DARK and WILD || {k.taehyung} ✔

- 24 -

#DAWClosure

After eating brunch, we decided to go to the falls nearby.

I quickly changed into floral sando, which is made out of parang sa swimsuit na fabric so pwede siyang pangswimming. Same shorts lang dahil ayoko na magdala ng maraming gamit. I just packed the necessary things like phone, wallet and towel sa bag. It's just an hour drive from here, according to Mickey.

By, 2:30 PM, sumakay kami sa jeepney with big wheels? The staff will take us there.

"First time mo dito Venice diba? I'm sure you'll enjoy the water falls!" Pumapalakpak na sabi ni Laverne.

"Oo nga. Si Tito pa ang bumili ng kontrata para ipreserve itong falls na ito." Mickey said.

"Si Papa?" Tanong ko.

Mickey looked like he was unsure kung sasabihin niya ba or hindi. Pero nagbuntong hininga siya tapos nagsmile.

"He bought the rights to this water falls when we were kids. Regalo niya dapat ito sa Mama mo, unfortunately he..." He stopped in the middle, then I nodded. Saying na gets ko yung sinasabi niya. "So hindi alam ni Tita ang tungkol dito." He continued.

"Can I tell her? Para may bagong pagka-abalahan si Mama?" I said.

"Yes of course. Sa last will ni Tito, nakalagay na itatransfer yung rights sa falls pagdating ng 40th birthday ni Tita." He said.

"It's this year!" I exclaimed, and he nodded.

We were still talking about that when the staff said, "We're here Ma'am, Sir."

Bumaba kami ng jeepney tapos pumunta sa isang cottage na nandoon. Pagkalagay pa lang namin ng gamit, tumalon na agad si Gelo, Mickey at Lucas. They looked all excited and happy. Natawa nga kami ni Laverne dahil sumakay si Mickey sa balikat ni Lucas, and to my surprise, Lucas was laughing!

For the first time since I met him, narinig kong tumawa si Lucas.

It sounded like ..

"Huy, what are you waiting for? Tara na!" Tawag si Laverne sakin tapos bigla siyang tumalon.

Maya-maya pa, sumakay na din siya sa likod ni Gelo. Naglalaro silang apat at ang saya-saya nilang tignan. Naupo ako sa gilid at nilublob yung paa ko sa tubig.

I was just happily watching them when I met Gelo's eyes. Agad naman siyang lumapit at naupo sa tabi ko.

"Bakit ang tahimik mo?" Tanong niya sakin.

"Wala naman." I said.

"I'll miss you." Bigla niyang sabi.

Napatingin ako kasi bigla akong nalungkot. Talagang aalis na siya.

"Hindi mo pa rin ba ako kakausapin?" He asked.

I hesitated for a second pero hindi ko matiis na hindi tumingin sa kanya. Ngumiti ako bago magsalita.

"I'll miss you too." A lot Gelo, a lot.

"I'm sorry Venice. I really am. When I met you, I really liked you. I was struggling with my feelings for Ellie back then, kaya kapag kasama kita nakakalimutan ko lahat yun. You made me smile and laugh, and your comfort confused me with liking you. Akala ko pwedeng sa iba naman ako magkagusto. Pero hindi pala." He sighed.

He... He liked me. He almost...

"When I heard that Ellie's coming home, lahat biglang bumalik. I was excited but at the same time hurt. I knew she loved Lucas so much. But I loved her too so much. Doon ko narealize na hindi pala sapat yung naramdaman ko para sayo. Para sabihin na gusto kita. But I tried, I really tried Venice. Kasi gusto kong gustuhin kita." He said with pain in his voice.