IMPOSTORA

CHAPTER 7

"SHE'S having temporary memory loss because of a concussion," sabi ng doctor kay Mikhail matapos sabihin nito ang mga naging pag-uusap nila nang magising siya kanina mula sa isang buwan na pagkaka-comatose. "It might take a while for her to recall some of her memories. Pero dahil napapaligiran naman siya ng mga taong kilala niya at nakasama bago ang aksidente ay mapapadali ang pagbabalik ng mga alaala niya."

Napabuga ng hangin si Mihara at napasulyap kay Mikhail na matamang nakikinig sa mga sinasabi ng doctor patungkol sa nangyayari sa kanya. Ni hindi man lang ito kumukurap habang pinapakinggan ang bawat explanation ng doctor sa temporary memory loss niya. Mihara pressed her lips as she studied his handsome face. Maybe that's how much he loved his wife. But, sadly, his wife cheated on him.

"Dr. Cortez, is there also a chance of behavioral changes because of head injury?" Mikhail asked, suddenly glancing at her and met her gaze.

Mihara's heart skipped a beat and she almost gasped when Mikhail touched her knee as if assuring her that everything is going to be alright. Kinagat niya ang dila habang pilit na pinapakalma ang sarili sa kabila ng nararamdamang kuryente sa pagdadaiti ng mga balat nila. At mukhang naramdaman din iyon ng lalaki dahil agad din nitong tinanggal ang kamay sa hita niya.

Bahagyang nangunot ang noo ang doctor sa tanong ni Mikhail, mukhang napansin din nito ang silent interaction nilang dalawa. "It's possible... especially if the patient is experiencing mild amnesia. She doesn't know what she was before the accident, resulting to trouble recognizing reactions towards certain things."

"So, it means it's just normal if I suddenly feel uncomfortable with him?" Mihara asked, trying her best to sound confused about the situation. "I can't remember almost about everything..." Her hands on her lap trembled. "Ang tanging naalala ko lang ay ang pangalan ko... Hindi ko rin siya nakilala kaagad nang magising ako."

"Yes. Normal lang ang mga ganyang pangyayari sa mga taong naaksidente at nagkaroon ng head concussion dahil sa pagkabagok ng ulo. In your case, something hard fell on your head during the accident," the doctor answered, nodding at her as he glanced at Mikhail. "But I checked your CT scan. It doesn't show any brain damage or severe head injury. You'll be okay and back on track very soon, Mrs. Montefort."

𝘔𝘳𝘴. 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵... Mihara repeated inside her head. How she wished that she was the real Mrs. Mikhail Montefort, but she's an imposter. At bago pa man mapansin ni Mikhail ang mga pagkakaiba niya sa patay na nitong asawa ay kailangan niyang magawa na muna ang trabaho niya. Pero ang unang kailangan niyang gawin ngayon ay matawagan ang Speedy Online News at masabihan ang mga katrabaho niya na buhay pa si Mihara Olivares.

Nang makaalis na ang private surgeon ni Amara ay saka siya kinausap ni Mikhail. Base sa madilim na ekspresyon ng lalaki ay mukhang seryosong bagay ang sasabihin nito. Pero kahit pa yata sumimangot ang lalaki ay guwapo pa rin. Kaya naman hindi malaman ni Mihara kung paano ba kakausapin ang lalaki nang nakatuon lamang ang atensyon sa mga sinasabi nito at hindi sa kung saan-saang parte ng guwapo nitong mukha. But, damn, every time he will look at her, all her internal organs were going crazy. It was as if everything of her is yearning for him.

"You should have told me earlier that you feel uncomfortable with my presence," Mikhail told her in a severe tone. "You should have let me know first before asking it to Dr. Cortez."

Natigilan si Mihara sa mga kung anong iniisip. Hindi niya alam na kailangan niya pa lang humingi muna ng permiso sa lalaki bago kausapin ang doctor. "I'm sorry, I thought it's okay to ask him. He's a doctor, right?"

Lalong nagdilim ang ekspresyon ni Mikhail sa sarkastikong sagot niya. "Kung hindi ka naman pala komportableng kasama ako, lilipat ako sa kabilang kwarto—"

"No!" kaagad niyang protesta na ikinakunot-noo ng lalaki. "I mean, hindi mo ba narinig ang sinabi ni Dr. Cortez kanina? Para maibalik ang mga alaala ko kailangan mapaligiran ako ng mga taong palagi kong kasama bago ang aksidente. And, that includes you, right?"

"We've been sleeping in a separate room even before the accident happened, Amara," he said matter-of-factly, pointing to the door beside the bed. "That's my room, and this is yours."

"Oh, so kwarto mo pala 'yan? I thought it was a walk-in closet," sabi niya at tumango-tango. "What does your room look like? Have I been there before?"

Mikhail scowled at her. "You're not interested in my room. You only think about yourself, Amara."

Nakagat ni Mihara ang dila. Mannerism na niya ang pagkagat sa dila sa tuwing pipigilan ang bibig na magsalita. Hindi siya si Amara, pero pakiramdam niya ay kinurot ang puso niya sa mga sinabing iyon ni Mikhail. Maybe because she could feel from his words that he was in pain. He was in pain because of his monster wife.

"I feel sorry for myself..." bulong niya at napabuntonghininga. Kahit hindi siya si Amara ay nararamdaman niya ang tensyon na nagmumula sa lalaki.

Mikhail raised from his seat, ignoring what she whispered. Kung intentional man iyon o hindi ay hindi alam ni Mihara. "If you need anything else—"

"Sandali lang." Pinigil niya ang braso ng lalaki. Kunot ang noo niya habang nakatingala dito. "Kung natutulog tayo sa magkahiwalay na kwarto bago pa man ang aksidente, bakit natutulog ka sa tabi ko nang magising ako kaninang umaga?"

Tumikhim si Mikhail at nag-iwas ng tingin sa kanya. It was apparent in his expression that he didn't expect her question. "I went here last night to check on you. I didn't notice that I fell asleep in your bed."

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Mihara at gumuhit ang mapaglarong ngiti sa mga labi niya. "Talaga? At nakatulog ka nang nakahubad?" Tumayo siya mula sa couch at tinungo ang kanyang kama. "Maybe I should check if my bed has dried stains from the memories of last night."

Mikhail cleared his throat again, beginning to feel awkward and embarrassed. "Hindi kita maintindihan, Amara—"

"Did you jerk off last night?" she asked, trying her best to sound casual, even if she also felt uncomfortable with her own question. "Did you, Mikhail?"

Mikhail looked straight into her eyes. "I felt the urge to do it—"

"Oh, my gosh. Did you touch me?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Mihara. Now, she was not pretending. This is what she really felt.

𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘊𝘌𝘖 𝘔𝘪𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥? Mihara screamed internally at the thought.

"I didn't," he answered quickly, and it made her a bit disappointed. "Bakit ko naman 'yon gagawin sa 'yo, Amara? You're unconscious, for chrissake!" he added defensively, brows furrowed. "It's just that you looked so serene while sleeping. Honestly, for a moment, I thought you were a different woman."

Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ni Mihara sa sinabing iyon ng lalaki. "M-Me too..." sagot niya at pagak na tumawa. "I feel different when I woke up. I feel reborn..."

"The plastic surgeons did some cover-ups for the burns in your face. And they say it might take a while before it heals fully," Mikhail said, changing the subject. "I guess you're ready to attend big events in six months."

𝘚𝘪𝘹 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴... 𝘏𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘢𝘬𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘱𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘭.

"I'm hoping for a fast recovery," she said, touching her slightly swollen face. "This puffiness in my face is kinda annoying. I look bloated."

"It will heal soon," he assured her with a small smile. "That's why I brought you and Billie here in Ilocos for your recovery period. I know you don't want to be seen by your friends in Manila in that state."

"Thanks," she said, then drew her brows together. "Wait, what? We're in Ilocos?"

"Yes—"

Mihara rushed to the window and slid the curtains off. As soon as her eyes saw the green trees and old houses from afar, she squealed in excitement. "We're at the Montefort Winery?"

"Yes. You've been here a lot, Amara. Did you also forget about it? You sound as if it was your first time here," he asked, confused.

She turned to him with a knotted forehead. "I have temporary memory loss, remember? I forgot about being here. Ang naalala ko lang ay nandito ang winery," she said and smiled at him awkwardly. "Ano bang mga memories ko dito sa Winery? Gusto kong maalala ang lahat."

Mikhail gave her a sharp gaze that made her chest hammered. "Gusto mo ba talagang maalala ang lahat ng ginawa mo dito sa farm?"

Mihara nodded in determination. "Everything."

The man clenched his jaw as he looked straight into her eyes. "Then, I'll tell you the one I will never forget." He filled the gap between them with long strides and grabbed her arm. "I caught you making out with the new worker at the vineyard."

***