CHAPTER 45

TITIG NA TITIG ni Happy kay Midnight nang ngumiti ito sa camera at tinanong kung na-miss ba niya ito. Her heart and mind automatically answered yes. She missed him. She wanted to see him. She wanted to hug him again. To tease him and to shout at him like she was angry but she was actually not.

Happy missed those times when she and Midnight argued a lot but ended up laughing and teasing each other.

"Kuya..." Happy whispered as tears glistened on her eyes. "I miss you."

"'Lil sis, you know that I love you, right? I was there when you woke up from coma, I saw how happy your father was and how scared he was." Ang ngiti nito ay unti-unting nawawala. "I know you're the kind of person who doesn't ask a lot of questions. Lalo na kapag ang daddy mo ang nagsabi sa iyo, naniniwala ka agad. I know you view your dad as a perfect father who loves you to the moon and back and back again. But he made mistakes... but those mistakes were made because he loves you. And I'm doing this, telling you his secrets to you... because I love you and I think you deserve to know the truth. And this is my only chance to redeem myself to you for lying to you constantly. They said that there are secrets better left unknown but I don't believe that. Me of all people knew what it feels like to be kept a secret or to keep secrets from me. And I don't want that for you. But please, keep in mind that your dad just want to keep you safe and that it wasn't your fault."

Bumuntong-hininga si Midnight, malungkot na ang bukas ng mukha nito. "What I will show you, I found these on the deleted archives buried deeply in the Organization system. You know how I like digging things up and hacking the unhackable. That's where I stumbled on this. I'd been thinking about these for months now, and I decided to show it to you. Don't blame yourself, okay? I wouldn't like that. Keep in mind that I love you, okay, lil sis?"

All of the sudden, the monitor went black.

Seconds later, a video played.

It was a girl... in her teens. Mahaba ang buhok nito at kayumanggi ang balat. And she was talking to her dad.

"So nasabihan ka na kung ano'ng kailangan ko sa iyo at kung ano'ng ibibigay kong kapalit?" tanong ng ama niya sa babae. "We're on camera, by the way. For assurance purposes in case you sue us after this."

Tumango ang dalagita. "Hindi naman ako ganoon. Saka eighteen na ako. Puwede na akong magdesisyon para sa sarili ko. Alam ko naman ang pinasok ko. Mas madali 'yon kaysa sa buhay ko ngayon. Saka ang ganda ho ng anak n'yo."

Tumango ang ama niya. "Kahit anong kailangan mo, magsabi ka lang. Gagawin ko pagkatapos nito."

Masuyong ngumiti ang dalagita. "Ang suwerte ho ng anak n'yo, Sir, gagawin n'yo ang lahat para sa kanya. Nakakatuwa na mayroong magulang na katulad mo. 'Yong sa akin kasi iniwan lang ako sa bahay-ampunan. Nakakainggit siya."

Lumungkot ang mukha ng kanyang ama. "Hindi siya masuwerte sa akin. Kasalanan ko kung bakit nasa ganoon siyang kalagayan ngayon at hindi ko hahayaang may mangyaring masama sa prinsesa ko. I have to keep her safe. I know I'm asking a lot that's why thank you for saying yes."

"Babayaran n'yo naman ako ng malaking halaga," sabi ng dalagita na nakangiti. "At bibigyan ng bagong pamilya. 'Yon lang ang gusto ko."

"I'm really sorry," sabi ng ama niya na halatang nahihirapan sa kung ano man ang ipapagawa nito sa dalagita. "I'm so sorry for offering this to you. I'm desperate."

Then Uncle Klaus, King's father came into view holding out a paper to the girl.

"This is a waiver," sabi ni Uncle Klaus.

"Diyan ka pipirma na ayos lang sa iyo ang lahat," sabi ng ama niya. "Basahin mong mabuti, intindihin mo bago ka magdesisyon uli—"

Bago pa matapos ang sasabihin ng ama niya, pumirma na ang dalagita.

"Here it it," wika ni Yrozz na may inilapag na papel sa Ibabaw ng center table. "Ito ang papel na pinirmahan niya. Kasama ito sa mga files ni Midnight."

"Ayos lang sa akin ang lahat," sabi ng dalagita sa video. "Gusto ko ng bagong buhay, buhay na hindi mahirap, na hindi ganito na papalit-palit ako ng bahay-ampunan. Kung kaya n'yo iyong ibigay sa akin, papayag ako kahit na ano pang kapalit. Ayoko lang na maghirap. Nakakapagod na."

Her father nodded. "Si Klaus, kaibigan ko siya. Sumama ka sa kanya para maumpisahan na."

Tumango ang dalagita at sumama naman agad sa ama ni King. Kapagkuwan ay may pumalit sa kinauupuan ng dalagita.

Daddy Von. Blaze's Dad.

"Are you sure about this?" tanong ni Daddy Von sa nag-aalalang boses. "That kid, she will die. By doing this, you're putting someone in danger."

"I have to keep my daughter safe, Von."

"In expense for someone's life?"

"She said yes—"

"She doesn't know better!" Daddy Von hissed, clearly angry. "You're taking advantage of that girl! She will be harmed because of you. If she die, that's on you! What do you think Happy would feel if someone die because of her?!"

A tear fell from her father's eyes. "As heartless as this may sound, I don't care if I put someone in danger over my daughter. My princess is the only thing I have, Von. I can't lose her too because of this war. I can't lose my daughter because I'm fighting for what I believe in. I'm the reason why she's in coma, it's my responsibility to keep her unharmed."

Napailing si Daddy Von. "You're sentencing someone to die for your daughter."

"I'll go to hell then, but at least my princess is unharmed."

"Dominick!"

"Von..." Her father was begging. "Please? My princess... I'm not giving up on her. Never! She will wake up someday... please... do this one for me. Please?"

Daddy Von sighed. "Okay... but I don't have to like it. It's still not a good idea and it will backfire on all us someday."

"It won't." Umiling ang ama niya. "No one will know. No one."

Daddy Von sighed. "We are protecting the innocent, Dominick... this is not right."

"For my daughter... I'll make it right."

Napailing si Daddy Von. "This will never be right. Never!"

Daddy Von left and it was just her dad who looked lost and desperate.

Then he looked at the camera... and he spoke.

"Princess, I know you will never know this. I won't let you know this. But if you did, and for some reason you find this recording, I hope I'm already dead. What Daddy's about to do is very bad but I'm doing all this for you. To keep you safe and to give you a good life. I promise, princess, that after this, we will live a long peaceful life and when you wake up. Daddy will be there for you. I will not leave you anymore. Daddy will never let go of you. Never. I promise, princess. I promise."

The TV screen went black again before another video played. The date on the bottom was different.

The first video was dated November 2005 and this second video was dated July 2006. Nearly a year had passed.

Kung ganoon nangyari ang lahat ng ito noong malapit na siyang magising.

She was born on 1990. She was now 28. In 2005, she was fifteen, and she woke up when she was 19 years old. That was late 2009. Nearly Christmas.

His father was in a room while a woman laid on a bed—a hospital bed. May nakapalibot na tela sa mukha ng babaeng nakahiga sa kama pero gising na ito.

Her dad looked at the camera. "Is the camera really necessary, Klaus?"

"Sorry, Master, this is just a precaution in case she sue us. This video is to show that she did it in her own volition and we didn't force her—"

"We just took advantage of her," sabad ni Daddy Von na pumasok na rin sa kuwarto.

"What happened to the doctor who perform the procedure?" tanong ng ama niya sa ama ni King.

"Paid with lots of money for his silence. I told him that if he ever speak of what happened, I'll kill him together with his family if he will ever have one in the future," sagot ng ama ni King.

"Thank you, Klaus," sabi ng ama niya.

"You're welcome, Master Dominick."

Lumapit ang ama niya sa babaeng nakahiga sa kama. "Kumusta? Ano'ng nararamdaman mo?"

Sumagot ang babae. "Medyo kinakabahan ho."

Ngumiti ang ama niya. "Magaling na doktor ang gumawa nito. Tiyak na maayos lang ang lahat."

Tumango ang babae at hinayaan ang ama ni King na tanggalin ang nakapalibot na tela sa mukha nito.

Unti-unting nakikita nila ang mukha ng babae. Mula sa noo, mga mata, ilong, labi, hanggang sa buong mukha na nito ang natitigan nilang lahat.

And Happy's lips parted open in shock. Her body went cold and she felt the very core of her existence shook.

The girl... she looked exactly like her! From the face to the hair color, even the eye color! Gone the girl who was talking to her father on the first video. Even her skin color had changed! This girl was her! Her exact replica!

Happy's hands were trembling but it trembled more when Blaze whispered a name.

"Cassie..."

Happy felt her heart sunk into the bottom of her whole being.

This woman. That girl on the first video. It was Cassie! And her dad changed Cassie's face to look like her!

To keep me safe!

Nag-uunahang nalaglag ang mga luha niya, lalo na nang pumasok sa isip niya ang ikinuwento sa kanya ni Blaze na nangyari kay Cassie.

"Oh, God..." umiiyak niyang bulong. "No... Daddy... what have you done?"

The video continued playing.

"Anong pakiramdam mo?" tanong ng ama niya habang inaabot ang salamin sa kamukha niya.

Malapad na ngumiti ang dalagita nang makita ang mukha sa salamin. "Ang ganda ko ho."

Tipid na ngumiti ang ama niya. "Mula ngayon, ikaw na si Happiness Aravena Quinn—"

"Dominick, don't," pigil ni Daddy Von. "Give her her own identity. Don't take that away from her."

Her father sighed. "Okay, then." Inilahad ng ama niya ang kamay nito sa dalagita. "It was nice doing business with you, Cassie."

Tinanggap naman ni Cassie—na ngayon ay kamukha na niya—ang kamay ng ama. "Salamat sa pagbigay sa akin ng panibagong buhay."

Lumungkot ang bukas ng mukha ng ama niya. "Ikakapahamak mo 'to."

"Alam ko pero ayos lang. Ang mahalaga, bagong buhay ang papasukin ko."

Napailing si Daddy Von. "This is not right."

"Iiwan ka namin dito sa Pilipinas, kasama ang pamilya na mag-aalaga sa iyo. Bibigyan kita ng maraming pera, kapalit n'on ay ang pag-aalaga mo sa mukha ng anak ko. I'm sorry for asking you to do this."

Umiling si Cassie. "Alam ko ang pinasok ko. Hindi naman ako bobo."

Uncle Klaus spoke. "Here. Your new identity." May ibinigay ito kay Cassie.

May inilapag uli si Yrozz na papel sa ibabaw ng mesa. "This is the paper. Lahat ng papel na 'to," wika nito na inilapag lahat ng hawak na papel. "Lahat may kinalaman 'to sa nangyari. Even Cassie's medical records are here. Everything is signed by Cassie and she was eighteen so she was already at a legal age to decide. Everything is in order. I can't believe Midnight dug this up."

"You are Cassie De Guzman, but in your new birth certificate, you are Cassie Aravena De Guzman. Sixteen years old—"

"Pero eighteen na ako," sabad ni Cassie.

"Sixteen pa lang ang anak ko," sabi ng ama niya.

"Ah." Ngumiti si Cassie. "Sige. Sixteen or seventeen pa lang din ako, hindi naman mahirap sa akin ang magsinungaling sa edad. Pero bakit may Aravena?"

"Isa 'yon sa pangalan ng anak ko," paliwanag ng ama niya. "It's to confuse my enemies while I'm hiding my daughter. Sana hindi ka mapahamak—"

"Bullshit," sabi ni Daddy Von. "You will get caught. And they will make you suffer because our enemy would think that you are Dominick's daughter. And when that time comes, you will regret everything... you will regret saying yes to this psychopath!"

Umalis si Daddy Von sa kuwarto na 'yon at naiwan na lang ang ama niya at si Uncle Klaus.

"I hope you live a long life," sabi ng ama niya. "Para humaba rin ang buhay ng anak ko na walang nanggugulo sa kanya."

Cassie smiled. "Susubukan kong hindi gumawa ng gulo."

"Even at the age of four, my daughter was sweet and caring. And she's very nice to everybody. Even when she doesn't know them. I hope you can act like that too. I know my Happy will be like that when she wakes up." Hinawakan ng ama niya ang kamay ni Cassie. "Maraming salamat talaga. My daughter will be safe because of you. I wish you happiness with your new face and your new life."

Nakangiting tumango si Cassie. "Sino ho pala ang pamilyang makakasama ko?"

"Inaayos na namin 'yon sa ngayon. My friend, Von, may kinausap na siyang titingin-tingin sa iyo pansamantala habang inaayos namin ang lahat ng dapat ayusin. Hindi niya alam ang tungkol sa anak ko at ang tungkol sa iyo. Wala siyang alam. Beth ang pangalan niya at may anak siyang kambal na lalaki."

Nakangiti pa ring tumango si Cassie. "Excited na ako sa bago kong buhay."

Tumango ang ama niya, saka bumaling ito sa ama ni King. "Leave a paper trail, but don't make it obvious. Make sure that they will assume that my daughter is alive and well. And prepare some papers to move my daughter to Berkshire, England. No one should know that I'm moving my daughter to another facility. And book me multiple flights round trip from Pennsylvania to Philippines."

Natigilan si Uncle Klaus. "For what reason, Master?"

Tumitig ang ama niya kay Cassie na nakikinig lang. "To lead them here, so my daughter will be unharmed."

Uncle Klaus stilled. "Maybe Master Von is right. This is a bad Idea. You will get this girl killed—"

"Do it," utos ng ama niya.

Nag-aalangan man, tumango si Uncle Klaus. "Yes, Master."

And her father continued talking to Cassie like he was not sentencing her to die. And Cassie looked so excited making her tears fall harder.

At lalong napahagulhol si Happy nang maramdamam niyang unti-unting binitawan ni Blaze ang kamay niya.

Then Midnight came into view again.

"I attached all the papers I have gathered about the procedure," sabi ni Midnight. "It's in the file. They deleted it and buried the remnants but I'm awesome and I have a lot of time to dig it all up. Lil sis, I know what you're feeling right now. This is not your fault. Cassie's death is not your fault. It wasn't your fault when the Organization's enemy got her because she looked exactly like you. It wasn't your fault that your dad made sure to stay in the Philippines a week per year to lead the enemies here. It wasn't you fault, okay? It wasn't. I let you see this so you can thank Cassie for saving you. So, you can honor her for being a brave woman. She deserves to be known by you. She deserves the respect and I know you can give it to her."

Umiling si Happy habang lumuluha. "I'm not worth all this," bulong niya. "I'm not."

Kagat ang labing tumingin siya sa asawa niya. Panay ang tagis ng mga bagang nito habang nanunubig ng luha ang mga mata.

He tried holding his hand but he avoided it.

Her heart clenched. "Blazey..."

"Don't call me that," sabi nito, saka matalim ang matang tumingin sa kanya. "It's you... I lost Cassie because of you. I lost my child with Cassie because of you. She was raped and murdered because of you. Every pain she felt before she died was because of you. For what? So, you will be unharmed? To keep you safe? What makes your life more important than hers?! What makes you worth it than hers?!"

"Blazey—"

"Don't call me that!" Blaze hissed at her in so much anger. "You took Cassie away from me! You killed her and our child!"

Humahagulhol na lumuhod siya sa harap ni Blaze habang humihingi ng tawad. "My daddy is wrong," sabi niyang humihikbi. "I'm not worth It... I'm not... I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry Cassie... I'm so sorry, Blaze... I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry... sorry... sorry... I'm sorry. Sorry. Please forgive me... Blaze.... I'm so sorry... I'm sorry... I love you, please I'm sorry... please... I'm sorry... don't leave me, please, I'm sorry..."

Happy was about to beg more. So Blaze wouldn't leave but he stormed off and left the penthouse.

She could feel her heart being wrenched away from her ribcage.

Napasandal siya sa likod ng paanan ng sofa habang tahimik na umiiyak. Walang lumabas na tunog sa mga bibig niya pero sunod-sunod ang luha niya.

Tama si Blaze. Kasalanan niya lahat 'to. Her daddy just wanted her to be safe. This all happened because of her.

"My lady..." sabi ni Kane bago siya niyakap mula sa tagiliran. "We're here... we're here... His Highness will come back, we're family. 'Di ba hindi dapat tumatalikod sa pamilya? Kung mahal ka niya, babalik siya. He will understand that it wasn't your fault."

Umiling siya habang umiiyak. "S-someone died because of me, Kane. Blaze's beloved died because of me... Oh, God... I have no right to ask him to move on from Cassie because it was my fault. It was my fault! Oh, God... oh, God... I'm so sorry... oh, God..."

Humigpit ang yakap sa kanya ni Kane habang inaalo siya. "Stop crying... we're Team Happiness, remember?"

Lalo lang siyang humagulhol habang paulit-ulit na nagre-replay sa isip niya ang mga sinabi ni Blaze sa kanya bago ito umalis.

The pain in his eyes. It was back. The suffering in their depths, it was there again.

"I broke him again... I broke him again... I'm so sorry... I love you so much... I'm so sorry. Please forgive me... please forgive me... If only I could trade places with Cassie, I will. Please forgive me... Please..."

Mas humigpit pa ang yakap sa kanya ni Kane habang inaalo siya.

Napakapit siya sa braso nito habang umiiyak na nauwi sa mahigpit niyang pagkayakap dito.

"His Highness will come back, you'll see," pag-aalo sa kanya ni Kane. "Nagpapalamig lang siya. Babalik din siya agad. He loves you, remember? And when you love someone, you don't leave them. So, stay with them through thick and thin. And His Highness will do that. He will come back for you because he loves you."

Panay lang ang iyak at hagulhol niya habang pinakikinggan si Kane.

Panay ang dasal niya na sana nga, sana nga bumalik si Blaze. Sana nga makita niya ito uli na nakatingin sa kanya na puno ng pagmamahal ang mga mata.

But minutes, hours and days passed.

No Blaze. Not even his shadow.

And Happy just kept on crying and blaming herself as the days passed without Blaze by her side. She barely moved, she barely ate and she forgot all about the Organization. She turned her back on her responsibility... until King decided to bring her to Pennsylvania to talk to her dad for her peace of mind.

She was reluctant to leave, she wanted to wait for Blaze. But he didn't come back.

No messages, no calls... nothing. While she sent him countless of messages, asking for forgiveness. She even tried calling but he would always reject her call.

He left her for good.

And the worst part was, she knew she deserved it. This was what she deserved. Her life was not worth more than someone else's. This pain, this longing, this was what she deserved for Cassie's death. For even asking Blaze to move on from Cassie!

She was shameless to even consider herself worthy to be with Blaze and to replace Cassie in his heart.

She didn't deserve Blaze. Or even his love.

She was not worth of his love even though her heart was screaming how much she loved Blaze. What he said to her kept on replaying in her mind and it made her question herself as well.

"What makes your life more important than hers? What makes you worth it than hers?"

Even in her dreams. It plagued her sleep.

And as the day passed with no Blaze, Happy knew, she was losing her husband.

Gusto niyang ipaglaban ang asawa niya, gusto niya itong hanapin, sundan at kausapin, pero tuwing naaalala niya ang nangyari kay Cassie, sa pinakamamahal nitong babae nang dahil sa kanya, hindi niya magawang gumalaw.

Nahihiya siya dahil sa mga lumipas na araw, lalo niyang nararamdaman na hindi siya nararapat kay Blaze.

At habang papaalis ang eroplanong sinasakyan niya patungong Pennsylvania para kausapin nang personal ang ama niya, nagpadala siya ng huling mensahe para sa asawa niya.

I'm leaving for Pennsylvania today. I'm really sorry, Blaze. I hope you can forgive me someday. I may not be your beloved but you're mine. As days passed, I realized that I'm not worthy of you and I'm ashamed for even thinking that I can replace Cassie in your heart and in your life. I can never replace her, I know that now. I'm sorry for tarnishing her endearment for you. I would never call you that anymore—it's not like you will see me again after what happened. Alam kong ayaw mo akong makita, ayos lang 'yon basta mag-ingat ka. Kung saan ka masaya, susuportahan kita. Mahal na mahal kita, Blaze. Mahal na mahal.

When Happy hit send, a tear fell from her eyes.

One week without Blaze was torture. What more if she spent a whole month without him? It would be hellish.

A hell on earth for me.

CECELIB | C.C.