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There was something about change that Colet dislikes. It was not the typical ‘individual change’, but rather the shifts in her surroundings that she had to accept and adapt to—like loss.
Colet sighed as she pulled into the driveway. The emptiness of the garage greeted her, and the weight of the unfamiliar silence felt almost too dramatic. She cast a wistful glance at the window, where just a week ago, a boisterous, silly dog had left its mark. Now, the home she once loved returning to felt draped in a gloom that unsettled her heart.
She had considered staying the night at her friend's house, but in the end, she chose to return home. There was no other way but to face reality, accept it, and keep moving forward.
She felt weak as she cradled Cooper’s urn in her arms. Her fingers trembled as they fumbled through her pocket for the keys, the phone buzzing urgently just as she reached for the door. With a sigh, she stepped back to answer the call before she could unlock it.
“Boss, tagay?” Her friend, Mikha, said over the phone in a beat.
Though Mikha’s intention was purely to offer comfort, Colet couldn't shake the faint sting of sarcasm at the idea of drinking away her grief after losing her dog.
Cooper hates the smell of alcohol. Her face falling even more as if it hadn't already been low enough.
“Thank you, Mikhs. But I don’t think I can right now. I really appreciate it, though.”
“I understand.” Mikha’s face seemed to fall as well, obvious to her voice.
“Sabihin mo, ‘hangout bukas’.” A familiar voice butted through Mikha's phone.
“Oo na.” Colet, having already predicted where their conversation was going, rolled her eyes. For the first time that day, a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
“Good night, Col! ‘wag ka umiyak. Ayaw ‘yun ni Cooper.” Maloi appeared to have seized Mikha’s phone, as her voice grew louder.
To others, Maloi might have sounded insensitive, but Colet was aware of her friend's dark humor. For her, the playful remarks were more genuine and comforting.
That night felt endless for Colet, the longest she had ever endured. Sleep eluded her, a stark reminder of the comfort Cooper’s midnight cuddles once provided. She missed the dog’s endearing snores, the late-night dreams, and even the not-so-irritating morning barks that had roused her from her sleep. How could she possibly go on without Cooper, who had been her faithful companion for twelve years?
When Cooper was alive, she had always found crying over pets a bit over-dramatic. But that night, she couldn't contain her tears. With no one around to witness her sorrow, she allowed herself to weep freely.
The next day, Colet lacked the energy to rise from her bed. She intended to stay nestled under the covers all day, until Mikha or Maloi come to drag her out of her room.
Her usual morning routine involved stepping out at 5 o'clock to walk Cooper around the neighborhood, followed by the cherished ritual of watering their small greenhouse, where they nurtured a little world of vibrant flowers, some of which she donates to Mikha’s flower arranging business and Maloi’s café.
The small moments she shared with Cooper had once lifted her heart, but the harsh reality that they would never happen again weighed heavily on her. The memory of Mikha suggesting that she could get another pup only made her stomach churn. No one could ever replace Cooper in her life.
She was lost in thought once more. She soon felt her back ache so she decided a cup of tea might help. As she passed Cooper’s corner of the living room, where she had set up her grandmother’s favorite wooden cupboard-turned-stand, she paused. Forcing a smile, she glanced at Cooper’s urn, feeling a pang of bittersweet nostalgia.
At least, he’s happy now.
The silence was briefly interrupted by a rustling sound from the backyard. Colet moved to the kitchen and peered out the window, surprised as she saw the greenhouse door ajar.
Maybe I just forgot to lock it. She shrugged off the disturbance and began preparing her morning tea, but then a louder rustling emanated from the greenhouse—loud enough that it could no longer be ignored. It was clear now: whatever was causing the noise wasn’t merely a cat or a bird.
Retrieving the baseball bat that lay propped in the corner by the backdoor, she cautiously made her way toward the greenhouse.
“Mmm…Rrr…rrr…”
Colet was taken aback when the source of the rustling finally came into view. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she saw a golden retriever, its tail wagging enthusiastically, playfully interacting with the flowers. Surprisingly, the dog wasn’t trampling the plants. Instead, it softly growls at them as if admiring their beauty. As she watched the unfamiliar golden retriever, memories of Cooper flooded her mind.
Realizing she had been lost in thought longer than she intended, she shook her head. The pressing question now was: whose dog was this?
She calmly approached the dog to check for a tag or any identification. Thankfully, a name tag hung from a sky-blue collar around its neck, and it read: Lily.
“Hello, Lily.” Colet petted the golden retriever’s head, and the dog’s gentle nature quickly put her at ease. Within less than a minute, she found herself rubbing the dog’s belly, completely at ease.
“Now, who owns this little angel.” Colet smiled, recalling the times she had rubbed Cooper’s belly. The golden retriever, with its tongue lolling out, clearly reveled in the warmth of Colet’s hands.
Colet lost track of time as she played with Lily, until Maloi’s figure appeared in the doorway, breaking the moment.
“AWWWE! ANG CUTE!” Maloi gasped in awe.
Colet and Lily both turned their heads simultaneously toward the woman standing at the entrance of the greenhouse.
“ANG CUTE NIYO NAMAN!” She repeated, already snapping pictures of Colet and Lily. After capturing what seemed like an endless number of shots—likely 20 or more—she finally joined them, first giving Colet’s head a friendly pat before doing the same for Lily.
“Kanino to, Col? Don’t tell me—”
“Hindi ko alam. Walang contact sa tag. Pagkagising ko, nandito na siya.” Colet said bluntly.
“Kung walang mag-claim, sa’tin na lang.” Maloi beamed.
“Bo-ang ‘to.”
“Bakit? Ayaw mo ba? Pwede tayong pamilya oh.”
“Bo-ang. Tara na. Report na na’tin to. Kawawa naman yung amo.” Colet stood up and dusted off her black tee.
Together, they brought Lily to the community hall, just a block away from Colet’s house. Unfortunately, the day coincided with their town’s founding anniversary celebration, and all local officials were required to participate in the parade.
“May lakad tayo, Col.” Maloi’s reminder prompted Colet to rub her nape—a habit she couldn’t quite break.
Colet gazed intently at Lily, her eyes fixed on the dog’s playful expression, with its tongue hanging out of its mouth.
“Sama na muna natin. Para ‘di rin kayo magyayang uminom.” Colet replied, her tone carrying a subtle challenge.
“Hindi. Sa flower shop lang tayo. Promise.” Maloi reassured, which Colet agreed to.
***
“Oh my—what the heck? I told you to get a new dog, but I didn’t mean this soon!” Mikha exclaimed; her voice tinged with hysteria as she welcomed her guests into the flower shop.
“OA mo, Mikhs. Visitor lang ni Col. Naramdaman siguro niyang miss na miss ni Col si Coop kaya napadpad sa likod-bahay.” Maloi settled onto the sofa, making herself comfortable with a cup of coffee in hand.
“Explain?”
“Pagkagising ko, nasa greenhouse na siya, nakikipag-usap sa mga halaman.” It was Colet’s turn to speak.
“Oh, tapos dinog-nap niyo na?”
“Sarado barangay hall. Mas delikado kung iwanan ko na lang siya do’n.”
“Sige. Sabi mo eh.” Mikha smirked, ending the conversation as she was not in the mood to tease her friend.
Hours slipped by at the flower shop, where they had intended to bond over mobile games, as they often did, or perhaps take a stroll or skate outside. Instead, they spent the day doting on Lily, petting and playing with her. They soon discovered Lily’s love for flowers, which likely explained why she had been drawn to Colet’s backyard in the first place.
“So, you’ll just gonna wait Lily’s owner na lang to knock on your door?”
“What else can I do?” Colet shrugged, “Mabuti na rin ‘yun para ‘di ako sobrang nangungulila kay Coop.”
“Wow, ginawa pang rebound ‘yung aso! I thought you have no plans—”
“Stop, Mikha!” Maloi interjected, “Buhay ‘yan ni Col. Isa pa, Coop is irreplaceable in our hearts. Kung magkakaroon man ng bagong alaga itong si boss, panibagong bilog ‘yun sa puso niya. Ibang bilog si Coop. Ibang bilog ka, ibang bilog din ako. ‘Di ba boss?” She explained, proud to have contributed something meaningful—wisdom she had picked up from Colet’s random deep thoughts as her confidant.
“Galing mo ‘don ah! Kiss nga!” There goes Mikha’s flirty attempts, which always made the older two cringe.
Colet occasionally glanced at the clock, knowing she needed to head home by 4 o’clock, estimating that Lily’s owner, likely a typical 8-hour employee, would arrive home and would probably look for Lily. On her way home, she deliberately took the longest route from the town proper to her house, having noticed how much Lily enjoyed the ride—especially with her head joyfully poking out of the car window.
“Your owners will definitely be upset when they found out you were missing.”
As darkness began to settle in, Colet felt a growing sense of worry creeping in—or perhaps, she admitted to herself, it was mixed with a touch of happiness at the thought of having more time to play with Lily. She even decided to sleep outside that night, thinking it would make it easier for Lily’s owner to find them.
As she was busy setting up her tent, a car came to a halt in her yard, its horn blaring once to capture her attention.
“Boss!” Her cousin, Gwen, waved at her as soon as she stepped out of her car.
“Ano’ng ginagawa mo rito?” Colet asked, her focus shifting back to the tent she was assembling.
"I heard about Cooper from Tito Lauren," Gwen said gently, offering her condolences. But when she caught sight of the goofy dog playing inside the tent, her tone lightened, and she asked with a smile, "And who’s this little cutie-patootie?"
“Bisita ko.” Colet replied before flashing a smile at Lily and giving the dog’s face a gentle squeeze.
Gwen studied Lily closely, squinting slightly as she remarked, "Parang kamukha niya golden retriever ni Tita Aiah."
Colet’s brows furrowed as she fired off a series of questions, “Aiah—ano? Lily ba pangalan ng anak niya? Taga saan ‘yun? May contact ka ba?”
“LILY?! Eh, boss, kay Tita Aiah nga ‘yan. Pa’no napunta dito?” Gwen's eyes widened in a mix of excitement and disbelief.
“Aba, eh, malay ko. Bakit pinabayaan ng amo? Buti nga dito napunta, kundi adobo na ‘yan sa kabilang barangay.” Colet's response dripped with sarcasm, yet beneath her sharp words, she silently hoped that Lily would stay longer.
It’s goodbye, I guess.
“Boss, bakit parang attached ka na? Magtatampo n’yan si Cooper.” As Gwen's phone rang, she shot a quick glance at Colet, her grin growing as she awaited someone to pick up the call.
“Hello? Bebe?” Came a voice from the other end, brimming with anticipation, as though it had been waiting for Gwen’s call.
“Bebe, kumusta?”
“Kauwi ko lang. Nasaan ka ngayon, Bebe?” The girl on the other end responded with urgency, as if she was in a hurry.
“May hinahanap ba kayo?”
“HAH?! Paano mo nalaman? Bebe? Actually, nawawala si Lily.”
Colet was intently listening to their conversation when she was taken aback by a sudden, loud cry:
“LILY KO!”
Lily seemed to recognize the voice emanating from the phone, tilting her head curiously before letting out a playful bark.
“Tita, napaka-ingay! Kausap ko si Gwen,” the person on the other end of the line shouted back, before pressing the phone closer to her ear, “BEBE, NAKITA MO?” She asked.
“Oo. Send ko location.” Unable to hold back her excitement any longer, Gwen erupted into a fit of giggles.
In the background, a frantic voice demanded, “Ano? ANO? WHO WAS IT? IS IT GWEN? SHE SAW MY BABY?”
“Oo. Nahanap na si Lily. Kalma ka na,” a pause, “Bebe, punta na kami. Wait.”
The background was filled with a cacophony of cries—whether expressions of joy or something else entirely—Colet wasn’t sure,
“Ang OA naman ng mag-among to.” She murmured to Lily, shaking her head. A smile unconsciously curled at the corners of her lips as she glanced at the delighted Lily.
As they waited, Colet picked up on a few details from Gwen: ‘Bebe’ was Sheena, Gwen’s friend (though Colet wasn’t oblivious to the romantic undertones between them); Aiah was Sheena’s guardian.
“Matandang dalaga?” Colet teased, earning a playful nudge from her cousin, whose eyes widened as if she’d just heard the most ridiculous thing. Before Colet could respond, another car pulled up to the curb.
“Tignan mo nga kung matanda ‘yan?” Gwen remarked, pursing her lips and pointing at the woman stepping out of the car.
The moment Lily caught their scent, she dashed toward them. Gwen followed swiftly, leaving Colet behind, still seated at the entrance of the tent while watching their little reunion.
After what felt like a theatrically emotional reunion, Lily bounded toward Colet, rolling over for a belly rub. Colet complied with a tender smile, savoring the final moment of affection before allowing the furry little creature to return home with its owner.
The owner could only manage a heartfelt, “Thank you very much,” as she knelt, joining them in their warm, cozy belly-rub session.
“You’re welcome, Tita Aiah.”
Aiah stared at Colet in disbelief, then let out a playful snort. "Nakiki-tita?" she teased.
“Ate?”
“Oh, shut up. Gwen, how old is Colet?” Aiah asked, already familiar with Colet’s name from her earlier conversation with Gwen.
“28, Tita.”
“Stop calling me ‘tita’ kasi!” Aiah pouted, clearly exasperated.
“Tita naman talaga kita!” Sheena butted in.
“Whatever, Sheena! I’m 28 din naman ah?” Aiah said, turning her attention back to Colet and Lily. Her eyes conveyed a pleading look as she added, “I’m really 28.”
“Alright,” Colet said, clearly uninterested in their aimless banter. She stood up and added, “I’m actually preparing a campfire. How about some s’mores? Farewell party na rin kay Lily.” She offered with a warm smile.
“Gusto ko ‘yan!” Sheena beamed enthusiastically, while Aiah shot her that look.
“Sheena Mae Catacutan. May work ka bukas.”
“Maaga pa, Tita! Tsaka chance mo na ‘to para hindi tumandang dalaga. Pa-KJ ka na nang pa-KJ.”
“Sheena Mae Catacutan!”
Soon enough, they found themselves huddled around the fire, holding sticks with marshmallows on the end. Colet coming out from the house, joined them with two five-kilogram sacks of dogfood to feed Lily.
“Bakit ang dami?” Aiah asked skeptically, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. It seemed as if she suspected Colet had no intention of returning Lily.
“My dog just passed away—old age,” Colet replied bluntly. “Wala rin naman akong paggagamitan nito. Gusto rin ni Lily.”
Oh my gosh.
“I’m so sorry to hear that!” Aiah said, her voice coming out louder than she intended. She nearly choked on her words, feeling a pang of guilt for her earlier thoughts.
“Hmm.” Colet simply hummed in response, while Aiah, on the other hand, had an idea.
“You seem pretty lonely pa,” Aiah remarked thoughtfully. “What if Lily stayed the night? Sayang naman ‘tong backyard camp na ni-ready mo.”
“No. It’s alright—”
“No. I insist. Tignan mo ‘tong si Lily, parang ayaw pa namang umuwi.” Aiah glanced at the dog, already snugly curled up on Colet’s lap.
Colet smiled; her gaze tenderly fixed on Lily.
“Maiiwan ka rin ba dito, Tita? Kasi papahatid na ako kay Gwen.” Sheena asked, finally sated after their barbecue and s’mores party. She stood up, playfully rubbing her stomach, “thank you po, and sarap po ng luto niyo, Tita Colet.”
The last remark made Colet frown in mild discomfort.
“Sheena Mae!” Aiah shook her head, a look of embarrassment crossing her face as she pinched the bridge of her nose. “We’re heading home na, para makapagpahinga na rin kayo.” She added as she turned to Colet.
Colet simply nods, still playing with Lily.
“Pakakabait ka, Li!” Aiah said, bidding her goodbye.
As they made their way toward the car, Lily seemed to grasp the situation, sticking close to Colet’s side.
“Bukas ka na uwi, ha?” Colet whispered, then chuckled to herself, “ang ganda pala ng mama mo.”
Eventually, both of them fell asleep, with Colet’s long battle against sleeplessness finally yielding as she drifted into slumber. Her body, accustomed to an early rise, woke up at 4:30 AM as usual. She planned to take Lily for a walk back to her original home. Carefully, she retrieved Cooper’s harness and adjusted it to fit Lily, since Cooper had been significantly larger than her. She also arranged a basket filled with flowers that Lily had selected.
After a five-block walk, she found herself standing in front of the address from Gwen’s message. She marveled at how far Lily had come, feeling a twinge of amusement and luck for being the chosen one. Shaking her head at the lingering thought, she would, of course, deny that Aiah’s smile had been on her mind since she first awoke.
With a newfound confidence, she reached for the doorbell, and its chime was immediately followed by Lily’s eager bark.
“Lily, you’re here, sweetheart!” Aiah exclaimed, still in her pajamas but brimming with early morning energy as she greeted them. “Wow! Where did you get these flowers?” she asked, her eyes widening as Colet handed her the basket.
“Sa bakuran lang. Si Lily pumili n’yan.”
“These are actually her favorites!” Aiah laughed. “Now, alam ko na kung bakit siya napadpad doon.” She paused for a moment before adding, “Sakto, luto na ang breakfast.”
Once they were inside the house, Colet carefully removed Lily’s harness and placed it atop the drawer where Lily’s belongings were kept.
“Coffee? Tea?” Aiah asked cheerfully, propped up on the countertop with eager anticipation.
“Tea.”
“You’re really not much of a talker, are you?” Aiah remarked, busily moving around the kitchen as Colet quietly took a seat on one of the bar stools.
Colet didn’t answer.
“It’s strange, you know,” Aiah said, showing no intention of wrapping up their conversation. “I barely got any sleep last night.”
The silence, once again, nudged her to continue.
“I don’t want to come across as creepy, okay?” Aiah began, her tone earnest. “But I thought I was just thinking about Lily. It turns out I was actually thinking about you. The way you easily bond with Lily—she’s different around you. Totally different from how she is with me.” Aiah paused for a simple demonstration.
“Lily—”
“Liiiiih, come here?”
Colet observed the scene unfold, realizing that Aiah wasn’t exaggerating. Lily didn’t immediately respond to her call; instead, the dog darted around the house energetically.
“Your turn,” Aiah declared, crossing her arms with a proud grin.
Colet hesitantly called, “Lily?”
To her surprise, Lily immediately settled down, even rolling over to offer her belly for a rub.
“See?” Aiah’s grin widened. “Now, how about joining me for breakfast?”
Their meal was a lively exchange of random dog stories. Aiah discovered that Cooper was a 12-year-old German Shepherd, a gift from Colet’s grandfather, who had worried about his introverted granddaughter feeling lonely as the middle child. In turn, Colet learned that Aiah had a golden retriever because she wanted a companion to come home to. It struck Colet how Aiah’s personality seemed to perfectly match Lily’s.
Aiah was instantly drawn to Colet, and she found herself unable to stop sharing details about her life. She felt an unusual sense of comfort, even revealing childhood experiences she had never shared with anyone before.
While Colet generally disliked small talk, their conversation transcended the usual superficial chatter. Aiah spoke with such depth and insight that every topic felt engaging. Colet appreciated how Aiah’s words were both meaningful and vibrant, finding her presence refreshingly colorful.
Once they were satisfied with their breakfast-turned-get-to-know-each-other session, Aiah mentioned, “It’s getting late na. You’d better get going or your dad might fire you.”
“I’ll be working from home for now; he gave me a three-year-worth case to handle,” Colet replied.
“Genius ka raw kasi,” Aiah teased.
“Tumahimik ka. Tapunan lang talaga ako ng mga ayaw nilang cases,” Colet retorted.
“You’re so grumpy talaga,” Aiah said, rolling her eyes before suggesting, “You should get a new pet to keep you company na, so you won’t get lonely.”
Colet pondered for a moment before joking, “I’m perfectly content visiting Lily every day for a free breakfast.”
Aiah’s grin grew wider. “I like that idea. Don’t forget to take some flowers with you.”
***
What started as a joke soon became a reality. Colet found herself at the same house every morning at six, always carrying either a bouquet of flowers or freshly picked vegetables.
Whenever Colet thought back to how it all began, a smile would automatically creep across her face. She couldn’t help but feel a quiet gratitude for Lily’s love of flowers.
When Cooper passed away, a part of Colet died too. Yet, she came to believe that with every loss, there’s something new to be found—perhaps even someone to fill that void.
Meanwhile, Aiah grew increasingly excited each day, eagerly anticipating Colet’s daily visits. Colet’s consistency deeply touched her, making her feel special.
On some nights, they would simply relax, sprawled across Colet’s bed, engrossed in documentaries and movies. The unfamiliar warmth that Aiah had yet to grow accustomed to would gently spread through her body, adding a newly found comfort to their shared moments.
“What’s wrong?” Colet would inquire whenever Aiah buried her face against her back, only to receive the same reply.
“Nothing. I just want to get warm with you.”
***