Chapter Eight: Amnesia

He brought me first to Howard's room before he disappeared from my sight. I remember that I felt so nervous that he held my hand and caressed it to make me feel that everything would be fine. But before I decided to open the door, I heard the noises coming from Howard's room. He suddenly looked at me, but disappointment drew in his face when I wasn't the one he expected.

He returned his gaze to his mother. And it slowly breaks me into pieces. I looked at his mother, and I saw the pity in her eyes. Damn, it's much more painful to know my rival to her son was none other than my half-sister. And she knew all along. I keep looking at him, waiting for him to do the same, but it doesn't happen.

You are the cruelest man I've ever met, Howard.

"I said, " Where's my wife? "I felt stiffened when I heard his frustration.

"MOM!"

"WHY SHE'S NOT HERE? "My presence wasn't enough to make you calm. Did you already fall for her?

"WHY CAN'T I SEE HER? "Tama na! Hanggang kailan mo ba ako paulit ulit na sasaktan Howard.

Why can't you see that I'm hurting the most? Why are you so cruel?

"WHERE IS SHE? "I can't take this anymore.

She was her, but you keep chasing me. When am I here now, but you are starting to search for her?

"MOM! Where's My Wife? "I've felt torture. Parang akong nahihilo sa paulit ulit na lumalabas sa labi niya. Napahawak ako sa singsing na binigay niya sa akin.

Howard's father noticed the ring on my left finger. Ngayon ko na lang ulit nakita si Mr. Satillan. He never talked to me, but he never disrespected me. His wife does, but he never did.

"TAMA NA! "I shouted, and their gaze was at me now.

"Who are you? "It crippled my heart and shatter into pieces. Hindi lang ako ang natigilan pati na rin ang parents niya. I saw worries in their eyes, but I kept staring straight at him.

"You don't remember me? "He looked me boredly.

How come? All of you, ako pa talaga ang kinalimutan mo.

I heard from his doctor that he has possibilities of magka-amnesia. It was a miracle that he still survived and woke up so early, as we never expected. Matindi ang tinamo niya sa aksidente. Napahawak siya sa ulo niya at malakas ng sumigaw.

"AHHHH, ANG SAKIT! "Paulit-ulit niyang sigaw. Kaya naalarma ang lahat mabilis nag-sipasukan ang mga nurses at doctor.

Kaagad akong lumabas, pero bago iyan

mabilis akong tinawag ni Mrs. Satillan.

"Umalis na siya. Sana balang mapatawad mo kami. Mahal na mahal ka nang anak ko, pero hindi ko masabi kung ikaw pa rin. Hindi ko alam na magkapatid kayo dahil wala kayong pagkakahawig." Nakatin lang ako sa kanya. Nakikita ang labis na pagsisisi sa mga mata ni Mrs. Satillan. Nagulat rin ako ng hawakan niya ang ang kaming mga kamay. Wala naman akong magawa, kaya napilitan kong tanggapin iyon.

"Thank you for loving my son. Don't you? I judged you; we'd judge, and we are sincerely sorry for not hearing your side. invalidate your pain. And most of all, for disrespecting you." hindi ko alam, pero kusang tumulo ang luha ko. Hindi ko alam ang sarap pala sa pakiramdam na umiyak.

For judging me.

For invalidating my pain.

Most of all, for disrespecting me.

Wala akong nagawa ng bigla niya akong yakapin at umiyak sa balikat ko.

"I'm sorry for what my son did to you. And my family's wounded you. I'm sorry, iha." hindi ko alam pero tahimik akong lumuluha.

"Please accept this envelope. You can open this when you are ready to learn about your mother, but for now, give yourself a rest. I trust him for this time. We root for your success," she said before she left.

Mrs. Satillan.

Before, I dreamed of being like you.

But now, I don't want it anymore.

I don't want to be part of your family.

A Satillan.

Howard, you can now fulfill your greatest dream.

I removed the diamond ring from my left finger and threw it somewhere. Somewhere, I don't know.

Bigla kong napatingin sa white envelope na hawak ko. Hindi ko pa kaya. Patuloy ako sa paglalakad ng hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. Hindi alintana sa akin ang pinupukol na tingin sa akin ng mga taong nakakasalubong. Pero hindi ko sila pinag tuunan ng pansin. Hanggang sa mapahinto ako sa tapat ng isang mataas na building.

Silver Jace Company

May nakita akong pamliyar na pigura ng lalaki sumasakay sa isang mamahaling sasakyan, pero hindi ko maaninag kung sino siya. Pansin ko ang paglingon ng mga kasama niya, pero hindi siya kailanman sa gawi ko.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako ng malalim.

"Miss! Miss! Nahulog mo po ata." napalingon naman ako sa likuran ko. Isang batang lalaki tumatakbo papalapit sa akin. Nahinuha ko ay nasa lima o anim na taong gulang siya. Nakita kong ang tagaktak niya ng pawis. Kung titingnan mo para siyang hinabol ng kung sino. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin, pero tiningnan ko lang siya ng taimtim parang may nakikita ako sa kanya. Hindi ko lang maalala kung sino. Pagkatapos ay binaling ko sa nakalahad niyang palad.

A ring.

Nakita niya siguro na tinapon ko, kaya pinulot niya. Para ibalik sa akin.

"No. I intentionally threw it. If you really want that ring, you can have it," I weakly said to this child. I suddenly smiled sweetly and widely. A familiar face that I saw.

I saw the younger version of that waiter.

•••

It's pure author's imagination.