#1 Blank Page by Christina Aguilera
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Everything was ready.
The candles were lit.
The rose petals were spread on the floor.
The boom box in the corner was playing some romantic tunes back from the 70's.
The food looked and smelled divine.
His suit, so tight, showed off his lean but jaw dropping body.
His hair was hair sprayed to its at most perfection, making him the handsome stallion she said he reminded her of.
All that was missing was his princess.
His soon to be Queen, if what he's about to do goes according to plan.
-
Karylle arrived in a little black dress that he picked out for her.
She walked down the red carpet leading to the garden dinner date where he was.
She followed the music and the rose petals that were spread on the carpet.
She looked up and saw him.
She smiled before closing the gap between them by hugging him tightly.
"Vice, what it is all this?"
"You look beautiful." Vice said breaking off their hug.
She blushed and ironed the bottom of her dress with her hands, "Eh ikaw pumili nito eh."
"Kahit wala kang suot, maganda ka pa rin noh. Mas maganda ka pa actually." He said with a smirk.
Karylle just chuckled before looking around.
"But seriously Vice, what's the occassion?"
"K... We've known each other for how long? 4 years?" Karylle nodded and smiled, "And we've been together for 18 months..."
"Where is this heading?"
"Karylle... I want to spend the rest of my life with you," He said and went down on one knee, "Mahal na mahal kita. Will you marry me?" Vice pulled out a small red box and opened it.
Karylle gasped as she saw the elegant diamond ring that was in that red box.
In that moment Vice felt like he put life on the line. He blinked three times before clearing his throat to get her attention. She looked at him with unsure eyes, she smiled for a second and then frowned. Vice frowned with her.
"K?"
She put a hand on his shoulder and assisted him to get up from the floor. She took the box and closed it, stuffing it back in his blazer pocket.
"This isn't my answer, but-"
"Naiintindihan ko K." he said before giving her a disappointed smile.
"No! Hindi mo naiintindihan."
"Ikaw.."
"Huh?"
"Ikaw ang hindi nakakaintindi Karylle... I-" he tried to hold his emotions in but seeing the look in her face, the look of guilt and distant in her eyes.
"Vice, I'm just not ready."
"Okay."
"Papakasalan din naman kita in the near future eh, I really am. Pero hindi lang talaga to ang time for us to get married."
Vice nodded and looked down. Karylle took his chin and tried to kiss him.
"Wag mo kong halikan dahil naaawa ka."
She shook her head and cupped his face with her hands. She even made him look at her in the eyes too.
"Vice, I love you. In time, promise yan."
"Sure."
With that final word, he walked away from her.
~
3 years later.
"I thought you would have been married by now!"
Karylle looked at her college roommate who was sat opposite her and gave her a quick smile before sipping her coffee.
"Haha, hindi pa naman. Ikaw.. You have 2 kids already?"
The woman laughed and sipped her own coffee too, "Yes, Jane who's 5 years old and Baby Jaco who's turning 1 next month... Do you want kids?"
"Laida, nakakatawa ka. Wala nga akong boyfriend tapos-"
"What? What happened to you and Vice?!"
"3 years na kaming hiwalay girl."
"Oh my gosh.. I'm sorry, I didn't know... Last reunion kasi natin kasama mo pa sya eh."
"Well, yeah..."
"What happened? If you don't mind me asking that is."
"He proposed and I turned it down... I thought magiging okay lahat after that. But he just disappeared. He left. Di ko nga alam kung kami pa eh... It's been 3 years so it's safe to assume na hindi na noh?"
"Have you been seeing other people?"
Karylle tilted her head and sighed, "No, not really."
"Interesting."
"I'm still hoping kasi na babalik sya.. Babalik sya tapos magiging okay kami."
"Karylle, you know how much of a fan I am pagdating sa true love. But after going through the pain and heartaches of finding that true love, I've become a more open minded person. Even having my own family has open my mind more about people..."
"I know what you want to say, alam kong gusto mong mag move on na from Vice."
"Yeah I do. He left you K, that's a sign that he's let you go. God knows where he is now, baka kasal na sya tapos ikaw umaasa ka pa rin."
Karylle nodded before leaning her head against the wall.
"I need some kind of closure first."
"Anong closure?"
"Talk to him. Nasaan man sya."
~
"What would he be doing in rehab? Billy? Sure ka ba dito?"
Karylle hopped out of the car and Billy followed right after. He walked behind her as they entered the building.
"This isn't a rehab para sa mga adik K. This is a neuropsychology rehabilitation clinic."
"So sa mga baliw?"
"Not quite. You'll find out." Billy said as he pointed her towards the main reception where a middle aged woman sat in front of a computer.
Billy placed his hand behind Karylle's back to urge her to move. They approached the main desk and the woman looked up fixing her glasses before recognising who they were.
"Miss Tatlonghari, Mr Crawford... We've been expecting you. Let me just get someone to lead you to Mr Viceral's room." she said before dialling a number on the phone to request assistance.
"Billy? Sabihin mo nga sa'kin nangyayari! Ano ba kasi ginagawa natin dito? Bakit nandito si Vice?"
Before Billy could even answer, one guy introduced himself and asked them to follow him to show Vice's room.
"Nandito na po tayo." said the guy before excusing himself again.
Billy turned to Karylle while holding the door knob. She took a deep breath and shook her head, "I can't go in there not knowing what to expect."
Billy ignored her and opened the door instead. Karylle who was looking down on the floor slowly lifted her head up and saw Vice who was wearing a blue hospital gown, stood in front of the glass window with his back to them, staring outside.
"Vice?" Karylle called out and entered his room.
No reaction.
"Vice?" She called out again.
Billy stepped forward and faced her.
"Hindi nya tayo kilala. He recently just woke up after suffering from a 3 year coma."
"Wh-what?!"
"The night that you.. The night that he proposed to you and turned him down... He drove home feeling so upset that he was in a major collision. We didn't tell you Karylle, it was a request by his family. They just wanted to keep it out of the public."
After hearing what Billy said, Karylle took slow steps to get to Vice. She held out her hand and touched his arm. Vice finally responded to the presence in his room. He turned around and was shocked to see the two new faces.
"Vice?" Karylle said and hugged him tight.
Billy felt sorry for Karylle as he saw Vice's reaction to the hug. Vice pulled away and pushed Karylle away from him while shaking his head.
"Karylle,"
"Billy, iwan mo muna kami."
"Walang magagawa toh K, we should just give him time."
"I can manage Billy. Iwan mo muna kami." She said while still staring at Vice.
Billy followed her orders and went out of the room, closing the door behind him to give the two a bit of privacy.
Karylle took a step forward and placed a hand on Vice's arm. He followed her hand and stared at it.
"Vice..."
"Sino si Vice?"
"Ikaw si Vice."
"Pero sabi ng nanay ko, Jose daw pangalan ko."
Karylle chuckled and nodded, "Yes. Jose Marie is your real name pero Vice ang nickname mo."
Vice bit his lip and nodded.
"Pwede tayo mag usap?"
"Sino ka?"
"Upo tayo." Karylle said as she led him so that they could sit on the bed.
When they were sat down, he turned his head towards her with blank eyes. Karylle stared back for a moment, trying to absorb the fact that this Vice has no idea who she is.
"Sino ka?" He asked again.
"Ako pala si Karylle."
"Sino ka sa buhay ko?"
Karylle was about to open her mouth to say something but then nothing came out of her mouth. She looked away from Vice and felt hot tears brimming in her eyes.
"Karylle, okay ka lang?" Vice asked as he noticed the sudden quickness of her breathing.
She nodded while hiding her face away from him.
"I'm... I'm your girlfriend. Well, I was your girlfriend. I don't know Vice. I don't know."
"You're my girlfriend?" He asked, shocked.
"Hindi ko alam..."
"May amnesia ka rin ba?"
"No... I'm just a really bad person."
"Bakit di ka sure kung girlfriend kita?"
"Because we left off in bad terms. I'm the reason you're here..."
"You can't be."
"I am."
"Mahal mo ko diba? Girlfriend kita eh." Vice said with a small smile.
Karylle smiled back instantly and cupped his face with one hand, "Mahal na mahal."
"Then kung mahal mo ko, di mo ko magagawang saktan."
"That's the thing... Sinaktan kita."
"Ha?"
"You proposed to me Vice... I turned it down."
"Tapos nag break tayo?"
"Hindi ko alam Vice... Akala ko after that night maaayos natin yung pagkakamali kong yun... Pero- pero hindi eh... Lumayo ka sa'kin... Iniwan mo ko. Yun pala, naaksidente ka... And that's because of me"
"Eh bakit mo nga ako sinaktan kung mahal mo ko?"
"I don't know Vice."
"Dapat alam mo..." he said with a sad smile.
"I was scared... Di ako handa sa offer mo noon. Kung maibabalik ko lang yung mga oras na yun, I would have said yes to you."
"Dahil naguguilty ka sa nangyari sa'kin, hindi dahil gusto mo."
"That's not true."
"Tanong ko lang ulit sa'yo... Mahal mo ba ko?"
"I do.. Believe me. I do!" She said with so much passion. She turned to him and smiled sadly, "Ikaw ba?"
"Ha?"
"Do you remember me? Loving me?"
Vice bit his bottom lip and stared at her in the eyes for a few seconds.
"Sabi ng doctor ko, yung mga pasyente nya daw may naaalalang bagay kapag tumitingin sila sa taong mahalaga sa kanila... Gaano man kaliit na alaala, nag ma-make ng impact sa recovery..." he said while still staring at Karylle's eyes.
Karylle moved closer and held his hand, "Do you love me?" she asked almost pleading him for his answer.
"Wala eh." He breathed out and sighed.
Karylle retrieved her hand from his and nodded sadly.
"Sorry ha."
"No.."
"Karylle," he reached for her hand but she stood up so he didn't get the chance.
Karylle walked to the door so Vice stood up too. She turned to him and smiled even though tears were already streaming down her face.
"Maybe next week balik ka baka may maalala ako?"
"Hmm.." she said and slowly walked towards Vice. When he was an arm length away, she threw herself at him. Vice was so shocked so he took a step back but still supported her. She was hugging him so tight like she didn't want to let go.
"K?" he said as he rubbed her back,"Balik ka na lang sa ibang araw."
Karylle pulled away and wiped her tears. She pecked Vice on the cheek.
"I hope in another lifetime magkita ulit tayo... There I promise hindi kita sasaktan."
"K..."
"I love you."
With that she walked out of the door into the arms of Billy who was standing outside.
"Pwede naman tayo bumalik K eh."
"Hindi na babalik si Vice. I destroyed the Vice that I want back."
Karylle untangled herself from Billy and slowly walked away.
