"This is the memory I leave for the one I love,
and whom I will love forever-the half of my soul.."
It was morning of the 8th of April. The people in the Barrio Kasiglahan missed the warmth of the sun after the chilling season of previous months. Children played happily in the field, chasing each other, ignoring the heat on their skin. The sweat flowing from their foreheads was incessant. The flowers bloomed at their brightest color, giving life to the green pastures and surroundings. Birds were chirping, whistling a morning tune. The smoke from the burning leaves blended with the air, beclouding the new born rays of the rising sun.
Carlita and Sabel, both 12, grew up together. They were sometimes mistaken in their barrio as twins for they were very close to each other that they seem to look the same.They were the best of friends. They always go to school together, play together and their most favorite thing to do is to climb trees and pick fruits. Only when summer arrives that they were able to spend more time together- no school, or even home works to do.
One day, Sabel was waiting for Carlita to go back on their play house under a big mango tree. After a minute, she saw her running. She brought a strange kind of things for their playtime.
"What is that Carling?" Sabel asked. Sabel used to call Carlita in the name of Carling, as her term of endearment.
"I brought these papers, pencils, and different color paints. I asked Kuya Mario to buy me some painting materials when he has extra money." Carlita answered.
"Wow, that's great! we have now something new to do. " Sabel exclaimed.
The best friends were very excited to paint. They never tried to do painting before. They were attracted by the bright colors of the paint. All colors are present, perfect in painting the pleasing scenery of the field, the birds in the sky and their fellow children running and playing. They also thought about something that will symbolize their friendship.
They realize that the sun was about to set.
"Sabel, look at the sunset. It's beautiful, isn' it?"
"Yes, its beautiful.We can try to paint that one too, it's perfect."
"Sabel, can you promise me that I will be your best friend until the end?"
"What are you saying? Of course Carling, I love you and we will be best friends forever."
"I will never leave you, Sabel, I promise."
"Me too, Carling."
Carlita hugged Sabel. "Let's go home now, it's getting dark."
Carlita hugged Sabel. "Let's go home now, it's getting dark."
They went home together, holding each other's hands.
The next morning, the weather was not good as the day before. The sun was hidden on a layer of thick, gray clouds. There were no birds that whistle a morning tune. The wind was blowing bravely. Sabel opened the window of their hut. She saw how the leaves of the trees fall from its branches.
"It seems that it will rain huh," Aling Andeng said as she poured hot water to her cup of coffee. "It's summer now but why is the weather like that? Climate change is really happening. The world becomes crazy," she added.
"Don't mind that Andeng, the weather will be fine later. Can you please make me a cup of coffee, too?" Mang Celso said to his wife.
After she took her breakfast, Sabel went to Carlita's hut. She knew that they will continue what they have done yesterday. While approaching, she noticed that their hut was closed. She called Carlita, but no one answered. Butchoy, their dog, just wagged his tail when he saw Sabel.
She wondered why their hut is closed.
"Where did they go?" She asked. "She will be back later. I will just wait for her in our playhouse."
Hours passed. Sabel got tired waiting for Carlita. Besides, it was lunch time. She needs to go home. She walked very sad. Aling Andeng noticed the gloomy face of her child.
"What happened Sabel? Why are you sad?"
Sabel sat down in a chair. "I went to Carlita's hut, but no one was there, even her kuya Mario and Aling Coring."
Aling Andeng answered, " Really? Maybe they go somewhere and buy something important to do. Just wait there. She will be back soon."
Sabel felt a little bit relieved when she heard what her mother said. She was still waiting for Carlita to come back. There were too many thoughts running at the back of her mind. She was fidgety.
A sharp lightning flashed, followed by the rolling thunder. Little by little, the rain started to fall. Sabel couldn't take off her eyes looking at the falling rain, thinking of her bestfriend, Carlita.
It was 4 pm. The rain had stopped. Sabel went outside to wait for Carlita to come home. She started to feel worry. No Carlita or anyone in her family came home.
She cried. Wiping her tears, she went back inside, straight to her room. She started to sulk.
"She left without my knowledge? Where did they go? Even Carling didn't tell me that she will leave."
Sabel felt hurt knowing that her bestfriend- one and only bestfriend in their barrio left her, but who can blame her? Carlita is so important to her. She is her life.
"It was just yesterday that she promised me she will never leave me, but look, I don't know where she is right now." Sabel was sobbing all the time. She was missing Carlita already.
She went outside and ran to their playhouse under the mango tree. Her day is empty without Carlita. She waited for her. On the other side, she wanted to get mad at Carlita for leaving, but she can't. She thought that Carlita has a good reason why she left without telling her.
The sun had set, and Sabel has no choice but to go back home.
"Don't worry Sabel, Carlita will be back tomorrow." Aling Andeng said.
Evening came, and Sabel fell asleep, waiting for Carlita.
It was morning again. Tiny drizzles were still falling. The grasses and the leaves were cuddled by the morning dew. Sabel can't wait to know if Carlita was back, so she went straight to their hut. Running on excitement, she saw Aling Coring, Carlita's mother. Sabel suddenly felt the melancholic atmosphere as she walked and got nearer the hut.
"Good morning Aling Coring, where is Carling?"
There was a moment of silence. Her excitement became impassive.
Sabel felt a peculiar feeling.
Aling Coring just covered her face, and wept.
Sabel wondered why. She didn't know why Aling Coring was crying that hard. Is there something wrong? She thought. She felt the cold breeze wrapped her body.
"Last night, we rushed her to the hospital." Aling Coring said, with a cracked voice.
"Why? Wh...what happened to her? Is Carling alright, Aling Coring?"
Sabel was getting nervous. She couldn't get it.
"Aling Coring, please, tell me.. how is she? When will she be able to come back?"
"Sabel, Carlita will never come back to us.. She left us, Sabel. She's... she's gone."
Her knees started to shake.
Sabel was weakened by the tragic news. She can't move- as if her feet was stapled and glued.
Sabel couldn't believe it, Aling Coring's voice was morbid. It was a nightmare. It was just like yesterday that they were laughing together, under the mango tree, drawing and painting everything they want to.
But it was gone. She was gone.
"How could that happened?" Sabel asked.
"I am sorry, Sabel. I promised her not to tell you that she was sick. She didn't want to tell you that she has leukemia because she didn't want you to feel worry about her. She wanted to get well for you."
Sabel noticed the grief upon Aling Coring's eyes. It was very difficult for her to realize the most painful night of Carlita.
Sabel cried very hard.
"You're unfair, Carlita, you're unfair! Why did you keep the truth from me? We are best friends, aren't we? I could have been helped you. I could have been make you happier. Why did you have to die, Carling? You even promised not to leave me!"
Sabel immediately ran to their hut and told her mother and father about Carling's death.
It was a mournful day for them.
11th of April. The second day after Carlita's death. Sabel still couldn't believe that her best friend passed away. She couldn't help but bring back the days when she and Carling climb up a tree, eating at their playhouse, and she will never forget the last thing that they did- painting. She had to face the days alone, without Carlita.
Mario, Carlita's brother, called Sabel. She felt so heavy inside because she knows that it's about Carlita.
"I saw this in Carlita's bag. I know she made this for you."
Mario gave her a small-sized box with a ribbon. When she opened it, she saw a bracelet made of plastic beads, pictures and a painting of two girls, smiling blissfully, holding each other's hand. Her tears started to fall. On the right lower side of the painting, this message was written:
This is the memory I leave for the one I love,
and whom I will love forever- the half of my soul.
I'll be here beside you forever, as I promised.
I love you Sabel, until we hold each other's hands again.
Sabel looked up to the sky.
"May you rest in peace, Carling. Even its hard for me to accept that you left, I will try to be happy for you. I am sorry. You will have a place in my heart forever. Thank you for all."
Sabel smiled, and hugged the little painting- just how she used to hug her best friend, Carlita.
