Burning His Sunset Spell (COMPLETE)

The Tree House

Dollar's POV

I'm staring at the dark sky, knotting my forehead, wondering if the sky also witnessed what happened a while ago...

Napailing-iling ako.

Imbes na dinadamay ang langit, mas dapat kong pagtakahan kung paano ako nakarating dito sa tree house nang matiwasay sa gitna ng masukal na gubat at kadiliman pagkatapos kong palihim na tumakas sa kasiyahan kanina. Nakakatawa na dito ako dinala ng mga paa ko at pinili ko talagang akyatin ito gayong nilalayuan ko nga lahat ng may kinalaman sa nakaraan namin, which is still impossible at this time.

I pulled my eyes from the sky and turned to face the whole room. Parang walang pinagbago. Nandito pa din ang mga gamit, maayos na naka-maintain at nasa isang dingding pa din ang pintura ng imahe na katulad ng tattoo ni Rion, the burning dollar sign.

Last time I was here I was crying my heart out when I found out that Rion is gone, wounded from scratches when I tried to look for him. Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko ngayon. But before that fateful morning, I was so happy spending the night here, enclosed in his arms, I was so sure that I would wake up and still see him next to me. At sa alaalang iyon alam kong totoong naging masaya ako. And remembering that and all the other happy memories with him still bring back that feeling and still warms my heart. I know I can always choose to remember those good memories over the bad ones and if I finally do I'm sure I can forget the past. Kaya kong kalimutan at tabunan ang pag-iwan niya sa'kin.  But that is not the only issue now. Mas malaking pagitan ang mga sikreto ng nakaraan niya na alam kong may kinalaman sa pag-iwan niya sa 'kin. At iyon ang dapat kong alamin dahil alam kong hindi niya ko sasagutin kung tatanungin ko siya o kung hintayin ko mang gawin niya ay baka lumipas na lamang ulit ang pitong taon.

I bit my lower lip and blushed when I remembered his gentle kiss. Naririnig ko ang malakas na sigawan ng mga tao kanina pero mas malakas pa din ang kabog ng dibdib ko. I don't want to ask him or the world why did he kissed me, it doesn't matter. Parang iyon ang pinakatamang gawin.

And Rion's gentle kiss feels like an omen for something.  If I am a poet I would say that his gaze while dipping his head down to me is a gaze from a lover who is promising the whole world to me. Pero hindi ako makata, at nakakagulat mang makita ang mga emosyong iyon sa mata ni Rion ay alam ko ang titig niyang iyon kapag may gusto siyang sabihin sa akin. When we were together, Rion tried to share pieces of himself to me. Mahirap man para sa isang tahimik na lalake na gawin iyon but he still did through his own little ways. He would usually look at me the same way like a while ago then he would kiss me gently and whisper what he wants me to know. Rion may not be aware of that habit but I do. Iba nga lang ang sitwasyon kanina dahil nasa gitna kami ng  maraming tao but I know the pattern and the emotions in his eyes are too familiar. At iyon ang panghahawakan ko, I will use what I know of Rion while doing my own research about everything, including Miranda...

Hmn.. I think I should go back now. Right, kailangang simulan ko na ang mga plano ko and I won't deny the fact anymore that Rion is a big part of my excitement.

Dahan-dahan akong bumaba sa hagdan at muntikan nang mapasigaw nang makita si Rion sa malapit na puno. Sa laki at tangkad niya ay mapagkakamalang supernatural being ang anino niya.

Napairap ako sa kanya kahit sa dilim.

"Are you done sulking?" That was asked with a tease.

At pinigilan kong umirap. "Hindi mo dapat ginawa 'yon." I pout a little. Of course, I wouldn't let him know that hell yeah, I liked the kiss and that it was the rightest thing to do after long seven years.

Nagkibit-balikat lang siya, not looking sorry, but a corner of his mouth twitched for a shy smile.

And damn, he is really my Rion. He can stand like that on a white T-shirt and jeans, hands tucked on his pockets forever and I will forever adore that view of him. I let out a silent breath, there is really no going back now. I chose this. Kalimutan na ang mga kadramahan noong nakaraang araw. This is a new beginning. Rion could be the path to discover what I want to know or he could be on the far end after I know everything. Just let this man wait.

Then it made me thinking, kung hinalikan ba ako ni Rion una pa lang sa isla nang magkita kami, maayos na kaya ang mga buhay namin?

No, I don't think so. Neither of us will settle for a temporary bliss while holding back everything.

"Let's go home, Dollar." Mula sa pagkakasandal sa puno ay naglakad siya papunta sa kinatatayuan ko.

"That's not your line, Rion." See, I know everything about him and it made me so proud of myself that this man has no idea how much and what I can do to him with that.

"What is it then?" hindi siya nag-effort na tunguin ako na para bang iniiwasan talagang magkalapit ang mga mukha namin pero ang mga mata ay nakatitig sa'kin.

I lifted my chin up and met his gaze. "It's 'go home now, Dollar' and you mean I go home, alone." And with that I walked away from him, feeling triumphant.

Pero ilang minuto lang ay kanda-iwas ako sa mga humahampas na malalaking damo at sanga. Ugh!

Hindi ako lumilingon hanggang makita ko sa gilid ng mga mata ko si Rion ilang dipa ang layo sa akin, naglalakad sa mas maluwang na daanan.

Tsk! Okay, hindi ko kinaganda ang pag-walk out ko na 'yon.

Nilingon din ako ni Rion at nilahad ang kamay sa direksyon ko. "I believe it is still 'let us go home, Dollar' since we live in the same house." There was an emphasis on the word 'us'.

Naiinis man sa epic fail kong parting act kanina ay hinagip ko din ang kamay niya. "Fine," balewala kong sabi.

At mula sa paghawak sa kamay niya ay nilipat ko ang kamay ko sa braso niya. I felt him tensed but didn't say a word. Bahala siyang mag-isip ng kung ano, well, he can think of it as small torture, pinigilan kong ngumiti.

And there, we walked side by side under the small shed of moonlight.

A/N: This could be the ending, LOL. But I'm like Dollar, magulo ang utak, marami pang gustong ma-discover, at minsan gusto ko ding mamroblema kung paano lalabas sa twists na ako rin naman ang gumawa. Haay... Happy new year everyone!