A Game of Luck//Kobe Paras FF

Chapter 20

—4 years later—

It was early in the morning at malamig pa ang lugar. I closed my eyes to enjoy the atmosphere as it is right now. Mamaya kasi, iinit ang lugar lalo na tuwing hapon.

I released a sigh of relief nang nagkaroon ng malakas na hangin. Iilang mga tricycle ang dumadaan sa isang gilid habang ang mga estudyante naman mula sa katabi naming mga bahay ay palabas na.

It was a typical day in June. Kadalasan, maliliit pa ang mga estudyante dito kaya sa Hunyo nagsisimula ang kanilang mga klase.

I couldn't help but remember my days in college. Kakagraduate ko lang kasi at siguradong kahit papaano'y mami-miss ko ang pag-aaral.

"Ara?! Asan ka Ara?!"

Binuksan ko na ang aking mga mata nang marinig ang natatarantang boses ni Dad. He has always been like this. Kahit na sinusubukan ko namang ipakita sa kanilang lahat na ayos na ako.

I woke up 2 years ago inside a hospital. I still felt the banging pain in my head pagkagising ko. What's worse is the uncertainty habang nalilito akong nakatingin sa mukhang mga nakapaligid sa akin.

They were looking at me expectantly. As if I should know them.

But I didn't.

A few hours later, a woman came rushing inside the room. Mangiyak-ngiyak niya akong niyakap at kasunod niya ang dalawang matatangkad na lalaking nagugulat rin akong tiningnan.

I felt empty inside. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat kong maramdaman sa mga oras na iyon. I wanted to comfort the woman pero hindi ko naman siya kilala.

I later on found out that the woman was my Mom. Habang mga pinsan ko naman yung kasama niyang pumasok.

They told me na na-aksidente ako and na I've been in a coma for two years. They even had pictures of us to support their claim kaya naniwala rin naman ako.

I spent another month inside the hospital at doon ay unti-unting bumalik ang mga alaala ko. At first, I was adamant about asking questions. I wanted to know everythig pero the doctor told me that everything will come naturally as long as hindi forced ang pagkakakita ko ng isang bagay na maaaring mag trigger sa memory ko na related sa bagay na iyon.

My Mom and Dad were separated. Kaya nang ma-discharge ako ay nagkasundo silang dalawa na sumama na muna ako kay Dad lalo na't ipinayo pa ng mga doktor na I had to stay away from stressors raw. And since nasa probinsya nakatira si Dad at ang bagong family niya ay doon na rin ako.

I had to repeat my 3rd year sa course ko. Hanggang ngayon kasi ay may gaps pa rin sa mga alaala ko. Especially in the year before my accident.

I remember going to UP Diliman, having a friend named Kara and another named Carlo. But that was it. The remaining months after stayed blank.

"Ara! Nandito ka lang pala!" I turned to look at my half-sister who was older than me by a couple of years. She even had a family of her own na.

It took me a while before I accepted my relationship with her. Mom already had Rain when she found out na may anak na pala si Dad sa labas before they even dated. She broke up with him then and now I'm here.