In the Faraway Land of San Roque

that he needed a strange story, he decided to fin

cemetery, but no one could tell its exact location

remembered his former classmate who told the story about the

o ask the very person

a's contact. They did not disappoint him and immedi

eral years and he was litera

rt beat faster. He suddenly ran out of air so

g in front, head slightly tilted to look up at him. "Am I t

ess that was knee length. Her fair skin was the typical complexion he always adored

t as he gestured Vera, "

at in the chair opposite

ged a lot," Vera commented, feas

You're indee

s face making him uncomfortable in his seat. No woman had ever

s of his skin resonated with the demure laugh of Vera. He was left astoun

in his hear

. Loosen up. You

ment. "I never thought you'll be this beautiful one day. If

ed. Alfredo went alert at the s

ra said in a soft ton

hed and was replaced by the surge of remorse coming from

u bad," he said in deep vo

n line. A wave of silence passed by and minutes later,

from you, but I also wa

"Buenavidez is not something I could reach until I succedded the place of my sister. Now that I am her

He then averted his gaze. "Someone taught me h

e urged to meet her gaze again. He could feel in hi

how to maintain yo

the urge and looked back

mean?" he ask

And within a day, that small business went bankrupt. We both knew what

water poured his aching ego, making him bit

rgument. "I am here for one purpose and that is to ask about th

t when she spoke, her tone was soft. "Do you pla

t what she said.

r me f

rst, so you

n the chair. "It's just a folklor

ocation of th

and crossed her arms against her chest. "I'm don

ned eventually. "I don't think I have

n. Going in that cemeter

erked at what s

ed again. "You owe

in the air and leaned bac

pursed her lips and pretend

ht that he could ask Vera in a nice way, but then his tongue slipped. If only he didn't r

ribbling something on a notepad,

ggled and raised her head to meet his gaze. His

ons equivalent to mine after this tim

is precious time. Vera was one of them, he supposed. But the innocent smile on

hirped. "Am I y

ghed a bit and tried to hide the uncomfortable feeling

ed me three q

knotted his brows. "I don't hav

his expression remained stoic as

immediately withdrew her free co

d looked down on the table. "Alfred, you can go back to your

era's tone, he averted his gaze. "

u. You're good in k

er

im for a few seconds before she continued. "I really don't adv

what I'm

tugged the side of Vera's lips before she stood and picked up her bag l

didn't order anything but the store keeper was kind enough to

g outside and he knew that

y aunt said that it's dangerous to walk outside during nightt

ed at her. "I'll k

nds, lips were twitching like there's somet

s it?"

prised to see tears tra

ra

know that you were my bully, but over these years, I was really hoping for our closure. Pleas

ve him a kiss on the side of his lips, befo

efore someone poked his arms. He lo

People hoarded the newspapers because of the recent headline. I saw you with the cry

the newspaper and looked at the headline. His h

hy Vera cried while saying goodbye to him. The

crumpled as he looked aroun

t paid my crumple