Chapitre 21: Doubts and Fears (CHAPTER TWENTY ONE)
ELIJAH/ EUNHO'S POV
It's been 6 years since we parted ways. It's been 6 years since that little misunderstanding happened. That was just a little misunderstanding, but I don't know. Because of that, our friendship was ruined. I went to Germany, we lost connection and I lost her. It's been 6 years, but I still can't get over her. I can still clearly remember that night when I danced with her. I wish I could turn back time. I wonder where she is right now. Where is she really? Does she still lives in the same house? Is she still in the Philippines? Wait, why don't I search her again on social media? Wait, does she even have social media accounts? I tried searching her on Instagram, but I found no result for Aisha Banner. Well, there is actually. But not the same Aisha Banner I was looking for. I don't have any Facebook account. My friend let me borrowed his account to search for Aisha, but I didn't find her. So I stopped looking for her. And I don't think she'll answer me if ever I'll message her. I am wondering if she still thinks of me. I am wondering if she has already forgiven me. I didn't even had the chance to say goodbye to her, bigla nalang ako nawala. Nagkaamnesia ako and she knew nothing about that. Akala niya before, I was just pretending that I don't know her when she approached me on our graduation day. Twice nga lang ako nakapunta sa practice eh due to the accident.
*Flashback*
"Happy graduation." Aisha greeted Kielle plainly then she handed him a bracelet. "I made that myself."
"What's this for? A souvenir? Wow! Thank you! Happy graduation, too! But, do I know you?"
"So you're still not done with this! Ewan ko sa'yo."
"What?"
*End of flashback*
Afte that conversation, she walked away leaving me puzzled and clueless. Hindi ko talaga siya kilala that time because of the fact that I still didn't regain my memory. Hindi ko na rin siya nakita after that day because right after graduation, we left the Philippines and flew to Germany. Aisha heard the news about me leaving from my foster parents. Sa kanila niya na rin nalaman na naaksidente pala ako at nagkaamnesia. After that day nung nakasalubong nila si Aisha sa mall, they never saw her again because lumipat na sa province ang parents ko. They decided to live there kasi raw mas peaceful and para masamahan daw ni papa grandparents ko ron. Sa side kasi ni mama, wala na both parents niya. And my papa wants to cherish the moments with his parents, my grand parents are old na rin kasi. At ako, pinapabakasyon din nila ako sa Philippines so we could be all together daw. Eversince I left Philippines, not even once I did bother to visit the country. Hindi ko pa kasi kaya that time. What if makita ko si Aisha? Anong sasabihin ko sa kanya? Parehas din kasi kami ng province, sa Pampanga. What if bigla kami magkita ron? So hindi talaga ako umuwi eversince. But now, I think I'm now ready to see her, to talk to her, to explain to her na misunderstanding lang 'yung nangyari before. And I want to tell her how I really feel. Years had passed, but I'm still into her. There's not a day I didn't think of her mula nung makaalala uli ako. I realized that I still love her kaya I broke up with Meredith. I know I caused pain to her and even kay Kyle kaya naging awkward na rin between us. Nabawasan closeness namin, he got mad at me to the point na iniwasan niya ako kaya pumunta siya ng Philippines, doon na siya nag graduate ng college and doon na rin siya nag business. Of course, I am happy for him dahil nabalitaan ko meron na siyang 2 branches ng hotel sa Philippines or even more than?
"Son, are you sure you're not going to join us to our dinner later?"
"Yes, Uncle. I'm sorry, but I have loads of research papers to work on."
"It's okay. And I'm sure your Aunt Netty will understand. Being a medical student isn't easy, not really. Been there, done that. So you really should work hard."
"Yes, Uncle. I will make it next time, I promise. Enjoy the night! Have a blast!"
"Okay. I will be looking forward to our next dinner date. Don't disappointment me, okay?"
"Yes, Uncle. Take care!"
"Ciao!" And he walked out of my room. Since when did he became Chinese? By the way, that's Uncle Herns, short for Hernand. He is the elder brother of my biological mom. Ever since our parents passed away, Uncle Herns and Aunt Netty stayed with me, they never left my side. When our parents died, I was alone because I'm studying here in US. Kyle was in the Philippines that time. He just flew to Germany to attend our parent's burial then left again. He actually came to the Philippines way back 4 years ago without even saying a word. Bigla nalang siyang nawala. Like me, like what I did to Aisha. I guess, we really are brothers. We have that habit of leaving without even saying goodbye. But hey, it's not my intention to leave Aisha. It's just that I really can't remember her due to the accident. And I really regret it, but my Mama and Papa keep telling me that I did nothing wrong, it's not my mistake. But still, natatakot pa rin ako. Natatakot ako kasi what if may iba na pala siya? What if she doesn't feel the same? What if nakalimutan na pala niya ako? What if she's happy now without me? Sobrang dami kong what if's and the only way I know para masagot lahat 'yon is to come home, to come back to Philippines and look for Aisha, my long lost friend, my childhood bestfriend, my childhood sweetheart. Hahahaha cheezy.
I stared at my bracelet that Aisha gave me on our graduation day. "Wait for me, Aisha. I'm coming home."
AISHA'S POV
"Ay shet! Ano ba 'yan, Ate!? Bakit ka naman nanggugulat?"
"Kasi sizzy, kanina ka pa nakatunganga diyan. Tignan mo 'yang kinakain mo parang hindi pa nabawasan. Parang ang lalim ata ng iniisip mo ah?" Nakiupo na rin si Ate at nagsimula nang kumain. Andito kami sa canteen ng hospital at lunch break namin.
"Kasi naman Ate eh.."
"Hulaan ko.. iniisip mo si Kyle ano?" I nodded. "Sus! Bakit ba parang worried na worried ka?"
"Hindi naman sa worried, Ate. Pero iniisip ko kasi bakit hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin siya nakakaalala?"
"Eh kung tanungin mo na kaya siya ng diretso?"
"Actually, Ate may cues eh.. na parang nakakaalala na siya? Kasi last time nung andon kami sa hotel niya, sa pent house niya, he asked if siya lang ba 'yung Banner na kakilala ko na hindi ko kamag anak."
"Hmm pwede? Pero kung nakakaalala na nga siya, bakit hindi niya sabihin?"
"Ewan ko, Ate. It's been 6 years. May amnesia ba na 6 years?"
"Depende. Pero ewan ko, medyo ang labo ng part na 'yan.Hindi kaya nagprepretend lang siya na hindi siya nakakaalala?"
"Pwede.. pero bakit naman? What's his reason to do that?"
"Malay? Baka natatakot? Pero paano kung hindi naman pala kasi siya 'yung childhood friend mo?"
"Huh? Paanong hindi siya? Eh kamukhang kamukha niya. Tsaka high school lang naman kami nagkahiwalay. Hindi naman masyado malayo hitsura niya ngayon sa kaibigan ko nung high school. Kamukha niya talaga, Ate eh. Alam kong siya 'yun."
"Ayun na nga eh. Baka kamukha lang niya. Bakit kasi hindi mo siya tanungin para masagot na lahat ng tanong mo?" Napaisip ako.
"O natatakot ka? Paano kung hindi pala siya si Kielle mo? Anong gagawin mo?"
"Sure kong siya 'yun, Ate. Ano ka ba? Tsaka tiga Germany din siya eh."
"Pero paano kung ibang tao pala? Iyong kapatid pala niya? May kapatid ba siya?"
"Wait! Namention niya, Ate meron siyang kakambal!"
"Ano!? Nako, Aisha baka hindi talaga siya si Kielle."
"Wait lang, Ate. Naguguluhan na ako."
"Pero paano nga kung hindi pala siya? Ano gagawin mo?"
"Grabe naman kung gano'n, Ate. Ang liit naman ng mundo kung gano'n."
"Pero paano nga kung hindi siya si Elijah Kielle? Paano kung magkaibang tao pala si Ezekiel at Elijah Kielle?" Napatingin ako kay Ate. "Paano kung 'yung kambal ni Ezekiel ang tunay na Elijah?!" Nanlalaking mata niyang sabi at ako napakunot noo nalang ako. "Hindi imposible 'yon, Aisha! O my gosh!" At nanlaki na rin ang mata ko.
"Ewan ko, ang gulo! Tara na muna. Balik na tayo."
"Sandali, bibili lang ako ng candies."
"Ayna, dalian mo, Ate."
"Oo, sandali. Kung sakali lang na gutumin ako mamaya."
After few minutes..
"Oh, eto. Bulsa mo para naman may baon ka rin."
"Thank you."
"Ohh, smile na! 'Wag mo muna masyado isipin 'yan. Focus ka muna sa work, okay?"
"Opo, Ma'am Ate Head Nurse!" Sabay salute.
————-
"Kyle? Anong ginagawa mo rito?" Pagkalabas namin ni Ate ng pinto ng hospital, bumungad si Kyle na nakaupo sa bench kaya lumapit kami sa kanya.
"Magpapacheck up."
"Huh? Bakit? Hindi ba maganda pakiramdam mo?"
"Hindi! Obvious ba? Syempre sinusundo kita." And my response? I rolled my eyes at him. Natawa nalang sila.
"Oh bakit biglaan ka ata ngayon, bayaw? Hindi ka nagpasabi. Buti naabutan mo pa kami."
"Maaabutan ko talaga kayo, Ate. Kasi 2:45 dating ko rito."
"Ohh saan lakad niyo?" Tanong ni Ate.
"Ewan ko. Hindi ko nga alam saan punta namin. Or ihahatid mo lang kami pauwi, Kyle?"
"May pupuntahan tayo." Sagot niya habang papasok kami sa kotse niya. Sa malapit lang siya nag park.
"At saan naman?" I asked while wearing seatbelt.
"Ate, pwede po bang hindi sumabay sa inyo si Aisha ngayon? Kain lang po kami."
"Asus! Oo naman, bayaw. Ikaw pa, malakas ka sa'min! Nagpaalam ka pa. Hindi naman na bata 'yang si Aisha."
"Oo nga, Kyle tsaka bakit kay Ate ka nagpapaalam? Sa akin ka magpaalam kung papayag ba ako. Duhh?" He just chuckled as a response.
"Saan ba tayo kakain?"
"Sa isang resto bar. Si Fred 'yung owner. Grand opening nila kasi. Kayo, Ate Ammy baka gusto niyong sumama?" Fred, 'yung father nung bata na pinuntahan naming birthday party last time.
"Oo nga, Ate. Ayain mo si Kuya Dan."
"Hmm teka. I'll contact him kung hindi siya busy."
"Oh, hello, beh. Free ka ba ngayon? Halika nag aaya sina Aisha at Kyle kain daw tayo sa resto bar nung kaibigan niya. Grand opening. Ngayon after naming magpalit ng damit sa bahay. Sa bahay mo nalang kami kitain ta para mabisita mo rin si Jez."
"Ate, sabihin mo libre ko."
"Ay talaga, bayaw? Ay sige, sige. Oh, beh libre raw tayo ni Kyle. Sige sige. Sa bahay nalang. Bye! Take care! I love you, too!"
"Naks, ang sweet niyo naman ng boyfriend mo, Ate."
"Ay oo ah. Malayo sa inyo ni Aisha." Sabay tumawa siya. Napalingon naman ako sa kanya sa likod. "Oh bakit? Totoo naman!" Hirit pa ni Ate. Nilakihan ko nalang siya ng mata while she's smiling like a kid habang nanliliit ang mata na nakatingin din sa'kin. Inayos ko na uli 'yung pwesto ko paharap. Tinitignan ko si Kyle ngayon using my eyes only. Baka kasi mang asar si Ate. Knowing her, mang aasar talaga 'yun. Inalis ko na rin agad tingin ko kay Kyle, baka mahuli niya pa ako. Kyle, ikaw ba talaga si Elijah Kielle?
——————
"Dwaine!"
"Oh, sakto ang dating ko. Kadarating niyo lang din pala."
"Hello po, Kuya." I and Kyle said in unison.
"Hello, Aisha, Kyle." He nodded at Kyle habang bumababa siya sa motor. Sa tabi ng gate lang siya nagpark. Kami rin, sa labas lang din nag park si Kyle kasi aalis lang din naman kami kaagad.
"Oh tara, pasok na tayo sa loob." Aya ni Ate. Umakbay naman sa kanya si Kuya Dan. Ang sweet nga nila talaga.
"We're home!" Sigaw ni Ate dahil busy si Jez sa panunuod ng Phineas and Ferb kaya 'di niya napansin ang dating namin.
"Hel- Kuya Kyle? Hello!" He waved at Kyle.
"May surprise kami sa'yo!" Excited na Sabi ni Ate. Naghiwa hiwalay kami para makita niya 'yung tinatago namin sa likod namin na si Kuya Dan, nakaupo siya kasi masyado siyang matangkad para hindi makita.
"Kuya Dan!!!" Tumakbo siya at niyakap ang nakangiting si Kuya Dan.
"Jeztrienne! Namiss mo ako?" He said while patting her head. Close talaga 'tong dalawang 'to eh. Gustung gusto ni Jez si Kuya Dan.
"Syempre po, Kuya! Ang tagal mo pong hindi pumunta dito eh."
"Sorry, hindi na ako masyadong nakakadalaw huh? Busy kasi sa work these past few months, pero ito oh may pasalubong ako sa'yo!" Then he handed her a box of Jco donuts na paborito ni Jez.
"Wow! Thank you po, Kuya! I love you!"
"Syempre alam kong favorite mo 'yan eh. I love you, too, baby!" And Jeztrienne kissed him on the cheeks.
"Gan'yan sila kaclose?" Bulong sa akin ni Kyle.
"Oo, para na nga silang mag ama eh." Singit naman ni Ate. Narinig niya 'yung bulong ni Kyle. Ang lakas ng pandinig, in fairness huh.
"Ang sweet." Comment nalang ni Kyle. Napangiti nalang kami ni Ate.
"Buti nalang talaga umuwi ako ng maaga. Buti hindi ko na hinintay si Mama sa school."
"Buti nalang. At dahil diyan, sama ka na rin sa amin, Jeztrienne." Aya ni Kyle.
"Saan po pupunta?"
"Sa resto bar ng kaibigan ko, grand opening niya. Manlilibre ako."
"Kasama po ba si Kuya Dan?"
"Oo, kasama ako, baby."
"Sige po, sama na po ako! Wait, pa'no po pala si Mama?"
"Ay oo nga. Take outan nalang natin siya kasi mamaya maya pa uwian niya eh. Text nalang namin siya na hindi tayo dito magdidinner." Sabi ni Ate.
"Okay." Jez said while smiling sweetly. Napakacute talaga ng batang 'to. I smiled while watching her.
Nagpalit lang kami saglit ni Ate. By 3:30 nakaalis na kami and exactly 4:00 nakarating na kami rito sa mall. Dito kasi sa SM nakapatayo si Fred ng resto bar. Dito na rin kami namili ng gift for him. By 5, after ng paglilibot pumunta na kami sa resto ni Fred. Maganda 'yung ambiance ng resto. Actually, hindi siya 'yung bar na as in bar na restaurant na bar. What? Basta, ewan ko ba kung bakit resto bar pinangalan niya. Fred's Resto Bar. Siguro trip niya lang. Baka feel lang niya lagyan ng 'bar' sa dulo? May drinks din dito, pero mukha siyang fine dining, ang elegant kasi ng dating. Ang ganda ng setup, the color combination's perfect, too. Plus ang ganda ng uniform ng mga staffs. Actually mukha itong Japanese restaurant kasi parang pang Japanese 'yung mga suot ng mga waitress at nga mga tao sa counter. And naconfirm ko 'yon by scanning the menu kasi Japanese cuisine pala ang sineserve nila rito.
———-
"Thank you for coming, pre. Thank you, Aisha. Thank you po. May souvenir kami na binigay. Ito oh." At inabutan kami ng staffs niya ng tig iisang sushi keychain. Ang cute lang.
"Thank you rin, pre. Ang sarap ng mga sinerve na food. Babalik kami dito next time."
"Sige sige. Asahan ko 'yan ah?"
"Sure, sure. Congrats sa'yo!"
"Congrats, Fred." I said and nag handshake kami. Gano'n din ginawa nina Ate at Kuya habang cinocongrats siya. Pati si Jez kinamayan din ni Fred.
After congratulating Fred on his new business, nagkaayaan kaming magsine since 6:30 palang kanina. Ngayon almost 8:30 na and in 30 minutes magsasara na rin itong mall. Si Kuya Dan naman pinauna na ni Ate. Kanina nakahiwalay silang dalawa sa amin kasi nagmotor sila. Napag usapan daw nila na every Saturday night bibisita rin daw si Kuya Dan sa bahay. Ang saya lang.
By 9:15 nakauwi na kami. Hindi na nagtagal pa si Kyle dahil may meeting daw siya kinabukasan, need daw niya matulog ng maaga.
KYLE'S POV
Argh! I can't sleep! Kalahating oras na akong nakikipagtitigan sa butiki sa kisame. Nababother kasi ako. Iniisip ko what might happen if nagkaharap na si Eunho and Aisha? I guess what I'm feeling right now is.. natatakot ako? Masaya naman kami ni Aisha. Everything goes well, our relationship flows smoothly. Pero natatakot ako. Paano kapag nagkita na sila? December na ang dating ni Eunho dito sa Philippines at natatakot na ako sa mga posibleng mangyari. 'Wag ko nalang kaya sila ipagmeet? I brushed off that idea. Unfair naman non, I shouldn't be doing that.
*Phone ringing*
"Hey, Meredith? What's up?" I switched on my lampshade.
[Do you mind if I FaceTime you?]
"No, I don't. Why did you call at this hour?"
[Ohh, are you sleeping already? I'm sorry I forgot that it's already evening there in that country.]
"It's alright. I actually can't get myself to sleep."
[Oh why? I called you to check you up and I guess you're not doing so well huh? What's the matter?]
"I'm bothered, Merrie"
[Bothered by what? Or shall I say by whom?]
"Yea, I keep thinking of Aisha and Eunho."
[Why so?]
"In a month, Eunho will come visit here."
[Really!? So..]
"Ugh! I don't know what to do. I fell in love with my brother's ex— err what do I call their relationship? Never mind." I laughed. "But I really am afraid what might happen if they met again. I don't know what to do, Mer? What should I do?"
[Hmm I think you now need to confront Aisha.]
"Confront her what? Like telling her that I am her childhood friend's twin brother?"
[Yep, exactly.]
"But how will I do that? I mean.." I let out a deep sigh.
[You mean you're not ready yet?]
"I guess so.."
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