Breaking Her Heart

*Charm's POV*

"Bessy, wait for me!"

I was trying my best to catch up with her pero ang bilis niya maglakad.

She finally stopped nung nakarating siya sa tapat ng kwarto ni Nathan and her smile automatically appeared.

Ngayon ko lang ulit nakita yung ngiti niya na yun.

Umupo muna ako. I was catching my breath.

When I finally looked at her, she was holding out her hand towards the door and it fell.

My eyes darted to her face.

She looked.. sad?

But why? Nakangiti lang siya kanina.

Hindi ko maintindihan.

"Bessy, what's--"

"You didn't mention anything about the therapy when I woke up. Planado na ba 'to noon pa?"

Nathan.

"Please tell me this isn't about her."

"My god, Ma!"

That's his voice. They're talking to him.

"It's all for you, Nathan." She said. "Kailangan mo siyang maalala."

About Theia.

Tumayo na 'ko agad.

"What for? Naaalala ko naman kayo." Sagot niya. "Hindi pa ba sapat yun?"

Hinawakan ko siya sa balikat. She's about to cry.

Bakit ko ba siya dinala dito??

This is all my fault.

"She's not just a part of your life, Nathan. She's everything to you."

"Don't you even care kung anong mararamdaman ko??"

Gusto ko siyang ilayo. Gusto kong ibalik yung gabing pinag usapan namin yung pagpunta dito.

Sana hindi nalang ako pumayag.

"We do care. Kaya nga gusto namin na maalala mo siya. You have to remember how much she means to you. You love her, son."

"No. Si Ivy lang ang mahal ko."

I covered her ears with my hands but I knew it was too late. I was positive she heard everything kasi umiiyak na siya.

"Listen to us, baby. We all know how much you love each other and now you want to throw it all away?"

"If she's really important tulad ng sinasabi niyo, why did I forget her?"

"Naaksidente ka kaya mo siya nakalimutan."

"Yes, I had an accident pero limot ko na nga siya. Hindi ba ibig sabihin nun, hindi ko na siya kailangang maalala?"

"Siguro hindi sya ganun kaimportante kaya nalimutan ko siya."

Theia looked at me and as she said those words, I have no idea what to say.

"Kapag nakalimutan mo ba, hindi mo na dapat alalahanin pa?"

"..."

"Kapag nakalimutan mo ba, ibig sabihin hindi naging importante sa'yo?"

"..."

Ano bang tamang sagot sa mga tanong niya?

Hinawakan niya yung doorknob.

"Bessy." I complained. "Don't."

"Pero.."

"Please, Theia." I pleaded. "Let's just go home."

Hindi siya sumagot.

"Kahit saan mo gustong pumunta, pupuntahan natin ngayon. Kahit saan, bessy. Wag lang dito."

Wag lang sa lugar na masasaktan ka.

I know she doesn't want to leave but we have to.

"Please.."

"Aalamin ko yung sagot sa tanong na yun ngayon, Charm."

Bago ko pa siya mapigilan, bumukas na yung pintuan.

***

Dumiretso siya sa kwarto pag-uwi namin. She was quiet in the car the whole time pero pag akyat ko sa kwarto, rinig na rinig ko yung pag iyak niya.

I couldn't comfort her.

Hindi ko kayang sabihin sa kanya na okay lang yung nangyari kasi ano bang okay dun?

Nakalimutan na siya ng taong mahal niya and the worst part, ayaw pa siyang maalala..

"Please."

"..."

"Kahit ngayon lang, hayaan mo muna ako."

"Please, Charm.."

Gusto ko ring umiyak kasama siya.

Gusto ko ring damayan siya sa sakit na nararamdaman niya but what I wanted to do was the exact opposite of what I said.

"If you need anything, nasa baba lang ako.."

I sat on the sofa and stared at Robin. Buti pa siya natutulog lang. He's peacefully sleeping habang ako, iniisip si Theia.

Should I go upstairs and try again? Should I be more aggressive this time? Tatakutin ko ba siya na mag susumbong ako kay Kuya pag hindi siya bumaba?

Pero hayaan ko daw muna siya.

Does she really mean it?

Kapag sinabi mo bang gusto mong mapag-isa, do you really wanted to be alone?

I was thinking whether to tell Kuya what happened because I'm scared.

Hindi ako natatakot na mapagalitan niya kundi baka hindi kayanin ni Theia.

*light bulb*

I'll call Lovey and ask him.

Nung mga bata pa kami, Gab's top priority was to make both of us happy. Silang dalawa ni Ry yung lagi namin nahihingan ng tulong kapag may tampuhan kami.

They both know how to handle her except me.

Unlike them, I wasn't good at comforting her.

I also wanted to be there for her so I asked Gab for help and he gave me a tip.

Presence.

He said it matters more than anything else in the world. That as long as you're there for someone, kahit wala kang sabihin, basta maramdaman nilang nandyan ka, it will comfort them.

Yun naman yung ginagawa ko ngayon pero bakit parang kulang? For the first time, I felt useless.

My presence wasn't enough to comfort her from this heartbreak.

It's Nathan. Her first love.

Naramdaman ko bigla na gumalaw yung sofa. Lumilindol ba? It can't be.

Tulog na tulog si Robin sa tabi ko. Kung lindol man yun, mararamdaman rin yun ni Manang.

When I felt another vibration, I looked at the pouch beside me. Baka may nagtext lang sa'kin. I tapped the screen and saw missed calls and texts from him.

*Kuya Alec calling*

Tumatawag nanaman siya.

Sasagutin ko ba? Sabihin ko nalang kaya na nasira yung screen kaya hindi ko nasagot?

I inhaled before answering.

Kaya ko 'to.

"Charm."

"Kuya?"

I tried to keep my voice modulated.

"Where are you?"

"Nasa bahay."

"Nasaan si Theia?"

"Nasa kwarto."

"Hindi ko siya ma-contact." Sabi niya. "Give her the phone. I want to talk to her."

Paano ko mabibigay sa kanya kung umiiyak siya? Paano siya makikipag usap sa sitwasyon niya?

"Charm."

"Yes..?"

"Can't you give it to her?"

"..."

Anong isasagot ko? Should I lie?

"Did you go somewhere na hindi ko alam?"

"..."

O___O Alam niya ba?

"Charmaine."

"Yes?"

I'm getting nervous. First name ko na yung binanggit niya.

"Answer me."

"Hi-hindi. Ka..nina pa kami dito sa ba..hay."

"You're lying."

"Of course.. not.."

"Just tell me the truth."

"...."

Alam niyang nagsisinungaling ako kaya paano ko siya sasagutin??

"Umalis ba kayo sa bahay?"

"....."

"Charmaine." He sounded so serious.

But I couldn't say anything. Hindi ko kayang aminin yung ginawa namin.

"Ayaw mong sabihin sa'kin yung totoo? Fine. Wait for me. Mag-uusap tayong tatlo pag uwi ko." Then he hang up. Nabitawan ko agad yung phone.

I held my face between my hands.

"What have I done??"

Buti kung maganda yung nangyari sa ospital pero hindi. Buti kung okay si Theia dahil nakita niya si Nathan pero hindi rin naman. She's crying because we went there at ako yung nagdala sa kanya dun.

I'm positive he knew what we did at galit na galit siya sa nangyari.

Oh no.

******

*Naomi's POV*

"Naomi.." Lumapit sa'kin si Mama. "Is there something wrong? Bakit ka umiiyak?"

"Ma, narinig niya lahat." Sabi ko. "Narinig niya lahat ng pinagsasabi niyang anak niyo."

"Naomi.." I slowly removed her hands and walked toward him.

He was looking away.

Halatang guilty siya sa ginawa niya.

I can't believe this. Hindi ako makapaniwalang si Nathan siya. Yes, he has amnesia but that doesn't mean na dapat masama na ugali niya.

"How can you be so cruel??" I asked him. "You knew. Alam mong nakikinig siya pero anong ginawa mo??"

"Is that true?" Sabi ni Papa. "You knew na nasa labas lang si Theia??"

"So what if I did?" He answered. "Wala akong pakialam sa nararamdaman niya."

"Bakit ka ba ganyan?"

"Ganito naman talaga ako diba?"

"She loves you." I said. "Mahal na mahal ka niya.."

"At wala akong alam sa pagmamahal niyang yun." Sagot niya. "Baka nga hindi talaga siya importante."

That's it.

I held his face at hinarap ng maigi sa'kin.

"Naomi, calm down."

"What the hell are you doing??"

"Tell us, Nate." I don't want to stay silent knowing this will hurt her. "Tell us kung paano namin siya haharapin knowing na hinding hindi mo na siya maaalala? At kahit may paraan, ayaw mo naman siyang maalala?"

He looked alarmed and scared.

He should be. Kasi ate niya ako and I've had enough of his shitty attitude.

"I know you're confused." Sabi ko. "Pero dahil sa ginawa mo, whatever we do for you or her, she's the only one hurting."

Pinipilit ko siyang intindihin dahil sa sitwasyon niya pero sumosobra na siya.

"How can you break her heart even more? Ano pang matitira sa kanya?"

I was too mad at him. Alam kong nakalimot nga siya pero bakit ang sama sama niya na?

I finally let go of his jaw and opened the door.

"I'll go get your food."

I tried dialing Alec's number as soon as I got out. I needed to know kung okay lang ba si Theia.

"Love, nasaan ka?"

"Love, nasa office na ko." Sagot niya. "Didn't you received my message?"

"Why didn't you tell me?" I felt betrayed.

"Tell you what?"

"Kamusta na si Theia?" I asked. "Okay lang ba siya?"

"Love, she's okay." Sagot niya. "Nasa bahay lang naman siya kasama si Charm."

What?

"Bahay?"

"Yes, love. May mali ba sa sinabi ko?"

"But that's impossible."

Naguguluhan ako. I'm sure nandito lang siya kanina. Nakita naming lahat si Theia.

"Love, what's wrong?" He asked. "What do you mean impossible?"

"They were here." I said. "Nandito sila sa ospital kanina lang.."

"Sinong sila?"

"Sila Theia at Charm."

"What??"

Halatang wala siyang kaalam alam sa ginawa nila.

"You didn't know??"

"I didn't." Sagot niya. "Walang sinabi sa'kin si Charm tungkol dyan."

Of course.

Hindi siya papayag na pumunta si Theia dito after what happened to her.

"Pero nandito sila and then.."

Should I tell him what Nathan did?

"Love, wait lang." Sabi niya. "I'll put you on hold."

Napatingin ako sa loob ng kwarto niya.

I don't know how he's okay knowing na may taong nasasaktan dahil sa kanya.

Alam kong hindi niya kasalanang maaksidente at mawala yung alaala niya pero sa ginagawa niya ngayon, kasalanan niya na lahat lahat.

You're such a jerk for breaking Theia's heart.

******