DARK GANG

EPILOGUE

Nasa sementeryo sila para bisitahin ang mga taong nawala sa kanila-to honor the father of Xenor and to pay their respects to the friends whose absence still haunting them hanggang sa panaginip.

"Xenor!" Sigaw ni Wolf nang makita ang kaibigan kasama ang ina nito.

Tumakbo papunta sa kanila si Xenor na galing sa puntod ng kaniyang ama-na unang pinuntahan nilang magkakaibigan. Nasa likod niya ang ina niya na nagpaalam na mauuna na, wanting to give them time alone with one another.

"Sa amin kana sumabay," salubong sa kaniya ni Gavin.

Tumango naman si Xenor at tumingin sa puntod nina Denver at Jaxon. His lips curved into a bittersweet smile that barely concealed the ache in his eyes. "Kumusta kayo? Ang d-daya, ah." His voice trembled despite his attempt to sound cheerful. "Nakikita niyo mga ginagawa namin...eh paano naman kami?"

Jaxon died dahil hindi nito kinaya ang dami ng dugong nawala sa kaniya at sa lala ng tama na tinamo nito sa puso. By the time he reached the hospital, there was nothing left for the doctors to save. He had been declared dead on arrival. Denver, on the other hand, fought for his life until the hospital but eventually died sa kalagitnaan ng operasyon.

No one spoke. Ang iba ay lumuha pa. Others hugged each other. Though only a week had passed since Eagle's death had finally ended the nightmare, the wounds left behind by his cruelty remained painfully fresh.

"Siguro...siguro naman masaya si Denver, 'no?" tanong ni Vincent.

"I know somehow he is. He protected his cousin." Rance smiled sadly as he stared at Denver's gravestone. "That was the one thing he wanted most in his entire life. To be protector of his family."

"Alam nating lahat ang past niya. He believed he brought suffering to everyone he loved. He believed he was cursed. He thought death followed wherever he went. And now, he became the reason para madugtungan pa ang buhay ng pinsan niya." Dagdag ni Warren.

Knoxx slowly knelt before Denver's grave, brushing his fingertips across the cold marble as though hoping to feel his friend's warmth one last time. "I talked to him no'ng bumalik siya sa atin. He told me his biggest dream was to hug his mom again without feeling ashamed." Ngumiti siya nang maisip na masaya na ang kaibigan. "He wanted to save his father-not just because he loved him but because he wanted to prove to himself that he wasn't unlucky. Na hindi niya kakambal ang kapahamakan o kamatayan. He told me..." His tears finally escaped. "'I've already killed my mother. How can I face her again... much less hug her... if my father dies because of me too?'"

No one could imagine the burden Denver had carried throughout his life. And now...perhaps...he no longer carried it at all.

"But..." Luna whispered, her eyes filling with tears. "Paano natin sasabihin kay Kuya ang nangyari kay Denver pagkagising niya?"

Natahimik ang lahat as they all understood the fear behind Luna's question. Lucifer had loved Denver like a brother. Learning of his best friend's death would shatter him all over again.

"Alam niyo ba no'ng gabi ng party, narinig ko silang dalawa." River rubbed both eyes, but the tears refused to stop. "Denver promised Lucifer that once his family moved back to the province...he'd never lose contact with him. Then nakita kong umiiyak si Lucifer."

Wolf slowly closed his eyes and pressed trembling fingers against them. "The thought of being separated already hurt him." He released a long, ragged sigh. "So what happens now...na hindi niya na makikita ever again? When he didn't even get the chance to say goodbye before the funeral?"