Once Again

Chapter 21

Rowana's POV

My eyes slowly opened. And everything came into me like the waves of the rushing river; strong and fast. Nalukot ang mukha ko nang maramdaman ang ulo kong sumasakit. But besides the pain,memories were filling up the empty and dark side of my brain.

I sighed in relief when it ended after a minute or... so? Then I started reminiscing all of it. All of my memories. I started remembering my memories on how the De Leon treated me like their worker,their source of money and their toy that they love to insult because of my ignorance.

But what made me started to cry was my parents' death. Naalala ko na yung aksidenteng nangyari sa amin. At naaalala ko na rin kung sino na yung may-ari ng sapatos na iyon na lumapit sa akin ng araw na iyon.

Ernesto De Leon.

"Rowana?" napababa ako ng tingin sa pinto at nakita si Sargent. Kumaripas siya ng takbo palabas ulit nang makita akong gising na at nagtawag ng doktor. Agad namang pumasok ang mga tinawag niya at ch-in-eck ang lagay ko.

"How are you,Miss? What's your name,hmm?" tanong sa akin ng doktor.

"Rowana... Vidallon."

Natigilan ang lahat habang nakatitig sa akin. Nilingon ng doktor si Sargent. "Is that her real name?"

Mabilis siyang tumango. "Yes,doc."

"Okay. Now,tell me,do you remember things? From your pasts?" tanong na naman ng doktor.

"Yes." alam kong dapat akong maging masaya dahil bumalik na ang mga ala-ala ko pero panay ang pag-alala ko sa mga ginawa ng mga De Leon sa akin. And I can't forgive and forget them.

Natapos na ang doktor sa pagchi-check sa akin at kinausap na niya si Sargent. Nang matapos ang konbersasyon ng dalawa,nilapitan ako ni Sargent. Pinakatitigan niya ako ng ilang minuto.

At dahil naiinip na akong kausapin siya,hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at pinisil iyon.

Kinagat niya ang ibabang labi. "How are you feeling?" finally,he said something.

I smiled sweetly at him. "Happy and..." and it fell. "So,so angry at the same time."

"50/50?"

"Nope. 55% angry/45% happy."

Bumuntong hininga siya. "May alam ka ba kung bakit ginawa sa'yo 'to ng mga De Leon?"

Though I'm hesitating,I nodded.

Sargent's eyes widened. "I don't want to rush you but—"

"Nagsimula ang lahat nang matalo ni Daddy si Ernesto sa pustahan." he sighed. Still,I continued. "Dad's bet was billions and that made Ernesto's company down. And his company was just new that time and still rising. But unfortunately,he sent it down in just a minute. And then,in a charity ball,we all met. Napansin ni Daddy na panay ang pakikipag-usap sa akin ni Ernesto. Minsan,personal. Tapos may time na hinihimas niya ang braso ko habang kinakausap ako. I'm still innocent but I felt weird and uncomfortable. I think,that time,Dad already knew that Ernesto is using teen girls for pleasure. Kaya agad akong pinauwi ni Dad kasama si Mommy. But that didn't stop Ernesto,he followed me and mom. At nang naabutan niya kami ni Mommy. Hinatak niya ako palabas ng sasakyan namin. Huli na ang lahat bago pa lumabas ang kasama naming driver,may baril ng nakatutok sa akin."

I stopped and looked at him. Nanlalaki ang mga mata niya. "What happened to you?" he asked.

I continued. "Nothing. I'm fine. My grandparents' butler was with dad when they arrived. Agad niyang ekspertong tinanggal ang baril sa kamay ni Ernesto at kinuha ako. Dad asked him if he want to be in jail but of course,Ernesto said no. I don't know why Dad let him go but I know what he did has a purpose. A month later,mas bumaba pa ang kita ng kumpanya ni Ernesto. I think,that's Dad revenge. And the rest is history."