Chapter 77

"Zion!"
I quickly ran closer to him. I cried as I jumped towards him and wrapped my arms around his neck. I feel like a child abandoned by a parent. Now that he's back, that's just the look of excitement and tears in his eyes.
"It's true, it's true," I said, convincing myself that it's true. He is really the one I embrace now. He is well and alive!
I almost didn't want to let him go. I'm afraid that when he does that, he will suddenly disappear.
He is not hugging me back. He wasn't doing anything. He just stands there and lets me wrap a tight hug all over his body.
"I missed you so much love. I am so glad, you're alive."
"Excuse me," the first words he said. Next was the slight pushing of his hands on both my shoulders.
"I miss you so much," I removed my arms around his neck. But it just stayed glued to it.
"I'm sorry ... But I don't know you."
Even his voice sounds the same. This is really Zion!
"It's you," I buried my face in his chest.
What he said I could not hear. I had nothing else to do but feel her heat all night long.
"I don't know you," he said calmly, but with emphasis in his voice. He then pushed me gently.
I moved slightly away and lifted my dim gaze to it.
What is he saying?
I know he is the Zion I love. I knew him from head to toe.
He pushed me again. Now that is strong. That's just my breathing. Next came the shrinking of tears in the eyes.
Why is he doing this?
"Maybe you're just mistaken ... I don't know you."
"No ... You're l-lying ..." I sobbed.
"Sorry," he bowed a litte. And without further thinking, he turned his back at me.
What happened to him? Why doesn't he know me anymore? Why is he like this?
F*ck!
What on earth happened?
"Where did you meet?"
"How?"
"Why don't I know?"
"He's my boyfriend. He's mine ... That's Zion!"
"Wait, take it easy," Aryel whispered to me.
We both sat across from their house. Watch from here what Zion is doing. He stood near the shore and just stared at the peaceful ocean. There seems to be deep thinking.
He hasn't noticed me ever since. It strongly denies about the two of us. He said he doesn't know me, and his name is not Zion. Louie said.
I don"t want to believe any of what I heard. My heart knows who is ahead. I've memorized every traces of him. Where and how many moles he had, how beautiful to look into the eyes, and how not boring to kiss his lips.
He can't lie to me. He knew in that matter he would not win. But why ... Why even though I'm sure he denies the truth about us, I can't even see a lie in his eyes? Why is his eyes expressing the truth? I didn't see any guilt on it. Or at least a sign of hypocrisy.
Doesn't he know me? Or does he no longer know me?
What happened to him?
"We're both young," Aryel snatches my attention.
"Why didn't he even tell me about you?"
"We're always together ... He doesn't have a girlfriend, as you say."
"Lie ..." I looked at him intently, "Just by looking at your eyes earlier, I can sense you know something."
He wouldn"t suddenly apologize for not recognizing me right away earlier, if it didn"t matter to them. From rage, his eyes swiftly swooped to guilt after he realized who I am. If he didn"t know, there is no way he would act that way.
"There's nothing wrong with my reaction. I thought you were going to make trouble here, I was already angry with you. And I didn't look at you right away, if you hadn't asked," he shrugged.
"Why did you save me?"
The two of us stared at each other. He silently traced the details of my face, then sighed heavily.
"We know what others can do to women like you. We're not in favor of that idea. So if that's the case, we're fleeing whoever might experience violence from our colleagues. We've had a lot of escaped female victims. But of all of you, you are the only one who dared to come back. "
That partly made sense.
I would love to call him a liar. Although I want to stand up for the ideas that are believed and held very much, I cannot deny that there is a part of the mind that has softened a little because of the reason heard.
It's possible ... It's possible that the two of them have a different view of their fellow pirates. It"s possible that Zion isn"t really what I see right now.
"Can you tell me more things about you two?" my voice cracked. I cried again, "Where did you grow up? Where did you study? When did you become a pirate of the island?"
He did not answer immediately. It remained staring at me as if analyzing the line of my face.
"We grew up in a small town there near the city. Our parents are both friends and live in the same community so Louie and I were always together. Until we moved here to the island to hopefully make a living. We just finished high school and It must have been two years since I became a pirate. "
"Why is only your father with you here?"
"We are the only ones who dare to move to this place to live in the house left by our ancestors."
"He didn't really go to college?" I pointed out Zion or whoever he is.
"He's just always here with me."
"But he really looks like my boyfriend," I rubbed my palms on his face.
"He's just as handsome as maybe," she laughed to somehow ease the heavy tension between us, "A lot of people like him."
I stared sadly at Louie. He is raking his hair with his fingers. Biting his bottom lip, he averted his gaze at me.
Even in the distance, I can only see Zion. Everything about him defines my lost love. Is it really possible for different people to be the same?
Isn't he lying? Maybe he's just kidding me. Maybe he had crazy idea playing on his mind.
But what if there really isn't? What would I do now?
I quietly left Aryel's side and walked in the other direction. I want to think straight. I want to give myself enough time to weigh things in.
The sun was about to set. Somehow Aryel welcomed me to their home earlier and fed me. This is very polite to me. Unlike with him who almost did not want to talk to me and eventually avoided.
Is he angry? What did I do wrong to get to this all?
A series of tears were able to escape my eyes. I rubbed it and faced the ocean.
Do I really deserve this kind of pain? Am I forbidden to be happy? Have I done a serious crime on my past life? And this is my punishment. I am to be born again, but will have to carry a serious misery and grievance.
Why is it that whoever is kind to the world, he is often given a big test? Can't I take even a little rest?
'The pain Lord ... The pain-pain'
Due to the weakness, my body could no longer support its own weight. I got on my knees and that was the series of tears of grief.
I cupped my palms to my face. Lucky and a bit far -fetched. It was still covered with a large tree, so the two could not be seen comfortably.
I cried my heart out. I let all my frustrations dribble as tears. I let my own grievances and grief overwhelm the great misfortune. Until I can feel nothing ... Until all the pain and blank emotions disappear, the only thing that can be expressed.
I remained in place until nightfall. The feet are numb, but that doesn't matter to the pain of the whole system.
"Gee?" yielded a familiar voice behind me.
None of myself turned my attention to him. When our eyes met, it was as if I just wanted to cry again.
"Manong Ri," I hurriedly stood up and greeted him with a tight hug, "The pain ..."
"Why, what happened?" it hugged me back. Simultaneously gently pat the back.
I don"t care what he thinks after that. I just want to bring out my grievances. I believe no one can help me with this other than him. He have already experienced many things. If there's anything else I should listen to, it's him.
"Come on, let's sit on the sand first," it helped me sit down, "What's the matter hija?"
I immediately told him what had happened. How Zion met, how the story of the two of us began, and how it reached a tragic end. I also told him the reason why I got here, and why I am crying badly right now.
"You know hija ... You won't be hurt like that if you don't hope. You just saw what he looked like, you thought he was really that. How can a person who has been dead for a long time live? You saw what happened to him yourself, why do you insist You don't have to blame anything for what happened today. The real problem is your emotions. You don't want to accept the truth. You don't want to escape the nightmare of the past. You still hold on to the story of those two. How are the memories. Will you build more in the future? Have you thought about that? " its long line.
He's right ... Did I think about the future? Did things that could happen ever enter my brain? Maybe I lost him because there is something big coming through my way. And I have to prepare for that. Yet I am doing nothing else other than to look back in the past every single day.
How are the people I need to pay attention to at the moment?
Zion is my first in everything ... So it's very hard for him to forget. I want him to live in my memory and heart forever. But what about the person who had been seeking for my attention? How about my next love in this lifetime?
But do I still want the next person to love? Am I willing to risk my sanity again for love?
I don't know ... I don't know ...
"You know it's okay if you think about him every day. But you put the present aside because you don't want to leave the past, that's wrong," added manong Ri.
I sighed violently, then hugged my own knees.
I have nothing to answer for what he said. I am lost for words. I am drained and exhausted!
"You just thought Zion and Louie were one, because they have the same physical appearance. But I'll say it again ..." he paused for a moment and looked at me intently, "They're different people. met, "it sadly bowed and gently tapped my shoulder," The night is getting darker. Let's go home to the hut, "he stood up first. Then he reached out his hand to me, "You are a strong woman. The trials you are going through now, you will be able to overcome them all. The day will come when you will be happy again."
He helped me stand up. I just lingered here until we reached their hut. As expected, Aryel and Zi- I mean, Louie are waiting for us. Aryel was preparing the cutlery, the other one was leaning against the door of the room I once occupied. It folds up and just looks straight at me. They didn"t even have to ask what I did. My swollen eyes were enough to answer.
"Have you eaten yet?" manong Ri broke into silence. She went straight to her son's side to help prepare dinner.
"Your things ..." Louie grabbed my attention.
Everywhere I look, Zion is really what I see in his person. Can I just call him Zi?
"Inside the bedroom," it pulled back the curtain behind her to show me the luggage lying on the bed.
"Thank you," I sparingly smiled at her.
He coldly nodded. Then leave in front of me. He strutted out. Looks like I want to avoid it again.
Without a definite reason, I rushed towards him. If I just had to forget the past, I would miss the moment I saw Zion, even in the person of others.
I hugged him from the back. Tighter than what I did earlier. Maybe tomorrow I won't see him again. And maybe in the next few days and years. Maybe tomorrow, I'll think about leaving the city right away. And there, I will start a new. There, I will try to live my life to the fullest, without any mark of my past.
"Even just for a moment ... Give me please," I smelled his scent.
So he did ...
He let me hug him for the last time. He is so stiff at first. I just raised my hands as if I had no intention of responding to what I was doing. But later, he lowered his arms as well. Until the palms find my hand. He unwrapped my arms on his waist. I thought he would go away again. But he didn't. Instead, he turned to face me. And in one swift move, he snaked his arms on my body.
I could hardly breathe in the tightness of his embrace. But I don't mind. I want to feel his warmth until then.
"I hope this hug can mend your tears," I felt his lips on the top on my head. Giving me feathery kisses. Something Zion used to do.
Even just now. I would think Zi was the hug. After that ... Maybe I'll stop looking back.
I might consider ridding off his traces on my memory ... Maybe for eternity.
"Thank you for letting me love you. You are not the type of woman to be liked right away in the beginning, because you are arrogant and sometimes judgmental. But you are the type of woman who is very hard to forget. You are one of a kind. Not my type, but I want to. to call my life. None in my wildest dream I have seen you with me. But in my future, you are already standing at the top. Just then, I knew you were the woman I wanted to present to Bathala. From this day onwards, I promise to stay faithful, to be your strength and best companion. I'll be your shield when storm comes, your shoulder to lean on and someone to call your own. Cold no more, 'cause you gave me warmth. I, Zion Leander Pilvera take you as my wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part, "he said as he inserted a ring on my finger. He is staring at me lovingly. Telling me in different languages ​​how he is madly inlove with me.
And so do I. I love him more than expected. I love him ... He is the only one and no one else.
I let my tears flow freely on my cheeks as I looked at him intently. I felt blessed to be called his love. I felt lucky to be part of his life, and I am looking forward to share my eternity with him. No sickness and trials can halt our raging passion towards each other. We will always be the end game. And when this lifetime of us stops, I'll make a way for us to meet again on the next life.
"I, Geline Neilani Gavino take you as my husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
He wiped the tears from my eyes with his index finger. He smiled and moved his face close to me, marking my lips with his affectionate kiss.
"I love you always and forever Geline."
"I love you too ..." I hugged him.
I almost didn't want to let him go. I just want us to stay in this place for life. 'Cause with him, I felt safe and pampered. I have nothing to worry about because he is with me on every walk.
"Can you let go now?" he asked after a while.
I lifted my gaze to it. Such was the shock and fear when I saw his imageless face.
No eyes, nose, eyebrows and mouth. Everything is gone!
"What happened to you?"
I backed away from him. He was the same to me. And while doing it, he is slowly fading on my sight.
"Zi, why are you acting like that?"
I didn't hear anything in response. Over moments, he slowly disappeared from my sight. That looks like an ash blown away.
When I recovered, I quickly walked back into his arms. I don't want him gone! But it's too late. I can no longer touch him.
"Zion, don't leave me please ..."
"Zion!"
"Zi, please don't do this to me."
"Zi ... Zi!"
I get up and turn around. Chasing breath and sweating profusely. I held on my chest. It's aching so bad! And it hurt even more after I realized the reality it was just a dream. He just really remembers what is still very much alive.
He came into my dream to say I needed to let go. I deserve to release him in my heart and mind. It's the right time to let go.
But how can I do that love?
How can I forget the past two of us without difficulty?
I gasped violently and combed my hair with my fingers. I then roamed my eyes around where I am.
The whole place is quiet. If I could not hear the birds chirping outside, I would think I was the only one alive in this world.
It seems that those who should have been with me have left. It seems that manong Ri went to sea early again. Aryel and Louie, on the other hand, are probably now with other pirates on the island. I was left alone, for another time. But I won't complain. Maybe it would be okay if I left here without seeing Louie one last time. I might just consider staying a few more minutes.
I got out of bed and stretched. I need to freshen up. My system heats up, especially the heart struggling to breathe. When I was determined to forget him, then our exchange of promises re -entered my dream. The way he said, 'You are the only woman he wants to present to Bathala', it speaks so much of his sincerity and real love.
I sniffed and grabbed the towel that had hung last night on the window. Then leave the room. Very quiet surroundings. Refreshing for someone like me accustomed to noise and chaos. This place had a different past than the city I came from. And I like it more here. I prefer this kind of life to luxury, but it is full of envy and domination.
I walked towards the bathroom. I need water to freshen up. What I will do after a bath, I still have no idea. I still can't get myself out of this place. I"ll take a look at the solitude and moments first. Maybe I'll go home later this afternoon. If you are lucky, another boat will catch up.
None of myself pushed the bathroom door.
"Oh my-shoot! I am so sorry," I quickly turned my back, "I didn't know you were there."
Did I see? Looks like I saw that ...
Bite more I walked away from it. I didn't know Zion-I mean Louie is inside. He is completely naked. Leaning against the bathroom wall and blindfolded. Her hair is wet. I guess I just finished taking a shower. When the two of us looked right, it didn"t even intensify or anything. He just stared blankly at me. As if he is used to be seen naked and hard.
This is how Zion was then. Zion and I were like that then!
To be continued...