My Innocent Pretender

Chapter 5: Twins?

Adam's POV

I can't believe I'm having another time off in my work. And not just for a month, but for 3 months! Seriouly! Like, what kind of CEO takes months of leave when his employees are not even resting?

I know my company's gonna survive even without me during those period though. Specially with my Mom in the company but, how can I ever get used to this? Really!

Well, I know it was the Board's and the company Doctors' decision  para makapagpahinga ako because of how worse my annual Medical examinations result for this year but, threatening me to rest unless I want to be the death of them? How ridiculous!

Those dramatic old folks! They really know how to use the favors I owe them, huh! Unbelievable! Sigh... They are even abusing now the promise that I had with my father before, to take care of them dahil malalapit silang kaibigan ni Dad! What a headache. But I'm pretty sure my Mom has got to do with this.

A week ago, Mom and I talked about Anna and everything that's been going on our lives as we've become closer than before, and call or chat each other like we're not living on the same roof. I am so happy with our progress. Mas naging open kami ni Mom sa isa't-isa. I can't believe having someone to share your thoughts would be this good! But I'm more glad dahil kahit papaano ay magaan-gaan na ang loob ko sa tuwing pinag-uusapan namin si Anna.

Mom then suggested that I should rest for a bit to heal from everything  o di kaya'y gawin ang mga bagay na na-plano naming gawin ni Anna noon which was to visit Anna's beloved hometown. Mom thought it may help me to finally bid goodbye to Anna and accept everything that happened. It was not a bad idea though, and I wanna try going there too. I wanna see what kind of place captivated my Anna's heart.

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This afternoon pa ang flight ko kaya dadalawin ko muna ang puntod ni Anna na nasa isang private cemetery.

We're still on our way.  I'm on the backseat of my car with Manong Tisoy driving. Wearing plain white shirt, signature Jeans and matching shoes, carrying a bouquet of red roses -Anna's favorite flowers, and listening to the songs Anna used to sing when doing house chores.

Then I remembered... The last time I also had my time off was 6 years ago, noong nagsama kami sa iisang bubong ni Anna. And it was such a beautiful memory. Those were definitely the most beautiful days of my life. Hindi ko nga lang naprotektahan ang puso ng babaeng minahal ko ng sobra.

When we were kids, Her father and mine were so close that they promised us to get married to each other. Not until, our mothers intervened. But since a business marrriage is really ideal to both of our family's statuses, they decided to let us discover ourselves if we are somehow compatible by letting me and Anna live together in my villa for a year, with separate rooms, sadly. Which honestly, tortured me everyday!

At first, I also thought those folks were crazy and all pero nung makita ko na sa personal si Anna? How I wish itinuloy na lang nila ang arranged marriage namin! I fell in love for her at first sight.

Anna's every girl a man could ever wish for, you know? Maganda, mabait, sexy. Maypagka-sumpungin at medyo maypagka-maldita, pero kahit hindi siya perpekto, alam mo yung feeling na basta't nandyan lang siya sa tabi mo, kuntento ka na? Well, of course I was honestly hoping each day to do more! What man can ever resist her charms?

I felt like a saint back then for holding back from everything I want to do with her!

After a year of living together, we are to decide if we will proceed with marriage or tatanggapin na lang ng aming mga magulang na hindi namin gusto ang isa't-isa. But just when I thought I could propose to her isang araw bago kami mag-decide kung magpapakasal or hindi, nagkaroon kami ng misunderstandings and everything after that day became my nightmares...

'How I wish I could turn back the time. Kung alam ko lang na iiwan mo'ko ng mag-isa, hindi ko na sana pinigilan pa ang sarili kong yakapin ka at halikan ka bawat araw...'

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"IT'S been a month. I'm sorry ngayon lang ulit kita dinalaw." bati ko kay Anna. Umupo ako at inilagay ko sa ibabaw ng kanyang nakahigang tombstone ang bouquet ng bulaklak na dala ko at pinagmasdan ang kanyang larawan.

"Napakaganda mo talaga, my love. Sana masaya ka na kung saan ka man ngayon, hindi tulad noong nandito ka pa sa tabi ko. I'm sorry..." nanikip ng husto ang dibdib ko ngunit ayaw kong sayangin ang araw na'to para lang umiyak.

Hinaplos ko ang nakaukit niyang pangalan. ANNA RAE DIAZ-LOPEZ.

"I'm going to your Hometown. Sana nagpunta na tayo noon pa lang para at least may clue ako kung saang parte ng hometown mo ang pinakapaborito mo. I guess I have 3 months to find it out, right?"

Pinagmasdan kong muli ang kanyang larawan. Nami-miss ko siya ng sobra kahit alam kong wala na siya.

Maya-maya, Napansin kong tila may kung ano sa gilid ng larawan ni Anna.  Another picture? Sigurado akong wala ito dito noong nakaraan, pero sino naman kaya ang maglalagay nito sa likod ng larawan ni Anna? Kinuha ko ang kanyang larawan mula sa makapal na frame nito at tiningnan ang larawang inipit sa likod.

Naguluhan ako sa aking nakita at napakunot-nuo. Twins? Isang luma at colored na larawan ng identical twins na nakahiga sa isang kama ang tumambad sa aking paningin.

Ano kaya ang ibig sabihin nito? At bakit sa likod ng larawan ni Anna ito inilagay? Nagpalingon-lingon ako sa paligid, nagbabakasakaling baka kakilala ni Anna ang naglagay nito ngunit walang katao-tao sa mga oras na iyon. Ibinalik ko ang larawan ni Anna sa frame. Dinala ko ang lumang larawan at inilagay sa aking pitaka saka umalis.

(End of Adam's POV)