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Happy Reading.

CHAPTER 22

FIVE FAYS IN Bogotá and nothing is happening in Andrius life. Akala niya may magbabago sa kaniya dahil sa bakasyong 'to, but sadly, nothing has change. He can't still sleep peacefully through out the night, nightmares plague his sleep and he spends his day just walking around Bogotá and thinking that Ivy might have walked on the road he's walking in.

And now, just like any other day in his vacation, he found himself in a café in front of his Hotel, alone. As always.

Napabuntong-hininga si Andrius ng tumunog ang cellphone niya.

Ex-con calling...

Napailing siya saka napipilitang sinagot ang tawag. "What's up? Miss me?" He joked.

"Oh, fuck you." Yrozz replied. "Napag-utusan lang akong tawagan ka para alamin kung buhay ka pa."

He grunted and rolled his eyes. "Yes, bud. I'm still breathing."

"Good. Siya nga pala, sabi ni Velasquez pasalubong daw."

Mahina siyang natawa sa tinuran ng kaibigan. "Itanong mo sa kaniya kung anong gusto niya sa tatlo. Bato, hangin o buhangin? Papiliin mo siya."

Malakas na natawa si Yrozz, "I will definitely tell him that. By the way, kumusta ka diyan? May pagbabago ba?"

Isinandal niya ang katawan sa likod ng kinauupuan saka tumingin sa labas ng café at pinagmasdan ang mga taong dumadaan. "Nothing much. Last time I check, I still can't sleep."

Yrozz sighed. "Umuwi ka nalang kaya. Wala naman palang nangyayari diyan sa'yo eh."

Bumuntong-hininga siya saka nag-iwan ng pera sa mesa saka lumabas ng café. "Wala ngang nangyayari pero kailangan ko pa ring subukan." Aniya saka tumawid ng kalsada habang kausap pa rin si Yrozz. "I'll call you later when I have something new—"

The screeching of the car tire stops him from talking and made him halt on his step. Nang bumaling siya sa pinanggagalingan ng tunog, huli na para makabuwelo siya at makaalis sa kinatatayuan.

Bago pa mag-sink in sa isip niya ang nangyayari, bumangga na sa kaniya ang rumaragasang kotse.

It happened so fast. After the car hit him and the excruciating pain spreading all over his body, the next thing he knew he's body was slammed in the pavement and he instantly lost his consciousness.

"Are you okay, Corazoncito?" Anang boses na pamilyar na pamilyar sa kaniya. "Corazoncito, wake up. Are you okay? Pinag-aalala mo ako."

Ivy? Only she calls him corazoncito.

It's Ivy! It's Ivy! She's here!

Andrius forced his eyes to open even when he's in so much pain. Nang maimulat niya ang mata at nakita ang babaeng nakadungaw sa kaniya at puno ng pag-aalala ang mukha, parang sasabog ang puso niya ng makilala kung sino 'yon.

"Ivy..." mahina niyang bulong sa pangalan ng dalaga. "Ivy... baby... you're here..."

Hinaplos nito ang pisngi niya saka masuyo siyang nginitian. "I'm here. I'm here, corazoncito. Hindi na ako aalis sa tabi mo."

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ng dalaga saka akmang hahagkan iyon ng maramdaman niyang parang may yumuyugyog sa katawan niya.

Kumunot ang nuo niya at napatitig kay Ivy. Kinain ng takot at pangamba ang puso niya ng makitang unti-unting nawawala si Ivy.

He can't even hold her now!

No! No! "Ivy! Ivy!"

Pilit niyang inaabot ang kamay ni Ivy pero hindi niya iyon mahawakan. Pilit niyang ginagalaw ang katawan pero parang may pumipigil sa kaniya.

"Ivy! Ivy!" He screamed her name as he tried to reach her fading hand. "No! Ivy!"

His eyes widen and fear consumed him when he saw Ivy getting engulfed in flame.

"No! Ivy! Nooooo!" Napabalikwas siya ng bangon saka nanginginig ang mga labing pinalibot niya ang tingin sa paligid niya.

Bigla iyong nag-iba. He's not in the pavement anymore with Ivy burning. Nasa loob siya ng isang Hospital room. Naamoy niya ang pamilyar na amoy ng Hospital at nanunuot iyon sa ilong niya.

Nasapo niya ang dibdib kung nasaan ang puso niya saka minasahe iyon habang habol ang sariling hininga.

He was dreaming... it was just a dream. Just a dream. Just a dream.

I thought it was real. His heart ached again.

Pilit niyang pinapakalma ang sarili saka napabaling sa Nurse na kanina pa siya kinakausap pero hindi niya maintindihan ang sinasabi nito.

"Estás bien, Señor? Señor, estás bien?  Respóndeme, señor."

Mas lalong lumalim ang gatla sa nuo niya. "What? I don't understand...just english..."

Kaagad na lengguwaheng english ang lumabas sa bibig nito ng magsalita ulit. "Are you okay, Sir?"

Napatitig siya sa Nurse ng marinig kung paano ito magsalita ng english. She and Ivy have the same accent. Siguro dahil pareho silang taga Bogotá.

Wala sa sariling napangiti siya. "I'm okay."

The Nurse smiled back at him. "Do you feel any pain in your body, Sir?"

Pinakiramdaman niya ang sarili. He grunted when he felt pain in his shoulders and back but its tolerable. He'll live. Kapagkuwan ay napangiwi siya ng sinubukan niyang i-angat ang paa pero sumigid ang sakit sa kalamnan at buto niya dahil sa kaliwa niyang paa. Hindi niya iyon ma-i-angat.

Dahil ba ito sa pagkakabundol sa kaniya?

"Fuck..." mahina niyang mura saka bumaling sa Nurse. "My left leg..."

Tumango ang Nurse. "For now, refrain from moving your left leg, Señor." Anang Nurse saka ibinigay sa kaniya ang mga personal niyang gamit na nakalagay sa loob ng ziplock. "Here are your belongings, Señor. We already X-ray your legs and CT Scan your head. And we transfer you to this room right after we finish the test. You can wait and rest here. If there are any damages, an Orthopaedic and Neurologist will be here to tell you the results."

Napangiwi ulit siya ng makaramdam ulit ng sakit sa kaliwang paa niya. "Thanks, Nurse."

Tinanguan siya ng Nurse saka tinulungan siyang makahiga ulit pagkatapos ay lumabas na ito sa inuukupa niyang kuwarto.

Ilang segundo siyang napatitig sa pintong nilabasan nito bago kinuha ang cellphone sa loob ng ziplock at ini-open ang power no'n. Mukhang namatay ang ang cellphone niya ng bumagsak iyon sa semento kanina.

Tinawagan niya si Yrozz na siyang kausap niya kanina bago nangyari ang aksidente.

"Hey bud—"

"What the fuck, Salazar?!" Ang galit na boses ni Yrozz ang bumungad sa tawag niya. "Kanina pa ako tawag ng tawag sayo pero out of reach ka! Ano ba ang nangyari sayo? The last I heard was a loud screeching sound—"

"Okay lang ako. Na-aksidente lang."

"Fuck, man." Huminahon sa wakas ang boses ni Yrozz. "Pinag-alala mo akong gago ka. Buti hindi ka natuluyan."

Natawa nalang siya sa tinuran nito saka bumutong-hininga. "Yeah, man, I'm still breathing. By the way, I have to go. Call you later."

Hindi na niya hinintay ang tugon ni Yrozz. Pinatay niya ang tawag saka sinubukan ulit na igalaw ang kaliwang paa pero napaigik lang siya sa sakit.

He can't even lift his left leg, damn it!

"Fuck..." mahina niyang mura saka bumuga ng marahas na hangin. "This is the worst vacation ever." Napailing siya saka sa bumaling sa pinto.

Nang lumipas ang ilang minuto na walang pumasok doon, mahina siyang natawa. Wala pala siya sa Pilipinas kung nasaan nandoon ang mga baliw niyang kaibigan.

He tsked and sighed. "I actually want them to be here..." napailing siya saka natawa nalang.

Again, he tried lifting his legs but to no avail. Hindi niya talaga maigalaw iyon na hindi siya napapaigik.

"This is indeed the worst vacation ever." Malalim siyang napabuntong-hininga saka napatitig sa kisame.

He's been staring at the ceiling for quite some time when the door to his Hospital room opened.

Kaagad siyang bumaling sa pinto.

His heart nearly burst out from his ribcage when he saw the woman who entered his room.

No... he must be dreaming again.

Marahas niyang ipinilig ang ulo saka tinitigan ulit ang Doctor na pumasok sa kuwarto niya. Ilang beses niyang kinurap ang mga mata baka namamalikmata lang siya pero walang nagbago sa paningin niya.

He's still seeing her. He's still seeing Ivy!

His heart was throbbing inside his chest, he was catching his own breath and he was shaking in shock as he stared at her ...

... at Ivy!

But she's already dead. This can't be her. This must be a mistake. Wala na si Ivy. Halos tatlong taon na rin niyang pinagluluksa ang pagkawala nito.

Then he remembered one of Ivy's stories. About her twin. Unti-unti, kumalma siya ng maalalang may kakambal si Ivy.

This must be her. This must be Ivy's twin. Iris.

Ilang beses siyang huminga ng malalim para magawang ngumiti sa kaharap ng tumingin ito sa kaniya.

"H-hey, Doc." He stammered.

Her eyes on him is making his heart beat rapidly. Pakiramdam niya sa mga mata siya ni Ivy nakatingin. They look really alike.

Iris smiled and looked at him as if she's reading him. "Hello, Mr. Salazar. I'm Dr. Gonzaga, an Orthopaedic. I'm here to discuss your X-ray result. But before that, how are you feeling?"

Even their voice and accent are the same!

Tumikhim siya para makapagsalita ng maayos. "Ahm, ah..." tumikhim siya ulit, "ahm, I'm okay." That's all he can say.

Lumapad ang ngiti ng kaharap. "Are you sure?"

Wala sa sariling tumango siya.

She gives him a timid smile. "Well, as your Doctor, I know that you're not okay because your X-ray says that you need a cast for your left leg." Lumapit ito sa kama saka sinuri ang kaliwa niyang paa na mas lalong dumadagdag sa hindi niya pagkapakali. "Though you are very lucky because the collision only hurt your left leg. With crutches, you can still be able to walk and you'll be discharge today or tomorrow after we put a cast in your leg."

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin para makasagot siya ng maayos. "Ahm. Thanks."

"Just doing my job, Sir." Anito saka patuloy na sinuri ang mga paa niya. "Does this hurt?" Anito pagkatapos masuyong pisilin ang muscle niya sa binti.

"Y-Yes." He was stammering again.

Tumango-tango ito saka bumalik ang tingin sa kaniya. "Your muscles are swollen. I will give you some medicine for that and pain killer for your left leg."

He just nodded as he stared at his Doctor. At ganun din ito sa kaniya. She stared at him for a moment before clearing her throat and looking down.

"I have to go." Wika nito, "I'll be back later with the cast."

Nang akmang hahakbang na ito paalis, bumuka ang bibig niya at nagtanong na nagpatigil sa paghakbang nito.

"How have you been after Ivy's death?"

He saw her stiffened and slowly, she look back at him. "What do you mean?"

Maingat siyang bumangon pa-upo bago nagsalita. "Ivy told me about you. You're her twin sister, Iris, right?"

She remained unmoving so he continued talking.

"Ahm," nginitian niya ito, "sorry. You two just really look exactly the same. If Ivy hadn't told me about you, I might have mistook you for her. I'm sorry." He chuckled, his voice shaking. "I ahm, I was her fiancé by the way."

Nanatiling nakatitig sa kaniya si Iris. Walang emosyon ang mukha nito pero may nakikita siyang kislap ng sakit at paghihirap sa mga mata nito. He know that emotion too well because that's what he feels every single day for three years.

"I'm sorry I brought up Ivy's death." Hingi niya ng tawad saka bumuga ng marahas na hininga. "I just..." humugot siya ng malalim na hininga, "I just want to know how have you been after her death. I mean, you're her twin sister, you must've been in pain."

"Why do you ask?" Finally, she spoke.

Andrius shrugged his shoulder. "I don't know ... maybe because I want to know if it's just me who suffered a lot and still in pain even after three years. I want to know if I'm not the only one who felt that way." Nagbaba siya ng tingin ng maramdaman ang panunubig ng mga mata. "I actually came here to move on but, it's not really working—"

"I have to go." Anito saka nagmamadaling naglakas palabas.

Naiwan siyang nagtatakang nakatitig sa nilabasan nitong pinto habang ang puso niya ay malakas at mabilis pa rin ang tibok.

Wala sa sariling sinapo niya ang dibdib kung nasaan ang puso niya.

"Why are you beating so fast, heart?" Pagkausap niya sa puso niya. "That wasn't our Ivy, that was her twin, Iris."

But still, his heart continued pounding rapidly until his breathing becomes ragged and his heart started aching again.

#FunQuestion - Maikling mataba o mahabang payat? This is a very innocent question 😂😅