Rewrite the Star

Chapter 20 - Finale

The dusk dawned cloudy and cold with a light rain that chilled Lisuga as she was trekking uphill. There was a small hut standing atop the mountain, the place where Dumagan often stay. She was hoping that she could catch up with him before he would leave. She knocked on the front door but unfortunately, he did not show up. As she turned around to walk back to the village, there he was. The incessant rain was soaking his hot skin and he stood there watching her running towards him like as if the wind was carrying her weight to avoid slipping in the mud. "No matter how hard I try to fight my feelings, it will always lead back to you. I am already tired of fighting. Even running away from you is not the solution. I just want to succumb on your arms all day and be with you forever. I don't care anymore if I'm selfish but please – I beg you to stay. Don't leave. Just stay and wait for me."

"Who said that I am leaving?" Dumagan laughed.

"Your brother did." She blushed and realized that she was fooled by Paglinawan.

"I should thank my brother for this, but before that, I will take this opportunity to spend with you." His hand reached to hers and put her arms unto his neck.

She closed her eyes and her lips pressed against him. He eagerly returned her kiss and moved her to his hut. She never imagined that this could feel so right despite the rain. She didn't care anymore what will happen next, but she was certain that she wanted to be with him. Always.

The following morning when the rain had ceased, Dumagan and Lisuga woke up from the sound of a gong. They hurriedly went down the village and saw the people crying. The chief was poisoned, and they believed that it was the savages who planted the poison and had a mole in their tribe. Lisuga was distraught. Paglinawan was a loving and caring leader and a very good friend. She was feeling a tinge of guilt, but she managed to stay strong for Dumagan because he was the person who was deeply hurt. His pair of eyes was full of tears, bathing the face of his brother as he held him unto his. He was the only family he had left, and he died without a cause. He was outrage that he called his men to avenge his brother.

They marched towards the seashore and planned their attacks. With the gods on their side, they believed that they would win. Dumagan raised his hand, then arrows came darting to the enemies' lair.

"Charge!" Dumagan shouted. Then everyone followed.

The enemy was surprised by their attack and Lisuga found it peculiar. It seemed that they did not understand why they were being ambushed. These were not the Northerners they had fought before. She looked sideways and there she saw Licalibutan stabbed her two other brothers by his spear. He caught sight of her and without a doubt, he drew a bow and aimed the arrow to her. Dumagan rushed to push her from the swooping arrow.

"Dumagan!" She howled. He took the arrow for her and fell on the ground. She was petrified with disbelief and dolor. A memory of him lying on the shore with few corpses around him flashed back to her. "No! Don't you dare die on me again." She awakened herself. Before she could fire her brother with an arrow, she was already hit and collapsed to the ground. "Why, Brother?"

"I'm sorry, Lisuga but you have to-"

Then her consciousness drifted off.

The next thing happened was that she woke up on her bed with woe on her eyes. She swept the area but only Libulan was present. Thinking the battle had ended, her tears burst like storm. "Where is Dumagan? Did you capture Licalibutan? He shot you, Liadlaw and Dumagan!"

"What are you talking about Sister?" Libulan was confused.

Lisuga noticed something in her surroundings. "Why did you take me back home when our people need us?" She was upset.

"Sister, I really don't know what you're talking about. You fainted after you had touched the scepter."

"Wait. The scepter? Did we not fall to the mortal world?" She tried to explain to her brother. "-and Licalibutan was alive."

"Maybe, it was a dream," Libulan replied.

"It was not a dream, my dear Sister, but it was your vision." The god of sun, along with two immortal guards, entered the room. "And Grandfather disguised himself as Licalibutan. He was trying to enter your vision so that you'd wake up, and the only way to wake you up was to kill the three of us, but Dumagan interfered that's why he also died."

"So, you're telling me that he could live if I'd turn back time?"

"But he'll die if he would stay with you." Liadlaw added. "And because of what you did earlier, you are punished." He looked cold and firm but behind those stoned eyes, he was concern of his sister. "I'm sorry, Sister, but this is what our grandfather ordered me to do. Besides, this is for your own sake."

"No!" Libulan stopped the guards from coming towards Lisuga. "You can't just erase her memory like that! You know what this means!"

"Then we can recreate memories with her." Liadlaw said.

"I want to speak with Grandfather."

"I'm sorry, but the gods have already decided." He stabbed his finger to her throat, then, she fell asleep.