please listen to the song above : )

"Of all the places you could live in, why does it have to be in Filimon Heights? Ang layo natin sa isa't isa!" reklamo ni Carri mula sa kabilang linya, mangiyak-ngiyak pa. "Ba't ka ba pinayagan ng parents mo na lumipat diyan? Ang layo tuloy natin sa isa't isa!"

"Kaya nga 2-bedroom ang kinuha kong condo, 'di ba?" Natawa na lamang ako naupo sa sofa na nababalot pa ng plastic cover. "Pack your bags and move your ass here. Split the rent money with me and let's live the life. It's a very pretty city. It's perfect for a new beginning."

"Easy for you to say when you're basically the most successful businesswoman in our batch! You're even giving out scholarships to student athletes now! You pretty much conquered Mt. Everest, tapos ako?" pagtataray niya bigla. "Ah basta! I hate you! Ditcher!"

"Ang sabihin mo, miss mo na ako," biro ko pa at saka nilibot ang paningin sa apartment kong puno pa ng mga gamit kong nakakulong sa napakaraming kahon.

"Eww! Baka ikaw, na-miss ako?" Narinig ko siyang suminghal.

"Of course I miss you." I smiled and shrugged. "You're my ride or die."

Back then, you would have to point a gun in my head to make me spill how I truly feel. But meeting Blueberry made me more open about how I feel toward people, especially to the ones I love. After all, time stops for no one and I don't want to live with any regrets. 

I heard Carri sigh from the other line. "You really know the right words to say."

"Marupok ka lang talaga pagdating sa akin," biro ko naman. "Come on, Carr. The city looks awesome, the air feels fresh, and—"

"1 month. Kapag hindi ako makahanap ng trabaho diyan within one month, I'll ditch your ass," she said, sounding annoyed. "Dapat hanapan mo rin ako ng jowa."

"Hey!" Hindi ko napigilang matawa. "Wala nga akong jowa tapos hahanapan pa kita!"

"Wait, what happened to the businessman guy who asked you out? Did you back out again?" Carri gasped, halatang handang-handa nang makichismis. "May red flag ba—"

Napailing-iling ako. "Truth be told, ako ang red flag. I just think—"

"Please tell me this isn't about Bryan again because I swear, you deserve to be—"

"No. This isn't about Blueberry at all," I assured her. "It's just that, I'm literally in Filimon Heights now. I don't think I can do long distance—"

"Then date someone from Filimon Heights!" bulalas ni Carri na sobrang excited pa sa idea. "'Di ba magkikita kayo ni Braylee sa makalawa? She might recommend—"

"Look, I'm not on a rush at all. Kung may darating man para sa akin . . ." I shrugged. Sandali akong lumingon sa salaming nakakabit sa kisame at tinali ang buhok ko. "Gosh, I look horrible with blonde hair."

"Don't change the subject, Tree . . . " she scoffed. "Kung may darating man para sa 'yo?" pag-uulit niya sa sinabi ko, halatang hindi kuntento.

I shrugged again and smiled. "I'm looking forward to it."

The thought of moving on felt impossible a few years ago, but I guess time eventually healed my wounds, enough for me to look forward again. 

Pagkatapos ng pag-uusap namin ni Carri, natagpuan ko ang sarili kong naglalakad patungo sa isang kahong may disenyong mga ulap at bituwin. Naupo ako at saka ito binuksan.

Inilabas ko mula sa kahon ang kulay asul na bunny stuffed toy at muling napangiti. "You're rooting for me, right?"

I hope Blueberry is happy wherever he is right now. And if he's out there, starting out a brand new life, I hope he's still surrounded by people who love him. And I hope he grows up to be the same bright and loving person, but this time, with a longer time to experience the joys and sorrows of life.

Okay na sa akin kung hindi na ulit magtagpo ang mga landas namin. Ang mahalaga, masaya na siya kung nasaan man siya. 

"I'm rooting for you, Blueberry." With a hopeful smile, I placed the bunny inside the box again and folded it close.

***

"Ate Tree, salamat talaga sa pagtulong sa amin ha? At saka sorry kasi kakalipat mo lang dito pero humingi na agad ako ng pabor sa 'yo," Braylee said, close to crying.

I shook my head and placed my arm over her back, trying to give her a bit comfort. "Ano ka ba, wala 'yon. Gusto ko rin namang tumulong."

Braylee tried to smile but tears ended up falling down her cheeks. Agad siyang napayakap sa akin at agad naman akong yumakap sa kanya pabalik. 

"I can't believe she's gone," she said, crying on my shoulder.

As we hugged, my eyes landed on Reika De Juan's smiling face on a large portrait, surrounded by flowers and candles. I looked around the restaurant and it was filled with people who loved and adored her.

I hardly knew Reika De Juan, but seeing how many people are heartbroken over her passing and celebrating her life, I'm sure she lived a life full of color and warmth. Like Blueberry. 

Sa isang iglap, narinig namin ang pag-alingawngaw ng isang malakas na iyak. Pareho kaming napabitiw sa isa't isa at napalingon. Nakita namin ang asawa ni Braylee na nakatayo malapit sa pinto, inaalo ang sanggol nilang anak na para nang nagwawala habang nasa bisig ng ama.

"Ate, sandali lang ha?" paalam ni Braylee at agad na nilapitan ang kanyang ama.

I couldn't help but smile as I watched Braylee and her husband tend to their infant son. But despite my smile, part of me is sad knowing Blueberry isn't around to see how his adorable baby sister grew up to be a loving mom. And Braylee's son will only know his uncle through stories and photos. 

Fearing I'd only end up crying because of my thoughts, I chose to continue helping out with the program. Silver, Reika's best friend, needed every help she could get. I've been in her shoes before, so I truly understand her sorrows and desperation to do something for the person she loves, for the last time.

***

"Naku, Tree. Ako na diyan," nag-aalalang pigil sa akin ni Piper, kaibigan ni Braylee, nang makita akong nag-aabot ng inumin sa mga nakikiramay.

"It's okay." I assured her with a smile. "You should go check on Silver. Make sure she eats or drinks something. I've been in her shoes before so trust me, she will lie to you that she already ate."

"Sige sige, thank you talaga," ani Piper, pero bago tuluyang umalis, lumingon siya bigla. "Hey, can you keep an eye on that guy? Baka kasi biglang umalis at mag-drive. I'm scared something might happen to him if he does."

Napalingon ako sa tinuro ni Piper at  nakunot ang noo ko nang makita ang isang pamilyar na lalakeng medyo tisoy. Tatanungin ko sana si Piper kaso may tumawag dito at kinailangan na niyang umalis.

Lumapit ako sa direksiyon ng lalake at nang makita ang mga mata niyang lumuluha, saka ko lang naalala kung sino siya. I almost didn't recognize him because he looked so tired and lifeless. Humaba rin nang bahagya ang buhok niya't nagkaroon siya ng kaunting facial hair.

Sawyer. That was his name. At least, that's what I remember when he introduced himself to me.

He and I were complete strangers who accidentally got locked up in a basement, and I ended up confiding my grief toward him. And in doing so, I felt a little bit better. Thanks to him, I also found Blueberry's last gift for me.

Wanting to return the favor by also being a listening ear, I walked up to him and sat on the vacant chair next to him.

He wasn't moving at all. He was just sitting there, absent-mindedly staring at Reika's portrait with tears falling down his cheeks. 

Like what we did for Blueberry, Reika's friends took turns standing up to talk about her. And as I listened to them, it felt as if I got to meet Reika and became friends with her too. Soon, I found myself crying and mourning her passing.

When it was Sawyer's turn to stand up on the stage and talk about Reika, I was heartbroken to realize that she left while they were on bad terms. And Sawyer is clearly torn about it. If I were in his shoes, I would be too.

As the program continued, I noticed that he never stopped crying.

"Hey." Pukaw ko sa atensiyon niya sa sobrang awa at inabot ang natitirang bottled water sa tray na dala ko. 

Napatingin siya sa akin, walang kaemo-emosyon sa kabila ng mga luhang pumapatak.

Ako na mismo ang naglagay ng inumin sa mga kamay niyang nanginginig at napakalamig. "Your best friend adored you a lot. Make sure you take care of yourself."

Nagbaba siya ng tingin at kasabay nito ang pagtaas-baba ng kanyang mga balikat kasabay ng kanyang pag-iyak. I figured he needed time on his own so I stood up, but before I could walk away, he spoke.

"You're The Goodbye Girl, right?"

Naupo akong muli sa tabi niya at tumango. "Yeah, I was the stranger who owes you one. If you need a stranger to listen, just find the girl with the messed up blonde hair."

Unti-unti siyang nag-angat ng tingin. "Puwede mo ba akong tulungang magpaalam sa kaibigan ko?"

I retired from being The Goodbye Girl years ago, but knowing I'll be helping a good person, I nodded. "I'll help you say goodbye to Reika De Juan."

end of special chapter