Convicted Innocence (1)

Final Wave

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" Napalingon ako sa kanya.

"I wanted to become an accountant tapos I will teach." Nakangiting sagot ko she nodded.

"I wanted to become a chef." Natawa ako dahil halata nga. This chubby cutie has taste when it comes to foods.

"But pinaka gusto ko maging tambay." Mas natawa ako.

Running in this wide green land is really nice. I could let out the best in me. I am not the puppet in here because I am the boss of my own.

"Yshy, paglaki natin papakasalan kita ha." I smiled at her and pinched her chubby cheeks.

"You should call me Ate because I'm older than you." She pouted and shook her head.

"I don't want you to be my sister. Could you wait for me?" She's a really cutie dahil mataba siya.

"You're still a baby while me?" She just waved her hand while shaking her head.

"I am six already, and you are eight. Don't marry any of my brothers ha." I chuckled before ruffling her hair.

"If I could forget you, papakasalan pa rin kita." Nakangiting saad niya at tumakbo palayo. Her nanny is already her.

She didn't want any of my names aside from Yshmael, wala talaga siyang galang kahit mas matanda ako ng dalawang taon sa kanya.

Amyeille's Secret Letter

Dearest Yshmael,

Sinabi ko diba? Kahit makalimutan kita papakasalan pa rin kita. Ang ganda mo pa rin talaga. Sinabi ko noon gusto ko maging chef para araw-araw kitang maipagluto. Pero naisip ko paano pag may anak na tayo? Kaya I took short courses at Harvard in secret. Sabi ko wag mong pakasalan kung sino sa mga kuya ko diba? Sa akin ka nga nagpakasal pero sumama ka naman sa isa sa kanila. Masaya ako na kahit sa huling pagkakataon ay marinig ko ang boses mo.

I had cancer again. You said when we were kids to tell you if I have it again right? But I forgot you, so I kept it. Hindi na ako galit, hindi naman talaga ako galit sayo. The first time I saw you in the university, did you know you were also in my dreams? Napapanaginipan kita palagi, ayaw kitang tawaging ate dahil gusto ko Yshmael. Nakita ko kung paano ka natigilan nong tinawag kitang Ysh. Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin? Magkakilala naman pala tayo noon pa.

Patawarin mo ako ha, hindi ko sinasadyang kalimutan ka. Masyado yatang naalog ang utak ko. Kidding! Mahal na mahal kita. I knew everything when I was still in the province Amaiah.

Natapos na naman na. Magpapahinga na ako. Pasensya na kung hindi matutupad ang isa sa mga pangako kung sasamahan kita. Mabasa mo man to o hindi. Mahal kita. Lagi mong tandaan yan. Ikaw ang Yshy ko eh. I am so proud of you. I love you, love. Hindi sa atin ang panahon ngayon, pangako sa susunod na kwento titiyakin kung ikaw na ang happy ending ko. I love you, Attorney. Please tell Gia, Baba love her so much and the little bean you had in your tummy.

Love,
Ameh

How could I be mad at her when she was with me but I didn't know her? She became cold as ice but soft when it comes to me. I was set up by them but I realize life is short and mine became shorter so what's the purpose of taking revenge and being mad at them? Wala na para sa akin dahil mamamatay na ako. Pero at least nakalaya ako sa poot na dinadala ko.

I know the truth but they said the other.

I believe in lies because they made me do it.

I trusted them but they betrayed me.

The consequences are part of the game we all played.

I cannot be mad at her because I promised to all the Gods and Goddesses not to. I can't be mad because I was the one who hurt her more. I have forgotten her, and it was late that I knew she was really indeed mine...in the first place.

I fell for her when I was 6 and not 18. Our first date was in Bataan. I am the little Ameh of Yshmael. The kid who's fond of her, the kid who fell in love with my brother's special someone.

Ziandrei Amyeille Castellano.
Case closed.

"Wow! I didn't know you had this kind of imagination, Zia." I smiled and scratched the back of my head.

"You even include Amaiah ha." Nanlaki ang mata ko, paano niya nalaman?

"Oh kid, she's the only Yshmael in this University." Natatawang saad nito kaya namula ako.

"Sabi niyo kasi creative eh. Si Professor Hidalgo lang ang alam kong lawyer dito eh." Sagot ko.

"Miss Real, wag niyo sabihin sa kanya, please po." Mabilis na dagdag ko and she's laughing at me while shaking her head.

"It was a nice piece, Zia. I commend you for the great work." Ngumiti ako at sinabayan siyang lumabas ng office nito.

"Miss Real, baka gusto niyo po ako bigyan ng reward. Pwedeng number nalang ni Professor Hidalgo?" She laughed hard with what I had whispered.

"She has a boyfriend already." Ngumuso ako kaya ginulo niya ang buhok ko.

"Okay lang, willing to wait naman ako. Dalawang taon na kaya akong admirer niya. Tapos crush ko pa siya for 6 years already. Bakit po ang sungit niya?" She then laughed hard again kaya napapatingin ang ibang estudyante sa amin.

"Bakit hindi mo itanong?" Agad akong umiling at humarap sa daan since papasok na kami sa cafeteria.

"Baka bugahan ako ng yelo eh. Pero ang fresh po palagi ng hininga niya. Alam mo ba mouthwash niya?" Sa lakas ng tawa niya ay napalingon ang ibang kaibigan niyang Professors rin at estudyante.

"Sinasabi ko sayo, Ziandrei. Patay ka talaga sa kanya pag naririnig niya ang pinagsasabi mo." Ngumuso lang ako. Naman eh.

"Curious ako eh, hindi naman niya boyfriend kuya ko ah. Sabi ni kuya friends lang sila. Hmmp, ayaw niyo lang talaga sa akin eh parang siya rin." She's still laughing while we walk to their table.

"Itikom mo nga yang bunganga mo Reallieth." Tumikhim ito bago bumaling kay Miss Sheanneal.

"Itong bata ko, may sinulat na libro. Ang ganda, gusto mo basahin?" Ngumisi naman si Miss Shean.

"Good afternoon po, Professors. Una na po ako. Happy eating." Agad na saad ko dahil mang-aasar na naman sila.

"Si ano...."

"Hello, Professor Hidalgo. Eat well po." Ako na ang pumutol kay Miss Real. Mabilis akong tumakbo palabas at narinig ko pa ang hiyawan nilang dalawa ni Miss Shean.

I am Ziandrei Amyeille Castellano. The writer of the book you had just read. Our ending is not yet known because in reality? I am a third-year transferee because Amaiah Zenaida Hidalgo made me do it. She's not my wife or girlfriend, and not even my acquaintance. She's a friend of my brother who is said to be her boyfriend.

This is a book in a book. Our story? Well, it's yet to be made or not.

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Thank you so much, everyone. God bless and stay safe! Ciao🤍.