***
I opened the window and looked at the beautiful surroundings. I smiled as fresh air invaded my nose.
I continued driving. Hindi ko maikubli ang napakalaking ngiti sa labi ko. I am just so happy today because we will be celebrating our first month together. Lumingon ako sa kanya. He's sleeping soundly. So cute.
Binalik ko sa daan ang mga mata ko pero nang mapansin kong gumalaw siya, lumingon ulit ako.
"You're awake." He wandered his eyes around before they landed on me. I chuckled while looking at his inquisitive face.
"Nasaan tayo? Wala pa ba tayo sa pupuntahan natin?"
I shrugged and just answered him with small smile.
He frowned and groaned. "Ano ba 'yan!"
Hindi na siya nagsalita pa at binuksan na lang ang bintana at nakapangalumbabang nagmasid sa labas.
As I continued driving, my smile suddenly faded when I saw a truck approaching that seems to be having a problem. Paliku-liko itong papalapit sa amin. Tila naman parang huminto ang oras. Nawala ang ingay at tanging ang paghinga ko at pagtibok lang ng puso ko ang naririnig ko.
I tried stopping the car but it was no avail. When reality sunk into me, sweat started rolling onto the side of my face.
Ilang ulit akong napalunok habang tinatantiya ang gagawin. Matarik ang lugar kung nasaan kami ngayon, and the only choices I had in mind were either to throw the car off the ravine or to crash it onto the tree on the side.
Bumaling ako sa kanya na nakatingin na rin pala sa akin. Bakas sa mukha niya ang takot at pag-aalala.
Nakangiti kong binigkas ang pangalan niya while tears started falling from my eyes. I mouthed him I love you bago ko binangga ang sasakyan sa puno ng kahoy.
After that, everything went silent.
Napabalikwas ako at napasapo sa dibdib ko habang hinahabol ang hininga ko. I inhaled and exhaled to calm myself while drying the sweat on my forehead. Pinunasan ko rin ang nangingilid kong luha.
Bumangon ako at naglakad papuntang veranda. Sinalubong agad ako ng malamig na hangin.
I have been dreaming of that scenario for over a year already. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit. It always makes me wonder kung ano iyon at kung bakit ko iyon napapanaginipan. Their faces were all blurry. The voices were familiar but I couldn't recall who they were. And that loud explosion in the background that always leaves my heart in chaos.
I sighed and wiped the tears away.
Did I forget something so important before?
I don't know. All I know is that for the past three years, something has been missing in my life. All I know, there is something in the depths of my brain and in my heart. Something that I should not have forgotten.
Something that I think of the memories of before.
***
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are fictitious unless otherwise stated. Any resemblance to a real person, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior permission from the author.
Warning: Be aware that this book has a lot of technical errors such as typographical errors and grammatical errors that you will encounter along the way reading the story. I wish your consideration about it, and I do hope you'll still read this until the end. Thank you!