Rayu's note: Hello! This is the last chapter. And if you're still reading up to this point, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for seeing thru to the end of Lew's journey. This one's for you! :)

Hanggang sa muli!

***

I texted Monica with an attempt to not worry her or anything. Kaya't matapos kong makausap ang lawyer na kaibigan ni Raf ay diretso na akong bumalik ng shop. I told them about Raf's last will and everything as what the lawyer said. At katulad ko'y gulat din ang mga ito't halos hindi makapaniwala. Monica almost couldn't believe it that she wanted to run some background check on the lawyer, bilang pag-iingat na rin. Alfie and Jere agreed and I didn't even try to hinder or stop them. There's nothing wrong with being cautious after all.

Lenard Perez or the lawyer kept in touch with me for the establishment's papers that need be done. I invited him one time at our shop at pagkatapos noon ay madalas na siya roon. Kung minsan ay para mag-update sa akin. Ngunit madalas ay para lang makipagkwentuhan. He was actually easy to talk to despite his intimidating appearance with his suit and stern expression. Pwera sa tote bag na lagi niyang dala imbes na briefcase. May ilang beses ring tumutulong siya sa labor ng renovation ng shop. And no matter how much I tried to stop him, he just wouldn't listen.

Though madalas kong nararamdaman ang nagtatagal na tingin ni Alfie sa amin, at ang palagi niyang pag-aligid sa tuwing narito si attorney Perez. Napansin ko rin na hindi siya masyadong makulit 'pag narito ang huli. He would always give him dagger looks whenever he sees us together.

"Ako na 'yan, Miss Lew!" ani Alfie pagkaagaw ng dala kong tray ng kape para sa lawyer.

Napailing na lang ako habang pinanonood ang huli na i-serve iyon sa lawyer na walang kaide-ideya sa panunuri sa kaniya ni Alfie.

"He's already married with a kid, dumbass," bulong kong may nakarinig pala.

"Huh? Sino?" it's Krysta. Isa pang parating narito.

I shrugged and shook my head with a grin on my face. "Done checking the books? May nagustuhan ka ba?"

"I'm far from done!" mabilis niyang apila.

I rolled my eyes facetiously. Hindi pa siya tapos niyan sa dalas niya rito?

"You wanted to be with me that bad?"

"Eeeeh!" She stomped her foot before hugging me.

"Clingy."

"Love mo naman ako eh!" pa-cute pa niya habang yakap ako.

Natawa na lang ako.

"Gwapo talaga ni attorney," biglang sabi niya. "Ang bait pa at saka sobrang sipag!"

Pinagtaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Crush mo?"

"Hindi!" She shove me away. Muntik pa akong natumba sa lakas.

"Aray ko. Nananakit?" untag ko habang sapo ang dibdib.

She smiled sheepishly and blushed a little, sabay malambing na kumapit sa braso ko. "Sorry!"

"Ate Lew!" Sabay kaming napalingon sa matinis na boses.

A smile immediately crept on my face as I saw who it is. "Hey."

At katulad ng dati, she run towards me and I welcomed her with my arms wide open. Patalon itong yumakap sa akin at muntikan na kaming matumbang dalawa roon. She's a teenager now but the way she says hi to me didn't change.

"Ate Lew! Ate Lew! Miss kita, sobra!" I heard her sobbing.

"I missed you too, Ranie," I said, hugging her back. "Sinong kasama mo?"

Ngunit bago pa man siya makasagot ay nakita ko na si Rañiela, Raf's sister and Ranie's mom. She gave me a tight and assuring smile before heading towards us.

"Hey, Lew. Let's all hang in there, okay?"

My heart constricts when I see her eyes up-close. It was the same pair as Rafiele's.

I bite back my tears, smiled and nodded at her. Sumama siya sa yakapan namin ni Ranie roon. I saw Krysta crying silently on the side. Monica's teary-eyed beside Jeremy. While Alfie and Lenard are throwing confused look at each other. Ang iba naming kapitbahay na naroon ay nakangiti lamang habang pinagmamasdan kami.

Months later and we're almost finished with the renovation. The papers for the foundation was done too. Tanging go signal na lang ang kailangan galing sa akin at pwede na itong buksan, as per attorney Perez. For the mean time though, they all helped me move my things there. For it's both Raf and I's home too.

Everyone was busy moving things, nang matigilan ako pagkakita kay Alfie. He was staring at a picture frame hanging by the wall as I make my way towards him.

"Hey kiddo." I snapped my fingers just to get his attention. Ngunit nang lumingon siya sa akin at tila natauhan ay nagulat ako sa nakita. "Why are you crying?"

I searched for answers when he kept his silence and my eyes automatically darted on the picture he was looking at. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko nang makitang picture namin iyon ni Raf ng graduation ko.

"Rafiele ang pangalan niya?" Alfie's voice was hoarse as he finally speaks. He was nodding, hindi makatingin sa akin.

"Yes." I stared at his crestfallen expression. "What's wrong?"

He didn't know what really happened between me and Raf, at least not after I get to know and remembered the truth.

"He was a hero." He sniffed and managed to give me a weak, comforting smile. Pagkatapos punasan ang natirang luha ay sinabi niyang, "'Lika na, Miss Lew dami pa tayong aayusin."

Ipinagkibit-balikat ko na lamang iyon pagkatapos kong magbuga ng hangin. He's right.

I stared at the picture for a couple of moments and found myself smiling upon remembering the memory of that day.

"I told you we'll make It," bulong ko. Ang luhang naglandas sa pisngi ay mabilis kong pinalis. I tried to smile more despite the pain. "Are you proud of me? I guess you are. And I'm proud of us too."

I was arranging some books for the finished bookshelf when I heard a familiar voice calling my name. Ngunit paglingon ko'y walang sinoman ang naroon. I shrugged and continued what I was doing.

"Lewis!"

I jumped with surprise with the sudden appearance of what I thought was some ghost or whatever. Sandali pa muna kaming nagkatitigan nito bago unti-unting namilog ang mga mata ko.

"Jake?"

He smiled with a hint of nostalgia and melancholy and was about to walk towards me when...

"LEW!" Someone suddenly barged in and without further ado, flew towards me with a hug. Sunod-sunod ang tatlo sa pagyakap sa akin. And their sobs already tells me who they are. Kaya't gulat man ay nayakap ko na lamang rin silang pabalik.

My tears are already brimming as Jake and I made eye contact again. He was just standing in front of us four and slightly scratching his nape.

"Heyyo!" Raul was the last to show up. Nang makita niya ang ganap namin doon ay agad nanlambot ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya. He smiled at us. "Been a while, Lew."

"Nakumpleto rin tayo." Ngumisi si Jake pagkatapos sumulyap kay Raul, sa tatlo at huli sa akin.

I brushed my tears with my hands and smiled at each of them. "I missed you guys... I'm sorry if I left without telling you anything."

"You're long forgiven," seryosong tango ni Jake. Sabay pilyong ngumisi. "You owe us your story later though. For now, let's get working!"

"What? You guys..."

"Monica contacted us and we're here to help finishing up the renovation," Denise informed.

"And to volunteer teaching in your foundation, actually," ani Lucile.

"And to check good books too!" Nicole giggled while wiping her tears.

And so they did. The guys did the remaining labour work while the girls helped me sort the books. Monica was busy commanding the guys with the interior design. But nonetheless, we had so much fun like the old days.

I didn't know until this moment how much I miss being carefree and laugh with trivial and silly things. Tila ba ngayon na lang ako muling huminga nang mapayapa at maayos sa nakalipas na mga taon.

And I was suddenly reminded of the feeling I had when Raf and I became official. That melancholic feeling of being happy and sad at the same time for things ending and things that are about to begin.

We stayed up and drink till our tolerance permits us. Napagkwentuhan namin ang mga taong lumipas na tila ba hindi kami nawaglit sa piling ng isa't isa.

Raul and Denise are married. Nagulat pa ako nang malamang dalawang taon na ang anak nila. Nicole is engaged and planning to wed this year. Lucile was on and off with her long-time boyfriend. And Jake has been planning to propose with her current girlfriend.

I'm happy knowing that they're all doing what they wanted. Lahat sila'y nagtuturo na ngayon. Raul, Den and Nicole are teaching at a public high school, while Jake and Lucile just finished their masteral and both planning to teach at some universities.

I have to admit that having them around was refreshing. Pakiramdam ko'y bente anyos ako ulit.

Bagsak silang lahat at kanya-kanyang pwesto sa iba't ibang sulok ng shop nang magising ako ng madaling araw.

Nasapo ko kaagad ang noo ko at bahagyang natawa. It's been awhile too since I felt like this. And feeling like a mess because of the alcohol isn't half as bad as feeling like a mess inside.

I brewed coffee for us. Nagdala ako ng sariling baso at nagtungo sa veranda matapos. And with the warmth coming from a blanket covering me and a cup of coffee in my hand, I closed my eyes and hum the familiar song that brought so much memories from a far yesterday.

I smiled despite the ache. I breathe even though it gets hard each day. I look forward no matter how much I wanted to turn, look back and grieve for the lost times and people I loved. I'll try over and over again to smile and wait for the day to come that I can finally smile, remember and look back with nothing but peace and fondness with the memory of the old days.

And as I started to sing with a silent voice, I can feel his warmth slowly embracing me.

"I wanted to be here with you..."

I can hear his lenient voice whispering to me...

"It's okay, you're okay."

He is my calm. Always has been. And always will be.

"I am in love with you, Lewis... heretofore... now and then... always."

There's a lot of things waiting for us from this point onwards so you better see this all through the end, Rafiele. Because you made all these things possible... and I promise to not disappoint you, and all of you.

Slowly, I opened my eyes with the sight of the sun yet to rise. But I can feel it—it's coming. A new beginning after an end. A sunset that's been once a sunrise has ended but the sun will rise again. Always. And so are starting again. Dreaming again. Living again.

I can see it. The sun is rising any minute now. I braced myself for five minutes more, and finally welcome the beginning of yet another day. With a chance to experience all the wonders of being alive.

"Good morning, Miss Lew!"

"Good morning!" Isang matamis na ngiti ang iginawad ko sa kumpulan ng mga batang sumalubong sa akin sa corridor. Mabilis namang sumunod ang mga ito sa akin patungo sa loob ng classroom pagpasok ko roon. "Is everyone here?"

"Miss Lew! Miss Lew! Si Toby po nandito na naman!"

Bumagsak ang mga mata ko sa direksyong sabay-sabay na itinuro ng mga ito. Tilting my head to the side, I looked at him and drawled this softly with a hint of warning, "Toby... alam ba ng parents mo na nandito ka?"

Maligaya itong ngumiti at buong pagmamalaking tumango. "Yes, they know—nagpaalam po ako. I was really bored in our rest house so I went here because I want to hear your stories!"

"Weh?? May sinasabi ka pa kanina eh!"

"Oo nga! Oo nga!"

"Miss Lew, may sinasabi po si Toby kanina!"

Bahagyang tumaas ang isang kilay ko sa sigawan at tawanan ng mga ito. Humalukipkip ako at sumandal sa teacher's table. "Talaga? Ano 'yon? Toby?"

Agarang naglaho ang ngiti nito at bahagyang napayuko.

"Tignan mo si Toby! Namumula!"

"Uyyyy!"

May sinabi si Toby ngunit hindi ko ito narinig dahil sa ingay ng asaran ng mga bata. Sandali ko silang pinatahimik para malinaw namin iyong marinig.

"What did you say, Toby?" marahan kong tanong dito nang mapakalma sandali ang mga bata.

Mas lalo siyang namula ngunit lakas-loob pa ring nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. Sabay dire-diretsong sinabing, "P-Pakakasalanan po kita paglaki ko, Miss Lew. Antayin mo po ako."

Dumagundong ang tawanan, sigawan at asaran ng mga bata sa buong foundation. Hindi ko na rin napigilan ang sariling matawa matapos magulat sandali sa narinig.

"Seryoso ako!" ngumungusong angil ni Toby sa mga batang patuloy ang pang-aasar sa kaniya.

He's so cute! But too bad because I'm already married.

Sapo ang labi at mga tawa, napailing na lamang ako nang maalala ko ang itsura ni Rafiele nang nasa KTV kami kasama ang mga kaibigan niya.

"Seryoso ako."

Napamasahe ako sa batok matapos sinupin ang mga gamit para sa pagtatapos ng araw. Pagkabaling ko sa bintana ay agad akong sinalubong ng sinag ng papalubog nang araw. Tumayo ako at humakbang palapit dito. Closing my eyes as I let the last warm rays of the setting sun touch my skin, katulad ng mga alaala nilang baon ko sa mga lumipas na panahon.

I opened my eyes and lift my left hand towards the sun, the golden ring on my ring finger reflecting its gleam.

"It's beautiful, Rafiele, isn't it?"

The lights that came from your lives will forever be my reason to touch lives the same way that you did with mine. Because if there's one thing I learned about losing, it's that, you never lose anything you gave with your heart, for it grows within you. And I won't let it die inside of me. All those things you taught and left me with. I will keep it by giving it back to someone else. That way, you will forever live on inside of those people too. That way, I could carry on with my life with a new found purpose and passion for living. For others. For us. For all the things that matter. And though the sun went down, it will always be reborn as a new sunrise. The same goes for all beautiful parts of us that once died.