I kicked the stone hard enough that it reach the falls, I'm heading to. Ang matandang lalaking tinawag na lolo kanina ni Zannah ay siyang kasama nito ngayon. He asked for privacy. Tsk! Why not involve me?

Hindi na biro ang mga nangyayari. We've been visited by a King with his troops. Zannah had been over protective. And that old man, who defended us earlier.

And I know I'm the target.

Ang tanong bakit ako?

I took my shirt off upon reaching the falls I hurriedly dive in, feeling its coldness. I swim for few minutes, but as my vision caught by the house, miles apart.

I started hearing murmurs, I roamed my vision around. But my eyes were caught back by the house for the second time. Effortlessly, the murmurs become clear.

And each words uttered, set my mind in a frozen state, laying my heart in shatters.

In one swift move, I was put in a tormenting chamber.

"Should I make vegetable salad or cook beef tapas?"

"Anything you want, Sweetheart." I answered, hugging her from behind. She quickly turned around, giving me a peck on my lips made me smile in an instant.

Grabbing her waist, I pulled her. I need not to ask for more, 'cause she solemnly give in.

Lumipas ang isang araw, we’re still acting like how an actor’s on an anticipated movie.

"Ngayon ang ikatlong araw na tinutukoy ni Lolo, nang magkausap kami. Inaasahan ko ngayon ang pagdating ni Igo dala ang kalatas."

"Kalatas?"

"Mensahe."

"Shall I start preparing?"

"Hmmm, sapagkat kinakailangan nating likumin ang mga tala."

"Are you fuckin serious?! How can we do---"

"Mga talang ipinagkait mapag-isa, gawa ng mga naunang sala."

As I was about to ask again, she immediately cut me off. "Saka ko na ilalahad ang buong detalye, pagdating ni Igo."

She's serious.

Madalas niyang ginagamit ang wikang filipino sa tuwing, importante ang paguusapan.

Tumango lang ako bilang tugon sa naging saad niya. How could I defy her order? Just on how those orbs looks at me, it reminds where I stand. It reminds me a certain line.

Back to our usual setup, she made our breakfast. Had a quick romance, and now, were here swimming at the falls.

"Where hell did you get that body?" She asked, pertaining to my muscles.

"I do Judo."

"Make sense."She uttered, but later arrived for a new question."You love Judo?"

"Nope, just..." I shook my head, "Mother, enrolled me to a judo class way back grades school, without my consent."

"She did..." Bulong nito, though I heard it. Batid kong may mali rito.

I closed the gap between us, hugging her, showering kisses on her right shoulder, up to her jaw until I met her lips.

"Are you happy?"

This time, I'm the one who dropped a question. She was taken aback, but later recovered.

"Of course," She replied.

"As long as you're happy..." I whispered, placing a kiss on her forehead. Saka mahigpit itong niyakap muli.

Darkness evades, we're now here at the balcony waiting for Igo's arrival.

"He's here." Zannah, uttered.

I roamed for a moment, and she's right. Igo's on his way to us. He's glowing in the darkness. Never have I imagined that such thing is living.

He stops, near the balcony. Zannah hurriedly reach out, that's when Igo's bowed his head giving Zannah a moment to caress his head.

"It was my fault, but thank you for saving us."

Igo remained silent. While, I stand there close to them, just listening.

When Zannah, neared, placing her forehead on Igo. As she whispers, words that made my shattered heart, shatters even more. That’s when I made up my mind.

"I need a one last favor. Be with us, Igo."

She distance herself when Igo's glow started to evanesce, I watched on how, he closed his eyes, as a teardrop escaped from his right eye.

And I'm a witness, of that tear, turning into a visible map.

I already knew on how this journey will work. But, as long as, these will her make happy…for the meantime.

Sweetheart, I’ll endure the pain… in this tormenting chamber...

Forgive me, if one day you’ll happen to shed tears without…me.
~~~