Solace of Calluna

Epilogue

The End

"Klint, why are you still awake?"

Napatingin ako kay mama na kakapasok lang sa aking kwarto. I smiled at her.

"I'm still talking to the stars, mama."

Ngumiti siya pabalik sa akin. Sinarado niya ang pinto at lumapit sa akin.

"Really? Did they respond to you?"

I nodded, "Yes, they did. They twinkle when I say something..." I turned to the stars again, "It's like they're agreeing on me."

Napatingin din si mama sa mga bituing nagkikislapan sa labas ng bintana.

"They're beautiful... Do you stare at them every night?"

"Uh-huh. I can't resist... It feels like I belong to them at some point."

"How long do you do this?"

"Until they call me, when they make me feel sleepy."

Mom turned to me with a dimple on her cheek.

"Aren't you sleepy yet?"

Hindi ko pa rin tinatanggal ang aking tingin sa langit. Can I sleep now?

I saw them twinkle. Well, I guess they agree to what mama said. So I nodded at her. "I guess I have to go to bed now."

Sinarado ko ang aking bintana at tinulungan naman ako ni mama na gawain ito. Humiga na ako sa kama at nilagyan ako ng kumot ni mama.

She kissed me in my forehead, "Good night."

I smiled affectionately at her, "Good night, mama."

Pinatay niya ang ilaw sa aking kwarto bago tuluyang umalis at sinarado ang pinto.

Bago ko ipikit ang aking mga mata, ipinagdasal ko na gabayan ako ng mga tala sa pagpunta sa mga bisig nila. I don't know, but every time I sleep, I feel like I get to go to their home and be with the other stars. And I feel happy thinking about that.

"The world is beautiful, isn't?"

I turned to the blurry face of a woman who's standing at the edge of this rooftop. Like her, she's also looking at the marvelous night sky and city lights. I saw her eyes twinkle.

"Do you want to witness the beauty of the world with me?"

I asked and held out my hand to her.

Before she could even answer or move, my visions went black... And not too long after that, I found myself waking up with heart still beating fast.

I couldn't understand what I just saw... Why did I dream of that?

"Hello," bati ko sa batang kasama ng dalawa sa mga bisita ni mama sa bahay.

Mula sa pagkain ng cake ay bumaling siya sa akin. Akala ko ay ngingitian niya ako pabalik pero kumunot lang ang noo niya. Pinakita ko sa kaniya ang hawak kong board ng Snakes and Ladders.

"Go play with your friends. Stop bothering me." Tumayo siya at lumipat sa kabilang upuan.

Friends? 'Wala namang ibang mga bata na nandito sa bahay maliban sa kaniya. Atsaka 'wala naman akong kaibigan. Kalaro lang.

Nagpatuloy ulit siya sa pagkain at nanatili naman ang titig ko sa kaniya. Napatingin ako sa hawak kong board Maybe he doesn't want this kind of game.

I wonder what kind of game does he want to play? PS4? Xbox? I don't know. I wish I could know.

O baka naman ayaw niya lang ng kahit na anong laro? O baka ayaw niya makipaglaro sa amin... sa akin?