Episode 34

Move-on

"Nurse, check her vitals. Miss Villaflor, can you blink two times?"

I looked at them in confusion as I don't know what's happening. Why am I here? Anong nangyayari? I surveyed the whole white room and I just noticed that I'm really in a hospital!

Bakit... Oh my god!

I blinked my eyes and did what the doctor told me to do. Sabi nila ay ni-che-check daw ang basic responses ko. Ano ba'ng nangyayari?

"Ate Hya... Buti gising ka na..." Nasa gilid lang si Rylie habang nakasalikop ang mga kamay na parang nagdadasal. Concern was clearly etched on her face. Bigla akong napaisip.

Ga'no katagal ba 'kong walang malay?

"Can you remember her?" Biglang tinuro ng doktor si Rylie na ngayo'y lumuluha pa rin. I creased my forehead before blinking two times because I find it hard to nod. Tumango lang ang doktor. "She has no amnesia, but we need to check her vitals, too. Her complications might be on the other parts of her body."

"We still need to run some tests. For now, let her rest. Contact her guardian first," pagpapaalam ng doctor na mukhang amerikano. Tumango-tango lang si Rylie bago lumapit sa gawi ko.

I am still staring at her and she was weeping like a baby who has lost her mother. She held my hand tightly and I glanced at it. It feels so foreign... Everything feels surreal.

How come that I'm still alive?

Ang huling pagkakaalala ko ay nabangga ako ng isang truck at nawalan ng malay. I also saw Valentine going near me and blabbering some things pero agad akong nawalan ng malay kaya hindi ko na naintindihan.

I tried to open my mouth but it was of no use because I feel weak. I can't control my body properly. The only thing that I can lift were my index fingers. Aside from that, I can only blink. This is so frustrating.

I suddenly remembered this feeling noong bata pa lang ako at sinabi nilang naaksidente ako at doon nawala ang mga memorya ko. I remembered that time that I only remembered my name, family and some friends. Wala nang iba.

I looked at Rylie and saw her look at me too. I want to speak. I want to ask her on why the hell am I still alive and what happened while I'm asleep. Pero hindi ko mabuka ang bibig ko. Parang hindi ko ma-kontrol ang katawan ko.

"Hya? Hya?! Where's Hyacinth? Oh my god, hija! You're awake!" Nakita kong lumuluhang lumapit sa'min si Tita Elly na mukhang galing pa sa trabaho.

She looked stressed and aged. But even with all those, she still maintained her classy figure that I have always admired.

"H-hyacinth..." she whispered before holding my hand. A tear fell from my eye and she wiped it with her thumb. I feel miserable. I can't control my body well and I don't know what's the current situation of our family.

"Hya... I'm sorry..."

I furrowed my eyebrows in my mind because I can't control it well. Why is she sorry? Did something happen?

"You were... asleep... For almost 6 months..."

I felt like my world crumbled into pieces because of what she just said. I tried to open my mouth but I can't do it so tears just flowed down my eyes. "Shh... Sorry. Kung nalaman ko lang agad ang kinalaman ng De Dios sa pagkamatay ng mga magulang mo, I should've warned you before you fell to that boy, Valentine."

I cried harder because of the mention of his name and his family. Anong nangyari sa pamilya nila? Sila ba talaga ang may pakana ng pagkamatay nila Mommy and Daddy? Pero bakit? And Val... What happened to him now?

"Rest first. Sasabihin ko sa'yo 'pag maayos ka na." She gave me a small smile but I'm not contented! I rested for six fucking months! Bakit hindi pa sabihin ngayon?

I wanted to appeal to Tita but I know that she won't let me so I just shut my eye and memories came back flashing again like a continuation of my long dream.

"That's Dhara... A family friend..."

Maingat akong bumaling kay Vladimir na ngayo'y nakatitig pa rin sa direksyon nila Val at noong babae. Who the hell? Ba't parang ngayon lang sila nagkaro'n ng gan'yang family friend?!

"May gusto ba siya kay Val?" Hindi na 'ko nagpaligoy-ligoy pa. I need to get straight to the point. There's no use kung iba pa ang itatanong ko.

"Hindi ko alam. Pero siguro..." Nagkibit-balikat siya kaya tumango na lang ako kahit ang totoo'y masakit. Who would be happy if you saw the man you like with someone else, right?

Days quickly passed by and our Moms are now planning for the event. My gown is already ready and the venue is now planned and reserved. We will have our engagement party, even though I'm just 15 and Vlad is 18. Hindi naman daw kami magpapakasal agad but I feel like everything's too... rushed.

"Hya..." Vladimir suddenly approached me when we were observing the renovation of the place, just for our engagement party. Both of our families were powerful businessmen and my family needs their help that's why we will be arranged in a marriage. Akala ko ay sa mga palabas lang 'to nangyayari.

Nagulat ako nang bigla akong niyakap ni Vladimir mula sa likod. My eyes widened and I tried to turn to him but he placed his head on my shoulder.

"Cy... " bulong ko dahil naiilang ako sa yakap niya kahit dati pa niya 'ko niyayakap since we were kids.

"I love you..." He said those words full of love and determination to marry me but I can't help but be sad. Why is our fate like this? I wanted to love him too but I can't love two men at the same time. I have only one heart.

And it freaking beats for a man named Valentine.

Nagising ako mula sa panaginip na umiiyak na naman dahil sa nangyari noon. 

Nasa'n na ba si Cyrus? Bakit hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin siya nakikita? Bakit nahinto ang kasal? Bakit ayaw sabihin sa'kin nila Tita ang rason hanggang ngayon? Bakit nila tinatago?!

I sighed heavily before realizing some things that they only want the best for me. To protect me from harm that's why they keep on hiding things. Even my friends are hiding things, too. I understand that pero ako kasi ang naghihirap. Ako ang naghihirap kakaisip ng sandaang dahilan kung bakit? Bakit naging gan'to ang kalabasan ng lahat?

Months passed and I've got some rehabilitation and caring centers. They taught me how to walk properly again because I've been in bed for six months. Pinaayos din ang posture ko at nakakapagsalita na ulit ako.

Everything was going well with my treatments at patuloy ko ring kinukulit si Tita Elly na sabihin sa'kin lahat ng nalalaman niya.

"Tita... I'm fine now. Ano po bang nangyari noong nasagasaan ako?" I asked.

She was beside Tito Randy that was already recovered for eight months had already passed. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin na-co-contact ang mga kaibigan ko at walang nakakaalam na gising na 'ko.

"That Christmas... I told you that it was their family that was the reason behind the death of your parents, right?" Tumango ako. She heaved a heavy sigh.

"It's really true. Napatunayan na ang mga krimen nila at nasa kulungan na si Jashtine at Valerie ngayon. Now, their son Valentine, took over the company and faced a lot of issues regarding their family. I feel sad for that boy dahil siya ang kailangan tumanggap ng lahat ng responsibilidad para paangatin ulit ang kompanya nila."

My mouth draped open because of what Tita just said. 

What?! Val took over the company? But we haven't even graduated yet! Baka pinagsasabay ang pag-aaral at pagtatrabaho? How is he? Is he doing well? Pa'no kung magkasakit siya dahil sa pagod?

Pero bigla kong naalala ang dahilan kung bakit ako tumakbo paalis no'n sa bahay nila. He was engaged to Dhara. They... they could've been married by now. Kaya siguro... ang mga Ayala ang tumutulong kay Val. A tear fell from my eye.

Tita told me a lot of things about the De Dios and that their company will soon fall because Valentine is still not an expert in handling those things. Hindi niya na raw inusisa kung pa'nong nabubuhay pa rin ang DDE.

After my talk with Tita Elly, they left my ward and I internalized all the things that happened for the six months that I was gone.

Maraming nawala. Maraming nagbago. Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin akong contact kanila Portia. Pati na rin kay... Val.

I wiped my tears and remembered that I also stopped schooling too. Umangat ang company namin dahil sa biglang pag-ungkat ng issues nila Mommy from the past. A lot of businessmen wanted to invest.

Sabi ni Tita ay rito na lang daw muna ako mag-aaral sa America. But they will just visit me once a month dahil nasa Pilipinas ang main branch ng VF Companies na hinahawakan nila Tita't Tito.

I sighed heavily before getting the new phone that they bought me from my side table. It's been eight months. Tita told me that my friends knew that I was taken here in New York and they once visited me but due to hectic schedules, nagkakamustahan na lang. Ang hindi lang nila alam ngayon ay gising na 'ko.

I dialed the number that Tita Elly gave me. It rang three times before someone answered. Sinalubong ako ng kabilang linya na sobrang ingay at parang may concert na nagaganap.

[Hello?! Ang ingay! Wait lang, ah!]

Nagulat ako nang binaba agad ni Portia ang tawag. What the hell? Hindi pa rin pala sila nagbabago. I miss them. I miss my friends.

Tinawagan ko ulit ang number niya at sumagot naman. [Hello! Sino ba 'to?!] Mukhang naka-alis na siya ngayon sa venue kung saan malakas ang tugtugan.

My eyes teared up when I heard her voice again. Eight months, imagine?

"P-portia..." I stuttered while pronouncing her name.

[Huh? Sino ba 'to? Prank call ba 'to? Sky! Umamin ka nang kupal ka!] Natawa naman ako sa sinabi niya.

"No... This is Hyacinth..." mahina kong sabi pero mukhang 'di niya narinig.

[Huh?! Hyacinth?! Pero tulog pa si Hya! Nako, hindi na talaga magandang jok—] she was cut off when I heard a manly voice just beside him.

[Serene, please. We need to talk.] Narinig kong bigkas ng lalaki rin sa kabilang linya. Serene? May boyfriend na ba si Portia?

[Ano ba! Umalis ka nga! May kausap ako, 'di ba?!] I was about to talk again when she suddenly ended the line. I just frowned.

What... was that?

Talaga namang marami nang nagbago sa loob ng walong buwan. Kaya hindi na ako magtataka kung nagkaro'n na nga ng boyfriend ang mga kaibigan ko.

I sighed before contacting a new number again. It was Shreya Quillito this time. Sana naman ay maayos ko siyang makausap.

[Hello? This is Shreya Quillito speaking.] She said that with full of class and elegance. I smirked. I really miss them.

"Shreya? This is Hya..." She didn't respond for a moment. [No way...] I laughed at her reaction. "Yes way, Shrey. Si Hya 'to."

[Hya? Hyacinth?! As in Hyacinth Elara Villaflor? Our friend?!] hindi makapaniwalang sabi niya.

"Yes..." I giggled and I heard her sob so I stopped. "Hey, anong nangyari?"

[Oh my god! You're making me cry! Totoo ba? Gising ka na talaga? Please tell me that this is not a dream!] I heard her cry again so I just smiled a little.

"This is not a dream. Gising na talaga ako, Shreya. Last two months pa. But I can't talk and move my body that time due to coma. I still needed to recover that time. Sorry for contacting you this late."

[No, 'wag ka mag-sorry! Wait! I'm going to tell this to the gang! They should know! We will visit as soon as possible! OMG! I still can't believe it! Are you okay? Are you fine now? Please answer, Hya. I really miss you. We miss you.]

Tumulo ang luha ko habang pinapakinggan ang pangangamusta ni Shreya. We talked for a while and she said that she already texted our friends. Sinabi pa ni Portia na akala niya ay prank call lang ang kanina.

[Will you come back? Pupunta kami ni Sky sa US because of our parents. We will visit you, Hya. I miss you, bebs.]

"I miss you, too..."

Matagal pa kaming nag-usap bago ko napagdesisyunang ibaba na ang tawag. I smiled before standing up to go to the lobby of the care center to walk around.

Sinuot ko ang knitted jacket ko bago tinali ang buhok ko sa ponytail para maayos akong tingnan. My bandages were now gone at maayos na talaga ako.

Dumiretso ako sa park na malapit sa center at umupo sa isang mga bench malapit sa pine trees. It's cold, really. All I can see were American older people who was given care by caretakers. They're also strolling around the park.

The cold wind blew my hair and I smiled bitterly when I asked myself that what if my parents are alive? Will my life change?

Lagi ko naman 'yung tinatanong sa sarili ko. Lagi rin akong nabibigo dahil sa kahit anong isip ko, hindi naman 'yun mangyayari.

I remembered that they got me in an arrange marriage with Vladimir Cyrus when I was young. But I know that they only wanted our company to grow. I understand that. Even with a young mind, I accepted my fate.

Pero anong nangyari?

After further thoughts, I decided to just move on from life. I decided to bury all of it in the coffin. Ayo'ko nang mag-isip pa ulit ng gan'yan. Nabigyan na nang hustisya ang pagkamatay ng magulang ko. Kahit hindi ko alam kung bakit 'yun ginawa ng mga De Dios, I am now... okay...

Or maybe not.

I am just believing that I'm okay. I should be fine. Ito naman ang gusto ko 'di ba? Ang mabigyan ng hustisya ang mga magulang ko? Now that the suspects are already behind the bars, they cannot harm us again. I sighed heavily before deciding to move on with my life.

That's how life works. Circumstances come onto your way to teach you a lesson and in the end, you will just be thankful that it happened. Naiyak na naman ako dahil sa malungkot kong iniisip na kahit anong gawin ko ay hindi naman ako madaling makaka-usad sa buhay. Lalo na't hanggang ngayon, kasama pa rin sa mga iniisip ko ang kalagayan ni Val.

Hinintay ko lang na matapos ang on-going semester sa isang University rito sa New York bago ako nag-enroll. I repeated my third year and I am still under Chemical Engineering. Mas mahirap ang mga naging lessons dito sa bago kong school but bearable.

"Hya! Sabay na tayo!" Niall quickly ran towards me when I got out from our house here in New York.

"Uh... sige lang," I smiled at him too.

Pinakilala siya sa'kin ni Tita na anak ng kaibigan niya sa business. He was good and charismatic overall. Gwapo, matangkad at masiyahin. He reminds me of Vladimir Cyrus, taong hindi ko na nakita pa ulit.

"Ano schedule mo mamaya? Sunduin na kita sa class mo." He smiled at me like we're best of friends but I just smiled at her awkwardly.

Ayo'ko na kasi nang mga ibang kaibigan as of now. I don't want to trust anyone yet except from my family and my original friends. Alam ko ang galawan niya. Ganyang-ganyan din ang offer sa'kin ni Val noon. Si Val na naman...

Napatulala ako nang maalala ko na naman si Val. It's been a year since nandito ako sa US. First semester pa lang ng Third Year ko dahil nag-repeat nga ako. Si Niall naman ay nag-t-take ng MBA.

Tumango na lang ako sa paanyaya ni Niall bago niya binuksan ang pintuan ng shot gun seat para papasukin ako roon. "Thank you," I said and he smiled back bago umikot sa driver's seat.

Nakatulala lang ako sa bintana habang nag-d-drive siya at patuloy na nag-k-kwento. He seemed lively all the time. Kahit dalawang buwan pa lang kaming magkakilala ay dikit na siya ng dikit sa'kin.

Sabagay si Val nga ay ilang buwan lang kaming thesis partners pero naging kami rin noong... nevermind. Why am I still thinking about him?

"We're here!" masayang bigkas ni Niall kaya napahinga ako ng malalim bago tinanggal ang suot kong seatbelt.

After a year, I can finally move on from all of it. October na at malapit na naman mag-pasko but I can't feel it. Siguro ay naging mabilis lang naman ang taong 'to para sa'kin dahil tulog lang ako sa anim na buwan.

Malapit nang mag-snow dito kaya naka-pang winter outfit na rin ako dahil sobrang lamig. "Let's go?" anyaya sa 'kin ni Niall kaya tumango na lang ako bago ngumiti.

I need to change myself now for the better. I need to move on and remove all the negativities from the past. I know that all of these happens for a reason so I should keep living despite the pain of my loss of parents and a... lover.

I miss him but I should move on. Maybe he's happy now with Dhara. Maybe he also moved on from me at ako ang talo kasi niloko niya lang ako. I love him but I don't want to risk anything again. Lalo na't magulang niya pala talaga ang may pakana kung bakit namatay sila Mommy. I erased those negative thoughts because I should start my new life with a smile.

"Let's go," sagot ko kay Niall bago kami pumasok sa University.

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#ACM34

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