Gears for a Heart

Regulator

"Ly... Stop!"

"What is it in to you? It's my choice!"

"You are a living bomb, Valdez. You are disregarding the last rule."

"It is a risk that I am willing to take!"

"Ly..."

This is what woke me up in the morning. Dad came back few days later. Alyssa is trying to make a move to her love and unfortunately, Dad found out about it. We all know that it is dangerous for her to fall.

In love.

She could die.

Without those parts, she could never live like a normal person.

We all know that condition but I support her. We have faith that we could find those parts but Dad has given up. That is why he came back here in the Philippines to tell us this terrible news.

"You don't understand, Ly!" Another shout.

"No!" Alyssa shouted back. "No! You don't understand. This is the first time I felt like this. Why can't you understand that I want to be human just for once?" Her voice cracked.

"You are human, Aly... And that is what I am afraid of." Dad said.

"I... What?" Alyssa said, confused.

"Alyssa... Please. Let it go. It's better this way."

"No! Shut up." Alyssa growled. "You gave up on the parts but I am not giving up on her even if I die."

She then walked out the house.

I showed myself to Dad whose head hung low. I leaned on the door frame and folded my arms.

"Dad..."

"Amy... Sweetie." He said. "What did I do wrong?"

I looked on the floor, sighed with disappointment. I looked at him straight at the eyes and said, "You gave up, Dad." I walked towards him and patted him on the shoulder. "She expected a lot from you but you came home empty handed because of her dream to become normal for once." I started to turn away from him to follow Alyssa but I wasn't finished.

"Those parts were her dream, Dad. She was satisfied of being a half-machine because that is what keeps her alive but Dad, she wants to feel like us. Be like us. For a heart to beat even just for a moment."

Then I truly walked away.

I looked for the tall ponytailed girl in the park in our subdivision. I don't know why, but, this is where my feet brought me. I guess, maybe, it's instinct you know? Or maybe this is where most people go when they feel bad. Cliché, yes, but maybe it is true that you can let off steam in parks.

I looked in every grassy corners of the park but no Alyssa there. Up the trees maybe. She climbs trees. That is why Dennise and Ella tease Alyssa "kapre" and "unggoy". I know what unggoy means but "kapre"? No. Not a clue.

And no. No Alyssa there either.

I started to worry, to think of every worst possible thing happen to Alyssa. Like, being bumped by a car with her bleeding to death, got kidnapped but it's impossible. Alyssa can take care of herself.

And so... Another search began.

I wandered into the depths of the subdivision. Street by street, end by end, she was no where to be found. I tried calling her, she doesn't answer. My heart pounded rapidly. She wouldn't go outside the subdivision, right?

I ran as fast as I could and bumped into someone.

"Amy?"

I looked behind my back to see Ella.