Chapter 36:

"I have my hammock and a small stone house behind this hut, check if you want to rest. Puwede mo ring isara 'yon, kung ayaw mong madisturbo." Ngumiti sa akin si Evo habang nakaharap kami sa maliit na bonfire.

The hymns of night was so beautiful. The sounds of silence brought us into a peaceful mind and gave us serenity.

"Thank you so much, Evo," I said.

"If you want to swim, I bought some pair of dresses for you. It was the same dresses I often bought when you were college." Iniabot niya sa akin ang supot ng damit at ngumiti. "Don't worry, I am true to your words. Hindi na ako aasa sa 'yo and... let's treat each other as friends, okay?"

I nodded as a response. "Friends..."

"Yes, friends. We're no longer exes but friends," he said and handed me a cup of coffee. "Sana noon...nakinig na ako sa 'yo." Pagkatapos niyang sinabi 'yon ay agad siyang tumalikod.

At least, sa maliit naming pag-uusap ni Evo, nagiging friends na nga lang talaga kami. Sa totoo lang, hindi naman niya ako araw-araw kinukulit dito. Hinahayaan niya lang ako at minsan lang kinakausap. Madalas din siyang hindi umuuwi sa kubo sa 'di ko alam na dahilan. Siguro may tinatrabaho lang siya.

Nakuwento rin ni Evo sa 'kin na mas madilim ang buhay niya kaysa sa akin dahil namatayan siya ng kapatid no'ng mga oras na niligtas niya ako. His little sister was been kidnapped by Thalia. Nabalitaan niya na lang daw na pinatay ito.

Nalungkot ako ro'n. Nang dahil sa 'kin, nangyayari 'yon sa buhay niya.

The sun rises, it kisses my face when I opened my eyes. Its rays pierces the small hole of the stone house.

"Levina, magkuwento ulit ako." Bungad sa akin ni Evo, may bitbit pa siyang kape at sandwich. "It is a tragic and based on real...life experience."

Bumaba ako sa duyan, iniabot niya akin ang binitbit niya. Dinampot ko naman 'yon ng walang pag-alinlangan. "Salamat! Sige, magkuwento ka, makikinig ako."

"Do you remember that...you passed the exam when you were college because someone gave money to you?" he asked. Akala mo magkuwento siya? Pero bakit tinatanong niya ang tungkol sa buhay ko? Is he narrating my life?

"Then?" I raised my brows and took a sip.

"Sa akin galing 'yon. But I gave it anonymously because that money is from my Mom. Do you know why I am joining phoenix?" His brows lifted.

I shook my head. "No. Why?"

"Thalia wrecked my family! Thalia is a psycho and she loves wrecking family. She killed my mother because I chose you over her."

Natulala ako sa sinabi niya. Ngunit agad ko rin namang ibinalik ang sarili sa ulirat. "W-What just y-you say?"

"I am now claiming that if the government can't arrest her, ako ang gagawa no'n. Ipapasundo ko siya kay kamatayan." Hindi siya umiyak ni mababakas ang lungkot. Ang galing niyang magtago ng emosyon. Samantalang sa akin, nababasa niya.

"Evo, ang swerte ng magiging asawa mo," I said, words sounded like I am saying he's lucky.

"Why? Why did you say that?" His brows creased while crosses his hands under his chest. He leaned on the wall made of stone.

"Kasi ipinaglaban mo. Ginawa mo lahat para sa kaniya. Sad to say, you're fighting that person while you're hurting. Nasaktan ba kita no'ng nakipaghiwalay ako?" I asked him. That words is kinda answerable but...I want to hear his words more.

He nodded and bit his lower lip while nodded his head. "Of course, kasi... walang-wala na ako no'n. Pero can you please don't ask me more about our past? I don't want to betray my friend. He's kind and awesome." Tumawa siya ngunit bakas sa boses niya ang lungkot.

Hindi naman sa gusto ko siyang balikan kssi nagkulang ako ng paliwanag no'n. Past is past and all I want today is learning. I learned that...if people will get cold to your relationship, don't it that easy.

I thought that it was me who is really experienced darkness, he's also experience greater than mine.

I felt sorry because I wasn't there when he needed me. But I hope... he'll find a better person rather than me. Siguro...hindi talaga kami para sa isa't isa that's why everything we've been destroyed.

"Levina...gusto mong kumain ng prutas? Mamimitas ako mamaya," aniya bago muling umayos ng tayo at sumilip sa labas. "Naabutan ka pa talaga ng sikat ng araw." Tunawa siya at nagpaalam na lumabas.