Rest In.peace Message Novels & Stories

paumanhin niya at nag-peace sign pa. Ipinagpatuloy ko na lang ang ginagawa ko at nang matapos ay nagpahinga saglit. Nag-chat na lang ako ng 'Good Night' kay Topher bago natulog. Tinatamad na akong lumabas e.

Message tone. "Babe, kain na. I send food for you. Enjoy your meal. And I love you" basa ni Blessie sa mensahe ni Luis sa kanya. Nagtipa din siya ng mensahe. "Thank you. I love you too" tugon na sagot ni Blessie. Ibinaba ni Blessie ang phone sa table niya. Siyang pagring ng intercom. Agad iyong kinuha ni Blessie. "Good afternoon, Sir" masiglang bati niya sa amo.

“It’s called mental recovery, not ghosting.” Conah raised a brow. “Mental recovery my foot! Last week lang nag-post ka ng coffee aesthetic with a quote about serenity. Sino'ng tinotohanan mo dun, ha?” “Wala,” sagot ni Cressida agad, pero napangiti siya. “Just… appreciating peace. That’s all.” Her friends exchanged knowing looks, teasing her in unison. “Aba! Peace daw!” The air was light and happy—filled with banter and food smells, clinks of plates, and easy laughter that came naturally between old friends. For the first time in weeks, Cressida felt normal again. No shadows, no ghosts of her past haunting her breathing.

“I just wanted to say… I’m happy for your sister. And for you, too. For choosing peace.” That made me turn to him. Finally, our eyes met. And in that brief moment, I saw the storm behind his usual calm. “Drako,” I began, steady ang tono ko, “there are still battles to fight. Peace is not a destination. It’s a choice. And I choose it every day—even when it’s hard.” He nodded slowly. “Then I’ll help you fight those battles. If you’ll let me.” Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong huminga ng malalim o umiyak.

Pero for the first time in a very long day… tahimik ang isip ko. Walang Zach na pang-gulo. Walang memory ng bar. Huminga ako nang maluwag. Finally… peace kahit panandalian lang. Not until my phone suddenly vibrated inside my bag. Unknown Number. 1 Message Received. Enjoying your dinner date huh? Hope the samgyup’s good. It better be worth cutting off your boss for. Napalunok ako. My stomach twisted. Fck.* *****

“Baka may concussion na itong si—” “I’m fine… I'm fine.” Putol niya kay Lavender. Iminulat niya ang mga mata at binalingan ng tingin ang kaibigan. Kinunutan naman siya nito ng noo. “Hindi ka mukhang okay para sa akin.” Huminga siya ng malalim. “I just want some peace, Lav… pagmaihatid ka na namin sa BGC, uuwi agad ako para makapagpahinga. I think… I need some rest.”

“Hindi. Si Jason.” “Ha? Nag-message?” “Oo.” “Buksan mo!” Napailing siya habang binubuksan ang inbox. Mahaba nang kaunti ang message. Jason: Nakarating ka na ba? Iniisip ko kanina kung okay ka lang kasi parang tahimik ka nung pauwi na tayo. Sana hindi ka masyadong na-overwhelm sa lahat ng nangyari today. Rest ka pagdating mo, okay? And... I’m glad we got to talk. Sana hindi iyon ang last time na tayo lang ang magkausap nang ganun.

At may isang feeling na hindi ko kayang pangalanan. Binuksan ko ulit ang tablet ko at tiningnan ang last message mula kay Amire. Good night, Doc. Please get some rest. You've been working too much again. Napangiti ako nang hindi ko namamalayan. Simple lang ang message. Pero may warmth itong dala na hindi ko maipaliwanag. I typed a reply. Good night, Amire. You should rest too. And thank you for reminding me that not everything has to be solved in one night.

“Listen to your mom. Your time will come, champ. For now, enjoy being a kid.” Pag-uwi nila, agad tumakbo si Azrael sa playroom niya. Karga ni Elias si Adam habang si Lyra ay nag-aayos ng mga gamit nila. “Lyra,” tawag ni Elias habang nakatingin sa mga anak. “Five years of peace… minsan natatakot ako. Baka ito na ’yong calm before the storm.” Huminto si Lyra, tumingin sa kanya. “Elias, huwag mong isiping gano’n. Hindi na sila babalik. Patay na sila.”

Pero huli na ang lahat. "Mama, it means that one hopes a person who has died will have peace in death May he rest in peace. Right?" Nakakunot ang noo nito habang nakatingin pa rin roon. "It's Lolo Theodore's full name right? Why is it written there? He is alive, Mama! Why do they put RIP on that tarp?!"