-epilogue two-

FINN

Nagising ako sa pag-ring ng alarm. Sumisilip na ang araw mula sa kurtina ng kwarto. Mula sa baba, naririnig ko ang pagdadabog ni Tita sa kusina. Napanguso ako at isinubsob ang mukha sa unan. Ayoko pang magising!

My phone vibrated a couple of times before I gained the will to get up. Mahina akong napahikab at kinusot ang mata bago pumunta sa banyo para linisin ang mukha. I went back to my bed, still clad in my white pajama shirt and pants, paired with soft pink socks. Sandali muna akong nagpagulong-gulong sa kama bago tiningnan ang cellphone.

There are already 73 missed calls and 240 messages. Ang dami naman nilang load.

I read all of their messages, replying them one by one.

Gavin:
FINNNNNNN GISING NAAAAAAAA
MAGANDANG ANGHEL GUMISING KA NAAAAAA
Gising ka na baaaaaa
Hoyyyyy!!! May pupuntahan pa tayo mamaya haaaa
Susunduin na lang kita diyan hehehehe pasabi ke tita lutuan niya akoooo

Me:
Use the front gate. Huwag ka mag-akyat bahay ulit.

Renée:
Hey, angel, are you awake? Baka malate lang kami ni Baste mamaya since may ipapadaan pa si Mommy
But we'll be there so don't worry. Get up na and don't forget to text me kapag nando'n na kayo! Safe travels! ❤❤

Me:
You too, Ree.

Baste:
Lily, siguro nagtext na sa'yo si Ree pero sasabihin ko ulit. May dadaanan lang kami tapos didiretso kami sa resto.
Sumama ka kay Gavin, ha! Kay Gavin lang! Huwag ka munang dumikit-dikit sa kung sino man doon! Kahit kay Wes!
Lily, text mo ko kung nando'n ka na.
Mag-ingat kayo, Lily. Sinabihan ko na si Gavin na kung pwede e mabagal lang ang pagtakbo niya sa kotse.

Me:
Opo.

Eura:
FINLEY LILLIANNNENEEE HAHAHDHAHSHSHAHA HI BB GURL ARE YOU GISING GISING NAAAA
Kung hindi pa, aba't gumising ka na't lumabas sa iyong bahay para naman magka-araw ang aming buhayyyy!!! Mwahahahahhahaa!! Bet ba ang banat ko?!
Anyway kitakits na lang tayo mamaya sa resto
Actually dapat susunduin kita pero amputa si Kairo talagang pinagbawalan pa ako ng hunghang
Kung pupunta daw ako e'di dapat kasama siya like hell naman sa peelingerong tao yun diba
anyway paksiw SINISIGAWAN NA AKO NI LOUISE KAYA AALIS NA ME I MEAN MAGAAYOS
KITA KITS BABY BYE MWA INGAT KA

Me:
Sige.

Maki:
morning bestieeee
excited na ako for our reunion mamaya luhhh
dadalhin ko si liam kasi wala lang para magyabang
megashh!!
anywayyy, namiss na talaga kita! oh gosh, hindi kasi ako pinayagan ni ateng na lumabas kasi nakakaloka at namiss niya ako
i'll wait for u sa resto, bestie, mwa mwa chupchup
magdala ka naman ng chocolate kung meron sa inyo 😩😩

Me:
Okay. Ubos na chocolate.

Caspian:
Finn, what time will you arrive here? I found this takoyaki place and they said the food is good, so maybe we can check it before they all arrive?

Me:
Alright.

Oliver:
Finn ikw dn b ay inaya ng akng pnsan?
Lol, actually i know kaw inaya kac nakta k s phone nya pro ssama n lng ako kac gutom ako at gsto k dn ng takoyaki
Nalman k ring malelate dw cna Baste so anng oras kyo makkarating?

Me:
Early, I guess.

Kairo:
hey
good morning, kitten
wanted to fetch you but three of your friends and that devil banned us rom going there so i'll wait for you here
what time will you arrive?

Me:
Earlier than planned.

Wes:
Good morning! Mag-ingat kayo sa daan.
I miss and love you, Lillianne.

His message made me smile. Ibinaba ko ang mga paa sa sahig at bahagyang pinadyak-padyak.

Me:
Good morning. Me too! :D

Theo:
finn alamn mo ba kung saan ulit yung rssto? tapos kung anong oras?
nakatjlog yata ako nong pinaguusapan yun tas di sinabi ni sapphire kaya ika
[New message] sorry nakatulog na apla ako habang nagtytype anyway akam mo kung nansam?
nasan?*

Me:
Fuentabella Restaurant, 12pm.

Marcella:
I have already reserved the whole place. Do tell me when you'll arrive so that the others can get ready.
Alam mong may hindi dadating kung wala ka.
And I'm sure they've already spammed you with messages regarding your time of arrival.

Me:
Okay.

Nang marinig ang tawag ni Tita ay nag-ayos na ako. I showered and changed my clothes. Nireplyan ko muna si Wes nang makitang nagmessage siya ulit bago bumaba. I bowed at my parents' picture, uttering a quiet 'good morning' before heading to the kitchen... kung saan nakita ko si Gavin na prenteng nakaupo at kumakain na.

I stepped closer to the dining table, narrowing my eyes at him. Ini-angat niya ang tingin sa'kin na puno ang bibig. Sobrang dami ng kinaing pagkain na hindi na siya makapagsalita.

"Tita," tawag ko sa nakakatandang papunta na sa sala at parang may ka-chat. She hummed, glancing at me. "Ba't po may palaboy?" sabay turo ko kay Gavin.

My bestfriend ate the food in one gulp, glaring at me. "Grabe ka sa palaboy, Finley! Nakikain lang naman ako dito!"

Tumawa lang si Tita at umiling sa'min. Mukhang focused siya sa kachat dahil doon bumalik ang atensiyon niya.

I sat on the chair, facing Gavin. May pagkain na ang pinggan ko at mula sa dami ng kanin, alam kong si Gavin ang kumuha.

"Too many." reklamo ko. "We'll eat there too."

Nag-aya pa naman si Caspian doon sa takoyaki place tapos papakainin mo ako ng ganito kadami?

"E'di kakain ulit doon. Walang problema!" aniya at kumuha ulit ng kanin.

I pursed my lips, silently huffing. Hindi naman kami magkaparehos ng tiyan e. I can't eat the same amount of foods than him.

Nang mapansing hindi ako masaya ay bumuntong hininga siya. Napangiti ako nang bawasan niya ang pagkain ko at ilagay iyon sa pinggan niya.

"Nagtext na ba sila sa'yo? Anong oras mo gustong umalis?" tanong niya pagkatapos kumain ng ikatlong beses.

"After this." sagot ko at uminom ng tubig. "Maghugas ka."

"Hala! Bakit naman ako?"

"Nakikain ka."

Humalukipkip si Gavin habang nakatitig sa'kin. Sa haba ng nguso niya ay para na siyang duck.

"Bakit, 'pag ikaw nakikikain sa'min, 'di naman kita pinapahugas ah?!"

"'Cause I rarely eat there. 'Pag 'di ka maghugas, sasabihin ko 'yaw mo sa luto ni Tita Geneva." I threatened him, almost childishly.

"Sabihin mo muna 'please'."

We stared at each other for a minute, eyes challenging. Tapos ay mabilis akong tumakbk palabas, ang pangalan ni Tita Geneva ay nasa dulo na ng dila ko, nang bigla niya akong hinabol. Narinig ko pa ang pagkahulog ng kutsara at reklamo ni Tita Layla sa ingay, but Gavin has already caught me, laughing as he dragged me back to the kitchen.

"Oo na, oo na, ito na! Ang pasaway mo talaga kahit kailan, Finley!"

Hindi ako sumagot. Imbes, I gave him a smug smile watching as he washed the dishes. Taking my phone out, I snapped a picture of his back and sent them to Eura who immediately replied with thirsting emojis.

It's been five years since the game happened. Marami ang nagbago dahil sa mga bago naming nakilala pero para sa aming apat, mas naging matatag ang pagkakaibigan namin.

At the end of that day when we left the company, Baste asked Renée to be his official girlfriend. Nagdate sila pagkasunod na umaga kaya nagdrama pa si Gavin sa'kin. We talked about our college na lang, and he told me that he would pursue the offer given. Naging masaya din siya nang malamang doon a-attend sina Renée at Baste. I went with them too, since almost everyone persuaded me too.

Ngayong taon kami nakagraduate, except kay Gavin na Chemical Engineering. Si Renée ay graduate na sa Business Administration, and si Baste sa Legal Management. Since I love playing games and I draw, I took Interactive Entertainment that majored in game art and design to either be a game designer or artist.

Nakasama ko doon si Maki na isang taon lang pala ang tanda sa'kin. He was one year level above mine and was taking Communication Arts. He kept on visiting our town the first two years dahil doon pala nakatira si Liam. The guy had to stop college to provide for his family so he accepted the beta-test offer, knowing that it has money. Sa ngayon ay third-year college student na siya sa Entrepreneurship.

Nang makapasok kami sa University ay nasa third year na sina Wes. They graduated after two years, Dierran a year later because he was taking engineering too. What surprised me was Eura being a Culinary Arts student at na may restaurant pala ang pamilya niya. Kairo and Oliver took over their family business too, while Caspian went to law school after graduating from Political Science. Then Wes... Right now, he's a third-year student doctor who's taking the joint MD/MBA program. He took MBA for healthcare management in the future.

Over the past five years, we've grown and healed on our own. The life we thought was stolen from us, we lived them to our best.

We received news from Theo, since he still keeps in contact with me, that the BBG is continuing the RWO project. They received a lot of backlash the first year, but gained a lot of support too. Iyon nga lang, ni-request sa kanila na i-tone down ang level ng game. So for the past years, they worked hard to redesign and reprogram it, fixing the confusing parts. And now they're about to launch it again.

Kaya naman naisipan ni Eura at Dierran na magkaroon ng meet-up o reunion ang original players o beta-testers. It was easy since Eura is almost everyone's favorite enemy, and Dierran is friends with everybody.

I opened the windows to Gavin's car, closing my eyes at the wind that caressed my face. I could hear the harsh waves hitting the rock formations below the sea wall, and over the horizon the great wall that divides each city stood high and mighty.

Everytime I pass these familiar roads, the bus stop where he waited for me for hours, the mansion that faces the sea, and the array of houses in our town, makes me smile at the thought of coming back alive and well.

These past few years, I've been smiling a lot. When I visited my parent's grave for the first time with him, I didn't feel numb anymore. My heart feels lighter and I couldn't be more happier with my friends safe and sound around me.

Tumigil ang kotse sa harap ng pamilyar na restaurant. Eura was already outside, her loud voice almost taking over the street as she demanded for the decorations to be hung neatly. Bumaba naman agad si Gavin at lumapit sa kaniya, hugging her at the back. Sumunod ako kaya lumayo sa kaniya si Eura at lumapit sa'kin. My bestfriend pouted behind her, opting to go inside since he wasn't picked.

"Finley! Namiss kita!" sigaw niya sabay yakap sa'kin.

I lightly chuckled, hugging her back. "Saw each other last week."

"Last week pa 'yon e! Dapat everyday!"

"Ano ka, Eura, kasintahan para everyday kayo magkasama? Daig niyo pa kami ni Kaiser na official na pamilya."

I turned to Ate Depore who rolled her eyes at Eura. I gave Finschey, her four year old son, a small wave. We call him Sky kahit na una'y gusto ni Ate na Finn. Halos lahat ng ninong at ninang niya ay nagreklamo dahil plano din daw nilang ipangalan sa anak nila ang Finn at 'di pwedeng manguna si Ate Depore dahil lang sa siya ang unang kinasal. In the end, they had an agreement to use Finn occasionally on their kids' names but they won't be called that.

[Fins-kay]

Napaisip nga ako kung bakit. Sa dami-dami ba naman ng pangalan sa mundo, kailangan pag-agawan pa 'yon?

Sky walked towards me and I smiled at him. Bigla siyang yumakap sa tuhod ko at tumingala. "Ate Finn!" he made grabby hands.

I copied his action, saying, "Finschey!"

"E'di wow, Ate. E'di kayo na. Kailangang i-flex? Need magyabang lagi? Hindi pwedeng huminga ng isang araw na hindi mo kinu-kuwento buhay-asawa mo?"

"Kung 'yan ba naman reaction mo lagi, Eura, why should I stop? Nasisiyahan ako 'pag nasisira araw mo."

Kumunot ang noo ni Eura sa narinig. "Pamilyar. Pamilyar ang linya na 'yan. Parang narinig ko na 'yan dati."

"Good to know your ear is still functional. Mas nakakakaba kung 'di ka nakakarinig mula dati."

Kairo stepped out of his sports car, moving his sunglass to his hair to wink at me. The first three buttons of his shirt was undone, showing a bit of his tattoo. His ear piercing glinted in the sunlight and the emotions in his fox eyes were darker than usual. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya habang iniisip kung bakit nandito pa kami sa labas. Hindi ba nila nararamdaman ang init? Wala ba silang balak na pumasok?

Just as I wondered that and heard Eura's loud complaint to Kairo, another car stopped in front of us. Oliver went out of the front seat, waving his hand and screaming, "Nandito na ang gwapo!"

Tamang-tama naman na pagkasabi niya no'n ay lumabas si Caspian mula sa driver's seat. His white long sleeves were rolled to the elbow and he looked like he just got out of a corporate meeting.

"Oo, iyang pinsan mong gwapo nandito na." sarkastikong sagot ni Ate Depore. "Kaya umalis ka sa harap ko para mas makita ko siya."

"Hoy, 'di ba may asawa ka na? Dala-dala mo pa nga anak mo oh!" sabay turo ni Oli sa bata na nakakapit na sa tuhod ko.

"Oh, bakit, hindi pwede mag-appreciate ng beauty? Bitter ka lang kasi single ka pa din." makahulugang ngumiti si Ate Depore.

Bago pa siya makasagot ay sumungaw na si Gavin mula sa restaurant. "May balak ba kayo pumasok at tulungan ako? Kasi kung wala, ilo-lock ko na 'to at bahala kayo diyan."

"Miss mo naman agad ako!" natatawang sigaw ni Eura at pumasok na sa restaurant.

Before Caspian, who was staring at me, could come closer, Kairo has already stalked to my front. Nagulat pa ako nang bigla na siyang nasa harapan ko, at medyo na-inggit sa height niya. It feels like I'm surrounded by giants.

"Hi, kitten." he drawled, the corner of his lips lifting up in a smirk. "How are ya?"

"Saw each other last week." I pointed out, remembering how I bumped into him at the mall. Inaya pa nga niya akong kumain pero nagmamadali ako dahil kasama ko si Tita Layla.

"That's not an answer to my question though."

"'m fine." sagot ko na lang.

These past years, Kairo's become even more menacing. I guess graduating from college had built an even playfully cold exterior for him. Kung akala ko noon sa kaniya ay scammer siya, ngayon ay siya na ang presidente ng isang illegal marketing business.

Umakbay sa kaniya si Oliver kaya napalitan ng iritasyon ang nanunuksong tingin ni Kairo. "P're, tara na sa loob. May pag-uusapan pa tayo. Akala mo ba hindi ko alam na ini-ignore mo mga e-mails ko sa'yo? Nagpost ka ng bakasyon mo sa resort namin tapos 'di mo 'ko pinapansin?!"

"If you would stop reaching my e-mails ten times a day with an accompanying text message with incomprehensible words, baka i-entertain pa kita."

"Whatever. Basta ngayon na nandito na tayo, let's discuss that business deal I'm proposing."

"Ayoko talaga sa mga business talks na 'yan. Nakakastress." pairap na tugon ni Ate Depore habang pinapanood ang dalawang pumasok sa resto. She smiled at me as she scooped Sky up. "Papasok na rin ako, Finn. Sumunod na kayo."

"Mm."

I felt Caspian stand next to me as Ate Depore entered the restaurant with a loud bang — napalakas kasi ang pagbukas niya sa resto. Sinulyapan ko siya at nakitang nakangiti rin siya habang tinatanaw ang mga kaibigan namin sa loob.

"Sorry." I started. "Didn't see the takoyaki place."

"It's alright. Baka magalit din si Eura na may pupuntahan tayong kainan at i-ban tayo sa restaurant niya." iginala niya ang tingin sa paligid. "He's not here yet? Hinihintay mo siya?"

Umiling ako. "Eura talked."

Sa simpleng 'yon lang ay natawa si Caspian, siguro naintindihan na sapat na ang pagsalita ni Eura para matagalan kami sa labas. We both walked inside the place, noticing a few Reaper's Oath members have already started helping inside. Si Fern ang nagmamanage sa decorations at inuutusan nito si Louise na nagrereklamo habang inaayos ang lights sa ceiling.

"Why are we this early again, insan? Ito tuloy at tutulong pa tayo kay Eura." nakangusong reklamo ni Oliver habang may hawak-hawak na carton.

"Ulitin mo nga ang kagaguhang sinabi mo, Oliver! Ulitin mo dahil parang medyo nabingi ako do'n!" sigaw ni Eura mula sa kitchen.

"Paano mo naman narinig 'yon e an'layo nating dalawa?!"

"Kaya nga ulitin mo dahil hindi ko masyadong narinig at baka nabingin na ak—"

"Kapag pinagpatuloy mo pa 'yang sigaw mo, Eura, kami na talaga ang mabibingi." Kairo fired at her, dragging a chair out so he could sit.

To everyone's surprise, we heard a sudden yelp and a feet dangled from the chair that was pulled out. Lumabas mula sa ilalim ng mesa si Theo na kusot-kusot pa ang mata. He was still in his casual clothes, and he looked foreign in the middle of everyone.

Gavin was the most surprised, snapping his head at Eura with a glare. "Bakit nandito 'yan?!"

Kahit si Eura ay hindi makapaniwala sa nakitang lalaki. She looked at each of us nervously, stuttering, "H-Hindi ko din alam. Alam kong nagtanong siya sa'kin kagabi kung saan pero 'di ko nga siya pinansin 'tas kaninang umaga kasi, pumunta muna ako kay Kuya para manghingi ng pera, tapos naiwan kong bukas 'tong resto—"

"I was in my car..." Theo explained. "Tapos nasa iisang street lang pala ang apartment ko 'saka 'yong restaurant kaya dumiretso na ako dito."

"Tapos natulog ka?" Ate Depore asked.

"Wala kasing tao e... Ayoko namang maghintay so sabi ko matutulog muna ako..."

"E no'ng nagsimula kaming mag-ayos? Hindi ka nagising?" tanong ni Louise.

"Hindi ko lang pinansin..."

Pagkatapos ng ilang minutong katahimikan ay nauwi na lang ang lahat sa tawanan. We used the next one hour to finalize the decorations and moving the foods outside. Sa isang oras din na 'yon dumating ang iba pa naming kasamahan. Maki dragged Liam inside and finally introduced him to us. They've been together for a year and they're both supported of each other's dreams.

Dierran arrived next, having almost every player inside the restaurant greet him. May mga nagpahinto pa sa kaniya sa labas, at kahit mga matatanda ay bumati sa kaniya kanina. He's still chasing the same girl all these years, even though sila naman. Hindi ko gets kung anong klaseng relationship ang mayro'n sila.

Sebastian and Renée arrived together. Ree went to kiss my cheeks before having a wonderful conversation with Eura, tapos si Baste at Caspian naman ay mayroon ding pinag-usapan, na siguro'y may kinalaman din sa career nila.

There was a little bit of tension in the air when Marcella arrived. Her cold eyes roamed around the restaurant, and I could see the little bit of awkwardness emanating from her, so I took the initiative. Tumayo ako't lumapit sa kaniya para bumati, kaya nawala ang tensiyon at kinausap na rin siya ng iba. This is the third time that we saw her because she avoided us the first two years. Siguro, she still wanted to take the blame for that man's decisions. When I asked about his role in Marcella's life, she answered,

"He saved me. He was the reason I got out of the streets and he never did left me all those years. He supported and appreciated me all the time. Craig has his wicked way sometimes, but he's good to me. Siya nga ang sagot ko sa tanong mo noon... kung magmamahal man ako."

I disliked the man, but that doesn't mean I need to ignore Marcella. Kahit ano pang sabihin niya, ang lalaki lang naman at si Sapphire ang talagang nagpahirap sa buhay ko. Marcella had her share of mistakes too, but I understood where she came from, and she has already shown me guilt for her past actions. She started to change. Pero iyong dalawa... I don't see any reason for them to hurt me like that.

I can be the most forgiving person in the world, but that's only for those who deserved it. Those who chooses to change. Those who chooses to pay for their mistakes.

"She'll attend." biglang saad ni Marcella nang maupo sa tabi ko.

I stiffened, immediately realizing who she was pertaining to. Ngunit bago pa ako makatanong ay naramdaman ko na ang masuyong paghalik sa buhok ko ng isang tao. Marcella glanced at the person behind me before rolling her eyes and glancing away, a small smile in her face.

"I missed you." he said, sitting down on the chair beside me. His hair was a bit wet and his fresh mint scent told me he just got home and showered. May kinuha siya mula sa bulsa at ibinigay iyon sa'kin. "Bought this for you."

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita kung ano iyon. It was the frog keychain I was eyeing on a shopping website last, last week! We were outside, lounging on the cafe, because I was finishing my job applications and he was studying when I told him about it. He was busy because he had a quiz and it wasn't really important, nacute-an lang naman ako, kaya hindi ko alam na nakikinig pala siya.

"You remembered?" I asked, smiling as I accepted it.

"Of course. Look," itinaas niya ang phone kung saan nakakabit din ang parehong keychain. "We're matching."

Mahina akong natawa doon.

Biglang umalingawngaw ang malakas na tawa ni Eura kaya napabaling ako sa kaniya. She was sitting beside a sour-looking Kairo, in front of us. "Saya-saya talaga kapag nasisira ang araw ng iba—" biglang nanlaki ang mata niya. "Ah! Kaya naman pala ang familiar! Ako nagsabi nito noon kay Kai!"

"Talaga? Kailan?" tanong ni Gavin.

"No'ng binubuhat ni Oli si Finn sa Maze City kasi ang pangit din ng mukha ni Kairo do'n."

Ate Depore also laughed, a snort coming out. "Hoy, napanood ko 'yan. 'Di ba iyan 'yong legendary 'sleep with me'—"

"Oh, shut up!" sigaw ni Kairo. "At least, hindi ako ang may pinaka-corny na line no'ng namatay!"

"Kahit nga alam ko na buhay si insan... Naiiyak pa rin ako 'pag nakikita pagkamatay niya." Oliver joined in, voice soft.

"Epic din ng pagkamatay niya kaya. Grabe 'yong chills na makitang tumatakbo papunta sa kaniya si Finley!" dagdag ng isang player.

Tumawa si Dierran at nilingon si Wes. "Wala ka pala, dude— Oh, right, you had your City of Nightmares moment."

"That was cheating. He took advantage of rhe situation." Kairo muttered, glaring at Wes.

That made the man beside me stiffen. "It wasn't really a kiss."

"You went for it, you asshole."

"It was almost a kiss but I fucking stopped, dumbass."

"At iyon nga, kahit na ilang beses na silang pinagpair ni bestie ay inaaway pa rin ang isa't isa!" hiyaw ni Maki at umiling-iling. "Pero ano na-feel mo do'n sa kiss, Finn?"

"Siguro sa sobrang gulat niya nakalimutan na ni Lily anong nangyari." komento ni Baste.

"O baka sobrang nandiri si Finn kaya hindi na lang nagreact!" Eura added with a laugh.

"Maybe she was too lost in her own sadness that she didn't think of it." si Ree.

Caspian looked at me. "What about you? What did you really think, Finn?"

Ramdam ko ang atensiyon nilang lahat sa'kin, naghihintay ng sagot. But I didn't need to think twice. I already knew the answer.

Bahagya kong tinagilid ang ulo na parang inaalala kung anong nangyari at sumagot, "I liked it." I honestly answered.

However, it was like I dropped a bomb because they all stared at me with their jaw dropped. May narinig pa akong nabilaukan. Naibuga pa ni Eura ang iniinom wine kay Gavin na agad napapikit. May nag-akusa na rin kay Wes na kinulam niya ako at halos kainin na ni Kairo ang kutsarang hawak-hawak.

It was chaos, but it was nice. This moments with them are always the best.

"Still have the same effect on them, I see."

Napatayo ako sa gulat nang marinig ang boses niya. Almost everyone went quiet as June walked towards me. Bumalik na sa dating kulay at itsura ang buhok niya. Her brown, curly hair fell to her waist. She was wearing a white sundress. A pink flush bloomed in her cheeks at the people's attention. She was always so beautiful when she was a young kid, but right now, with her free and happy, she looked even more gorgeous.

"Hi, Finn." her gentle voice greeted me with a smile. "It's been a long time since I last saw you."

Tumango ako at dahan-dahang lumapit sa kaniya. "Are... you okay?"

"Alam mo naman siguro na bumagsak ang pamilya namin, 'di ba?" tumango ako sa tanong niya. "I left my past here and told myself I'll live permanently in that small town. I... started a flower shop and I have a small farm. Mababait ang mga tao do'n at tinulungan din ako ni Mrs. Villamor na magsimula ulit. Ngayon lang ako nakaipon at nakapunta dito sa Centro, so I wanted to make sure that I can see you." bahagya niyanh kinagat ang labi. "You didn't visit me there."

"When we left, I already accepted you. Pero 'yokong puntahan ka dahil alam ko na 'pag ready ka na, papakita ka."

"Yes, I'm all... right now. So I came here to..." iginala niya ang tingin sa paligid at sa laking gulat ng lahat ay yumuko ang dating ma-pride na babae. "I'm really, really sorry about everything I did. I'm sorry for playing you like pawns in a game. I'm sorry for causing you to do the most evil of deeds. I'm sorry for hurting you. Hindi lang ako humihingi ng patawad kay Finn, pero sa lahat na din ng nandito na ginawan ko ng masama. I can understand if you won't forgive me. What I did was bad and inhuman. And maybe you'll resent me for asking for forgiveness now when I could have the moment you stepped outside but..."

Huminga siya ng malalim. "Gusto ko kasing siguraduhin na maayos na ako kapag hihingi ng pasensya sa inyo. I wanted to say sorry from the bottom of my heart, and not just because of guilt and emotions back then. Ngayon, alam ko na ang mga maling nagawa ko. Nareflect ko na. Naintindihan ko na. Kaya muli, humihingi ako ng patawad sa inyo. At kung hindi kayo komportable sa'kin dito... I-I would understand."

Ngumiti kami sa kaniya. Maybe there are others who still can't forgive her, but we're not that heartless to kick her out. But for me... I've already forgiven her for everything. I wanted to move on like her too. I wanted to change anew like her too.

Our talks were all a series of flashbacks and laughters as we remembered the game. It's so strange that we were so worried inside, and now we're smiling and chuckling at our anxieties.

Wes was playing with my fingers under the table. He occasionally answers kapag tinatawag nila pero most of the time ay nakatuon ang atensiyon niya sa kamay ko. He's been caressing my ring finger for a while now, deep in his thoughts.

Sinagot ko ang paglalaro niya kaya umangat ang tingin niya sa'kin. He hummed, raising a brow.

"Problema?" I mouthed.

Umiling siya at ngumiti. "Lilliane." I like hearing my name from him. "Let's visit your parents tomorrow."

"Why?"

"I need to tell them something." he answered, intertwining our fingers.

"'Di mo sasabihin muna sa'kin?"

"Nah. They need to know it first."

Ngumuso ako. "About ba sa'kin?"

Tumango siya. He brushed a strand of my hair, eyes still stuck on my face, watching me.

"Dapat ako unang sabihan mo. About sa'kin e."

"But it's important they know first. Sila lagi nakakaalam ng intensiyon ko sa'yo."

"'Di naman sila mahal mo." tinuro ko ang sarili. "Ako."

Narinig ko ang mahinang pagreklamo ni Marcella kay Maki na magpalit sila ng upuan dahil hindi na daw niya kayang makinig sa'min.

Wes shrugged, smiling as if there's anything to smile about. "I court the in-laws first, so that I am sure to get the daughter."

"Oh, narinig mo 'yon, Gavin! Dapat si Mama ang nililigawan mo muna!" Eura shouted.

"Ikaw naman umaayaw ha! Sabi mo corny at dapat tayo na, walang ligaw-ligaw dahil outdated na 'yon!"

Nagtawanan kami dahil sa bangayan nila. I relaxed as Wes pulled my chair closer to him, his other hand resting on the back.

I lost my parents, but I gained a large and loving family.

I lost my home, but I had them.

And I have no other wishes, or wants, or desires.

I thought death cursed me when giving me that game. But Rogue Wars Online gifted me these people.

This is the Black Sparrow, now called Finn, and I'm glad to say that I can finally fly to the happiness of life.

Thank you for the journey and the memories.

Finley Lilliane is logging out.

-story end-