One For The Books

Prologue

"What took you so long?"

"Chill, sis. I just bought you some soup from the fast food chain I know na ang bagal magsipagkilos ng staffs. Nakaka-stress sila."

"You and your attitude." Inirapan ko sya sa sinabi nya.

"Instead of thanking me, kung ano-ano pang sinasabi mo. Che!"

"Eh di salamat. Tatanawin ko 'tong utang na loob."

"I can't feel the sincerity."

"Akin na nga 'yan. Kung 'di mo pa 'ko binilan nyan, baka inisip kong hindi talaga kita tunay na kapatid."

Inirapan nya lang ako saka sumalampak sa upuan at sinimsim ang brewed coffee na dala nya.
"At kung hindi talaga kita tunay na kapatid, hindi ako mag-aaksaya ng oras na bantayan ang matigas na ulong tulad mo. Imbes na nagtatrabaho ako at inaasikaso ang boyfriend ko-shit. May date pa naman sana kami ngayon! Kahit kailan, panira ka talaga ng love life. Kainis!" Nagpapapadyak sa inis na reklamo nya.

"Cut the drama. I get it, Mendelle."

"Well, you can ask for another DNA test and self investigation kung hindi ka naniniwala."

"Sinabi ko bang hindi ako naniniwala?"

"Not directly. Noon pa man, gawain mo na 'yan. You always hide behind the curtain and do your magical and not so scary little plays." Tumayo sya at binuksan ang lagayan soup na nabili daw nya sa isang fast food chain na not so fast naman ang kilos ng mga staffs. Psh, bibili na lang, manlalait pa.

"You don't have to feed me."
She then again rolled her eyes on me.

"Ano bang nangyari sa akin?"

"Paulit-ulit na lang ba? Mula nang magising ka, wala ka ng ibang tinanong sa'kin kundi ayan. You were 5 months unconscious and if you're going to ask me why, to be honest, I don't really know it."

"Akala ko ba kapatid kita-"

"And now you're doubting."

"Because what you said was doubtful."
She just looked at me intently before she placed the food on my bed.

"Wala kang alam sa buhay ko?"

"Because I was so busy working hard for your future."

"That's the wrong doing of people. You always think that money matters most. Did somehow come up to your mind that presence and time is what makes a happy family? Masaya kaya tayo noon when you aren't working just like what you said?"

Mataman nya akong tinignan na parang may hindi maganda sa sinabi ko.

"Go eat by yourself."

Oh-oh. I think I put her in a bad mood. She stormed out my room and now I was left looking at the food she left.

"That crazy girl. Tsk." Sinimulan ko na lang kainin ang wanton habang pinipilit isipin ang nangyari before the unconsciousness issue happened but everytime I tried to think about it, the more severe pain I get. The hell, what's wrong with my brain?

Napaling ang tingin ko sa bintana. You know what, it's hard to wake up with nothing. I mean, it's really hard na magising kang wala kang kahit sinong kilala, lahat burado. Ultimo ang rason kung bakit ako nagkaganito, hindi ko matandaan. Mas lumalala lang ang sakit kapag pinipilit.

Gustong gusto ko na ring lumabas dito. I wanna see what's there in the outside. I wanna see the city lights, the stars in the night and the trees swaying with the cold morning breeze.

Maaari kayang makaalala ako kapag lumabas na 'ko dito? It's been a week since I woke up at tanging puting ceiling, curtain, bedsheet at pillow lang ang nakikita ko bukod sa dalawang taong nagpakilala sa akin as my sister and my dad.

5 months in a state of comma. What was really happened to you, self?

I came back to my senses when I heard a few knocks on my door.

"Come in." There, a petite lady came in wearing a white nurse uniform. Can't I be able to see any other color than white? This color sucks. I started to hate its pureness since I woke up from this mess.

I looked at this nurse with confusion.

"Where's the nurse with a hazelnut colored hair?"

She did not answer and she seems so cold to me. Did I do something wrong to her and where the hell did she got the guts to treat me like that? Is she part of my lost memories?

"Uhm, because you look exactly the same. Are you her? What happened to your hair?" But still, she did not answer any of my questions. I feel really really bad right now. Para lang akong nakikipag-usap sa hangin habang abala sya sa pag-aayos ng mga gamot sa drawer. Lumapit sya sa aircon at may pinihit dito.

"Rest well, ma'am after you eat." I smiled back when she timidly smiled at me. Weird.

"Wait!" She stopped. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yes po?"

"Do you....know me?"

"Sorry ma'am but I don't personally know you. I just have problems, that's why." Geez this nurse. Personal problems should be separated from professional matters.

"Ok...but can we have a little conversation sometimes? Gusto ko lang ng matinong kausap."

Bahagya syang ngumiti. Thanks God. Mukha kasing ginto ang presyo ng ngiti nya.

"It's a pleasure to have a conversation with you ma'am. 5 months ka na rin po kasing nakaratay dito matapos kayong mabundol ng truck. So...see you later, ma'am. Ituloy na lang natin ang pag-uusap mamaya." Nakangiti syang lumabas ng kwarto ko.

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita pa sa sinabi nya. I was shocked because of the amnesia thingy. I just really can't believe the reason behind my amnesia. I got hit by a truck? When and Where?!

I was about to stand up when my head suddenly ached and all I see is darkness.

"Blood!" That voice echoed all over my head before I lost my consciousness.

*****