SHEN LOCKED herself inside her room for three days straight, having a complete bed rest, hinahatiran lang siya ng pagkain sa kwarto niya kapag oras na para kumain. Kade's father was worried about her, dinahilan lang niya na simpleng tarangkaso lang. At sa loob ng tatlong araw na 'yon, walang Kade na pumasok sa kwarto niya, walang Kade na tumawag sa kanya.

Hindi na rin mabilang ni Shen kung ilang beses sa isang araw niya tinatanong si Nanay Lorena kung umuwi ba si Kade, at kung tumawag ito, paulit ulit na rin ang nakukuha niyang sagot.

"Hindi pa siya umuuwi simula noong umalis siya dala ang motorsiklo nito, wala ring tawag. Nag-aalala na nga ang Daddy niya."

Shen looked at herself in the mirror, the marks were still her body, ang iba ay nawawala na at ang iba naman ay mas lalong tumitingkad ang kulay. In three days, she kept on wearing turtle neck long sleeves and pants to cover her body.

Luckily, Marga's friend was an OB, ito na ang nagtanong para sa kanya kung anong gamot ang kailangan niyang inumin for her sore baby in between her legs. And within three days, she gets better. Hindi na siya nahihirapan na tumayo, maglakad at higit sa lahat ang umihi.

Mabilis siyang nagbihis at binuksan ang bintana sa kwarto niya para kahit papaano ay maarawan siya. She sighed and picked her phone to check if there's any messages or missed calls from him, but there's none.

She gets that he's too guilty about what happened, about what he did to her to be exact, kahit siya ay nagulat sa mga kilos nito. He was rough. He was far from the Kade she knew. That Kade was always gentle and have a soft spot for her.

He even took her gently in their first night together, kahit hindi siya nito maalala.

"Galit dapat ako... He didn't... No, he never listened to me... So, why?" Mahinang tanong niya sa sarili habang pinaglalaruan ang mga daliri niya.

Shen was having a hard time to convince her self to get mad. After all, he promised he'll never hurt her. But this... Him leaving her behind instead of talking and fixed this mess and misunderstanding between them. Damn him and damn his amnesia for forgetting her like this easily!

She's being emotional.

Pinunasan niya ang mukha niya at dahan dahan na tumayo. She roamed her eyes around her room and noticed that there's no trace of Kade, not even his scent.

Ngumuso siya at napagdesisyunan na lumabas sa kwarto niya. Besides, its time for her to have lunch. Nakakasawa na rin na palagi siyang sa kwarto niya kumakain and it feels so lonely to eat alone. Sa bawat hakbang ni Shen sa hagdan ay napapalunok siya at tinitiis ang kirot. She needs to walk straight.

"Nanay Lorena, pancake nga po at gatas." Aniya nang makarating siya sa kusina.

"Umuwi na si Kade?" Nanlalaki ang mga matang tanong nito sa kanya.

"Hindi pa po,"

"Para kanino ang pancake at gatas?"

"Sa akin po, Nay." Sagot niya at dahan dahan na umupo.

Umangat ang kilay sa kanya ng matanda bago ito tumalikod para ihanda ang pagkain na gusto niya. It was Kade's favorite. She suddenly craves for his souffle pancakes with the mixture of honey and chocolate syrup on top. Naglaway ang bagang ni Shen nang may maisip siya na mas masarap ipares sa pancake. Whipped cream.

She glance at Nanay Lorena, gustong gusto niyang mag request dito but she also knows that Nanay Lorena couldn't do it for her.

Naka salong baba siya habang naghihintay sa pancake at gatas na hinihingi niya. Maybe, she misses Kade so much that she started to crave for his favorite.  

"Heto na,"

Inilapag ni Nanay Lorena ang mga nalutong pancakes sa harapan niya at isang baso na puno ng gatas. The only milk they have because it's Kade's favorite milk. Magana siyang kumain, she even imitated how Kade ate his pancakes. Natigil lang siya sa pagkain nang makarinig ng tunog ng motorsiklo sa labas. Sa pag-aakala na si Kade 'yon, iniwan niya ang pagkain at nagmamadaling lumabas.

Only to find out a woman figure. Kade's best friend. Ezecquiel.

"Hi!" Ezecquiel greeted and smile at her a little.

"Wala si Kade..." Agad na sabi niya.

"Alam ko." Eze smiled and kicked something on the back of his motorcycle. Bumaba ito at may kinawayan sa loob ng bahay, must be Nanay Lorena. "May kukunin lang ako sa kwarto niya, he told me it's in his room. Iniwan naman niyang bukas no?"

"I... I don't know, hindi ko sinubukan na buksan." She answered, stuttering.

"May extrang susi naman siguro kayo kung sakaling hindi bukas, pasok ako ah?" Ezecquiel asked and she nodded.

"A-ano pala ang kukunin mo?" Nauutal na tanong niya rito.

"Damit ko at 'yung engagement ring ko, naiwan ko sa loob ng kwarto niya noong huling punta ko rito." Sagot ni Ezecquiel at nag-iwas ito ng tingin sa kanya.

She slowly nodded her head. Ni hindi napansin ni Shen na nakasunod pala siya kay Ezecquiel paakyat sa kwarto ni Kade. Gusto niyang pumasok sa loob at samahan si Ezecquiel, but part of her was contradicting her body, that she should never invade Kade's room kung wala naman ito.

"Hindi lock." Ezecquiel said. "Hindi ka papasok?" She asked and she just shake her head.

"I'll wait for you here..."

"Ha? Sigurado ka?" Tanong ulit nito.

"Yes. I feel like I'm invading his privacy..." She answered.

Ezecquiel laughed and pinched the tip of her nose. "Cute mo,"

Inabot ng isang oras sa loob si Ezecquiel at nang lumabas na ito may dala itong isang traveling bag. Kumunot ang noo ni Shen, did she left a lot of clothes?

Ezecquiel smiled awkwardly at her. "I only left 5 pairs of my clothes, may mga nakita kasi akong damit ng asawa ko na hiniram ni Kade na hindi na sinoli kaya kinuha ko na rin."

Shen didn't answer but she slowly nod her head. Hindi niya gets kung bakit ito nag-eexplain sa kanya. Maybe, Ezecquiel thinks that she's being a unreasonable woman again, getting jealous kahit wala naman talaga siyang dapat na ika selos.

"Eze, by any chance... Alam mo rin ba kung nasaan si Kade ngayon?" Shen hide her hands behind her back. Her face looks so hopeful.

Nag-iwas ng tingin sa kanya si Ezecquiel at tinanggal ang pagkaka stand ng motorsiklo nito. "Hindi. Hindi ko alam." She answered without making an eye contact.

Which made her suspicious.

"Hindi maayos ang huli naming pag-uusap, please... Tell me, nasaan siya ngayon? I'm worried, Eze. Ayokong maniwala sa mga pamahiin ng mga matatanda but..." Mariin siyang pumikit nang maalala ang nabasag na basong hawak niya noong araw na umalis si Kade.

Malakas na bumuntong hininga si Eze bago sinakyan ang motorsiklo na dala nito. It was a new motorcycle. The model that Kade wants to buy. Alam niya 'yon dahil nakita niya 'yon sa wallpaper ng cellphone ni Kade.

"Hindi ko alam kung nasaan si Kade. I am also frustrated because he never done this before. Isa lang ang sigurado ako, he'll be back. At kapag bumalik siya, he'll be a man that you deserve. Dahil ang lalaking nakasama mo, hindi 'yon ang Kade na nakilala nating pareho. Sa ating dalawa mas alam mo kung ano ang sinasabi ko." Eze said and started the engine of his motorcycle and left.

Bumalik sa loob ng bahay si Shen. Her mind kept on playing what Ezecquiel said. Mukhang may alam ito sa nangyari sa kanilang dalawa ni Kade, but not that detailed, does that mean na nakausap niya si Kade bago ito mag decide na hindi nalang magpakita sa kanila? She can't even contact his other friends, mainly because she doesn't have their contact numbers. And she's too shy to go to their company or set an appointment.

Ilang araw pa ang lumipas na walang Kade na umuuwi at tumatawag kay Shen. His marks were fading. But his touch were still embedded in her body. It keeps her warm for some reason she couldn't explain. Marahas siyang bumuntong hininga nang pumalya na naman siya sa trabaho.

"Shen, I think you should rest..." Marga said and looked at her with concerned.

They are now starting to work on their project together.  And Kade was still nowhere to find. He was supposed to be in her side, helping and guiding her. Shen sighed and tapped Marga's shoulder.

"I'm fine." Shen assured her and glance at her baby. "Buti nakayanan mo na wala ang Daddy niya?"

"Well, I'm strong. That's why," Marga answered and shrugged. "I'm gonna meet my friend after this, we're going to Cebu, I heard from her husband that there's a orphanage where kids have Juvenile Huntington's. Sisilip kami, gusto mo bang sumama? Para malibang ka naman." Marga suggested.

"Sure."

They continue to work as usual. Marga kept her entertain, thanks to her, nalibang siya at nawala panandalian sa isip niya si Kade. Tinapos nilang dalawa ni Marga nang maaga ang kanya kanya nilang trabaho.

Kinailangan niyang umuwi muna para makapag empake ng mga gamit niya. Marga said that they're going to stay in Cebu for a week, kaya pinakiusapan niya si Nanay Lorena na tawagan siya agad kung sakali na umuwi o magpakita si Kade sa bahay. Shen smiled awkwardly when she saw one of Kade's friend. She collected herself and didn't ask him if he knows where Kade was.

"Bagay kayo ni Kade." Avis said and smiled genuinely at her.

"Take your bag. Uuwi na ako, walang kasama ang anak natin." Her husband, Caleb, said.

"Gentle dog." Marga uttered and rolled her eyes.

"What? Want me to tell Justin you're here?" Caleb raised his brow.

"Wow! Kailan pa kayo naging close? E halos sakalin mo na ang leeg nang isang 'yon noong hinalikan niya sa pisngi si Avis!"

"Don't fight! Tatawag ako kapag nasa Cebu na kami, matulog ka muna bago mo bantayan ang anak natin okay? I love you."

She smiled inwardly when Avis tiptoed to kiss her husband's lips.

"Ahh, I wish I have a good husband like you." Marga said dreamily.

"Hey! Maayos nama ang trato sa'yo ni Justin ah? Nilayasan mo lang?" Natatawang pang-aasar ni Avis sa kaibigan.

Shen only knew the surface of Marga's marriage life. Therefore, she only know her husband's bad side.

"Gago e, paanong hindi ko lalayasan? Hindi namin deserve ng gago. Gets?" Pagsusungit nito kay Avis. "I wish I also have a good mother in law." Dagdag nito na ikinatawa nilang dalawa ni Avis.

Pagkadating nila sa Cebu, may naghihintay na sa kanila na sasakyan at hinatid sila sa rest house na pag-aari ng pamilya ni Caleb. Shen stared at Avis weirdly when she blushed furiously and Marga was laughing so hard.

Nagpahinga sila sa araw na 'yon at tumuloy na sa mismong orphanage the next day. Nasa tapat palang sila ng gate gusto na maiyak ni Shen, the orphanage looks like their villa before. It's lively. There's a lot of kids and most of them are teenagers. She's very familiar with the kind of illness they have.

"What do you think?" Marga asked her.

"Hmm, ito na 'yon." She answered and smile genuinely.

Kinausap nila ang namamahala sa orphanage at nag tour sa buong lugar, her eyes were not leaving the kids. If her parents were still alive, sigurado siya na hanggang ngayon ay buhay na buhay pa ang Villa nila. Both of her parents worked hard for it. To adapt and help the kids to overcome the Juvenile Huntington's.

"Wala ho ba kayong doctor dito?" Tanong ni Avis.

"May pumupunta na Doctor dito sa amin every week para i general check up lahat ng bata, malaki na 'yong tulong para sa amin." Ani ng matanda na nangangalaga sa mga bata.

Avis nod her head. "Itatanong ko ho sa asawa ko kung pwede kaming mag assign ng mga doctor dito."

"Naku! Salamat! Salamat talaga!"

Shen smiled at Avis. At least, she's not alone. Her parents dreams, that becomes her dream too. Was still living inside her. If only Kade remembered his past, Shen was sure that he'll gladly help.

But... Weeks and Months passed by. There's still no sign of Kade, and her morning sickness become severe. Shen was unconsciously looking for Kade, that she started to slept in his room.

"What are you doing here?"

Napabalikwas ng tayo si Shen nang marinig ang boses na hinahanap hanap niya. Her eyes widened when he saw Kade in flesh.

☕