"You don't get to say my name like that anymore. Not after disappearing."
Gianna nodded once, her throat moving as she swallowed. "I know."
Napatitig lang si Kairi.
Lalong tumindi ang galit niya dahil sa sobrang kalmado ng boses ni Gianna. And because of how small those words felt against everything she had carried.
"No, you don't," she said, shaking her head. "Wala kang idea what that did."
By now, people around them had started noticing. Humina ang mga usapan at may mga pasimpleng napapalingon.
Tumingin si Ella sa kanilang dalawa, halatang ready nang sumingit ano mang oras, pero wala nang pakialam si Kairi kung sino ang nanonood.
Three years.
Almost three years of wondering. Of hating. Of grieving someone who was still alive.
At sa lahat ng pwedeng mangyari, dito pa talaga sila muling pinagtagpo. Sa isang crowded bar. Sa isang birthday party.
She let out a breath and stepped back first, suddenly unable to stay there for another second.
"I can't do this."
Then she placed the glasses of beer she was holding on the counter.
Ella reached for her arm, but Kairi pulled away before she could touch her.
Tumalikod na siya at dumiretso sa crowd, weaving through people and tables habang diretso ang lakad palabas ng pinto.
She could hear Ella calling after her and she could hear movement behind her pero hindi siya lumingon.
Tuloy-tuloy lang siya hanggang sa bumungad sa kanya ang malamig na hangin sa labas.
Halos ilang hakbang pa lang ang nailalayo niya sa bar nang may pamilyar na boses ang tumawag sa kanya.
"Kairi!"
Napatingala siya.
There, Zoe stood a few feet away with phone in hand. Halatang kararating lang at litong-lito sa kung anong nadatnan niya.
Pero nawala agad ang confusion sa mukha nito nang mapatingin siya sa likod ni Kairi.
Napalingon si Kairi.
At huminto naman si Gianna ilang hakbang lang ang layo sa kanilang dalawa.
For a moment, walang nagsalita. Walang gumalaw.
Pare-pareho silang tahimik, pero iba-iba ang bigat na dala ng katahimikang iyon.
Kairi looked at her, then dragged a hand through her hair, letting out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
"You know what, Miss Herrera? I spent years thinking about what I'd say if I ever saw you again," she admitted, her eyes fixed on Gianna. "Akala ko may masasabi akong mas maayos kaysa rito. Something that actually made sense. Something that hurt enough to match what you did."
Gianna stayed silent.
Ilang segundo pa siyang tinitigan ni Kairi bago siya bahagyang umiling.
"Turns out...I still don't know."
Then she turned and started walking again.
Gianna stayed where she was for a second, watching her leave.
Zoe still hadn't moved. She was staring at Gianna like her mind was still catching up to what her eyes were seeing.
But the moment Gianna took another step forward, Zoe reacted. She moved fast, stepping directly in front of their former teacher.
"Please, stop."
Her tone was firm, enough to make Gianna stop where she was.
"Zoe—"
"Don't."
Zoe cut her off.
"You don't get to do this, Miss."
Bahagyang bumuka ang bibig ni Gianna.
Then she closed it again.
Ilang segundo pa siyang tinitigan ni Zoe, dala pa rin ang lahat ng galit na naipon sa loob ng maraming taon.
She shook her head once, then turned and ran after Kairi, leaving Gianna standing alone.