I cautiously looked around the hallway. The hall was packed with busy nurses scattered around assisting patients of all ages. The white tiled floor was full of dirt and muddy footprints. Is this a hospital or a wet market? This place is too crowded and noisy! I shook my head, no, this is not the time to think about unnecessary stuff. This whole ordeal is actually working to my advantage. With all the chaos this means I can slip away easier from this place. I need to do this. Kailangan kong umalis dito. Patakbo na sana ako nang may biglang humawak sa dulo ng damit ko.
"Ate, ate. Ano ginagawa mo?"
Itinuon ko ang atensyon ko sa batang lalaki na humahawak sa dulo ng damit ko. I sighed in relief, it's like an anchor was lifted off my chest. That almost gave me a mini heart attack.
"I'm-" I stared at him, stuttering.
I thought a nurse caught me but what I saw was just a small boy with black spiky hair, a small pointed nose, and white pale skin about five to six in age. Sino ba ang bantay nito? Bakit mag-isa lang siya? Hindi dapat hinayaan ang mga bata na gumala sa ospital. This is not a mall. Specially na this hospital is a total wreck, this kid could easily get lost!
Oh, wait. I have no time for this!
"Pasensya na pero kailangan ng umalis ni Ate," I said and walked away as fast as I can.
Hindi ko mapigilang mapansin ang maliliit na yapak na naririnig ko sa likuran ko. I arched an eyebrow as I saw the little boy following me. Now what? Is he trying to act like a dog?
"Go back. Aalis na ako," irita kong tugon sa kaniya.
I'm in a desperate situation. I have no time to babysit a lost kid here!
What if mahuli nila ako? This kid is a nuisance! I was never fond of kids at the first place. Their so-called innocence and happiness annoy me the most. They are just little creatures oblivious of how the world works and just cry to get what they want.
"Ate, hanap mo totoo mong katawan?"
What? What is this kid talking about? Real body? A thousand possibilities flooded my mind, does this kid know something? Is it possible that this is not my body? My real body? Is this some kind of soul switching like in a fantasy movie or maybe a body swap on some human experiments like I've seen in sci-fi or perhaps just an amazing work of plastic surgery?
"Anong-" naputol ang itatanong ko nang may biglang nagsalita galing sa likuran ko.
"Johnny! Andyan ka lang palang bata ka! Kanina pa kita hinahanap!" We were interrupted by a middle-aged woman dressed in a blue formal long sleeve with printed flowers paired with her fitted white pants.
"Yaya, tulong natin Ate hanap totoo n'yang katawan." He pointed at me and pulled the edge of the shirt of his nanny.
"Ay, Miss, pasensya na po kayo dito kay Johnny talagang mahilig lang gumawa ng kwento 'tong batang 'to. Alam mo naman ang mga bata mahilig sa mga pantasya," the woman said apologetically and laughed awkwardly before walking away leaving me hanging and frozen.
I mentally gave myself a slap. I can't believe I just believed a child's story. If Granny heard of this, I'd be doomed. Am I really this desperate that I fell for a child's fantasy? I let out an exasperated sigh but waking up with this new unfamiliar face? They might've done something, plastic surgery or weird human experiment is the most plausible theory.
I don't know what truly happened or what they did but I will find out-whatever it is.
No one ever messes up with a Perez. I was brought back to my senses when a nurse passed by in front of me. Oh, no! I almost forgot. I rushed through the doorway hoping they didn't notice me.
Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang nasa tapat ako ng exit. No one noticed me. Good! I was about to step my left foot out when someone tapped my shoulder.
"Ikaw ba 'yong hinahanap ng ilang nurses?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nung may biglang nag-salita galing sa gilid ng pintong kinatatayuan ko. "You do look suspicious."
Hinay-hinay akong lumingon sa kanya at nakumpirma ang aking mga hinala. Nakapamulsa itong lumapit sa akin.
He's wearing denim pants and a white V-neck shirt showing off the manly built of his body, his black cap hid his face but judging by the way he stands and speaks I can tell some women would drool over him.
I'm good at judging people, I was trained for it so I know he's different.
He's different but why does he feel so familiar in a way. What is this man doing in this freak hospital? Doctors are insane, the patients are crazy, so why is someone like him here? He doesn't look like some psycho like them-at least, that's what my gut feeling is telling me.
Dahan-dahan niyang inangat ang tingin niya at nang makita ko ang mukha niya ay agad na uminit ang ulo ko. Teka nga, kilala ko 'tong-
"Ikaw?" gulat kong hiyaw saka siya binigyan ng isang malakas na suntok.
Dahil sa lakas ng impact ng suntok ko ay napaupo siya sa sahig ng wala sa oras. Tsk, weakling! Even with this frail body, I was able to knock him out. Confirmed, looks really can be deceiving. This man is far from being normal-he is the very definition of crazy.
"What was that for?" Sigaw niya habang hawak-hawak ang nagdudugong labi niya.
"You deserve that, you jerk! Don't you dare follow me,'' singhal ko sa kaniya saka naglakad na palayo.
That guy. Tsk, I really hate him. Wait, hate is an understatement, I despise him. Why is he in that freak hospital anyway? Don't tell me he's behind all this?! This is more serious than I thought! My life is in danger! He actually dared to do it! I really need to escape as fast as I can.
I looked around; this place looks deserted. Wala gaanong dumadaan na sasakyan at kung meron man, sinasadya talaga nilang hindi ako pansinin. I got even more impatient as I clicked my tongue. I'm getting more convinced this is some scheme from that guy to ruin my life.
Seriously, Rodriguez? A plastic surgery? He can change my face but he can't change Elena Perez. No matter what face I have, I am Elena Perez. I scanned the vast highway and saw that there are few taxis but most of them are occupied.
Sinubukan kong pumara ng bakanteng taxi pero 'di naman sila tumitigil, nakakapikon! What is wrong with them?! Napilitan na lang akong maglakad. I need to escape that prison-like freak hospital mas lalo ng andoon pa 'yong gagong 'yon!
I can't help but let out another sigh. That guy's plot is getting bolder and wicked. He really made sure I'll have a hard time but Luke and Dad won't let this incident slide. Sigurado akong nag-aalala na sila sa akin at hinahanap ako ngayon.
"How long should I walk?! And where in heaven am I?" I screamed in frustration.
Muli kong inilibot ang paningin ko, ni wala man lang signboard sa paligid. Para akong nasa bukid or some urban place in some horror film. I'm literally surrounded by tall trees and bushes, no sign of a living human except for the passing vehicles which obviously have no plans to help me out. I've been walking for hours. Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin alam kung nasaan na ako.
Loud long sharp noises of crickets and frogs are the only thing that breaks this suffocating silence. The road is bumpy and rough and the farther I walk, the more isolated the place is becoming. But in the bright side, malayo na ako sa lugar na iyon.
They will regret doing this to Elena Perez! Doing some weird experiments in my body. I'm sure of it now. They are trying to brainwash me with false information after taking advantage of my accident. Pagsisisihan nilang binangga nila ang isang Perez. I'll make sure of it... after I get out of this mess first.
BINABASA MO ANG
Crossover | ✓
ChickLitFollowing a traffic accident, two women find themselves deeply entwined in each other's polar opposite lives. May Gonzales, fed up with her endless string of failed relationships, wakes up convinced she's someone else. Meanwhile, Elena Perez, younge...
