I cautiously looked around the hallway. The hall is packed with busy nurses scattered around assisting patients of all ages. The white tiled floor was full of dirt and muddy footprints. Is this a hospital or a wet market? This place is too crowded and noisy! I shook my head no, this is not the time to think about unnecessary stuff. This whole ordeal is actually working to my advantage. With all the chaos this means I can slip away easier from this place. I need to do this. Kailangan kong umalis dito. I was about to run nang may biglang humawak sa dulo ng damit ko.
"Ate, ate. Ano gawa mo?" I looked at the little boy na humahawak sa dulo ng damit ko. I sighed in relief. That almost gave me a mini heart attack.
"I-I'm—" I stared at him, stuttering.
I thought a nurse caught me but what I saw was a small boy with dark black spiky hair, a small pointed nose, and white pale skin about 5 to 6 in age. Sino ba ang guardian nito? Why's he alone? Hindi dapat hinayaan ang mga bata na gumala sa hospital. This is not a mall. Specially na this hospital is a total wreck, this kid could easily get lost! Oh, wait. I have no time for this!
"I'm sorry pero kailangan nang umalis ni Ate." I said and walked away as fast as I can.
Lumingon ako ng may naramdaman akong sumusunod sa akin. I arched an eyebrow as I saw the little boy following me. Now what? Is he trying to act like a dog?
"Go back. Aalis na ako," Irita kong tugon sa kaniya. I'm in a desperate situation.
What if mahuli nila ako? This kid is a nuisance! I was never good with kids. Their innocent happiness annoys me the most. They are just little creatures oblivious of how the world works and just cry to get what they want.
"Ate, hanap mo totoo mong katawan?" He asked me in all seriousness in his eyes.
What? What is this kid talking about? Real body? A thousand possibilities flooded my mind, does this kid know something? Is it possible that this is not my body? My real body? Is this some kind of soul switching like in a fantasy movie or an amazing work of plastic surgery?
"A-anong—" Naputol ang itatanong ko nang may biglang nagsalita galing sa likuran ko.
"Johnny! Andyan ka lang palang bata ka! Kanina pa kita hinahanap!" We were interrupted by a middle-aged woman dressed in a blue formal long sleeve with printed flowers paired with her fitted white pants
"Yaya, tulong atin Ate hanap totoo n'yang katawan." Sambit ng bata while pointing at me and pulling the edge of the shirt of his nanny.
Find my real body? I am utterly confused right now. What the hell is this kid talking about?! Is this some kind of sick joke?!
"Ay, miss pasensya na po kayo dito kay Johnny talagang mahilig lang gumawa ng kwento 'tong batang to. Alam mo naman ang mga bata mahilig sa mga pantasya," The woman said apologetically and laughed awkwardly before walking away leaving me hanging and frozen to where I'm standing.
I mentally gave myself a pale slap. I can't believe I just believed a child's story. Am I really this desperate that I fell for a child's fantasy? I let out an exasperated sigh but waking up with this new unfamiliar face? They might've done something, plastic surgery or weird human experiment? I don't know but I will find out. Whatever it is, this hospital isn't normal. No one ever messes up with a Perez. I was brought back to reality when a nurse passed by in front of me. Oh no! I almost forgot. I rushed through the doorway hoping they didn't notice me. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag ng nasa tapat ako ng exit. No one noticed me. Good! I was about to step my left foot out when someone tapped my shoulder.
"Ikaw ba yung hinahanap ng ilang nurses?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nung may biglang nagsalita galing sa gilid ng pintong kinatatayuan ko.
Hinay-hinay akong lumingon sa kanya. Isang binatang nakapamulsa, he's wearing denim pants and a white V-neck shirt showing off the manly built of his body, his black cap hid his face but judging by the way he stands and speaks I can tell some women would drool over him. I'm good at judging people, I was trained for it so I know he's different. He's different but why does he feel so familiar in a way. What is this man doing in this freak hospital? Doctors are insane, the patients are crazy, so why is someone like him here? He doesn't look like some psycho like them. He slowly raised his head at nang makita ko ang mukha nya ay nag-init ang ulo ko. Teka nga, kilala ko tong—
"You?!" I shouted tsaka siya binigyan ng isang malakas na suntok.
Dahil sa lakas ng impact ng suntok ko ay napaupo siya sa sahig ng wala sa oras! Tsk, weakling! Even a weak woman was able to knock him out. Confirmed, looks really can be deceiving. This man is far from being normal.
"What was that for?!" Sigaw niya habang hawak-hawak ang nagdudugong labi niya.
"You deserve that, you jerk!" singhal ko sa kaniya saka naglakad na palayo.
That guy. Tsk, I really hate him. Wait, hate is an understatement, I despise him. Why is he in that freak hospital anyway? Wait— don't tell me he's behind all this?! That means—ugh! This is more serious than I thought! My life is in danger! He actually dared to do it! I really need to escape as fast as I can. I looked around; this place looks deserted. Long empty highway na wala gaanong dumadaan na sasakyan. I got more impatient as I clicked my tongue. I'm getting more convinced this is some scheme from that guy to ruin my life. This time he went overboard, seriously? A plastic surgery? He can change my face but he can't change Elena Perez. No matter what face I have, I am Elena Perez. I looked around and saw that there are few taxis but most of them are occupied. Sinubukan kong pumara ng vacant taxi pero 'di naman sila tumitigil, nakakapikon. What is wrong with them?! Napilitan nalang akong maglakad. I need to escape that prison-like freak hospital mas lalo nang andoon pa yung gagong yun! I can't believe Elena Perez is actually in this desperate situation. I can't help but let out another sigh. That guy's plot is getting bolder and wicked. He really made sure I'll have a hard time but Luke and dad won't let this happen. I'm sure by this time they are doing something.
"How long should I walk?! And where the hell am I?!" I screamed in frustration.
I looked around, wala man lang signboard para akong nasa bukid or some urban place in some horror film. I'm literally surrounded by tall trees and bushes, no sign of a living human except for the passing vehicles which obviously have no plans to help me out. I've been walking for hours and 'di ko pa rin alam kung nasaan na ako. Loud long sharp noises of crickets and frogs are the only thing that breaks this suffocating silence. The road is bumpy and rough and the farther I walk, the more isolated the place is becoming. But in the bright side malayo na ako sa lugar na iyon. They will regret doing this to Elena Perez! Doing some weird experiments in my body. I'm sure of it. They are trying to brainwash me with false information after taking advantage of my accident. They will really regret binangga nila ang isang Perez. I'll make sure of it.