January 09, 2021
The date marked the twenty-ninth year of Owel’s existence and the fourth day that he was transferred from a hospital in Carcar, Cebu to Manila. It also turned out to be the second time he received a bouquet of familiar bright flowers wrapped in kraft paper and a golden ribbon. These were pure orange lilies which Fleur Manila—a locally recognized flower shop—delivered to his private ward. He was no florist, but he knew what the flowers meant since he had someone inquire about these when he received the same the previous year. These were bold, eccentric and beautiful, but orange lilies symbolize hatred and disdain. The message to him was clear; it was a figurative “f**k you” to his face, early in the morning.
There was only one person who would purposely give this to him
