Forbidden Love

Eighteen

I felt giddy because Jett and i went to the places that Erin love. Now were sitting on a bench, eating Erin's favorite ice cream.

I admire him for doing all this. Doing anything for Erin. To keep her memory with her. This love is just overwhelming.

"May balak ka pa bang mag-asawa?" I ask him as i lick my ice cream. Umiling sya. Suddenly i felt sad for him. Erin will never come back to him. And i guess he's stuck with her.

"Si Erin lang ang gusto ko." He smile. My heart clench as i see the sorrow in his eyes. "And if it would take forever for me to be with her again, i will wait."

"But what if she never comes back?"

"She will." He said with glint in his eyes. I felt bothered though.

Hindi na ako nagsalita at kumain na lang. Ng bigla na lang may babaeng lumapit sakin at niyakap ako. Tinawag nya akong Erin. Ganoon na lang ang gulat ko ng umiyak ito. Niyakap din ako ng lalaking kasama nito.

"Erin.. buhay ka!" Humiwalay sya sakin at doon ko natitigan ang muka nya. "Iya.."

"Iya.. dont make a scene here!" Saway ni Jett dito. Sa gulat ko na lang ay sinampal nito si Jett. "Itinago mo samin." Puno ng pagtatampo ang boses nya "paanong buhay si Erin?" Tanong ng kasama nyang lalaki. Hindi pa rin ako makagalaw.

"Let's talk at home." Jett comanded.

Hindi pumayag si Iya na kay Jett ako sasabay. She pull me in her car and drive to somwhere. My hands were sweating. Fear crept through me as she keep on asking me how am i. I cant answer. Cant utter any word.

Nakarating kami sa malaking bahay na kilalang kilala ko. Ng bumaba ako ng sasakyan ay agad na inalalayan ako ni Jett.

Hindi ko akalain na sasalubong sakin ang buong pamilya ko na matagal ko ng kinalimutan.

They are all crying when they see me. Aside from the shock, pangungulila ang namayani sa kanila. I miss them so much but i cant go back. Pinatigas ko ang ekspresyon at pinatigil sila sa ginagawang pagtatanong sakin kung paano nangyari ang lahat.

Hindi ko alam kung kanino ang bangkay na ipinalibing nila. Kung paano nila inakalang ako iyon. Pero ipinagpapasalamat ko pa ang lahat. Kung hindi dahil doon ay hindi ko makikilala ang totoo kong ama.

"Sino ba kayo? Anong nangyayari?" Tanong ko sa kanila at tumawa ng pagak.

All of them look at me with shock. My mom hug me tight and it took me to gather all my strength to push her away. I dont want to see her hurting but i need too.

"Sino ka ba? Bakit mo ako tinatawag na anak?" Sigaw ko "i was with Jett earlier. We were talking about Erin then all of a sudden i am here and all of you were calling me Erin? Anong kalokohan 'to?"

"Erin calm down." Jett said softly.

"Sabihin mo sa kanila na hindi ako si Erin! Ako si Mika ano ba?" Nagwawala na ako. I was crying vehemently because of the frustration.

"Jett.." it was my dad. "Ano bang kalokohan ito? Bakit hindi kami maalala ni Erin?"

"She's Mika Valdez. The writter i get to write Erin and i's story. It was my present to Erin on her death aniversary. She's not Erin." Jett explain. Umalingawngaw ang iyak ni mommy sa buong bahay. Ganoon din si Iya.

"Hindi." Mom shook her head. "Ikaw si Erin. Nararamdaman ko anak." She get a grip of both of my shoulders. Inalog nya ako na para bang ginigising ako sa isang masamang panaginip. "Nararamdaman ko sa puso ko, ikaw si Erin. Anak kita.. anak kita." Dad hold mom from me. He was crying too and it's breaking my heart even more.