May's POV (Elena)

We arrived at Tagaytay at exactly 11 pm. I have only been to this place once. When I had a meeting with— oh, wait. That wasn't me. I wonder how many times I, May Gonzales have visited this place. Did I ever set foot in this place in my entire life?

"Iyong totoo May? May balak ka bang magpakamatay? Bilang na nga lang araw mo magpapakama—" Her complaining face shifted to an awkward grin as she scratched her head when she realized what just came out of her nosy mouth. "Ay joke. Gusto, ano, ah! Gusto ko pa makita in person si Lee Jung Sook!"

I just looked at her blankly. I made sure to make her understand na ayokong pag-usapan ang sakit ko. I don't want to risk anyone other than her knowing about my illness. Muli akong napatingin sa labas ng bintana, this is weird. We kept on going on circles for like two effin hours just to look for their house.

"Sigurado ka bang this is the place?" I asked her, doubtful.

She looked at me as if I just asked something absurd.

"May, dito ako ipinanganak, nagkamalay, lumaki at nanirahan ng 20 years!" She exclaimed with all the exaggerated actions.

"Then can you explain why we got lost and struggled to find your house which is supposed to be only half an hour drive from—"

"Sinasabi ko sayong gusto kita itour! Hindi nga kasi tayo nawala! Road trip lang 'yon, part 1 sa schedule natin," she reasoned out. "At ayon o! Andoon na bahay namin, tara na!"

I rolled my eyes heavenward as she parked the car and we went outside. I looked at a large black and white motif rectangular house with slanted rooflines and large expanses of glass windows. It has a beautiful touch of modern feels and it looks very new too. We walked towards the house and Yummie rang the doorbell.

I smirked at her, "Then can you explain why you go to work 2 hours earlier?"

She froze for a moment before scratching the back of her head and giving me a silly grin.

"Nag-eexercise lang ako. Jogging para fit. Dapat healthy and sexy malay mo may dumaang gwapo. Dapat ready ako pagdadating si forever ko," pangangatwiran niya.

She crossed her arms triumphantly at tuwang tuwa pa sa napaka ganadang rason na nabuo niya. She isn't that bright after all. What a lame reason.

"Hindi ka talaga nauubusan ng palusot no? You're very good at it. Is that talent compensation for your lack of sense of direction?" I mockingly asked.

"Hindi nga kas—"

She was cut off when the door suddenly opened a familiar voice called out her name.

"Yummie?"

Napalingon kami sa nagbukas ng pinto. A small girl suddenly run towards Yummie and hugged her.

"Mamita! Akala ko bukas pa ang dating niyo," she asked the woman standing by the door. "At ba't gising ka pang bata ka?" She asked the little girl.

The girl tightly hugged her back and lovingly gave her a sweet smile

"I was waiting for you, Ate Yum, dad said you would be coming, I can't sleep of excitement," said the little girl with excitement

I looked at them merrily talking when I felt my hands tremble and turn icy cold. Napahawak ako sa tainga ko when a sudden loud unpleasant ear-breaking rung in my ears. I didn't realize the woman in front of me was already holding my arms. I can see them mouthing some words but I can't seem to hear them. I sat on their sofa, drank my painkillers, and waited for my body to relax. The agony subsided gradually. Yummie is nowhere to be found, and the room is deafeningly quiet.

"Ayos ka na ba? Umupo ka muna diyan at ipagtitimpla kita ng mainit na gatas," she suddenly stated.

I impulsively held her hand before she could even leave. Along with that is a sudden flash of memories that flooded my mind...

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

"You said you would come back," I replied, a tear falling from my eyes as I stared into hers.

Her face didn't change. She still has that beautiful large and amazingly striking hazel eyes, that tall bridge, and gorgeously shaped nose. Though her wavy dark, chestnut brown hair has now slight pints of silver hair she is as beautiful as I saw in my memories. Speaking of memories, I suddenly remembered again...

"Wait for me, Elena. I will come back for you and your sisters. Be strong while Mommy is away," she caressed my cheeks lovingly.

I tightly closed my eyes and face my reality now...

"I waited, I waited, I waited and I waited for a long long long time..." My voice was breaking, nagbabadyang tumulo ang mga luha sa aking mga mata. "Just like you said, I kept our promise. It was hard but I waited. Why?"

I could feel bewilderment, anxiety, and sadness in her eyes as she glanced at me. It's as though she's reliving some unpleasant experiences from her past.

"M-May?" She muttered.

Nabalik ako sa reyalidad ng tawagin niya ang pangalan ko. Sh*t, it was Elena of my memory talking. Before she and I could say more Yummie suddenly appeared.

"Ready na ang guest room. Ah—ba't parang ang intense ng paligid niyo?" Her brows were knitted and we remained silent. "Hmm, imagination ko lang siguro. Anyway, magpahinga ka muna May," she stated before looking at her Mamita. "Magpapahinga nalang muna kami Mamita."

She took a look at me for a few moments before responding to Yummie. Her focused glance helped me to recognize she wanted to ask more questions. Sh*t, I forgot again. Of course, she'd be confused with how I was acting. I went on this vacation to forget Elena but here I am acting like her again. Tsk.

"Ah, sige. Bukas nalang tayo mag-usap. Magpahinga nalang muna kayo, malayo-layo rin ang binyahe niyo," she hesitantly agreed.

We went to their guest room, and it kept nagging at me. Concerning her, Yummie's meant to be mamita, I gazed at Yummie's back and decided to ask her what had been bugging my mind since I arrived here.

"Is her name Sunny Marie Perez?" I nonchalantly asked, trying not to sound too curious.

Napatigil sya sa pag-aayos ng higaan and shifted her attention to me.

"Ha? Sino?" She asked puzzled.

"Your Mamita," I answered flatly.

Her brow furrowed as she peered at me, and I can see through her brown eyes that she's trying to figure out why I suddenly asked her such a ridiculous question. I know, I know. It doesn't make sense to her but this memory... this annoying memory.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin? Perez? May kinalaman ba 'to kay Miss Elena?"

Nagsisimula na along mainis sa marami niyang tanong, why can't she just simply answer my question? I am already annoyed as it is because of this stupid false memory giving me fake emotions.

"Just answer my question!" I hissed.

I saw Yummie's terrified expression which made me calm down. I looked at her pleadingly. Getting angry at her is just wrong. Hindi ko dapat ibuntong ang galit ko sa kanya. Am I even the one getting angry?

"No, I mean I'm sorry. I'm just..." I trailed off as I inhaled deeply. I don't know.

"May," Yummie worriedly called

Lumapit sya sa akin and held my hand, sinalubong ko ang mga mata niya.

"Please," I pleaded in a small voice.

She let out a sigh and pulled me to the bed and sat beside me, humiga siya sa kama, and stared at the ceiling.

"Step mom ko si Mamita. Nagkakilala sila ni Daddy sa America. Ang alam ko Titania Castanares ang buong pangalan ni Mamita bago sila ikasal ni Daddy," she started narrating.

"Castanares? Are you sure? There must be some—"

"May, makinig ka. Baka magkamukha lang ang mom ni Elena at si Mamita. Hindi naman imposibleng mangyari 'yon," malambing na wika ni Yummie. "Magpahinga ka nalang muna. 'Di ba ang dahilan na pumunta tayo dito ay para makapagpahinga at makalimutan muna kung ano man ang meron sa trabaho?"

I let out a sigh and just nodded. She's right, I am stressing myself out for nothing. I should listen to Yummie.

"Doon na muna ako matutulog sa kwarto ni bulilit kung may kailangan ka I'm only one call away," kanta ni Yummie sa dulo. "At bukas marami tayong gagawin at magdamagang mag-uusap kaya humanda ka. Feeling ko nasa field trip tayo!" Yummie excitedly exclaimed.

A smile formed on my lips, Yummie is really amazing in her own little ways. She can easily shift your mood and make you smile with her innocent gestures which I can never do. She is the embodiment of freedom, something I could only wish for.

"What are you an elementary school kid?" Pang-aasar ko.

She made faces before leaving and shutting the door. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Titania ha? She looks exactly like Elena's mom. As if they were twins but mom's I mean Elena's mom's maiden name is Montenegro at walang Castanares sa angkan ng mga Montenegro. When I got tired of resting in the bed still unable to sleep. Bumangon ako and decided to go to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

"May..." napalingon ako sa nagsalita. It was Yummie's step mom. "Tungkol kanina."

I faked a cough and slightly bowed my head to apologize, "I'm really sorry, I might have mistaken you for a different person."

Inabot niya sa akin ang bagong timplang white hot chocolate. Elena's favorite drink. I stared at it for a few minutes. Why does seeing her make me happy and sad at the same time?

"Again," I raised my head to look at her when she spoke. "Bakit ka lumuluha May?"

I wiped away the tears which I didn't even notice, "Nothing, I just remembered my mom I mean my memories' mom. Even though I know it isn't mine I can't help feeling this way even if I know these are all fabricated."

I saw her intently staring at me as if looking through my very soul. I shook my head and let out a dry laugh.

"I must be confusing you. It's just all complicated even I get confused. I was just really out of it that I acted that way. I didn't mean to—"

She let out a soft sigh making me look at her. Every side, every feature of her face is the exact copy of Elena's mom. That thin reddish lips, long pointed nose, and elegant face is the exact replica of Sunny Perez.

"Everyone's entitled to let their guard down occasionally. I mean para ka kasing yung tipong hindi nagpapapasok ng mga tao sa puso niya. You don't have to be alone, you don't have to shoulder all the burden, hindi mo kailangan mag-isang nagtitiis ng sakit," she was intently looking at me as I stare back at her gaze. Titania Castanares, sino ka ba talaga? "Its time to break those high walls. Panahon na para sumaya ka iha. Hindi masama at hindi ipinagbabawal 'yon."

I simply smiled at her remarks. For now, I'll just have to play at my own pace then. I don't know I really am, who May Gonzales is but there is nothing wrong with that. Right?

"I don't really know your whole story but you remind me of someone from my past," she added.

I didn't utter a word and just sipped a drink. Elena... the person I claimed to be, her memories, the person who's controlling me. No, it's not easy to break free from her chains. I have nothing but an empty soul within me. I have nothing, not even myself. I have no choice but to protect myself from pain, I can't afford to have weakness just like how Elena can't afford to have a weakness. Funny, how I remind you of someone from your past when I can't even remember myself from the past. I am nothing but an imitation of Elena Perez.