"You're kidding right?"

    "Unfortunately, not. According to Ivan, Markian has the potential to become this city's hope."

    "Not to be disrespectful ha, pero naniniwala ka bang magagawa ni Markian ang bagay na 'yon?" 

   Pero kung tutuusin, kahit naman sira ulo si Mark medyo nakikinita ko rin naman ang punto ni Ivan. Kita mo, hindi siya nagdalawang isip na makipagkaibigan kay Typo at ituring ito ng totoo sa kabila ng mga bagay na naririnig niya tungkol dito. Siya lang ang nakapagparamdam kay Typo na welcome siya sa mundo ni Mark. sa kabila ng kaibahan ng estado nila sa buhay.

   Masyado siyang madaldal pero tumatatak siya sa mga taong nakakausap niya. Hindi ko lang alam kung dahil pa sa paghahampas niya sa mga ito kada natatawa o dahil sa magaan na trato niya sa mga tao, kahit pa minsan ay matabil ang dila niya, pero either ways, pansin ko namang magaan ang loob ng mga tao sakanya lalo pa't nakilala nila siya ng lubusan. 

   Ipinagkibit balikat lang ni Orion ang naging tanong ko kanina. "Well, I believe in Ivan, that's there is to say."

   Grabe, hindi ko rin talaga alam kung anong gagawin ko sa isang 'to e. Pinanliitan ko siya mg mga mata. 

   "If you believe in Ivan and you can clearly understand his reasons for parting his way, then why didn't you chase him and be with him?" Napapamewang ko siyang pinasadahan ng tingin. 

   "Why did you let him let you go?" 

     Sa mga sandaling iyon ay bahagya lang siyang natawa at parang bata na ginulo ang buhok ko! 

     Tumayo na rin siya pagkatapos no'n tumampisaw sa tubig. Pero bago pa man siya tuluyang sumisid ay nilingon niya ako. At sa mga sandaling 'yon ay mas napansin ko ang kabuuhan ng pagkatamlay niya. 

   "Because spending my whole youth with him was enough. Those seven years was enough for me to keep going, even if it ended up for us to have our separate ways now." 

    "H-hindi ko maintindihan?" kunot noo kong tanong dahil napakapamilyar ng mga sinasabi niya at hindi ako natutuwa. 

   "It's simple. The world is not a neverland and people needs to grow. With or without those they wanted to grow old with." 

•••

    Matapos ang mahabang gabing iyon ay bigo akong makapag imbestiga sa tunay na kalagayan ni Typo. Naka uwi na sina Mark at Chenzo pero itong si Orion ay kinapalan na talaga ang mukha at humingi pa ng extension.

    Pinakilala ko na siya kay Typo bilang kapatid ko at tutulungan niya kako akong i-comfort si Nanay. Well, 'yon naman kasi ang totoo dahil pakiramdam ko hindi ko kayang gawin mag isa ang bagay na 'yon. 

    Masyado pa akong nawiwindang sa lahat ng bagay at sa tingin ko ganoon rin naman si Orion. Pero pagtutulungan namin 'to. Magtutulungan kami para mabuo namin ang pamilya na mayroon dapat kami. 

    Sa kabila ng sitwasyon ay hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti habang tinatakbo ang daan patungo sa Master's Bedroom. 

Sabi kasi ni Mang Ernie ay pinatatawag daw ako ni Typo kaya naman ay agad na akong nagtungo doon. Although na delay lang ako ng ilang minuto dahil nakipag videocall pa sa 'min si Markian at Dennis, pero heto na ako ngayon at kakatok na nga!  

    "M-master, pinapatawag niyo daw po ako? Sorry na late ako," humahangos kong saad. 

    Nang hindi makarinig ng tugon ay nagpaalam nalang ako na papasok na. Doon tumambad sa 'kin ang tulog mantikang si Typo suot ang puti niyang long sleeve polo. 

    Iba rin talaga ang isang 'to e, ipapatawag tawag ako tapos tutulugan lang din naman pala. Napabuga ako ng hangin dahil doon at patingkayad na naglakad papunta sa harapan niya. Tyansa ko na 'to para ipagpatuloy ang naudlot kong imbestigasyon.

    Maingat kong ipinuslit ang sarili sa kama niya saka sinundot ang kanyang mukha. Okay, hindi naman ito mukhang silicon mask. 

    "Kurutin ko kaya?" bulong ko sa sarili at ginawa nga ang tinuran. Ang kaso ay mukha naman talaga itong balat ng tao. Napakunot ang noo ko dahil doon at napadako ang tingin sa butones ng damit niya. 

   "No," agad kong kontra sa sarili ngunit sinubukan rin namang suriin kung may pagkakaiba ba sa texture ng kanyang mukha at dibdib. Pero habang sinipitat sipat ko ang may bandang leeg niya ay bigla kong napagtanto ang isang bagay. 

    Kung nagpapanggap nga ang nilalang na 'to bilang si Typo, maaaring hindi na maskara ang ginagagamit niya! Baka nagpa plastic surgery na talaga siya, lalo't ilang taon din naman bago niya naisipang bumalik dito. 

    Sakto pa talaga sa mismong araw ng pagkamatay ni Don Alejandro. Kaduda duda ang bagayan na 'yon, animo'y bumalik lang siya dahil alam niyang siya na ang mamumuno sa fraction ng dating Don. 

     Kahit pa sabihin nating— 

    "What are you doing?" 

    Agad nanlaki ang mga mata ko dahil sa boses na 'yon. Doon ko lang din natanto ang kasalukuyan kong pwesto sa itaas niya habang sinusubukan lang naman sanang alamin kung siya pa ba talaga siya! 

    "W-wala po! Gusto ko lang na a-ano… gusto ko lang kayong pagmasdan." Napayuko ako at dali daling lumayo. 

    Isang kampanteng tango lang naman ang itinugon ni Typo doon at inayos ang butones ng damit niya. Hindi ako natutuwa sa kinahihinatnan ng mga nangyayari kaya naman ay agad nalang akong nag bow. 

    "Pasensya na po at nadistorbo ko kayo, aalis nalang po ako sa silid na 'to—" 

    "No, you're staying. We have something to discuss, remember?" 

    Napakurap kurap ako nang matanto ang bagay na 'yon, lalo pa't nagumpisa na siyang maglakad papalapit sa 'kin. 

    "Ano po ang paguusapan natin?" inosente kong tanong at sinubukang hanapin kung saan na napunta ang noon lang ay kislap ng mga mata niya. 

    Bakit napaka seryoso na niya kasi? Pakiramdam ko nga kahit mas mabait at maluwag siya sa 'kin ngayon ay parang may mali e. Kasi hindi na katulad ng dati ang mga tingin niya. 

   Isa ang bagay na 'yon sa mga dahilan kaya pinagdududahan ko parin siya, kahit pa sinabi na naman ni Ivan na si Typo pa rin itong kaharap ko. Pero kung si Typo nga kasi ito, eh bakit pakiramdam ko isa nalang akong ordinaryong tao sa paningin niya ngayon? Mas masaya pa nga ata siya noong gabing nakipaglaro siya kila Markian kaysa kapag magkasama kaming naghahapunan sa napakalaking hapag ng mga Dazarencio. 

    Hindi ako sanay. Masyadong nakakapagpakunot noo. Bakit simula ng bumalik siya ay pakiramdam ko hindi na ako ang isa sa pinakamahalagang tao sa buhay niya? Hindi ako nagrereklamo pero, bakit ang sakit?

    "Nathalie, let's break up." 

    Sa isang iglap ay parang nakalimutan ng utak ko na pumrposeso ng maayos. Sa pagkakaalam ko wala namang kami at kailangan man ay hindi ko naman siya tinuring na jowa. 

   Pero bakit ako nakayuko ngayon at hindi mapigilan ang mga luha sa pagtulo?

    Bakit ang sikip sikip ng dibdib ko? 

    Hindi ko na nagawang makapagsalita nang marahan niya akong hinigit payakap. "Also, I'm also officially letting you go," halos pahina ng pahina niyang saad, ngunit wala akong ibang nagawa kundi ang pigilan ang sarili na humikbi. 

    Bakit ganito? 

     "Your father will arrive here soon and you and your family will now have your freedom back. You're now free to leave." Matapos niyang sabihin ang mga katagang iyon ay doon ko lang napasing amoy alak pala siya. 

    Sa sandaling iyon ay natanto kong kaya pala tulog mantika siya kanina ay dahil malakas ang tama niya. Hindi siya magaling uminom at hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit niya gagawin ang bagay na iyon at magpapapakalasing gayong mag-uusap dapat kami. 

   Nabalik lang ako sa wisyo ng putulin niya na ang yakap at seryoso akong tinitigan. "Please say something, I don't want your silence right now." 

   Parang piniga ang puso ko dahil sa tono ng boses niya. Nakakainis man dahil para nalang lumalagpas ang mga tingin niya sa 'kin pero hindi ko parin pala maatim na marinig siyang gan'yan. Nagmamakaawa. 

   "H-hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko Typo." Muli akong napayuko at napakagap sa ibabang labi. 

   "May parte ng pagkatao ko na masaya kasi sawakas, malaya na ako at ang pamilya ko. Heto na 'yon oh, pangarap ko 'to simula noong bata ako. Ang dami kong sinakripisyo at pinagdaanan para lang makamtan ko ang sandaling ito…" Napasingal ako. 

    "Sinabi ko pa nga sa sarili ko dati na ayos lang na iwan kita. Kasi 'yon naman talaga ang gusto ko, aalis ako at iiwan kita. Pero bakit nanghihina ang mga tuhod ko ngayon? Bakit parang hindi ko kayang humakbang palayo sa'yo?" 

    Marahan niyang hinawakan ang pisngi ko at ginawaran ako ng isang matamlay na ngiti.

    "Bakit parang hindi na kita kayang iwan?" bulalas ko at muli nanamang gumuho. Hindi na niya ako niyakap sa pagkakataong 'yon at pinanatili lang ang halos wala nang emosyon niyang mga titig. 

   "Perhaps because of trauma bonds. We've been together eversince we were kids. You were basically my childhood friend and my parter in crime, it just happened that our situation was fucked up…" 

    "Resulting for me to believe that I was inlove with you, when the truth was I just have mommy issues. Ended up for you also, to have difficulty in leaving because you think I'll be hurt again and that'll be your fault." Matamlay siyang natawa pero napailing iling lang ako.

    "Lasing ka lang. Epekto lang ng alak lahat ng pinagsasabi mo. K-kapag nasa tamang katinuan ka na, hindi mo ako hahayaang umalis." Napapadyak ako sa sobrang inis sa sarili kasi maski ako ay hindi makapaniwalang sinabi ko ang bagay na 'yon. 

   Hindi parin ako matigil sa pag iyak at halos nanginginig ang mga kamay kong kumapit sakanya. "Typo…" 

    Hinaplos niya lang ang ulo ko at dahan dahan itong isinandal sa kaliwang balikat niya. "That's exactly the reason why I got drunk. Because there's no way in hell I could let you go when I'm sober, so just cooperate."

   "Please just let me let you go." 

    "Hi—"

   "I won't force you to decide right at this moment because you're still in the state of shock. Don't worry, I'll give you enough time to think this through. But I just want to say thanks for being there when I needed a friend. Although it was Ivan's plan to put you as my knight, I'm still glad it was you." 

   "I'm sorry for being glad of meeting you."

xxx

Third Person's POV

     Ivan scoffed when the mention of his brother get passed through his ears. For the nth time, he was spending his break in the school library while trying to write his new piece. He's also aware that the very place wasn't really as quiet as what people expect it to be, he didn't just expect the name that's been lingering into the day's gossips to be someone's he's too familiar with. 

    It's about Typo and Nathalie's break up. Who worded that rumor so wrongfully? Of course it was Chenzo who happened to mishear it in Markian's conversation, which came from Orion who also happened to misunderstood the situation in the Dazarencio's Residence a few days ago. 

   There, Ivan just just shrugged his shoulders and tried continuing his literary work. He's not even bothered by the fact that right from the start, he knew that Typo will eventually lead to this outcome. Ivan is a great manipulator you even this very moment, he anticipated this ending of Typo, becoming brave enough to set someone free. 

    Was Typo okay? Of course he wasn't. But Ivan also believe that Typo will carry on. That's just the type of person he is eversince they were kids. He sure damn know that Typo was somewhat greedy and he'll do whatever he can in order to own everything he wanted. 

    From toys, to attention, to property and even to Nath before. Typo was so greedy that when he felt the warmth and care of his childhood friend, he then wanted to own her because he thought that Nathalie was all he had. Ended up for him to focus his greed to only one person. Making her his obsession. 

   He was so greedy that upon realizing that Nath was drowning with her own rage, Typo tried to divert her anger towards him just for Nathalie to not result to self-loath the moment she realized that she was wrong. He wanted to own every part of her, even her wrath. He was indeed the epitome of greed and he wanted her whole. 

   And that's actually the same thing he's doing now, he was so greedy that he wanted to own all her pain along with his. He wanted to own all the suffering that his home caused her just to lessen her burden. Even if it means being left in the Dazarencio's cage and ruling his father's fraction all alone, he would. Just for Nathalie to be free. 

    "Well, maybe that's the problem if you've been damaged for too long. you'll lost the ability to identify what love really feels like," Ivan uttered upon writing his prose for the day. "And in order to keep someone, you resort to desperate actions and just call it love."

    He shrugged at deadpanly started at the books in the place he once called graveyard of faded dreams, the library. "But at the end of the day, maybe you just taught each other what love wasn't really like. Maybe you made each other feel what love doesn't really feels like," he casually recited but did not even bother to jot it down his notes this time, especially upon locking eyes with someone he know to well. 

     "And I guess, that's the tragic ending of your 'Everything that isn't what love is like story'"

    "Ivan!" Orion beamed, just like he did every single time and even waved his hand. 

    "Sabi na nga ba dito kita matatagpuan e!" He added and tried to happily paddled his way towards Ivan's location. But this time it was more slower and weaker.

    Naupo na rin ito agad sa harapan niya pagkatapos at taimtim na pinagmasdan si Ivan na dali dali namang itinago ang mga papel at notebook na sinulatan niya ng prosa. 

    "Why? What do you want? Why are you here?" Suminghal si Ivan at blanko ang ekspresyon na itong hinarap. 

    "Hehe." 

    "Ano nga?" Hindi niya alam kung nang aasar ba ang isang 'to o hindi eh. He's not even sure why he's too affected by this when he mastered how to not give a fuck eversince he was a child. But I guess, he'd still lose his cool when it comes to Ori.

    He always does, actually. 

   "I just want to ask a favor." Finally, words. Orion manage to communicate properly. "You're the only one who knows that I'll go to Canada. And I know this bullshit because Nathalie just got her freedom and we're just starting to rebuild our family even in a simple home…" Napayuko ito. 

   "I would actually want to stay here honestly, but I don't think my body will last. I'm deteriorating and sooner or later I can't conceal it with a smile anymore. And I don't want to add burden to my sister and from everyone here. Especially to Daz." 

   Tumango lang si Ivan sa lahat ng narinig at hindi na umimik. It's like the time when Orion told him he likes Daz and Ivan repied that he knows, cold-heartedly. It's like the time when Orion immediately added that he's going to Canada so he couldn't just commit and Ivan replied with his infamous "I know," even with the big whole in his chest. 

    At alam niya kung saan patungo ang usapang 'to. Alam na alam niya rin kung ano ang gagawin ni Orion sa Canada, hindi iyon para magbakasyon o maging permanent resident. Pero may magagawa ba siya?

   Wala.

   Too bad he's a manipulator but he could control someone's tragic ending. 

   "When are you going to Canada?" tanging tanong nalang niya sa kabila ng lahat ng mga bagay na gusto pa sana niyang sabihin. 

    "N-next week." Orion couldn't help but to cough and a glimpse of concern flashed right into Ivan's face but immediately conceal it with a scoff. 

   "Isn't that too soon?" Ivan instantly regret asking the questions, when Orion's smile slowly fade. 

   "B-but I can't take it anymore. I-m tired. I'm sorry for being selfish." 

   Finally, Ivan took the courage to held Orion's hand just to let him know that he is being understood. "You shouldn't say sorry for choosing yourself. You deserve it. So now, what do you want me to do?"

  And so, Orion uttered his will as straight forward as possible while trying to not completely break. 

   And Ivan endured it all. Unfazed.

   "Okay got it. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything from here on," Ivan respond after hearing everything. 

   Leaving for Orion to paint a weak smile into his pale and battered lips. "Thank you." 

   "Uhm, just so you know this is not free. I only accept gratitude in cash so you might as well buy my book as your payment." Ivan tried to bleakly shook the whole vibe off and luckily, it brought back some life in Orion's chuckle.

   "So you're still writing poems and proses?"

   Ivan heaved a sigh and gaze upon Orion's whole being. "I didn't stop tho..." 

    "I actually don't know how to." 

    This time Orion shook off his head and tried to downplay everything with his soft laugh. "Just keep on writing, then." 

    With that, he immediately bidded his goodbye while Ivan on the other hand was still stuck on the same place where he left him. Finally being able to breath out all the sorrow he's been bottling up for a long time. 

    Of couse he'll keep on writing. That's the only way for him to keep their story forever. He needs to keep on writing, after all, literature is the only place for Orion to keep on living. 

   And indeed, perhaps Ivan was right when he said that the library is a graveyard of faded dreams. Because perhaps, some book that has been written and place there was once a story of someone's wishes, dreams, and hopes that only came true for a short period of time or didn't manage to come true at all. Ended for it on papers and not in real life, anymore.

  Thus, if his brother became the embodiment of greed at some point, Ivan on the other hand is indeed the Modern Day Lucifer. Because with heads held high, he'll continue to move forward, carrying all kind of pride that the world has to offer. 

   His pride as a Chrisostomo and his unwavering chase towards his plans. His pride for not giving in and saying it is what it is. Last but not the least, Ivan's pride for making him the subject of his poems and proses, despite of the fact that he's the only one left writing their pages. 

xxx

   "I already made a proposal with Death. I'm already taken." 

     "You're an idiot." 

    "No I'm serious. A person like me doesn't need love, what I needed is a punishment for what I've done and what I'm about to do. I need to stick with my plans then wait for the persecution that I deserve. That, or wait for a perfect moment to sacrifice myself to save others. For at the end of my story, the only marriage I'll have is with Death. And the last phrases at my epilogue will always be, to die happily ever after…Because I don't think I can live like that."

    Orion grinned and move closer to Ivan. "But you're not dead yet and you're still not at the end of your story, so why not spend your remaining life with me instead? Be mine while you're still alive." 

xxx