"Hinding-hindi magkakaayos ang pamilya natin! Walang Poniente ang makakapag-asawa ng Pueblo! Pinatay niyo ang anak ko!"

The woman's words were followed by a rumble of thunder in the sky. It was as if the heavens were echoing her curse—the curse of Kuya Zade's mother.

The woman sobbed before her husband—Kuya Zade's father—came to her side.

I was frozen in place. Ate Grapes stood there, staring blankly at the cliff where we had seen Kuya Zade fall.

As a woman who loves, I know that this is a trauma for Ate. To witness the man you love most shot and fall into a ravine is unbearable pain.

Mommy approached Daddy, who was writhing in pain from the bullet wound. I didn't know who to focus on. Should I pay attention to Ate Grapes, who seemed to be losing her mind? Or to Daddy, who was in agony? Or to Yhael, who was unconscious, and I didn't know if he was still breathing.

I heard another gunshot. I saw Kuya Zade's mother pointing her gun at Mommy. I couldn't see her face clearly, but I knew the look in her eyes was filled with intense rage.

"That's not enough!" the woman screamed.

"Tita, tama na po," iyak ni Ate Grapes.

The woman turned to Ate Grapes, the gun now pointed at her.  "Why did my son fall for you?!" she screamed, her voice laced with fury.

I understand her. Losing a child is truly agonizing.

"I'm sorry, Tita," Ate could only manage to say, tears streaming down her face.

"Sorry?!" the man shouted. "Will your sorry bring back our son?!"

"I will never forgive you until you bring my son back to life!"

"Our son is gone!  His life can't be brought back!" the woman screamed at her husband. "Who could survive being shot three times and falling off a cliff? No one!"

"So..." She cocked the hammer of the gun, still pointed at Ate Grapes.  "Let's just end it all here. Let all four of them die."

Ate Grapes didn't protest. It seemed she'd rather die than live without Kuya Zade by her side.

"Not my daughters!" Mommy screamed, and she ran towards Kuya Zade's mother to grab the gun.

They ended up wrestling for the gun. The gun fired several times. It was only then that Ate seemed to regain her senses and she knelt down on the ground, covering her ears with her hands. I did the same.

I heard Kuya Zade's father scream. He was clutching his chest.

I was almost going crazy from what I was seeing, but I forced myself to be strong for Yhael.

I crawled towards Ate Grapes, summoning all my courage. She took my hand and helped me stand up.

"Kailangan na nating makaalis dito," lakas loob niyang sinabi kahit alam kong gusto na niyang bumigay.

"B-But... how about Mommy," I whispered.

Tumingin siya kay Mommy na nakikipag-agawan pa rin ng baril sa Mommy ni Kuya Zade.

"Shit naman!" Sigaw ni Ate bago ako binalik sa tabi ni Yhael. "Dito ka lang, ah. 'Wag na 'wag kang lalapit sa amin nina Mommy."

"Kapag sinabi kong tumakbo ka na. Tumakbo ka. Iwan mo si Yhael. Akong bahala sa kaniya."

"P-Pero Ate—"

"Wala nang pero-pero, Aphle!" Sigaw niya sa akin. Narinig ko ang pagsinghot niya. "N-Nawala na sa akin si Zade... hindi ko na kaya kapag pati ikaw nawala sa akin."

"Ate," pag-iyak ko.

She released my hands and ran towards Mommy. She joined the struggle for the gun.

I looked at Daddy. He wasn't moving.  Kuya Zade's father was the same. He hadn't been shot. He must have had a heart attack.

I turned to Yhael and shook his shoulder, hoping he would wake up.

I was freezing cold.

"Yhael, wake up. Please wake up," I pleaded, my lips trembling.

I continued trying to wake him up, when I heard another gunshot.

I turned to Ate and saw that Mommy had been shot in her left shoulder. The impact loosened her grip on the gun, allowing Kuya Zade's mother to take it.

She pointed it at Ate Grapes. "Die!" the woman screamed before firing.

I closed my eyes, unable to watch Ate get shot.

I slowly opened my eyes. I thought it was now finally quiet but... "Mom!" Ate Grapes screamed.

Dahan-dahan kong minulat ang aking mga mata. Parang gumiba ang kalahati ng mundo ko nang makitang nababalot na ng dugo ang buong katawan ni Mommy habang yakap siya ni Ate.

"Mom!" Ate screamed again... but now with anger and despair.

Dahil sa pangyayaring iyon ay para akong binubuhusan ng yelo. Nanlamig ang buo kong katawan. Hindi ako makagalaw sa kinatatayuan ko at hindi ko na alam ang aking gagawin.

The only thing on my mind right now is Mommy.

She wasn't moving while Ate Grapes tried to wake her up.

I slowly approached Ate Grapes and Mommy. I covered my mouth with my hand when I saw that Mommy had been shot in the heart—just like Daddy.

I knelt beside Ate. Her sobs grew louder. I was the same way because we both lost our parents tonight.

Where could Kuya Mark be? What would he do when he finds out? I'm sure revenge would be the first thing on his mind.

"I-I didn't do anything wrong," said Kuya Zade's mother. She was holding her lifeless husband.

"You started it! You killed my son and husband!" she screamed.

Nagtaas ng tingin sa kaniya si Ate. "Sa tingin ninyo magiging masaya si Zade sa ganiyang akto ninyo?"

"Nakapatay ka, Tita Zhara! P-Pinatay mo si Mom at Da—"

"Pinatay nila ang anak ko!" Putol ng Ginang sa sinasabi ni Ate.

The woman stopped crying and let go of her husband. My eyes widened as she picked up the gun from the grass again.

Ate Grapes moved quickly to grab the gun from Tita Zhara. They struggled for it while I was in front of Mommy's body.

I touched her gentle face. If you saw Mommy, you would think she hadn't done anything wrong. That she wasn't a killer. Because her face, it could be compared to an angel.

"Aphle!" Sigaw ni Ate kaya kaagad akong napabaling sa kaniya. "Umalis na kayo ni Yhael!"

"A-Ano—"

"Umalis na kayo!" Sigaw niyang muli. "Dalhin mo sa malapit na hospital si Yhael para mapagaling ang sugat niya. Tawagan mo rin si Kuya Mark para matulungan niya kayo!"

"P-Pero, Ate. P-Paano—"

"'Wag mo na akong—"

Her words were cut short as Tita Zhara finally managed to grab the gun.

"Shit!" Ate yelled before kicking the woman in the leg. "I'm sorry, Tita Zhara. But you can't hurt my sister!"

The gun fired, and Ate Grapes' scream echoed through the woods. She had been grazed by the bullet in her leg.

Instead of collapsing, she limped towards me and helped me stand. "Kailangan na nating umalis dito."

"P-Paano si Yhael?" tanong ko.

Ilang segundo niya akong tinitigan. "Ayokong mag-suffer ka katulad ko kaya... pagtutulungan natin si Yhael."

I nodded at her suggestion and approached Yhael.

"You think you can escape me! You two will die just like your killer parents!" Tita Zhara screamed furiously.

Ate and I struggled to help Yhael stand because I was weak, and Ate Grapes was also weakened from her gunshot wound.

I patted Yhael's cheek. "Wake up, Yhael. Help us get you out of here. Please," I pleaded.

Nakita kong kinapa ni Ate ang pulso ni Yhael sa kaliwang kamay. "Humihina na ang kaniyang pulso, Aphle. Kailangan na nating magmadali."

We walked as fast as we could. I looked back and saw Tita Zhara gathering her strength to stand and kill Ate and me.

A few meters from the traumatic scene, we heard another gunshot, close to us.

"You think you can leave this forest alive? You're both wrong!"

"I'll find you.  The men will be riddled with bullets! You Ponientes are unlucky. You don't deserve to be loved!"

I heard Yhael groan in pain. "We can do this, Yhael. It's still far, but we need to get out of here," I whispered.

Ate Grapes and I didn't know where to turn next, so when we turned right, we didn't see the shallow ravine.

Ate Grapes and I stumbled back, but Yhael continued walking. No!

I immediately pulled him, but it was too late. My grip on his arm slipped because of the rain.

Luckily, Ate grabbed Yhael's hand, preventing him from falling completely into the ravine.

"I can see you," Tita Zhara's playful voice echoed.

Ate and I turned around and saw that Tita Zhara was close.

Ate and I exchanged glances before she looked at Yhael. As she released his hand, I took hold of it.

"Ate..."

Sinubukan niyang tanggalin ang pagkakahawak ko sa kamay ni Yhael. "Bitawan mo na si Yhael," seryoso niyang sinabi.

I shook my head several times. "No, Ate. Please, let's save Yhael," I begged.

Siya naman ang umiling. "Hindi pwede. Wala na tayong oras, Aphle." Lumingon siyang muli sa likod. "Ano mang minuto ay maaabutan na tayo ni Tita Zhara rito. Kapag hindi pa tayo umalis, paniguradong tatlo tayong paglalamayan bukas!"

"Pero, Ate si—"

"Please, Aphle! Kaya kong mawala si Yhael, pero ikaw? Hindi!" Suminghot siya. "'Yung nangyari kanina? Traumatizing 'yon para sa akin. Ang makita kong malaglag sa bangin 'yung lalaking mahal at handa ko nang pakasalan. Ang makitang mabaril at mamatay sina Mom at Dad, traumatizing 'yon para sa'kin!"

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Hinawakan niyang muli ang kamay kong nakahawak kay Yhael. "Kaya please, isipin mo naman ako.

"I'm sorry, Yhael." Bulong niya bago pwersahang inalis ang pagkakahawak ko sa kamay ni Yhael.

And then we heard something fall on the hard rock.

-iamlunamoon