One Person, Three Identities [COMPLETED]

Chapter 44

~~~Character dialogues in bold format is in Japanese language po, thank you.~~~

ALEXANDRA HENRIETTE SLADE

At first, I felt mad at CJ because he kept his sufferings all to himself wherein, we all promised that whatever we're going through, we'll tell the group. But when I looked at him, his tears were falling nonstop. He has this soft spot in my heart, they have, Phoenix has a very special part in heart kaya ganun na lang kadaling nawala ang sama ng loob ko sa pagsisikreto niya.

He told us na he was so scared nang malaman nilang may sakit siya and didn't how to break the news to us. He wanted to be better before he would tell us dahil ayaw niyang mag-alala kami sa kanya.

Awang-awa ako sakanya because I saw how he struggles just to break down his walls and break to us his situation.

Iyakan dito, iyakan doon. But at the end of the day, he assured us na malaki ang chance na mag-success ang operation niya, that's why he wanted to get it done as soon as possible.

~~

We, me and the rest of the gang, and EJ just started our first year as university students. At syempre hindi kami naputulan ng communication kay CJ. In fact, ooperahan na siya this week.

Nang nagpaalam siya sa amin na aalis at makarating ng states, he always keeps us updated kung ano na ang nangyayari sa kanya. He told us that they needed to make sure his body is in its best condition bago siya operahan kaya natagalan ang pagstay niya at this week na nga siya ooperahan dahil nagbigay na daw ng go signal ang doctor niya.

~~

Two weeks. Dalawang linggo na kaming walang update about kay CJ. Kahit si EJ ay di namin mahagilap.

"Alexa, stop playing with your food." Napalingon ako kay Kuya Clif habang tatango-tango naman sa tabi niya si Kuya Clint.

"Sorry." I muttered and ate my food.

"Henriette, is there something wrong." I heard my dad ask. I couldn't look at him. I know I'll cry if I do.

I just shook my head no, too afraid that my voice would betray me.

"Thank you for the food." I said and quickly got off my seat. Dali-dali akong umakyat ng kwarto, humiga sa kama saka nagtakip ng mukha gamit ang unan at niyakap ito ng mahigpit. Then, I let myself cry.

THIRD PERSON

Nagtatakang nagtinginan ang kambal na Clifton at Clinton habang nag-aalalang nagtinginan naman ang mag-asawang. Nag-aalala ang mga tingin ng mag-asawa dahil hindi ito ang unang beses na makita nilang nagkagayan si Alexa andun din ang kambal nung mangyari yun pero mukhang masyado pa silang bata kaya hindi nila maalala.

Agad na tumayo si Alexander para puntahan ang bunsong anak. "Continue your meal." Iyan na lang ang tanging nasabi ni Hariette sa kambal na anak. Silently praying na maging maayos ang pag-uusap ng mag-ama.

~~

Alexander tried knocking on the door pero wala siyang nakuhang sagot mula sa loob kaya sinubukan niyang buksan ang pinto. A sigh of relief escaped his lips nang mapagtantong hindi nailock ni Alexa ang pinto ng kanyang kwarto.

Tahimik na naglakad papasok si Alexander sa kwarto ng anak. Nakita niya itong nakatalukbong ng unan ang mukha.

Umupo siya sa gilid ng kama ng anak niya at huminga ng malalim bago sinimulang kausapin ang anak.

"Princess." Pagtawag pansin nito sa anak pero hindi siya nito pinansin.

Muli niya itong tinawag at bahagyang hinihila ang unan na pinnantatakip nito. Nagmamatigas naman si Alexa at hinihila pabalik ang una.

"Come on, princess." He said, giving up sa pakikipaghilahan ng unan kay Alexa.

Nang maramdaman ni Alexa na binitawan na ng ama niya ang unang yakap-yakap niya ay bahagya siyang sumilip sa gilid to find her dad quietly staring at her.

Akala ni Alexa'y nailuha niya na lahat pero isang malambing na tingin lamang ng ama niya ay gusto niya na namang umiyak.

"Dad." Her voice cracked as she hurriedly got up throwing the pillow she was hugging and running to her dad waiting for her with open arms.

Walang nang pakialam si Alexa kung magmukha siya bata sa inaakto niya sa harap ng ama gayong college student na siya. She will always be their baby girl. Kahit naman kasi ang ama niya ay ganun pa rin ang tingin kahit na dalaga na siya.

Mahigpit na yakap ang iginawad ni Alexa sa kanyang ama habang patuloy pa rin sa pag-iyak. Nanatili namang tahimik ang kanyang ama habang nakayakap din sa kanya.

~~

"We can't contact him." Alexa said, breaking the silence between her and her dad who just let her cry it all out and let her calm down on her own. Her dad just stayed there, hugging her for support.

Alexa always loves how her dad would behave around her whenever she's having a hard time. It may be weird for some but she prefers the silent comfort her dad gives her than hearing words.

Her dad remained silent while still hugging her as she continued speaking.

"It's been two weeks since we last had contact with CJ. H-hindi rin namin ma-contact si EJ. We can't help but to think something bad." Pagsusumbong nito sa ama.

Bago pa man makapagsalita si Alexander ay may narinig silang katok.

"Dad? Henriette?" Rinig nila mula sa labas ang boses ni Clifton.

"Yes?" Si Alexander ang sumagot para sa kanilang dalawa ni Alexa habang marahang inaayos ni Alexa ang sarili.

"Uhm, EJ's downstairs." Napalingon ssi Alexander kay Alexa na siya ring napatingin sa ama kaya't nagtama ang kanilang mga mata.

"We'll be right there." Sagot ng ama nila.

Dali-dali namang tinapos ni Alexa ang pag-aayos ng sarili at sumabay sa ama sa pagbaba.

~~

"EJ." Nang makababa't masilayan ang nobyo ay agad nilapitan ni Alexa ang binata at sabik na niyakap.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata ng kambal habang napailing na lang kanilang mga magulang. Gusto man ilayo ni Alexander ang anak sa binata ay hindi niya ginawa dahil alam niyang iyon ang isa sa pinakailangan ng anak niya.

ELIEZER JAN ADINO

I immediately returned Lexie's hug.

I saw how shocked her brothers were and her dad holding back from pulling his daughter away from me. kahit na legal ang relasyon namin ni Lexie ay aware ako kung gaano sila kaprotective dito.

~~

When Lexie calmed down, we sat on their sofa. Her family left us alone, maybe giving us a bit of privacy. Though her brothers are definitely keeping their eyes on me.

Nanatiling magkahawak ang kamay namin. Lexie had her head hanged low as she spoke.

"Where have you been? Why couldn't we contact you? Even CJ. Everyone's so worried. Ano ba kasing nangyari? How was his operation?"

Hindi ako nakasagot agad. You're such a coward, EJ!

I looked at her and saw how much she's hurting. Baka nga mas malala pa ang talagang nararamdaman niya kaysa sa nakikita ko.

I can't blame her. Grabe kasi ang pagpapahalaga niya sa mga taong napapalapit sa kanya. And that's just coming from me, paano pa yung mga taong mas matagal niya nang nakilala at nakasama. Like Jus.

Remembering my cousing made me remember why I came here. I don't want to hurt her, but she needs to know.

"Lexie." Calling for her made her stop ranting, finally looking at my face.

Tinatagan ko ang loob dahil pakiramdam ko hindi ko kakayanin ang magiging reaksyon niya.

"Lexie," I called her name again, holding the sides of her head with both of my hands, "he didn't make it."

"CJ's gone."