We don't really know who someone is until we see their darkness, and until we have forgiven someone's darkness, we don't really know what love is.

Noong gabi rin na umuwi ako sa bahay, pumunta roon si Damon. He told me everything he found out about Hunter. At kung bakit siya ang itinuturing nitong kalaban noon...

"His supposed fianceé was raped before his eyes, and he also lost his child. The suspects told him my name, and so he concluded I was the one behind everything. That's when he started to know and despise me." I covered my mouth as I listened to Dame.

"So you're saying, it wasn't you?"

"Of course I'm not, Am I really that bad?"

"Oo na sorry, so sino nasa likod?"

"His dad's enemy. They were very angry with their family then. It turns out that they're their rival family. They just used me for me to get Hunter's anger and ruin that man even more. They wanted us to fight until I killed Hunter, which never happened because Hunter found out before he could even dare to attack me. Four years ago, it happened."

"A-Anong nangyari?"

"The day you lost your child was the day that Hunter attacked the mafia organization that was behind everything he suffered for. alone. He had no back ups or people to help or to protect him. I found out their hideouts were blown up and nothing was left other than some people who were not there. He had no choice but to go alone; he was outnumbered. He was tortured. I also discovered that he was hit with the glass, which is why he lost both of his eyes. It's a good thing Meast arrived. I found out that that organization was his target. They rescued Hunter. And I also learned this information from Meast. I also found out that Meast was the one who helped him out of prison."

Natulala ako sa sinabi niya. Based on what my brother said, kaming dalawa, pati na rin si Dame. Pare-pareho kaming biktima ng kasamaan ng ibang tao.

And it was Hunter all along. He was the one who was lured into darkness. Nakatulala ako sa p-pasikat na araw. It's already five in the morning.

A warm feeling enveloped me. Pakiramdam ko hindi ako nakatulog ng matagal kagabi. Iniisip ko lahat ng pinagdaanan ni Hunter. At pakiramdam ko bumibigat ang dibdib ko.

Wala pa sa kalahatian ang sakit na naramdaman niya sa naramdaman ko. Iyon ba ang dahilan kung bakit sinabi niya sa akin noong nakaraan na pagod na siya?

He lost his first love, and then his first child, tapos 'yong anak din namin. I can't imagine his pain and suffering. May pagkakapareho sila ni Damon.

"Kanina ka pa ba?" The voice of a man lingers inside my ears. Hindi ko siya nilingon, kaya sumandal din siya sa kotse ko.

"No, kararating ko lang." We were enveloped by silence. I don't know where to start. Matapos ng mga nalaman ko.

Maybe it's true... that there are some villains who need to be forgiven. He wasn't evil to begin with. May rason sila kung bakit sila naging masama.

Dati, itinuturing ko si Hunter na parang isang kontrabida. I see him as a villain in someone's story... Could it be that he's the villain in ours?

"You know what, Hunter?"

"Hmm?"

"When I first met you, nasungitan talaga ako sa 'yo." Pinilit kong ngumiti. Ngayong araw lang Dimmy, pagbigyan mo ang sarili mo.

"Hindi nga ba?"

"Masungit ka naman talaga, pero buti na lang may masungit akong kapatid, kaya sanay na rin ako. Noong panahon na 'yon, gusto ko talaga si Meast, pero alam ko deep inside me, nagka crush na agad ako sa 'yo unang araw pa lang na makilala kita. Hindi ko lang noon maamin." Sumulyap ako sa kaniya at nakita ko ang pagngiti niya.

"The feeling is mutual, Dimaria." He took my hand and finally turned his head to face me.

"Kung papayag ka, can we treat each other today like a husband and wife? Alam ko kulang na ang oras nating gawin 'yon, because you're leaving, but let me just treat you the way you're supposed to be treated. This time, I'll treat you right, Dim." I nod my head. Iyon din naman ang purpose nito. I want us to at least love each other for one day. Iparamdam 'yong pagmamahal na hindi namin or niya naiparamdam noon. Our last shot.

Magkahawak kamay kaming naglakad sa gilid, nakapaa kami at iniwan ko sa kotse namin ang sapin namin sa paa kaya kahit naaabot kami hg tubig ay ayos lang.

"Look, it's different, right?" pinakita niya sa akin ang shell na nakita niya.

"Hmm, let me see!" inagaw ko iyon sa kaniya at gamit ang isang kamay ay pinagmasdan 'yon. Hindi namin binibitawan ang kamay ng isa't-isa. I can feel the warmth of his hand, and I guess he can feel mine too, and that's very comfortable.

"May nakapagsabi sa akin na mahiwaga raw ang mga shell." He said, smiling, habang nagpupulot pa. Nakasunod naman ako, hawak pa rin ang malaking shell na nakuha niya.

"Paano naman?"

Huminto siya saglit at sinilid ang shell na napulot sa kaniyang bulsa, basa na iyon pero sabi niya ay may dala naman daw siyang extra nasa bag niya.

Teka, pwede ba siya sa dagat? Iba ang hangin dito! Nakalimutan ko bagong opera lang siya. Pero nagsuot naman siya ng sunglasses kaya okay lang siguro..

"Kasi nakakaalis daw ng stress."

"Huh?" tuluyan niyang pinihit ang katawan niya paharap sa akin. He holds my hand, na nakahawak sa shell as he stares on it.

"Sea can make you feel relax, nakakawala ng pagod, and also the place where you can find peace. Pero hindi naman sa lahat ng oras makakapunta ka 'di ba? And the shell can bring the sea to you, not literally." Umangat ang mukha niya at natitiyak kong ngayon ay sa akin na siya nakatingin. He lifted my hand, at nilagay ang shell sa tainga ko.

"Now listen to it, sabi. Kapag inilapat mo raw iyan sa tainga mo at pinakinggan, maririnig mo ang dagat." And I really did hear it!

"Omg! Parang tunog ng..." namilog ang mata ko sa kaniya. He smiled at me.

"Tunog ng?"

"Alon," Mas lumawak ang ngiti niya.

"Exactly," he said as he continued picking up sea shells, and I just let him.

Hindi ko namalayang nagsisimula na ng uminit. Masakit na sa balat. Hindi ko pa rin binibitawan ang malaking shell ng bumalik kami sa kotse.

"Daan muna tayo sa bahay, shower muna tayo and palit ng damit after that we'll eat lunch." Sumang-ayon naman siya. Ako na ang nagmaneho, hindi kasi niya dinala ang kotse niya t inihatid lang talaga siya ni Zyc dito.

Matapos namin maligo at magbihis ay dinala ko siya sa isang restaurant.

He paid for our lunch. Dapat ako kasi ako nag-aya ng date na 'to pero ayaw niya.

I chose steak for me and, sa kaniya naman ay baked lobster. Alam kong paborito niya ang sea foods. Kaya noong dumating ay napatulala lang siya muna roon at ngumiti. Maybe, he remembered something.

"Hindi pala nagbago ang paborito mo?"

"Yeah, habang buhay ko na yatang magiging paborito 'to," he chuckled.

Sa pagtawa niyang iyon may naisip ako. He looks so gentle now. Siguro, magiging mabuti siyang ama. I feel sorry for him for losing two children.

He was the one who cut the steak for me, nakangiti akong pinagmasdan siya bago umiwas ng tingin at nagsimulang kumain. Naguusap kami tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay na hindi nin nagawa noon, at masaya ako.

"Saan mo gustong pumunta sunod?"

"Watch the movie, tapos luto rin tayo, alam mo ba 'yong mukbang? Gawain 'yon ngayon e, uso 'yon."

"Saan natin gagawin?"

"Sa bahay mo na lang, bili muna tayo ng mga kakainin." Tumango naman siya at ipinulupot ang kamay sa bewang ko. Dumeretso kami sa grocery at siya ang nagtulak ng cart. I chose to get mushrooms, pork meat, and chicken. Tapos kumuha rin ako ng chilli paste, gochujang, saka ng iba pang kailangan. Siya naman kumuha ng ice cream at french fries, kumuha rin siya ng pasta.

He also paid for it as we agreed to go home. Magkasama kaming nagluto at natatawa ako kasi napasuot ko siya ng apron.

"Pinagtatawanan mo ba ako?"

"Of course not! Sige luto ka lang."

"Hey! Ngayon ka lang ba nakakita ng lalaking naka-apron? Mga chef naman naka-apron ah?"

"Oo pero hindi violet." He frowned, and I laughed louder. Winisikan naman niya ako ng tubig na kinangiwi ko.

"Bastos mo!"

"Sige tawa pa."

"Kainis ka!" siya naman ang tumawa at pinitik ako sa noo bago tumalikod sa aiin to stir the pasta he's cooking. Napangiti na lang ako ulit habang pinapanood siya.

Please, this time... I hope you finally find your peace, Hunter. Sana... Makita mo na rin ang babaeng, kasama mong bubuo ng pamilya. You failed twice, but that doesn't mean you have to stop. You're in your 30's now. Ganoon din ako... Panahon na para sa atin ang piliing bumuo ng pamilya.

"Ang bobo naman!" I hissed. Naiinis na ako sa bida sa pinapanood namin. Panay ang subo ko ng pagkain at matunog na ngumunguya. Magkatabi kami ni Hunter habang nakasandal sa kama niya at patuloy na nag p-play ang movie.

"Ang kalat." Bulong niya at pinunasan ang pisngi ko pero hinayaan ko lang, paminsan minsan ay sinusubuan niya rin ako bago siya kakain at ganoon din ako sa kaniya. Minsan natatawa pa ako kasi malalaking piraso ang isinusubo ko sa kaniya. He almost choked.

"Papatayin mo ba ako?!" Natatawa pa rin ako habang hinahagod ang likod niya.

"Sorry na!" I laughed. He punched his chest more before he drank his water again.

Nagpatuloy lang iyon hanggang sa matapos kami. Ako na ang nagpresenta na magdala sa baba ng mga kinain namin, niluto ko na rin ang fries at naglagay ng chips sa bowl bago bumalik. Hindi pa rin tapos ang movie kaya tahimik akong naupo sa tabi niya at inabot ang bowl ng chips habang nasa akin ang fries.

Sa mga oras na iyon tahimik lang kami, hanggang sa magsalita siya.

"I'm sorry for everything. Tulad ng madalas kong sabihin, no need to forgive me. Gusto ko lang mag-sorry. I'm really sorry. And thank you... sa totoo lang masaya ako na napangasawa kita. Masaya ako na nakilala kita Dimaria. Minahal talaga kita maniwala ka. I was so happy when you came into my life. So damn happy."

Tumingin ako sa kaniya at ngumiti.

"Thank you too, Hunter. Marami akong natutunan sa 'yo. Pati na rin kung paano magmahal. Hindi ako nagsisisi na nakilala kita, I won't also regret that I became your wife. You're actually good. But I hope that this time you will be a better husband to your future wife."

Hindi na kami muling nag-usap hanggang sa matapos ang movie. It was already afternoon. Papalubog na ang araw, konting oras na lang flight ko na.

Hinatid niya ako sa labas ng bahay niya, at bago pa man ako sumakay sa kotse ko, lumingon ako ulit sa kaniya at niyakap siya ng mahigpit na mahigpit.

"Thank you for treating me so well today. Thank you for your time, Hunter. I love you."

Mayamaya ay gumati na rin siya sa akin ng yakap. Banayad ang paghinga namin at mabilis ang tibok ng amig puso. At sa ilalim ng kulay kahel na kalangitan, nasaksihan ang aming tuluyang pamamaalam.

Our last chance ends here.

Unti-unti akong humiwalay at hinalikan siya sa kaniyang pisngi.

"You're forgiven, Hunter. Ituloy mo lang ang buhay ko. I wish you the best, because I believe you deserve everything too." He reached for my face and gently kissed my forehead.

Bahagya niyang hinawakan ang ulo ko at ngumiti sa akin. He took something out. Hindi ko napansin na may dala pala siyahg paper bag paglabas.

Inabot n'ya 'yon sa akin.

"Bring this with you, para kahit paano maalala mo pa rin ako... not the bad one. I hope that thing can bring peace to you when you're having a bad day. Be free. Dimaria. Thank you for the forgiveness. I learned to forgive myself too. I love you. Always."

Sumakay ako ng kotse ng may ngiti sa labi.

Forgiveness doesn't mean accepting someone's apology. It means understanding fully that a person made a mistake but is worthy of a second chance. However, that second chance doesn't mean reconciliation and creating a new ending together. But it's just another shot to get things right that we failed to do the first time.

See you in the future, Hunter. Sana sa pagkakataon na 'yon, makita ko nang natupad ang pangarap mo. Iyon ang pinakahuling kondisyon na hindi ko na nasabi sa 'yo.

Be free, my first love. In my heart, you'll never die.