6. The Mall

Rhian's POV

I am so excited because it is yna's birthday and we are going to have a friends-dayout .

"Rhian! your friend is here".shouted Ma.

"Happy birthday dear...have fun".

"Thanks Mrs Bonifacio...". Yna replied and Ma hugged her.

I quickly went to my wardrobe and picked out the identical grey top I and yna bought for ourselves when we went to Dallas,I also picked out a matching trouser.

I heard a knock on my door and I opened it.

"Happy birthday yna!". I shouted and I hugged her.

"Thanks Rhian". replied yna

I went to my closet and brought out a red coloured package.

I gave it to yna and she opened it and she saw a leather jacket with the initial Yna & Rhian.

"Thank you so much Rhian!, I love it!".

then she hugged me.

My driver drove us to all the places we requested.

The first place we went to was the cinema, we watched a film titled "squid game".

"Let us go to the mall Rhian,there is a new mall in town". said yna.

"Ok....let's have some fun". I shouted

"Good, now we can go bestie". Yna said and we headed there.

As I stepped down from the car. As soon as my eyes landed on the name of the mall I was left in a state of shock.

I couldn't believe my eyes,my worst nightmare has come through.

Yna tapped me and I came out from the shock

"Is everything okay?why do you look shocked?". asked yna.

Tears started to fall from my eyes.

"Rhian, why are crying?did I hurt you?". Asked Yna and she hugged me.

"No, you didn't hurt me, the name of this mall reminds me of a bad memory in the past".

"Oh...what happened". Yna asked, we sat inside the car and I narrated everything to her.

The name of this mall " Ginno's" was the same mall my childhood best friend died in a fire accident.

Mr. Ginno Corpus,the owner of the mall had a mall in the Philippines but the mall was destroyed by a fire outbreak.

FLASH BACK

"Hey Amor,did you hear about the new mall called "Ginno's", asked Perlita.

"I don't feel like going for shopping".

"You are so boring Amor". She replied

"Ok I will go, Happy now". I said

"Yes and thank you". She replied

"Besties forever". replied me.

The driver took us to the mall and we went around picking out some items.

"I love this mall, it has so many dresses,shoes,accessories etc",said perlita.

As we were picking out different dresses and shoes for ourselves, I heard someone screaming " fire!fire!fire!".

Everybody started running out from the mall and screaming.

But perlita refused to go outside the mall,

"I want to help the remaining people inside the mall". said perlita

"OK, I will help you" .I replied

We helped everybody outside.

But as we were running out of the exit, a burnt log of wood fell on perlita's leg. she screamed in pain.

I was trying to lift the log of wood because the mall was already collapsing due to the fire but the wood was not budging.

"Go, save yourself .I will always be there for you even if I don't make it out alive. Take care of yourself, I will miss you Amor". She said

Then Perlita pushed me out of the mall and the mall crashed down on her.

"No!".

"No!you can't leave me Perlita".I shouted as tears fell from my eyes.

"You can't do this to me, how will I survive?". I sobbed,wailed , screamed and shouted.

My parents came to comfort me.

When the fire was put out, Perlita's corpse was retrieved and her body was burnt and she was no more.

I cried on her body and I refused to stand up from her dead body.

After one week of the incidence, she was buried.

Perlita didn't really have a complete family.

Her mother was handicapped and her father abandoned them.

It was mostly me and my family that took care of her and her mother.

Perlita's mother couldn't bear the pain of loosing her only child , so she kicked the bucket.

I became very lonely after the death of my best friend and I often cried.

Every year,on the day she died. I usually visit her tomb but after some years, I moved on and I didn't feel much pain.

End of flashback

"But I have you yna and I will never lose you".I said and I hugged her tightly.

"Rhian don't cry,you are making me feel like crying too". Yna replied and she patted my back.

"OK, I won't cry but please can we go to a different mall". I said and I wiped my eyes with tissue.

"No problem dear...anything for my bestie". Yna replied.

"I don't want you to remember bad memories on my birthday,let's have fun". Yna added .

I looked up at the sky and whispered"I miss you and I wish you were here with me, perlita."

After Yna's outing with me. I went home and I freshened up

I came downstairs to have dinner.

I ate silently.

"What is it Rhian? You look pale and you seem quiet". Ma asked and she looked at me

"Ma...I just got reminded of Perlita's death today". I replied and I looked down

"It's okay dear...that's the past". Pa answered.

"Ma! Pa! I don't ever want to lose you. I pray we stay together as a happy family forever". I said and I stood up and I gave them a warm hug.

"You will never lose us dear". Pa answered and he kissed my forehead

I smiled

After dinner, I went upstairs to my room to sleep because I was so exhausted.