I woke up from my deep slumber when I heard the door open and close. I saw my brother go near her bed and sit on the chair near it.
Naiuwi na kasi sya matapos nyang mag stay ng isang araw sa hospital. Kaya lang hindi pa din sya nagigising. Hindi na muna namin sya nilagay duon sa second floor, sa isang guest room na muna sya sa ibaba pinatulog at ako ang nagbabantay.
Nagpanggap akong tulog pa din habang pinagmamasdan ko ng pasimple ang Kuya ko na nakaupo habang hawak ang kamay ni Celestine.
He really cared for her. I wonder what happened to make him go crazy in love with this woman.
I know they were friends when we were little, and he grew fond of her as they grew up, which is why no matter what this woman did, he always chose to stay by her side. Is that something called love? Or he's just really a masochist because it's so obvious that he doesn't have any hope or space in her heart.
After a long moment of silence, he stood up and kissed her forehead before going out again. I, on the other hand, get up from the couch and wipe the sleep from my eyes. I sigh as I look at the ceiling before combing my hair.
Uminom ako ng tubig at nagpabalik balik ng lakad habang tinitignan sya sa kama.
She's sleeping peacefully. Buti nga hindi na sya maputla e dahil naagapan naman ng mga doctor ang dugo na nawala sa kanya.
Lumapit ako sa bed nya at yumuko ng bahagya. Kamukhang kamukha talaga nya yung kambal nya. Sya lang yata yung nababaliw na pero ang kinis pa din ng kutis.
Masuyo kong hinaplos ang buhok nya habang hindi inaalis ang titig sa mukha nyang pinagpala.
"Gumising ka na. Promise, hindi na kita iiwanan."
************
"You changed her what?"
Napahinto ako sa pagpasok ng sala dahil narinig ko na may kausap si Kuya sa telepono.
His thick eyebrows were furrowed while he was intently listening to the other person on the other line.
"So it means she's allowed now to travel using her birth name?"
Birth name?
"Okay, just have everything she needs delivered here on the island."
The call ended, and that's where I found the courage to make myself appear in his sight.
"Is that Miss Celeste?"
"Oo"
"Anong birth name sinasabi mo?"
Bumuntong hininga sya at nginuso ang kwartong kinaroroonan ni Celestine.
"Dalawa ang pangalan nya. Yung birth name nya at yung isa naman ay nuong inampon sya. Her twin fixed everything; that's why she's Celestine Aranie Villareal again in every legal paper."
Naupo ako sa harap nya at pinagsiklop ang mga kamay ko habang nakatukod sa hita ko ang mga siko ko.
"What's was her name when she got adopted?"
He sips on his coffee and leans on his chair.
"Grace Winter Wikinson, she's the famous archer and shooter from our high school days."
Napatakip nalang ako sa bibig ko. So all this time sya iyon? Sya yung hinahangaan ng mga kabataan nuon dahil magaling nga ito sa sports.
Hindi ko alam na yung Grace at sya ay iisa dahil nuong nagpakilala sya sa akin Celestine ang gamit nya at saka mas ahead sila sa akin ni Kuya sa pag aaral.
What the hell. Ang liit talaga ng mundo.
"Why she was name as Grace Winter?"- I asked curiously.
"She lost some part of her memories when she was a kid due to her traumatic experience. They named her Grace because they think she's a blessing from above, and Winter because she's always cold and distant and doesn't know how to keep others warm in her presence."
I wouldn't tell, but seriously, she has a beautiful name, whether it's the real one or not. It's just that her face is the only thing you can appreciate, not her damn weird personality.
"Do you think she'll grow up nice if she doesn't remember her past?"- I nibble on my lower lip as I wait for his reply.
"I think so. I told you she was kind when I first met her, but things started to go downhill when one day she changed into someone I no longer knew; from being a sweet angel to a devil, and that's where she told me that she remembers who she is. That's why, when she met you, she used the name Celestine."
I fold my arms and lean on the couch.
"Na saan na yung mga umampon sa kanya?"
He let out a sigh, "They're gone. I don't know the exact story, but they just vanished and every property was left under her real name."
"Ibig mong sabihin, alam nila na Villareal sya?"
"They know, but they didn't know that she's related to the old and filthy rich Villareal because, at that time, the faceless successor hadn't been revealed to the public. They thought she was just a lost kid. A normal kid that regained her memories back."
This conversation heightens the curiosity I have in me. I want to know more about her to understand why she has become like this.
Is she born evil or not?
Naputol lang ang pag uusap namin ni Kuya nuong may tumawag sa kanya. Tumayo nalang ako at bumalik na sa kwarto ni Celestine pero napatigil lang ako ng makita ko syang nakaupo na sa kama at nakatitig sa wrist nya na may benda pa.
"You're awake.."- mahina lang ang boses ko at sinarado ko kaagad ang pinto.
Mula sa pagkakayuko ay nag angat sya ng tingin sa akin at mababakas ang disappointment sa kanyang mga mata.
"Why am I still alive?"
"Malamang pinagamot ka."
Lumapit ako sa bed nya pero bigla nalang syang nag wala. Tinanggal din nya yung nakakabit na dextrose sa kanya kaya naman nagtalsikan yung ibang dugo mula sa ugat nya.
"Calm down!"
"How can I calm down? I want to die, but why am I still here?!"
She got off the bed, and I'm trying to stop her, but she's too strong for someone who's just woken up.
"Bitawan mo ako! Gusto ko na mamatay!"
Niyakap ko sya at hindi ininda ang mga hampas at palo nya sa akin. Pareho kaming napaupo sa sahig at halos ihampas na nya yung ulo nya sa semento. Mabuti na lamang ay napigilan ko.
"There's a reason you're still alive!"
"What reason? To suffer? I don't want to live if it means suffering and going crazy. You should have let me die," - she said while sobbing.
I wipe her tears and cup her face to make her look at me.
"Be thankful that someone saved you; in that case, you still have a chance to change your life and straighten your path. Every person deserves a second chance, Celestine."
"I don't deserve it. I'm evil!"
She pushes me away, but I just grab her body to pull it closer to me. I hush her down to calm her and make her realize that I am here.
I'm not doing this because I'm guilty. I'm doing this because, deep down, I really care for her.
"Tahan na. Sige ka, papangit ka."- bulong ko pa sa kanya pero hindi nya ako pinansin.
Kung kanina ako yung nakayakap sa kanya, ngayon naman ay para na syang sawa kung makalingkis sa akin. Halos ayaw na akong binatawan kaya napilitan akong tumayo habang buhat sya.
Napaupo ako sa bed nya at namula ang pisnge dahil nakaupo sya sa lap ko at nakasubsob sa leeg ko ang mukha dahil ayaw nga nya akong bitawan.
Our position is too intimate, and I don't like this close proximity. It felt weird.
"Let go."
Hindi na kasi sya naiyak pero ayaw pa din nyang lumayo.
"Celestine!"- I warned.
Parang bata lang na nagsumiksik ito lalo sa akin at mas yumakap pa sa katawan ko.
"Nagugutom ako.."- ungot nya at suminghot pa.
Napapikit ako at napahilot sa sentido. Para syang bata.
"Leigh, nagugutom nga ako."
Bumuntong hininga ako at tumango tango kahit hindi nya ako nakikita.
"Okay, I'll get you food, so get off me."
************
I was sitting on the chair as I watched her eating her food on her bed. She was cutely munching the chicken purposely made for her with a tiny smirk on her face.
Karne kasi talaga yung gusto nya pero sinabi ko sa cook na haluan din ng gulay para lumakas sya.
Uminom ako sa basong hawak ko habang nakasandal ako sa bangko. Napansin ko naman ang bahagya nyang pagtingin sa gawi ko habang nanguya. Lumunok sya at kumunot ang noo pagkatapos ay nag iwas ng tingin habang namumula ang pisnge.
"What is it?"- I asked curiously.
Tinanggal ko din ang pagkaka dekwatro ng mga binti ko at medyo nag lean ako palapit sa gawi nya.
"You're distracting me."- she said lowly.
"Distracting you? Nakaupo lang naman ako ah."
"Oo nga, but you're still distracting me. Can you sit somewhere far?"- masungit na sabi nya.
Umangat ang isang kilay ko dahil sa request nya sa akin pero hindi ko pinahalata na medyo naiinis ako dahil ang dami nyang arte.
"Just eat and ignore my presence."
"How can I? You look like a food in my eyes."
Namilog ang mga mata ko. Mabuti nalang kamo ay wala akong iniinom kundi baka naibuga ko na sa kanya dahil sa pagka straight forward nya.
"I like your neck, especially when it's moving up and down when you're swallowing something."- she adds and goes back to her food.
Natameme nalang ako hanggang sa matapos syang kumain. Inubos nya yung tubig nya at tinulak pabalik sa akin yung tray ng pagkain na wala ng laman ngayon.
"Thanks."
Hindi ko sya sinagot at tumayo lang ako para kunin iyon.
"Are you coming back?"- pigil nya sa akin nuong patalikod na sana ako.
"Oo, kaya dyan ka lang."
Hindi ko na inantay pa ang sagot nya. Paglabas ko ng kwarto ay nakasalubong ko naman si Kuya. Tinanguan lang nya ako at pumasok na sya sa loob.
My jaw clenched when I heard the door lock from the inside. I quickly made my way to the kitchen to busy myself and remove this bad feeling I'm feeling right now.
They might just be going to talk, but ugh!
Nakakainis naman.
Nag intay nalang ako ng ilang minuto sa harap ng pinto ng kwarto nya at umayos lang ako ng tindig nuong makalabas na si Kuya.
His eyes were bloodshot, as if he had cried. I was about to ask him what happened, but he walked away and ignored my presence.
Dali dali naman akong pumasok sa loob at sinarado ang pinto. Hinanap ng mga mata ko si Celestine at nakita ko itong nakatayo malapit sa bintana at nakatanaw sa labas.
"Hey, are you okay? Anong nangyari?"
Huminto ako ng ilang hakbang nalang ang layo ko sa kanya.
"I hate my name..."- she muttered and turned to me.
Binundol ako ng kaba dahil lumapit sya bigla sa akin. As in sa sobrang bilis ng kilos nya ay hindi ko namalayan na nasa harapan ko na sya at mahigpit na nakahawak sa kuwelyo ng damit ko.
"Tell me, what suits me best? To be Celestine or to be Grace?"
I swallowed hard while watching her face and staring at her eyes full of unsaid emotions.
"I told your brother that it's Grace, whom he has loved for so long, and not Celestine, but he just doesn't want to drop it. He said he likes both of me, whether I'm good or evil."
She chuckles without humor and licks her lower lip.
"But I said I would never like him back."
Hinawakan ko ang kamay nya at pilit kinalas sa damit ko. Nagtagumpay naman ako dahil medyo nasanggi ko yung sugat sa wrist nya.
"Why can't you like him?"
"Because I can't. He's not my type."
She delicately pulled her hands away from me and turned her back on me.
"What's your type, then?"
Kinilabutan ako sa bigla nyang pagtawa. Lumapit sya sa bintana at hinila pasarado yung kurtina saka sya humarap sa akin.
"Why are you asking me?"
"I was just..."
Teka , bakit nga ba?
"Hmm, I want someone who's taller than me and someone beautiful and bubbly that can make me feel obsessive toward her, but sadly it's something your brother can't achieve because he's not a she."
"But he's tall and handsome."- giit ko pa dahil gwapo naman talaga si Kuya e. Kaya nga maganda din ako hehe.
She pulls me closer to her and traces my face using her index finger.
"I said I want someone beautiful. I want..."- she eyed me up and down, and truthfully speaking, I find it creepy when she smiles at me. ".. a woman."
She closed the gap between us, and before I knew it, I felt something hard hit my forehead, making me curse so loud and leaving me feeling dizzy.
Head bang talaga malala! Ponyeta! Magkakabukol yata ako.