DEMONS XX : Memories of Yesterday

Iscelle just wandered around the city until she arrived and decided to stay at the The Lost Paradise, it is the name of the exclusive park where they used to play back when they were just kids.

She doesn't really care about her surroundings, she just sat under a huge tree near the lake and stared at the vast sky. All of a sudden, her memories came gushing like a flowing water.

~•~

"Mama! Iscelle and I will be playing outside!" Paalam ng batang lalaki sa kanilang ina.

"Okay. Take care Prince, and take care of Princess okay?" Mahinhing sambit ng ina nito na ikinangiti ng dalawang bata.

"Sure! Babye!" Masiglang sagot ng batang lalaki saka sabay na tumakbo ang dalawang bata patungo sa paborito nilang palaruan- ang exclusive park sa village nila.

***

"Why are you crying?" Tanong ng isang batang lalaki sa batang babae na nakaupo sa swing habang tahimik na umiiyak.

"I don't talk to strangers. Hmp!" Nakasimangot namang sagot ng batang babae na tinawanan lang ng kaharap.

"Okay, okay. My name is Dinosaur. And you?" Nakangiti nitong sagot sabay abot ng kamay niya.

"Stop joking around. There's no such name like that!" Angal ng batang babae.

"But it's my name." Sagot naman ng lalaki.

"Okay." Tanging sinagot ng batang babae.

"Since I don't want to see a beautiful girl crying. I'll give it to you!" Masayang sambit ng batang lalaki.

"What's this for?" Takang tanong ng batang babae habang hawak ang ibinigay nitong dinosaur stuff toy..

"Because I want you to smile. That baby dinosaur will remind you to smile whenever I'm not around." Nakangiting sambit ng batang lalaki.

***

"Iscelle, come here!" Masayang tawag ng kapatid habang nakaakbay sa kung sino.

Ang batang babae na tinawag nitong Iscelle ay nakaupo lamang sa swing habang hawak ang dinosaur stuff toy na galing kay Dinosaur.

"Why kuya?" Mahinhin nitong sambit.

"I want you to meet my new friend!" Masiglang sambit ng kuya niya.

"Dinosaur?" Gulat ngunit may halong tuwa na sambit ng batang si Iscelle sa kasama ng kapatid.

"Huh? You knew him?" Saad naman ng kapatid ni Iscelle.

***

"They're both dead." The doctor said grimly pertaining to the two boys who was with the young Iscelle.

"It's your fault!! Izen could have survived if not because of you! You-- You---" Galit na galit na duro sa kanya ng kanyang ama habang di nito maapuhap ang gustong sabihin dulot ng sakit na nararamdaman sa pagkawala ng panganay na anak habang siya ay umiiyak lamang sa isang tabi.

"No.. no.." Patuloy sa pagiyak at pag-iling ang batang Iscelle habang nakayakap sa isang batang babae, na siyang nagiisang kaibigan niya.

Agad na tumayo ang batang babae when she saw the glimpse of her mother rushing to where they are. Everyone couldn't fathom what to feel at the moment as one of their loved ones was declared dead.

Daglian siyang niyakap ng kaniyang ina ngunit unti-unti itong nauubusan ng hininga habang walang patid ang luha sa mukha sa balitang iniwan na sila ng panganay na anak.

Agad nagkagulo ang lahat ng doctor at nurses na naroon dahil sa sudden heart attack ni Mrs. Sanchez na dulot ng masamang balita. She was always a delicate and calm person but she lost it when she heard the news. The little Iscelle couldn't help but cry a river as she called out for her mom while watching how her dad cried a river.

~•~

Everything is still vivid in her memories and those are the memories that scarred her for a very long time.

"Crying doesn't mean you're weak Iscelle. It's just expressing how you feel." Saad ng pamilyar na boses.

Iscelle only noticed her presence in front of her when she heard her voice. Hinawakan niya ang kaniyang pisngi upang tukuyin ang sinasabi nito- umiiyak siya and it won't stop. It's been so long since she felt her damp cheeks.

Ley sat beside her but Iscelle didn't bother to look at her. The memories of the past kept coming back and it's giving her that unmeasurable pain again. Ley gazed at her face and she can visibly see those eyes of eleven years ago. She kept blaming herself, that's what she thought.

"It's not your fault Iscelle. Everything happens for a reason." Ley voiced out her thoughts.

Patuloy itong tahimik na umiyak while staring at the sunset.

"It is my fault. They could've been alive if not because of me." Her voice broke upon talking about them.

"You of all people knew that he'll probably hit you hard in the head for being stubborn once he heard that." Giit ni Ley sa kaniya.

"But---" Ley cut her off.

"No buts, Iscelle! And, don't ever forget what he told you that time." She said emphasizing her last words.

"I really missed their voices and their smiles." Iscelle said in a faint voice saka ito humagulhol ng iyak na parang isang bata.

Ley hugged her in return to console her aching heart. It seems that they're back on the past, where she used to comfort her whenever she felt crying upon losing those two important persons of her life. She maybe tough and all but she's too fragile inside, those are what's running through Ley's head.

~•~

"Huli ka Nielle!" Tumatawang sambit ng batang lalaki na nasa sampung taong gulang.

"Anla! Ako na naman ang taya? Andaya naman nitong si Dinosaur at kuya Izen eh!" Maktol ng batang si Iscelle whose merely a seven years old sa dalawang kasama.

"No we're not! You're just weak princess! Bleh~" Panunukso naman ni Izen sa kapatid sabay takbo.

"Iscelle!" Nakarinig sila ng sigaw ng isang batang babae mula sa malayo while Iscelle kept on complaining that the boys in front of her are cheaters.

"Gleya!!" Masayang sambit ni Iscelle.

"I told ya' already that Kaizer is the only one who can call me that name! You call me Ley, got that?" Mataray na sambit ng batang si Ley.

"You never changed Gleya." Natutuwang sambit ni Izen Kaizer na sinundan niya ng tawa.

"I missed you guys, lalo na si Kaizer! Sabi ni Mame I'm a big girl na daw. Does that mean we'll get married soon?" Masayang tanong ni Ley kay Izen.

"Anla! Yoko nga! Aagawin mo si kuya saken?" Iscelle pouted her lips in disagreement.

"Okay lang yan, Nielle. We'll get married as soon as we visit a church, so hindi ka pa rin maiiwan." Masayang sambit naman ni Dinosaur.

~•~

"I kept missing him. The way he smiled and especially his voice. Did you remember how silly we were back then?" Umiiyak na ring saad ni Ley upon remiscing the past.

"Of course! I won't forget how obsessed you are." Natatawang saad ni Iscelle.

"I can still remember how I'm head over heels for Kaizer. Can't blame me. Everyone would actually fall in-love with your brother even at that young age." Malungkot niya pang saad.

"I miss those smiles." Malungkot ding saad ni Iscelle habang nakatingin sa malayo.

"You're still into Dinosaur?" Ley asked her.

"I just can't forget him. He's one of my treasures." She answered.

Patuloy na inalala ni Ley ang nakaraan hanggang sa pati ang masakit na pangyayaring yun ay naalala rin niya. At alam niyang ganoon din si Iscelle.

~•~

Nakaupo sa swing ang dalawang batang babae habang ang dalawang batang lalaki ay idinuduyan lamang sila. Nakakita naman ng ice cream si Ley at Ice.

"Gusto namin nun!" Nakapout na saad ni Ley.

"Oo nga! Halika Ley bili tayo!" Masiglang aya ni Ice.

"Sure! Sure!" Masayang sagot naman ni Ley.

"No! Kami na ang bibili. Stay here, both you. Okay?" Firm na saad ni Izen sa dalawa.

"Mamats Kaizer! Saranghae!" Ley giggled.

Natawa nalang ang dalawang batang lalaki. Tumungo sila sa dirty ice cream vendor habang naiwang naghihintay ang dalawa na parehang nanatiling nasa swing. Ngunit naalala ni Ice na naiwan niya ang stuffed toy na galing kay Dinosaur sa bench na kanilang pinanggalingan kanina na nasa kabilang kalsada.

"Dyan ka lang Ley. Kukunin ko lang si Di-nelle sa kabilang bench" Paalam ni Ice.

Di-nelle. Read as day-nel. Galing sa pangalan nila ni Dinosaur. Danielle and Dinosaur.

"Sige, ingat ka ah. There are cars out there, okay?" Paalala ng batang si Ley.

"Sure! Ako pa ba?" Nakangiting saad nito.

Patuloy sa pagtawid si Ice dala si di-nelle at di niya napansin ang parating na truck. Natulala nalang sya sa gitna matapos marinig ang malakas na busina ng truck.

"Princess! / Nielle!" Sabay na sigaw ng dalawang batang lalaki naglalakad sa pinanggalingan niyang swing to deliver their ice creak.

Maririnig ang malakas na palahaw ng dalawang batang babae kasabay nang maingay na pag-preno ng malaking truck. Ngunit mabilis din itong sumibat ng mapansing nakahandusay ang dalawang batang lalaki. Dali-daling nilapitan nina Ley at Ice ang dalawa habang may luhang nagbabadyang tumulo sa kanilang mga mata.

"Help! Please help us." Umiiyak na sigaw ni Ley na unti-unting naging bulong saka siya humagulhol.

"Kaizer, we'll go to the hospital now. Stand up." Patuloy niya saka hinawakan sa braso si Izen.

"You too Dinosaur. You see malulungkot ang baby dinosaur kasi may lumalabas na dugo sa body mo so baka maubos siya." Sisinghot singhot na saad ni Ice.

"It is my fault. Dapat tumakbo ako agad eh. I'm sorry po kuya." Umiiyak pa ring saad ni Ice.

"It's none of your fault and will never be your fault, princess. Always remember that" Nakangiting saad ni Izen sa kapatid.

"I'll just sleep ah. My eyes are really heavy eh. I-wake up niyo ko maya." Mahinang saad ni Dinosaur.

"Ako rin. Inaantok ako. I love you, princess and you too, Gleya." Nakangiti nitong saad saka pinisil ang kamay ni Ley bago tuluyang ipinikit ang kaniyang mga mata.