May's POV (Elena)

"What are you doing?" I lifted my head upward and saw Luke

"Ah, nothing. Just some random stuff," I answered as I close my folder.

"If that's about the favor uncle ask you, you don't have to worry about it, I will just—"

"I want to do this Luke. I'm also doing this for myself. I just..." I answered him before mumbling to myself. "I just can't... I can't bare losing to that guy." I lightly tap my cheeks before looking back at him. "So, what's up?" I asked

"Ah, nothing. Just some random stuff," he nonchalantly answered copying me like a parrot.

He sat on my desk as I arched my eyebrow.

"Really, Javier? I'm quite busy you know," I rebuke.

"Really, Gonzales. May I take a small portion of your busy schedule?" He nervously asked.

It was obvious he was trying to act cool despite him being very nervous. I crossed my arms and faced him

"I'm afraid I have no time to spare. Would you mind stating your reason," I teased him.

He was very nervous and I got the idea of what he wanted to talk about.

"I just want to, you know. Talk about kinds of stuff," he nervously uttered.

"I appreciate the offer but I'm afraid I have to turn it down," I gave him a playful smile.

His expression changed and he seemed to calm down. He gave me a boyish smile as he thought of an idea. It was easy to figure him out.

"Then I have to force you then,"

"And how would you be able to pull that off?" I challenged.

"Let's have some coffee Ms. Gonzales and this is an order from your superior," he proudly proclaimed.

I took my bag and stood up, "And that Mr. Javier is what you call an excessive abuse of authority but then I will accept your offer since you insist so much just to talk to me"

We went to the café near our company building. He was quiet at first.

"About last month," he started as he took a sip in his coffee. "I-I'm sorry"

"You're cruel Luke, you make me feel bad for that night. Did you really regret kissing me that much?" I joked

"I..."

I noticed the hint of guilt in his eyes. I inhaled deeply before putting down my cup.

"You don't have to apologize for it Luke and I was only joking. I don't plan on being the third wheel in your love story with my boss," I joked. I laughed but I have this unfamiliar pain in my chest. I'm quite confident in my skill in hiding my true emotion. It's like I am born for this but it hurts. It's suffocatingly painful.

"I was partly at fault, I got carried away and did those stuff. You don't have to feel guilty about it. I wouldn't call that cheating," I added before sipping from my coffee.

He played with his coffee without looking at me.

"How did you know about... Those. Are you really a stalker?" He suddenly asked.

I can't help but laugh. My stomach was starting to hurt and my eyes started to be watery. A few moments later I composed myself.

"I have this rare type of selective amnesia. I'm still underdiagnosis. That's the only explanation I can give, I guess"

"Oh," he muttered. "I guess I won't pry anymore"

I smiled at him. He's really considerate, this is also one of the parts I love about him. I blankly stared at the reflection of myself in the glass window

"I have no memory of myself, I don't know who I really am," I whispered to myself

I'm just an empty soul who knows nothing of myself but only has Elena Perez's memories. I reached my left hand to the glass window as I run my fingers to the traces of my face. I felt a warm hand in my right hand. It was Luke's

"You are who you are now. You don't have to broad over the past which you cannot remember," he sincerely said trying to comfort me

I smiled at him. He really is kind. A classic of him, he really can't stop his self comforting someone. Sometimes I wondered why he became a lawyer. I mean... he's too kind. And he just has this invisible power to make you confide in him, he makes you feel... safe.

"This just all happened after that accident or so I thought. The doctors said I attempted suicide. I thought I was in a coma because of that accident but it was all just because I was weak," wall sa sarili kong nasabi.

He worriedly looked at me and tightened his grip.

"The first time we met you also attempted to end your life. If there's anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to tell me, May. You're a friend of mine now. Kung may problema ka I am here to listen. I will help you hanggat sa aking makakaya," sambit niya.

I laughed at him to mask the pain in my chest. Don't make me fall in love more than I already am, I know you wouldn't catch me because your arms already belong to Elena.

"That was the May from the past. I have no recollection of that May," I explained. I have no recollection of that May so there is no way I'd do that May's mistake.

I suddenly heard a loud ring in my ear. My hands suddenly felt numb and my vision started to darken. What's this? I bit my lower lip trying to suppress the pain.

"May? May what's wrong?"

Luke's voice suddenly felt far away. I can hear him repeatedly calling my name. Is this a memory? Flashes of image rushed inside my mind again.

"Mom! Don't leave me, Mom!"

"Babalik ako Elena, babalikan ko kayo. I will come for you," Mom cried.

She brushed my tear away and look at me with sad eyes. Why does she need to leave me?

"Baby, stop crying. Listen to me, listen to me," she cupped my cheeks and stared into my eyes. "Be strong. Always remember mahal na mahal kayo ni Mommy. I'm sorry, I'm sorry... because Mommy is too weak pero pangako babalikan ko kayo."

Mom kissed my forehead as tears continually fell in her eyes. Kung mahal niya ako bakit niya ako iiwan? Bakit niya kami iiwan?

"Sunny, kailangan mo na umalis! Papunta na si Ma'am Diane!" a stranger shouted.

I started crying out loud and pulling mom's hand. I shook my head and pleaded to Mom.

"Wait for me, Elena. I will come back for you and your sisters. Be strong while Mom is away."

Mom stood up and everyone in the cafe stopped me from going after mom,

"Let me go! No! Mom! Come back! I promise I will listen to granny! I promise I will be a good girl! Please, don't leave me! Mom!"

Mom looked back at me and mouthed the words 'I'm sorry' to me. No, mom. Why are you apologizing? Don't go away. I felt the people loosening their grip. I was about to chase Mom when Granny appeared in front of me and slapped me. My vision started to darken as I fell into eternal darkness.

"You remind me so much of her but I know you're different. I'm sorry for making this hard for you..."

A dream, wait that voice. It's Luke's. When I opened my eyes I saw Yummie's back. She turned to me and I saw how her eyes brightened

"Pinag-alala mo ako! Si sir Luke ang naghatid sa'yo dito, si Chase nga pala nagpadala ng flowers na 'yan. Iniinom mo ba ang maintenance mo May? Parang kailan lang andito ka sa hospital tapos ngauon andito ka na naman. Halos kilala ko na lahat ng mga staffs dito sa hospital eh. Kung manghingi kaya ako ng suki card para may discount tayo," sambit ni Yummie. God, she does not stop talking does she?

"Are you my mother now?"

She stood up and opened a potato chip from her bag, "Bakit mukha ba akong nanay?"

I looked at her with a blank expression.

"Yes"

Her eyes widened as she dropped her food. This girl is really amusing.

"Totoo? Mukha talaga akong matanda? Nooo huhuhu. Anong sikreto mo May? Dapat mong sabihin! Hindi ka naman ganyan kaganda noon eh!"

"I'll take that as a compliment," I answered.

"Nagpa belo ka ba? Anong sabon ang gamit mo? May nilalagay ka bang magic cream sa mukha mo? Best friend tayo kaya kailangan mo sabihin!!!" She frantically asked.

"Yummie, stop this immaturity and act like your age and appearance," I teased her.

She gave me an exaggerated cry as she continue to plead to me for the so-called secret

"Now, now May. Wag mo masyadong asarin yang si Yummie she might make a scene and throw tantrums despite her matured feature. Unfortunately, she have a brain of a pre-schooler," Doktora Albarico said while laughing

"Tita naman! Pati ba naman ikaw? Pinasosyal mo lang eh," Yummie complained with her lips pouted.

"Osiya, nakalimutan ko ang stethoscope ko sa office ko, kunin mo nga Yum," utos ni Doktora

"Manghiram ka nalang diyan sa nurse station," Yummie answered

"Just do it Yummie," I ordered.

"Nike lang ang peg May? Kung makautos to sila. Kakasohan ko talaga kanyong dalawa ng child abuse!"

"Utak mo lang ang bata, Yum," Doktora Albarico teased

"Ang harsh niyo talaga sa akin," pagmamaktol ni Yummie before she left.

"I know you don't want Yummie to hear this, that's why you gave her that lame excuse," panimula ko as soon as Yummie left.

"Sharp as ever Gonzales. You've really changed a lot. It's like seeing another person. You were once a sweet little girl," she sighed.

She stared at me with sad eyes. She messed with my hair, "I'm a doctor but I can't even save my niece's best friend."

"There's nothing we can do about it. You are not a God. There is just illness that cannot be cured," I answered. Hmm, am I comforting a Doctor now?

"You only have a month or two to live. Your chance of surviving is only 0.1% It's too late for surgery. Kumalat na ang tumor," sambit ni Doktora Albarico.

"That short, ha" I mumbled. Well, I expected it but that short... really.

"Starting from now, you might constantly feel nauseous and have a severe headache. You might also lose your control over your limbs, you might feel numb and experience vomiting but we can do chemotherapy to extend your life kung papayag—"

"No, I don't want to waste my time in hospitals. I don't want to artificially prolong my life. Just give me more painkillers," mabilis kong sambit.

We were surprised when the door suddenly flew open. And there we saw Yummie with tears in her eyes.

"You were listening from the start," I muttered in a matter of fact.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin na ilang buwan nalang ang natitirang panahon ni May?" she asked in a meek voice.

I grabbed her wrist when she tried to hurt Doktora Albarico

"Stop it Yummie! It's too late and I don't have the money to waste!"

"Bakit? Bakit ang dali para sa'yo na sumuko? Ganon ganon nalang ba? Kung pera ang kailangan maraming paraan! Gagawa ako ng paraan!" she hysterically cried

Stop it, expectation is the root of all heartache. I don't know who I am, what I am. I don't know what's the truth. Why should I prolong my agony in this world?

"This is my fate Yummie. I've learned to accept it. Not because I want to but because I have to and you have to too," matigas kong saad sa kanya.

"Tita, how about a heart transplant? Hindi ba—"

Doktora Albarica hugged Yummie. "I'm sorry Yummie but we lied to you," Doktora Albarico confessed, "M-May didn't want you to know the true nature of her illness."

Her jaw dropped as she looked at me in disbelief, "Nag-sinungaling ka sa akin? Nag-sinungaling kayo sa akin? Ba-bakit? Hindi ba best friend tay—"

"That best friend of yours is the May from the past. I never accepted you as a best friend, not even a friend," I harshly answered her.

I have to do this. She has to distance herself from me. She's too emotional and attached. I have to break your heart for you to wake up, I have to hurt you to make you s tay away from you. From all the people I met since I woke up, I know you'll be the most devastated when I leave this world.

"H-hindi. Kung ginagawa mo 'to para lumayo ako, hindi kita iiwan May. Gagawa tayo nga para—" she was crying hard

"I just played along with your act," I said with no emotion, staring straight at her orbs.

She looked at me with disbelief and I saw the pain in her eyes. She run off and threw a bracelet she was always wearing.

"Do you really need to act like a villain para lumayo sa'yo si Yummie at 'di masaktan pagwala ka na? You know she'll still get hurt kahit among gawin mo, she loves you. You two has been together for—"

"Don't get me wrong. That was my true feeling. I was doing it for myself," pagputol ko sabay talikod kay Doktora.

"If you say so. But May, you can't just push people away. It's time to break down those high walls," sambit niya.

I shook my head and covered myself in my blanket, "People who rely on others are weak."

"Humans are weak in nature May. And I don't really think that's called weakness. You are not alone, May." Doktora Albarico lections before leaving.