The Unforgettable Pain (Gloom Series #5)

CHAPTER 8

Chapter 8: Meriah Amor

“AFTER you settled this thing, you can go home, Senator Miamor,” my father told me and I just nodded.

“Yes, President Ferrara,” sabi ko. He addressed me as a Senator, nasanay naman ako na tawagin niyang ganoon kasi President Ferrara din naman ang tawag ko sa kanya.

“And you need to go home as soon as possible, mabilis kang hanapin ni Meriah Amor,” pahabol pang sabi niya na ibinulong na lamang sa akin.

Napangiti ako nang marinig ko ang pangalan ng baby ko. Hindi ako ang nagbigay ng pangalan niya, sina Mom at Dad iyon. Nagustuhan ko naman dahil parang pangalan ko rin ang Amor. Sinunod ko ang sinabi ni Daddy sa akin and with the help of Red.

Nang matapos na namin ay hinanda agad ang private jet ni Daddy. Hindi ko naman maiwasan ang mapatingin sa mga tao... Napapahinto talaga ako kapag may nakikita akong couple na magkahawak pa ang kamay.

“Let’s go...” Red uttered at tumango ulit ako. I just remembered my past...

“TODAY is our fourth anniversary. Then... T-Then... Are you just playing with me? Tell me, Jai. Do you really love me?” I asked him while I was crying.

It feels like my chest is being stabbed with a sharp blade and it seems non-stop, so I feel more pain in my heart.

“I love you, Miamor. I love you, so much, baby...”

“But you can leave me just like that and marry your best friend?! Or are you just lying? That you don't really love me and that Jillian is exactly who you want to be with and not me!” I screamed and my tears started falling down my cheeks.

My chest is just getting tighter and it seems I'm having trouble breathing again. Feels like a big hand is squeezing my heart.

“I love you, Miamor but I want to help Jillian. She need--”

“You don’t love me, Jai! I never felt that love! You give it to others and not to me! So, you can hurt me like this! You are only doing this because of your best friend! So, that you and Jillian can be free!” I said, it's roaring.

He just shook his head at me and I could see tears also falling from his eyes and he even bit his lower lip. His fist was tight so his veins came out there.

“I’m sorry...” What he said made me even more sad.

Four years. We’ve been in a relationship for 4 years and I admit to myself, I never felt the love he says. Cause he always thinks of Jillian.

I knew that girl had a space in his heart, because otherwise... If he really loves me he will choose me. And he will leave Jillian, not me...

“I regret giving myself to you. I regret knowing you and wasting my time just to love you. What a coward you are!”

“SENATOR Ferrara?” Seems like I woke up from a deep slumber of my past when I heard my secretary’s voice and a faint shaking on my shoulder.

I sat down and fixed my eyeglasses. I was still breathing before I turned my back on her.

“Are we here yet?” I asked, no emotion and she just nodded at me.

We just got back from Manila because I had an urgent meeting in Singapore with Dad but he came back here earlier.

Bumukas ang pintuan sa side ko at tinanggal ko ang seatbelt ko saka ako marahan na bumaba mula sa sasakyan.

Katulad nang nakagawian namin ay bumibisita kami sa mga pasyente na biktima ng sunog last week.

Well, it’s in my heart to help my fellow Filipino, but the citizens won't believe because they will say that we are just showing off. Sino nga ba ang hindi, kung nasa mundo ka ng pulitika?

De Cervantes Hospital, I know the owner of this hospital. A Close friend. I shrugged when I remembered my referring friend.

I have five bodyguards with me and my secretary Red Michigan. Others bring relief goods.

The ward of the fire victims is on the second floor so, we took the elevator. I took off my eyeglasses and gave this to my secretary.

The elevator opened, a sign that we are already on the second floor. I was about ready to go out when I saw a doctor standing across from me. It's like he's waiting for the elevator to open too.

The guy is tall and has a big body. He is slightly bent over while reading what is on the paper he is holding right now. Nakasuksok sa bulsa ng pants niya ang isang kamay.

He was wearing eyeglasses too. But his built is familiar to me. I just don't know why my heart reacted so fast.

I got out of the elevator completely and accidentally broke his shoulder.

“Damn it,” I heard him curse and my eyebrows just rose up. I rolled my eyes.

For the second time around, I got pulled over again when I stepped on something.

I took it and checked the ID. Only to make my heart beat faster when I read the name of the owner.

Dr. Jaickel San Amero. Neurologist Doctor.

I faced him. “This is yours?” I asked him with no emotion written on my face.

He stopped and looked at me. I can't see him in shock because he has no emotion either.

I stepped closer to him and he didn't even avoid my gaze. I don’t know if he recognize me yet or not.

“You drop this, Dr. Amero,” I casually said and handed him his ID. He quickly snatched it from me without interrupting staring at me.

No word I turned my back on him then walked straight on.

After so fvcking years... Our paths crossed again, Jai. What a luck.

I’m Miamor Ferrara, I’m Senator and medicine inventor. That man is my ex-boyfriend. Ang liit nga naman talaga ng mundo para sa amin. I smirked.

Akala ko ay iyon na talaga ang huling beses nang pagkikita namin pero parang hindi na rin niya yata ako naaalala pa. Nakalimutan na kaya niya ako?

***

“Maraming salamat po, Senator Miamor,” pagpapasalamat sa akin ng isa sa victim ng nangyaring sunog.

“Wala pong problema,” nakangiting sabi ko at yumuko pa sa kanya.

“Katulad din po kayo ni President Ferrara, sobrang bait niyo rin po,” sabi niya at napatango naman ako.

Napatingin ako sa batang nasa tabi niya. If I’m not mistaken ay baka nasa three months old pa lamang siya. Gising siya at nag-iingay lang din siya.

“Is she okay? Hindi po ba siya nasaktan?” tanong ko.

“H-Hindi naman po,” sagot niya at mas lumapit ako sa hospital bed nila.

“Puwede ko po bang buhatin?” hingin permission ko na agad niyang sinang-ayunan.

Hindi ko pa nakikita ang baby ko kaya nami-miss ko na siya agad. I’m excited to see her.

Hinawakan ko ang matambok na kamay ng batang babae at napatingin siya agad sa akin.

“Hindi po siya nangingilala, Senator Miamor,” sabi niya.

“Hi, I’m Miamor...” I greeted her at maingat ko siyang binuhat. Tinitigan ko pa siya kung iiyak ba siya o ano. Kasi naramdaman ko iyong pagtingin niya sa akin. “Hello?” Ngumiti siya sa akin kaya hinalikan ko siya sa pisngi niya. “Good girl. I missed my Amor,” I uttered.

“Excuse me...” Nagitla naman ako nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses na iyon.

“Dr. Jaickel.” Hindi ko na lang tiningnan pa ang tinawag ng pasyente. Hindi naman mahalaga pa iyon sa akin. Tss.

“Kumusta po ang pakiramdam niyo?” tanong niya at napakarahan ng kanyang boses. Parang bata lang din ang kausap niya.

“Maayos naman po, Dr. Jaickel. Maraming salamat po pala.”

Bakit pala nandito ang doctor na ito? Akala ko ba ay umalis na siya kanina pa, ‘di ba? Kaya bakit siya bumalik. Ibinigay ko ulit ang baby sa Mama niya. Hinawakan pa ng maliit niyang kamay ang dalawang daliri ko.

“Mukhang ayaw po kayong bitawan, Senator Ferrara,” naaaliw na sabi nito sa akin at siya na ang nagtanggal sa pagkakahawak sa akin ng baby niya.

“Opo,” tipid kong sabi.

“Nakita ko rin po ang kapatid niyo, Senator. Kamukha niyo po siya. Minsan ko lang siya nakita sa TV na buhat-buhat ng Mommy niyo. Ilang taon na po ba siya?” tanong niya at ang anak ko ang tinutukoy niya. I don't know kung bakit bigla akong kinabahan.

Hindi ko naman dapat iyon maramdaman pa, eh. Pero kasi dumoble pa iyon lalo na nararamdaman ko rin ang dalawang pares ng mga matang nakatingin din sa akin. Kaya mas bumilis pa ang t***k ng puso ko. Parang interesado rin siyang malaman iyon. Tss. Wala naman na siyang pakialam pa roon, eh.

“She’s two years and three months old,” sagot ko. Pero dahil mas gusto niyang binubuhat lang siya ay hindi pa siya nakakapaglakad nang hindi namin inaalayan. Sutil na baby rin kasi iyon, eh.

Ipinapakita sa amin ang paglalakad niya na akala mo naman ay kaya na siya tapos may pagkakataon pa na tatakbo pa siya.

“Mabuti na lamang po ay nagkaroon pa kayo ng kapatid,” pangdadaldal pa niya sa akin.

Lumapit naman sa akin si Red at bumulong. “Kailangan na nating umalis dito. Tapos naman ang pinuntahan natin.”

“We’ll go ahead po. Magpagaling po kayo at dadalaw ulit kami,” sabi ko sa kanila.

“Maraming salamat po sa pagdalaw sa amin at sa groceries...”

“Don’t mention it,” sabi ko at humarap ako sa pintuan para lang din makita ko ang mukha ng lalaking matagal ko ring hindi nakita.

Pero hindi ko naman nakikitaan pa ng ano’ng emosyon. Parang may nag-iba sa kanya pero wala na akong pakialam pa sa bagay na iyon. Tapos na kami, matagal na.

I looked away. Bago pa man kami makalabas ni Red sa ward nila ay muling nagtanong sa akin ang pasyente.

“Nais ko pong malaman ang pangalan ng kapatid niyo, Senator Ferrara,” sabi niya at binalingan ko siya.

“Meriah Amor po...” sambit ko sa pangalan ng baby girl ko at pumihit ulit ako sa harap. Nagtagpo ang mga namin ni Dr. Jaickel. “Amor Ferrara,” sambit ko saka ako naglakad at nilagpasan siya.