I've been sitting on this couch beside the window at Eighth Ride for about four hours now. I have ordered different snacks and meals, coffee and a few sodas just to stay in this place.
I stared down at the black and yellow book in front of me. I have been thinking for a while now, and I have been reading her pieces over and over for the past three hours.
Call me crazy, call me stupid, but I'm damn serious. I've been doing this over and over, thinking of different possibilities, different stories, different pasts that could have happened.
I sighed and closed the book. I then took a sip from my second cup of coffee and took my phone out of my pocket.
I turned it on and was surprised with my wallpaper.
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I can't believe my eyes. She's so pretty. We look so genuinely happy in this photograph. Like there was nothing else more important in the world but us.
There is an US.
I'm so lucky to have her.
Pero what the fuck is happening?! Why can't I remember anything about her? About us?
I guess I should sleep this off. Baka mas makapag isip ako ng matino paggising.
We were both sitting in front of the ICU for the past day, since Richard left the hospital.
"Yes iha? Are you okay?"
For the past day, I've been thinking over and over and over and over again on what went wrong. How could Richard kid like that? Even if he isn't, but how could he forget? It was like our memories were just simply washed away.
"Tita Rio... bakit...b-bakit p-po ganun? H-hi-hindi niya po ako n-nakilala? P-pero nakita niya ako? Anong nangyayari?"
I started crying again for the hundredth time. I just couldn't take it. Aside from my family, it's like, Richard is serving as my rope, my hope, my strength to live.
Pictures of me waking up beside my family, but without Richard is like torture. I've never love someone this strong, and I think that I'll never love anybody else like this again.
"Ssshh. Tahan ka na muna Meng. Look at your family inside, even if they're tired their still here. Si RJ naman, well, there must be a reason and an answer to what's happening anak. Hihingi tayo ng tulong, we won't stop until we get an answer okay?"
I nodded ang hugged her. All this time that I have been roaming around this lonely hospital, Tita Rio stood up as my guardian, guiding and protecting me. It would be great if she'll live again too.
"Balik muna tayo sa baba kila Uncle Lucas mo, okay lang? Sa kanila tayo magumpisa magtanong. Mga beterano na yun. Hahaha!"
I giggled a little and wiped the tears from my face. I then looked at myself inside the ICU before going down with Tita Rio.
But there was one thing on my mind while walking.
Will Richard come back?
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
We got to the Passed House and a lot were still awake. Uncle Lucas was there, Kuya Wally, Auntie Riri, The blonde American girl, and a lot more familiar faces.
"Magandang gabi po sa inyo." I shyly greeted as we both entered the vicinity.
"Oh! Buti bumalik na kayo dito! Akala namin di na babalik dito si Maine dahil dun sa mokong na yun eh." Kuya Wally said.
I guess the story leaked around the house while we were gone.
"Welcome back sa inyo. Don't worry, wala na si Miggy dito, pinalipat ko na muna sa kabilang bahay. Babalik siya dito kapag matino na siya. Ang sakit niya sa ulo eh!" Uncle Lucas said.
I sighed in relief and mustered a smile. But for all we know, I'm such a terrible liar. They immediately knew that there was something wrong.
"Iha? What's wrong?" Uncle Lucas asked.
I frowned in defeat and looked at him with glassy eyes.
"S-si Ri-Richard po kasi... Di niya na ako kilala."
All eyes were then set on me the moment I sputtered those words. It was like I caught their attention to something very interesting.
"Ha?! What do you mean?" He asked again.
"Eh Lucas, ang anak ko bigla nalang hindi makilala etong si Maine. Actually niyakap muna nga siya ni Maine becuase he looked uncomfortable, then unexpectedly, nakikita na ni RJ si Meng as her spirit. But hindi niya makilala si Maine. Before that day, wala namang nangyari sa anak ko, he was completely normal. He just got drunk, but nothing else." Tita Rio explained.
Siguro she figured na mahihirapan ako mag explain, so she took the lead. Uncle Lucas shook his head and clicked his tongue in disappointment. No one seemed to be reacting too, all of this seems new to them.
"Halika muna. Pag usapan natin yang lahat." He said and led us to the far area Of the house to have a Round Table Discussion.
