Hunter's Moon

Chapter 02

"What everything?" Is there something I didn't know? What else did they hide from me?

"He doesn't love you, Luna." ani Alice na muling nakasubsob sa leeg ko. "He's just using you from the start because he saw your skills. He and his father threaten your family that's why they didn't mind even if you're an assassin. They also threaten everyone in your organization so that they will never approach you or befriend you. Ginusto nilang maging mag-isa ka para masigurong si Hyun lang ang makikita mong tumatanggap sayo."

I don't know what to say after hearing this. Ever since I work with Hyun, my family never treated me with love and care. Kapag nasa bahay ako ay pinaparamdam nila na para lang akong hangin. They even treated me cold like I was not part of the family.

Ilag din sa'kin ang mga kasama ko sa organisasyon. I thought, they're just mad at me dahil malapit ako kay Hyun kaya lagi akong may misyon. And Hyun always said not to mind them kaya ipinagsawalang bahala ko nalang dahil nga, nandyan naman sya para sa akin.

"At lahat ng mga taong napapalapit sayo outside that damn organization ay pinapatay nila sa takot na umalis ka at maging sagabal pa sa kanila." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi nyang iyon. "L-Luna, they loved you. Everyone you met before accepted you because they see your courage to show your true self." Unti-unting nang humihina ang boses nya. "They all love you. All of us."

"Yes!" Nilingon ko si Hyun. Nakangisi sya habang nakatingin sa'kin. "I killed them. All those b***h that tried to steal you away from me. I killed them because you are mine. I can't let you leave me! You're not allowed to leave and have the life you wish because father will never give my inheritance."

W-what? Dahil sa mana kaya nya akong ikinukulong sa organisasyon? Ito lang ang dahilan kaya hindi ako magkaroon ng masayang buhay?

"Sobrang bilib si Daddy sayo. You reached his expectation kaya ayaw ka nyang mawala sa amin. Kaya ipinagawa nya ang lahat para lang mahulog ka sa'kin. Iyong tipong ako lang ang makikita mo at gagawin mo ang lahat ng hilingin ko sayo." Natawa sya at hinaplos ang buhok ko. "And I did. You are head over heels for me kaya kahit sawang-sawa na ako sayo ay pinakisamahan pa din kita dahil doon masaya si Dad."

"Damn you!"

"But you know what? Nang mamatay si Daddy, sayo niya ipinamana ang lahat." Sinabunutan nya ako. "Sayo napunta ang pinaghirapan ko. Sayo napunta ang bagay na dapat ay sa'kin. Kaya nagdesisyon akong patayin ka na din kasama iyang pakialamera mong kaibigan."

Nawala ang atensyon ko kay Hyun nang maramdamang humihina na ang paghinga ni Alice. "Hey. You're still alive, right?"

"Y-yeah." mahina nyang sabi. "P-pero hindi ko na kaya, Luna."

"Don't say t—"

"Ssshhh. Let's accept the fact that we will die tonight." aniya. "W-wala tayong magagawa sa sitwasyon dahil pareho tayong hindi makagalaw. I love you, Luna. I know that you're a ruthless assassin but you're so warm, nice and kind to me. And I thank you for that because you are the only person who cares for me that much."

"I love you too and thank you for being strong enough so that you can give me those good memories."

"Tsk! I hate dramas." dinig kong sabi ni Hyun na hindi ko na pinansin. Naramdaman kong na inalis nya ang kutsilyo sa kamay ko. "You'll both die tonight so enjoy your last minute in this world." At umalis na ito.

Alice is right. We should accept that this will be our last night.

Bumuntong hininga ako at tumitig sa maliwanag at bilog na buwan na saksi sa lahat ng naganap sa gabing ito.

"I... I heard a story." Nagsimula na akong maluha kaya kahit may sugat ang kamay ay itinakip ko ito sa mata ko tsaka iniyakap kay Alice ang isa pang kamay. "In this story, they say that if you make a wish in the moon, the moon god will grant it in your next life."

"Do you believe in that kind of story?" I tried my best para hindi nya marinig ang hikbi ko. Ayokong ang pag-iyak ko ang huling alaala sa akin ng nag-iisang taong lumaban para magkaroon ako ng malayang buhay.

"W-walang mawawala kung maniniwala tayo, di ba?" balik nya sa akin. "Beside, kung totoo man ang next life, gusto kong maging magkaibigan pa din tayo. Kung may after life naman, kahit sa impyerno pa, susundan kita. Ayokong sa ganito lang matapos ang pagkakaibigan natin."

"Alice."

"I...I still want to be with you, L-Luna. Ma-marami pa... a-akong gustong ga—win kasama ka. I still want... to create more memories... with you."

"Alice!" I cried so hard when I felt she stop breathing. "Alice!" Mahigpit ko syang niyakap at tumingin sa buwan.

I don't even know if there is really a moon god that grants any wish. But if ever he's listening, I just wish to be with Alice even in after life or in our next life just like what she wanted.

I'm willing to accept anything kung ang kapalit nito ay ang kahilingan ni Alice. I am ready to face hell again just to be with her.

But who am I kidding? Of all people, I should be the one who knows. That this moon will never grant any wishes.

"I'm sorry, Alice." mahina kong sabi at unti-unti ko nang nararamdaman ang pagbigat ng talukap ng mga mata ko. "I'm sorry because even I can't grant your wish. I—I think, we can never be with each other. Neither in hell nor in our... next... life..."