His Broken Gem

HBG 1

Stella's POV

"Mom, we've already talked about it." I am just following her walking around the house. We're just having our conversation about marriage. I just don't get why she's so desperate to pair me up with someone I don't even know.

Mom stop walking and faces me. She cupped my faces na agad ko namang tinanggal. She sigh.

"I am doing this for you. Paano na lang kung mawala ako? Who will take care of you?" malambing na saad niya. I step backward to avoid her when she attempted to hold my hands. I am not comfortable with people touching me. Specially when its a sudden actions.

"I can take care of myself, Mom. I don't need a man to take care of me," I firmly said to her. I am a woman of my own for god's sake. Can they stop generalizing that all woman needs a man to survive?

"Self-care and care from the other person are different." She makes her way into the staircase at pumunta ng dining. I immediately follow her. We enter the dinning and she took her seat.

"I have a friend na mag-aalaga sa akin. Mika can take care of me and vice versa. As far as I know, Mika doesn't have any relationship right now," I said as I sit.

"Marami nang inaalagaan si Mika. Dadagdag ka pa?" she said. "And another thing is, Mika has a different situation from you," makahulugang sabi niya na nagpakunot sa mukha ko.

That again?

The maids started preparing the food in front of us. It was just the two of us living in this big mansion. My Lolo already died, so as my father. Si Lla naman ay may sariling mansion, she's with my tita Vic but tita Vic is busy in her shows around the world kaya hindi siya masyadong tumatagal sa Pinas. Most of our trusted helpers are with Lala to take care of her. I don't have any siblings aside from kuya. Mom started eating her meal. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Isn't it too early for a wedding? We didn't even know each other." I stare blankly at her. Shock took over her face and her mouth form into an 'O'. Nabitawan pa nga niya ang hawak na tinidor. Ugh, such a drama queen.

"Oh my god, Stella. You already met him countless times!" she said dramatically. "See you can't even acknowledge new people. Sino mag aalaga sayo? Ano bang ginagawa ng psychiatrist and psychologist mo?" She shook her head in dismay. I just rolled my eyes heavenward. Now she's questioning the job of those people.

"You won't really change your mind?" I hopefully asked hoping na magbago ang isip niya.

"My decision is final," she firmly said. Tatayo na sana siya ng matapos niya ang meal niya. I stop her trying to negotiate.

"Can I at least get to know him first?" Napatigil naman siyang nakatingin sa akin. It's like she's considering my suggestion. She sighed in defeat.

"Fine. I'll set you up on a date with him." Tumayo siya at lumabas na ng dining room. I immediately follow her after drinking my water. Sabay kaming nagtungo sa company.

"Don't forget to attend your session today," paalala niya sa akin. I just nodded my head and went to my office. I did my work and, later on, I eat lunch. I texted Mika na pupunta ako ng hospital. Hinatid naman ako ng driver namin sa hospital since after lunch 'yong session ko. I don't actually like having a session. Pabalik-balik lang 'yong tanong. Instead of helping, they'll just let you suffer remembering things you wanted to forget. They will also act like they're helping you but the truth is they're just doing it for money. They barely put any effort into their work. The cycle was always repeated.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Salvador!" masiglang bati niya. She's smiling at me. It's obviously fake. I mentally rolled my eyes and nodded my head to acknowledge her. Agad siyang nagsimula sa gagawin niya. I'm just staring at her the whole time. Gusto ko nang matapos agad ‘to.

Almost an hour passed when she call it a day. I gathered my things and went to door.

"Thank you for cooperation, Ms. Salvador," saad niya. I just gave her a nod before leaving her office. I didn't even answer some of her questions, yet she's thanking for my cooperation? Hypocrite.

I sent a message to Mika, informing her na nasa lobby ako ng hospital. She's a resident doctor here. Our family was the one who build this hospital and we also invested here kaya naman regular na ako rito. I took a seat on one of the sofa when I heard someone talking.

"Sige pre, salamat. Update mo na lang ako kung may hiring na." I glance at the man on my left. He's on his phone. Nakatalikod siya sa akin kaya 'di ko makita ang mukha niya. It's not I like I care though. Nagtipa ulit siya sa cellphone niya at inilapat niya ulit sa tenga.

"Hello...Oo stable na siya pero sabi ng doctor kailangan na niyang maopera...Oo nga eh, kulang din yung ipon ko...Okay lang, baka may makita kang trabaho text mo sa'kin...Sige salamat." Bumuntong hininga ito at umalis. It's not like I'm eavesdropping on their conversation, sadyang malakas lang boses niya. Napansin ko agad si Mika na papunta sa gawi ko.

"OMG! Stella, I miss you," she said loudly, enough to caught the attention of people around us. I instinctively cover my ears.

"We've met each other last week. That was 3 days ago," I said. She rolled her eyes and cross her arms in front of me.

"Last week ‘yon! Saka paki mo? Araw-araw kitang miss eh?" I just roll my eyes at her. Sometimes napapaisip ako nagkapalitan kami ng mommy dahil sa pagiging drama queen nita, just like my mom. Pumunta kami ng Starbucks for a coffee.

"It's a hell week for me," reklamo niya nang makaupo kami. Tapos na kaming mag order. "Andaming batang nagka-dengue!" she exclaims. I'm just listening to her. I'm not in the mood to talk right now. I'm still thinking about the arranged date or wedding, whatsoever. How can I change mom's mind? Or at least I should think of something to stop the date.

"Naawa rin ako sa isa kong pasyente. Lagi kasing labas-pasok sa hospital," she continues. "Naawa tuloy ako sa tatay niya. Mukhang nahihirapan na," she sadly said.

"What's wrong with your patient?" I asked with a hint. It might be Stacy who's asking.

"The child has leukemia. Nakakaawa nga e," she sadly said before sighing. May sasabihin pa sana siya pero tinawag na ‘yong pangalan namin. We get our drinks at bumalik na sa upuan namin.

"Anyways, alam mo ang guwapo no'ng tatay niya. Parang kaedad lang natin or maybe few years older. Ah basta." She even blink her eyes as if she was fantasizing him. I shook my head and take a sip on my drink. When I look back at her, she was already staring at me.

"You okay?" she ask with a hint of concern in her voice. I sigh. I almost forgot, she's a psychic. She can already tell when something is bothering you. She's a pediatrician but her first love is psychology.

"I'm getting married," I said blankly. Agad na bumilog ang mga mata niya. She even cover her open mouth.

"What the hell? Are you serious?" she asked still cannot believe what I've said.

"I'm not." I roll my eyes. "It was mom's decision. I can't do anything about it. You know how persistent she is," I grunt as I sip on my drink.

"So it was an arrange marriage?" I nod my head at her. "And you're against about it?" she ask again. I just nod my head as an answer. "So anong plano mo?" she ask again.

Nilapag ko 'yong drink ko sa table at sumandal sa couch. "I want to stop it but mom won't let me. I'm delaying it right now. Kailangan ko lang makaisip ng plano to stop it, before it's too late," I said.

"What kind of plan?" she whisper and lean on the table like as if we're some agent talking about a confidential information. I can tell that she's excited about the plan. No scratch that, she's excited about planing to be exact. "Are you gonna hire someone to act as your boyfriend?"

I stop on my track and look at her. " What?" she asked. I didn't answer her as I tried to make a plan using her suggestions. That was a good idea. It's really a good idea na nagkita kami ngayon. I think that will do for now.

"Wait! Don't tell me 'yon talaga 'yong plano mo? Akala ko sa mga drama lang mayroong ganito. I can't believe it's happening in real life," she squeal in excitement. Agad kong tinakpan ang tenga ko.

"Stop yelling," I whispered. I look around to found out that some of the customers are looking at us.

"Eh, kasi naman. It's like a dream come true! Para tuloy akong nanunuod ng drama," she whisper. She was even blinking her eyes. I grimace at her reaction, she's so weird most of the time.

"It's not my plan actually. I'm just considering it when you said that." I roll my eyes and finish my drink. After finishing our drink, we decided to go shopping.

"I can help you look for someone. Marami akong kilala," she blab. She keeps on talking about the plan when we reach the store. Nasa isang designer store kami looking for bags and shoes.

"No thanks," I rejected her offer. I don't really trust anyone. There's only few people that I trust. My mom, Mika and my brother. I stop on the thought of my brother. I suddenly feel an urge to cry. I also felt my heart palpitate. I felt Mika's hand on shoulder but I can't understand what she's saying.

"T-take me H-home," I whisper while holding on her hands for support. Naramdaman ko na lang na naglalakad na ako. 'Di ko alam kung saan ako papunta. 'Di ko alam kung sino kasama ko. 'Di ko makita si kuya.

"Where is he?"

"K-kuya," I cried. I feel like I'm sitting. Someone is taking me away. I need to escape. Kailangan kong hanapin si kuya. I tried to open the door but it seems like I don't know how to unlock it. I can also hear voices but I can't understand it. I actually feel empty yet I'm crying. What's happening?

"I cant find kuya Jasper!"

"Let me go please!" I cried. I cover my face with my hand. I just cry and cry until I feel a hand on my shoulder. I immediately freak out. "No please. Don't hurt me," I cried.

"No Stella. I'm not gonna hurt you, okay?" he replied. I look at him in rage.

"You're a liar! You're a f*****g liar!" I shouted. I hate this man! He took my brother away. I push him hard until he fell to the ground. "Where's Jasper!?" I shouted at him. I immediately felt a pain in my head.

"Stop fighting me Stella! They're taking us away!"

"Stella, it's me, Mika." The voice was calm and comforting. Mika. I know her. She was with me awhile ago.

"No Stella. Don't let your guard down."

No. Si Mika 'yon. She's my friend.

"You don't have any friends. But you have us. We'll not gonna leave you. Don't trust anyone!"

I cover my ears and grab my hair in frustration. "No. Stop it please. It hurts," I cried.

Naramdaman ko ang marahang paghila sa akin. I don't have any strength to complain. I feel something soft on my back as if I am lying on my bed. Agad kong inabot ang kamay ng taong nasa harap ko.

"I'm tired," I cried weakly. Para akong nagsusumbong na bata. "I want to sleep," I added still crying. He cares my hair.

"Sleep princess. Kuya will protect you. Rest now."

I close my eyes in the thought of my brother.

I miss him.