22 Epilogue
"Did you remember something?" nanlalaki ang mga matang tanong niya sa akin.
Naglakad siya palapit sa kinauupuan ko, he was slightly smiling as he fixed his eyeglasses. Bagay talaga sa kanya ang salamin niya. Umupo siya sa katapat kong upuan pinapanood ako habang nakapalumbaba. He was staring at me acting cute while fluttering his eyes. I can't help but smile back at him.
How can I possibly ignore his cuteness?
Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa librong hawak ko, imbis na mag-patulay sa binabasa kong libro ay isinara ko na lamang iyon. Muli kong ibinalik ang tingin sa kanya. Inayos naman niya ang pagkaka upo at ipinatong ang kanyang mga kamay sa ibabaw ng lamesa. Inihilig niya ang ulo niya tila hinihintay kung may sasabihin ako.
"No," tanggi ko.
But I was really thinking of something that keeps on bugging my mind.
"Do you remember me now?" tanong niya sa akin. He's been bugging me since this morning. I shook my head as an answer. Bumagsak ang maga balikat niya, he seemed disappointed that I couldn't remember him.
I don't know why can't he just tell me his name. Baka kapag nalaman ko kung anong pangalan niya ay maalala ko siya. It felt like I know him but I can't seem to remember.
...
Nasa loob si Kai ng kanyang kwarto at nakatanaw sa bintana at nakatingin sa kalangitang napupuno ng mga nagkikislapang mga bituin. Nanatili ang mga mata niya sa Big Dipper ang paboritong constellation ni Ren.
'Please Stay'
Naalala na naman ni Kai ang kahilingan ni Ren. Namumutawi sa mata niya ang labis na kalungkutan dahil di niya nagawang tuparin iyon. Habang nasa kalagitnaan ng pag-iisip ay may kumatok sa pinto ng kwarto niya nag lingunin niya iyon nakapasok na si Nigel.
Nakakunot ang noo nito habang mabilis na naglakad palapit sa kanya. Kita ang pag-aalala sa mukha ni Nigel.
"Alam mo ba ang nangyayari ngayon kay Ren?" tanong ni Nigel.
Hearing her name made Kai uncomfortable.
"I told you not to talk about her." Pigil niya rito.
"How long will you ignore her? She's been in too much pain. Yet you act like you don't care?" Nanggagalaiting sabi ni Kai.
"She's not copping well, Di na siya katulad nang dati. She's breathing but not living. Did you know that she tried to cut herself." Nakuha ang atensiyon ni Kai ng sinabi ni Nigel.
The reason why he left was to keep her alive, but it turns out she wants to kill herself because he was gone.
"Get out, Now!" Pagtataboy niya sa pinsan ngunit di nagpatinag ito.
"She's been in too much pain, yet you act like you don't care.You're truly a monster," Nanginginig sa galit na saad ni Nigel bago lumabas ng kwarto ang padabog na sinara ang pinto.
Marahas na bumuntong hininga si Kai. I thought leaving her would be for the better but it isn't. Nagdesisyon siyang puntahan si Ren.
Natutulog ito, Kunot ang noo panay ang pilig sa ulo at pinagpapawisan. Batid ni Kai na nanaginip ito nang masama pero di niya ito magawang gisingin. It made him sad, looking at Ren's face made his heart throb.
He tried to catch a glimpse of her life. She did become thinner than the last time he met her. Her skin became paler. It made him even sadder. She walks with her head down. Gone was the shine in her eyes, she's often in dazed and distant. She was there but her thoughts were somewhere else. She doesn't respond to her brother's antics and locks herself in her room. The once bright girl she knew was gone.
"Kai," dinig niyang tawag nito sa pangalan niya.
He missed how he called for him and her reactions when she does it. It made his heart break like it was shattered into pieces. He missed being with her.
He felt miserable seeing her state because he knew that he's the reason behind it. Bago pa man niya puntahan si Ren ay may nabuo nang plano sa utak niya.
He should've done it before. He shouldn't have hesitated doing it. Even if he doesn't admit it, he's scared that Ren wouldn't remember even a single memory about him. He's afraid that everything they shared will be forgotten.
Nagpatuloy lang siya sa panonood sa natutulog na si Ren. His eyes began to well-up as he touched her hand. He doesn't want her to forget about him, but remembering him caused her pain. She couldn't go on with her life because of him.
Erasing his existence on her life and of those around her might cause him his life but if it's the only way for her to smile again, he would be willing to do everything even if it's life on the line.
He took a deep breath and close his eyes...
Memories kept flowing over his head.
The first time they met...
"Hi ako nga pala si Ren anong pangalan mo?" Sabi ng batang Ren nang nakangiti.
"What are you doing here?" Nagtatakang tanong ng batang Kai, he doesn't like to other kids.
"Ha?"
Hindi ata nito naintindihan ang sinabi niya.
" Kung ang tinatanong mo ay kung bakit ako nandito.Dinala ako ni papa, nagpromise kasi siya na dadalhin niya ako sa trabaho niya sa birthday ko."
"Sabi ni papa birthday mo raw?" taong nito sa kanya.
"Yes," tipid na sagot niya.
"Pwede mo akong maging kaibigan regalo ko na sayo yun." Nakangiting sabi nito.
It made him happy.
The time Ren asked if to have a duel, and started to have feelings for him...
" Hinahamon kita! Kapag nanalo ako tutuparin ang wish ko!" pasigaw na sabi ni Ren habang walang paalam na umasok sa kwarto ni Kai.
Nagising sa ingay ni Ren si Kai tinignan niya ito.
Parehong nanlalake ang mga mata nito at namumula. Napatingin siya sa sarili at doon niya napansin na wala siyang suot na pantaas.
Tumingin siyang muli sa direksyon ni Ren.
"It's illegal to look at my body without consent, Ren." Nakangising sabi niya dito.
Binatuhan siya ni Ren nang nanlilisik na tingin.
"Panget mo!" sigaw ni Ren bago kumaripas ng lakad palabras ng kwarto ni Kai.
Their first kiss...
Tarantang nagtatalon si Ren nang may gumapang sa paanan niya ang bigla siyang matumba.
Lumapit sa kanya si Kai, it was never a problem for him to see in dark. While she was panicking she pushed him that made him fall. Before he could stand up Ren fell over him and accidentally kissed him.
Sumindi ang ilaw and they were both shocked at what happened and immediately got off each other.
Their last day together...
"Please Stay."
He just hugged her, as tight as possible he knew it will be the last time.
How she cried everynight because she can't do anything about thier situation. How she misses him, how she wanted to tell him that she knew everything.
...
Kai couldn't help but fall on his knees and his heart ached for her. He knew this will come but he is happy, Ren could finally go on with her life without him. He still managed to get home when Nigel saw him on the floor.
"What's happening to you?" asked in despair.
"I did the right thing." He answered with faint smile.
"Make sure Ren will live a happy life." He knew not even a single drop of blood could save him.
He was in dazed, he couldn't move an inch. His breath became hallow, he could hear Nigel's voice but couldn't understand any of it. It was life he was floating his eyes started to become feel heavy.
Nanginginig ang mga kamay ni Nigel, Kai died in his arms. Nigel couldn't help but cry upon his cousin's demise.
...
Labis ang kasiyahan ni Ren nang makita muli si Kai. It was like a rain after a drought. She couldn't explain how she feels.
Patakbo siyang lumapit dito at sabik na sabi na niyakap ito. She looked at his face he was smiling but his eyes were full of sorrow.
"Thank you for coming back, you're staying for good right?" Umiling ito sa kanya.
"I'm sorry for giving you too much pain, thank you for making me feel loved. Your mind could forget me but your heart will always remember."
" In another lifetime I wish to be human too. I'll show you how much I love you without fear and hesitation. I'll look for you no matter what, I promise to remember in an instant if ever we meet."
"Are you saying goodbye?" Umiiyak na tanong niya.
"I'll always stay in your heart. Live happily with no regrets Ren." Masuyong sabi ni Kai.
"See you again." Paalam nito. She reached for him but he faded into the thin air.
Ren wake up in tears and she doesn't know why. It felt like her heart was being squeezed She felt like she lost something important. She kept crying her heart out.
...
Nigel's eyes widened when he saw two familiar figures.
Could it be possible?
He could hear them from the table he was sitting.
"Ang kulit mo!"
"Kilala nga kita, nagkita na tayo dati! I even gave you that necklace as gift."
Lumapit siya sa dalawang estudyanteng nasa harap niya.
"Both of you come to my office," sabi niya sa dalawa.
"Ikaw kasi ang kulit mo." Dinig niyang sita ng babae sa lalakeng kaaway.
Tahimik ang dalawa dahil dinala sila nito sa Director's office. Nang makarating sila sa loob ng opsina niya ay pinaupo niya sa dalawang bakanteng silya ang dalawa.
"Anong pangalan niyo?" tanong niya sa mga ito.
"Sir hindi na po ako mag-iingay sa Library. H'wag niyo lang akong bigyan ng demerit sa unang araw nang pasukan." Paki usap babaeng estudyante sa kanya.
"Anong pangalan niyo?" ulit niya sa tanong.
"Skyler Fuentes but my friends call me Kai." sabi ng estudyanteng lalaki.
Kai...
"And you are?" baling niya sa babaeng estudyante.
"Maeren Ortiz you can call me Ren." sagot nito sa kanya.
Hearing their nicknames made Nigel reminisce in the past.
He saw both of them die.
Ren went on with her life married Eiji the guy who said Hi to him on the library one instance, She did lived her life and had a happy family. He even tried to appear before her but she didn't remember him.
He looked at both students before him.
If vampires are real, then so is reincarnation. He's been living as middle aged man for years. Never did he thought to see them again after those years and it warmed his heart.
He wanted to hugged the both of them but he couldn't.
"Have you two known each other?"tanong niya sa mga ito.
"No sir, we just met today classmates." tanggi ni ni Ren.
"I told you, we've met before." giit naman ni Kai.
"Any proof?" tila nag-hahamon na tanong ni Ren.
"I told you I'm the one who gave you that necklace." turo niya sa suot nitong kwintas.
Tinaasan lamang sia ng kilay Ren.
"We just met today, and this is a family Heirloom this has been with us for years." pagbibigay-alam ni Ren.
"I mean not me but my past self," Paliwang ni Kai.
"Your mind could forget me but your heart will always remember." Saad naman ni Kai.
Natahimik si Ren na tila may naalala sa sinabi nito.
"See Sir, he's delusional." Baling ni Ren sa matandang nasa harap nila.
"No he's not delusional, maybe he really remembers his past life and you're part of it," mahinahon niyang paliwanag dito.
"I told you it's real I've seen you in my dreams," sabi ni Kai.
"Ewan ko sa'yo!" irap sa kanya ni Ren.
They may act differently from the Kai and Ren he remembers but he is sure that they were reborn again.
"I'm glad to see the both of you, and both of you should start being friends," sabi niya sa mga ito.
He couldn't let this opportunity pass he should make something for them.
"Come back again tomorrow, both of you will be my library assistants," dagdag niya pa.
He smiled at them. Nagkatinginan lamang ang dalawa at puno nang pagtataka ang mga mukha.
"Don't you dare ditch on me," banta niya sa mga ito.
May dahilan din bakit siya pumayag maging director nang dating school. Tahimik na lumabas ang dalawa sa opisina niya. Pagkalabas na pagkalabas nila ay nagbangayan na ulit ang dalawa.
"Ang kulit kulit mo kasi ehh!" Paninisi ni Ren kay Kai.
"Ingay mo kasi, sigaw ka nang sigaw," depensa naman ni Kai.
"Didn't you hear what he said, we should be friends. This feels like heaven really wants us to get close," sabi ni Kai. Napailing na lang si Nigel habang naririnig ang bangayan nang dalawa.
In this lifetime he prayed that the both of them could love freely.
"They all met here in Ketsueki and here they meet again."
<The END>
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!
Author's Note
Thank you for reading KETSUEKI and I hope you enjoyed reading. I'll try my best to write better stories for you to read.
