CHAPTER 19

After three years...

"LOCKETT, handa ka na ba para bukas?" Tanong ng ina niya ng pumasok ito sa kuwarto niya na hindi man lang kumakatok. Kahit papaano, sa tatlong taon na kasama niya ito, nasanay na siya sa ibang ugali nito na medyo hindi maganda. Pero kahit ganoon ang ina niya, mahal na mahal niya ito dahil ito pa rin ang nag-alaga sa kanya sa mga panahong kailangan niya ng pag-aaruga.

Naka-upo siya malapit sa binata dahil nakatingin siya sa ulan. Dito sa Arizona, dalawa o tatlong beses lang kung umulan sa isang taon kaya naman inaabangan niya iyon.

Nilingon niya ang ina mula sa pagkaka-upo malapit sa bintana. "Mommy, kailangan ba talagang umuwi tayo?"

Her mom nodded and smile. "Yes, my dear. We have to go home. Oo nga at tatlong taon na tayo rito sa Arizona pero kailangan pa rin nating bumalik sa Pilipinas. Saka panatag ang kalooban ko sa pag-uwi na’tin kasi kahit daw katiting ng meningiomas ay wala na sa utak mo at nasisiguro nilang hindi na iyon babalik pa. Ibig sabihin puwede na tayong umuwi."

She just smiled. Bakit pa sila uuwi kung wala naman siyang maalala sa pupuntahan nila? She wanted to remember what Philippines looks like but nothing. Dapat talaga naniwala siya kay Dr. Edzel. Kahit anong gawin niya, hindi na babalik ang memorya niya. Habang buhay ng wala siyang maaalala.

"Mom, what's the use of going home when I can’t even remember a thing?" Humarap siya rito. "I want to stay here in Arizona. Wala naman akong kilala roon sa Pilipinas. Kahit pa sabihin mong mga kaibigan ko sila dati, hindi rin ako maniniwala. Have you forgotten, mom? It took you half a year to make me believe that you are my mother and the man with you is my father. Ni sarili kong pamilya hindi ko maalala! Ni sarili ko nga hindi ko maalala! I don’t know my name, my age and everything about myself. Kung hindi dahil sa inyo ni Daddy wala akong kaide-ideya kung sino ako. I don’t remember my childhood, my school life and everything. So what’s the point in going home when I don’t remember what home looks like?"

Her mom walked to her to caress her face. "I'm sorry you have to go through that, but my dear, the point is, I want a change of scenery for all of us. Ang bahay na ito ang naging saksi sa sakit mo, at ayokong manatili rito ngayong magaling ka na. I want new environment for me and your dad and for you. Ayaw mo ba 'non?"

Nawalan siya ng imik. It is selfish of her to only think of herself, pero wala naman siyang babalikan sa Pilipinas.

"Okay, mom. I'll pack my things."

Her mother smiled and left her room.

After the surgery and after she realize that she doesn’t have a memory of everything that has happened in her life, naaalala pa rin niya ang naramdaman niya ng malaman niyang wala siyang memorya. She panicked and the nurse knocked her off with chloroform. And the next time she opened her eyes, people were surrounding her. People she doesn’t! She was scared. And when they introduce themselves and told her who they are in her life, she calmed down a bit. Kahit na hindi niya nakilala ang mga magulang niya, there's still this feeling inside of her who knew them.

And then the Doctor explained to her, her condition, said she have a generalize amnesia because the meningiomas spread through the limbic system on her brain. Nang operahan daw siya, sinabihan na siyang may posibilidad na ma-apektuhan ang memorya niya pero hindi raw ng mga ito inaasahan na lahat ng memorya niya ay mawawala. She won’t remember everything from the moment she was born until the operation. Hindi siya nakinig. Sinubukan niyang alalahanin ang lahat, but all she could see is blackness and then she'll pass out in exhaustion of pushing herself to remember. It was a difficult year for her, but now, she learns to accept that her memories are not coming back no matter how hard she tries to remember. She's like an infant all over again. Her mom told her to make new memories, pero hindi naman 'yon ganoon kadali.

Minsan, tinatanong niya ang sarili niya kung may naiwan ba siya sa Pilipinas? Kung may makakaalala ba sa kanya sa bansang 'yon. And now that they're going home, she asked herself; may babalikan pa ba siya roon?

No matter. She has no choice but to go to the Philippines. Tanging ang mga magulang lang niya ang mayroon siya, wala ng iba.

As she packed her belongings, bumalik ang ala-ala niya sa panaginip niya kagabe. Her dream last night wasn’t new to her. Halos gabi-gabi niyang napapanaginipan ang mukha ng isang lalaki na nakangiti.

Napailing-iling nalang siya sa ka-weirduhan niya. Panaginip lang iyon. Wala naman 'yon ibig sabihin.

Pagkatapos niyang mag-impake, bumaba siya sa sala. Naabutan niyang nag-uusap ang mga magulang niya.

"—her about Creed." 'Yon lang ang narinig niya sa sinabi ng ina niya.

Out of curiosity, she asked. "Creed? Is that a name? Who is Creed?"

Her parents exchange a knowing look then they turned to her.

"Creed is my Business Partner." Wika ng ama niya habang nakatingin sa bintana. "He's ahm, ah, a friend of yours. Medyo hindi nagkakalayo ang edad niyo kaya naman close kayong dalawa noon." Her father can’t looked at her as he talk. "So, kapag may nagpakilala sayo na Creed Santillana ang pangalan, be nice to him, okay?"

"Okay." 'Yon nalang ang sinabi niya kahit nawe-weirduhan siya sa inaakto ng ama niya. She doesn’t want to ask why he's acting weird because that will only lead to a long conversation, and she doesn’t want a long conversation. It’s tiring. "Labas muna ako mommy. Maglalakad-lakad lang."

"Sure, my dear. Please be back before lunch." Sabi ng ina niya.

"Yeah, sure."

Nang makalabas siya sa bahay, inayos niya ang damit na suot at sinuklay ang maikli niyang buhok gamit ang mga daliri.

Actually, she's thankful that her hair had grown. After surgery, wala siyang buhok. She's bald! And thanks to god, after two years, her hair had grown up to her shoulder.

Sa halip na maglakad-lakad tulad ng paalam niya sa ina niya, sumakay siya ng taxi at nagpahatid sa bahay ni Edzel.

After minutes of driving, the taxi finally stopped in front of a mansion, she step out from the cab and went to the door to knock.

A moment later, the door opened showing Edzel with his Doctor's robe.

"Good morning." Nakangiting bati niya sa binata. "Are you off to work?"

"Good morning too." He kisses her cheek then smiled. "Nope. I just got home from the Hospital."

"Oh. I'll just go home then, you must be tired. Rest."

"Nah. I’m good." Hinawakan siya nito sa pulsohan at hinila papasok sa loob ng bahay, patungo sa kusina.

The house is huge. Nuong unang besea na makapunta siya rito, nawala siya. And only Edzel lives in this house. His parents are freaking rich and when they dies, all their asset goes to Edzel, including the huge mansion.

He motioned her to sit on the chair next to the island counter and then he went to open his refrigerator. "So, want something to drink? Sola, juice or tea?"

Umiling siya. "I’m good. I just want to visit you before I leave tomorrow."

Edzel close the refrigerator and faced her. "I know that you're leaving tomorrow. You're mom told me." Lumapit ito sa kanya. "You'll be okay there."

She sighed. "I know but I don’t want to leave Arizona. This is my home for three years. I have memories here, unlike in the Philippines—"

"Lockett, you have to create new memories. If you can’t remember anything or anyone in the Philippines, maybe it’s time for you to meet them and create new memories again. That's why you have to go back."

She chuckled lightly. "You know what Edzel; you're more than my Doctor. You're also my friend. Thank you."

Edzel smiled and messed her hair. "You're welcome, Lockett. By the way, if you feel your head hurts, call me, okay?"

Tumango siya. "You're number is on my speed dial."

Marahang tumawa si Edzel. "Good. Anyway, make yourself at home. I'll just take a bath and then we're going to have a friendly date, you and me."

She felt happy. "Okay. I'll wait here."

HAPON NA nang makauwi si Lockett sa bahay nila. Her mom was worried of course but when she told her that she was with Edzel, she calmed down and ordered her to go to her room to rest.

Sinunod niya ito ng walang tanong-tanong.

Habang nakahiga siya sa kama niya, napangiti siya ng maalala si Edzel. He was such a gentleman. Ito ang nag-iisang tao maliban sa mga magulang niya na naging sandalan niya habang nasa Hospital siya pagkatapos niyang operahan.

Edzel is always there for her. Sa tingin nga niya napabayaan na nito ang iba nitong pasyente dahil sa kanya. Sobra-sobra ang pag-aalaga nito sa kanya. When she asked him why, he said that she reminds her of her sister who died from Cancer.

She had a crush on Edzel, pero na sister-zoned siya. She was hurt a bit but she realized that they are better off as friends.

Her eyes close with the thought of Edzel and then she started dreaming, not about Edzel, but about the man who smiled at her like she's the most beautiful woman in the world.

AFTER sixteen hours in the plane, finally, they're here. Pagkatapos nilang makuha ang luggage nila sa scanner, naglakad sila palabas ng Airport. It was raining outside.

Sumakay sila sa taxi at nagpahatid sa bahay nila.

Their house looks eerie. Siguro kasi walang nakatira roon ng tatlong taon. Her parents turn the lights on and then they clean the house as she sat on the leaving room.

After maybe an hour, she went looking for her mom. Nakita niya itong naglilinis sa kusina.

"Mom? Where's my room?" Tanong niya. "Para malinis ko na rin—"

"Oh, my dear." Binalingan siya nito. "I forgot to tell you, hindi ka rito sa’min titira. You'll stay in your condo in High Tower Condominium. We would like you to stay with us, pero naisip namin ng Daddy mo na hindi yun makabubuti para sa’yo. Paano mo maibabalik ang dating ikaw kung ikukulong ka namin dito sa bahay. You have to go out and explore. Malay mo, kahit paano, bumalik ang ala-ala mo."

She can’t stop herself from rolling her eyes. "Mom, umaasa ka pa rin ba na babalik ang ala-ala ko? Kasi ako hindi na. At saka paano ko ibabalik ang dating ako ni wala nga akong maalala e. You told me that I am Business Management graduate but I don’t even know what that is except I am thought to Manage Businesses."

Her mother smiled at her, pity is visible in her eyes. She hated being pitied!

"Don’t look at me like that, like you pity or something." Aniya.

Lumapit sa kanya ang ina niya at niyakap siya. "I’m sorry, Lockett. Pero sa tingin namin, makakatulong 'to sa'yo."

Then her father entered the kitchen with a key on his hand. Kinuha ng ina niya ang susi mula sa Daddy niya at iniabot iyon sa kanya.

"Here. This is the key to your condo unit." Nang hindi niya tinaggap ang susi, sapilitan na inilagay iyon sa kamay niya. "Ihahatid kita sa High Tower Condominium. I will give you an allowance per week. Ikaw na bahala mag-budget. Okay?"

Wala siyang nagawa kundi ang tumango nalang. Wala naman siyang pagpipilian. Makakabuti daw ito sa kanya, then so be it.

NANG MAIHATID siya ng mommy niya sa High tower Condominium, hindi ito sumama sa kanya hanggang sa unit niya. Instead, she gave her cash and five different credit cards.

"Your condo is in the tenth floor, unit one-zero-seven." Wika nito.

Tumango siya at lumabas ng sasakyan. Tinulungan siya ng mommy niya na ilabas ang malaking luggage niya pagkatapos ay niyakap siya nito at nagpaalam. Then seconds later, her mother drove off.

Napatingin siya sa entrance ng Condominium. Oh well? Wala namang mawawala kung dito siya titira? Mas makabubuti ngang may sarili siyang bahay.

She walked towards the elevator and wait for it to open. And when it did, she entered and pressed ten. Seconds later, the elevator dings and it opened on tenth floor. Lumabas siya at dahan-dahang naglakad habang hinahanap ng mga mata niya ang unit one-zero-seven.

Nasaan kaya 'yon? She asked herself at the same time the elevator pops open again. Wala sa sariling napalingon siya sa elevator na kabubukas lang. A man steps out from the elevator. He was busy looking at his camera. Umawang ang labi niya ng makita niya ang kabuonang mukha ng lalaki. Ito ang lalaki sa panaginip niya! Her heart instantly hammered inside her chest.

He's real? He's not just a freaking dream?

Mukhang hindi siya nito napansin dahil abala ito sa camera na hawak nito. So, she cleared her throat to get his attention, and the man stop to look at her direction.

Nakita ni Lockett kung paano nag-iba ang emosyon sa mukha ng lalaki. From shock to anger and then just like a snap, all the emotion on his face disappeared.

"Anong kailangan mo?" Sikmat nito sa kanya.

"Ahm, ahh— ahm," Tumikhim siya. "Kilala mo ba ako?"

CREED stared emotionless at Lockett. So she's back after three freaking years? Ano kaya ang ginagawa nito rito? He felt something inside him but he quickly discarded it. This woman is nothing but a mean bitch.

"Anong kailangan mo?" His voice sounds rude but he doesn’t care anymore.

"Ahm, ahh— ahm," Para bang nahihirapan itong magsalita. "Kilala mo ba ako?" Kapagkuwan ay tanong nito.

That question made him chuckled with bitterness. Sana nga hindi na kita nakilala. “I pray to god to erase my memories of you every freaking day. Ngayon magtatanong ka kung kilala kita? Yes, I do know you. How I can forget a bitch like you?"

Creed expected Lockett to get mad or slapped her but she didn’t. She just stared at him for a long time and then she smiled.

"By your words and the tone of your voice, mukhang may nagawa akong hindi maganda sayo. But you're lucky, you know that? Because you still have your memories. Well, I pray to god to give me back my memories every fucking day. But oh well, I’d been praying for a year now but no answer." She extended her hand at him. "By the way, my name is Lockett Kay Mendoza. What's yours?"

Oh. So she wants to play the i-dont-remember-you game. "Creed Santillana."

She frowned then a recognition dawn on her face. "Oh, yeah, I remember you. You're Creed Santillana, my father's Business partner... aren’t you going to shake my hand?"

Creed just stared at Lockett extended hand, stunned. "I am your father's what?"

She shook her head. "My father's busineas partner. Sorry, i dont remember you at all."

Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto na hindi niya tinanggap ang pakikipagkamay nito, ibinaba nito ang kamay.

"Ahm, nasaan pala ang Unit one-zero-seven?"

Wala sa sariling tinuro niya ang unit na katabi ng unit niya. "Right there."

She beamed at him, her smile were so radiant. "Oh, thank you, Mr. Santillana. Sasabihin ko kay Daddy na na meet na kita. It’s nice meeting you." Pagkasabi 'non ay tinungo nito ang unit nito at naiwam siyang nakaawang ang mga labi habang kay Lockett.

Creed looked at Lockett whose trying to figure out how to open the door. Medyo hindi kasi iyon normal na door knob. To open it, you have to twist it to the left, and then you twist it to the right. Sa naalala niya noon, alam naman ni Lockett kung paano buksan ang pintong iyon. At alam din nito kung nasaan ang unit one-zero-seven. It’s her freaking condo unit!

What happened to her?

 A/N: Hayan! Para sa humihingi ng update. Haha. 

Ano kaya ang mangyayari kay Creed at Lockett? Lockett can't remember anything, but Creed remembers everything. Hehe. Abangan!

Salamat sa pagbabasa :)