'Don't cry... I'll come back and marry you, Hopie. Please wait for me' he kissed Hope's hair while she was hugging him like she didn't want to let him go.
'Babalik ka ba kaagad?' Tiningala siya nito, hilam sa luha ang mga mata.
'Oo naman,' he dried her tears tapos iniangat niya sa labi niya ang kamay nitong may singsing at dinampian iyon ng halik. 'I'm going to make you my wife, remember?' He smiled down at her.
'Hihintayin kita ' She tiptoed para halikan siya sa labi. He chuckled because his girlfriend was a short woman and that an attempt to kiss him without him bending down would be impossible.
'I'll come back at once.' Yumuko siya para salubungin ang labi nito.
'Andyan na ang bus.' Kumalas ito sa kanya pero ang higpit naman ng hawak nito sa kamay niya.
'I have to go now.'
'Babalik ka, 'di ba?'
'Pangako... Wait for me, Hopie. May kailangan lang akong ayusin sa Maynila. After that, hindi na ako aalis... I love you and I'm gonna marry you...'
Noong tinanggal ng dalaga ang hawak nito sa kanya, he felt empty. It was like she took something away by just letting go of his hand. At alam niyang mananatili ang hungkag na pakiramdam na iyon hanggang sa makabalik siya ulit.
'Babalikan kita,' he whispered habang nakatingin sa papalayong imahe nito mula sa bintana ng bus. 'I'll make sure of it.'
When he could no longer see her, he pulled a journal out of his bag.
'Kaden Aragon, when you read this, remember to come back to Hope. Hinihintay niya si Rain. He promised to marry her.-----'
He was doing his entry when he heard unusual sounds mula sa makina ng bus. But no one else seemed to notice kaya nagpatuloy siya.
'Remember San Gabriel. Come back to that town and you will find your happiness.'
Itinago niya ang journal at ipinikit ang mga mata.
The next thing he knew was commotions tapos...
"Doc... Doctor..."
"No!" Napabalikwas siya ng bangon, pawis na pawis siya at nanlalamig.
"Doc? Are you okay?" Tanong ng secretary niya.
"Y-yeah," napalunok siya at the realization that he just woke up from a bad dream. Or bad dream nga ba?
"A-anong oras na?"
"Umaga na, doc. Nakatulog ka na naman dito sa clinic mo."
"Oo nga," he struggled to calm himself, tatayo na sana siya nang mahagip ng paningin niya ang singsing ni Hope.
He took it tapos dumiretso siya sa washroom para maghilamos. He stared at his reflection on the mirror habang kinakapa sa memorya ang katatapos lang na panaginip.
He always dreams of Hope about random things. But this was the first time that the possibility of him being the same person as Rain Sanchez was acknowledged.
Sa panaginip niya, Rain knew him. But it was weird that he was Rain that time and he's talking to himself through a journal... Then there's a bus, commotions, then he was woken up.
Tinitigan niya ang hawak na singsing. He saw that very same ring in his dream... The ring he couldn't throw away after so many attempts now since knowing that Hope was Isabella. He shook his head and held a hand on it when it began aching like crazy. Gusto niyang sumigaw. Gusto niyang iuntog iyon.
"Dr. Kaden Aragon, you should know what's happening to you. You're a specialist in cases like this, remember?" Kausap niya sa sarili habang may namumuong hinala sa isip niya. Kailangan niyang gumawa ng paraan para makasiguro.
Journal...
Tumigil ang isip niya sa bagay na iyon. Did he have one?
Bumalik siya sa mesa niya and googled the contact info of the hospital kung saan siya nagising na naaalala na niya ang pagkatao niya. He should have done this three years ago. But that time, hindi importante sa kanya na alamin pa kung ano ang nangyari sa kanya sa loob ng halos isang taon na wala siyang maalala. Hope Ferreira and the overly familiar feeling around her changed everything...
-----
"Mama, naiintindihan mo naman, 'di ba?" Kausap niya sa telepono si Charity. "I couldn't say no. Lola's condition will get worse kung hindi ko siya pagbibigyan."
"Hope, sinabi ko na sa'yo, 'di ba? Spend as much time as you need with them."
"Pero pinapamanage sa akin ang Isabella's. Mahaba-habang panahon ang kakailanganin ko."
"Pwede naman kitang bisitahin, anak. 'Wag ka nang masyadong mag-isip. Alam ko na nag-aadjust ka pa lang ngayon sa bago mong buhay."
"Pero miss na kita, 'ma..."
"Miss na rin kita."
Napahikbi siya. It's becoming difficult. Gusto niyang sabihin sa ina ang mga sakit na nararamdaman niya tulad dati noong akala niya ay ate lang niya ito. But given the situation now pati ang vulnerability ni Charity, she couldn't tell her the things that were breaking her heart.
"Sige na, Hope. Lagi kang mag-iingat diyan. Okay?"
"I love you, mama."
"I love you too."
Tuluyan na siyang umiyak nang matapos ang tawag. She badly needed someone to pour her feelings out.
Ayaw niyang kausapin si Kevin. After what he had done, she couldn't trust him anymore. Importante ang honesty sa kanya and Kevin didn't have that from the very beginning.
But for the record, hindi siya nagagalit para magkaroon lang ng dahilan na hiwalayan ito over a small lie.
He messed with the important things in her life. First, San Gabriel which he referred to as a remote place in the middle of nowhere was the place where she had her future all mapped out. If he didn't find the place good enough, how could have he agreed to her to live there and made her believe he's happy about it?
Second, he called Rain stupid and Kaden psychotic. Kaya hindi niya mapalampas iyon ay dahil walang respeto ang mga taong tumatawag sa kapwa ng gano'ng mga tawag. He wasn't a respectful man. Anong guarantee na irerespeto siya nito?
She finally made a decision. It was a very wrong move to be Kevin's girlfriend. She had to end it now.
*****
"HOPIE..." Napalingon siya sa pagtawag ni Kaden, papalabas na siya ng bahay at nakaupo pala ito sa may living room.
"Kade!" She acknowledged without a plan to stop for long.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to buy something--- in the drugstore," kaila niya, ang totoo pupuntahan niya si Kevin.
"Pwede ka namang mag-utos if we don't have that something available here. Coz I think lola has stocks of medicine in the house," kunot noo nitong tanong na tumayo para lapitan siya
"Ahmn- no. Lola just got home. Ayoko siyang istorbohin."
"Samahan na kita," he declared and before she knew it, hawak na nito ang kamay niya, leaving her with no chance to refuse.
"Kaden --" Okay, pinigilan niya ang sariling magprotesta pa.
Ipinagmaneho siya nito sa pinakamalapit na drugstore. Actually, hindi na nga sila lumabas ng village.
"Hopie, the drugstore," untag ni Kaden nang hindi siya gumalaw para bumaba.
"I'm sorry... Can we just go back? Hindi ko na kailangan ng gamot."
Hindi ito sumagot pero nagmaneho naman ulit. Akala niya uuwi na sila. Pero nilampasan nito ang bahay nila.
"Saan ka ba dapat pupunta?" Tanong nito after letting out a sigh.
"Gusto ko lang sanang umalis para malibang."
"Saan ka dapat pupunta?" Parang walang narinig na ulit nito.
"I believe I already answered your question."
"Tell me the truth, Hope."
She sighed. Napakakulit. Parang si Rain lang...
Naramdaman ni Hope ang pagguhit ng sakit sa puso niya. Kahit ano talagang gawin niya, maaalala at maaalala niya si Rain. Hangga't nakikita niya si Kaden, Rain's memories won't die.
"I'm going to see Kevin," amin niya.
"Where?" Walang violent reaction na tanong nito.
"In his office... I'm planning to surprise him," 'with a break up,' she wanted to add but didn't voice that out.
Tumango ito and asked for Kevin's office address. Tapos tumahimik na ito. Siya naman ay itinuon ang atensyon sa mga dinadaanan nila. She never dreamed of living in the city. But now, wala siyang choice.
"Can I ask you a question?" Maya-maya ay tanong ni Kaden habang nakatigil sila sa trapiko.
"Sure."
"How did Rain die?" With that, he looked at her with an unfathomable expression in his eyes.
Hindi siya nakasagot agad. She was surprised with the question. Saan galing iyon? Why would Kaden suddenly ask her about how Rain died?
Hope found herself panicking to fabricate a story. Inaamin niyang madali noon ang magsinungaling at sabihin lang ng simple na patay na si Rain. Pero 'yong tanungin kung paano ito namatay, wala siyang nakahandang sagot doon.
"Ahm-" could Kaden figure out na wala siyang makapang isagot? Her mind was rushing to think of possible ways to die. "He--- ahm, I mean, I'm sorry. This is hard for me," she said to buy herself time.
"It's okay if you don't want to answer," he shrugged as the cars before them started moving.
"He got hit," sabi niya after few minutes.
"By what?"
"An over speeding car... "
He nodded na parang hindi naman talaga interesado. Why did he even need to ask?
'Forgive me, Rain... Someday, you'll thank me for lying to you like this. I wish na kung dadating pa ang pagkakataon na maalala mo ako, sana pareho na tayong masaya. Para pagtatawanan na lang natin ang parte na iyon ng buhay natin. That way, hindi na magiging masakit para sa 'yo,' wika niya sa isip.
They stayed silent hanggang sa tumigil na ito sa harap ng building ng opisina ni Kevin.
"Do you miss him?" tanong ni Kaden while she unfastens her seat belt.
"Kevin?"
"Rain."
'Every second of my life, Kaden,' she wanted to say but instead she said. "Not anymore." Bumaba na siya tapos nagpasalamat dito bago isinara ang pinto. "Thanks for the ride."
A faint smile was all his reply before driving away.
She focused on the agenda of coming to the place. Pumasok siya sa revolving door ng building at lumapit sa reception.
Hope realized na medyo sosyal sa loob. Mabuti na lang at nagbihis siya nang maayos.
"Excuse me," sabi niya. "Would you know the exact office of KT Enterprise?"
"Are you an applicant?" Inabutan siya ng logsheet.
"No. A visitor," she smiled.
"May I have an ID, please."
"Sure, hold on a sec."
Kinuha niya ang wallet at inilabas ang ID niya. Ibinigay niya iyon sa receptionist na agad namang tumawag sa opisinang tinukoy niya.
Iniikot naman niya ang tingin sa paligid habang nagveverify ito.
"Miss, sino raw sadya mo?"
"Ah, Kevin Tiu please. I'm his girlfriend."
Tumango ito tapos nakipag-usap ulit bago ibinaba ang telepono na may panghuhusga na ang tingin.
"Miss Ferreira, Mr. Tiu just left his office with his girlfriend," she told her like she just lied big time.
"I'm sorry?" Hindi siya makapaniwala.
"'Yong sinasabi mong boyfriend mo, kakaalis lang kasama ang girlfriend niya!" Tinagalog nito ang sinabi nito kanina na para bang kailangan niya iyon para maintindihan niya.
She held her temper. Bastos ang kausap niya.
"I know what you mean," aalis na siya pero pagpihit niya ay sakto namang kalalabas lang ng elevator ni Kevin na may kasama ngang babae.
Nakaakbay ang kasintahan niya sa babae na para bang hindi pa sapat na halos magkadikit na ang kanilang mga katawan.
She felt her temper rising. Hindi siya napapansin ni Kevin dahil tuluy-tuloy lang ito. Nilingon niya ang receptionist na halatang hinihintay ang gagawin niya. Nginitian niya ito na may tinging "watch me".
Tapos humarang siya sa daraanan nina Kevin. When he finally noticed her, nawalan ng kulay ang mukha nito.
"Hope!" He exclaimed, surprised with her visit.
"Hi, Kev," tinapunan niya ng disgusted na tingin ang kasama nitong babae na kung makatingin sa kanya ay para bang napakaproud nito sa sarili nito.
"What are you doing here?" Inalis nito ang braso mula sa pagkakaakbay sa kasama nito.
"I just dropped by to break up with you," diretso niyang sabi.
"What? No!" Tinangka siya nitong habulin nang tumalikod na siya.
"How could you do this to me, Kevin? First, you lied! Now, you cheated!" Naramdaman niya ang pag-iinit ng kanyang mga mata. She was so mad. Hindi kay Kevin. Galit siya sa sarili niya for trusting him.
"Hope, I can explain!" Hinabol siya nito hanggang sa labas ng building. "I will explain!" Pinigilan siya nito sa braso kaya hindi na siya makalayo.
"Save it. I don't need it, Kevin!"
"Listen to me, that woman you saw is not my girlfriend! She's a... a business partner. Hope, ikaw ang mahal ko," desperadong paliwanag nito na halata namang nagsisinungaling na naman.
"That's not what I was told. Tell me, how were you able to hide this side of yourself from me for so long?"
"Hope, I love you!"
"No, you don't," Pilit niyang binabawi ang braso mula sa pagkakahawak nito but his grip was too tight.
"Let go!"
"You have to believe me first!" His eyes turned into dangerous pair.
"Let go! We're over!"
"No, we're not," tinangka siya nitong kaladkarin pabalik sa building when a hand tapped his shoulders
"Let her go," utos ni Kaden, kung nakakatakot ang mga tingin ni Kevin, napakadelikado naman ng mga mata ni Kaden. It was the look when you were asked to choose between life and death itself.
Anong ginagawa ng pinsan niya roon? Hindi ba't nakaalis na ito? Why did he come back?
"Dr. Aragon," ngumisi si Kevin. "What are you going to do, huh? You are in my building! Hindi mo ako masasaktan dito."
"Actually," nilingon ni Kaden ang building sa kaliwa nila. "We're outside your building," tuya nito bago bumalik ang nagbabanta nitong tingin. "Let her go, Mr. Tiu."
Saglit pang naglaban ng titigan ang dalawa bago siya binitawan ni Kevin.
"Alright," he said, freeing her arm. "Pero hindi pa tayo tapos, Hope," dinuro siya nito bago sila tinalikuran.
"Are you okay?" Agad chineck ni Kaden ang braso niya.
"Thank you," her tears started flowing like it never planned to stop.
But she wasn't crying because she was hurt at what Kevin did to her. Nor was she crying because she was mad at herself. She was crying simply because of Kaden's presence.
How could he come when she needed him the most? Pakiramdam niya si Rain ito. 'Yong concern, 'yong pagiging protective, 'yong parating pagdamay, 'yong hero niya sa tuwing kailangan niya ng kakampi.
"I'm sorry, Hopie!" Kinabig siya nito't ikinulong sa isang mahigpit na yakap. Lalo siyang napaiyak. Gumanti siya ng mas mahigpit na yakap habang humihiling na sana bumalik sila sa panahong walang ibang mahalaga sa kanila kundi ang isa't isa.
Kung alam lang nito na hirap na hirap na siya. Maybe he would choose to walk away and wish he never met her.
Dahil 'yon ang gusto niyang gawin. Lumayo na lang para hindi na siya masaktan pa.
'How do I unlove you, Rain? How do I free myself from the memories of you?' Her heart cried.