Remember (MaiDen Fanfiction) | Wattys 2019 Winner

Chapter XXV

MENG had said everything she has to tell Richard. Nakahinga siya nang maluwag dahil nailabas niya ang lahat ng hinanakit at saloobin niya dito.

It has been so long overdue. Kahit pa nga hindi niya maalala kung ano'ng nangyari, her heart has been wounded for so long. Kaya pala ganoon na lang ang iniiyak niya kahit na hindi niya maintindihan. While her mind can't process why she's feeling all of those emotions, her heart knows every single details of it.

She's hurt.

Yumapos sa balat niya ang mabining simoy ng hangin. Hindi masyadong mainit ang sikat ng araw ng mga sandaling iyon. Tila hinayaan siya para makausap ang taong lubos niyang minahal. It was like the universe collided for it to happen today.

Siguro kung hindi siya tumuloy ngayon, mas masasaktan at mas mahihirapan siya sa susunod. The more that she's holding everything, the more that she's hurting. And now, at this very moment, she let go of everything that hurt her. Pinalalaya na niya ang sarili sa lahat ng sakit at hirap. She's now free.

Naramdaman niya ang presensya ng tao sa likod niya. Lumingon siya at sinalubong siya ng ngiti ni Siegfried.

"Momma!" He said and run towards her. Yumakap ito sa kanya. Humarap siya dito para hindi siya mahirapan sa pwesto nila.

She hugged him back. She must admit that she missed this little boy. It has been three days since the last time she saw him. Ganoon din ang Tito nito.

She looked up and saw RJ looking down at them. Kumunot ang noo nito ngunit hindi na niya pinansin pa dahil kay Siegfried. The little boy cupped her face with his tiny hands then kissed both of her cheeks. She smiled because of that.

"Mish yu," he said sweetly.

"I missed you too," sagot niya bago humalik rin sa pisngi nito.

He then tilted his head. Parang tinitingnan ang mukha niya at may kung anong napapansin. Bahagya pang kumunot ang noo nito. He remind her of Richard everytime he knew that something's not right with her. Kaparehong-kapareho ito ng ama.

"Did you cry?" It was RJ. He's now sitting down on the ground like her. Halos nasa likod lang ito ni Siegfried.

Lumingon si Siegfried. "Yes, Dada. Cry Momma." He said it like he knew that it really happened.

Well, she did cry. Hindi naman pwedeng hindi, lalo na kung nasaktan talaga siya ng husto.

"Hindi. Baka napuwing lang ako," pilosopong sagot niya.

Alam naman nito na nagpunta siya dito para kay Richard kaya malamang na iiyak siya. Alangan namang maging tuod lang siya doon at pigilan ang nararamdaman niya.

Umiling ito bago bumaling sa puntod ng kapatid. "Hey, bro," he said. "I brought Siegfried with me."

Nakinig lang siya habang si Siegfried naman ay kumandong sa kanya. The little boy was even humming a song. Hindi nga lang niya mahulaan kung anong kanta iyon. Minsan kasi ay tumitigil ito.

"He's been a good boy. Hindi kami nahihirapan sa kanya. Hindi naman siya mahirap alagaan. Hindi rin pasaway, unlike you." Tumawa ito. "I missed you, bro. Sometimes my heart, our heart, beats faster and I know that it was you." Tumigil ito.

Gusto niyang lumingon pero hindi niya ginawa. Alam niya na mahirap rin naman ang lahat para kay RJ. He lost his other half. Nabuhay silang dalawa na magkasama at mahirap na bigla na lang nawala ang isa. And the irony of it, he had his twin's heart.

"Sometimes I don't understand why I suddenly feel hurt, then I'll realize that I have your heart. I'm a doctor and I can't even explain how possible that is. It's weird but somehow I know why our heart felt that way."