Heartstrings Attached II

Chapter Forty Five

Heartstrings Attached II 💕
by thatwallflowerwrites

Chapter Forty Five
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"Narinig ko kasi kay Kuya dati na isang taon lang ang tanda niya sayo. I'm three years younger than him, by the way."

"Nabanggit nga sakin ni Clark dati na may nakababata nga raw siyang kapatid na art student. Ikaw pala 'yon."

She smiled wider. "Yes. That's me. Lagi ka rin niyang kinukwento sakin dati eh. Kaya pakiramdaman ko kilala na rin kita. So, can I call you ate?"

Gulat man at nalilito, tumango ako.  "Of course."

Wala naman kaso sakin kung anong itawag niya sakin. Pero siyempre, naa-appreciate ko pa rin na gusto niya akong tawaging ate. Sobrang amo kasi ng mukha niya parang ang sarap kaibiganin... At kapatidin, char!

"Thanks," sabi niya nang may ngiti. "Umorder na nga pala ako habang naghihintay. Sana okay lang. If you like something else just let me know. Na-bore lang talaga ako."

Ngayon ko lang napansin na may pagkain na pala sa mesa. Pareho kaming may iced tea saka ilang slices ng cake.

"Hindi. Okay lang. Sorry nga pala pinaghintay kita. Hindi ko naman kasi alam."

"Wala 'yon." She took a sip from her drink. "Pasensya na din kung nabigla kita. Ayoko lang kasing malaman ni Kuya Clark na nandito ako."

"Bakit naman?"

"Eh kasi... Dapat nasa NYU ako ngayon. Exams week din kasi namin. I'd be dead if he knew I was here."

"Ganu'n ba?"

She nodded. "Nakiusap lang talaga ako kay Ate Monique kung pwede akong sumabay sa kanya pauwi. Buti na lang pinayagan niya ako." She cleared her throat. "Pagpasensyahan mo na ang accent ko ah. It's been years since I last spoke in Tagalog. Medyo kinakalawang na."

"Hindi ko nga masyadong nahalata. You should've heard your brother when he came back. He couldn't even say a word in Filipino," biro ko pero I realized what I said. "...Sorry. I didn't mean to--"

Ayoko kasing ma-offend siya para sa kuya niya dahil sa sinabi ko, knowing na may amnesia ito at hindi lang basta-basta nakalimot.

Umiling siya. "Don't be sorry. I know. He didn't really forget Tagalog. Matigas lang talaga ulo no'n. Akala niya kasi madi-distance niya ang sarili niya kapag hindi siya nagsalita ng native language dito."

That made total sense.

"Can I ask you a question, Ate Sky?"

"Hmm?"

"Did you ever, for a second... question your feelings for my kuya? Kahit after two years na nawala siya."

My heart started pounding. "Ba--bakit mo naman biglang naitanong 'yan?"

"Alam mo kasi, as far as I know, kahit noong nawala ang memories niya, I don't think he ever did lose his feelings for you."

Napalunok ako. How can this be true? Paano niya masasabing hindi nawala ang feelings niya kung hindi naman niya ako naaalala?

"Is that... Is that even possible?"

"Well, it happened. That's the reason why I'm here, Ate Sky. Noong tumawag sakin si Kuya Clark noong isang araw, I knew I have to do something... Do you know exactly what he told me?"

I just answered silence and looked down. Naalala ko noong gabing huli ko siyang nakausap. The night I never stopped feeling guilty about.

"Ate?"