Dale Daniel's POV
"Something bad happened to Zyah."
"What?!" I asked but I've got no response. The other line went quiet.
When I checked my phone, it turned out that the call had already ended. I tried calling him again but he is out of coverage already.
"Sir Dale!" I heard someone call me.
When I lifted up my head, I saw him, my driver. He was already standing beside the car, waiting for me. When I got nearer he helped me to put my luggage in the trunk.
"Manong? I need to go somewhere. Can you just take a cab to go back to the house?"
He nodded and smiled. "Sure, sir Dale. No problem."
I gave him money for his fare. I immediately started the engine of the car when I got on. I couldn't afford to miss another minute. I tried calling Zyah's phone but this time it's unavailable. The fear began to stir inside my chest. I wonder what happened to her. If that's how Dwight and Ellaine reacted, then something big really happened.
I tightened my grip on my steering wheel and turned my car, going to Zyah's Place. We are all gonna see each other in the future, why not do it now? It's the same thing.
When I stopped the car, I could see her mother sobbing. She was seated in a chair under the shade of a huge tree. The place is still the same as before. 
I walked slowly, closer to her. I felt like I was walking through a path full of sharp objects. However it wasn't my feet that were hurting and bleeding, it's my heart. 
"Auntie. . . " I called. That was just a single word but it felt like there was a lump in my throat. The sight of her rendered me speechless.
She held up her head and was surprised when she saw me standing before her.
"Dale. . . " Her eyes were enclosed in pain, it seemed like she was crying for days already.
"Yes, it's me. . . " Seeing her in such a condition, I don't know how to begin my sentence.
"Who is-"
We both couldn't move when we met each other's gaze. I recognized him quickly because I've never forgotten his image. It's the first time I met him personally. Ah? Was it the second time? We met already. We met when that accident happened. Seeing him again made that memory flashed back to my head yet, I did not go furious. Even though there was pain upon seeing him, I already forgave him for what happened. That was an accident after all.
"Dale? Are you Dale?" he started in a shocked manner.
"Sir Clavey. . . " I pronounced his name.
He shook his head and went to the table where he put down something, a plastic bag. I wonder what that shake of his head was for. 
He faced me with seripous aura. "Dale," he began. "I'm Harvey not Clavey."
"What? Then why-"
"We are identical twins," he told me. "I've been quiet for so long. I think this is now time to unveil the truth," he continued. "I was the one driving the car when that accident happened. My brother is innocent. Zyah's dad has nothing to do with that tragedy, Dale." 
What he just said rendered me speechless once again. I never thought that was what really happened.
"Then, where is sir Clavey?" I asked. I felt sorry for hating him that much. I broke his daughter's heart with the notion that he was the reason for my father's death. When I was a child back then, I only believed what I saw. I only hated him for nothing.
"He died that day."
"What?!" I felt a bang of pain in my heart. "H-he died?" 
I could hear their sobs. Sir Harvey was enclosed with guilt.
"He didn't make it that day," he confessed in an awful tone. He wiped his tears coming out from his eyes. 
"Zyah found out the truth and left home," Aunt Sharriese uttered between her sobs. "We don't have any idea where she will go. We couldn't reach her. Nag-aalala na kami sa kaniya. With her state, how could I not worry about her?" she added.
"Dale, I apologize for causing a mess in your life. With that  mistake, you lost your dad."
"Sir Harvey, I already accepted my dad's fate," I replied. "With that acceptance, I learned to forgive all the people I thought were involved in that accident. In fact, that was an accident. It's no one's fault.
"There was something wrong with the car that day but still I'll be forever guilty."
"I couldn't forgive myself if something happened to my daughter." A mother cried her heart out.
"I'll find her."
I went back to my car and sped up. I felt a heavy emotion while I was driving. She just knows that her father died and that truth was hidden from her for a very long time. How is she doing this time? 
I suddenly thought of the time she asked me something when we are still both in Riona.
FLASHBACK
"Lalaki! Lalaki!" she called.
"You're being noisy again, woman."
She giggled. "I have a question for you."
"What is it?"
"What if the world turns back on you? You feel like all the people you thought could reach out felt so distant. You're all alone. What are you going to do?"
"Stay in my  room, read a book."
"That's it?"
"Oh. How 'bout you?"
"Nature. I will go back to nature. You know the Mountain Paradise?" 
"Hmm."
"I will go there to calm my mind. On its peak, I could have a glimpse of the ocean from the other side. Oceans, sunrise, sunsets, butterflies and flowers. That's what I need."
END OF FLASHBACK
There is something inside me that tells me that she might go there. Without hesitation, I drove there.
I need to leave my car at the entrance of the place. It can't go in because of the narrow, rocky and uneven way. 
I need to walk to arrive where they are staying. This place is not bad. There are flowers and shrubs around. The breeze is much cooler here than in the city. 
"Sir, good afternoon. How can we help you?" A woman in black greeted me.
"I am looking for someone." I opened my phone and turned it to her direction so she could see the image flashed on screen. "Did you see her?"
"Ah? Yes, sir. But we are not allowed to-"
"She's my wife."
She glanced at her wrist watch. "She went up. She's gone for about 5 minutes, sir."
"Huh?"
"When you follow this way upward, sir. You'll reach a cliff where you can see the vastness of the ocean, sir. I saw her going there."
"Thanks!"
I ran to the way she pointed. I don't mind being exhausted from running. When I reached the peak of the cliff, I saw a woman standing there. Since she was the only one here, I assumed that she was the one I am looking for.
"Woman?" I called her but she didn't turn her back, rather she took a step forward.
"Zy! Don't jump off, oh?" I was terrified of what she did. I remained where I was standing so I couldn't provoke her. "Stay still, hmm?" 
"Woman, I already know the truth. The truth about your dad and the truth that you are  Petit Auteur. You don't need to do that, Zy. That was your dream."
"Zy, will you allow me to open our book again? Sa chapters na ito, we will continue being together, just like before, hand-in-hand, facing the waves of life together. Let me lament with you. I am willing to cry with you until the day you heal from your father 's death. You did that first, you melted the hate in my heart and helped me to accept my dad's fate. This time, let me do the same, woman. Take me with you as you go through your dark times."
"I have loved you yesterday and still I will for the rest of my life. I will always search for you in every corner because the warmth of your embrace is my safe zone."
"Woman, I will never stop loving you for you are like my breathing."
"Zy, can we continue our story?"
Clarriese Zyah's POV
I am seated on the grass while watching the golden sun rays reflected on the ocean. I am watching such beautiful scenery yet I am bleeding inside. Aren't I tormenting myself?
I am now in a higher place where I could see that picture, the setting sun in the West. It's not easy to come up here. I came across some struggle along the rugged path of the cliff. 
I am holding that recording file that Uncle Harvey handed to me. I still haven't listened to it yet. I am hesitating to press the play button. I am afraid of what I am going to hear. What if will it only cause me more pain? What will happen to me? What if I went mad and jumped off this cliff before I could know what I was doing? With the state of my mind right now, I am afraid that's possible. 
I shoved away the tears rolling down my cheeks and gathered some guts to click the play button. Hesitating will only lead me to nothing. What I am going to hear next, this is what my dad's last words are. I think I should hear it. No, I must listen to it.
"Zyah, my child," my dad began in a struggling tone.
My tears fell as I heard my father's voice.  I could hear his deep, panting breaths.
This is how my dad's voice sounds. I couldn't even remember it clearly. 
"Zy, I r-really couldn't make it," he continued, still struggling. "Be a good girl, hmm? Do well in your studies. . ."
"You want to write something like that, right? I want to read it myself, your works, but Zy, I am sorry. I couldn't be there."
I let myself drown in my own tears because I could really feel that dad was having a hard time while saying those words he wanted to tell me aloud. Even though he was struggling that much, he still tried to leave a word for me. 
"Reach your dream for yourself, for your mother, oh? I'll be your star above." He gasped. "I'll look for you night and day."
"My daughter, papa is leaving."
I heard some noise from the audio that is playing.
"Har-harvey," my dad called. 
"Clav, hang on! The medical response is on their way!" Uncle Harvey's voice replied.
"My child. . . "
"Hang on, Clav! Fight for your daughter, Clavey!" Anger and worries filled Uncle's tone. "Your daughter needs you! She's too young to lose a father!"
"I'll leave her to you. . . " my dad begged. "Tell her you're her father."
"Clavey, what are you saying?!"
"You're right. She's too young to lose a dad. So, please, just do it. Tell her you're his dad."
"Clav. . . "
"Z-zyah, my child, it may be cruel to you when you know the truth. I hope you'll forgive papa. I love you, always, anak."
I shut my eyes in anguish. When I opened my eyes, I caught the glimpse of the vast ocean. Felt like I was drowning in the middle of that sea. 
"I. . . I love you, my daughter."
The surroundings dimmed, before twilight could fully descend, I calmed myself and went back where I am staying. 
Since this place is far from the city, few people came here. There are some "home stays" here. At first, I was the only one staying in the room I booked but on my second day, a woman came and I didn't have any choice but to share it with her since there's no more vacant rooms.
When I reached the house, she had already prepared the food. She passed me a sheet of paper where she wrote something. 
"Thank you for letting me stay in your room. In return, I'll be the one cooking our food."
I smiled and borrowed the felt tip pen from her. I also write what I wanted to say under the words she just written a while ago.
"No morries. You don't need to do the cooking, really. But still, I appreciate it. Let's eat?^_^"
I let her read the word I had written and she responded with a couple of lively nods.
She is Delia. She both couldn't hear and talk. That's why we needed a piece of paper to communicate with each other. She is good at signs but I don't know those. 
Before I went to bed, I went to the balcony. I looked at the sky and searched for the brightest star.
"Papa. . . " I uttered while looking up to the night sky. "Are you looking at me right now?"  I asked, sobbing.
"Look, pa. I already reached my dream. Did you see my first ever appearance on TV? I introduced the documentary film of Inkwell. It only lasts 10 seconds but I was really happy." I smiled bitterly as I spoke.
I wiped away my tears and chuckled." The second one happened when I got involved with a plagiarism issue. You didn't expect that to happen, didn't you? I didn't expect that  either, dad." I giggled, full of pain.
"Pa, I also did have my own website, Drizzles of Yellow. The name is weird, isn't it, dad? I only thought of that when I was strolling around and it rained. I didn't think that it would be loved by many."
"Pa, my heart is aching now. But don't worry about me. I know that it's gonna be a long and painful journey for me to accept everything but I know I'll be there. You'll be with me, right, dad?"
"Pa, you said you'll be a star that'll watch me from afar. I know that you are looking after me and mom. Pa, if ever you can hear me right now, please look after Dale too. I know that he's mad at me but there's still a part of me that worries about him."
"Pa, I hurt Uncle Harvey and mom. I walked away from home just like that. I was just really startled by what I discovered. It was painful and difficult to accept. Pa, why did you think of having Uncle Harvey to act as my dad?"
"Pa,  I felt sleepy. I am now going to sleep. I hope when I woke tomorrow, the pain in my heart will lessen a bit."
The next day, I spent my time writing some poems and articles. Doing these things helped me a lot to lessen the pain I am carrying.
When I was done with my work, I saw Delia pulling a long face.
I got some papers and wrote something.
"Wanna watch the sunset with me?"
She nodded as her response.
We went together, walking to arrive at the peak of the cliff. It wasn't easy because of the rough way. Delia was walking ahead of me. 
The wind blows a little bit strong. That made the paper in my hand fly away. It didn't go that far. I decided to go after it. That was the only way to communicate with Delia. It wouldn't be good if we are just sitting there and doing nothing. It would be depressing for me.
I was about to catch the paper when it was blown away by the wind for the second time. I am thankful that I caught it after trying multiple times.
I continue to walk, going after Dalia. I am afraid that she will misunderstand why I am not here.
When I am nearer to the peak of the cliff, I let out a deep breath before I carry on.
I froze when I heard a familiar voice. I lifted up my head and saw a man in black jacket in front of me. 
I must be dreaming right? It can't be him.
"Woman, I will never stop loving you for you like my breathing. Zy, can we continue our story?"
Beat. My heart beats gone insane. He is here! What should I do? How I'm supposed to react? What I am going to say?
"Dale. . . " I called with a quivering lips.
He turned and our gaze met. He looked as startled as I am.
"Zy? You. . ." He looked back and looks at me again, confused. "You are here?"
"Oh."
"Then. Who was-" He shook his head. "Did you just get here?"
"Ah? Uh, yes"
"You didn't hear what I've jut said?"
"Oh."
So he mistook Delia for being me? I wonder what he said while I was not around.