Seeing the black granite tomb with her name, I could no longer deny the truth. Gone was the sliver of hope and fantasy that this is just a nightmare, that I could still get to be with her.

"Reika..." Slade fell to his knees, sobbing hard while holding on to the cold surface of her tomb.

I breathed in and swallowed hard, closing my eyes while keeping my hands clenched. Aside from Slade, I can also hear Tita Abbey and Tito Rico bawling from the side of the mausoleum. Magno's right behind us as well, crying in silence.

I opened my eyes and bowed down a little, slowly picking my brother up from the ground. He kept crying and calling out her name as he stood up lifelessly, his eyes never leaving her name. I mustered up all of my strength to keep us from falling down the floor, and slowly guided him to the corner of the room.

We both sat on a long bench, across us are Tito and Tita.

All of a sudden, I heard him took a deep breath. Before I could even react, he lightly patted my knee and stood up. I tried to help him but he just shook his head and flashed a weak smile.

"Doon muna ako kanila Tita," namamaos niyang paalam. "Okay lang ako."

Tumango na lamang ako at hinayaan siyang lumipat sa kinauupuan nila. He's clearly struggling but he's still persistent to comfort Reika's parents.

I looked up at Magno who is now standing right in front of Reika's grave. His lips kept trembling from trying to stop his own sobbing.

If it wasn't for Magno, we wouldn't have known that Reika was buried in Filimon Heights all along. He was able to convince their Grandfather to tell us the truth so now here we are, gathered together at Reika's funeral.

I can't help but feel angry at myself for always dismissing Reika's concern when Magno went missing. I was one of the people who believed that Magno just went away. If I paid attention... If only we heeded Reika's concern and looked further. If only we helped Reika, Magno and the would've been found sooner... Maybe Reika wouldn't have died.

I stood up and walked towards Magno. He turned around and smiled, wiping his tears.

I couldn't stop myself anymore and hugged him tightly. 

"I'm sorry..." I whispered over and over again even if my apologies are nothing compared to my grave mistakes.

He chuckled and hugged me back, patting the top of my head. "Elemento, 'di ba nag-usap na tayo kahapon?"

Umiling ako habang nakabaon ang mukha ko sa balikat niya. "K-kasalanan ko... Sorry..."

"Pwede bang humingi ng pabor?" tanong niya kaya naman mabilis akong bumitaw sa kanya.

Mabilis kong pinunasan ang mga luha ko at tiningnan siya sa mga mata. "Ano 'yon?"

I failed Reika, but not Magno and the rest of her family. Dito na lang ako makakabawi. Hangga't sa makakaya ko, tutulungan ko ang pamilya niya sa kahit na anong paraan. Hinding-hindi ko na ulit bibiguin si Reika.

"Can you check on Kirsten's injury every once and a while?" He smiled shyly.

Mabilis akong tumango at ngumiti. "Oo naman."

Kung buhay lang si Reika, siguro inaasar na niya ngayon si Magno. Noon pa lang, binubugay na niya si Kirsten kay Magno. At kahit hindi niya sabihin, alam naming nage-enjoy din si Magno dahil matagal na niyang gusto si Kirsten.

"Ano palang masasabi mo sa walang-ligo look ni Jethro?" Biglang lumitaw ang mapang-asar na ngiti sa mukha ni Magno. Ang akin naman ang agad na naglaho.

"Mas cute pa rin crush ko." I wanted to keep our conversation light so I tried to come up with a quick joke.

"Teka..." He looked up and scratched his head. "Sino nga ulit 'yong crush mo noon? Napag-usapan namin 'to ni Reika minsan eh."

Mabilis akong napatingin sa lapida ni Reika, nanlalaki ang mga mata.

"Ah tama, Reika!" Magno giggled and poked my cheek. "Rukawa."

Imbes na mainis, natawa na lamang ako. Somehow, it's comforting to see Magno being able to joke around despite the agonizing pain of losing one of the people he loves the most. Asarin niya lang ako ng asarin, hindi ako maiinis. If poking fun of me will bring him comfort, so be it.

Magno heaved a sigh and patted both of my shoulders. His eyes are still brimming with tears even if we're having a light conversation. "Puntahan ko muna si Gramps doon sa parking lot... Dito ka lang ba?"

Umiling ako. "Lalabas din ako para i-double check ang lahat. It's almost 8am, baka dumating na ang mga makikiramay. Nasa parking lot pala si Attorney?"

Tumango si Magno at lumapit nang kaunti para bumulong sa tenga ko. "Let's try to keep Gramps and Reika's parents apart. Baka magsabong ulit."

Magno said it jokingly but I could tell the concern in his eyes. I can't help but feel bad for him. Nagluluksa na nga siya, kailangan niya pang maging referee ng pamilya nila.

"Let me know how I can help, okay? You're not alone in this. Slade and I will help you in every way that we can," paalala ko.

"Silver..." he smiled as his tears fell once again. Mabilis niya itong pinunasan. 

"Mags..." My voice cracked but I managed to stop myself from bawling right in front of him.

"I heard about what you and Slade have been doing for our family ever since Reika..." he breathed a pained sigh, unable to finish his words. "Salamat kasi kahit sobrang nasasaktan kayo, mas pinipili n'yong tulungan kami. But please, you were Reika's family as well. You should take your time to mourn, too."

Maluha-luha akong tumango at yumakap ulit sa kanya.

"Thank you for loving Reika," bulong pa sa akin ni Magno. 

***

"Maraming salamat po. Tatawagan ko ho kayo kung kailangan pa namin ng upuan," sabi ko sa staff ng sementeryo matapos niyang mai-deliver ang mga upuan at make-shift tent sa labas ng mausoleum. "May snacks po sa likod ng black pick-up truck, kumuha lang po kayo roon."

"Hey, is there any way that I can help?"

Mabilis akong napalingon at napakurap-kurap ako nang makita si Sawyer na may benda pa ang braso. This is the first time he talked to me after three years. Pagkatapos kasi ng away nila ni Reika, hindi niya na rin kami kinausap ni Slade.

Truth is, I have always been angry at Sawyer for the way he handled their feud, but now I can longer feel the same because I know we both did Reika wrong. 

Kung noon ay galit ako sa kanya, ngayon ay lubos na akong naawa sa kanya. Namatay si Reika nang hindi sila nagkakabati. Ni hindi man lang nila nagawang makapag-usap nang maayos. At huli na nang matagpuan ulit ang cellphone na siyang ugat ng away nila. Reika's death will haunt us but not as much as it will haunt Saywer for the rest of his life. 

"Sawyer..." I smiled at him and hugged him.

"Pilak..." Narinig ko ang munti niyang paghikbi. "Pilak, sorry..."

Umiling-iling ako at marahan siyang pinalo sa braso. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya at pilit na ngumiti. Hindi ako pwedeng umiyak sa harapan niya. Baka mas lalo lang bumigat ang kalooban niya.

Para akong nanghina nang makita ang luhang umaagos mula sa mga mata niya. Dali-dali ko itong pinunasan. "Eric Thomasson, makinig ka sa sasabihin ko okay?"

I took a deep breath and smiled at him. "Reika never abandons, so whatever it is that you want to say to her, you can still say to her. And this time, she can hear you, no matter where you are, no matter what time it is. She will always hear us because she will always watch over us."

Tumango-tango siya kasabay ng lalo niyang pag-iyak. Yumakap ako ulit sa kanya at tinatapik-tapik ang likod niya.

Nang mahimasmasan, tumulong sa akin si Sawyer sa pagse-set up ng mga tent. Maaga kaming dumating kaya naman marami pa kaming oras para magset-up ng lugar. Kapwa kami walang pake kahit madumihan ang mga suot namin, naupo kami sa damuhan habang sinusubukang ipagkabit-kabit ang mga parte.

"Kung hindi ko lang alam, aakalain kong si Jethro ang na-kidnap. Tingnan mo nga ang hitsura. At least si Magno lagi daw ginugupitan at inaahitan doon." Pasinghot-singhot na sambit ni Sawyer saka ngumuso sa likuran ko.

Paglingon ko, nakita ko si Jethro na bumaba mula sasakyan niya. Humarap ako agad kay Sawyer, todo pigil sa pagtawa. Kung nandito lang si Reika, mas malala pa ang komento nito.

"Ang sarap mang-asar pero may pangako akong binitiwan kay Reika." Malakas na bumuntong-hininga si Sawyer pero hindi ko na nagawang makapagtanong dahil dumating na si Jethro.

"Kayo pa lang?" tanong niya pero hindi ako nagsalita o lumingon man lang sa kanya.

Stay away daw eh. Bahala siya sa buhay niya.

"Nasa parking entrance daw si Magno tapos nasa loob sina Slade at ang pamilya ni Reika," Si Sawyer na ang sumagot, pasinghot-singhot pa rin sa kakaiyak. Ang kawawang tisoy, pulang-pula pa rin ang mukha lalo na ang ilong niya.

Gaya namin, naupo rin si Jethro sa damuhan. "How can I help?"

"Doon ka sa isang tent, kami ni Pilak rito." I sighed inwardly when Sawyer said it. What he said earlier makes sense now. Siguro rin ito ang dahilan kung bakit noon pa mang nasa Montival Island kami, walang nang-aasar sa amin.

From my periphery, I saw Jethro nod. He stood up and walked towards the pile of tents.

"Mukhang uulan yata ah?" Tumingala si Sawyer at ganoon din ako.

I smiled bitterly. Mukhang kahit ang langit ay gustong makipagluksa.

"Saan ka pala ngayon?" biglang tanong ni Sawyer kaya napatingin ulit sa kanya.

"Nandito? Sa harapan mo? Bulag ka ba?" walang emosyon kong sambit bilang biro dahilan para tingnan niya ako nang walang kabuhay-buhay.

"Ngayon nakatira?" dagdag niya na lang.

"I'm staying at a hotel." I laughed a little. "I'll probably move back home tomorrow."

"Sa probinsya?" tanong niya kaya umiling ako.

"My parents will return to Redwood after the funeral and I can't let Slade live there on his own again." I smiled even if the thought of returning to that house already hurts.

"So, that means you're back to Filimon Heights for good?" Sawyer lowered his head with his eyebrows furrowed.

Returning to Filimon Heights is a no-brainer for me. I can't bear to live elsewhere knowing my brother needs me the most.

"Yeah." Tumango ako. "Ikaw? Are you back for good too?"

Tumango siya at ngumiti. "I learned my lesson the hard way."

Nanlumo ako. Pakiramdam ko'y bibigay na ang luhang pilit kong pinipigilan.

"Ikaw Jethro, dito ka na rin ba ulit titira sa Filimon Heights?" Nagulat ako sa tanong ni Sawyer.

Mabilis akong napalingon sa direksyon ni Jethro na nakatingin na pala sa amin.

He left Filimon Heights? Then that means...

"He better be." Napalingon ako nang marinig ang boses ni Denver. Agad akong napangiti nang makita ko si Braylee na karga ang anak nila.

"Baby Bear!" I quickly stood up and ran towards Braylee.

Braylee must've known how comforting Braver feels to me kaya ipinakarga niya agad ito sa akin. "Na-miss ni Baby Bear si Tita Silly niya..."

"Not as much as Tita Silly missed the baby bear," I said as I stared at his sleeping face. Ang cute lalo't nakasuot ito ng bear onesie niya. 

Braylee kissed my cheek, her way of showing her support and sympathy for me. I smiled at her. Kahit siya ay namamaga pa rin ang mga mata. She was close to Reika too. Sa totoo lang, si Reika naman talaga 'yong tipong close ang lahat.

Habang karga si Braver, hindi ako takot kay Denver. Hindi naman siguro niya ako itutulak lalo't kasamang masasaktan ang anak niya. Siguro mamaya na ako iiwas kapag hindi ko na ito karga.

Hindi nagtagal, nagsidatingan na rin ang iba pa. I was touched at the sight of everyone helping out setting up the tents and arranging the chairs.

Braver is a hot commodity among the gang. Pagdating nina Apollo, inagaw agad nila ito mula sa akin. 

Babalik na sana ulit ako sa pagtulong sa mga tent nang mamataan ko ang pagdating ni Cohen habang karga-karga ang isang sanggol. Mabilis akong lumapit sa kanya lalo't sa dami ng mga nangyari nitong mga nakaraang araw, hindi ko pa nakakarga ang anak niya.

"Neddy..." I couldn't help but tear up a little as I carried Cohen's infant son. 

"Ninang ka sa binyag," sabi agad ni Cohen sabay himas nang marahan sa pisngi ng anak niya.

The baby smiled at Cohen's touch, and I almost squealed at the sight.

"I hope he doesn't grow up to be like me..." Cohen sighed. I looked at him only to see his eyes brimming with tears while looking at the Mausoleum where Reika's remains rest.

"Hey, you weren't that bad." I smiled at him. Kahit naman lagi kaming nag-aaway noon dahil sa kalandian niya, ni minsan hindi iyon umabot sa puntong bastos na. He was a good boss and a good friend to me. Marami lang talagang kalokohan.

Cohen sighed and looked at me as I just said the stupidest thing. "Come on, Silver. I ruined half of the lives of everyone here, including yours."

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

He closed his eyes and swallowed hard. He quickly wiped the tears that fell from his eyes. "Let's meet somewhere when you're free so we can catch-up."

Tumango ako at ngumiti. "Make sure to bring Ned."

He sighed while shaking his head. "Kennedy Cohen, already stealing people's hearts at a really young age."

Just like Braver, Ned is also a hot commodity. Kung sino-sino agad ang lumapit at naki-karga rito kaya todo bantay si Cohen.

"Kami na rito, okay? Go rest," Ronie assured me when I tried to help out with the preparations for the service. 

"Oo nga, tingnan mo ang mukha mo oh? Parang ilang araw ka nang walang tulog," pabiro namang sambit ni Lucho. Akala mo hindi rin namumugto ang mga mata niya.

"Ikaw ba nag-agahan na?" tanong ni Riley sa akin.

"Yeah." I lied and smiled. It's not like I have the appetite to eat a time like this.

"Si Slade?" tanong naman ni Warren.

Tumango ko. "My parents are keeping a close eye on him."

"Who's keeping an eye on you?" Riley looked me like he's on the verge of crying once again.

"Problema ba 'yan? Nandito ako!" Bigla na lamang sumulpot si Haji at inakbayan ako. Mabilis na nagsingi ang lahat ng nakapaligid sa amin, lahat diring-diri.

"Haji, pili ka na nga lang ng pwesto mo." Umingos si Ronie sabay turo sa paligid. "Tutal mukhang gusto mo talagang mapahamak."

"Riley, 'yong mag-ama mo na 'yata yan!" Piper called out.

Riley beamed and quickly ran towards a car that just parked. Lumabas agad ito ang nakangiting si Benjie. Sabay silang nagtungo sa backseat at inilabas mula rito ang isang sanggol at isinakay ito sa isang kulay pink na stroller. 

Paglapit nila, siniko ko palayo si Haji. Mabilis agad akong nagtaas ng kamay lalo't hindi ko pa nakakarga ang anak nila. Mahirap nang maunahan ng iba. 

"Gusto mong kargahin si Jethro?" Riley giggled.

"Ha?!" bulalas ko sa sobrang gulat. Puchangama bakit ko naman kakargahin si Jethro.

Bigla silang nagtawanan at doon ko lang naalala ang sinabi ni Riley noon sa Memorial para kay Reika. Their baby girl is, unfortunately, named Jethro.

Kalaunan ay nagdatingan na rin ang mga bisita, at nang dumating na ang pari, nagsimula na rin ang service. It turned out worse than the memorial, because this time, it really is a goodbye to the person I cherish the most.

Despite my aching heart, I tried to keep myself together for Reika's family and mine. Mukhang pare-pareho kami ng mga iniisip dahil kahit sina Magno at Slade ay nagpapakatatag din para sa mga taong nakapaligid sa amin.

My hatred against Attorney Leoncio melted as I watched him sob hard. It was a good thing Magno was right next to him the entire time. Gaya ng inaasahan, sobrang layo nila mula sa pamilya ni Reika. Natatakot isiping baka hindi na maghilom pa ang lamat sa pagitan nila.

Nagkaroon ulit ng Eulogy para kay Reika at sa kasagsagan nito ay napansin ko ang sasakyan ng pamilya ni Kirsten na naka-park lang sa isang tabi. It seems like Kirsten is too hurt to even get out of the car.

Attorney Leoncio was too emotional to come up the stage for to speak, so we proceed to hearing from Reika's parents. Masyado nang masakit para sa akin ang lahat kaya sandali akong umalis mula sa kinauupuan at pasimpleng nagtungo sa likuran ng katabing mausoleum.

Nang malayo na sa tingin ng lahat, saka ko lang napakawalan ang hikbi kong pilit kong pinipigilan. Umiyak lang ako nang umiyak hangganng sa biglang may nag-abot sa akin ng panyo.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita ko si Jethro na harapan ko.

Naalala ko ulit ang sinabi niya sa akin kaya naman inagaw ko ang panyo at mabilis na pinunasan ang mga luha ko.

Paulit-ulit akong huminga nang malalim at nang pakiramdam ko ay okay na ako, nagtaas ako ng noo at inabot ulit sa kanya ang panyo niya.

"Umayos ka. Nakakalito ka na." I walked away with my head held high.

//