Epilogue
Everything felt so real. As if I was in the same place again. I was crying so hard when he notice me. Why do I have to see him. Of all places, why here in France? Theres a lot of question running through my mind right now. I wanted to ask him what happen? Why is he here?
I decided to walk to him, but to my surprise, he's beside me. I was taken aback,
''Its been a long time, Alex'' he timidly smiled at me.
I gathered all of my courage and replied, '' I missed you.''
It's what I really wanted to tell him. Now that he's here, I think it's time to clear things up.
''Im sorry. You didn't know?'' he replied.
''know what?''
I was confused when he said that. What do I not know? He led the way up to the last masterpiece, and I followed him. Why is Marcus being like this?
''This is his last painting'' he showed me the last painting and it was entitled, ''twilight''
''did you say ''''his''''? I asked Marcus, confused.
Marcus sighed.
I am not Marcus, Alex. I am his twin brother.
--
''Lumabas ka dito, Terrence!!!'' galit na galit na sabi ni Marcus sa kambal niya.
''WALANG HIYA KAYO !!! AKO PA NILOKO NIYO MGA WALANG MODO !!! MAMATAY KANA !!'' at sinuntok ni Marcus ang kapatid na si Terrence. Sa sobrang galit nito halos mapatay nito ang kapatid.
''HUMINAHON KA NGA !!!'' sigaw ni Terrence
''MAMATAY KANA'' sigaw din ni Marcus at hindi padin natigil sa pagsuntok.
''NASABI NA NIYA YUNG PLANO NIYA PAGPALIWANAGIN MO KASI AKO !!!'' pagmamakaawa ni Terrence
Natigilan si Marcus sa sinabi ng kapatid. Binitawan niya ito at hinayaang magpaliwanag.
--
Incoming Call
Alexandrite
''Hello Alex, bakit ka napatawag? May problema ba kayo?''
''Terrence, tulungan moko please. I need you.''
''naiyak kaba? Bakit ano bayan?'' pagaalala ko.
Nagpatuloy ang paguusap naming ni Alexandrite at nalaman ko ang nangyari. Kailangan niyang umalis. Alam kong masakit ito para sa kanya at sa kapatid ko. Pero ano bang magagawa ko?
''Magpapanggap kalang na ikaw yung gusto ko at masaya tayo. Yun lang yung paraan para masaktan yung kapatid ko'' suggestion ko sa kanya.
Oo ako ang nagsabi mismo na gamitin niya ko, dahil nahihirapan siya at hindi alam ang gagawin ayun na lang ang lumabas sa bibig ko.
''Tinanggap ni Alexandrite ang sinabi ko, at pinalabas na kami at ako ang mahal niya at hindi ikaw. Dahil yun lang ang paraan niya para makaalis at dahil alam niyang matigas ang ulo mo at hindi ka papayag makipaghiwalay kaya, kinailangan ka niyang saktan.''
''Bro, you don't have to blame her. She was left with no choice, but trust me, She told me that she really loves you more than you love her.''
Hindi makapaniwala si Marcus sa narinig niya. Sobra sobrang sakit ang nararamdaman niya ngayon at hindi na niya kayang itago pa at umiyak na lang ito.
--
''Alexandrite, this was his last painting.'' Terrence said
''why do you keep telling me ''''last'''' Terrence?''
''Tristan died, 2 years ago. He committed suicide. Sa sobrang sakit siguro hindi na niya kinaya. Alam mo bang lagi niyang binabalik balikan yung mga lugar na pinupuntahan niyo noon. Things went well, so I thought okay na talaga but I was wrong, he still cannot move on from you. He distract himself, but still ended up Alone. He couldn't live without you, Alexandrite. He even finds way to see you here in France, but It wasn't easy as you think. He would've met you here if he just endure much longer, but I couldn't blame him.it wasn't easy for his as well.''
Terrence told me everything.
After Terrence's story, all I did was cry. I cried all night in the Museum. So my cousin have to dragged me up to my Unit.
It still feel unreal. Why does he have to leave me quickly? I, myself endured this pain so long, but I didn't thought that he will get tired. Things tou do for love. The hole in my chest feels like it gets much ad much larger everytime I think of Tristan.
I remember the night at the Balcony. I was eating our favourite street foods back then, when he suddenly said, ''I love you'' I was surprised that time, that I even lied to him that I didn't hear it.
Sana hindi nalang ako nagpanggap na hindi ko narinig, sana sinabi ko din na mahal na mahal ko siya, mas higit pa sa pagmamahal niya sakin.
Sana pinagsigawan ko na, ''ikaw lang''
Ni hindi mo man lang ako inantay, Tristan. Sa tagal nating magkasama, ni hindi ko man lang sayo nasabi na Mahal na mahal kita at Mahalaga ka sakin. Lagi ko lang dinadaan sa ibang tao.
Samantalang ikaw..
Wala kang ibang sabihin sakin kundi, ''Mahal Kita'' halos araw araw mo sakin sinasabi, at pinaparamdam.
Pero ngayon sasabihin ko, kahit ilang libong taon man ang lumipas Tristan, It will always be you. It will always be the Man I loved first.
This doesn't end here, Im sure You and I will meet again. Not today, but someday. So lets wait for that day together and continue our predestined love.
You will always be in my heart, Tristan.
Rest in Peace
Tristan Marcus Cadwell.
I love you.
THE END
