"4"

It's not their first time na nag sinungaling sila sa totoong nangyari. Because a year and a half has passed yet Vince's memory has been compromised. Ika nga, there are days that he'd remember but more of it, he'll eventually forget.

‘He thinks it's still the year 2016... or even 2017, maybe 2018. His speech therapist had proven that fact. He talks about being late for work, talks about what is the next story in Probinsyano. He has no idea that just a few months from now then it's 2023. We have to adjust for him, or else his stress levels may rise again and cause further damage to his memories. We still don't know if it's a mild case of anterograde amnesia or retrograde amnesia. All we can do now is run some more tests if he has other problems other than this, and pray for the best. Naalala nya yung sinabi ng Doctor sa kanilang lahat six months ago.’

"A--Addalyn?" Tanong ni Vince sa kaibigan.

Nginitian sya ng Velle. "Ganun parin, enjoy na enjoy sa pagiging terror na examiner para sa future employees natin."

"Bi--billy at Hasnina?"

Velle smiled. "Sila pa ring dalawa, going strong." She lied, those two had broken up since 2021.

Napangiti si Vince sa sagot ng kaibigan, he misses them so much. He did ask his personal nurses if they visit and their answers are all the same. "Opo, na bisita po naman sila." But why can't he remember this, was the car accident really that bad? Kaya ba siya nabalda ng husto, pero bakit hindi siya makapag-salita ng maayos?

He furrowed his eyebrows because he feels so uncertain, and sadness is slowly creeping up inside while rage builds itself at the same time. He doesn't want to be sad anymore, it's a feeling that he was getting used to and it scared him, knowing how melancholic he's becoming.

How much has he missed? What is happening to the outside world? "Si... Karah?"

Maiksing tanong ni Vince but it almost took Velle forever to answer. She doesn't know what to say exactly, should she tell the truth or should she lie again like she always does, as everybody has to. "Ayun, sila pa rin ng mayabang niyang boyfriend."

"A-ah... Ga-ganun ba?"

Tinaasan ng kilay ni Velle ang kanyang kaibigan at mahina tong tinapik sa likod. "Ikaw ha, you’re one of the hottest bachelor in this country pero gustong-gusto mong sulotin ang babaeng taken na. Ang weird mo talaga! Hindi ba may nililigawan kang iba? Trip mo si Hazel, diba?"

"Wa-wala... Boy... boy..." Naiinis man sya dahil sa pagkabulol nya eh napangiti si Vince at tumingin nalang sa kanyang mga kamay na matamlay na nakapatong sa kanyang tiyan. "Miss ko... ko na-ah K-Karinna."

Velle placed her hand on her friend's shoulder, squeezing it and releasing it after mere seconds. "Alam mo magpagaling ka na, may pag-asa ka pa eh. Hindi pa naman nag-popropose si David, may chance ka pa." Muling kinindatan ni Velle ang kaibigan bago sya tumayo sa kinakaupuan at magpaalam para umuwi na rin sa kanila. Hinihintay na siya ng kanyang asawa at ng kanyang bagong silang na sanggol.

"Wag kang mag-alala, bibisita rin sa'yo yun sayo, busy lang rin kasi siya sa bago niyang project. Basta, galingan mo sa therapy ah! Para naman hindi ka na bulol."

Vince remained silent but he gave Velle one of the brightest smiles that she hadn't seen in a long while. It's as if her friend is back to his old self. "Na-ngaaaat... I-ingat."

Tumango si Velle and then bid his last farewell. Immediately, he walked out the door and closed it in a hurry. Nagsimula na siyang maglakad papa-labas ng bahay ni Vince, while being attentive to not attract any unneeded attention from the press. She couldn't take it anymore. Even after all those visits, those days na nakakausap niya ang kaibigan mahirap pa rin talaga. Ito rin ang isa sa mga rason kung bakit pinili nalang ni Emmanuel na bumalik ng States, si Nanay Rosa at Bernadette na lang ang palaging bumibisita dito.

Kung pwede lang nya sabihin sa kaibigan ang lahat, kung pwede lang na mag-sorry at humingi rin sya ng tawad dahil sa dami ng beses niyang nag sinungaling dito.

Velle picked up her phone and dialed a certain number. A few more rings and she heard someone's voice resounding from the other line. "Karinna Saturos, kailangan ka niya dito... Hinahanap ka na nya ulit, you know how much he needs us."

"Okay, pupunta rin ako jan, pakisabi nalang kay Vince. Mejo marami din kasi kaming inaasikaso nina David, he keeps insisting about the whereabouts of his... crazy old mistake. Para daw naman matahimik narin ang buhay namin."

"Ayaw ko na ngang bumalik dun, okay? Bilisan mo, basta pumunta ka dito, nyeta!" Irita nyang sigaw sa kaibigan, lalong kumulo ang dugo nito dahil sa nalaman nyang magkasama si Karinna at David. "Kelan ba natin sasabihin sa kanya ang totoo?! Pumanaw na si John at Wendy sa isang car accident, si Billy at Hasnina naman hiwalay na... Kainna... He's missing so much. Naaawa na ako sa kanya..."

"Velle, pwede kumalma ka lang... You know we can't do that. Kung pwede nga lang... Diba?"

Napakagat si Velle sa labi, hindi na niya mapigilan ang sarili at biglang napaimik ng "Kailan mo sasabihin na hanggang ngayon eh kasal parin kayo ni David?! Na hanggang ngayon Legal na kasal ka parin sa taong gustong sumira sa buhay mo! Na hanggang ngayon, kapit-tuko parin syang nakadikit sayo even after all the hell you went through because of him! Na ang kabit ng dati mong asawa eh naglaho na parang bula at wala parin talagang nakakamit na hustisya! Hanggang kelan mo kayang tyagain na makita siyang nagmumukhang tanga, ha, Karinna?!"

The line went silent and he heard the familiar sound of someone ending the call.

Did she go too far this time?

*****

Vince woke up with a different type of determination. It was speech therapy day and as his exercise progress, he was slowly learning to talk fluently again. Ilang araw na rin ang nakalipas at walang Velle, Addalyn o Karinna na bumibisita sa kanya. He felt so lonely but he won't let that leech of a feeling stop him from progressing. Ginagawa nya nga itong inspiration to do better. Na kung sakali na magaling na siyang magsalita at lumakad eh sya naman ang bibisita at pangungumusta na mga kaibigan.

He still can't talk as well as before but it's better than not being able to talk at all. Days passed by so quickly and he can feel the change in him. His left side was getting stronger while he worked hard to bring life and motion back to his right side. Mahirap man, pero kakayanin nya. Ang hindi lang niya gusto tuwing napapagod siya ng sobra eh may effect ito sa cognitive hearing at speech nya. Right now he's being checked by Doc. Bastillas, one of the best Neurologists and Speech Pathologists in the Philippines.

"Don't worry about it too much, Mr. Visencio. The progress you're making may be slow but it's what your body can handle." The doctor explained as she massage Vince's jaw and throat to relax the strained muscles. "I'm actually surprised with your improvements. I never thought you'd learn how to swallow, speak and follow instructions. Yet, you beat the odds."

The doctor smiled at him and even though it was quite a challenge he smiled back. Mukha lang syang nakangisi dahil hindi pantay ang ngiti nya. "If you work hard enough you'll be able to walk on your own in less than six months. You will still need a crane or another type of support but you'll get there. As for your speech, we will work hard on that as well."

"Sa--sal...mat... p-po. A-anoo na...nangyari... s-sa...saken? Ba--bakit... di si...sinasabi sa...kin? Gu-gusto... gusto ko n...na lumabas."

The doctor only remained silent and held his hand, squeezing it apologetically because she signed a confidentiality agreement to never tell her client the back story of his demise until it was the right time. Not until she settled the agreement with the Visencio family. "Let's just get back to your exercises."

Vince was a bit disappointed but nevertheless he agreed and chanted his ABC's.