Please, Forget me Not

It's been six months and five days since my fiance got involved in a car accident. Magmula noon, hindi ko na narinig ang boses niya at ang tawa niya. Hindi ko na rin nasilayan pa ang ngiti niya at ‘yong mga mata niya na kung titigan ako ay nakakatunaw. He was still in a coma. Hindi masabi ng doctor kung kailan siya magkakamalay o kung magkakamalay pa nga ba siya. Dahil sa bawat araw na lumilipas, unti-unting nawawalan ng chance na magigising pa siya. Pero ako… Naniniwala akong babalik siya, babalikan niya ako, at tutuparin niya ‘yong pangako niya sa akin. Papakasalan niya pa ako e, hindi niya sinuotan ng singsing ang daliri ko para lang iwan ako. Ihaharap niya pa ako sa altar. And I will keep on praying for that day to happen. Hindi ako mawawalan ng pag-asa na magigising siya one of these days. Kahit gaano pa katagal, maghihintay ako. I loved him way too much that I will never get tired of waiting for him to come back to me. I was looking at my reflection in the mirror. Halos hindi ko na makilala ang sarili ko. I got dark circles under my eyes, lost weight, had pimples from stress and sleepless nights, and my skin and lips were pale. Hindi siya matutuwa kapag nakita niyang napapabayaan ko na ang sarili ko dahil sa kaniya. I smiled bitterly. Okay lang ang pagalitan mo 'ko dahil ang ibig sabihin lang no'n ay gising ka na... Every day, I would go to the hospital to tell him what happened on the new episodes of his favorite series on Netflix. I'm always telling him about how my days went as if he is listening and responding to all my stories. That's how patient I am. I will never lose hope as long as I'm breathing. These past few weeks, hindi na ako gano'n kalungkot. Hindi na rin ako palagi umiiyak. Pinuno ko ng positive thoughts ang utak ko. Hindi ako ganoong ka-relihiyoso pero magmula noong araw na naaksidente siya, naging laman ako ng simbahan. And I think my faith in Him was the reason why I was so certain that he would wake up one day. I heard my phone ring, drifting me away from my thoughts. I immediately answered it when I saw the caller id. It was my best friend, his younger brother. "Sariah! My brother is awake!" Bakas sa tono ng pananalita niya ang saya. Napahawak ako sa nightstand dahil sa panlalambot. Hindi agad na-proseso ng utak ko ang balita niya. I've been waiting for this day; we're all waiting for this to happen. My fiance… he's finally awake after 6 months of waiting! Thank God, my prayers were heard. Naramdaman kong may tumulong luha sa mata ko, probably a tear of joy. I can't wait to see him. Dali-dali kong kinuha ang gamit ko at tumakbo palabas ng bahay. Hinihingal ako nang makarating sa garahe, sa tapat ng sasakyan ko. Muntik ko pang makalimutan na nasa kabilang linya pa pala si Algid. "Papunta na ako," masayang sabi ko bago pumasok sa sasakyan at pinaandar ito. "But… there's something wrong with him." Huh? His doctor told me na walang kahit anong complications habang wala siyang malay. How come? "What? Anong ibig mong sabihin?" Naguguluhan na tanong ko. "I'm sorry. But you need to see it yourself." He trailed off. Bigla akong kinabahan sa sinabi niya. I hope it's nothing serious. "You made me nervous." I faked a laugh to lessen the tension that was slowly eating me. "I don't mean to, but please, arrive here safe and sound. Take care." After that, he ended the call. Imbes na matuwa sa balitang gising na ang fiance ko, kaba ang nangibabaw sa akin pagtapak ko pa lang sa entrance ng ospital. Sobrang lakas nang kabog ng puso ko habang papalapit na ako sa kwarto ni Zach. Nang makarating sa tapat ng pinto ng kwarto niya, I calmed myself first. I let out a long heavy sigh before opening the door. I walked in. He was surrounded by doctors, nurses and his family. Hindi ko pa nakikita ang mukha niya. Unti-unti akong naglakad palapit. Si Algid ang unang nakaramdam ng presensya ko at nilingon ako. He smiled at me… sadly? Sumunod na lumingon sila Tito at Tita at tulad ni Algid, nginitian din nila ako nang malungkot. Tumango lang sa akin ang mga doctor bago ibinalik ang atensyon kay Zach. Tumabi nang kaunti sila Tita para makita ko si Zach at tuluyan nang bumagsak ang luha ko nang makita kong nakaupo ang fiance ko sa kama. Totoo nga, he's finally awake! Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at lumapit ako para yakapin siya. I was about to wrap my arms around him but he stopped me. Napaatras ako at nakaramdam ng kahihiyan dahil alam kong nakatingin sa akin lahat ng tao sa loob ng silid na ito, pero higit sa lahat, nagtaka ako sa reaksiyon niya. Why did he... "How are you? Are you feeling alright? May masakit ba sayo?" Nagtataka man sa pag iwas niya sa yakap ko, isinantabi ko na lang iyon. "My man... I've been waiting for you to wake up." I smiled at him. Pinunasan ko ang mata ko para matingnan siya nang maayos. Pinagmasdan ko ang kabuuan niya, he has pale skin, and he also lost some weight, but it doesn't change how gorgeous he is. Para sa akin, siya pa rin ang pinaka-gwapong lalaki sa paningin ko. I was about to touch his face when he shoved my hand away. Parang tinusok ng kutsilyo ang puso ko dahil sa inakto niya. Why is he being like this? "Dude..." Algid patted his shoulder. Nakakunot-noo lang siyang tumingin sa kapatid niya bago inilipat ito kila Tita at sa mga doctor, until his gaze landed directly into my eyes. His ice-cold stare was enough to send shivers down my spine. He just looked at me for like three minutes before he asked me a question I never thought he would ask me in this lifetime... "Who are you?"