Guilty Souls

GONE FOR GOOD

CHAPTER 3

“Azah! Everybody had left. Shall we go as well, or you still need some time? We will wait for you in the car,” her best friend Bella whispered to Azalea while she gently stroked her hair. Standing behind them were Azalea's parents and her sibling Ezekiel stroking her back.

Azalea looked up and gave them a forced smile. Her family and friends were so concerned about her, but she was not delusional. She had accepted that Nimuel was gone for good. BUT, she just needed some time, and she would eventually go back to her normal self...just a little more time to heal her crushed heart. 

The last thing she wanted was for them to worry about her. She always appeased and assured them that she was alright, but they still worry; therefore, she decided to go back to her usual self as soon as she can...perhaps...after today, she would show them that she had taken a step to move on with her life. 

“Give me a few more minutes, Bella. I want to say goodbye to him properly,” she said and pressed her hands reassuringly. 

Upon hearing that, all of them moved to a safe corner away from her. 

The army gave full military honor to Nimuel. He was also buried inside the Heroes Cemetery. The casket was covered by a flag when it arrived from the camp chapel. The six-man honor guard carried the casket to the gravesite. The seven-person firing party fired 21 shots for the gun salute. The honor guard ceremonially folded the Philippine Flag. The highest-ranking officer presented the folded flag to the family with a brief consoling and condoling statement. All the protocols were just like a program to everyone. Although the family appreciated the honor, the loss was too much to bear for the whole family to appreciate.

Azalea remained on her spot and uttered her goodbye to the man who had touched her heart for the period they've been together. Then, she closed her eyes and tried to feel his presence if such was even possible.

“Luv, thank you for a wonderful year. If I just knew that we had limited time, I could have dragged you to church much earlier, but don’t worry about me. I will be strong. Don't expect me to forget you for the rest of my life, but I will live it the way it should be. Rest now, Nimuel, be assured that I will be alright,” She mumbled with a heavy heart. She could only thank the man who captured her heart from the moment she saw him. Henceforward, he would remain her happy memory. It was time to say goodbye and set his soul in peace. It would be hard, but she promised she would do it.

While Azalea was uttering her silent message to Nimuel...

A man driven by a uniformed chauffeur in a black Bently arrived from a distance. He wanted to attend the ceremony, but, unfortunately, his discharged notice was issued much later than he would like it to be.

He looked at Azalea intently. He couldn’t bring himself to walk to her side. She seemed to be having a private time with the soldier, and it would be improper to interrupt that private moment. She was alone, but few people seemed to be waiting patiently for her, near a car parked in a shaded area.

He observed her from afar then his cousin started speaking in a quirky tone with an off-beat message, “You seem interested in that hot chick, dude. Are you not going to introduce yourself? You may help take away her sadness.” His cousin Tomas was his partner in crime, his parents and Tomas himself told him. But, unfortunately, he wasn't strong enough to understand what they meant at that time. Partner in crime, whatever it was supposed to mean...it did not appeal to his senses.

Dimitri's face turned sour. He furrowed his brows and looked at his cousin sternly. He didn't like the implication of his cousin's remark; he found it disrespectful to the lady, be it a joke. It was uncalled for in such an occasion of grief. 

“Is that a proper way to talk about a lady we don’t even know?” He sneered at him.

Tomas was surprised at his stern gaze and comment.“Wooh! Easy cousin. What happened to you, Dude? We’ve always been like this with women.” Tomas looked at him as if he was an entirely different person. 

Dimitri sighed. He couldn't understand what his cousin was saying. Finally, he shook his head and asked, “Who is she?”

Tomas chuckled and answered, “She’s the bride-to-be of the officer. Lucky fellah, the fiancee is hot!”

Dimitri had no smile on his face when he transferred his gaze from Tomas to the lady. No wonder the lady looked so sad, he thought. She was robbed of the opportunity to marry her fiancé, and it was all because of him—that young soldier risked his life to save his.

Dimitri blew a deep breath, then he opened his door and stepped out of the car. He was still frail. He could still feel the pain of the stitches in his body, near his heart. But he couldn’t let the day pass without paying respect to the soldier—his savior. He's alive because of him.

In fact, his doctor was against his discharge from the hospital today. It was the reason why they were late in attending the ceremony. The doctor wouldn’t issue his discharge notice, but he insisted. In the end, the doctor was not able to stop him from getting out of the hospital.

His parents had given the soldier’s family some financial support and anything that could help them, including food for the visitors during the wake. However, those were not enough to appease the family of their loss. Not that the soldier's family blamed them. 

His parents were grateful that the soldier's family was cordial and civil; however, the loss was too great; no support was enough to compensate for a great loss.

Like the young lady right now. The pain he saw etched on her face was too grave. Nothing could compensate for that loss. The lady might look strong on the outside, but the aura that surrounds her was gloomy.

For reasons that he couldn’t understand, he wanted to speak to the lady. He had no idea what to tell her, but still, he would like to talk to her.

He was standing on the side of the lady for a few minutes before she noticed his presence. She slowly looked up. Even with sunglasses on her eyes, the traces of tears were visible on her face.

He cleared his throat before he spoke to her, “I’d like to express my deepest condolences.”

“Thank you,” Azalea coldly responded. She didn’t know at first why the foreign gentleman had spoken to her, but she guessed shortly.  He must be the person who Nmuel had saved.

“I am sorry for the loss. I owe my life to him,” Dimitri confirmed Azalea's thoughts with a serious expression on his face.

After hearing his affirmation, mixed emotions conflicted in her heart. So he was here alive while her Nimuel was dead. How would she react to the situation?

Azalea fixed her gaze on him for a long time. He wouldn’t be here if he were not sorry for what happened. Considering he should be recuperating from his surgery at this time. He looked sincere while extending his apologies. Then Azalea nodded. 

Dimitri's face was still pale, and he looked weak, yet he was here to pay his respect for the soldier that saved his life. That was enough display of sincerity, Azalea thought.

After assessing the situation, Azalea heaved a deep sigh, “It wasn't your fault,” She coldly uttered, “It was his duty to s-save or protect lives,” She stuttered as tears began to cascade again from her eyes.

Dimitri sat beside her and took a deep breath. Then he placed his big hand on top of her hand on her lap.

Surprised at his gesture, Azalea looked at him with confused eyes. She also moved slightly and tried to remove his hand from her hand, but he held her hand tighter.

Dimitri was aware of her confusion, but he didn’t allow her to remove her hand, and he remarked, “Let me help you in any way I can,” He said it with sincerity. He really wanted to help her in any way possible.

Azalea shook her head. She understood the guilt that Dimitri might be feeling at the moment. She forced a weak smile and consoled him. “You have extended help in his family. That should be enough. You don’t have to feel guilty about the whole situation. As I have said, it was his duty to protect lives.”

Dimitri smiled at her. His smile was also forced. It was the best that they both could handle at the moment. “Thank you. What is your name?” He asked in a throaty voice.

“Azalea,” she briefly responded.

“Dimitri,” he introduced himself, “I guess we both need to help each other, Azalea. Help me counter the guilt as I help you cope up with the loss,” He offered.

Azalea was speechless. She was confused. She couldn’t fully understand what Dimitri said.

Dimitri smiled again. “Help me, Azalea. Help me counter my guilt,” he repeated what he said.

“Dimitri, I don’t know how to help you,” she shook her head. She has no intention of seeing him again.

“You see, Azalea, the man had a promise to you. He wasn’t able to fulfill that because he gave up his life to save me. I am the best person that could fulfill his promise. It is the best way to cure my guilt. We will be helping each other,” He said ambiguously. His words were simple, but the meaning could be misleading. 

Azalea's brows narrowed, she couldn't grasp what the man beside her was saying, but whatever it was, she had to decline the offer. “You do not have to do that, Dimitri. As I said, you have no obligation whatsoever, as far as I am concerned. So you need not feel any guilt.”

Dimitri looked at her seriously before he mumbled, “That was easier said than done, Azalea. Anyway, I won’t force this on you immediately, but I also believe everything has a purpose. I want to discover that soon.” He paused and looked at the grave of Nimuel.

He continued, “I'll be in touch. Take care of yourself.”

Before he left, he touched Azalea’s face, gently wiping away her tears. Azalea was stunned. His touch and gesture had a certain familiarity that she couldn’t discern at the moment. She shivered down her spine.

It was also how Nimuel used to bid goodbye to her...cold air blew slightly, and goosebumps crawled on her arms and nape. 

She looked at Dimitri’s tall figure, walking slowly away from her with so much confusion, but she had chosen to disregard it for the meantime.