CHAPTER 25
1428 Words
ROSE sighed as she stared at Iris’ apartment. Ikalimang beses na niya itong balik sa apartment ng kaibigan ngunit wala pa ito. Nag-aalala na siya. Dalawang linggo ng hindi pumapasok si Iris sa trabaho at nagtataka na ang mga katrabaho nila. Wala naman siyang mapagtanungan na kamag-anak ni Iris dahil wala naman siyang kilala. Pati si Austin, dalawang linggo na rin itong hindi pumapasok.
She was really worried about Iris. Tinatawagan niya ito ngunit hindi niya ma-contact ang cellphone ng kaibigan. Ayon sa napagtanungan niya sa katabing unit ni Iris, dalawang linggo na rin daw itong hindi nila nakikita.
Did something bad happen to her?
She had already reported it to the police but until now there was no result. Hindi raw nila matukoy kung nasaan ang kaibigan niya.
“Iris, nasaan ka na ba?”
“You’re looking for your friend?”
Rose gasped and quickly turned around. Nakaharap niya ang isang gwapong lalaki. Nakapamulsa ito.
“Sino ka?”
The man shrugged. “I am the man who knows where your friend was.”
Mabilis na bumaba si Rose ng hagdan at lumapit sa lalaki. “Nasaan ang kaibigan ko?”
The man smiled. “I can’t disclose to you where your friend was, but I can assure you that your friend was safe. Don’t worry about her. She was in good hands.”
“Why should I believe you?” Rose narrowed her gaze at the man.
The man chuckled. “It’s up to you if you believe me or not. I just told you what I know.” Tumalikod na siya saka naglakad palayo.
Sinundan naman ni Rose ang tingin ang lalaki. Ligtas ba talaga si Iris katulad ng sinabi ng lalaking ‘yon?
Rose half-doubted the stranger and heavily sighed. Hindi mapapanatag ang loob niya hangga’t hindi niya nakikita ang kaibigan niya. Pero saan naman niya kaya ito hahanapin?
Life Medical Hospital
HAWAK-HAWAK ni Joseph ang kamay ng kasintahan. Nasa loob siya ng ICU at binabantayan niya si Iris hanggang sa matapos ang hour visit.
“Iris, please wake up.”
Hindi binitawan ni Joseph ang kamay ng kasintahan. Dinala niya ito sa kaniyang pisngi at pinakiramdaman ang init ng palad ng dalaga. Suddenly, he felt a movement. He was stunned and looked at Iris’ hand.
Muling gumalaw ang daliri ni Iris.
“Iris?”
Mabilis na pinindot ni Joseph ang emergency button sa may ulunan ni Iris.
Maya maya pa ay pumasok ang doktor ni Iris at ilang nurse. Kinailangan ni Joseph ang lumabas para bigyan ng espasyo ang doktor at nurses na sumuri kay Iris.
Joseph looked inside the ICU. Nahigit niya ang hininga nang makita ang unti-unting pagdilat ng mata ni Iris. Nakaharap sa kaniya si Iris at nang tuluyan na nitong naidilat ang mata, siya agad ang una nitong nakita.
Joseph couldn’t help but wave at Iris. He smiled at her, but Iris just looked at him as if he was a stranger. Nawala ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi. His heart was beating so fast. He was nervous. Iris looked at him like she didn’t know him.
Napatingin si Iris sa doktor nang magtanong ito. Iris kept on shaking her head after the doctor asked something. Then the doctor seemed to ask questions about him because he pointed at him who was outside the ICU. Iris looked at him again and she slowly shook her head.
Napahigpit ang hawak ni Joseph sa cell phone na nasa kaniyang kamay. He didn’t know what was happening. Kaya naman mabilis niyang nilapitan ang doktor ni Iris pagkalabas nito ng ICU.
“Doc, what happened?”
“She’s fine now, Mr. De Luca. It’s just that…” The doctor sighed. “Your wife seems to have lost her memories because she hit her head so hard. She doesn’t remember her identity, her name, and her life experiences,” said the doctor. “In short, she forgets everything that she knows. She was confused now, and she was like a newborn baby who knows nothing in this world.”
“What?”
Bumuntong hininga ang doktor. “She will be transferred to the private ward later. Talk to her but never shout at her.”
Tumango si Joseph. “Gaano katagal ang amnesia niya. doc?”
“It depends, Mr. De Luca. But as of now, she should focus on her recovery.”
“Thank you, doc.”
Tumango ang doktor. The doctor excused himself.
Hinintay naman ni Joseph na mailipat si Iris sa private ward. Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga habang nasa pinto siya ng private ward na inuokopa ni Iris.
“Milord, are you okay?” tanong ni Andrew.
“You seemed tense.” Sabi naman ni Austin.
Joseph sighed. “You two are not helping at all.” Aniya saka napailing,
Nagkatinginan naman ang kambal.
Pinihit ni Joseph ang doorknob saka itinulak ang pinto pabukas. He had already readied himself for the next thing that would happen. Pagkapasok niya sa loob, nakita niya si Iris na nakatulog. Kusang gumuhit ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi.
Lumapit siya kay Iris at umupo sa stool na nasa tabi ng hospital bed na kinahihigaan nito.
Joseph lifted his hand and gently caressed Iris’s head.
Maya maya pa ay nagising si Iris.
Iris was startled, and her eyes widened as she looked at him.
Mabilis na nagtaas ng kamay si Joseph. “I mean no harm.”
“S-sino ka?” may takot na tanong ni Iris. She doesn’t remember anything, and she doesn’t know the man in front of her.
“I’m your husband.”
Iris's eyes widened even more. “H-husband…?”
Tumango si Joseph saka ipinakita ang kamay na may suot na singsing. “Yes, I am your husband. Look at your hand.”
Tinignan naman ni Iris ang kaniyang daliri at nakita niyang may suot siyang singsing kapareho ng suot ng lalaking kaharap niya.
“We have the same ring.”
Kumunot ang nuo ni Iris. “Hindi kita kilala. Wala akong maalala.” Napahawak siya sa kaniyang ulo dahil sumasakit ito.
“It’s okay. Don’t hurt yourself.” Nag-aalalang saad ni Joseph. “Don’t force yourself to remember.”
Tumahimik si Iris at hinintay na humupa ang sakit ng kaniyang ulo.
I am your husband.
Iris let out a sigh. Why does my heart beat so fast?
Iris looked at her ‘husband’. “Who am I? What do I do? When did I become your wife?”
Sa totoo lang naguguluhan siya. She woke up remembering nothing. Ayon sa doktor, may amnesia siya at posibleng matagal bago bumalik ang kaniyang memorya.
“Your name is Iris. You’re working in a Research School and taking your Master’s degree. We got married before you were shot.”
Itinuro ni Iris ang mismong sarili. “I was shot?”
Tumango si Joseph saka kinuha ang nakatuping papel sa bulsa ng suot niyang pantalon. “This is the proof that we are married. We got married before you got into an accident.” Joseph showed the marriage certificate to Iris. Papanindigan na niya ang kasinungalingan niya.
It’s not fake because it was authenticated but is still considered fake because it was made without Iris's consent.
Kinuha naman ni Iris ang papel. “This is…”
“It’s only a xerox copy. Itinago ko ang original sa safe vault.” Ngumiti si Joseph.
Iris stared at the marriage certificate. She was really confused. Parang hindi siya naniniwala sa mga sinasabi ng kausap niya. “Iris Fontanilla. Joseph Alejandro Auclair De Luca.” Basa niya sa pangalan na nasa marriage certificate. She looked at her husband.
Joseph nodded. “That’s me.”
“Who shot me?” Iris asked as she lay down on the bed. She’s not feeling comfortable. Ayon sa doktor na nakausap niya kanina naghihilom pa lamang daw ang sugat niya sa itaas ng kaniyang dibdib.
“It was my grandfather’s order. He doesn’t like you and wants you dead,” Joseph confessed.
Iris was confused. “He wants me dead?”
Tumango si Joseph. “Okay. Tama na muna ‘to. You can ask me later about the things you wanted to know, but for now. You should rest. You need it.”
Iris nodded. Ramdam niya rin sa katawan niya na pagod siya. Agad na nakatulog si Iris.
Malalim namang napabuntong hininga si Joseph. Tumayo siya saka inayos ang kumot ni Iris. Kinuha niya mula sa bulsa ang bracelet na ibinigay niya dito rati. Isinuot niya kay Iris ang bracelet saka napangiti na lamang.
“Rest well, Amore mio.”
- Writer
