October 30, 2016

Mikey's POV

It's already 2 weeks and there are still no signs of Luz waking up, I never left her side even when her parents tried to let me rest.

I couldn't sleep even for a moment without thinking about her so what's the point.

They've been treating me kindly as if they've already met me before.

"You should at least eat more, you're so thin. Did Luz not feed you? Or her cooking is bad?"Her mom worriedly asked and handed me a plate of food.

"I'm still full, ma'am. Also, Luz would let me eat more often. Her cooking is also great." I said and respectfully refused the food.

Luz is a great cook, and she'll always encourage me to eat more.

"You can just call us tita or tito, anak. No need to call me ma'am, it feels like I'm older than I actually do." She said and set the food away.

"I'm sorry, titah. But, you look young that I thought you were Luz's sister." I said

"Ahsus, nambola ka pa." She said and playfully patted my arm and smiled.

[T: You even flatter me.]

She sat across the room and looked worriedly at Luz. While I was beside Luz while holding her hand.

Despite her smile, it's obvious that she's worried about their daughter. Her dad is the same, even when he shows a neutral expression, his silence was enough to tell that he's worried too.

"You know, Mikey, Luz was an energetic child. She was also kind of boyish and acts "cool" like the people she watches in the movies that she told me that she wants to be a police when she grows up..." She stated.

"Back in our province, she'll always climb trees and run around the field." She added.

I only stayed silent and listened to her story.

"But then, when we went to Manila for a visit, she got lost once..." She said.

"The amount of worry that I felt that day reminds me of now. I looked around for her but because I also don't know much of the area, I was looking in circles." She said

"But thankfully, a kind person helped her to find me. It was a foreigner, nonetheless. He must've been a tourist. I don't remember his name anymore but I vaguely remember what he looked like.." She said and smiled.

"And somehow, you look similar in some way. But you can't be the same person, he was in his late teens when we met." She said and slightly chuckled.

"So when you introduced yourself to us, I felt a slight sense of familiarity that made me even more thankful for looking after Luz." She added and slowly approached Luz's bedside.

"I guess her luck with strangers is high. Also to be quite honest, you're much better than her ex. I'm glad that you're her current." She said and pat my head and smiled kindly.

"No, I'm the one who's lucky to have her. I wish that I met her sooner so she wasn't hurt by others who don't know how much her worth is." I said.

She kept brushing my hair lovingly and it felt nice.

So this is how motherly love feels like.

I flinched when I felt Luz's finger twitch.

"What's wrong, anak?" Her mom asked, I looked at her with my eyes wide.

"Her finger moved." I said then we both looked at Luz.

I stood up from my seat and leaned forward while softly calling for her. Her eyes slowly fluttered open.

Her mom rushed to call someone while I stayed and held her hand and gently brushed her hair.

"Lulu-chin..." I called while her eyes traveled around the room before looking at me and weakly smiling.

"M-Mikey" She weakly called and tears flowed.

"Y-yeah, I'm here. I'm here. Oh, thank God, Luz. Please don't scare me like that again. " I said and placed a kiss on her forehead before the doctors and nurses came and checked on her.

I watch at the side with her mom, relieved that she's finally awake.

.

.

.

Your POV

Holy shit, I survived that?

Nagkakatotoo na ba yung pangarap ko noon na maging Cardo Dalisay?

[T: Is my dream to be the next Cardo Dalisay finally coming true?]

Pero yung gusto ko eh yung maging astig. Yung may pa-tambling rambling at iilag-ilag pero sinalo ko naman yung puno gamit ang maliit kong katawan. Punyemas.

[T: But what I wanted was to be cool. Where I could tumble and dodge things but I caught the whole tree with my small body. Damnit.]

I can't even move properly because it would be painful to move an inch.

I sighed and looked to the side and watched Mikey sleep. I can see some eye bags and dark circles under his eyes.

"Ma." I softly called to my mother. She sat beside the other side of the bed.

"Bakit? May masakit ba?" She worriedly asked and brushed my hair. 

[T: Why? Does it hurt somewhere?]

I shook my head and looked back at Mikey.

"Ilang araw na siyang di natulog?" I asked. I feel so guilty for making him worry that he didn't get any sleep.

[T: How many days has he not slept?]

He still looks as handsome as ever though.

"Siguro mula noong nawalan ka ng malay. Kararating lang namin ng papa mo dito." She said.

[T: I think ever since you were unconscious. I and your dad just arrived a few days ago.]

I sighed again and looked up at the ceiling. 

"Ma" I called again.

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry," I said

"Para saan?" She asked

[T: For what?]

"Dahil nagalit ako at di ko kayo pinansin ni papa ng ilang taon. Wala akong utang na loob na anak. I'm sorry, ma." I said and I felt her hold me hand.

[T: Because I got mad and ignored you and dad for years. I failed as a daughter. I'm sorry, mom.]

"Luz, anak, wag mo nang isipin yun, wag mo ding isipin na wala kang tang na loob dahil hindi yan, kahit isang saglit, pumasok sa isip namin ng papa mo. Ang mahalaga ay magpagaling ka. Kami dapat ang nagsosorry sayo eh, dahil tinago namin ang totoo sayo. Nagpapasalamat kami dahil naging anak ka namin." She said.

[T: Luz, my child, don't think about that and don't ever think that you failed as a daughter because me and your dad never even thought of that for a single moment. What's important is that you heal. We should be the ones who are saying sorry for keeping the truth from you. We are thankful that you became our daughter.]

Tears began to flow and I stayed silent.

The reason for our fight was because they hid the fact that I'm not their real daughter and that my biological parents left me to them.

I won't blame them for keeping it a secret. They just did that to protect me from everyone. 

Who would even like a child whose biological parents are the lowest of low?

A girl whose mother is a prostitute and a father that was involved in illegal jobs like drug dealing and even murder.

I only found out the truth after my college graduation.

My biological mom came to the ceremony and told me everything. She told me that both she and my biological dad love me so they gave me up for adoption so I can live a peaceful life.

She died a year after because of cancer, I later found out that my biological father also died after being shot by the police.

My adoptive parents can't have a child because of infertility so they took me in.

I never felt so cursed. I can't believe I'm the offspring of two people that committed crimes.

I'll never know why they even had me in the first place when they could've even killed me before I would be born. 

Am I still a good person when I came from two people that are too tainted by sin?

Am I really as kind as Mikey told me I am?

I don't know anymore.

« ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ »