From the journal of Patient Sixteen written under the initials of CTL, CLR,CL, JNN, TLN, and H, dated in 18 June 2001; voice recorded by Dr. Quirrero
S I X T H S Y M P T O M:
Oops! Ang larawang ito ay hindi sumusunod sa aming mga alituntunin sa nilalaman. Upang magpatuloy sa pag-publish, subukan itong alisin o mag-upload ng bago.
1
JULIET ALREADY knew about the fame and popularity of the Tanerrs. It's not new to her anymore that Abstal is a hot topic of the media because of its controversy about the allegations on her sexuality. She is always ask by the question if she is a lesbian, or if she's really dating the girl who claimed to be hers, but none of it she had given a statement of confirmation nor denial.
Juliet knew all along about her golden roots. The moment Abstal was brought to the mental hospital, the moment how her father demanded to keep it strictly confidential to the public, and the moment how her mother was the only one who visited the latter.
And even though she still has knowledge about Abstal's whereabouts for the past years due to the articles and newspapers being spread out to the public, it doesn't guarantee that it was the truth, nor it was the perspective that should only be seen.
But not even once an idea crossed her mind that Damon's cousin he always mentioned about will be the Abstal she knew. Maybe because she didn't limit herself to the possibility that she is the only one who possessed the name. Or maybe her brain is trying to find another way to not think about her in order to save herself from the thing her mind had forgotten.
And now, she just tangle herself to a scandal with her boyfriend's cousin making her stomach twists in a way that fed her anxiety more and more.
Mariing napakuyom si Juliet ng kanyang mga kamao upang pakalmahin ang kanyang nanginginig na mga kamay. Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga bago hinawakan ang kanyang braso na natatamaan ng nakakapasong sikat ng araw.
Napatingin siya sa malayo upang mas suriin pa ang paligid kung nasaan siya at nakita ang nag-iisang malaking krus na kulay puti na nasa may tuktok ng isa sa mga bundok. Bahagyang napapikit din siya ng kanyang mga mata dahil sa mga matitingkad na puting ulap na masakit kung titignan. Nagbaba siya ng tingin kasabay nang pag-angat niya ng kanyang kamay upang tingnan ang oras sa kanyang wristwatch.
Napakagat siya ng mariin sa kanyang pang-ibabang labi dahil sa gigil na nararamdaman sa sarili nang makitang nakaturo ang maliit na kamay sa unang numero at ang mahabang kamay na lumagpas na sa numero ng seis at nakaturo sa pang-apat na maliit na guhit.
Kung bibilangin niya mula sa minutong nakasama niya ang kanyang kakambal hanggang sa pagkatapilok niya sa gilid ng kalsada at paglisan nila ni Abstal sa lugar ay masasabi niyang higit-kumulang na mag-iisang oras din ang kaniyang sinayang na oras na mas lalong ikinabagsak ng kanyang mga balikat dahil sa konklusyon na wala na sila sa siyudad ng San Carlos.
