Chapter 1

Ellie’s POV

“Aunt Cora, I will take care of that. Go downstairs so that you can now have your lunch. Besides, I don’t have anything else to do. I’ll take care of it now.”

“I'll just finish what I'm doing, Arya. These medicines should be in the proper cabinet if we want Señorito not to get mad. You know that young man, he is very organized. He doesn't want these things to be scattered on the table, especially since these are medicine. It would be better to fix them before Señorito arrives because he might be the one to notice the clutter when it happens.”

I woke up because of the noisy conversation of two people who were not familiar to me. Based on their voices, I guessed they were both women, but I had no idea who they were because I hadn’t opened my eyes yet. I feel pain in my head so I pretend I’m still sleeping so that the headache I feel might not get worse.

I just kept my eyes closed while listening to the two of them talking. I also have no choice, but to just listen silently.

I heard that someone pulled a chair. "She's been unconscious for almost a week. Since she was brought home, her condition doesn't seem to be improving. In your guess, Aunt Cora, when will she wake up?"

I had no idea what they were talking about, but it piqued my interest to listen more secretly.

I can't quite imagine that I am the one they are talking about.

"I don’t know! Seriously? I’m the one you’re gonna ask? I'm not a fortune teller that I can make a prediction for someone. If Doctor Guttierez can't tell the exact day she will wake up, then expect that I couldn’t answer it, too. I didn’t study medicine in the first place, Arya."

"You are so serious, Aunt!" I heard one of them laugh. "I am just asking when you think she will wake up, I didn't say that the day you will give me should be exact and accurate.” She laughed. “She's already full of sleep, maybe when she wakes up, she will be awake for a week. But I’m hoping that everything will be okay. Even if we don’t know what really happened to her, we still can't help, but to worry about her. "

"That is also what I am praying for, that she will be okay. If she wakes up, we can be assured that her condition is now good and we have nothing to worry about anymore."

After that, silence prevailed between the two of them.

I feel like the two women are still near me because I can still hear the sound of the thing they are fixing. I guess that's what they said earlier that it should have been arranged before the Señorito they were referring to arrived.

I became curious about who Señorito was. In the words they used, I’m sure that they obviously respect that person and seem to be in a higher position compared to the two who were talking earlier.

I wanted to know who these two were, so even though my forehead was still hurting, I still tried to slowly open my two eyes. As soon as I woke up, my head hurt again.

What happened to my forehead and why does it hurt? Did my head hit something hard? Did I get a lump?

When I finally opened my eyes, I was exposed to the dark brown ceiling. I think it is made of wood. It was clean and the materials used for that ceiling were obviously expensive. It even shines with its super cleanliness. There is no stain or any streak there. It is even more beautiful than a cement ceiling plastered with paint.

After criticizing the ceiling, I glanced around.

A spacious bedroom.

I was even more amazed throughout this room. All the equipment here is very organized, it is obviously expensive. I don't even know if it is a bedroom or it is already a whole house because it is almost fully equipped inside. There was a living room set in the bedroom and I even saw a large refrigerator there, a mini kitchen inside the room.

I tried to remember which room it was but I really had no idea. It was surprising because nothing came to my mind. 

It's just blank.

It is not really familiar to me where I am right now. I also don’t know what I am doing here. I don’t know where I am!

I continued to observe my surroundings.

Next to me was a hanging dextrose. I followed its tube-like shape and was surprised to see that it pointed at my hand. I have a bandage on my hand where it is pointed. Just like what I felt in my head, I also felt my hand ache.

I don’t know why I am lying in bed now and there’s even dextrose injected into me. I also fvcking don’t know where this place is!

What happened?

I tried to remember what was happening now but I didn’t remember anything. I can't explain why. I am trying to remember, but nothing really pops up in my mind.

What’s the meaning of this? Have all my memories been reset? It's so impossible!

My head hurt more because I tried again to remember what really happened to me. I tried to recall how many times, but ended up nothing.

When my sight was drawn to the woman who appeared abruptly near my bed, I became mentally distracted. She caught my attention and I also took advantage of it to stare into her face.

She was probably one of those I heard discussing earlier, if I'm not mistaken.

Her eyes widened and her lips parted as our eyes met. She did not move immediately and blinked twice more and seemed to be making sure that what she saw was correct.

"Oh my Goodness! As in O.M.G! Is it really true what I'm seeing now? I am not dreaming, right?" She shouted loudly while covering her mouth. There was a hint of shock in her voice.

I heard something fall to the floor. That’s where my attention now went. I followed the source of the object that fell and discovered an elderly woman.

They were the people I had previously overheard conversing. They are the only two people here with me, there is no one else.

"What's that, Arya? Why are you shouting, huh? You knew that you had an old woman with you. When I have a heart attack out of panic, I tell you, I am really going to haunt you. You, young lady!"

"Aunt Cora..." she uttered the name of the old woman. Her stare remained fixed on me.

The old woman could no longer bear to get up from sitting on the sofa. She looked where the young girl was looking. She looked in my direction.

She also covered her mouth when she saw me and just like a woman next to her, her reaction was also shocking.

"My prayer has been heard. Thank our kind-hearted God!" She even did a sign of the cross and almost tearfully looked back at me.

The old woman acted awkwardly as she approached the bed where I was laying. 

She immediately grabbed my hand to her great delight.

Her full attention was on my whole body. It seems like she’s examining me with every look she throws at me.

When she was satisfied in observing me, she turned to the lady she’s talking with a while ago. The girl was still unable to leave her position. She didn't even move and she seemed to be stuck there.

"Arya, call Doctor Guttierez now! Let him know that she's finally awake," the old woman ordered.

Finally, because of what the old woman had demanded, her wrath returned. The young lady did nothing, but nodded and instantly followed the order.

The old woman's attention shifted back to mine.

"You're now awake! Wait… W-What? Is there anything wrong with you, young lady? Are you hungry? Do you need anything? Tell me what you want and need."

I didn't say a word.

I was still staring at her, trying to figure out who this elderly lady in front of me was. I couldn't recall her name even with that young girl.

I'm not familiar with them. I hadn't seen them before, I guess.

I noticed traces of concern on the old woman's face, and I do not know why.

"I already called the Doctor, Miss. He's on his way." The old woman's companion approached us. 

After that update, she hid his cellphone in the pocket of her black jeans.

"It's good then. Señorito strictly ordered to call the Doctor as soon as she woke up."

I still don't know who that person they’re pertaining to.

I'm no longer interested in what they're talking about. What I'm curious about now is who they are and why I'm here.

I'm not sure who they are. Not being judgmental, but is it safe to be with them?

They continued looking at me and keeping an eye on me.

"Are you hungry?" the old woman asked again because until now, I still haven't answered her question.

Instead of answering her question, I threw another question at her. "W-Who are you?"

I think they were shocked by my question so they both looked at each other. Their looks seemed to be conversing through their eyes. Both of them frowned at my behavior.

"I-I'm Aunt Cora," said the old woman.

"I'm Arya," said the younger girl.

My guess is that the old woman is in her 60's and the other girl beside her named Arya is in her 20's.

The old woman was obviously still strong even in her old age. Even though her white skin was somewhat wrinkled, I'm pretty sure that she was beautiful in her youth. 

I was also amazed with the face of Arya, her beauty is natural. There is no trace of makeup on her face, but her beautiful and gentle face is very noticeable.

Even though they had already said their name, I still didn’t recognize them.

I don't remember anyone named Aunt Cora and Arya.

Their faces were still unfamiliar even though I stared at them a few more times.

It seems like I just saw them just now.

That is why I feel so frightened and scared. My head is filled with a slew of questions. Even though I hadn't asked them what was going on at the moment, I immediately came to a conclusion.

My entire body hurt, but I forced myself to get out of bed.

Although both of them were shocked by my actions, they still helped me to sit up properly. When I sat down completely, I removed their hand that was holding me.

"I don't know you both!" I shouted. "Don't touch me!"

Shock drew on their faces.

Shouldn't I be the one who's more surprised now? Obviously, they know me while I don't know them.

What are they doing to me? Why am I with them? Do they have a bad purpose for me?

Did they kidnap me?

Even though they don’t look like kidnappers, I still can’t help but doubt them. They can’t blame me because I’ve only just seen them now.

"Where am I?" I asked more.

"You're at Casa Hacienda de Ruizita," the old woman replied in a calm tone so that I wouldn't be even more scared.

I frowned at the said place. "W-What? Casa Hacienda de Ruizita?" I repeated.

They both nodded at the same time.

I don’t know this place!

I immediately removed the dextrose that was pointed at me and bandages on my hand.

"Wait, young lady, what are you doing?"

I ignored the old woman. I just kept on removing whatever was pointed at my hand.

"I don't know where I am now. I don't know you either! So I need to get out of here."

I was about to jump on the bed when I felt my two feet heavy. When I looked at it, my leg was also bandaged. I can't move it.

"W-What happened to my feet?" my voice trembled. I couldn't help, but be nervous when I saw it had a bandage on it and I couldn't even move.

I could see the wounds I had on various parts of my body.

"What happened to me?" I asked, tears streaming down my face as I looked at the two women next to me.

I closed my eyes and forced myself to remember things that might answer my questions but my head only hurt more.

No matter how hard I try, nothing comes to my mind.

I seem to be looking for an answer from a book full of blank paper pages.

A few tears streamed down my cheeks without notice. "I can't remember!" I said, ruffling my hair in frustration.

"Young lady, don't hurt yourself." They tried to stop my hand from tweaking my hair.

"Don't stop me!" I yelled as I tried to get back my two hands they’re holding, but I was too weak compared to the two of them.

I sobbed looking at them. "W-Who are you? Why am I here? What happened to me? Why can't I move my foot? W-Why?"

They couldn't answer, so I cried even more.

"Why don't I remember anything? Tell me why!"

The two let go of my hand when a new person came into the room. He didn’t close the door because he was rushing towards us.

"Doc!"

"What's happening here?" immediately asked by the man wearing the Doctor's white uniform. 

He looked at me.

"Doc, she's trying to hurt herself."

The two women stepped aside to give space to what they called the Doctor.

"Calm down, young lady," he said to me. "I'll answer all your questions once you calm down."

Because of what he said, I calmed down. I want my questions to be answered. 

Besides, I won't get anything if I persist because no matter how hard I try, I can't answer my own questions. It looks like other people will know those answers.

I did what he said and went to bed first since I needed to sleep. Because of the wounds on my body and the weakness I'm experiencing, I absolutely need to relax. I also feel the pain of my scars on my body because I was forced earlier when I tried to remove its bandages.

I let the Doctor put another bandage on me and injected dextrose into my hand. The two women helped the Doctor.

"You did the wrong thing by removing the bandage earlier because your wounds are still fresh," the Doctor stated as he applied the bandage to my right arm. "You have to be careful with your movements because your condition can get worse," he said.

I wanted to ask what was happening to me and how I got the wounds on my body, even my foot I could not move and traces that it was really bruised, but I chose to wait after putting the bandage.

After he cleaned and bandaged my wound, the Doctor stood up, but he still did not leave my side. He put on the stethoscope around his neck and placed his chest-piece on my chest to check my heartbeat.

I couldn't read the reaction on his face that could make me nervous.

He then pulled out the ophthalmoscope to check my two eyes. 

When it finished examining me, he adjusted his posture while hiding the used equipment.

He sneezed before speaking. "What are you feeling?"

"My head," I sparingly replied.

"Does it hurt?"

I nodded, but that's not enough to answer his question. “I don’t remember anything,” I added.

Unlike the reaction of the two women before, the Doctor was calm when I said that. It seems like he was expecting me to say this.

"Even your name?" he asked.

I was silent for a few seconds.

My name is...

I closed my eyes again, hoping I could concentrate on remembering. But just like before, I just had a headache.

I opened my eyes again. The Doctor was still looking at me.

The tears were dripping from my eyes again. "Why can't I remember anything?" I became even weaker because I was trying to remember, but nothing really happened. "Even my name, I don't remember."

"Don't force yourself to remember. It will only give you a headache and your condition will only get worse," he advised me.

"What happened to me, Doc? Answer me, please," I begged.

I want to know why I am experiencing this now.

But instead of answering, he chose to turn to the two women with me earlier. They stood behind the Doctor and quietly listened to our conversation.

"Miss Cora, does Señorito already know this?" the Doctor asked the old woman.

The old woman shook his head. "Not yet, Doc."

"Call Señorito and tell him she's awake."

The younger girl obeyed the Doctor's order. She moved away from us when she took out her cell phone and looked like she was going to call Señorito. 

The Doctor turned to me.

The person who owns this house where I am now is obviously rich. As you can imagine, a private Doctor came just to check on me.

"I will immediately inform you of your condition when I have the result of the examination done to you," he said.

I was disappointed with his answer. I mean, should I need to wait? How long?

Can't they tell me now what happened to me? How did I get these wounds?

"Sorry, young lady, we can't tell you what happened until there is no order from Señorito. We can't disobey him," the old woman stated.

And who is that person? Why do they need his permission?

What is he? A powerful person?

"I already called Señorito!" The girl approached us. "He will go home tomorrow."

"W-Who's Señorito?" I couldn’t help, but ask them.

They had spoken to Señorito before, but I had no idea who the person they were referring to was.

The girl hesitated to answer. "He's Señorito Keeion Logan Ruiz."

Señorito Keeion...

"Who is he?"

The two women were unable to look at me, not even the Doctor.

The three of them looked at each other and their gazes seemed to be talking. 

They avoid answering my questions.

They can’t tell who the person I’m asking is.

Who is Señorito Keeion?