Tangled Strings (ON-HOLD)

Chapter 17 : Lost Pieces

I will never forget that time when I said, 'I will never dwell with love again because it's too complicated for me to handle.'

Pero tignan mo kung anong nangyayari ngayon. I'm in this state where I don't want to be in.

Pakiramdam ko ay 'di totoo ang mga naririnig ko. I just can't believe in it. I'm just standing stiffly here, literally in disbelief.

"Mama, asan na si Bliss? Where is my girlfriend?"

Ang tindi nga naman ng tadhana. Marcus lost his memory from more than 7 months ago and it is exactly the time when we're still in a relationship.

"Anak, nasa labas lang siya." Tita Mara calmly said.

"Ma, papasukin mo naman siya. Ilang araw ko na siyang hindi nakikita, baka magtampo 'yan sakin. Alam mo naman si Lis, matampuhin." Marcus said.

Everything that I overheard from them gave me nothing but discomfort. He really acts like those times when we're still together. Those times when he's still my boyfriend to be specific.

"S-sige, anak. Papapasukin ko na." Tita said as she opened the door. "Iha, halika dito ka muna sa loob. Hinahanap ka na ni Marcus." She said to me and I went in without a word.

"Lis. Halika, dito ka sa tabi ko." Marcus said, pointing out the free space in his bed. "Kamusta ka na?"

"A-ayos lang. Ikaw? Ayos ka na ba? Magpahinga ka na muna. O kaya, matulog ka na lang. D-dapat matulog ka ng matagal. Para mahaba pahinga mo ganun." I said, hoping that he will really sleep so that I can escape from this situation. 'Di ko 'to kaya, teh.

"'Di ko na kailangan magpahinga. I want to spend every moment with you from now on."

"Ah.. Ganun ba." Tanging nasambit ko.

"Lis. Alam mo, may napapansin akong kakaiba sayo."

"Uhm, ano 'yun?"

"Tuwing nagkikita tayo, lagi mo akong hinahalikan sa pisngi. Asan na yung kiss ko?" Marcus playfully said.

"Ah, ano, baka kasi mapano ka." Palusot ko.

"Oy, hindi ah. Baka 'yan pa nga ang mag-pagaling sakin." Marcus said as he chuckled and I can also hear Tita Mara laughing softly.

"Sige na, iha. Pagbigyan mo na ang anak ko." Tita said. "I'll just go outside for a bit."

Tita went outside and I can hear her talking to someone. But I refrained my attention from that and focused on Marcus.

"Oh, ano na, Lis? Asan na?" Marcus said.

"Yung ano?"

"Yung kiss ko nga." Sabi niya habang natatawa ng kaunti.

Though I felt sort of uneasy, I still slowly aimed for his cheek, but as my face was getting closer to his, I was surprised when he turned his head which made me kiss his lips.

I wasn't able to break it off because he kissed me deeply. I can even feel the warmth of his lips and his hands that is currently cupping my face as our kiss is getting deeper and deeper.

The truth is, I can stop the kiss. But for some reason, I just held on. I was drowning from this intimacy and I'm starting to lose my mind.

"Sige po, Tita. Pasok na po ako." I heard a guy said from outside.

Agad akong kumalas kay Marcus and when the door opened, mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

"Oh, ano, uhm, Brad! S-saan ka nangggaling?" I asked, trying my best to act naturally.

"May binili lang ako dun sa malapit na convenience store. Ano, uuwi na ba tayo?" He asked and I gave him a knowing look.

"Teka. Bakit pinapauwi mo na ang girlfriend ko, tol? Syaka magka-kilala kayo?" Marcus asked at kinabahan naman ako lalo sa tanong niya kay Brad.

Tinignan ko lang si Brandon. I was hoping that he wouldn't bust the fact that he is my boyfriend now, not Marcus. Napagkaalaman ko kasi na hindi dapat malaman ni Marcus ang lahat ng nangyari over those 7 months. 'Di niya pa pwedeng malaman na matagal na kaming hiwalay and I should also act as his girlfriend again dahil 'yun ang mga panahon na naaalala niya. Dahil baka 'di kayanin nung brain capacity niya since the damage on his brain is still fresh from the accident. Kaya kailangan ko pang umarte as his girlfriend until he recovers his lost memories.

Of course, at first I didn't really liked the idea on acting as his girlfriend again. Pero pinakiusapan ako ni Tita Mara. She pleaded for my help. Kaya kahit medyo labag sa loob ko, pumayag na lang ako dahil naisip ko naman na kapag bumalik na ang mga alaala niya, babalik na ulit sa normal.

Naniniwala naman ako na after all of this, everything will be fine and all of the strings attached to Marcus will be detached.

Siguro naman hindi babalik ang lahat ng nararamdaman ko para sa kanya noon, diba? Acting lang nga e. Pero.. Ano yung ginawa ko kanina. What's with that kiss?

The silence filled and occupied my mind and I got back to my senses nang biglang mag-salita si Brad.

"Girlfriend... mo?" Brad asked and his question made Marcus really confused.

Nilapitan ko na si Brad dahil baka may sabihin pa siya. It is obvious that he still doesn't know about the situation kaya nagpaalam muna ako kay Marcus at hinatak ko na palabas si Brad.

"Bliss. Can you fucking explain this to me. Kasi--kasi 'di ko maintindihan e. Ano yung sinabi nun? Girlfriend ka niya? Bliss, kala ko ba ako?" Brandon asked as confusion and anger is really showing upon his face.

"Brad. Ikaw naman talaga e-"

"E ano yung sinabi nung gagong 'yun!?"

"Brad, tone down your voice. Let me explain this. The doctor said that because of the accident that happened, he lost some of his memories. The impact of the crash was pretty much severe on his head part. Kaya he lost his memories from 7-10 months ago. Saktong-sakto naman na more than 7 months ago, e kami pa nung mga araw na 'yun." Sabi ko at mukhang may na-realize naman si Brad.

"Kaya.. Putangina naman.. Kaya yung mga naaalala niya.. Tangina." He blurted. "K-kaya sa tingin niya, girlfriend ka pa rin niya?"

"G-ganun na nga. At pinakiusapan ako ni Tita Mara. She asked me to act like I was before. T-those times when I'm still his.. you know.. His girlfriend." I stuttered.

"At pumayag ka naman!?"

"Uhm.. Oo. Pag nabalik naman na yung memor-"

"Wala akong pake! Bottomline is, you'll act as his fucking girlfriend again habang tayo! Anong klaseng-"

"Brad, please. Calm down-"

"How can I fucking calm down!? Kung kelan na maso-solo na kita, ipapahiram pa kita? Sinong boyfriend ang papayag na ipahiram ang girlfriend niya!?"

"Brad. Pag bumalik na nga kasi yung memorya niya, babalik na ulit sa normal. I swear, sa una ayoko nung idea na 'to. Pero naaawa din ako kay Marcus. Pag nalaman niya ang lahat ng nangyari in those 7 months, 'di kakayanin ng utak niya. Time will lend Marcus the memories he have lost. Kapag naka-alala na ulit siya, wala na, tapos na. At kahit lumayo pa ako sa kanya, kahit 'di na ako mag-pakita sa kanya habang buhay, gagawin ko. Para sayo."

"Bliss, kung naaawa ka kay Marcus, naaawa din naman ako. But I don't like the fact na may kahati ako sayo. Wala pa man din, nag-aalala na ako kasi paano pag bumalik ang nararamdaman mo sa kanya habang umaarte ka bilang girlfriend niya?"

"Brad, that is impossible. Ikaw na ang mahal ko ngayon-"

"Oo. Baka ako nga ang mahal mo ngayon. Pero baka bukas hindi na."

"Brad, that won't happen. Brad, ano ba yang naiisip mo-"

"No, Bliss. Makasarili na kung makasarili. Pero mamili ka. Si Marcus o Ako?"