CHAPTER 1

ELLIE

"Letting go of someone is one of the hardest thing to do but I know I have to."

"Ellie." Then suddenly I felt her hugging me so tight and that was the time that I can't hold back my tears anymore.

"I'm here Ellie." While she's saying those words I'm still staring at the graves of my parents.

"Belle." She is Belle my bestfriend. I let go of her and then she hold my hands.

"I don't know where to start again. I don't know how I can accept this."

"Maging matapang ka lang Ellie we both know na yun ang gusto nila Tita and Tito." We spent some time staring at the graves of my parents holding her hands, I feel comfortable with the silence between us.

"Ellie Leira Ford." We both look at the same girl who's a new face to us, but I know she's at the same age as my parents.

"I'm Sarah Heron kaibigan ko ang mga magulang mo Ellie kanina pa ko nandito at nakatingin lang sayo. I want to tell you something." She look to Belle just like she's asking politely if Belle can leave us alone.

"I'll wait you in the car Ellie." Then I'm alone with Mrs. Or Ms. Heron.

"Tulad ng sinabi ko matalik kong kaibigan ang mga magulang mo and sa company ko din sila nag tra-trabaho. Kaya hindi kita masisi if you're blaming me for what happened with your parents." She start to cry and I feel her pain.

"It's not your fault Ms.Sarah it's all an accident." Then I gave her a hug I know she needs it.

"Ellie. I know na magulo pa para sayo ang lahat but alam kong wala ka ng ibang kakilala to be your legal guardian, I know you are at the legal age but you need someone who can take care of you." She's right mom and dad are both the only child of their families and wala din akong kapatid.

"You need a guardian and I'm here to take that responsibility for you." I was to opposed her but I felt a wind breeze in my spine, maybe that's my mom and dad telling me to accept her.

"Give me some time about that Ms.Sarah for now I just want to have some space on my own." She let go of me.

"Yes I'll wait for you. Wait." Then she took some piece of paper and a pen inside her bag then she started writing her cellphone number and give it to me.

"Just call me right away okay?" Then she gave me a smile, a smile where I can see that she's hurting too, a smile that she forcefully put it in her lips just to hide how painful it is for her to lose her friends and here I am returning that same smile to her.

"Your parents are great they raised a kind girl like you. Specially your mom everytime we need to overtime in our work she always said that baka nagugutom na ang anak ko." I stop myself to cry again.

"And your dad will say don't worry honey mas magaling pang magluto ang anak mo kesa sayo at doon na sisimulan ng mommy mo na bugbugin ang Dad mo sa mga palo niya." I just drew a simple smile in my lips I just imagining it mom and dad jockingly fight with each other.

"I'm sorry Ellie but I really need to go." She just gave me another hug before she go.

"I need to go to her, she needs me too." I just nod my head as my answer.

"Yes Ms.Sarah Thank you." After a few seconds I'm just here alone.

"I love you mom I love you dad, both of you will always in my heart." I put a kiss in their grave and make my way to my car where Belle is waiting for me.

- - -

It's been 3 days and here I am I still don't know where to start.

"Papasok na ko Ellie." Ang narinig kong sabi ni Belle bago niya buksan ang pinto ng kwarto ko.

"Nagdala ulit ako ng pagkain."

"I'm sorry Belle wala akong gana." Then I hear her deep sigh.

"I know kakasilip ko lang sa ref hindi mo ginagalaw yung pagkaing dala ko."

"Because I know na mas magaling ako magluto sayo." Narinig ko na lang ang pagtawa niya.

"Natututo ka na ulit mag joke ah."

"I'm not joking Belle I'm just telling the truth." Narinig ko yung pilit niyang tawa. Si Belle lang ang nakakatagal sa ugali ko.

"Nakapag desisyon ka na ba na tanggapin yung sinabi nung babae na nakita natin dun?" Tumingin ako sakanya.

"Yes. I have no choice hindi dito matatapos ang buhay ko. I know mom and dad want me to move on they want me to keep living and reach for my dreams at yun ang gagawin ko". I'm not letting them go I'm just accepting it that they're gone, but they still in my heart forever.

She lean her head on my shoukder.

"Sigurado ko na ganoon nga ang gusto nila Tita and Tito. So you have plan for next school year? 1 month na lang at pasukan na natin ulit."

"I don't know hindi ko alam kung saan ako titira." Then I felt her hands holding mine.

"Just update me okay? Kahit saan ka pa niyang lupalop dalhin susundan kita." Inalis na niya yung ulo nya at tiningnan ako ng diretso sa mata.

"You don't have to do that Belle. I can live on my own." Tumawa lang siya.

"Aysus we both know that you'll gonna miss me when I'm gone, when I'm gone hoooh you're gonna miss me when I'm go-"

"Shhhh stop singing Belle." Sabay kaming tumawa.

"I'm glad you're smiling right now." Tiningnan ko lang siya ng bored look.

"Wait kahit nga pala dati hindi ka naman palangiti." Then she laughs on her own joke.

"Come on just stand up there and let's eat this Macaroni Salad I know this is your favorite." Tumayo na ko at sabay na kaming pumunta sa may kusina. I get some plate for us and start digging up her macaroni salad.

"You know what I feel pity for your future child." Then she gave me a bad stare.

"How did you say so huh?!"

"You always cook every of your recipe tasteless. It's ok to put some salt Belle."

"As far as I know salt is not necessary in making macaroni salad."

"Yeah but how about the calderata and giniling that you brought me last time? And include all the tasteless food that you cooked for me for 6 years."

"Haist okay okay but you know how much I hate salty foods right? So just bare with it. Just be thankful that you have this gorgeous friend cooking TASTELESS food for you." Hindi naman siya nagsisinungaling. Belle is very popular in both gender in our school, but still choose to be with me. I don't know how can she handle my personality some thinks that I'm matured compared to my current age, I hate small talks and yeah I hate dating, for my 18 years of existence here in earth I didn't experience that kind of relationship. I don't know I still didn't find that person who I can feel that we're really connected with each other.

"Ellie."

"Hmmm?"

"Kailan mo siya tatawagan?" Ang tanong niya sakin binitiwan ko yung kutsara ko at humarap sakanya.

"Today." Then I saw the sudden change in her expression.

"Ellie I already talked to Papa and Mama and they're agreed you can live with us."

"I'm fine Belle." But actually I'm not, this is my home. My only home.

"Haist okay. Oh shoot!" She said as she looks on her wrist watch.

"I really want to stay here pero nag promise ako kay Mama na sasamahan ko siya mag shoppibg ngayon." Ang nagmamandali niyang sabi.

"Okay lang. Sige na." Kinuha na niya yung bag niya at aktong hahalikan niya ko sa pisngi ng iharang ko ang kamay ko sa lips niya.

"No." She just rolled her eyes bago magpaalam saakin at umalis. Then here I am again Alone. Well it's fine with me I enjoy my time with myself.

Pagkatapos ko hugasan yung mga plato na pinagkainan namin umakyat na ko sa kwarto ko and kinuha ko yung calling Card na binigay ni Ms.Heron.

"Mom... Dad I know this is the best thing that I can do now. I know that both of you want me to continue my life." I get my phone in my pocket and start Dialing Ms.Heron.

"Good afternoon this is Sarah Heron." She said in her formal voice.

"Uhmmm good afternoon Ms.Heron this is me Ellie Leira Ford."

"Thank God! Finally you call me." Halata sa boses niya yung saya.

"Uhmmm yes. Tumawag po ako sainyo para sabihin na tinatanggap ko po ang offer niyo."

"Para namang business ang pinaguusapan natin but okay. I'll pick you up there."

"No. I mean. I'm fine I can go there on my own." It's obvious on her that she's busy right now.

"You sure? Ok then I'll wait you here. Ingat ka Ellie." I hang up the phone and start to prepare myself.

Pagkatapos ko magbihis ay kinuha ko na yung susi ng kotse ni Papa then I saw our picture the three of us.

"I love you Mom and Dad." I'm started to accept that they're gone but it doesn't mean that I'll forget them and I'll pretend that they never exist. No. They have this special spot in my heart in my life.

After kong i park ang kotse ko ay pumasok na ko sa building. This is the office of my parents this is where they spent they're 23 years of their life.

"Excuse me Ija may maitutulong ba ko sayo?" Ang sabi nung guard.

"Saan po ba dito ang office ni Ms.Heron?" Then one girl approach my way.

"May appointment ka ba kay Mrs.Sarah? Anong pangalan mo?" She asked me politelty. Mrs.Heron pala I thought she's still single, mukha kasi siyang bata.

"Ellie Leira Ford po." Then suddenly her face changed nakita ko yung biglaang lungkot sa mata niya. This is the one thing that I'm good of I can see through the emotion of a person maybe I'm a natural psychologist?

"Ikaw pala si Ellie. I'm Georgina kaibigan ko ang mga magulang mo. Lagi kang kinukwento ng mommy mo samin." I don't know how to react.

"Tara sasamahan kita kay Mrs.Sarah sakto kakadating lang din ni Luna." Yes Luna I know her but hindi pa kami nagkikita madalas ay na kwe kwento siya ni Mama dahil yung Mommy ni Luna ay bestfriend ni Mama.

Sumakay na kami sa elevator hanggang sa makarating kami sa 14th floor Ms.Georgina guide me sa office ni Mrs.Heron.

"Mabuti na lang at nandito ka na Ellie." Binigyan ako ni Mrs.Heron ng isang yakap but mabilis din siyang humiwalay.

"Ellie this is Luna" tumayo si Luna at lumapit ako sakanya then nahawakan ko yung kamay niya.

I don't know but I felt something, this is the first time that I felt this way, that I felt that we're so connected with each other that my soul is connected with her soul. I felt that I know her so much.

"I'm Luna." After she said her Name I knew it that this girl is different.

That this girl is unique.

That this girl is Her.

- - -