I slowly opened my eyes and tried to move my fingers. The familiar scent of the hospital was what greeted me. I looked around..
Bandages all around my body, machines connected on me; and an oxygen tank right beside me. The room was empty. I guess everyone stepped out.
I wonder what happened to Nathan after? Was our child safely rescued? Is Ward dead? Is everything safe, now? I felt the door opened, so I closed my eyes again and pretended to be asleep.
"Look at you...." it felt like I've heard this voice before. But I have to deny that fact. "Four years and you're still sleeping."
I frowned in my mind. Four years? I've slept for four years?
"It feels so damn good to be back, Zeus. But it somehow feel lonely because you're not around. Tsk. Bakit kasi ayaw mo pang gumising?"
I want to open my eyes and punch him, but I couldn't because I want to keep on listening on what he's saying.
"Anyway, I'm almost done with my project. It's a great one! I am gonna make a brand new world. A world where people are controlled by computers. I'm gonna insert a chip in their head and they can control their emotions! There will be no wars, no murders, no crimes and all! We're gonna live in a brand.. new.. world! Do you like that? The chip can also turn your memory in to a video footage. But in order to do that, you must delete your old and bad memories and start anew! I am so damn brilliant, Bro. I can't wait to finally show that world to you."
"By the way, your wife and son are both looking good. Tiffany raised Nathan well. If you wake up and live with her again, I'm gonna insert a chip in you. You will be the first family to experience the brave new world! Your son won't have to remember his traumatizing past. He won't remember that his coward Dad forgot him for 4 years."
I clenched my fist when I heard his insult. The room was again quiet so I assumed he's gone.
I opened his eyes. He's really gone. Grant Ward is alive. He's going to make the world evil, again. I have to protect my family.
I want to protect my family but if I wake up and remember them, their lfe would be in danger! I can't risk their life!
Nagbukas ulit ang pinto so I, again, closed my eyes. Kung kanina, walang movement, ngayon may nararamdaman na akong movement. Someone changed the flower in the vase?
Someone sat beside my hospital bed and I immediately knew who this is! The love of my life!
"I just got back from a mission in Manila and neighboring countries." My wife held my hand and kissed it. "Inuna kitang i-meet bago ang anak natin. Nagta tampo na 'yun sakin, 'e."
Oh how I want to see my child now. Siguro ay naglalakad na si Nathan? He must be four years old, now. Maayos na din siya sigurong mag salita. I want to see who he looks after!
"Gising ka na, please. Yeobo. Your son needs you. Your son is longing for you. Hmm?"
How I badly want to kiss my wife, now! I've missed her because it has been four long years.
"Grant Ward escaped from prison. He's on the loose and doing something evil now. I'm scared for our family. I need you. Please come back now, oppa..."
Unknowingly, a tear escaped from my eyes. I want to see you too now, baby. I want to badly hug and kiss you.
The room became quiet again so I concluded that X is gone. So I opened my eyes again to wipe my tears.
"...you...you're awake!" Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig nang marinig ko ang boses na iyon. Hindi ba ay umalis na 'to?!?
"What are you doing here?" I tried to sound strong kahit sa totoo'y kinakabahan ako.
"You dummy! You were awake all along?!"
"No. But I woke up after hearing about your plan."
"Ahh. That plan." He smirked. "You're awake, now. And I guess you remember everything. So I must start moving, huh? I should get your son first then your wife after. You'll all live a brand new life in the brave new world!"
Umiling ako ng paulit ulit then gritted my teeth. Deng. Where is my phone?!?
"I don't need your chip and your new world, Ward. I need my family."
"I am not that good to give you your 'family'. It's not fair if only I experience the hardships. I want your wife to experience the pain, too." I gritted.
"What do you want?"
"I want you with genesis until the project is done. Stay away from your wife or I wouldn't doubt to kill them."
Lumabas na si Ward through the window. I pretended to be asleep again as the guards entered my room because of the sudden sound. Hindi nalang ako kumibo.
I tried to sort things out on my mind. I have to save my family. And in order to do that, I have to pretend that I don't remember my wife.
That same day, I woke up. Sina Yanin ang naunang makakita sa akin. She was so happy and so does Cherreen. Then maya maya, nandito na sina Mom. I didn't know that Mom and Dad are also here?
We were having our family 'reunion' when someone knocked and entered through the door. My smile faded.
It's like I want to cry. But I can't. I want to hug her too, but I must act cold.
"Mnemosyne, Trojan." Bati niya sa mga kapatid ko. "Tito, Tita." Then bumeso siya sa parents ko.
I followed her gaze. If eyes can talk, it can express my feelings for her now. Hinawakan siya ni mom at nilapit sa akin. She sat beside me and I just stared curiously at her.
"Hi, miss." She looked so surprised and down after I called her miss. "I believe we're close friends?" She smiled bitterly.
"Nich. You don't even remember your own w--" hindi na naituloy ni Yanin ang sasabihin niya dahil sumingit si Tiffany.
I remember my wife, Yan. I remember every piece of her.
"Y-yes. W-we're f-friends." Pilit siyang ngumiti at tumayo sa inuupuan niya. "A-ah. Mauna na po ako. Iniwan ko kasi si Nate sa bahay." Nathan. Our son.
Kilala niya kaya ako? Does he know about me, by chance? Does he know that his father is a coward and that I'm pretending to not remember them?
"Hindi ka ba mag-stay overnight?" Yes, please stay baby.
"Hindi na po. Uuwi na po ako. Kakagaling ko lang po kasi sa one week mission. Nagta tampo na si Nathan." She tried to smile and take one last glance at me.
"Are you sure you can drive? Let us go with you!" Tumango siya sa suhestyon ni Cherreen.
I somehow felt relieved when my two sisters went with her. I know that Tiffany can't drive alone at that state. She must be in shock because of how I treated her. I don't want her to get into accident because of my foolish act!
