Kiss and Run

The Final Chapter

EIVEREN

I step out of my car, gardenias on my right hand, roses on my left and release an abysmal sigh. I'm nervous. Unang hakbang ko pa lang ay sumalubong na sa akin ang malakas na samyo ng hangin. Nilibot ko ang aking tingin sa napakalawak na kapaligiran.

The place is quiet, covered by green, trimmed grasses. The ground is marked by tombstones with different unfamiliar names. I can see few people putting fresh flowers on their loved ones' grave, murmuring silent prayers for them.

I wonder what Natalia's doing right now.

My fingers are shivering as I look down at the bouquets on my hand; the last time I bought her gardenias, her hands were covered with blood, her pale yellow dress turn red. The smile she was trying to force on her lips is still fresh on my mind, the efforts she's exerting just to utter my name is still vivid in my memory. Now she's...I swing my head, swallow, and stand straight, trying to compose myself.

I will not break down. I will not break down. I will not break down. I chanted to myself.

Pinagpatuloy ko ang paglakad, at sa bawat segundong paglapit ko sa kinalalagyan niya ay mas lalong bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ko. If everything happens in my own volition, wala sanang ganito.

Shinichi and Fifteen—heck, everyone wouldn't force me to do this.

"She's been waiting for you, Eiveren," I remember Fifteen's words earlier. Her knuckles are white as if she's on the verge of punching me straight to my face. "You've been gone for days," she added.

I grip at the bouquets tightly. My heart is pounding violently in my chest. I peak at the small box I place inside the gardenias, double-checking its presence.

Damn, they know this is not my style.

Hell, I don't have any style for these kind of cheesy, pathetic things, girls watch in chick flick movies, but still doing this anyway.

Ugh. If making her happy requires me to look stupid, then be it.

The rush of the wind forces me to shot my head up. Perhaps I was too pre-occupied with my own reverie; I haven't realized that I am here. I halt in my tracks, enthralled by the view in front of me.

My nervousness was automatically replaced by an unfeigned glee as my eyes silently feasted on her perfect form.

There she is.

NATALIA

Ibinagsak ko ang sarilli sa damuhan at sinalubong ang sinag ng araw ngayong umaga. Ang hanging dumadampi sa balat ko ay napakasarap damhin, ang huni ng mga ibong dumadapo sa ilang mga lapida ay napakasarap pakinggan, ang kulay ng bughaw na kalangitan ay napakagandang pagmasdan.

I'm alive. I'm alive and I never been so alive before.

Pakiramdam ko'y pinagkalooban ako ng siyam na buhay at nagamit ko na ang dalawa.

Ha, sinasabi ko na nga ba't may lahing pusa ako. Iyon talaga ang makapagpapaliwanag kung bakit malakas ang koneksyon ko kina Fluffy at Cuddly. Si Fluffy na buntis na ngayon at tulad ng isang tunay na lalaki ay pinanindigan naman siya ni Cuddly. Sa bahay na ngayon nakatira ang alaga ni Eiveren upang bantayan ang Meowlalabs niya.

Hihihi. Ang cute nila lalo na't tabi sila kung matulog lagi. Parang kami lang ni Eiveren, ang kaso nga lang...ilang araw na siyang hindi nagpapakita.

I undergo another operation, another day of unconsciousness and one more week to recover. It was a long, agonizing day for me and he wasn't even there.