The Last Leaf Setting Novels & Stories

Nasa garden rooftop si Clovett ng hospital ng probinsya ng Negros. "Tsk, masaya kana nyan?" nagulat siya dahil may narinig itong nagsasalita kaya naglakad siya kung saan niya narinig ang boses kanina. May nakita siyang batang lalaki na nagbabasa ng libro habang may malaking salamin sa kanyang mata. Kulot ang buhok at naka bonnet. Naka indian sit itong nakaupo sa gilid ng semento na haligi, nagbabasa ng aklat, dahil siguro nararamdaman niya ang presensya niya kaya umangat ang ulo nito para makita ang mukha ng babae.

"Well, I always save the best for last. You're my last. My ending. No one follows." Namula ang tenga ni Leaf at parang martilyo na pinupokpok sa dingding ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib niya. Sinubukan niyang pakalmahin ang sarili sa paghinga ng malalim. Alam niyang hindi siya dapat nagpapadala sa mga ginagawa at sinasabi ni Elm dahil natatakot siyang palagi na lang ganoon ang gawin ng kasintahan sa kaniya.

Malungkot na ngumiti sa'kin si Ate. I get it what she wants to say. I'm the author of the story and I'm also the leading lady and my leading man is Jay. At this moment I chose to be far away from him just to end the scene, but once I go back we will have our book two. Book two of our love story. "Yeah, how 'bout yours? Tragic or happy ending?" may pang aasar sa tono ko, mapait siyang ngumiti. "Obviously it's not a happy ending." Nagkibit balikat siya at nag iwas ng tingin sa'kin. "He'll be probably happy with his girl."

buntong hininga ni Midnight saka kinarga si Leaf na tulog na. Tulad niya ay pagod na ang anak niya. Ang mister niya ay pula ang balat at pawis na pawis, paisa-isa ang hinga matapos ang laro at picture taking. May mga seremonyas pa bago tuluyang nagkaroon sila ng privacy. It's time for them to go home. Niyaya sila ng team na sumama pero tumanggi si Midnight dahil kay Leaf. He just gave his best shot for the game and the people, but at the end of the day, his heart will always belong to his family.

The fall of dry leaves touching my skin as it passes, while the wind whispers sweet nothings from time to time, feels like my fleeting memories of the past. The time when we were at Casa Lupin, the green scenery of the town mixed with the fiery color of the sun. Our people, may they be young or old, are filled with laughter and smiles. When a simple illness can be treated abruptly by the fresh air the Tree of Life gives us.

Ngumuso ako habang tinatanaw ang sa wakas ay tapos na obra. Ang hubad na likod ng lalaki sa painting ay masalimuot ang detalye. Doon ako masyadong natagalan. Ang bilog na buwan ay kitang-kita. Ang setting ng aking obra ay sa balkonahe, sa madilim na gabi. Hindi ko makakalimutan ang senaryong iyon. Doon ko siya unang nakita. Iyon ang unang pumasok sa utak ko nang maisip na gusto ko siyang gawan ng painting.

“About all of it. About thinking we could win this thing. About thinking vengeance could fix what we lost. But Thilda was right. There’s no meaning left in this…” He pulled back, looked us both in the eye. “Both of you need a future. And I can’t give that. I don't wanna waste the last good thing this world’s got.” He meant us. That realization hurt in a way I couldn’t explain. Because we were the last good thing. And now we had to leave him behind. We stepped away. One last look. One last breath. And then— Caite and I slipped into the dark, down the slope and into the thick of the trees.