Beneath the Falling Stars (Under Revision)

Chapter 19: The Danger

Lance's POV

Nag check-in kami ng mommy ni Sean sa isang hotel upang doon magpalipas ng gabi. She booked a flight pauwi ng Cebu. Should I tell her the truth? Kailangan ako ni Mommy ngayon. Kailangan kong puntahan si Mommy.

"Ba't po ba kayo nag-away?"

"Shut it, Sean."

"But Lance's Mom cried. I have the right to know what is happening."

"Just shut it! Uuwi tayo ng Cebu bukas. Hindi ka aalis."

"Please. Let me know the truth. Hindi po ako lulubayan ng curiosity kapag hindi niyo po sinabi."

"I was raped because of her! Because of her and that f*cking gambler! I was about to meet Simon ngunit nakita ko silang masayang-masaya sa isang restaurant! Nagpunta ako sa tulay kung saan kami madalas magkita ni Simon dahil gusto kong magpakamatay! Ngunit... ngunit..."

"Ngunit ano? Sagutin niyo po! Ngunit ano?!"

"Ni-rape ako!"

I froze. I... I can't believe what I just heard. Sean's Mom was raped because of Simon and mom?

"Binaboy nila ako! Wala silang awa. Sigaw ako ng sigaw ng tulong ngunit walang dumating..."

She's crying so so much. I can feel her pain. Lumapit ako sa kanya and hugged her. Now I understand everything. She hated mom because of that.

"Anak, I'm sorry. I'm sorry kung hindi ko sinabi sa iyo ang katotohanan. Katotohanan na nabuo ka hindi dahil sa pagmamahalan. Pero Sean, alam mo naman diba na mahal na mahal ka ni Mommy? Don't think of anything negative. Mahal na mahal kita. Akala ko noon na Wala kang patutunguhan ang buhay ko ngunit moong isinilang kita, nagkaroon ng saysay ang buhay ko."

She's supposed to say this to her own son. Her true son. Pero ako ang nandito, ako ang nakikinig. Sean would be devastated if he's the one listening to this. He's soft. He can't handle anything this hard. I'm so sad for him. So so sad.

Ilang saglit pa ay biglang tumawag si Sean sa akin.

"Meet me at the highest part of the park. Please, let's do this."

"But... I can't leave your mom alone. She's in pain."

"She's a liar! Just leave her alone!"

"How could you say that to your mom? By any chance..."

"Yes. I know everything. I know that I am just a product of rape. That's why I need to do this. We need to do this. Lance please."

"You should listen to your mom first... hello Sean? Sean? F*ck!"

Ma'am Minerva looked at me and was so confused.

"Sino ba ang tumawag sayo? Why do you call him Sean? What's happening?!"

"I'm so sorry, Ma'am. But you should know the truth."

"What truth?!"

"That I am not Sean."

"Not Sean? What are you trying to say?! Are you out of your mind?"

"I know that it's hard to believe for now. Me and Sean swapped bodies after wishing. Unaware that the necklace we're holding was magical, our wish came true."

"N—necklace? Anong kuwintas? Ipakita mo ang kuwintas na sinasabi mo."

Inilabas ko sa bulsa ko ang kuwintas na tinutukoy ko.

"Ang kuwintas na yan! 'Yan ang bigay ng Mama ko!"

Mama niya?

"Ba't nasayo yan? Ibig sabihin, totoo ang sinasabing kababalaghan ni Mama? Hindi siya baliw? Totoo ba na nagpalit kayo ng katawan ni Sean dahil sa kuwintas na iyan?"