Behind The Stoned Cave

Prologue

Prologue

I was staring at the tree falling its leaves. The branch is slowly losing its energy, and the beauty of the tree slowly fading. The wind blows making the leaves turned into me. My heart aches while staring it.

It's been sixty years since the tree grows. Standing and giving overwhelming love.

"Kin..." I tightly held her hand.

Nakaupo siya ngayon sa hita ko. Nanghihingalo at nag aagaw buhay. Sa harap namin ay puno kung saan ang pag aari niya. Ang puno na nagmamay ari ng kalahati ng buhay niya.

My tears slowly fell while looking at her.

"D-Don't cry." She held my hand full of blood. Her dress is also full of it making her looked miserable. Not because of a battle, it's because of me. I know she's damn hurt!

Niyakap ko siya. Nagdikita ang dibdib namin dahilan para maramdaman ang mahinang pagtibok ng puso nito. Muling pumatak ang panibagong luha sa aking mga mata.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry! Forgive me please!"

I hugged her tight. I am afraid to lose her! Damn it! It's all my fault!

Hindi niya ako niyakap pabalik dahil sa nanghihina nitong katawan.

"It's okay... Kin."

"No! no!" I shook my head repeatedly.

I started to panicked when she vomited a blood. Ang suot niyang pulang kimono ay halos balutin ng sarili niyang dugo.

"No please... don't leave me!"

Kinuha ko ang kamay nito at nilagay sa pisngi ko. Dinama ko ang malamig na palad niya. It's just like yesterday since I first met her. Ang bilis ng panahon.

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad. Rinig ko mula sa kinatatayuan ang pag agos ng tubig mula sa talon. Ang mga huni ng ibon ay sigurado akong doon din galing ang tunog. Lumakad ako papuntang talon. Hinawi ko ang nadaraanang malalaking dahon.

I stop midway where I can see the water falls crushed making a noisy sound. Sa gitna ng nagbabagsakang tubig ay ang hubad na katawan ng babae. Hinahagod nito ang mahabang buhok. Nakatalikod ito sa akin at tanging likod niya lang ang nakikita ko.

She slowly turned around and I can't help but parted my lips while my eyes are darted to her.

She's beautiful.. that's the only world came into my mind.

Nakaharap na siya sa akin ngayon pero ang atensiyon nito'y abala sa maalong buhok nito. Kitang kita ko ang mapupulang labi at maamong pares na mga mata. Nakangiti pa ito habang hinahagod ang mahabang buhok.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang magtama ang tingin namin. Mabilis niyang nilubog ang hubad na katawan sa tubig.

"You stupid pervert!"

Nanlaki ang mata ko ng biglang tumilapon sa akin ang tubig. Nabasa ang katawan ko. Instead of getting mad, I don't know why but I just feel like... admiring her?

Sunod sunod ang pagtilapon sa akin ng tubig. Nilabas ko ang espada at hiniwa ang mga iyon. Mabilis kong nilapitan ang babae. Tinutok ko sakanya ang dulo ng espada. Her eyes widened, she didn't move a bit. Afraid to get killed.

"You pervert!... You don't have the right to watch me!" she histerical.

The corner of my lips rose. "I just did. And if you don't want to someone see yours, choose a close area. Not here."

"This is my place! My tree is just nearby, so I own this place!"

Napamaang ako. Did she say her tree?

"Who are you?" I asked, still looking at her red admirable eyes. Those eyes looked so dangerous yet so pretty. Red as her lips.

"You don't have to know."

"I have too."

Ibinaba ko ang espada. Nakalubog parin ang katawan nito. Ang mahaba niyang buhok ay sapat na para takpan ang hubad na katawan. Taimtim siyang nakatingin sa akin.

"You're an evil. You should respect me!"

"I don't have too. You're the one who should respect me."

Naging matalim ang tingin niya sa akin. "You'll regret saying that."

I sighed. She's beautiful, I know. But she's too tough for me.

"You're a goddess."

Siya ngayon ang ngumisi sa akin.

"A goddess of love and beauty..."

Naipikit ko ng mariin ang mata. Damn it! A goddess of love?.... That's maybe the reason why...

"Captivated by my beauty?" she laughed. She knew I was...

"Yeah... you are too." instead, I gave her a smile.

Her laugh slowly fades. She looked at me directly in my eyes. I seriously looked at her. I can almost feel the beat of my heart. Hindi normal ang tibok nito. Mabilis at nag uunahan.

Hindi siya nakapagsalita. Gulat dahil sa alam ko kung anong nararamdaman niya.

"Kin..."

Lumabas mula sa mata niya ang butil ng luha. Pinalis ko iyon kahit ang luha ko ay tumutulo din sa maamo nitong mukha.

"I-I can't. I don't want."

She gave me a half smile.

"Do y-you really love... m-me?"

I nodded repeatedly. "Yes... please don't leave me."

She cupped my cheeks and gave me a peck. Her eye is still full of tears. Nadako ang kamay niya sa bandang puso ko. Naramdaman ko roon ang init na mula sa kanyang palad.

"I will be back. My body will only die, but my soul and spirit will stay. I won't leave you... I will be always by your side."

I hugged her again. I brought my eyes on the tree only to see the countable leaves left.

"Y-You will only love me. No one else... Your heart is mine, and mine too... is yours... I love you Kin."