*Ryan's POV*
"Napapagod na ko mag aral."
"Kahit ako."
Theia didn't go to school.
I tried talking to Charm pero kanina niya pa ko hindi pinapansin. Siguro dahil sa sinabi ko kagabi. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung dapat tinago ko nalang mula sa kanya.
"We only have 2 days left." I told them. "Pagtiyagaan niyo na."
"Sabagay. Malapit na naman tayo grumaduate."
"Mine, una na kami ha?" Sabi ni Vin pagka-akbay sa'kin. "Nagugutom na talaga ako."
"Palagi ka namang gutom."
"Tara na, wag na kayo mag-away."
We were almost by the cafeteria nung tinanggal ni Vin yung akbay sa'kin at sumabay kay Erica.
"Mine, nasaan si Charm?"
"Kakausapin niya pa daw si Ms. Rita."
"Baka tungkol kay Theia."
"Speaking of Theia, may nangyari ba?"
"Charm said nasa ospital daw siya.."
"Ospital?" That made me stop. "Bakit?"
"She didn't tell me the reason."
Lumingon ako sa likod.
Checking kung wala parin siya.
Something caught my eye.
Ms. Rita?
Akala ko ba kakausapin siya ni Charm?
How can they talk kung nandito siya?
Tumingin ako sa paligid. She's not here.
Siya lang yung wala dito bukod kay Charm.
Iba yung kakausapin niya.
"Una na kayo."
Tumakbo ako ng mabilis pabalik sa room.
"Ry, san ka pupunta??"
"Ryan!!!"
***
"Let me go."
Nahawakan ko yung braso niya bago pa matamaan si Ivy.
I was right.
She waited for everyone to get out bago siya lumapit sa kanya. This was the right time lalo na't wala si Nathan.
"RYAN!" Charm screamed.
I stared at her. Galit na galit siya.
"I'm freaking serious." She said. "Bitawan mo ko kung ayaw mo masaktan."
"Charm, stop this."
"NO!" She was crying. "You don't understand, Ry. Si Theia.. ng dahil sa kanya.."
"Alam ko. Naiintindihan ko, Charm."
I let her go nung sigurado na kong hindi niya na itutuloy yung gagawin niya.
Hinawakan ko yung braso ni Ivy at hinatak siya palayo. Kailangan namin mag usap.
Gulong gulo na ko sa nangyayari. Sa ginagawa niya.
"Ry??"
"Ano bang problema??"
"Kanina si Charm tapos ikaw naman ngayon??"
"Saan ba tayo pupunta??"
Hindi ko rin alam.
"Ry, dahan dahan naman!"
Pero hindi parin ako tumigil.
"Ryan, ano ba??" She complained. "Nasasaktan ako!"
My hand automatically let go.
Hindi ko napigilang matawa sa sinabi niya.
"HAHAHAHA."
"Marunong ka pala masaktan?"
".."
"F*ck. Bakit?! Ako ba hindi nasasaktan??!"
Napatitig siya sa'kin pagkasabi ko nun. Nagulat din ako. This was the first time I ever shouted at her.
Tsaka ko lang din natignan ng maayos yung mukha niya. Her left cheek.. I was too late. Charm had already slapped her bago pa ko dumating.
Yung naabutan ko, pangalawang sampal niya na sana.
"Ry.."
Yung tawag niya sa'kin.
"Anong sinabi mo kay Theia?"
"Ry.."
Bumalik na sa dati..
"Tell me! Anong sinabi mo sa kanya??"
"N-othing." Sagot niya. "I didn't tell her anything.."
"I know you're lying." I said. "Nakita kong magkausap kayo kahapon."
That took her by surprise.
I saw them. Pero bago ko pa siya malapitan, nandun na agad si Nathan.
"Hinahayaan kitang gawin yung gusto mo pero please, wag si Theia. Leave her alone, Ivy."
It's the first time I said her name in so long. Parati kasing "mahal" yung tawag ko sa kanya. She might have noticed it kasi nagbago din yung itsura niya.
I was about to walk away nung niyakap niya ko.
"It's not what you think. Wala akong ginawa.."
I'm mad as hell.
I felt the same way as Charm.
Bakit kasi si Theia pa?
"Please maniwala ka sa'kin.."
"Let me go, Ivy." Pero mas lalo lang humigpit yung hawak niya.
"Sa'kin ka parin naman diba?" Tanong niya. "I know you still love me.."
Napabuntong hininga ako.
Paano niya nagagawang sabihin yan?
How can you demand for me to love you kung hindi mo naman talaga ako minahal?
"Loved might me a better word for that."
Sinubukan ko ulit tanggalin yung kamay niya and this time, I succeeded. Pagharap ko sa kanya, umiiyak siya.
Those tears doesn't affect me the way they did before.
"You love Nathan while I loved you." I smiled bitterly. "Ito yung hiniling mo diba? I'm giving you what you want. I'm finally letting you go, Ivy."
"You can have this break up but not him." Sabi ko. "Hindi pwedeng maging sa'yo ang taong hindi mo na pagmamay-ari."
******
*Ivy's POV*
Akala ko ba papasok siya?
Naiinis ako sa nangyari. Hindi ko mapigilan yung luha ko. He should be here. Hindi sana nila ako malalapitan kung dumating lang siya.
"Nathan!!"
Tumakbo ako agad pagkakita sa kanya. I hugged him tight.
"Babe?"
"B-bakit?" I cried. "Bakit ngayon ka lang???"
Natakot at nag-alala ako..
"A-akala ko..."
Natakot akong baka bumalik ka na sa kanya..
Nag-alala akong naalala mo na siya..
"Akala ko iniwan mo na k-ko.."
"Shh.. I'm here.." He said. "Hindi na kita iiwan ulit.."
***
"Are you okay?"
Nahihiya ako sa kanya. Sa nakita niya kanina.
I never cried that way in front of him before.
Ngumiti ako tsaka tumango. "Ikaw ba?"
Nung sumakay sya sa front seat kahapon, biglang sumama yung pakiramdam niya. He still insisted to go so I asked him to sit at the back instead.
Nakapikit lang sya the whole time. Pero ngayon, he's driving. Hindi ba nakakasama sa kanya yung ginagawa niya?
"I'm more than fine." He smiled. "I didn't know I could drive."
Because you went through driving lessons para maihatid sundo siya..
"Mahahatid sundo kita, babe."
Whenever he calls me that way, hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti.
It's a proof that he's still mine.
"Bakit ngayon ka lang?"
"Sorry. Kanina lang kasi ako nadischarge."
Maybe they persuaded him again.
"Speaking of driving, ngayon lang ba nangyari 'to?"
"Yung alin?"
"Pakiramdam ko this happened before." He said. "Where were you when I had the accident?"
"..."
"Hindi ba tayo magkasama?"
Umiling ako. "Kung magkasama tayo, hindi ka sana naaksidente."
"Sabagay. I'll always be safe kapag kasama kita."
Nakadating rin kami sa bahay. This was the first time na hinatid niya ko. I'll make sure this won't be the last.
***
*Ivy's Flashback*
"Ang totoo niyan, tita ko si Dra. Guevarra."
"Ha?? Paano..?"
"She's my dad's sister." Sabi ko. "Hindi ko alam na si Tita yung doctor niya. She didn't even know na kilala ko si Nathan."
Theia wasn't responding.
"Kinausap ko siya nung araw na nagising si Nathan." I continued. "I wanted to understand what was happening so I could help."
"Anong sinabi niya..?"
"She said that he forgot you kasi ikaw yung taong iniisip niya bago siya maaksidente." Sagot ko. "Tita even asked me to help convince him to do the theraphy."
"Pero ayaw niya.."
Alam niya?
"I-I'm sorry.. I didn't know.."
Theia immediately wiped her tears and smiled.
"It's okay, Ivy. This wasn't your fault." She looked away. "I actually heard him say it. Na ayaw niya akong maalala."
"Sa totoo lang iniisip ko yung sinabi mo sa'kin nung araw na nagising siya." She was staring at the place where they were always together. "Totoo kayang hindi nakakalimot ang pusong nagmamahal?"
Oo, sinabi ko yun sa kanya..
"Maaalala ka rin niya, Theia. Nakalimutan ka man ng isip niya, hindi pwedeng makalimot ang pusong nagmamahal."
"Kasi kung totoo, edi hindi niya na ako mahal kaya niya ko nakalimutan.."
"But there's a way.." I told her. "Even if we failed to convince him, he will eventually remember you, Theia."
"Is that true? Posible ba talagang maalala niya ko?"
"Yes." I answered. "But..."
"But?
"There's one condition."
"Ano yun?"
"We can't force him to have therapies, Theia." I said. "Remember the day he woke up? Sumakit ng sobra yung ulo niya. Delikado yung para sa kanya."
"He already requested to get discharged, Theia. At kapag pinigilan siya nila Tita, hindi natin alam ang pwedeng mangyari sa kanya.."
***
"It's okay, Ivy. This wasn't your fault."
Kung alam mo lang..
"Hindi pwedeng maging sa'yo ang taong hindi mo na pagmamay-ari."
You're wrong, Ry. It's still possible. I'll do anything to make him mine again.
Yes, I lied to her.
Without the therapy, hinding hindi ka na niya maaalala.
I'll make sure that his heart doesn't even remember you, Theia.
******