"Assholes." I caught a glimpse of Louie when I heard him said mattered. His friends forbid goodbye to leave. They just laughed, Gino even winked at me so I waved.

"They are beautifully handsome aren't they?" Smiling, I said, still staring at the door they exited.

He tsked. "I don't think so."

"Hindi? Ang gaganda kaya nilang lalaki."

"If you say so." Narinig kong sabi nalang niya. I nodded then wiped my mouth. I looked at the food in front of me. I can't eat anymore. My health diet plan will be ruined.

"You don't want to eat?" I nodded. He sighed while I scratched my eyebrow. He ordered an employee to cleared the table.

There is a small cafeteria here in their firm. Tahimik naman 'tong sumunod, nakasuot ng kulay puting polo at may maliit na nameplate ang nakalagay sa gilid. Halos lahat sila may ganung uri ng nameplate. Palihim akong napatango 'tango saka uminom ng tubig.

"You really look familiar to me." He suddenly said. Napaubo kaagad ako kaya mabilis siyang kumilos, marahang hinawakan ang likod.

"Are you okay?" Nag-aalalang sabi niya. Sumenyas ako sa kanya na ayos lang kayo kumalma siya.

Pinunasan ko ang labi ko saka umiling. "Nah, hindi pa kita nakita."

Tinignan niya ako, pumirmi ang labi niya. Ako naman ay napalunok, masyado naman siyang seryoso. "Are you telling the truth?"

"Of course, why you would I lie? Hindi pa talaga kita nakikita." I said at him.

"You're lying."

Napanguso ako. "I'm not."

"If you say so." Sabi nalang niya. Hindi na ako kumibo pa.

Inayos ko ang gamit ko saka pinakiramdaman siya. Mukhang wala naman na siyang gagawin kaya bigla siyang tumango sa akin. Sinabi niyang ihahatid niya ako kaya pumayag na ako. Dumaan muna kami sa conference room dahil may naiwan daw siya roon. Tahimik ko siyang pinagmamasdan, alam kong alam niyang nagsisinungaling ako. Bakit kaya hindi na siya nag-usisa pa? Kung ano man ang dahilan, bahala na.

"I've found it already, let's go." I smiled and nodded at him.

"Okay, tara." I whispered softly, I felt him following me. I walked first, he just ignored the people who looked at us—people trying to talk to him or greet him.

I was shaken and then got into the passenger seat, I thanked him when he adjusted my seatbelt. Palihim akong napaismid ng ayusin niya nanaman ang sleeves niya. It is remarkable that he's a perfectionist. Wala sa sariling napangiti ako, pero unti unti 'tong wala dahil naalala ko sa kanya si Mark.

Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa seatbelt saka umiwas ng tingin. Tumingin ako sa labas, malawak ang kalsada ngayon. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag at napatingin sa relo ko. Makakaabot pa ako, isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa kinauupuan ko at pumikit.

"Are you okay?" I heard him asked, I nodded without looking at him.

"Yeah." Hindi na siya kumibo pa, gayundin ako.  Sinabi ko sa kanya kung saan ang address ko kanina kaya siguro hindi na siya nagtanong pa.

"Were here." He said, mabilis kong minulat ang mata ko. Nakaidlip pala ako, I tsked saka tinanggal ang seatbelt.

Akmang bababa na ako ng mapatingin ako sa kanya. "Salamat sa paghahatid attorney."

"It's nothing, thank's for today."

"Likewise." Nakangiting sabi ko, kinuha ko ang bag ko saka binuksan ang pintuan. Ngunit napatigil nanaman ako at napasulyap sa kanya. Kasalukuyan siyang nakatingin sa harapan, nag-aantay na makababa ako.

Tumikhim ako. "Louie."

Napatingin siya sa akin. "Hmm?"

"Gusto mo sumama?"

"Where? Are you going somewhere else? Why didn't you tell me to let us go first? "

I laughed softly. "It's not that far, malapit lang dito."

"Oh, is that so? Where is it?" While removing his seatbelt— he asked.

My smile widened. "Manonood lang ng sunset."

Napatango siya saka bumaba, gayundin ako. Magkasabay kaming naglakad. Malayo ang tingin ko at pinapakiramdaman lang ang paligid. Huminto ako kaya napahinto rin siya, iginaya ko siya sa isang daan. Naguguluhan man ay sumunod siya.

"What the, don't tell me na aakyat tayo diyan?!"

I nodded at him. "Yes attorney."

"Hazel!?" His eyes were questioning, shocked, and incredulous looking at me.

I just shrugged at him. "You can freely go if you want, basta ako aakyat."

Nagsalubong ang kilay niya, napailing naman ako at kinuha ang hagdanan na tinago ko kahapon. Mariin ko itong hinawakan saka binuhat para ilagay sa pader, tinulungan ako ni attorney na naka-recover na 'yata sa pinagagawa ko. Mahina akong natawa ng makita kong hindi maipinta ang mukha niya.

"Seriously Hazel?! Paakyatin mo talaga ako diyan?" Narinig kong sabi niya sa likuran ko, kasalukuyan akong umaakyat ng hagdan.

"Pwede namang bumakod ka nalang dito sa pader, mas mahirap nga lang 'yun." Naiiling na sabi ko, I heard him cursed under his breath.

I ignored him and took the strength to lift myself up to finally climb the wall. I held the rock tightly and then jumped, I heard Louie calling me but I didn't pay attention to him anymore. Hindi naman ako masasaktan ng ganun dahil mababa lang ang tatalunan ko.

I slightly looked up at him. "Come on attorney, get down."

His jaw tightened and he looked at me intently. I just smiled at him, he obeyed what I said and came down to me. Pinampagan niya ang suot niya saka tumabi sa akin. Masama ang tingin na hindi ko pinansin. Inayos ko ang buhok ko saka nakangiting tumingin sa view na nasa harapan namin ngayon.

"Really? Manonood ka nalang ng ganito, kaylangan dito pa talaga?" Natawa ako at tumango.

"Yes." I heard him tsked and as i looked at the front. I smiled as I saw the sky change, the sun slowly moving to set.

We are here now in my tambayan, here I go when I want to be alone. We were sitting on the grass but it wasn't itchy because I covered it with a soft large towel. Behind us is the wall we climbed earlier.

While in front of us is the stunning view of the sky. Not only that, here are also the pet trees of a house on the side. Kampante akong tumambay dito dahil wala namang makakakita. Nasa bakod nila kami.

"You'll see, I really love how the sun sets in the sky along with it's darkening. It symbolizes the freedom to feel peace using only silence. As it slowly sinks, you will feel the real end of all." Nakangiti ngunit seryosong sabi ko.

Narinig ko naman siyang bumuntong hininga. I glanced at him, he was staring at the sun. "You're right, but only for a short time because the sun will come back again."

"Kahit na sandali lang ayos na, I'm not looking for the long -term." I laughed softly. "In today's time, everything is temporary."

I watched the sun. "Na tulad ng paglubog ng araw, lalabas at lalabas din ito. Pansamantala lang talaga, tulad ng itim na kalangitan na magliliwanag din."

"Society even uses the term 'sunset of life' to describe someone in their later years. The downing of the sun is a reminder that the day is almost over. It's a reminder of how important time is in our life and how we should not take it for granted. It's a time for reflection and beginning."

"I somehow agree."

"But not with me, iba ang dahilan ko kung bakit gustong gusto ko ang paglubog ng araw."

"What is it then?" I heard him asked.

"Tiredness." Mahinang sagot ko, sapat na para marinig niya. Nakita ko ang paglingon niya ngunit nanatili akong nakatingin sa araw. I counted for three seconds until it disappeared from my sight.

I let out a loud breath then smiled bitterly. My shoulder dropped along with the staining of my eyes. I looked down and tightened my grip on the lawn. I held the case with both hands on either side, supporting me to sit up.

I'll be like that for a while until I look at him. "Let's go."

"Okay, let's go. Are you okay now?" I heard him asked.

I was stunned, somehow I felt relieved. I curled my lips to make a smile, I turned to him and nodded. Seryoso ang mga mata niya ngunit makikita mo roon ang pag-aalala. Unti unti ay napangiti siya sa akin. Inalalayan niya ako pababa ng hagdan, 'kita ko na hindi siya komportable kaya napangiwi ako.

"Ikaw ba? Ayos ka lang?"

"Y-Yeah, I guess?" Natawa ako.

"Sorry."

"Nah, okay lang. Although hindi ako sanay, it's my first time after all." Seryosong sabi niya, napatango naman ako.

"Ganun? Hayaan mo, sasanayin kita." Wala sa sariling sabi ko at pinampagan ang kamay ko.

"R-Really?" Parang natitigilan pang sabi niya.

"Oo naman, malay mo magkita ulit tayo."

"That's impossible."

"Why?" Nakakunot ang noong tanong ko.

"I'm always in my office."

"Oh, edi ako ang magpapakita sa'yo. Pupuntahan kita sa firm niyo." Nakatingin sa kanyang sabi ko, napaawang ang bibig niya. Nanliit ang mata akong tinignan.

"W-Why?"

Kinindatan ko siya. "Ano pa ba? Edi para makita ka. Para makilala pa kita."

Napailing ako saka tumalikod sa kanya ng mawalan siya ng kibo. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko, ang lakas ng kabog ng puso ko. Parang nagwawala na kung ano dahil sa pagtitigan namin kanina. Huminga ako ng malalim at sinulyapan siya.

Muling nagtama ang mata naming dalawa. He shook his head and i saw how smile curve in his lips. Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi at naglakad na, naramdaman ko naman ang pagsunod niya. Binagalan ko ang paglalakad ko hanggang sa maramdaman ko na magkatabi na kami. Komportable ako sa katahimikang namamayani sa amin, medyo lumalamig na rin ang paligid. Sumasapit na ang gabi.

"Dito na ako, ahm. Salamat." Nakangiting sabi ko.

Tumango naman siya. "Should I say welcome?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "Nah, we both know that you enjoy my accompany as well attorney."

He looked at me, amused. "Such a confidence."

"Well you didn't enjoy my accompany?" Nakataas na kilay na sabi ko. Magkatapat kami ngayon, medyo napapatingala pa ako dahil mas matangkad siya sa akin. He chuckled softly dahilan para matigilan ako. What a beautiful sight. Him. Laughing.

"Of course, I enjoy it Miss."

"I know." We looked at each other and smiled at the same time.

Maya maya pa ay narinig ko na ang ingay sa bahay kaya sumenyas na akong papasok sa kanya. Marahan siyang tumango, pinanood ang bawat galaw ko. Nginitian ko muna siya bago tumalikod, huminga ako ng malalim saka isinara ang maliit naming gate. Tumahol si Heldon, ang aso namin. Nakalagay sa isang kulungan. Kumaway ako sa kanya dahilan para matigil na siya.

"Good dog." Mahinang bulong ko saka naglakad na. Hindi ako pumasok sa mismong pinto, umikot pa ako para pumasok sa pinto ng kusina.

"Hello mommy ganda." May ngiti sa labing sabi ko. Napatingin siya sa akin, as usual nakasuot nanaman siya ng kanyang pink apron.

"Hello sweethazel." Natawa ako at humalik sa pisnge niya.

"Mukhang na-late ka 'yata ng uwi, usually you go home in the time of 5 or 6."

I looked at my watch, oh 7:45 pm? We took a long walk. We walked slowly earlier. I laughed softly and then just shook my head at her. She nodded but the narrowing of her eyes at me could not escape my sight. Analyzing what I had done, I raised both my hands and stood in surrender.

Napailing siya sa akin. "Sa susunod call me okay? I'm worried, muntik na nga kitang tawagan kanina."

"Mommy kaya ko naman na ang sarili ko, I'm already 20 years old remember?"

"Just saying." Kinindatan ko nalang siya at pumasok na sa dining area, mukhang nasa sala si ate.

I went to the refrigerator then picked up my tumbler and drank. I still shivered a little from the extreme cold. I was shaken and then refilled with mineral water, which was going down. Mabuti at nakaabot pa ako, ibinalik ko ang tumbler ko sa ref saka isinara ito.

"Mommy ganda, paubos na 'yung mineral. Nagpa-order ka na po?" Sigaw ko.

"Ubos na? Ang bilis naman, hindi pa ako nagpapa-order. Ikaw nalang."

"Okay!" I went to the side counter then dialed a number on the phone. Later, someone answered, i order 3 blue containers of mineral water —The one week size. Usually si ate ang tumatawag, nakalimutan siguro.

"Thank you." I mumbled before turning off the call.

I took a deep breath and leaned against the counter, closing my eyes. Attorney's smiling face is what I saw. My heart pounded as I just stared at his face —in my mind. I spoke softly and mentioned his name.

"Louie."