Chapter 2 DIARY

BELLA spent a few more moments and she finally stood up. From the funeral parlor, she went home first. Her mother Susan ordered her to arrange the things they would be bringing tomorrow when they returned to San Ricardo where Ara was scheduled to be buried. She also told her to look for something that they can include with her sister's coffin tomorrow.

That's when she started looking for her sister's personal things.

She then opened its high cabinet inside the bedroom.

Bella smiled. Ara's belongings are well organized. Her sister has always been neat and careful with things. So she is no longer wondering.

Aside from the clothes and some personal belongings such as bags and so on, Bella did not see anything that she knew she could bury when they delivered Ara to her final destination the next day.

For some reason, she thought of rummaging through another cabinet there. The young lady also saw nothing, until finally, she decided to peek under her sister's bed.

After seeing a box, that was when the young lady smiled meaningfully. She took and opened it. It's a bit dusty but it's okay.

Inside the old chestnut box, Bella found some old things like an empty box of chocolates, a male's cap, photo albums, an empty bottle, and more. But what really caught her attention was a medium-sized treasure chest-designed box.

Curiously she pulled it out from there then opened it.

The box is full of folded papers that are actually turning yellow paper and a green notebook.

Bella first took one of the many papers she found to be a love letter.

She hovered over the letter just to stop when she read the name written at the bottom of it. Daniel.

She did not know Daniel. Whoever it was, is now a puzzle to her.

Bella swallowed as she tried to ignore the intense shiver she was feeling in those moments. She could not understand why she felt that way even though in fact she knew in herself that Ara had a boyfriend left in Malaysia, none other than Timothy Godinez.

As she thought of the man's name, a sudden mixture of emotions dwells in Bella's chest. She just thought of the favor Ara asked on her about her boyfriend before her sister died days ago.

After reading the letter, Bella smiled and put it back with the others who have the same stationary paper design. At the bottom of the paper is a red rose next to a guitar.

She only read one of them but she could not stop the feeling of amusement, because Daniel was sweet. Even though she is older compared to the possible age when he wrote that letter she still feels thrilled.

Bella next picked up the green notebook.

She thinks she already knows what it is and she is not wrong. A diary. It was Ara's Diary.

The young lady knew it was not right to read that but the curiosity she was feeling prevailed so she started to open it.

Bella was immediately greeted by her twin's wonderful penmanship so she smiled again.

The first page of the diary was blank so she opened the page again.

On the next page are the words.

PERSONAL PROPERTY BY ARABELLA MADRIGAL

For the second time, Bella felt an intense shiver and cold that seemed to hug her whole body.

She knew it was Ara and just like what happened a while ago her sister hugged her again.

Bella stopped being emotional. Because in those moments, she felt like she had got what Ara was doing all this time. She wanted her to read the diary. Or Ara may even give her permission to read whatever is written in that notebook. That is why she finally started to read her twin's diary out of extreme curiosity.

DEAR DIARY ...

The two words that caused Bella to seem to travel through each page of that notebook. Because as she reads every word with Ara's beautiful penmanship she seems to see every scene written there. It seemed so alive and that was what pushed her to continue what she had started.

*****

NINE YEARS AGO...

"CONGRATULATIONS!" that was the happy greeting of her twin and sister Bella.

Smiling, Ara hugged and kissed her sister on the cheek. "Thank you Bella, congratulations to you too, your graduation will be in a week, right?" she said.

Bella nodded at her. "What course do you plan to take in college?" Bella asked her.

"Hotel and Restaurant Management is what I want to take, I also told Mama and Papa, they agreed. How about you? Are you going to continue your plan to take an Education course?" she asked Bella back.

"Yes, I want to teach children," Bella replied as they walked towards the parking lot of that public high school and approached the old model sedan.

"Where are you going to study? Do you want us to enroll in the same university? There are many here in Manila, I'm sure we will both pass, it will be happier because we can always be together," Ara said softly to her sister who just smiled.

That was when Bella opened her mouth to speak. "Sorry Ara, I have already decided, I will not leave our grandparents. I do not want to leave them alone in the province especially since they are old."

Ara immediately felt sad when her twin sister answered that. She has a point and she understands what she means so she decided not to insist on what she wants to happen.

"How about you, won't you go home to San Ricardo this summer vacation?" Bella asked her.

Ara shook her head. "Oh, I'm not sure because I am applying as a student assistant at the school I will attend, I will get the result in a week. I have to wait for that and if I pass, only half of the tuition fee will be provided by our parents," she explained then they got in the car where their mother Susan was in front while the driver was their stepfather Anselmo.

Their youngest brother Anthony was left at home with their grandparents who were with Bella who left Manila to attend her graduation.

"Really? What job did you apply for?" that was Bella.

"Student Assistant at the library, the job is easy so for sure it will not affect my studies," she explained then smiled at her sister.

Bella just nodded and didn't speak anymore.

While in Ara's mind, she can no longer wait to start her college education, graduate, and get a job. So that she can give her family a good life in the future.