Forgotten Memories Book 3 (2020)

Chapter Forty-One: When Death is Sweeter

Alex's Point of View

Of course, I have to wake up from this horror as I tried to blink my eyes. Gusto kong umiyak pero sa malas napagod na yata ang mga mata ko sa pag-iyak. Mugto na iyon. It's been five hours since Joseph told me what happened to Gin's car and his convoy and the media didn't stop trying to get an interview from any member of our family. The security around the hospital became stringent.

"Ms. Monteverde."

Napakurap ako at pilit na sinundan ang pinanggalingan ng tinig. Hindi ko akalain na susunod pa rin pala ang buong katawan ko sa idinidikta ng isip ko. I was too numb the moment that I have seen the crash site. The ambulance was there and so the police who were scouting the area. The car which Gin usually used when traveling from Capitol to our home was a total wreck. The gunmen who were riding a two-car convoy were nowhere to find. Jigs and his men who were also behind Gin's car were wounded.

Alain was lying there in the ICU and fighting for his life. Apparently, he was with Gin when the gunmen ambushed their car. It was a miracle to find him still breathing even after he received multiple gunshots.

Barely breathing. Erin rushed to the hospital and was crying. Naaawa ako sa kanya habang pinapakinggan ang sinasabi ng doktor na himala na mabuhay siya sa loob ng 24 hrs. She looked like someone who had lost everything.

But she was luckier than me. Physically, Alain was there. May iiyakan siya. May bubuhusan ng pag-asa. And if Erin lost Alain---

The pain crept within me like an angry tire screeching on the road. It was a painful thought. Parang pamilya na si Alain sa akin. When I married Gin, I loved and accepted the staff who worked for him to secure his safety and mine. It was painful to see Alain like this. But at least there is a body.

Nangilid muli ang mga luha sa sulok ng aking mga mata.

Gin's body was nowhere to be found. The whole San Pablo's police and the military scouted the whole area but to no avail. Even his cell phone was not there. The police already asked for my statement. I told them Gin was on the phone before it happened. Napayuko ako sa aking mga palad. Nasa hospital na rin ang mga magulang ni Gin para tingnan ang lagay ni Alain pero ang kanyang lolo ay hindi magawang umalis sa mansiyon dahil inatake ito ng alta-presyon. Hindi pa rin alam ng mga bata ang nangyari kay Gin. I saw how his mother broke down while Gin's father was trying to pacify her.

My mother and tito Hector rushed at the hospital too when they learned what happened. My mother comforted me but I was too numb to even notice how affected they were because of me.

Hindi ko kakayanin na wala si Gin.

Not like this.

Not when there's no body to keep my strength and hope at bay. Paano ako aasa? I have no idea if he's out there, running for his life, wounded or...

My mouth trembled at the horrible thought. I closed my eyes tiredly while murmuring a prayer.

That my husband is alive. Na baka kung saan lamang ito naroon. Na baka...

Pero alam ko na niloloko ko lamang ang sarili ko. Sa kinalabasan ng sasakyan ni Gin, malabo na may makalabas doon nang walang galos man lamang.

"We have to go home, Ms. Monteverde."

The authoritative voice halts the desperate grip of my confidence in my head that Gin is alive. My eyes barely moved as I stared blankly at the white hospital wall.