CHAPTER 1

                                    

                                          
Iminulat ko ang akin mata at kumurap-kurap. The sterile white ceiling blurre into focus as I blinked against the bright lights, the sharp, medicinal scent antiseptic assaulting my nostrils.
"Nasaan ako? anong nangyari bakit andito ako?" Saad ko at napahawak sa ulo nang kumirot ito naramdaman ko ding may benda ito.
My gaze swept the room, landing on a man sitting on the couch, his eyes fixed on me.
"Sino ka? Bakit k-ka andito? bakit a-ako andito anong nangyari?" I stammered, my voice trembling with fear.
"Calm down, wife. I won't hurt you, I'm Mateo... your husband." walang buhay na ani nito, my jaw dropped upon hearing what he just said.
My mind reeled. Husband? May asawa ako? Kasal ako? Totoo ba ito? paano nangyari 'yon when I had no memory of a husband.
"Husband? you are my husband? I-I'm married?" saad ko puno ng pagtataka, paano ko maaalalang may asawa ako, e. kagigising ko lang at wala akong maalala ni hindi ko din alam bakit ako andito.
"Yes, I'm your husband, you had an incident 5 years ago, and you just woke up from a coma. I know it's hard to believe but I am telling you the truth... I am your husband" Sambit nito at hinawakan ang kamay ko pero binawi ko din ito nang hindi ako na comportable.
"I'm sorry," Mateo said, his voice laced with genuine concern, "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"O-Okay lang nagulat lang ako, kung gan'on asawa kita sino ako? bakit wala akong maalala? at malala ba ang nangyari sa akin para wala akong maalala?" ani ko habang nakayuko at pinag lalaruan ang daliri.
"Your name is Ashianna Zylene Montevallo and my full name is Mateo Javier Montevallo, you had an incident because we were arguing about something, and you left the house. I'm sorry, love." saad nito lumapit nang kaunti sa akin pero may iniwan paring distance sa pagitan namin "And to answer your queestion, yes. Let's say it's chronic circumstances." he said in serious tone.
"I-It's okay, I'm fine now. I get it" ani ko may maliit na ngiting pilit sa labi parang ayoko maniwala sa sinabi nito ayaw kong tanggapin ang sinabi niya, may hinahanap akong sagot, may kulang.
~~~
"Do you want something to eat? I can buy you at the nearby store." he said, sitting beside me.
"No, busog pa ako" I replied, It had been almost two months since I woke up. Mateo had told me I'd been hit by  a car, that I hadn't seen it coming while I was running.
The way he spoke made me ask myself kung English ba ang gamit kong lengguwahe.
Naalala ko ang sinabi niya kanina na hahanapin niya daw ang nakabangga sa akin at ipapakulong niya.
May parte sa akin na ayaw maniwala hindi ko din alam kung bakit, may kulang lagi sa explanation niya.
Halos pilit kong inaalala ang nangyari or kung sino man siya ay sumasakit lang ang ulo ko.
"Pwede na ba tayong umuwi?" I asked, feeling increasingly restless in the hospital. I was feeling much better, but staying here made me more sick.
"I'll ask your doctor if we can go home. For now, rest first" he said, kissing my forehead.
"Sige, I-I love you" ani ko bago tuloyang hinalin ng antok naramdaman ko pang hinalikan ako nito sa noo at narinig ko pa ang kaniyang sinabi.
"I love you" ani nito at tuloyan na akong makatulog.
~~~
I lay awake, staring at the man beside me. if he was my husband, why we weren't wearing rings? Had he taken his off, or had he hidden it?