Waking up with a headache. I look at my sorroundings to see white walls and the smell of medicines which I grown to hate. I scrunch my nose in disgusts of this kind of place. Nang pumadpad ang tingin ko sa gilid ko ay doon ko lang nakita ang lalaking nagdala sa'kin dito. He's currently playing on his phone while wearing an earphone on his ears. Hindi nito napansin na gising na pala ako.
My heart started to flutter when my mind went back to what happened earlier. Today was supposed to be his practice on softball. Nakokonsensya ako dahil kung hindu sa'kin, sana nakapunta na siya doon at nakapagpractice. He suddenly looks up to my direction and when he saw me looking at him, he smiled and remove his earphones.
"Gising kana pala." Sambit ito. "Yeah." I mumbled.
"Kamusta na ang pakiramdam mo?" Tanong nito. I shrug and smiled tightly to him. "I feel fine, just a little bit of a headache when I woke up."
He nodded. "Tatawagin ko lang muna ang nurse." Paalam nito ngunit bago pa man siya makalabas napahinto ko ito.
"Hindi ka ba umattend ng try-out mo?" Tanong ka sa kaniya, conscience lacing on my voice.
He chuckles and slightly turn towards me. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna be in trouble just because I missed a try-out. May sub pitcher naman eh." He smugly said.
Napatawa nalang ako sa sinabi niya at napailing nung lumabas na siya para tawagin ang nurse ng eskwelahan. I let out a breath and relax my body as my eyes stared right to the ceiling. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nahimatay.
Umiyak lang naman ako. Anong dahilan kung bakit ako nahimitay nang ganoon nalang?
The door suddenly opens and I immediately smile when I see Penelope on the door, looking at me worriedly. She rushed to me and hug me tightly.
"I'm sorry na wala ako kanina. I should have been there, sweetie." Saad nito. I giggled. "Ano kaba, ayos lang."
She sighs and look at me in the eyes intently. "Nakita ko kasing dala dala ka ni Clive kanina tapos nagmamadali pa siya kaya nagpaalam na kaagad ako sa coach ko para mapuntahan ka kaagad dito." Paliwanag nito. I was about to say something back to her but the door opens again and I see the two of my bestfriends.
Napangiti ako. "Girls, hali kayo dito." Akay ko sa kanila.
Agad naman silang lumapit at nagaalalang tumingin sa akin, pero bago pa sila makapagsalita ay napatigil sila sa babaeng kasama ko. Their eyes nearly got out of its socket sa laki ng mga nila. I laugh genuinely at their faces and held Penelope's hands.
"Rea, Kali. This is Penelope, my step-sister." Pakilala ko sa kanila, then I turned towards Penelope and introduce my bestfriends to her.
"Penelope, that is Rea and this is Kali." The three of them waves at eachother and I can see that my two bestfriends are feeling awkwards. Nahalata rin siguro 'to ni Penelope kaya lumingon siya sa'kin at ngumiti.
"Mauna na ako, pupuntahan nalang kita mamaya." Paalam nito. My eyesbrows furrowed. "Anong oras na ba?"
She smiles. "It's already 12 in the afternoon." My eyes widen at what she told me. "Antagal pala ng tulog ko." Sabi ko sa kaniya, she nodded.
"Kaya nga, don't worry excused ka naman sa classes mo eh. Get well soon, okay?" She reminded me. I smiled at her thankfully and nod.
"Good, now I'm gonna leave first. Take care." Sabi nito at umalis na, pagkalabas ni Penelope ay nagsimula nang magchismis ang dalawa kong kaibigan.
"Girl! Kapatid mo pala ang haliparot na 'yon?" Pagsisimula ni Rea na nagpalaki naman ng mata ko.
"Shit naman, bakit ang sobra niyang bait kung sayo? That's too nice for a person." Dagdag ni Kali.
"Tapos sabi pa niya na take care daw, sus sa luob-luoban nun. Hinihiling niya siguro na magkasakit ka pa." Sabat pa ni Rea. Parang hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko sa pinagsasabi nila.
"Alam mo ba girl? Ex siya ni Clive." Pagtatapos ni Kali na nagpalubos ng kuryosidad ko. My heart clenching in pain, imagining Clive with another girl. Parang gusto ko nalang maging manhid para hindi na ako madaling masaktan. Knowing na may nararamdaman ako sa kaniya ay dapat alam ko rin na madalas din akong masasaktan.
"Anong ibig mong sabihin? Ex niya si Clive? Silang dalawa may nakaraan?" Tanong ko, clearly afraid of what the answer may be.
The both of them nodded eagerly. "Hindi mo ba alam na campus queen 'yang step-sister mo?" Tanong ni Rea.
"True," Kali agreed. "Tapos naging campus queen lang siya kasi siya ang pinakamatagal na naging girlfriend ni Clive." Dagdag nito.
I let out a breath and was about to retort when Rea suddenly squeals. "Shit, nagbreak sila kasi nag-cheat si Penelope kay Clive na kalaunan namang nalaman ng isa at hiniwalayan siya. "
Kali scoffs. "Tapos girl, hindi 'yan mabait si Penelope. Kaya maging mapagmatyag ka kasi baka kung anong plano niyan sa pamilya niyo." Babala nito.
Kumunot naman ang nuo ko. "Totoo ba 'yang sinasabi niyo? Paano niyo nalaman?"
Rea smirks. "Girl, we've been here since we were in our freshman year." She said smugly. Napailing nalang ako at hindi ko nalang sila pinansin pero hindi ko yata kaya dahil may sinabi nanaman itong hindi ko maiwasang pakinggan.
"She's like her mother, pareho silang akala mo mababait sa likod mo may ginagawa na palang kababalaghan." Kali tsked.
My head started to hurt when I think about Delilah and Penelope's behavior since I've met them. Clearly, napakabait nila masyado na hindi ko man lang napansin na palagi na palang hindi umuuwi si Papa sa bahay, pero not all stories are real, maybe it's just rumours. I really shouldn't even mind it.
But, I couldn't stop myself from doubting their behaviors and right before I could ask them more about the two ladies that are currently on a pending to be a part of my family, bumukas ang pintuan at sa pagkakataong ito ay si Clive naman ang pumasok na kasama ang isang nurse.
When his eyes met mine, he smiled and stand besid me to carres my cheek using the back of his hands. "Are you okay?" His voice rang throughout the whole white room making my heart beat wildly.
I timidly nod and smile at him. "I'm fine."
Pagkatapos kong sagutin ang tanong niya ay lumingon kaagad siya sa nurse na nakatulala sa amin. Clive coughs to grab her attention and she flinch slightly making the girls on my right snickered and me hardly hiding my smile.
"Oh, sorry. Ms. Novenche, you can now be able to discharge and continue your afternoon class or go home and rest. You're excused." Sabi nito.
I let out a sigh. "Bakit ako nahimatay?" I blurted out. She smiles at me sadly.
"You have Generalized, Dissociative Amnesa. This is not that severe which can be diagnosed as Dissociative Fugue: it's a temporary period of disorientation." She paused to make me absorb all of those information and then continued.
"However, these memories can come whenever you feel too much pain and makes you remember all of your painful memories in one snap. Kaya mag-ingat ka na maging upset or magkaroon ng masasamang pakiramdam dahil baka mahimatay ka na naman and I know you don't want that." Pagtatapos nito.
Hindi ko maiwasang magulat sa impormasyon na kakatanggap ko lang. How can my brain protect me like that? I feel like I have no control towards it.
I smiled at her and nodded. "Thank you po." She nods and went inside her office and then I look at Clive and my two friends, seeing them look at me with a surprise gaze made me chuckle.
"Stop staring at me like that." Sambit ko na agad naman nilang sinunod. Clive looks at me with admiration.
"I admire you so much. You don't even know how strong you are." Sabi nito. Parang may humaplos sa puso ko dahil sa sinabi niya. I immediately look away and hide my smile as my cheeks started to get warmer than it should be.
"Sana all." Sabay na sabi ni Kali at Rea. Napailing nalang ako sa kanila at tumawa.
"Ae," Tawag ni Clive sa'kin. "Oh?"
"Are you going to go home and rest?" Tanong niya. I shake my head making him frown and look at me with his captivating eyes.
"Umuwi ka at magpahinga." Mariin na sabi nito. "Umm, guys. Mauna na kami ni Kali. Bye." Nagmamadaling paalam ni Rea at umalis na. Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako.
"Naging ex mo ba talaga si Penelope?" I blurted out, making him stilled and look at me with wide eyes. His mouth slightly agapes from the schock that he is feeling. I snap my fingers infront of his face na nagpakawala sa kaniya sa kaniyang pinag-iisipan.
He got neared me and held both of my shoulders by his hands. "Pano mo nalaman?"
I shrug. "It doesn't matter. Basta kailangan ko lang malaman kung totoo ba talaga." Mariin kong ani.
He lets out a shaky breath and laughs nervously. "Well, yeah. Bakit?"
I smirk. "Well, step-sister ko lang naman siya."
His eyes widen as he looks at me with disbelief. "Akala ko kaibigan mo lang siya at nagdi-dinner kayo noong nakita kita sa restaurant."
I pursued my lips and look at him meaningly as he looks at me with regret and worry.
I smiled at him. "Ano kaba matagal naman na 'yon." He sighs in relief and smiles at me.
"Iuuwi na ba kita?" Tanong ni Clive.
"Gago." Sabi ko na ikinatawa naman naming dalawa.
"Charot." Agap nito sabay tawa.
Napailing nalang ako sa kaniya. "Mags-stay nalang ako dito. Afternoon class lang naman eh." Pangungulit ko sa kaniya.
Umiling siya at tumingin ng mariin na naman sa'kin. "Kung hindi ka uuwi, ako magpapauwi sa'yo." Pananakot nito.
I sigh. "Uuwi na lang ako, baka makita kapa ni Papa. Ikaw pa ang kawawa." I mumbled.
He tsked and help me get out of the bed and even though I can walk properly, he still treats me like I'm gonna fall in any minute now. Napailing nalang ako sa pinag-gagagawa niya. Nang dumating kami sa parking lot ng eskwelahan ay doon na namin nakita ang sasakyan na sasakayan ko pauwi. We both stop and look at eachother.
"Rest well."
"Thank you."
Sabay kaming tumawa, hindi ko alam pero ang sarap niya pakisamahan. My heart is fluttering nonstop. I can't help but feel giddy on the way that he looks at me and treats me.
He gestures towards the car. "Sumakay kana."
I nodded. I did what he said and got in. Agad namang pina-andar ni manong Edgar ang sasakyan at pinauwi na ako. Habang lumalayo ang sasakyan sa eskwelahan ay hindi ko maalis ang tingin ko kay Clive kahit maraming estudyante ang humaharang dito at ganoon din ang ginagawa nito. Tsaka ko lang inalis ang tingin ko doon at umayos na ng upo.
Agad namang sumulyap sa akin ang driver at ngumiti na may halong pagtutukso at tumingin ulit sa kalsada.
"Boyfriend mo, ma'am?" Tanong nito na parang excited pa.
I chuckled. "Hindi po, pero sana."
Humagikhik ito na nagpabigla sa akin. I didn't know that men can be that way too. Napailing nalang ako kay manong. Saktong-sakto na malapit na kami sa bahay at nang makarating na kami ay dumiretso na ako sa sala. Pagdating na pagdating ko sa sala ay agad akong nagulat sa nakita ko.
Ang ama kong hindi umuwi ng dalawang araw ay naglalaklak ng alak at parang walang ligo ito kung tignan mo. Napakunot ang nuo ko sa pagaalala. Ano kayang dahilan kung bakit ganito ang ginagawa niya? He usually doesn't drink alcohol and only does if he's too stress and upset.
"Papa..." Tawag ko sa kaniya. He immediately looks up at me and grins widely. Tumawa pa ito ng malakas at parang naglalambing na ibinuka ang mga kamay nito.
"Princesa ko!" Masayang sabi nito. Napatawa ako at lumapit a kaniya at niyakap ito ng mahigpit. Dalawang araw siyang hindi umuwi and me as a daddy's girl missed him.
We both pulled away and I instantly look at him intently. "Diba sabi ko sayong wag kang uminom?"
He pouted. "Ngayon lang naman eh." Ingos niya. I let out a laugh as he points at himself.
"At isa pa..." Pagsisimula nito. "Ano 'yon?"
He pouted even more. "Wala namang magagalit sa'kin. Wala ang mommy mo dito eh." Nagdidileryong sabi niya.
I sigh and shake my head. "Bakit mo pa ginawang nobya si Delilah kung ganoon?" Tanong ko sa kaniya.
He lets out a laugh which doesn't sound genuine. "I broke up with her."
He whimpers. "Mahal ko pa ang mommy mo, kaya kaninang umaga hinabol ko sila sa Airport pero nahuli ako. Lintek na 'yan! Nasa eroplano ang puso ko!" Biglang sabi niya.
I can't help but be awe'd at what he's currently saying. Napagdesisyonan kong wag na muna akong magsalita at pabayaan ko muna siyang magkuwento. After all, drunk people tend to speak the truth.
He lets out a big sigh. "Ninakawan tayo ng malaking halagang pera sa kumpanya dito." He blurted out, looking at me with his tired eyes.