Before It Vanished [Completed]

Chapter 4

This night was supposed to be Helaine helping Albert to remember his past which turned into something that will change everything.

Alfred was brought to the nearest hospital last night. And Helaine is worried sick about him. After the severe headache attacked he collapsed and up until now is unconcious.

"Hello, ya. Please fetch Abby para makapagpahinga na s'ya. Saka pakidalhan na rin ako ng damit. Yah! Salamat." She dropped the call and sit beside Abby who fell asleep an hour ago. She brushed her daughter's hair with her fingers which caused her to wake up.

"Ma. How's papa?" Asked abby and sit properly.

"Wala pa ring malay. Pinasundo na kita kay yaya kasi bukas papasok ka pa. Pahinga ka sa bahay ha?" She taps her chin and smiled forcefully. Abby just nodded and walk towards her father. She holds his hand and cried.

"I've been waiting for years to hold your hand again papa. Please wake up." She placed his hand in her cheek and sob.

Helaine is just looking at her, it hurts seeing her daughter that way. A few minutes after the door opened. It's their maid fetching Abby.

"Ma'am eto na po 'yung mga damit na pinadala n'yo. Isama na ho namin si Abby." Sabi nito at tinawag si Abby.

She kissed her papa's hand once again and bids goodbye to him. Then to Helaine.

She sit beside Albert and slightly taps his finger. Whispering in the wind. Praying for Albert's recovery. Nakatulala s'ya ng biglang gumalaw ang daliri nito and then slowly his eyes opening. Sa pagkataranta ay  tumakbo s'ya palabas to call on a doctor.

"Doc, kumusta po si Albert?" Asked Helaine to the doctor. The doctor motioned her for a private talk which she followed suit.

"Doc, ano po?" She asked again.

"Bumalik na ang alala n'ya. Pero may mga bagay pa rin na hindi pa n'ya gaanong natatandaan. Base sa findings ko habang kinakausap ko s'ya ay merong ilang kaganapan sa buhay n'ya na hindi n'ya maintindihan kung paano nangyari. At sana huwag mo s'yang hayaan na mapwersa sa pag-alala sa mga ito." The doctor taps her shoulder and leave her standing there.

Pagpasok n'ya lumapit s'ya kay Albert. Hinawakan n'ya ang kamay nito bago nagsalita.

"Ang sabi ni doc, nakakaalala ka na daw." She started.

"Dapat matagal na akong nakakaalala kung hindi mo lang ako niloko. Sino sina Elise at Andrew sa buhay ko? Who are they?" Galit na tanong n'ya kay Helaine but before she'd answer, the door screetched slowly. It's Andrew.

"Daddy." Magiliw na bati nito habang tumatalon talon pa palapit sa kanya.

Niyakap s'ya ni Andrew. He's hesitating to hug him back but Helaine nudges him a little. Niyakap na lamang n'ya pabalik ang bata and kissed his hair.

A few hours later ay nagpaalam na ang yaya ni Andrew na iuuwi na n'ya ang alaga n'ya dahil gabi na.

Helaine was left with Albert. "I'll explain when we got home."

"San ba ako dapat umuwi? Sa'yo? O kay Elise? Sino na ba sa inyo ang pamilya ko ngayon? Kanino na ba ako nakikipaglokohan between you and her?" He retorted and looked at Helaine with anger.

"Albert, please pag-usapan na lang natin kapag nasa bahay ka na natin." She exclaimed and call their driver telling to fetch them after an hour.

While on the road, silence is occupying their car. None of them wants to talk. Maybe they're both saving the words for their confrontation, confession, argument or whatever it is that might happen between them when they gets home.

For Albert, it is the longest 30 minutes ride. Hindi na s'ya makapaghintay komprontahin ang asawa n'ya. But for Helaine, this is the shortest time going home. Parang ayaw na n'yang huminto pa ang sasakyan. Kanina pa s'ya napapaisip kung anong mga itatanong ni Albert and what will happen to them after he knows the truth?

"Bumaba ka na nandito na tayo." Albert said in cold tone ng makitang hindi pa rin kumikilos si Helaine.

She just get out of the car at binagalan ang paglakad. Nahalata naman ito ni Albert kaya nagsalita ito.

"Bagalan mo man ang lakad mo o hindi mag-uusap pa rin tayo." Then he passed by her and headed straight to their room.

She just followed him upstairs.

"So ano? Magpapakiramdaman pa ba tayo, Helaine?" He looked at her. "Come on! Spill it!" He shouts.

"Nagcrash ang eroplanong sinasakyan mo. Kasama si Elise who's pregnant to Andrew, anak si Elise ni Mr. Eduard Lacson. Your boss. Pinapahatid ni Mr. Lacson sa'yo si Elise papuntang bangkok to privately give birth pero 'yun nga ang nangyare, nagcrash ang eroplano. Hindi naman mahanap ang katawan mo. Pero believe me umasa akong buhay ka. At 'yun nga nakita kita one day. Kasama si Elise at Andrew, three years after that accident happen. And I knew right then na may kakaibang nangyayare kaya hindi ka ibinalik ni Elise." Tumingin s'ya kay Albert na ngayo'y tahimik na nakikinig sa kanya.

Huminga s'ya ng malalim bago nagpatuloy sa kwento.

"Pinuntahan kita sa bahay ni Elise. Don't you remember? Ikaw pa nga ang kumausap sa akin sa gate. Ang sabi mo hindi mo ako kilala." Helaine

"Albert, ako 'to. Ako ang asawa mo. Helaine. Albert, hindi mo ba ako maalala?" Tanong nya ng makita nya ito sa may gate.

"Alfre- Helaine?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Elise ng makita si Helaine kausap si Alfred.

"Pinapasok ka na nuon ni Elise sa loob because Andrew was looking for you and crying. Then si Elise ang nakausap ko. She begged na hayaan muna kita sa kanya para kay Andrew. Because her son will only live for seven years. Hindi ako pumayag sa gusto n'ya but I took pity on Andrew." She wipe her tears when she stopped talking.

"Pero sa anak mo hindi ka naawa? Abby needs me too!" Sigaw n'ya.

"But I know she'll understand. Alam n'ya ang kalagayan ni Andrew kaya nagtiis din s'ya." She said.

"Pero hindi dapat s'ya nagtiis para lang mabigyan ng ama si Andrew because in the first place hindi ko sila kaano-ano!" He stood up and points his finger to Helaine. "Kinailangan ko rin kayo! Alam mo 'yon! Pero bakit hinayaan mo akong mabuhay sa kasinungalingan?!" He added.

"Pero--" He cuts Helaine's words when he speak.

"You know what, wala namang patutunguhan 'to eh." He's about to live the room when she asked where is he going.

"Ayokong makasama ka. Bibisitahin ko na lang ng madalas si Abby. Pinamigay mo ako di ba? So wala ka ng karapatan na bawiin ako." He slammed the door and talk to Abby before leaving.

***

End of Chapter 4.