"Saan daw po nagpunta? Wala pong sinabi kung kailan ang balik?" narinig ni Charlie na tanong ni Gael sa katulong ni Dr. Andres. Naroon sila sa bahay ng doktor upang sana magpa-check up. Subalit mukhang wala roon ang doktor. She's was having an upset stomach for 2 days now in a row. At sobrang nag-aalala na ang asawa niya sa kanya kaya naman pumayag na siya sa hiling nito na magpa-check up. At base sa narinig niyang usapan ni Gael at ng katulong, baka kailangan nilang humanap ng doktor na maaring tumingin sa kanya. Maya-maya pa, bumalik na sa kotse si Gael. Umayos naman ang pagkakaupo niya sa passenger's seat. The car is older than that of Gael's car kaya hindi siya masyadong kumportable sa upuan niya. Sir Eric exchanged Gael's car with that old one as part of their precautionary measures while they settle there. "Kailangan daw nating pumunta sa susunod na bayan para magpacheck-up sa doktor na kakilala ni Dr. Andres sabi ng katulong," ani ni Gael nang makaupo na ito sa driver's
“Where are we?” paos ang tinig na tanong ni Charlie kay Gael. She just woke up from sleep and she can almost see the sky filling itself with different kinds of colors—ready to welcome the rising sun. She stretched her back a little as she roamed her eyes outside of the moving car. Her brows instantly furrowed as she was seeing familiar buildings and landmarks around. It seemed like they were back in the city. Napakurap siya? Are they really back in the Metro? Awtomatikong kumabog ang dibdib niya sa naisip, tarantang bumaling sa asawa. “G-Gael, are we back in Manila?” naguguluhang tanong niya. Gael glanced over at her and gave her a small smile. Subalit imbes na sagutin ang tanong niya, “Nakatulog ka nang maayos? Are you feeling better?” anito. Naguguluhan man, wala sa sarili siyang tumango, kumurap-kurap. She was going to ask him again when they passed by SGU’s majestic main gate. Lalong kumabog ang d*bdib niya. She felt numb for a while. They can’t be back in the city. Lalo si
Ilang sandali pa, natanaw na niya ang dulo ng daan ng tinatahak nila. It was a clearing on the edge of the mountain. A chopper was seating in the middle of it. “Gael, kanino ‘yong chopper?” tanong niya ulit. But like the first question, he didn’t answer. Maya-maya pa, itinigil ni Gael ang sasakyan ilang metro mula sa chopper. Walang imik itong bumaba ng sasakyan bago siya pinagbuksan ng pinto. She’s still confused and full of questions but she did climb out of the car anyway. Gael quickly cupped her face as soon as she was able to stand. His beautiful gray eyes were filled with sadness. “G-Gael…” “I am doing this because I love you. So much. I am doing this for you, Charlize,” he declared in a hurried voice. Her brows furrowed. “I-I don’t understand, Gael. What are you—“ Her next words remained lodged inside her throat when she saw familiar faces coming out of the chopper. Una niyang nakita si Axel, kasunod nito si Jacob. Then her father’s assistant, Diego. Agad siyang pinan
Tahimik si Charlie habang nakaupo siya sa sala ng penthouse ng pamilya niya sa SSL. Doon siya dinala ng mga bodyguards niya at ni Deigo matapos siyang iwan ni Gael. Gael.Hurt raked her chest once again when she remembered her husband. She gripped on her ring finger, the one with the ink on it. Her lips quivered as she recalled every moment she had shared with him for the past 6 weeks. Every kiss. Every fiery night. Every promise. She remembered it all.But now that she was seating in their home—alone, she cannot help but think if any of it were true that Gael was able to give her up just like that.He left her. He left just like that!Tuluyan nang tumulo ang luha niya at niyuko ang kanyang mga kamay.Palagi.She never knew how that word could hurt so much until now.Maiksi lang pala ang pangako ng palagi kay Gael. Hindi nagtatagal. Nang-iiwan. Lumilimot.Few moments more and the front door opened. Iniluwa niyon ang humahangos na bulto ng Mommy at Daddy niya.“Charlie!” mangiyak-ngiy
“How are you?” malumanay na tanong ng Daddy niya kay Charlie. Bahagya nang humupa ang bigat at galit na nasa mga mata nito kanina, subalit mababaanag pa rin doon ang bigat ng emosyon. Naroon silang mag-ama sa mini-library ng kanilang penthouse. Kanina pa sila nakaupong dalawa sa magkabilang dulo ng mahabang sofa, tila hindi magkadugo at tila walang balak magkibuan.Gabi na at ilang oras na rin ang lumipas mula nang makauwi si Charlie sa kanila subalit ngayon lang sila nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na mag-usap ng Daddy niya. Not that her father did not insist talking to her earlier habang nagpapahinga siya. But her mother was not having any of her father’s reasons. Ipinagpilitan ng kanyang Mommy na kailangan niya ng pahinga. At sobrang ipinagpapasalamat niya na kahit paano, naiintidihan siya ng Mommy niya. Now that she had collected a little of herself, she had decided to talk to her father. She knew this talk is inevitable. So the sooner she’s done with it, the better.“I’m fine, D-Dad,”
Panay ang hikbi ni Charlie habang nakaupo siya sa waiting area ng Angelicum Hospital. Doon nila dinala ng Mommy niya ang Daddy niya nang makita nila ito kanina sa sahig at pinangangapusan ng hininga.The past half an hour had been a blur. She can only recall the moment Axel and Diego carried her father to the car and the minute she and her mother stepped inside the hospital. All of the moments before, after and in between all of those, she cannot remember.How could she when her heart was heavy with guilt?Muli siyang humikbi at yumuko, mahigpit na pinagsalikop ang mga kamay. Hindi kakayanin ng kunsensiya niya kung sakaling may nangyaring masama sa Daddy niya.Why was she always the cause of all troubles? Was that her punishment for being disobedient? For standing up for herself? For wanting to live her life?Her lips quivered as bitter tears streamed from her eyes. Regrets drowning her once again.Few moments more and she heard rushing footsteps from the hospital’s entrance. She saw
Malakas sa tainga ni Charlie ang tunog ng kung anu-anong monitors na nakakabit sa katawan ng Daddy niya. He was already transferred to the hospital suite. And now that she’s alone there with him, her heart hurts so much knowing that it was her who caused her father to be in that state.She did that to him. Her defiance did that to her father.Her father looks fine now but she will never forget the look in her father’s face as he struggled for air. Her father was dying in front of her and she cannot do anything.Muli siyang humikbi, marahang inabot ang malayang kamay ng Daddy niya. “I-I’m so s-sorry, Dad. I’m so s-sorry,” aniya sa pagitan ng paghikbi.All her life, her father had loved her. He shielded from anything bad, from everything that hurts.Why didn’t she believed him when he said that Gael wasn’t good for her? Why did she welcome Gael into her life again? Why was she so blinded by love?Humagulgol na siya. Questions. There were so many questions. And she doesn’t seem to know h
Charlie felt weak when she woke up the next day. Bumalik din ang pagduduwal niya kaya sinabihan siya ng Mommy niya na umuwi muna upang doon niya ituloy ang pagpapahinga at ipapadala na lang daw nito sa bahay nila ang family doctor nila upang matignan siya.Ayaw niya sana noong una. But her mother insisted that she goes home. Kaya naman napilitan na rin siyang umuwi.When Jacob pulled the car over at the driveway of their home, a nostalgic feeling suddenly enveloped her. She suddenly missed her peaceful yet sad life. Noong hindi pa bumabalik si Gael sa buhay niya. Noong hindi pa siya nagkakamali. Noong maayos pa ang lahat.Matapos siyang salubungin ng mga kasambay, umakyat na siya sa kanyang kuwarto.“Ate?” ani Caleb. She turned and saw her brother in front of his own room. He was wearing his schoolbag.“H-Hi, Cale,” alanganin niyang bati sa kapatid.Ngumiti si Caleb bago walang sabi-sabing siyang niyakap.“Na-miss kita, Ate,” anito.Muling nangilid ang luha niya. How can they be this