The Moon Hiding at Dawn

Epilogue α: The Moon's Requiem

[This epilogue follows immediately after the events of the final chapter and is the original ending of the novel. Ending here would be fine, continuing to the other epilogue would also be fine. In the end, nothing would change. The sun still rises once the moon has hidden. The only thing different is if you prefer to bask at the moon's peace or be blinded by the glaring sun.]

It's nine in the evening, the usually bright cafe lights that we had is now being dimmed down as customers pour out of our doorways one-by-one as I finally get my share of peace for the night. Maybe not really since I haven't been able to write an additional chapter to my novel even though I am officially on a hiatus on the public eye.

Managing the shop takes a lot more time now that a lot of people know of its existence and a variety of people come. Many genuine customers but some for mere clout and others simply for bandwagon. Yet in the eyes of the cash register, none of them are different knowing that they all pay money in the end. Money that I need to keep on living and keep on sending my messages through the thick, hardbound covers of my books.

"Having a hard time?" Riz asked as she approached the counter. It was still a few days before rent is due so I figured she must be just stopping by. Or maybe for a similar hunch as I recently had.

"Not really" I replied, wiping cups as I do so. "Just the usual hustles at this point of time."

"Any news?"

"What kind?"

"You know... from that?"

From that... I guess she's referring to Kallen. There's nothing else that anyone, including I, always refers to so underhandedly as if it's a forbidden topic. "No news yet. Though I get the feeling as if something would happen."

"I see..."

I'm having these weird feelings as of late. As if someone's staring at me from afar. It's an eerie feeling that continuously associates itself with the past—with Kallen. It's the only different thing from all the other days. Her asking might have been because of her feeling the same hunch. After all, the only one who can rival my love for Kallen is her presence as her one and only close friend.

I lately have trouble sleeping as well. My dreams would always show her face, drowning me in flashbacks that would either keep me up at night or would wake me up sweating coldly even in the hottest of mornings. I usually consign it to having writer's block knowing that I usually crowd my thoughts with anything writing relevant or business relevant so as not to have an emotional collapse without anyone reliable around. That or because of upcoming deadlines and events that are slowly overcrowding my desires of silence which contributes to having an impending emotional collapse as well.

Only Riz has seen me in that state and knows what to do to me as if she's the only known mechanic to a rusted robot like me. Even I don't know what to do to myself on those occasions but I can't be as selfish as further imprisoning her to me even though she technically likes to stick around like before. She has no obligation to be my caretaker nor should I force one towards her.

"Uhmmm. Hello? Anyone there?" Riz said, waving her hand in front of my face. I guess I was lost in thought again that I turned deaf to reality.

"This is why I told you to get some rest. You've been pulling more all-nighters lately just to finish your book." She added, scolding me for the nth time. "Go home and take some rest, I'll wrap things up here."

With that, I was on my way walking home because we wouldn't stop arguing if I chose to stay. I took a little detour around town since I don't feel like going back yet.

The city turned bigger now. There are more cars running around and the city never seemed to stop its business. It's as if no one ever found time to sleep. I was walking the long road when something... someone caught my eye across the road, standing at the ever-desolate park.

Gray jacket, long flowing hair, denim pants. Honestly a common and bland description but my heart never felt a doubt about it as if everything made sense and everything was for this moment.

"Kallen..."

I rushed across the street despite the weary state that my body is in. Everything is a blur, slowly turning to slow motion. What I have been searching for is nearly within arm's reach. Lights were blaring and horns blasting off. I never cared. I have no business with them or whatsoever. What I needed to do was get to the girl whom I've been waiting for this whole time. I just had to cross the boundary and everything would be fine.

And I did.

She turned around and locked eyes with mine. It was as if nothing has changed. She just looked like the same old Kallen from the university that I knew. The one who was always late, the one who always ate like there's no tomorrow, the one who always tried to flirt around only to be embarrassed as well, the one who gave me life and the one deserving of my love until the end.

It was as if I was back in the old times. Like everything after those were just some sort of fever dream.

"I came for you" she smiled.

"I've never given up searching and waiting for you" I whispered. "Glad that everything finally paid off."

I grabbed her hand with cold and bloodied hands of mine. She wouldn't mind it, I think. We slowly inched closer, her hand brushing away bits of blood flowing by the side of my cheek.

She never seemed to mind it that much as we went away through the night.

Finally kissing each other under the grace of the moonlight.

I've found my lost love as the sun and moon finally reunite.