Who are you? (PRS#2) UNDER EDITING

Chapter 1

Amnesia

Shiela Mae M. De Guzman

Plane crash. That’s the reason why I can’t remember most of my memories. We’re supposed to have a vacation in Surigao when the crash happened.

Natutulog ako noon. Nakasandal ang ulo ko sa may bintana ng eroplano. Si Mommy talaga dapat ang nasa upuan ko pero pinilit ko siya na roon ako maupo at matulog.

My peaceful sleep got disturbed when I heard a loud thud and a screeching sound. I looked around and I saw everyone panicking. Then we heard the pilot speak from the speaker connected to the cockpit.

The pilot had a landing difficulty. They said it’s System Failure. Nang malapit nang maglanding ang eroplano, the left wing tilted dahilan para tumabingi ang eroplano at masira ang left wing na sumadsad sa lupa. Dahil sa lakas ng impact, ang mga tao ay muntik nang tumilapon—may iba na tumilapon talaga. Ako, tumama ng malakas ang ulo ko sa bintana na kinasasandalan ko.

My Dad injured his arm while Mom…she didn’t make it. Dad said that when she saw how I bumped my head into the window, dali-dali n’ya akong nilapitan at binigay kay Daddy. Tatakbo na sana siya nang biglang gumalaw ulit ang eroplano. Ang inuupuan ko ay natanggal and then, it went over her.

The next thing that I remember is I’m at the hospital and asking where and who am I.

When Dad held my hand and he introduced himself, I quickly searched the room to look for my mother but I only saw some nurses and a doctor.

Dad also told me that Mom was brought to the hospital but she didn’t survive. Kaya kadalasan, tuwing naaalala ko si Mommy at ang sinapit niya, hindi ko mapigilang sisihin ang sarili ko. Especially every time that I see my Dad grieve for her loss. But he always say that it is not my fault. That Mom only did that to save me because I am their light. Mas mabuti na raw na sila kaysa ako.

It’s been eight years and still…I couldn’t remember most of my childhood memory.

Maybe it’s because of that boy? Is he the majority part of my childhood?

Now, I badly want to know who that kid is. Tingin ko, isa siya sa malaking bahagi ng nawawalang memorya ko.

I was twelve years old when the incident happened. At ang tanging naaalala ko ay kakaunting ala-ala noong three years old ako hanggang mag-six years old ako. I remember myself playing with other kids that time but unlike the boy in my dreams, I can see them clearly. Their happy faces especially when we are eating my birthday cake. They are all girls and I already have a hint that they are my childhood friends.

But somehow, the reappearing of my memories stopped. And then this kid showed up in my dream.

I really need to know who that boy is…

After the accident, nagpasiya si Daddy na manatili muna sa Surigao nang dalawang taon. My Dad want me to be perfectly okay before we go back to Laguna. Doon daw kasi kami nakatira noon at baka makatulong sa akin kung babalik kami roon. And he was right. I remembered some of my memories like me, playing and going to school there. Halos dalawang taon rin ang paglalagi namin roon bago kami umuwi ng Iloilo, ang probinsya namin. That’s where my Dad grew up before going to Manila and meeting my Mom, he said.

We stayed there for years before going back to Laguna for college. And that’s where I decided that I’ll study in Manila. I mean, sino ba’ng may ayaw sa Maynila? There are a lot of opportunities there! At naroroon ang ilan sa malalaking kumpanya at sikat na eskwelahan sa bansa!

At first, my Dad doesn’t like the thought of me, studying in Manila. But then again, I’m his one and only daughter. And he can’t say no to me. Besides, Manila is just few cities away. That won’t hurt.

And then we’re here. In my condo, which my Dad bought me so I could live comfortably, I’m currently packing my clothes and everything that I might need for this out of town trip.

I’ve never been in Las Piñas before. Crystal said that there’s a lot of executive villages there designed for only rich and powerful people. And Pristine Heights is one of them. I know it because that’s where Dharyl grew up and where Crystal’s family is currently living now.

I’m inside the van, wearing my earphones, listening to music.

We’re riding Dharyl's car. And because Crystal likes to drive, siya ang nagprisinta na magmaneho.

I just keep listening to the music while looking at the car’s window. Still thinking about the damn kid.

Eventhough I don’t remember his face, or his name, sa tuwing inaalala ko sya at ang mga panaginip ko, nararamdaman kong parang may kumikirot sa puso ko. At hindi ko din mapigilang mapatanong…

Sino ba sya? Magkakilala ba kami? Are we friends? Are we close? Bakit hindi ko siya nakita noong nagpunta kami ng Laguna? And lastly, bakit ako nakararamdam ng ganito kahit na hindi ko siya maalala?

I seriously need to know who he was! He’s starting to make me go insane!

Who are you?

Kung pwede ko lang tanungin iyong bata sa panaginip ko kung sino siya, nagawa ko na. At ang weird lang dahil wala ni isa sa mga panaginip ko na binanggit ko ang pangalan nya. It’s either siya ang tumatawag sa ‘kin, o kaya may pangyayari na may ginagawa kami pero ‘di kami nag-uusap.

It’s like my memories are ganging up on me. They won’t show the events where I call the boy his name.

I messed my own hair out of frustration.

Argh!

I took off my earphones. The music is not helping. The music’s supposed to calm me down. But it’s making me feel worse.

I leaned against the window and tried to close my eyes. I’m starting to fall into a nap when I heard Crystal and Dharyl, mostly Crystal, screaming and looking at the other side of the window.

“Oh my gosh! Dharyl, tingnan mo! It’s twice on the billboard! My god! I’m a blink but I really admire Jihyo for being so beautiful and talented!”

“Si Jihyo ang bias mo? Sana is mine!” And then they both squealed in excitement.

As if they saw them in personal. Tss.

Anyways, for those who doesn’t know Twice, they are a Korean Girl Group consists of nine members, and Momo happens to be my favorite. She’s their main dancer. While Crystal’s bias, Jihyo, is their leader and main vocal while Sana, she’s a vocalist.

Anyways, gustong-gusto kong umidlip kaya naman, I spoiled their precious moment.

“Tignan nyo oh! We’re nearing Las Piñas! I’m getting excited!” I looked at them and smiled sweetly, but teasingly. “Wag nyo akong kalimutang ipakilala sa mga ex niyo ha.” I said and winked at them.

I laughed so hard in my mind when I saw their reaction when we got inside the city.

Dharyl is playing with her fingers. Then she tries to look at the window only to find out that we’re nearing Pristine Heights. Crystal is busy with her phone, and is very obvious that she’s sweating. It’s obvious that all of us is nervous right now.

“Sorry, hindi ako relate. Wala naman siya rito,” Crystal mumbled with her eyes glued on her phone.

I smiled as we went inside the village. I sighed to make my nervousness go away. And I don’t even know why am I so nervous!

Maybe because I’m going to meet their family? No. I’ve already met Crystal’s father. Maybe because I’m going to meet Dharyl’s best friends? Nah. I already saw them through video chat. Dharyl introduced me to them already. Meeting Crystal’s friends? Why would I be nervous about that? I’m friendly. Talking to others is not a big problem for me.

Now I’m back to being frustrated again for not knowing why am I so nervous.

Argh!

Maybe because of my look?

My gosh, Shiela! Stop thinking about this! You might hurt your head!

And what is wrong with my look? Wala sa sarili akong napatingin sa suot ko.

I’m wearing a white t-shirt, covered with a denim jacket, black shorts and white sneakers. I don’t think there’s something wrong about my outfit. And besides, I always wear this kind of clothes! There’s nothing new!

“Stop stressing yourself out, Shiela,” I whispered to my self. As I look at the clubhouse we’re nearing.

“I told Harvey and the gang that we’re visiting so they prepared a small welcome party,” Crystal explained before we went out of the car.

As we got out, I roamed my eyes around the clubhouse. This is one huge and luxurious clubhouse, I can say.

The clubhouse itself doesn’t look like a clubhouse at all! It looks like a modern house but without a door and is surrounded by trees and a fountain in the middle. It’s like a house in the middle of mansions!

“Let’s go?” Dharyl said as she pull me towards the entrance. I tightened my grip on the strap of my backpack, sighed deeply before nodding.

I am just meeting Crystal’s friends. Wala akong dapat ikabahala.

Nang makapasok kaming tatlo sa loob, nakarinig ako ng pagputok kasabay noon ay ang paghulog ng mga confetti sa aming ulo.

“Welcome home!” Ten boys shouted in unison while wearing a very wide smile on each other’s faces.

BOYS. They’re boys. They’re all boys!

“Where’s Romiyu?” Dharyl suddenly asked Crystal. I know Romiyu. She’s one of Dharyl’s best friends and Crystal’s close friend. To be honest, she kind of reminds me of someone I know. ‘Di ko lang matandaan kung sino pero may kamukha talaga siya eh…

“She said she’s busy. Tito Justin is bringing her to the company. To take a look on how their company works, I think,” she answered then shrugged.

Well, after the horrible incident on Crystal’s sixteenth birthday, Romiyu became the heiress of Entienza Real Estate. It was Austin, her younger brother's request.

We walked towards the boys and Crystal introduced us—more like me, to them.

But what caught my attention is the guy wearing a light gray shirt with white neckline and a jeans. His look is simple yet he looks like a model because of his handsome features. He’s looking at me with a mixture of happiness, longing and an emotion that I cannot name.

I was totally confused when he walked towards me and hugged me. I froze.

“Shiela…it’s been a long time.” He whispered as he hugged me tighter. “I missed you.”

His embrace feels familiar. Yet, I pushed him away dahil sa confusion at hiya dahil lahat ng tao ay nakatingin sa amin ngayon.

At papaano niya nalaman ang pangalan ko?

“W-What are you talking about? I-I don’t k-know you.”

He looked so shocked with what I said. “Y-You don’t know me? Shiela, it’s me, Caleb. Remember?”

“Sorry pero wala akong matandaang Caleb ang pangalan. Maybe you have mistaken. H-Hindi ako yon,” I said and ran away from him. From everyone. From the main clubhouse.

I stopped running to wipe off the tears that fell from my eyes. Then I realized that my feet brought me to the playground. I walked towards the swing and sat on it.

I remembered his eyes as looked at me. Thinking of it made my heart clench in pain for I don’t know what reason.

His face, his voice, his embrace. Everything is familiar. But I can’t remember anything! Gusto kong malaman kung sino ba siya at ganito ang nararamdaman ko pero kahit anong pilit ko sa utak ko ay walang silbi.

Why won’t my mind flash some memories back? Usually when I meet someone that is part of my past, memories flashes back in my mind. But this time, nothing happened.

But one thing’s for sure. Those emotions that I saw in his eyes…they reflected mine the moment our gaze locked.

✨GraciousVictory✨

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