Song: Be There- Seafret

Ruin

"Oh my god."

That was the only thing I managed to say after remembering everything. 

Tears are falling down my face non-stop. Everything feels like a backlash. Memories from my past are starting to get clearer now.

I finally remember everything.

"Sam, what's happening? Tell me." nag-aalalang tinanong ni Alisha sa akin.

Hinarap ko siya habang may luha parin sa aking mga mata. I couldn't close my mouth because I still can't believe that I can remember everything now.

I can also remember how I met Alisha back when we were in High School. Lahat ng alaala ko kasama siya ay tandang-tanda ko na.

Sam really is my real name. Zach was telling me the truth all along.

Hindi ko naiwasang maluha muli nang maalala ko kung paano ko hindi magawang paniwalaan si Zach kahit na sinasabi na niya sa akin ang lahat ng totoo.

Kinuha ni Alisha ang kamay ko. Bakas sa mukha niya ang pag-aalala.

"Tell me, Sam... Tell me..."

"I..." I paused. "... remember everything now."

Alisha's mouth parted. Mamaya maya pa ay nakita kong may luha na rin sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata. She covered her mouth with her hand.

"I remember all of it. Even from the day we met. Lahat ng alaala ko noon, bumalik na ngayon." humikbi ako.

Alisha pulled me in for a hug. I cried on her shoulder. 

I've waited for this to happen. Ang tagal ng hinintay ko para makaalala. All it took me was to see everything on the internet. Kaya siguro sobrang maingat sila Timothy. 

They didn't want me to use it because they know it might help me remember. 

Hindi ko akalain na hinayaan kong magpaloko sa mga sinungaling kagaya ni Ate Isabella at Timothy. I believed in all their lies! Akala ko noong una concerned sila sa akin at hangad rin nila na makaalala ako. 

Pero iba pala ang pakay nila. 

Ano ba ang pinakain ni Ate Isabella kay Timothy para samahan niya ito sa kahibangang 'to?! He should've known better! 

"I'm so happy for you, Sam!" ngumiti si Alisha sa akin. I smiled at her back. 

I'm grateful for all her help. Simula nang magkita kaming muli ramdam ko na wala siyang ibang gustong gawin kung hindi ang tulungan ako. 

I already forgave her for what she did to my relationship with Xander before. What happened before shall be forgotten. I'm ready to bring back the friendship that Alisha and I had before. After all, I also miss all the memories we have together. 

I'm still proud to call her my best friend. 

"So, ano na ang plano mo?" tanong niya.

Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga. Sa totoo lang, wala pa akong naiisip. All I could think about is Zach. Iniisip ko kung paano ko babawiin ang lahat ng sinabi ko sakanya. Iniisip ko kung paano ako hihingi ng tawad sakanya. 

I can't believe that I became so cruel to the only man I ever loved. 

Agad na sumagi sa isip ko ang nangyari bago ang aksidente. I was driving towards the stadium after my flight from Miami. Super Bowl is very important to Zach so I couldn't miss it. 

But something inevitable happened. I was trying to reach my phone on the ground because Ryan's calling. Sa tingin ko kasi ng mga oras na iyon, kailangan ako ni Zach. I can feel how nervous he is before the game starts. 

I really want to cheer for him. 

Ngunit nang mag-angat ako ng tingin ay nakita ko ang papasalubong na truck. I tried to maneuver my car but it was too late. 

I'm surprised that I'm still alive after the impact of that accident. Ang alam ko nalang ng mga oras na iyon ay tumilapon ang kotse ko. The cars from the expressway tried to avoid my car so they wouldn't be involved in the accident. 

Pagkatapos noon ay nawalan na ako ng malay. I don't know what happened to me in all those months that I've been in a comatose. Hindi ko alam kung papano ako napunta sakanila Ate Isabella. 

"I can't think of anything yet. Gusto kong makaganti sa lahat ng panloloko na ginawa nila sa akin. Pinagmukha nila akong tanga. They took advantage of my situation. They took away the life that I had before from me. Pinagkaikitan nila sa akin 'yon." suminghap ako. 

"Shh... it's okay. Don't worry, Sam. Gagawa tayo ng paraan para makaganti sakanila. Hindi ko hahayaan na wala kang laban sakanila. Sasamahan kita... sa laban mong 'to." 

Ngumiti ako sakanya. 

"Does my Dad knows everything?" tanong ko. Hindi siya sumagot at nag-iwas lang ng tingin sa akin. 

By her reaction, I figured that maybe my Dad didn't know everything. Siguro pati sakanya itinatago ni Ate Isabella ang plano niya. 

"I-I need to call him. I need to tell him everything. Ang tagal ko na siyang hindi nakakausap at nakikita. I need-"

"Sam," Alisha cut me off. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. 

I don't get the look that she's giving me. She looks hesitant. Mukhang hindi niya alam ang gagawin. 

"What?"

"Your dad... he's..." 

"He's what, Alisha?" 

Wag mong sabihin na totoo rin ang sinasabi nilang patay na siya? That can't happen! My father is very strong! He couldn't be dead! 

"I heard he's dead." 

Parang bumagsak ang mundo ko nang marinig ko iyon. Paano? Anong nangyari? At kailan? 

Agad na namuo ang luha sa akin mga mata. Hindi makapaniwala kong tiningnan si Alisha. She pursed her lips and took all the bravery inside of her just to look at me in the eye. 

"I didn't know what happened. I just heard it from Caitlyn. Hindi na ako nagtanong pa dahil ayoko nang dumagdag pa sa sakit na nararamdaman niya noon."

Caitlyn...

Oh, damn. My sister! 

"U-Uh... may number ka ba ni Caitlyn? Kailangan ko siyang makausap." 

Kinuha ni Alisha ang kanyang phone at tsaka hinanap sa contacts niya ang numero ni Caitlyn. She gave it to me when it started ringing. 

Ngunit nakailang ring na ay wala paring sumasagot. I tried again but still, the same thing happened. I sighed heavily. 

Walang gana kong binalik ang telepono ni Alisha sakanya. 

"I need to come back to Zach..." I said. 

"That won't be easy..." 

"I know." 

Nang oras na para umalis si Alisha at Xander ay hindi ko magawang tingnan si Timothy ng walang halong pangdidiri. 

Hindi ba siya nahihiya sa sarili niya? He's a well-known businessman at sumasali siya sa isang kapahamakan na ikasisira ng pangalan niya! I can't believe he let himself get brainwashed by my sister. 

The next evening, I was surprised when Ate Isabella went to visit. I was more surprised to see her with her mother.

"Savannah!" salubong ni Calliope sa akin. Umangat ang kilay ko.

Ngumiti ako at nagkunwaring nagagalak na makita siya. Susuportahan niya talaga si Ate Isabella kahit na ang mga plano nito ay makakasama sa iba. At hindi rin ba siya nainform ng magaling niyang anak na alam ko na ang totoo kong pangalan? 

"Mom..." ani Ate Isabella. Nilingon niya ito at nagtatakang tiningnan. "I told you..." 

"O-Oh..." 

Oh, well... looks like she's already been informed. Mapait akong ngumiti sakanya. 

Buti nalang talaga at naiba si Caitlyn sakanila. Caitlyn knows what's right and what's wrong more than Ate Isabella.

Timothy pressed his lips into a thin line. Nang magkatinginan kami ay agad naman siyang nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Hindi ko po inaasahan na bibisita kayo ngayon." sabi ko. Hinawakan naman niya ang kamay ko.

Ano kaya ang ibibigay ni Ate Isabella sakanya kapalit ng magandang acting na ito? As if she really cares about me! 

"Oh, we wanted to surprise you! I've heard about the engagement! Congratulations!"

Ngumiti akong muli. Ipinakita ko sakanya iyong singsing. Ate Isabella on the other hand is just watching us carefully.

I guided them towards the table. Nabigla naman ako nang makita kong may nakahanda na doon. I guess Timothy knew that they're coming over.

The past few days have been really awkward between Timothy and I. We rarely talk and sometimes he'll lock himself up in his office. Maybe he feels guilty.

Well, he should! Dapat lang na maguilty siya sa kademonyohang ginawa nila sa akin. I know he's a better man than this. Hindi naman siya ganito noon. I never see him as the guy who would do such thing.

Ate Isabella really did changed him. She's willing to brainwash people just to pursue her evil plans.

Nang makapwesto kami sa hapag ay kinamusta ako ni Calliope. I wonder what happened to her after my father's death. At bakit niya napiling manirahan sa probinsya?

I grieved silently when I found out about my father's death. Ibig sabihin nung mga oras na nasa coma ako, namatay si Daddy? But for what reason? He was healthy the last time I saw him!

Bumibisita pa siya sa amin noon ni Zach at kita sa pangangatawan niya na hindi siya nagpapabaya sa sarili!

If only Zach's here... he would be my shoulder to cry on. He always knew what to say in times like this. He is my anchor when I'm so close to drowning.

Oh, god. I miss him.

Kumusta na kaya ang pamilya niya? Tito Patrick looks so worried about him the last time I saw them at the formal party. I feel so bad that their son has to go through that pain because of me.

How about Kelly? Sila parin ba ni Ian hanggang ngayon? Are they married now? Do they have kids already?

Ang daming tao na gusto kong makausap o makita man lang. I want to ask them how they are. I want to catch up with them!

But it won't be easy for now... Sa ngayon, kailangan kong mag-focus sa mga plano ko. I need to get even to them.

Hindi ko hahayaang ako lang ang sirain nila.

Nilingon naman ako ni Timothy nang maramdaman niyang nakatingin ako sakanya. He gave me a questioning look.

"I have something to tell you."

Medyo nagalangan pa siya noong una. Sa tingin ko nahihiya parin siyang kausapin ako. Pero sa huli ay nagsalita rin siya. 

"What is it?" he asked.

Bahagyang natahimik si Ate Isabella at Calliope nang marinig ang pag-uusap namin ni Timothy. I glanced at them for a second.

I gulped and let out a sigh.

"I want an engagement party."

Umangat ang kilay ni Ate Isabella habang umawang naman ang bibig ni Timothy, tila ba hindi niya inasahan ang sinabi ko.

"O-Oh..." 'yun lang ang natatanging sinabi niya.

"I want to clear all the issues that happened at the formal party. I want to tell everyone that I'm marrying you for real. And I'm not backing out on this one."

Ngumisi si Ate Isabella at bahagyang natawa.

"You surprised us with that." aniya.

"I just didn't want to hide it to people."

Napangiti siya ng dahil doon. Siguro iniisip niya na ayoko nang itago pa ang relasyon namin ni Timothy. Pero sa totoo lang ayoko nang itago pa ang katarantaduhan na ginagawa nila sa akin.

Hindi na ako magpapatapak pa kung kanino. I'm taking a stand on this one. I am determined to ruin them to everyone.

"I want you to invite everyone. Lahat ng kakilala mo. Business partners man o kaibigan," sabi ko. Timothy laughed nervously.  

"Is something up?" nagugulohan na tinanong ni Timothy.

"I just didn't want you to doubt if I'm still going to marry you after everything that happened. I'm into this, Timothy. I will marry you no matter what happens."

If there's someone who's deserving to win an Oscar for her superb acting skills, that would be me.

"Actually, Timothy, maganda na may plano siya para sa kasal niyo. It only shows that she's really determined to marry you. I'm glad that my daughter finally decided to settle down with you."

Ngumiti ako kay Calliope ng magsalita siya. Meanwhile, Ate Isabella looks like she's enjoying this.

Gusto kong matawa. Konting panahon nalang at masisira na 'yang kaligayahan mo. Tingnan lang natin kung makakatawa ka pa ng ganyan kung sirang-sira ka na sa lahat.

"I want to have a speech on that day. I'll use that to clear up the mess. I don't want to confuse people more."

"O-Okay... I-I'll give you that. Sasabihin ko agad sa sekretarya ko na maghanap na ng events organizer."

"I want it done by the end of the month. I just want to get married to you as soon as possible." 

Nagugulohan akong tiningnan muli ni Timothy. I grab his hand to assure him. 

I wanted so bad to puke in front of them because they are all disgusting! I feel disgusted by all the things that I'm saying. 

Binuka ni Timothy ang kanyang bibig. 

"Do you really want this?" 

I look at him in the eye to pretend that I'm sincere. I smiled at him. 

"Of course..." I whispered. 

"Okay. I'll give you whatever you want." 

Hahalikan na niya sana ako sa labi nang unahan ko siya. I pulled him in for a hug. 

No, Timothy, I won't let you kiss me. Hindi ko hahayaan mabahiran pa ako ulit ng dumi mo. Tapos na ang pag-aasta mong sa'yo ako. I am not yours. I will never be yours. I will never submit myself to a man like you. 

You are cruel. 

Just like every one else in this dining table. 

Calliope raised her wine glass to congratulate the both of us. I smirked. 

They think that the engagement party will turn out fine for them? They think that they'll be happy and satisfied? They that think they finally succeeded?

No. They are wrong.

Because on that day... I will ruin them. Just like how they ruined me.