The Guy At The Cemetery

“Sa isip ko'y yakap ka pa. Sa isip ko'y walang iba. Mananatiling ikaw ang kapiling. Kahit sa isip ko lang lamang. Mananatiling ikaw ang kapiling. Kahit sa isip ko lang lamang.”

                The song is not yet over but Kylie turned off her car radio. She is already in her destination. Manila Memorial Park. The All Saints’ Day is not yet to come til’ two weeks from now but here she is, earlier than other patrons, those people who once in their lives lost a very special love. 

                Almost two years have passed yet the pain still lingers on her every moment. She was 18 and in love. He was 18 and very much in love with her as well, he’s Klayton. Klayton was Kylie’s first boyfriend and most of the time she considered him as her last as well, the man she’s to marry but with him she experienced her first heartbreak. He broke her heart by leaving her and going to heaven. He was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 16 and no matter how he tried to respond to the treatment for his Kylie, he was not able to make it.

                “How are you Klay? Don’t you laugh at me and say, ‘OHMIGOD! This girl is really crazy in love with me and so stupid as well for still coming for me’, Baby, I’m not gonna deny that. I know you tell me to move on but how can I if there seems to be nobody to match you.” Kylie cried. And when I say cried, she’s on tears. 

                “Excuse me?! Can you please be quiet and consider that you are not just the person right here?” Kylie was startled to see an arrogant yet so handsome guy talking to him. “Excuse me as well but this is a cemetery and it is not impossible to see someone crying here,” she answered with sarcasm. “Cemetery symbolizes serenity, silence, peacefulness,” he narrated. “Tranquillity, quietness, are you gonna tell me all the synonyms for being quiet?” Kylie asked in a mock tone again. “Exactly, being quiet! I am asking you to be quiet. I think you can talk with your mind. I am just scared that with you so loud, the person in that grave will stand up and say, “Shut up! Didn’t you know what R.I.P stands for?” now, he was the one in a mocking tone. “That wouldn’t happen. First, he’s too good to say that. Second, the tombstone was placed very well, he can’t escape. Third, if that is really possible, maybe I was not here again crying for him or if really crying hard will bring him back to me then I’ll cry til’ the last drop of my tears,” and she cried harder not to irritate him but a real painful cry just like a young girl craves for his most favorite doll. “Hey! I just told you to be quiet. So, who is Klayton?” he asked. “My boyfriend,” she replied. “Maybe you really love this guy,” he commented. “He’s the best!” she replied back.

                “You know it’s early to visit the cemetery. Who did you come for?” Kylie asked. “So it’s now my time to answer queries?” he teased. “Oh! You don’t have to,” she said. He smiled then frowns, “My girlfriend.” “We are here for the same reason. Do you really come here during this time of the year? Like I am wondering that we also have the same reason for coming earlier than it should be, I avoid masses.” she said with a small smile. “Actually, I am here everyday!” he said seriously. “You do?!” she was shocked. She thought she’s the perfect epitome for a person-who-cannot-move-on-over-the-death-of-his-beloved-one but how can you describe this guy. He is here everyday. Maybe he really loves this girl. “Don’t you have any work that you have time to be here?” she was curios. “I am not bragging about my family but my parents take charge of it to have money that will suffice for more than a hundred years even if we did not work,” he said sadly. “So economical obligation? Check! Speaking of your family, what do they tell you when you always come here?” her mother used to beg her to move on whenever she does and she is expecting it to happen again when she found out that she visited Klay again. “They don’t care. Never did,” his pain was seen. And she did not ask for more. “I’m Kylie!” she uttered. “Guess, I have figured that one. So I also have to tell mine?” he teased. She didn’t react. “I’m Kirk!” and gave her his first genuine smile. Did she say he is handsome?

                She just found herself keeping on coming back at that cemetery as she turned off both her car engine and radio which was playing the same song over and over again. That song! It was Klay’s favourite song and she kept on singing it  to him during his remaining days. Is she still coming here for Klay or for Kirk? Is she in love with the stranger at the cemetery?

                Yes, she is because she is looking for him and it disappoints her to think that he wouldn’t show up. From Klay’s grave, she saw an aged yet beautiful lady at Kirk’s girlfriend’s grave. “Good day madam! Are you Kendra’s mom?” she asked politely. “Yes! Are you her friend?” she asked back. “No madam. I just met her boyfriend. He comes everyday,” she said proudly. “How dare him! Visiting my daughter?! Knowing he’s the one who killed her,” she said fiercely. “Do you know where he lives? I want to see him,” she said calmly but there’s a sense of anger. 

                She wants Kirk to defend himself with this woman. She knows how Kirk loves Kendra. Kirk loves Kendra?! Why is it this hard for her? Looking at the mellowed woman, at that age, she is so beautiful. Did Kendra look like her mom? God, she must have been very beautiful. Kirk killed her? A lie. Kirk can’t do that but in few moments she will find the real story behind all of these.

                What a beautiful house! Kirk was right. They are rich, very rich. “Ding-dong!” What would Kirk tell her to see her in his house and with his late girlfriend’s angry mom? She will know it as she will also know the truth about Kendra’s death. 

                Instead of a house helper, a seasoned yet very gorgeous woman opened the gate before them. From her looks, she probably Kirk’s mom. And she was right. These two women know each other. “Please tell you son to stop visiting my daughter’s grave as a respect to her. Isn’t it enough that he killed her?” Kendra’s mom bellowed. “I dunno what you’re talking. That is impossible. No, it can’t be”, Kirk’s mom replied cluelessly. “Come on! Show him to me. This girl right here says she always sees him there,” she was shouting. Kirk’s mom looked at me and she was puzzled. “You saw him at the cemetery?” she asked. Kylie nodded. “For several times?” she asked again. Kylie nodded again. “Alright! I’ll bring you to him,” she said coldly.

                Kylie was confused. They are back at the cemetery. She asked, “What are we doing here madam?” “You said you saw Kirk here?” Kirk’s mom asked emotionlessly. She nodded again. They were standing near Kendra’s grave. Kirk’s mom’s soft hands removed dried leaves and pull weeds and there Kylie saw another gravestone. It said Kirk Kara, (1990-2010). She laughed silently that’s ridiculously. She’s crazy in some ways but she’s not insane. She knew what she saw, heard, felt and experienced.

                “When I have found out about the vehicular accident involving Kirk, I was really concerned not with my son’s situation but the negativity it will bring to our business. From what I learned one of the people along for the ride was DOA and my son is in the ER. On my way in that room, I was thinking of the appropriate punishment for this unforgivable behaviour but when I saw him in that bed, scathed, barely breathing, dying, I also felt like dying. What kind of mother am I? Am I gonna give him back to God this way?” she was crying. “I did not value his life. I prayed to God and asked for extended life. He was so good to give me a chance but it’s Kirk who gave up. He did not eat, respond to treatment, talk, he was there but not there. Three months, my only time to be a real mom to him and he left me. He asked me to lay his body near Kendra’s. I am sorry Mrs. Kruz but I guessed my Kirk already made up for all his mistakes to Kendra and to your family,” the tears are flowing continuously. 

                “When I heard that Kirk was visiting Kendra almost everyday, I truly touched by the act. It is just I really want to see him again since I did not allow him coming to Kendra’s wake. I am sorry for that,” Mrs. Kruz showed her compassion. 

                “I did not ask you to believe me but I’m telling no lies,” Kylie uttered. Both women looked at her and from the way they looked, they believed her. They were asking her to go but she refused and stayed. “Hey Kirk! What are you a ghost or an angel?” she was fighting the urge to cry but she failed. “You know what, I am in love with you. Heck, probably you know that all along. I am such a fool falling with a stranger without thorough scrutiny about him. But what would be the right question? Are you alive?” she laughed. “That will freak me out. Yeah right, it’s a good thing that I did not ask,” she is now starting to digest this unbelievable experience. “I hope your happy now dearest Kirk. Just wait for my next visit. Goodbye Kirk!” she expressed.

                Kylie turned on her car engine then her radio and it sings, “Sa isip ko'y yakap ka pa. Sa isip ko'y walang iba. Mananatiling ikaw ang kapiling. Kahit sa isip ko lang lamang. Mananatiling ikaw ang kapiling. Kahit sa isip ko lang lamang.”

(The characters and events portrayed in this blog post are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the blogger.
P.S. 
The song that was incorporated in this post is "Sa Isip Ko" by Agot Isidro. It's not a mourning song , actually it is a break-up song. Well, I just think that when you break up with someone it is also like losing him as well in your life. To hear the song, please click the link below:
Sa Isip Ko - Agot Isidro )