Did I have a cardiac arrest? I felt like my heart stopped pumping blood to my body that I felt an excruciating pain in my chest. I suddenly felt weak from what Marco had said.
No, it can't be. It was easier to accept if Melvin had opened the door to get me back if we genuinely had an affair. My tears raced down my cheeks as I witnessed Marco slowly fading away.
"No...no... no!" I cried and shook my head. "Tell us first, who opened the door? Who changed the past?" I was on my feet, ready to run. He has to live, just a little more.
Then, for the last time, Marco stabbed me painfully with his words.
"Your husband did. Albert opened the door. He was the one who changed everything,"
I continuously shook my head in disbelief."I'm... I'm not finished yet," I stammered as I ran towards the elevator. I had to get to the operating room. As much as I would like him to die, now was the moment that I needed him alive. In between my sobs, I pressed the
"Honey, do something," I could hear Mom's voice, but I dared not to look at them. I knew they were standing on the frame of my bedroom door, but both of them hesitated to come to me. I just kept on staring at the open window while I sat on my bed, hugging my knees."What will I do? Neither Sienna nor Jane could cheer her up," answered Dad in a low voice. "I couldn't even get hold of Albert," he gritted his teeth as he mentioned his name.No matter how I explained to them that it was my decision to break up with him, dad was still mad at him. He kept on telling me he should be man enough to defend our relationship. If Dad only knew that he moved heaven and earth just for us to be together again. Was risking the lives of other people proof in defending our love?"It's been two weeks, Honey," I heard Mom sniffing.Two weeks? I have been living like a zombie for two weeks. I missed him so much. In this timeline, I have never been apart from him for a
"Hey old lady, you missed your bus."I remembered clearly the day and time I heard those words from the homeless guy whom I did not notice at first. I was thinking I was too preoccupied with many things.“You missed your chance,” He said, emphasizing something that shouldn’t have happened if I didn’t miss my ride. He told me to walk although he knew I seemed to be in a hurry but reminded me not to miss my chance again.“Be careful of falling debris,” I whispered, snapping my fingers to understand it better. I was dumbed thinking he was referring to a safety hazard caution from a construction company.“What sweetheart?” asked Dad.Both my hands were holding my head. It was like it will explode anytime now. I closed my eyes. I was so stupid not to realize it sooner. Of course, he was speaking in metaphor. I have to be on guard, be careful of people who will break us apart.&ldqu
Maybe a supreme being, the homeless guy, asked me a question that scared the innermost part of my heart. Whoever he was, he was pointing out to me the truth.“What.” He furrowed his forehead. “If.” He reached for my hand and squeezed it. “Selene, putting these two words together has the power to haunt you for the rest of your life. This word what if will never lead you to the right path. You are like holding onto regrets, for the time wasted.”“I love Albert so much, and I am scared that I am too late.” I massaged my temple. I felt dizzy with all his words.“There is always time, and it only ends when you give up.” He stood up.My eyes followed him as he walked back to his beloved box of cartons.“Go back home, Selene. Take time to rest today. Spend time with your family,” he said, laying his back down again, facing the sky.I stood up, but before I starte
“Melvin,” I tried to make my voice as cheerful as possible. Deep inside me, I wanted to strangle my sister for pushing me here in the living room. I could still hear her chuckling from where I stood, and even Dad and Albert exchanged amused expressions. He stood up and found himself in an awkward situation. “I just want to drop by to say hello,” he said, giving me the bouquet. The red bunch of roses was arranged in a spiraling look, and any girl’s heart would feel giddy. “Thanks,” I said. “Please, take a seat,” I said. I sat down beside my father on a long sofa, ignoring Albert, disregarding me intentionally. I felt my blood boiling because of what he was doing. He was talking casually to my father as if nothing was happening inside the four corners of this room. “Jane said you weren’t feeling great the past few days, and I wanted to know if you’re now okay,” He continued, this time not minding the two men in the room. “I guess, yea
I looked at the wall clock. It said 9:05 p.m., but my eyes were drooping. I had never felt so sleepy like this before. Maybe those sleepless nights were finally telling my body to rest. We watched Interview with the Vampire on TV, but I could not understand their words.Mom’s eyes were still wide awake, concentrating on the movie while she tapped my brother’s arm lightly as he tried to sleep. Sienna was sitting crossed-legged on the floor while enjoying the popcorn that I refused a while ago because of its funny smell. Dad went back to the living room with two cans of beer in his hand. He handed the other one to Albert.“Dad, he’ll be driving,” I said, trying to keep my eyes open.“I’ll sleep here then,” he whispered, leaning my head to his shoulder.“Where will you sleep?” I asked, my eyelids now closed.I heard him mumble something, then I heard Sienna answer, but I did not understand a
I sat down and smiled, feeling excited as I put my bare feet under the pale cream, powdery and silky sand. To where I was sitting down, everything I saw was spectacular. From afar, I can see lots of tornado-like shapes in different vibrant colors. In the dome-shaped sky, there were millions of sparkling stars.Then, someone from behind me put plastic in my head, suffocating me. I couldn’t breathe. When I felt his arms around me, embracing me tightly, I screamed, but no voice was coming out of my mouth. I struggled and started striking the person with my fist, but he held me tighter.“Selene, stop it,” The voice said, burying his head to my hair. “Breathe, my love.” He sniffed, kissing my hair many times. I clenched my fist, but I stopped. Was he crying?“I’m here! My love, I’m here!” He whispered.I opened my eyes slowly, and although it was blurry at first, as I adjusted my sight,
Everyone in the living room went quiet. No one made a single sound, not even a movement. It was like they stopped breathing for a while, just like in the movies when we hear the most critical line of an important character, whether from the protagonist or the antagonist. In the middle of our silence, we could listen to the sound of crickets.Their faces were hard to read as well. Jane was twisting her lips, fidgeting with her hands. Ed was staring blankly at us, his hand on his chin. Dad has lines on his forehead, squinting his eyes as he analyzed what I said. Mom wrinkled her eyebrows as she pinched the skin in her throat.I glanced at Albert, and he shrugged.Suddenly, Mom broke down in tears. Sienna and I looked at each other, raising our brows as we stared at her.“I hope you’re not on drugs, Sweetheart.” She sniffed, holding my father’s hand. He squeezed Mom’s hand.I almost rolled my eyes at her, but I think it w
“Are you like together again?” Sienna asked, gawking at us. She shook her head. “Something’s not right,” She squinted her eyes on us, glancing at our hands, fingers interlacing. “Did something happen a few seconds ago? Wow, you changed really fast, Sel,” She glanced at the ceiling, trying to remember the clothes I was wearing.When I heaved a sigh, she gasped, opening her mouth in surprise. “Did you just...”“Just what?” I asked, looking at my sister, hoping she would stop talking about how surprised she was at seeing us.“Got together,” she chuckled, pointing his lips to the engagement ring I had on my finger. “Fix your problem, Selene,” She said, standing up to continue setting the table. “Either you face your problem now or later.”Sienna was right. The reason things got complicated is that I tend not to face my problem. I tried to ev