His Runaway Bride

Chapter 27: Home

Kinagat ko ang labi ko.

"Ba't di mo ako tinawag? I could've helped you walk there."

Tumingala ako sa kanya.

"M-Malapit lang naman."

He just nodded and continued to guide me to the hospital bed.

"Corazon will be out soon." Sabi lang niya. He proceeded to walk to the couch against the wall. Kumuha siya ng magazine at puma-dikwatro. Nabanat ang slacks niya at yumakap iyon sa kanyang mga hita.

He's not angry yet he's still distancing himself. I don't know what's happening with him. Whatever it is, I have no idea why.

Napansin ko din na hindi niya suot ang bracelet na binigay ko sa kanya noon. My stomach churned. I am pathetic for even assuming that maybe he still loves me...but it's been three years since I supposedly 'walked' out of his life..

Napalunok ako. I don't want to think about that right now. I have a lot of things to worry about.

I sighed and thought of my child. Corazon. I love her so much. Now, I can remember patches of my memory. Hindi ko kilala ang biological na Nanay niya. Glenda Cullado is not my sister. As far as I can remember, I have never met her, only in that hospital.

If so, why did she lie to me and why did she give me a false identity? Kahit na kaunti pa lang ang naalala ako. I am sure as hell that I am not Charissa Cullado.

Was everything a coincidence? Maybe I looked like her sister but there is no way. She supposedly has pictures of me and a fucking highschool diploma. I am sure that they are photoshopped because then again, I don't remember seeing her at all. We also had a freaking house.

Bahagyang kumirot ang ulo ko nang maalala ko noong nag-sorry siya sa akin.

'Basta, just know that I am sorry for everything.'

'Gusto kong sabihin sayo pero--basta, sana mapatawad mo ako..h-hindi ko sinasadya, wala-'

She's sorry...for what? For lying to me? For giving me a false identity but why? Bakit?

My head pounded because I am forcing myself to think again. Tila napansin ni Creed ang pag-ngiwi ko. Agad siyang tumayo at lumapit sa akin.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Agad niyang tanong. "Masakit ba ang ulo mo?"

"Yeah, headache."

"Alright, I'm going to get Tylenol, okay?"

I nodded. Mabilis siyang lumabas ng kwarto. Gusto kong sabihin sa kanya na naalala ko siya. I want to tell him that all his accusations earlier are wrong, that never in my life I would do such a thing...such as cheat on him or even run. How could I if I don't know how to explain it? How could he believe me when I don't have anything to explain to him?

I have to buy myself some time until I remember more details. I could only do that If I pretended.

***

"Corazon Cullado, second day post op, no complications." Sabi noong resident doctor na kasama ni Dr. Toledo at Dr. Carbeo. Naka-scrubs sila ng deep blue at naka white coat. Samantalang 'yung resident ay naka-light blue at shorter na white coat. I used to be her.

I sighed inwardly and caressed Corazon's hair and kissed her forehead. Nakangiti siya sa akin.

"Naynay uwi na tayo?" Masaya niyang tanong.

Ngumiti naman ako at pabirong pinisil ang ilong niya. Masigla na siya kumpara kahapon. Kahapon kasi ay passed out pa siya dahil sa anesthesia. Ngayon ay parang walang bakas na na-operahan siya.