Arts of Heart (Compilation of OSS)

ART 102

We spent almost a month here in mansion and tomorrow we're going back in Manila. Tuluyan nang nawala sa isip ko ang sumpa at mga sabi-sabi.

But I couldn't believe that I will have a bad dreams. In my dream, Anastasha was there while shouting her last words probably the curse that the old woman and other people were talking about. I was so scared that it made me cry. I am sweating. Humahangos akong napabangon.

I looked at my husband who was peacefully sleeping. I tried to wake him up but he didn't move. I placed my ear on his nose to check if he's breathing but he's not. I also tried to put my finger on his nose but there's no air. I started to panic.

I asked for help to immediately bring my husband to the nearest hospital.

"Anong nangyari, ma'am?" tarantang tanong ng caretaker but my mind was corrupted. I can't think, properly.

"I don't know! Bigla na lang siyang hindi magising. Sinubukan ko siyang gisingin ng maraming beses but he's not responding!" I replied while crying.

My hands and knees were trembling. Having a picture without my husband in my life makes me weak.

"Ang sumpa. Nangyari na naman ang kaniyang sumpa," the caretaker murmured but I give her a bloodshot eyes.

I noticed that even her were confused. She wants to tell something but she decided to silent.

"Fucking curse! That's not true!"

When we arrived at the hospital, my man was dead on arrival. I don't know what should I do because I'm lost.

I don't know how could I manage to go back at the mansion and pack all our things. I found the caretaker there. I can see in her eyes that she's also worried.

Nilagpasan ko lamang siya tsaka nagsimulang mag-impake.

"I couldn't believe that my husband just died beside me..." I started to cry again like I want to express what I am feeling right now. "Wala naman siyang ginawang masama para kunin agad sa akin."

She slowly walked towards me to give me a hug. My body lost its energy.

"Ang sumpa ni Anastasha ay muling natupad. Patawad." Mabilis ko siyang naitulak dahil doon.

"Sumpa na naman! Putang-inang sumpa 'yan. Kung totoo ang sumpang iyan ay bakit buhay pa rin ako? Bakit asawa ko lang ang namatay? Sabihin mo! Bakit siya lang ang kinuha!"

She was stiffined. Batid kong maging siya ay hindi alam ang kasagutan sa tanong ko.

Nilisan ko ang bahay at lugar na iyon. Minabuti kong sa Manila na lamang iburol ang aking asawa para rin makadalo ang kaniyang pamilya.

After a weeks of mourning, I thought-out to visit the mansion again. The place where my husband died. Hanggang ngayon ay pala-isipan pa rin sa akin ang lahat.

I'm not yet healed. And I know it takes a long time to be. My heart still missing him and every corner of the mansion reminds me of him and the memories we built there.

I startled when the old woman spoke beside me.

"Ang pagkukwento ko noon ay isang babala," saad niya. My brows furrowed so I turned my face at her.

"Hindi ko pa pala natatapos ang kwento ko. Nalaman mo sana agad ngunit batid kong hindi ka rin maniniwala noon kaya pinili ko na lamang manahimik," walang ekspresyon niyang dagdag.

"What are you talking about?" I hissed getting annoyed by what she's saying.

"Hindi lamang iyon ang sumpa. Hindi lamang kamatayan ng mag-asawa dahil may isa ka pang hindi nalalaman. Noong araw na iyon din bago siya malagutan ng hininga, rinig na rinig ng aking dalawang tainga ang kaniyang huling kataga."

She remained her blank expression towards me.

"Ano pa ang hindi mo nasasabi?" pagalit kong tanong bago nagsimulang magtambulan ang aking dibdib sa kaba.

"Na lahat ng lalaking hindi magmamahal pabalik sa kaniyang mga kadugo ay mamamatay."

Naiwan akong nanghihina sa tapat ng mansyon habang hindi maiproseso ang lahat ng sinasabi.

Umiiyak kong nilingon ang mga pulis na naglalakad papunta sa kinaroroonan ko. I faced them with the tears on my cheeks.

"Annika Sarmiento, inaaresto ka sa salang pagpatay sa iyong kapatid na si Allia Sarmiento."

Walang lakas akong nagpatianod sa mga pulis because they're right. I did kill her.

Frank never loved me because I am not his real wife. A memories of me killing my own twin sister flashback. I killed her for I can't accept the fact that our bestfriend, Frank married her and not me. He chose my sister over me. And it pushed me to do that merceless thing and pretended as her.

And now what that old woman said hits me. It explains everything.

Totoo ang sumpa ni Anastasha.

Frank died because he can't love me back and the fact that my grandmother was Anastasha's step sister.

I don't know if I should be happy or hurt with the fact that her blood was running in every part of my body because it brings so much impact to me.

Ang galit ay unti-unting lumukob sa aking dibdib.

Para sa akin, ang maging kadugo si Anastasha ay isang sumpa.