[Rhea's POV]
“Your heart is empty just like your promises.”
It may sound simple for her, but breaking my promises, especially to her, was excruciating. Deep inside, my love for her remains unwavering. I'm profoundly in love with her.
Her words shattered me into pieces, like crashing into a massive rock on the road while desperately trying to hit the brakes.
Yet, I can't just stand there, watching my shattered soul.
After discovering that my mother's heart is within her, it felt like a significant part of me had been ripped away, leaving me incomplete.
I love her.
I just need some time apart for now because I can't bear it.
The night I searched her parents' room, it yielded nothing. There was no information about the doctor, her doctor. All I found was her name and a blank space where the doctor's name should be.
"Eya..."
"Is it all worth it?" I questioned my father.
"My daughter..."
"The truth, the evidence is right here in my hands. But why do I feel so hollow inside? I should be elated now that everything is finally unraveling," I cried, collapsing onto my knees again.
"Eya, it's for the best," he said.
Upon hearing that, I stood up, nearly losing my balance as I succumbed to my tears. I hurriedly left the room, the mansion, and drove to a place where I always find solace and tranquility.
A place where I can express my vulnerability, unfiltered.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I mustered my strength, determined not to let my tears blur my vision.
"Happy birthday, princess! Here's my gift for you!"
"Name her Layla, take care of her. She's a good girl. Layla will be your support when I'm not around. When I'm not here, she'll be your best friend and will always be with you."
I vividly recalled that night, my birthday. My mother had been called to the hospital and hurried away. I waited for her return, anticipation mixing with worry.
"I'll be back..."
Those were her last words, the final ones I heard from her before she vanished like the wind.
I halted my car abruptly, reaching for a small blue container before stepping out.
I'm here, at last.
I took slow steps, my eyes fixed on the tombstone in front of me.
Dr. Rheanne Bleyth C. Isfaela
Born: July 18 1988
Died: October 14 2009
"Ma..." I didn't finish my sentence as I knelt down, facing the grave.
I'm consumed by an overwhelming urge to scream, to release the pent-up emotions within me.
The pain, the anger, and the grief are suffocating, leaving me feeling utterly broken and helpless.
I'm like a shattered soul, and I can't find anyone to rescue me.
I said I needed to save myself, but it feels impossible.
All I can articulate is the agony, aching deep within me. My heart feels like an immeasurable weight, and all I want to do is weep while standing before my mother's grave. I long for peace, to rest beside her, but she's now above, and my resting place vanished 15 years ago. Now, I'm uncertain about the kind of solace I should seek.
"I...I miss you. I miss you so much..." I cried, gazing down as my tears fell.
"Y-you said you'd come back..." I weakly murmured, tears streaming down my face. "You didn't," I concluded.
"Mama, what's that?"
"Sinigang, gusto mo tikman?"
"Opo."
"Here, say Ahhh!"
"Mhmm, delicious! You're the best cook!"
I smiled bitterly as I reminisced about the memories from 15 years ago. It's been 15 long years, but I wondered if the time felt lengthy because I miss you, or if it's dragging on now because you're not here with me.
“Rhea sinabihan na kita na you should be careful, look at your knees."
"Mama it hurts po."
"Sit down and I'll apply vicks on that area, okay?"
I tightened my grip on my hand, clenching a small container within it.
"Pag masakit ang tummy you should apply this, you got it?"
"Why mama?"
"Because this will help you lessen the pain."
"Does this help me if I ever had headache, stomachache, bodyache, and all types of ache?"
"Of course baby."
"You used to say that putting vicks on a hurt part of the body would heal it... I've tried it so many times now, but the pain never goes away."
"You lied to me. How can this tiny container heal the enormous hole in my heart? Explain it to me..." I murmured. Slowly, I opened it and applied a small amount on my chest, then a bit more, but the pain in my heart didn't wane. I continued until I had almost used up the entire contents, applying it to my chest over the heart area.
"You lied." I retreated, "The pain is still here." I said pointing at my heart.
"I have a patient, a young girl. Her body is fragile and she can't enjoy life not like you."
"Really?"
"Uh-hmm. She loves painting."
"Wow, is she good? Is she good?"
"Yes, marunong siya mag paint ng flowers specially sun flower, she paints lots of it."
"Are you gonna replace me with her, mama?"
"No, baby...no no. You're mama's only princess."
"Then I will start painting from now on!"
"Oh ho ho ho, why's my girl being competitive?"
"I'm just jealous."
"Rhea you're too young to say that, baka madala mo yan paglaki mo."
It was you all along. Fate is really playful.
"Mama, please comeback po..."
"Mama will be back."
"I'll be back."
"You came back. But you never truly returned."
That night, the way you looked at me, your eyes filled with assurance that you will return—I will carry that gaze with me for the entirety of my existence.
"You did cameback, but only in pieces, and those pieces were the reason the girl I loved survived, while you who had been my haven didn't."
I find it impossible to accept the way you died—it's a nightmare etched in my memory.
Your lifeless body was discovered in the vast expanse of the ocean while we were desperately searching for you. I was utterly lost then, even though I was just a kid the pain that enveloped me felt like a lifetime of sorrow. I was still young, yet I had been left to navigate the world on my own ever since you left me.
"Ma, the pain is unbearable," I whispered, my heart throbbing with intensified ache. The memories with my mother shred my soul into pieces.
Your heart was missing, so as mine. The day I discovered your heart was missing, mine vanished too.
When I was a child, my greatest fear was losing you because you were all I had.
In the darkness of my room, I cling to your picture, hoping to feel your presence, imagining you're still with me. Your photograph is all I have. I wish it were all just a dream, and I could return to your arms, hearing you sing my favorite song 'Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan.' But for now, all I have is a ghost of you.
My fear was losing you, and indeed, I lost you.
The day you passed away, my happiness faded forever, turning me into someone cold-hearted. I've lost the ability to laugh and find joy in others' presence. Instead, I seek solace in memories of you and our old photographs. My heart beats, but I no longer feel alive, I merely exist, devoid of true life and breath.
After losing you, I became afraid to let others into my life. You took parts of me that I believed were irretrievable—leaving wounds that only you could heal. The pain made me fearful of things I shouldn't be scared of.
I grew afraid of people doing things for me, fearing that they would remind me of you. Opening up to others became a daunting prospect until I met her.
She was the unexpected love I never thought I'd find, someone who entered my heart slowly. Initially, my heart didn't beat for her, but with time, I found peace in her presence, reminiscent of the comfort I felt when you were alive.
"Little did I realize, I felt this way because her heart and mine shared a connection—it was yours." I said, I found myself crying, my body trembling with sadness. Tears streamed down my face, lost in the pouring rain.
I couldn't help but wonder, "Does heaven experience the same emotions I feel now? Or is it you, watching over me?" I looked up, tears mingling with the raindrops on my cheeks, "I miss you." I cried, I wiped my tears struggling to control my emotion.
"When I met her, it felt like I discovered the missing fragment of my heart. She completes me with her mere presence. That's how I used to talk to you about Frey, the girl I'm immensely proud of."
"But how can I harbor any resentment towards her, Ma?" I questioned, standing by the gravestone as the rain fell gently yet swiftly. "How could I despise the girl who rescued me from the sorrow that consumed me? Even though she carries your heart, I understand, deep down, that she shouldn't have to endure this pain. It just pains me."
"I searched for your presence, not realizing I already had it when she's with me," I uttered, my eyes stinging from crying.
"Do you remember those times when I would go here and talk about her?" I chuckled, although tears still welled up in my eyes. "I recall that one evening when I got so engrossed talking about her with you that I forgot about our training session." I finished.
"No matter what you choose I'll be rooting for you."
"Can I be a painter, mama?"
"Whatever you want, baby. Mama will always be proud of you. Teka nga lang, wait a minute...why'd you want to be a painter all of the sudden?"
"Because If I ever meet that patient then we will paint together and you will watch us while painting."
"You want to meet her?"
"Opo but I want to learn so that I can be better painter than her."
"Mama, the girl you spoke about 15 years ago became my student, and she never ceases to amaze me with her artwork," I said, a smile replacing my tears. I sat beside my mother's grave and gently brushed away the leaves that covered it.
"I adore every aspect of her, perhaps excessively so, but how can I help it? How can I not love her infectious smile, her laughter that spreads like wildfire, her eyes that hold so much depth, her sense of humor, and her intense passion for the things she loves?" I expressed, feeling a glimmer of happiness within me.
"I can understand why you admired her paintings back then because I find myself doing the same now. She has a talent for painting, a talent that has colored my life in vibrant hues."
"I love her, I love her deeply. I'd do anything for her," I confessed in front of my mother's grave.
Earlier, when I looked into her eyes, they didn't reflect the familiar gaze I always cherished. It felt like I was betraying her.
No.
I'll never betray her.
"Please, give me the strength to mend things with her. I can't bear to lose her, Ma. She's all I have now. If you can hear me, grant me the strength to unravel this situation and find out who really took your life. I know she's innocent, she's a victim too. Lend me your strength..." I pleaded, leaning closer to the gravestone as if seeking solace.
There was a moment of quiet, and a warm breeze enveloped me despite the pouring rain. I smiled bitterly, a glimmer of hope rising within me.
"Thank you, Mama," I said as I stood up. "I'll return here with her by my side. I promise to introduce you to her. I love you, and I'll set things right."
Slowly, I took a step back, leaving the uncertainty in the cemetery. All I wanted was to talk to her, to hold her in my arms again. I never intended to end things between us, it happened because I couldn't comprehend my feelings at that time.
The words I said were lies.
I yearned to understand her more because my heart told me she wasn't involved, she was merely another victim of someone's vile scheme.
I still yearn for the justice my mother deserves. I've dedicated my life to seeking it, and once I settle things with her, I intend to avenge those who took her life.
As I drove back to my mansion, an overwhelming sense of unease washed over me, leaving me nervous about something undefined. My heart skipped a beat as I recalled her tears from earlier, realizing I had traumatized her, broken her heart once again. Despite it all, I was determined to have her back in my arms.
Exiting my car after entering the gate, another car honked at me. "Vivien?" I exclaimed, puzzled. "Why is she here?"
I opened the gate remotely, allowing the car, whose owner I recognized, to enter. A woman in a khaki coat stepped out.
"Rhea, we need to talk," she said, her voice firm.
"Why are you here at this hour?" I inquired.
"Let's not waste time on trivial matters. Let's get to the point," she said, her tone serious and devoid of playfulness.
"What point are you talking about?"
"Have you found out?" she asked, her eyes fixed on me.
"Found out what, Vien?" my lips trembled as we stood face to face, eye level with each other.
"About Freyja, the one who received your mother's heart," she stated firmly.
I nodded in response, and she didn't seem surprised. Wait, did she already know all of this?
"You're aware of this?" I questioned, my fists clenched.
"I know because I care about her safety," she replied. I didn't appreciate those words coming from her. "She was innocent at that time, Rhea. Whoever is to blame is the heartless person who killed your mother," she added, leaving me stunned.
"You can't blame her," she said, averting her gaze from me.
"I know, I've accepted it. I love her, and you know that," I declared.
"Of course, I know. I know you love her, and she loves you too," her voice quivered, indicating she was holding back tears.
"I'm aware you have feelings for her," I countered.
"Pinaubaya ko na siya sayo, Rhea," she responded, her eyes reflecting the struggle to hold back tears.
"Vien, she was meant to be mine from the start. I don't feel sorry for you," I replied, our conversation devoid of yelling, yet charged with emotion.
"You don't need to say that, because I understand her heart belongs to you. I only wanted her to be safe with you. I've helped both of you a lot to make things work out, just so... I'm sorry," she trailed off, unable to finish her words.
"She belongs to me, and I'll do everything in my power to protect her and love her. I'll surpass anything you do for her," I asserted, my competitive spirit showing.
I glanced back at my mansion, an empty place void of any human presence.
"Where is she?" she asked, making me realize she wasn't with me.
I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Did she go back to their home? I didn't know.
"Rhea, where is she?" Vien pressed again, "You were with her, right?" she added.
"I...I..."
"Rhea!?? Where is Freyja!?" she exclaimed, her voice rising in anxiety.
"She left the mansion earlier because of what she witnessed, and I don't know where she is right now," I admitted, a dreadful feeling creeping through me. Something didn't feel right.
She left because I pushed her.
"For God's sake, Rhea! What were you thinking?" she shouted again, stepping forward and grabbing my collar, her voice filled with urgency. "You didn't even follow her? How can she be safe, Rhea!!?"
"What do you mean, Vien!?" I retorted, unaware of her growing agitation.
"I entrusted her to you, thinking you'd keep her safe, but what is this?" she shouted again, her frustration evident. "Let's find her, right now!!"
"I will find her, Vien. Don't interfere, let me handle this, I'll settle things with her," I said firmly.
"She's in danger right now, I'm sure of it, Rhea!!!"
"Vien!?? Can you please explain everything to me instead of yelling!!!" My voice rose in frustration.
"I was the one who helped you when you went to Isla Fuerte. I escorted both of you back here because I knew someone was after Freyja. Ginawa ko ʼyon para protektahan kayo, siya. Rhea, may planong patayin si Freyja."
The moment I realized she might be in danger, I rushed towards my car, but a hand halted my movements.
"Montejo is working now, Rhea... she might be... no, let's find her," Vien said, her voice full of concern. But no amount of concern she had could match my worry about Freyja's safety.
Before we could escape the gates of my mansion, another car blocked our way. A couple hurried towards my car, desperation etched on their faces.
"Our daughter! Ma'am, please... she's missing... my daughter!" Mr. Mercedez's voice cracked, and he almost fell to his knees, clutching my clothes.
"Mr. Mercedez..." My eyes widened. It couldn't be true.
"Our daughter is missing. She didn't come home, and we've contacted everyone we know, but she's nowhere to be found," her mom cried.
Vien was speaking urgently on her phone, she seemed to be speaking with someone, her trembling revealing her fear. "Freyja didn't return to Isla Fuerte as the personnel informed me..." Her voice was laced with dread.
Was it all her doing? But that wasn't the concern at the moment.
"Nandito ba siya, ma'am? Is my daughter with you? Kasama mo siya diba?" I can sense the emotions of her father while grappling my arms. I can tell how much he loves their daughter and so I do.
"No." That is all I can say.
I stood there, my usual composed demeanor shattered into fragments of anxiety. My heart raced in sync with the frenzied breeze outside. My once graceful poise was now replaced by a portrait of fear, my eyes widened with apprehension.
"Please, ma'am, you have to help us find her. Freyja means everything to us," Mrs. Mercedez pleaded, her eyes shimmering with tears.
Mr. Mercedez, his typically stern expression now masked with despair, chimed in, "You're the person she cares for the most. We have nowhere else to turn."
Their words weighed heavily on my shoulders, intensifying my fear into a gnawing sense of dread. I felt the burden of Jael's safety, the immense weight of my love for her. With each passing moment, the thought of her in danger fueled my determination.
"I give you my word, I'll find her. Regardless of the danger, I won't rest until she's back safely," I pledged, my voice quivering with determination.
I was aware I was stepping into the unknown, confronting danger head-on, but love had transformed my fear into an unyielding resolve.
"Please be safe..." I uttered as I immediately step inside the car with Vivien to find the girl I loved.