Napatangu-tango siya. Hindi na siya nagulat.
Nagpatuloy ang binata. “Sa port, I was there. I watched the ferry boat as it sailed across the sea, growing smaller and smaller until it was gone, and until I couldn’t see even the smallest trace of it anymore. Gusto kong tumalon sa dagat no’n. Parang mamamatay ako nang iwan mo ako, Ahtisa. But I told myself that if I died by jumping into the sea at the Bredco port, it would only make you hate me more. Isa pa, gusto ko pa ring umasa na mabibigyan pa ako ng pangalawang pagkakataong makasama ka. Kahit hindi pa ngayon, kahit hindi bukas. Kahit maraming taon pa muna ang lumipas. Handa naman akong maghintay.”
Huminga ito nang malalim bago nito dinugtungan ang litanya.
“I also told myself that I wouldn’t appear in front of you until you’d fulfilled
