After waking up inside the condo which Chances and I once considered our home, while remembering her face from the last time I saw her, an idea came up to me. But how am I going to do it? Kidnap her? Uh. No.
Honestly, I don't have any idea on how to actuate my plans. But there is one thing that is always certain, I'm not giving up on her. Sigurado akong siya si Chances. Kung hindi lang naiba ang buhok niya, wala kang makikitang kaibahan sa kanila ng Chanchan ko bago ako na-coma. Pareho ang mga pangarap nila. Lahat-lahat ay nagco-coincide. This is not coming to my awareness for nothing. I'm meant to find her so I could have her back.
Wala akong pakialam sa result ng DNA. A single paper will not dictate my happiness, my marriage and in making my family complete. Hindi isang papel ang magdidikta sa'kin at sa buhay namin ng anak ko... sa buhay namin ni Chances.
"Mr. Harrison?"
"Hi babe."Bati ko sa kanya sabay abot ng bouquet ng bulaklak na dala ko.
"What's this game?"Pagsusungit niya. "What are you up to? Just leave please."
"Sinusundo lang naman kita."Pasimpleng sagot ko nang nakangiti pa. "Tara na. Sa hospital ka ba pupunta?"
"Zacchary. Please just leave. Ayokong maging bastos kaya please umalis ka na."Patuloy na pagtataboy niya.
"Nope. I can be more annoying than this, Chances. You know it. So you choose; get in the car or you get in the car."
Masama ang tingin na ipinukol niya sa'kin pero pumasok parin siya ng kotse. Napangiti ako bago sumunod sa loob. That's exactly how my Chances acts. That's my wife.
"Sky."Pagpapaalala niya nang nasa driver's seat na ako. "Hindi ako si Chances, okay?"
"Okay, babe. Copy that."
She opted to be silent; probably to avoid getting annoyed at me. More like, she's already annoyed at me. Napangiti ako. Ganyan talaga siya e, tatahimik at bubusangot na lang siya kapag nagagalit or naiinis na sa'kin.
"Have you taken your breakfast?"I asked.
Hindi siya sumagot. But I saw her forehead furrowing. Galit pa din e. Aasarin ko pa sanang lalo kaya lang ay narinig kong kumulo ang tiyan niya.
"Siya na ang sumagot para sa'yo."Sabi kong nakangiti sa kanya.
She looked to the other side, hiding her face from me. It was no avail; sumilip naman kasi ako. Napangiti na siya at ang cute, namumula ang pisngi niya gaya ng dati kapag nahihiya siya.
"Babe, it's okay."
"You're so annoying."Pagmamasungit niya. "Anyway, I've heard about a nice coffee shop. We can go there and grab a breakfast."
"Hmm. I'm cool with that."
"Great. Coffee Chances it is then."Nakangiting sabi niya.
Oo nga 'no? Hindi ba nga nagpunta na siya minsan sa coffee shop? Inaway pa nga siya no'n ni Divina. Wala man lang ba siyang maalala. I've established that business for her. Naaalala ko pa, desperadong-desperado ako no'n dahil sa takot na baka iwan niya ako dahil hindi ko maibigay sa kanya ang buhay na nararapat sa kanya.
"Hey, what happened to your hands?"She asked, taking me out of my reverie.
Napatingin ako sa kamay kong medyo namamaga pa dahil sa pagsuntok ko ng wall no'ng nakaraang araw, nang malaman ang result ng DNA test. Knowing that she cares, I smiled at her.
"Wala 'to. Nabadtrip lang."
"Are you sure? Zacchary, it's swelling."
Nang balingan ko siya, lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko dahil mata ng asawa ko ang aking nakikita; mga mata ni Chances sa tuwing nag-aalala siya. Ako narin ang nagbawi ng tingin dahil nararamdaman ko ng nangingilid ang luha sa mga mata ko.
"Sorry."She murmured.
"Hey, no. It's okay. It's just... just a bit awkward to hear someone caring for me."I reasoned out.
Napakuyom ako ng mga kamay habang pilit na umiiwas sa mga mata niyang nakatingin sa'kin. I failed. I failed lamely because a sight of her is what I really wanted. Sinisilip ko siya sa rearview mirror. Kung pwede ko lang sana siyang titigan buong buhay ko.
"Sa nangyari nga pala no'ng nakaraan, pagpasensiyahan mo na."I said apologetically.
"What do you mean?"
"Ah. Yong nangyari sa coffee shop."
"Oh. That! Okay, I was actually so scared. Who was that girl?"
She's the woman you've saved me from Chances. Napailing ako sa sinisigaw ng isip ko.
"She was my ex-girlfriend."I told her the truth, hoping it will ignite her memory. "She used to be so envious about yo-I mean, about my wife."
"I can see that. Do we really look alike?"She asked curiously, not taking her eyes off me. Tumango na lamang ako at ngumiti narin bilang sagot. "Sorry if I remind you of her. I'm really sorry, Zacchary. I don't mean to be so hard on you. It was just... really hard on my end too. I hope you understand."
"No. Okay lang, Sky. Okay lang." I shook my head. "I'm sorry for being so annoying. Nasanay na ako e. My wife hates me for being so annoying but she loves me for that same reason too."Nakangiting kwento ko.
"I can already imagine how adorable she is."She agreed, smiling the same smile as my wife's.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ng empleyado ko sa shop na nakakakilala at nakakakita kay Chances sa personal. Nagulat silang magkasama kami ni Sky na sigurado akong iniisip din nila ay si Chances. Si Amelia ang kumuha ng order namin, isa siya sa mga pioneering staff ng coffee shop. She's actually one of the supervisors now. Hindi siya kumukurap habang nakatitig sa kasama ako. I even tried signalling her to stop because I saw that Sky felt uncomfortable but Amelia is not even looking at me.
"I'll have short machiatto, a carbonara and the bubble waffle." She stated and yet Amelia still cannot take her eyes off her. "That's all. Thanks."Sky said in almost a whisper. This time, I found the need to clear my throat so she'd stop making Sky uneasy.
"Sir Zacc, what do you want to have?"
"Just get me anything, Amy."I answered.
Nang ibalik ko ang tingin kay Sky, nakakunot siya ng noo samantalang nakangiti naman ako sa kanya. Sinundan niya ng tingin si Amelia na papalayo. Matama siyang nakatitig sa'kin ngayon matapos ibalik ang atensiyon sa'kin.
"Ugh. I'm not right."She muttered. "You don't own this shop and named it after your wife."She said in reverse psychology.
"You've figured it out."I muttered, impressed. "Tss. Of course, you are always the genius."Sabi ko patungkol kay Chanchan. Buti nalang hindi rin niya pinansin.
Matapos ang breakfast namin, umalis na kami agad ng shop dahil umamin siyang naco-conscious siya sa paligid. Napansin niya na daw noon ang tingin ng mga staff do'n pero hindi niya lang pinansin. Akala niya nagandahan lang sa kanya. Napangiti nga ako ng malapad nang sabihin niya 'yon. Talaga namang nakakamangha ang ganda niya. Siya kaya ang pinakamaganda.
"So where shall I take you?"I asked after pulling the car out of the car park.
"I'm going to the hospital."
"Visiting your fiance, right?"
Tumango siya. Looking at her through the rearview mirror, I saw the sadness in her eyes and my heart reflexively broke.
"He will be fine. He will wake up, Sky."I said to ease the heaviness she's feeling only to make mine even worse.
"I hope so. He's been sleeping for almost three months now. Hindi ko na naririnig 'yong boses niya, 'yong mga jokes niya."She smiled in pain, tears spurting in her eyes. "Nami-miss ko na siya."
Ang sikip-sikip ng dibdib ko. I felt like Chances is cheating on me. Kahit anong gawin ko, hindi ko mapaniwala ang puso't isip ko na hindi siya ang asawa ko. Sa tuwing tinitingnan ko siya, si Chances ang nakikita ko.
"Zacc? Why did you stop?"She asked, brows frowning, after I parked the car on the side of the road.
"Sumakit bigla 'yong ulo ko."Pagsisinungaling ko. Ang totoo, nawawalan ako ng lakas. Feeling ko, any moment, iiyak ako. With all my might, I forced to blink my tears back. Baka hindi ko na naman mapigilan ang nararamdaman ko at mayayakap ko na naman siya. I'm afraid that if I do, I might not want to let her go, ever again.
"Uhm, I can drive you home."She volunteered considerately.
"No-no. It's okay, I'll be fine."
"No, Zacchary. Paano kung may mangyari sa'yo? Sige na."She got out of the car to take over the wheel. "Sige na, umisod ka na do'n."
Sumunod na lamang ako. Nang paandarin na niya ang kotse, saka ko lang naalala ang pinlano ko, ang dalhin siya sa condo. Baka sakaling kapag nakabalik siya do'n, sa una naming naging tahanan, baka maalala niya lahat. Baka maalala niya kung sino siya.
"Sa'n kita ihahatid?"Tanong niyang nagpabuhay ng loob ko. I told her the address. "Natulog ka ba kagabi?"
"Oo naman."
"Baka kulang ka sa pahinga. Baka sobrang workaholic mong tao. Saka 'wag mong kalimutang mag-hydrate lagi. Bring water with you all the time."
"Okay po babe. Salamat."Nakangising wika ko sa kanya.
"Tss, I'm serious."
"I can see that."
She rolled her eyes at me so I chuckled. Wala pang kalahating oras ay nakarating na kami sa Grande Avenue, kung nasaan ang condominium. After parking the car, we both got out.
"Do you want me to accompany you up to your unit?"She asked thoughtfully.
"N-no. No, hindi na. Thank you, Sky."
"No problem."
Humawak ako sa kotse para magpanggap na nahihilo, dahilan para hawakan niya ako sa braso.
"Hey, what's wrong? Are you dizzy?"She panicked. I flinched when I felt the warmth of her hand as it touched my face. "Zacchary, look at me." I followed suit. Nakonsensiya naman agad ako dahil tumambad sa'kin ang mga mata niyang puno ng pag-aalala. "Can you see me clearly? Nahihilo ka ba?"
"Yes."
"Alright."Nilagay niya ang kamay ko sa braso niya habang nasa bewang ko naman ang kamay niya para alalayan ako. "Sasamahan na kita hanggang sa unit mo baka hindi ka pa makarating sa elevator, mahimatay ka na."
Hindi na muna ako nagsalita. Hindi ko sinasadyang mapatitig sa kanya habang naghihintay kami ng elevator.
"Ang swerte naman ng fiance mo sa'yo."I heard myself say.
"Hindi."Umiling siya. "Ako 'yong swerte sa kanya. He's so... so patient with me. Naiisip ko nga kung baka ibang tao 'yon, sumuko na 'yon at iniwan na ako. Ilang taon na akong walang maalala."Kwento niyang nagpalakas ng kabog ng puso ko.
Kaming dalawang lang ni Sky ang nasa loob ng elevator na lihim kong ipinagpasalamat. Nakahawak parin siya sa bewang ko at ako, nakaakbay parin sa kanya. Sinadya kong humarap sa kanya na halatang nagpagulat sa kanya.
"Wala kang maalala?"I asked her, our faces just inches away from each other.
"Hmm."She mouthed. "I just woke up years ago with nothing but fear. I don't know why."
Hindi niya natapos ang pagkukwento dahil nasa floor na kami kung saan naroon ang unit. Pero hindi ko naman 'yon hinayaang dumaan lang. I asked her about it when we got in the unit. We didn't even make it to the couch. I faced her again the very moment we stepped inside my condominium. I wrapped my arm around her waist too which made her flinch. Kaya mukha kaming nakayakap sa isa't isa lalo na at ang lapit lang ng mga katawan namin.
"Takot? Takot saan?"
"Takot akong makakita ng tao."She answered willingly, gazing straight to my eyes. "It was weird. Siguro dahil wala akong kahit na anong maalala. Siguro kaya gano'n."
"You mean you didn't remember who you are too, am I right?"
"Zacc, kung papunta ang usapan na 'to sa asawa mo-"
"But she could be you."I persistently uttered."You could be my wife-"
"I remember myself now, Zacchary. I'm not her."
Tumulo na ng tuluyan ang luhang kanina pa gustong makatakas sa mga mata ko. Ni hindi ko magawang kumurap dahil sa takot na baka bigla siyang mawala ulit. Gusto kong ganito lang siya kalapit sa'kin-na kahit ang paghinga at pagkabog ng puso niya ay naririnig ko.
"Mahal na mahal kita, Chan. Miss na miss na kita. Para akong mababaliw sa kaiisip kung paano kita maiuuwi. Kailangan kita e. Kailangan ka ng mga anak natin."Umiiyak na wika ko.
"Zacc, please stop. Hindi ako ang asawa mo."Naiiyak na sambit niya. Hinawakan ko ang mukha niya para magtagpo ang mga mata namin.
"Okay lang na hindi mo 'ko maalala. Umuwi ka lang. Umuwi ka na please. Please..."
"Sa tingin ko, kailangan mo ng magpahinga. Halika na."Mahinahong wika niya. Inalis niya ang mga kamay kong nakahaplos sa pisngi niya. But I didn't move, I stood there asking myself whether or not to beg her to stay while I watched her cry.
"Zacc, please. You just need to rest."
"I need you."I whispered. "Chances, I need you. Hayaan mo 'kong ipaalala sa'yo lahat."I told her as a warning to what I will do next.
I claimed her lips. She didn't protest; she let me own her completely. When I opened my eyes again, we were already in the bedroom, both catching our breath.
"Zacchary."She whispered dubiously.
"Chances, I love you."I uttered and then once again claimed her soft sweet lips. I continued kissing her passionately.
I felt her fingers digging to my skin which just gave me the signal not to stop. However, I did. I stopped to look at her. She was closing her eyes, waiting, ready to make love to me. What I saw that very moment is my wife; so I found the reason to do it. While my lips busied on her skin, on her balmy neck, my hands carefully unbuttoned her dress.
"I love you, babe. I love you so much."I whispered closely on her earlobe after planting kisses there.
The room was filled with her voice' sweet utterance of my name in the next few minutes. I was so sure that I wasn't making love to someone else, to someone who just looked like Chances, I was sure that it was her. That it's my wife that I was kissing. That the woman in my arms right now is my wife.
Under the warm covers, she was hugging me with her eyes beautifully closed. Her head is placed comfortably on my bare chest. I wished she'd stay there so she'd hear the sound of my heart; my heart that beats only for her.
"I love you, babe."I whispered to her while my hand caressed her hair up and down. She was hugging me, her eyes were closed.
Hindi siya sumagot pero naramdaman kong humigpit ang yakap niya sa'kin. Parang isang panaginip ang sandaling 'yon. Before closing my eyes as well, I kissed her on the forehead.
"I love you, Chances."
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Author's Corner:
Hoy. Wala akong kinalaman do'n. Wag niyo akong kausapin. 😁😂