The One I See

Chapter 16

ALISHA

The intramural day one was successfully done. Sumayaw kami kanina even though I don't have the enthusiasm to dance. Now, since natapos na ang araw na ito ay uuwi na kami. But Megan and Shauna are still busy kaya mag isa akong uuwi. 

As I stood by the park, watching the sun dip below the horizon, a sense of unease gnawed at me. Hiro's words echoed in my mind, his promise to help me uncover my lost memories. The realization hit me like a sudden blow of wind—I had been living in a fog, unable to recall my own past. 

Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko. Naalala ko si Blake. Everything could've been better if he's here. Wala akong malapitan. Busy naman sina Megan at Shau. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang kakausapin ko tungkol dito.

I tried to call him. Pero gaya ng dati...wala pa ring Blake na sumagot sa akin. Naiyak na naman ako.

Lost in thought, I tried to recall the places from my dreams, but they remained elusive, slipping through my grasp like sand. Mas lalo akong nainis sa sarili ko. Bakit hindi ko maalala? Bakit pakiramdam ko...hindi ko kilala ang sarili ko?

Sa isang buntong-hininga, ibinato ko ang isang kalapit na bato sa ilog, ang tilamsik nito ay bumasag sa katahimikan. The park, with its comforting embrace, seemed to offer solace amidst my confusion.

But as darkness began to descend, a familiar voice broke through the silence, sending a jolt of relief through my veins.

"Alisha?"

I turned to see Hiro standing at the edge of the park, his figure illuminated by the fading light. Relief flooded over me as I realized I wasn't alone after all.

Nagulat ako nang makita ko siya. Parang nagulat din siya nang makita ako rito.

"Malayo ito sa apartment mo."

Tumango ako. "Malayo rin ito sa bahay mo, Hiro. Atleast my original house is just around the area."

Tumango rin siya. He went near the bridge and tried to look at the river below. Pagkatapos ng ilang segundo ay lumingon siyang muli sa akin.

"So you still live around this area."

I nodded. Natahimik na naman kami.

"Ironically, this place is where we first met before..."

Nagulat ako sa narinig. Tumingin ako sa kaniya. Ngumiti lang siya sa akin at tiningnan ulit ang langit.

"When did we become...friends?"

Hindi niya ako tiningnan pero alam ko namang nakikinig siya sa akin.

"Seven years ago..."

A sharp pain caused my eyes to shut. Napahinga ako nang malalim.

"What's your full name?"

Lumingon siya sa akin. "Nakihiro Fujizawa."

Nakihiro...

Napakunot noo ako. Mas lalong sumasakit ang ulo ko. He seemed to notice it kaya lumapit siya sa akin.

"If we're friends...did we go to the same school?"

Umiling siya sa akin. "No. I study in Japan but I go here every spring or summer vacation."

Maybe that explains it. That's why I never knew him well. Baka sandaling panahon lang kaming magkaibigan.

Nanatili ang tingin ko sa baba. Naiyukom ko ang aking kamay dahil sa sakit ng ulo ko.

"You shouldn't force yourself to remember things, Alisha—"