[COMPLETED] My Sister's Keeper

Book 2 - Chapter 19

What makes weddings special? Is it the picture of the groom crying his eyes out as the bride enters? The vows of the groom and the bride which will make you want to get hitched the next month? Is it the sweet first kiss after they were pronounced husband and wife.

In this wedding, the bride didn't get to walk down the aisle. She was slumped on the floor, crying her eyes out as the groom watches from a safe distance. The groom is crying, yes. But due to confusion, betrayal and regret.

"Oo, love ako to. Pero hindi mo ako nakilala diba?" There was pain in the bride's eyes. Pain that she's been carrying since her mother abandoned her in front of the church. "You bought my story. And you fell in love with another woman."

The groom just stared in disbelief wondering why this has to happen. "You played me!" He retorted. "Ano bang nagawa ko sa'yo love para paglaruan mo ako ng ganito?!"

"You're just a casualty to this story, Donny." She replied bitterly. "Parehas kayo ng Tatay mo. I thought you were different pero parehas pala kayong salawahan. Parehas kayong mahina at marupok! Kaya may nasasaktan kayong tao!"

"Three years! Three years kitang hinanap Shar! I almost killed my Dad for you! How dare you!" He wanted to hurt her at this very moment. Hindi niya ito kilala. The woman she loved all these years turned out to be a stranger.

"Miss Cassie! Magsisimula na po ang ceremony." The event organizer was shocked to see the bride and the groom fighting.

"Get out! I said get out!" Donny shouted at the poor girl who just happened to be in charge of the event. "We're talking here. I don't fucking care what happens to this wedding ceremony!" The event organizer decided to flee immediately.

Marahas na pinatayo ni Donny si Sharlene. He tightened his grip on her arm. "Masaya ka na ba? Napaikot mo na ako."

"Masaya?" She remarked sarcastically. "I've been waiting for this day na mapaghigantihan ang pamilya mo. Na makita sa mga mata mo ang sakit katulad ng ginawa ng Tatay mo sa Nanay ko!"

"Why? Tell me! Ano bang ginawa ni Papa sa Nanay mong mukhang pera?! Minahal ka ni Papa na parang tunay niyang anak in case nakalimutan mo yun!"

Sharlene laughed at his ignorance. His parents sheltered him from the truth. "Si Josefa Ybanez ang Nanay ko na iniwan ng Tatay mo for your stepmother! My mother had to marry a man he didn't love for the sake of your parents. In the end, nagpakamatay siya sa sakit ng pagtraydor ng taong pinakamamahal niya at ng kambal niya!"

Parang nabibingi si Donny sa sinasabi nito. He couldn't process what she's saying. This couldn't be the truth.

"Hindi makapaniwala?!" Kung pwede lang umiyak ng dugo ay gagawin ni Sharlene para alam nito ang sakit na pinagdaanan ng Nanay niya. "Nagkahiwalay kami ng kambal ko. And maybe your father adopted me out of fucking guilt! Pero sa huli siya pa rin...siya pa rin ang dahilan bakit nakaratay sa isang hospital ang kapatid ko! Only God knows when she will wake up!" Tinulak ni Sharlene si Donny at bumagsak ito dahil sa panghihina.

"What happened here?" Greta rushed to the room because she was worried why the ceremony hasn't started yet. Naabutan niyang si Donny na nakaupo sa sahig. "What did you do to my son?!"

Akmang susugurin siya ni Greta ngunit napigilan ito ni Donny. "Ma, please tama na!"

"Anong ginawa mo sa anak ko?!"

"I just told him your past, Mama." Diniin niya ang salitang Mama. Greta looked confused at what she said. "Oh yes, ako 'to Mama. Si Sharlene na ipinagtabuyan mo dati. By the way, ako din pala ang anak ng kakambal mong si Josefa. Remember Josefa, your twin who killed herself dahil tinraydor niyo siya ni Papa?! No wonder you hated me so much. Do I remind you of your betrayal?!"

"Wala kang alam! Shut up!" Singhal ng Donya na gustong kumawala sa pagpipigil ni Donny.

Kinuha ni Sharlene sa isang drawer ang isang diary. Ibinato niya ito sa Donya. "Here's your diary. Maybe you should read that again when you have time."

"Sharlene. Mama is sick." Donny pleaded to her. "I told you she is unstable right now. Ganyan ka na ba katigas? Tangina naman! Naging pamilya mo din kami!" He felt his Mom slipping away in his arms. Nawalan ito ng malay.

"Tulong! Tulong!" He shouted at the top of his lungs.

Sharlene just watched him panicking for his Mom's life. She couldn't move. She just watched them helplessly.

***
"Anak!!! Anong nangyari?!"

Sumugod si Olivia sa loob nang makitang may nagkakagulo sa silid kung saan nandon si Sharlene. She found her at the corner of the room, crying and trembling. She saw Greta being carried with a stretcher as Donny followed.

"Mommy. You were right. Ang sakit. Sobrang sakit." Kumapit ito sa balikat niya at niyakap siya nito habang humahagulhol.

Bigla itong napahawak sa tiyan niya. "Mommy, masakit. Mommy, my baby. No. No." Her pristine white gown was suddenly stained with her blood.

Everything went by in a blur. She found herself holding her daughter's hand in an ambulance habang nagmamakaawa ito.

"Mommy please save the baby. Please. I can't let my baby die."

A similar memory suddenly rushed into her mind.

"Olivia, iligtas mo ang mga kambal, please. Hindi sila pwedeng mamatay."

It was her bestfriend's dying wish. To save her babies from this cruel world. Ngunit bakit parang nauulit ang lahat?