CLOUD AND SKY

Chapter 3

Pagkababa ko ng taxi, diretso na agad ako sa bahay. Hindi na ako dumaan sa dorm—masyado nang puno ang utak ko sa lahat ng nangyari sa Korea. I just wanted to be home… with Mom and Dad.

I just came back from my K-drama fantasy disguised as a vacation—debut stage ng MIX, fanmeet, music shows, and yes, ilang beses din kaming nagkita ni Sky. Ilang interactions na halos hindi ko ma-process hanggang ngayon. Lalo na 'yung mga titig niya. ‘Yung isang beses na para bang—kilala mo ako, hindi ba?

Paglapag ko sa harap ng bahay, may something weird agad. Madilim.

As in pitch black.

“Kidding me? Horror movie na naman ‘to?” Kumunot noo ko, nag-aalangan. I slowly pulled out my phone, kinakabahan, at halos tawagan ko na si Kiara or 911.

“My God, where is my—”

“CONGRATULATIONS, CLOUUUUUD!!”

Halos malaglag ‘yung phone ko.

Out of nowhere, bumukas ang ilaw at sumalubong sa akin si Mommy, hawak-hawak ang cake na may “Congrats, Doc Cloud!” frosting. Si Daddy naman, naka-barong pa, may hawak na bouquet of tulips.

“Grabe kayo!!!” Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko, trying to calm down from the mini heart attack.

“Congratulations for becoming a doctor, anak. We are soooo proud of you.” Naiiyak nang sabi ni Daddy.

“Dad… you’re so OA!” natawa kong sagot, sabay yakap sa kanilang dalawa.

“OA na kung OA, pero anak, hindi biro ang pinagdaanan mo. You did it.” Si Mommy, halos maiyak na rin.

In that moment, kahit ang dami kong iniisip—Sky, MIX, lahat ng kilig sa Korea—I felt grounded.

This was my real life. My roots. My family.

At habang pinapatay ko ang tunog ng cellphone ko—na hindi tumitigil sa notifications from the fan accounts—I realized…

I’m living two lives now.

One as Cloud, the head admin fangirl.

And one as Dr. Cloud Marie, anak nina Mom and Dad.

Parehong mahalaga.

Parehong bahagi ng kung sino ako.

Later that night…

After kumain kami ng inihandang dinner ni Mommy (siyempre, sinigang—comfort food is life), we all settled sa sala. May soft jazz na tumutugtog sa background, pero hindi ko maalis ‘yung ngiti ko. Ang gaan sa pakiramdam.

Nag-aayos si Dad ng mga bulaklak habang si Mommy, nakatingin lang sa akin with that look… you know that Mom look na parang ang dami niyang gustong itanong pero tinitimpla pa niya kung kailan ilalabas.

And then she finally spoke.

“So… kamusta naman ang vacation mo sa Korea?” May diin sa vacation, huh.

Napahigop ako ng juice nang malakas. Almost choking. “Uhm… it was fun? I am with Kiara. We enjoy our stay there. ”

Hindi ako makatingin sa kanila.

“Fun lang? Hindi mo ba nakita si Sky?” tanong ni Daddy habang nagbabasa ng diyaryo pero halatang eavesdropping. Smooth move, Dad.

“Grabe kayo! Oo na… nakita ko siya. Ilang beses,” I admitted, trying not to sound too excited. Or kilig. Pero obvious yata.

Mom raised an eyebrow. “At… nakausap mo ba siya?”

Napatingin ako sa kanila. Biglang bumagal ang mundo. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ko bang sabihin lahat.

“Yeah. Nakausap ko siya… a few times. Sa fan meet, backstage, taping…”

Mom’s eyes lit up. “And?”

“Nothing. He didn’t recognize me pa rin. Pero alam niya na ang pangalan ko. Binasa niya siguro aside from my codename. ”

I tried to smile, pero ramdam ko ‘yung kirot habang sinasabi ko ‘yon.

Tumahimik ang paligid saglit. Si Daddy, pinatong ang diyaryo. Si Mommy, nilapitan ako at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

“Anak… ang tagal mo nang nag-aantay. Hindi ka ba napapagod? Alam mo naman, hindi bago sa atin si Sky. He got his amnesia, living his own family now, but before that happen, he used to live with us. I know apart of him , in his heart, we are there. ”

Napatingin ako sa kisame. Saglit akong natahimik.

" It's okay Mom. Sabi nga Doctor, it is better na maalala niya naturally. Hindi yung pinipilt. I know he will remeber. baka nga maging close pa kami kapag nagkita kami ng madalas. ", natatawa ko pang sabi.

Nakita kong nanlumo si Mommy. “You don’t have to hurt yourself like that, Cloud…”

Ngumiti ako, this time with a little more conviction. “But I’m happy, Ma. Sobra. Kasi natutupad ‘yung pangarap niya. At nando’n ako. I witnessed it.”

“Your dad and I… we admire your loyalty. Pero kung sakaling hindi niya maalala—”

“I’ll still stay,” putol kong sagot. “Maybe not forever… pero habang kaya ko, I will.”

Tahimik si Daddy, pero nakita ko ang pamumuo ng luha sa gilid ng mata niya. “Mahal mo talaga, ‘no?”

Ngumiti ako, sabay tawa ng konti. “Oo, Dad. Minsan nga feeling ko… mas mahal ko pa siya kaysa sa sarili ko.”

Mom hugged me tight, and for once, hindi ako nagsalita. I just stayed there, safe sa pagitan ng dalawang taong laging nando’n for me, habang sa puso ko—nando’n pa rin siya.

Past midnight na.

Tahimik ang buong bahay. Mommy and Daddy were both asleep na after our heartfelt bonding. Pero ako? I couldn’t sleep.

I brought out my laptop and sat by my old desk sa kwarto ko. Ilang taon na rin simula nung huling gamit ko ‘to. May mga stickers pa ng mga anime at MIX before sila naging MIX. Nakakatawang balikan.

I opened one of my old folders.

“Sky Files”

Yeah. Cringe but accurate.

It was filled with photos and videos—some from fancams, some from behind the scenes, and some… from before everything changed. Before the debut. Before the accident.

I clicked on a subfolder. “Last year na magkasama kami. I am on my last year in grade school, Junior high naman siya. ”

There were photos from our school festival, sa library habang nagpapanggap kaming seryoso, sa cafeteria habang nilalait niya ‘yung food na favorite ko. I chuckled.

Then I saw it.

A blurry video clip titled:

“Cloud - Stop Recording!”

What the hell is this?

I clicked it.

The video started with Sky trying to snatch the phone from me, his voice laughing.

“Cloud, tigilan mo na ‘yan! Ang dumi ng buhok ko ngayon!”

“Wala akong pake, gwapo ka pa rin!” Tumawa ako behind the camera.

Then suddenly, he stopped. Tumingin siya sa camera. Seryoso.

“Uy, Cloud… kung sakaling sumikat ako one day, promise mo sa’kin ‘di ka mawawala?”

Natigilan ako.

“Of course, duh. Ako pa ba?” sagot ko sa video, casual lang.

And then, the part that hit hard:

“Hindi kita makakalimutan, Cloud. Kahit anong mangyari. Ikaw ang pinaka-importante sa’kin.”

...

Tumigil ang mundo ko.

I stared at the screen, frozen.

I didn’t even remember that moment. It was probably one of those random days na we were just being silly. Pero ngayon... para siyang isang selyo mula sa nakaraan, isang paalala.

His promise.

His words.

“Hindi kita makakalimutan…”

But he did.

At least for now.

I felt the tears roll down my cheeks. Quietly. Slowly.

I whispered, “Ako rin… hindi kita makakalimutan, Sky. Never.”

.........................NEXT...............