Duskfall

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Solana!" Sabi ng lalaki bago ako ikinulong sa kanyang mga bisig.

I was actually surprise. Hindi ko inaasahan na yayakapin niya ako kaya kaagad ko siyang naitulak. He looked as shock as I was dahil sa ginawa ko, which made his eyes more watery.

"U-uh...who are you?" Taka kong tanong. I have an idea who he is because of his feature pero gusto kong makumpirma.

"So it's true that you lost your memories?" Naluluhang sabi niya. Maybe seeing the confusion on my eyes made him lose whatever control he has dahil bumuhos ang kanyang mga luha. Tumalikod siya sa akin. I saw him wiping his eyes. Mula sa bukana ng pinto ay nakita ko si Arie na nakasilip, torn if she should step in or not. But it seems like she doesn't need to dahil kaagad na nakabawi ang bagong dating. He faced me again and knelt on my side.

"Solana, I'm Aurelien, your older brother." Hinawakan niya ang aking mga kamay at marahang pinisil. "I know you're confuse. Mom just told me earlier that you had an accident and...and...that you lost your memories. I'm sorry, I-I'm so sorry."

I can hear his voice crack. There's so much pain and I can feel that's barely holding it in. "I should been there. I should been the one who take care of you. I-I shouldn't let you leave. You shouldn't have been into that accident. I'm so sorry, Solana. I'm sorry."

And finally, the wall he used to keep his emotions in crumbled. His tears poured out as if the dam collapsed. He was sobbing while hugging my knees. Although I felt uncomfortable, I didn't stop him. I just patted his head, trying to calm him down. I don't know how long it lasted, but after crying his heart out while apologizing, he looked up to my face.

"Even so, I am so happy that you are alive. I promise, I'll take care of you more from now on."

Seeing his puffy eyes and red face, hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko kung hindi ang haplusin ang kanyang mukha, dahilan para mapapikit siya. I wipe the tears on his cheeks.

I guess I'm lucky to have a brother like him. Even though I can't remember anything, my heart can feel the sincerity he is radiating. All the things he said and the emotions are so real that it feels a crime to see it. It's like he is baring his soul to me.

"Don't worry, Aurelien. I'm alive. At hindi mo kasalanan ang nangyari so don't blame yourself." Sabi ko sa kanya.

He stopped for a second bago niya hinawakan ang kamay na nasa kanyang mukha. "You can call me kuya, Solana, like you always do."

Uh, should I? Maybe I should since he is my brother. "K-kuya."

He seems to notice the hesitation and awkwardness in my voice. "You don't have to call me that kung hindi ka kumportable, Solana. Let's take baby steps. You can call me Lien instead." Nakangiting sabi niya.

"Okay, Lien." Sabi ko. I thought he will be disappointed since I didn't call him brother, pero mukhangnagustuhan niya ang pagtawag ko sa kanya ng Lien.

Lien stayed with me. Sinabi niya sa akin na nalaman niya kanina lang mula sa ina namin na nahanap na ako more than a month ago, but I got into an accident so I was hospitalized and got memory loss. He told me that he was angry because he only got to know about it noong pauwi na ako, when they should told him the moment I was found. He immediately dropped all his work and rushed home just to see me.

I got curious about my life before the accident. My parents, specially mom, and Rio told me stories but it's all the basics and there's nothing much. I want to know my life before since it will help me adjust, and might help me to recover my memories. Although hindi ako umaasa na bumalik ng agaran ang mga ala-ala ko, it won't hurt if I remember something. Should I ask Lien?