"Happy Birthday, my love!" bati sa akin ni Fauve pagkalabas na pagkalabas ko sa aking kwarto."Thank you, love." I hugged him.Halos hindi pa ako nagigising ng tuluyan, bumabati na ang mga tao sa loob ng bahay sa akin.Birthday ko pala ngayon? That was the least thing that I was expecting to start my day with. Kay tagal na din pala. Isang taon na din pala. Parang kailan lang."Sabaw pa ang mahal ko, hayaan niyo na muna." sabi ni Fauve sa kanila nang nakita niyang natutulala ako.Hindi pa din kasi ako naliligo. Sabi ko kasi kakain na muna sana ako bago ako maligo, pero parang mali ata ang daan na tinahak ko."We have a celebration here later. Is that fine with you?" tanong sa akin ni Fauve noong nakaupo na kami sa lamesa para kumain ng umagahan."Of course, love. Bakit naman hindi?" tanong ko sa kanya pabalik. "Baka mas gugustuhin mo kasi na simple celebration lang. I invited all the people in the island." he looked at me like he is observing my supposed to be expression."You what?"
Hindi ko na namalayan ang oras. Lumubog na ng tuluyan ang araw pero parang ayoko parin bumalik sa palasyo. I am tired of socializing. Susunduin naman ata ako ni Fuave dito kapag naramdaman niya na matagal na akong nawala. I just want to be alone for a while, but I know that I have to go back to Fauve's house. I know that I have no choice but to go back there. There's still an after party, I know people would ask for my presence. Naghintay ako ng ilang oras, pero walang Fauve na dumating. "Baka nagsisiyahan na silang lahat dun." sabi ko sa sarili ko. Were they that happy for him to forget that I am gone? Few more minutes, I decided to get up and go back. Nang medyo malapit na ako sa palasyo, naririnig ko na ang mga tawanan ng mga tao sa loob. They are happy celebrating. I plastered a smile on my face before opening the back door and greeted the handmaidens there. There are busy pacing back and forth. Umakyat na muna ako sa kwarto ko para ilagay doon ang gitara ni Fauve. Pumas
"What the heck are you talking about?" I asked him and he just scoffed at me. "What? Ganito nalang? Anong hindi ko alam? Ano ang mga dapat kong malaman? Tell me, Fauve! Tell me!" Sigaw ko sa kanya. It's frustrating. My curiousity is killing me. Bat siya galit sa akin sa bagay na hindi ko alam? It is not fair. "It will kill you, Dwyn." malamig na sabi niya sa akin. "Matagal na akong patay, Fuave." This isn't living anymore. When they died, I died with them. "I will tell you everything. Wala na akong pake ngayon kung ano pa ang mawawala sa akin. I endured this alone for so long. Maybe I deserve to let this out." pag uumpisa niya. "Can you seat?" he asked me. Agad din akong umupo sa tabi niya. My Fauve is back, the gentle one. He stared at me like he's going to miss me. "Can I kiss you?" he asked me even if he did not have to. I leaned in as a response and he gave me a passionate kiss on my lips and on my forehead. "I do not know what will happen after this, Dwyn. I might lo