FORGET ME NOT

Saying yes to Kevin seemed like the right decision to do at that moment. Hindi niya gustong madisappoint sa kanya ang binata. He loves her. She should love him back. So why was she feeling like she's not happy at all? She actually felt like she had done something so wrong...

"Isabella?" Untag ni Kassey. "I mean Hope-- hey, are you with us?"

"Huh?" Napatingin siya kay Kassey na kasama niya sa loob ng sasakyan.

Papunta sila sa Isabella's o ang restaurant na pagmamay-ari ng kanyang ama.

"I knew it. Lumilipad na naman ang isip mo."

"Sorry," paumanhin niya.

"Kuya Kade and Zoey will meet us there."

"Okay."

"You know, I hate it so much that Kuya still wants to marry that girl. I mean, Zoey doesn't deserve him."

"She's gonna be your sister-in-law in two months, Kassey," she reminded her cousin.

"I know. If only I can do something to stop the wedding," ngitngit nito.

"Why do you hate Zoey so much?" Curious niyang tanong. "Because I think she's sweet."

"Four years ago, kuya got involved in a car accident. It was a terrible one that I thought I lost my brother forever... Alam mo kung anong dahilan? Because he was too drunk! He learned that Zoey cheated on him. Matagal ko na kasing sinasabi

sa kanya iyon but he wouldn't believe me. To see is to believe pa kasi ang gusto niya. Ayon, siya nga mismo ang nakakita sa girlfriend niya na may kasamang modelo sa loob mismo ng unit nilang dalawa."

"Zoey cheated?" Ulit niya, hindi siya makapaniwala. The couple were so perfect, hindi minsan sumagi sa isip niya na may pinagdaanan palang gano'n ang dalawa.

"Yeah. Nakakainis kasi pinatawad pa rin siya ni kuya. Sabi ko nga noong nawala 'yong alaala niya na sana kapag bumalik, hindi na kasamang bumalik ang pagmamahal niya kay Zoey. Kaso, heto, he's still marrying her."

"Noong wala siyang maalala, wala ba kayong idea kung nasaan siya?" She asked, somehow she wanted to know if they were totally clueless about his whereabouts while he was with her. "Did you ever try to find him?" "We tried, but really, we failed. I think not everything can be figured out by money," umiling si Kassey. " Pero sana nalaman ko kasi sisiguraduhin ko na hindi na siya babalik kay Zoey." "Does he love her that much?"

"I guess," tumingin ito sa labas ng bintana. "We're near."

Tumango siya. Kaya siguro hindi siya maalala ni Kaden noon, because his heart only knows Zoey.

*****

"CHEF Hope!" parang batang sinalubong siya ni Zoey nang mahigpit na yakap. "It's true! It's you!" "How are you, Zoey?" Nakangiti niyang tanong nang bitawan na siya ng dalaga.

"I'm fine. Actually, I'm great!" Tuwang-tuwa ito na makita siya. "So you're really Kade's cousin, huh?"

"Yeah..." Naupo sila sa mesang kinaroroonan ni Kaden. Sa binata dumiretso si Kassey matapos bigyan nang malamig na hello si Zoey. Kaden on the other hand smiled warmly at Hope. "Let's eat first before we tour you around," sabi ni Kaden. "And Tita Sandra will join us in a while to discuss some matters with you about Isabella's."

"Kaden, there must be some misunderstanding here. Hindi pa ako pumapayag na i-take over itong restaurant," she told him. "You know it, right? Ayokong magtagal dito." "Why not?" Tanong ni Zoey.

"Gusto ko sa San Gabriel. 'Andito lang ako hanggang sa dinner sa Sabado." Napatingin siya kay Kaden na napakunot noo sa sinabi niya.

"Hindi na magbabago ang isip mo? Because I'm sure, kayang-kaya mong i-handle itong restaurant. With your fantastic cooking, Isabella's will be back to its glory days," sabi ng binata. "Besides, I want you to take part in our wedding," sabi naman ni Zoey. "Did Kade already tell you? It's in two months!"

"Yes... He did... But I'm sorry, I really can't stay..."

"Hey Kuya, before I forgot, lolo wants to talk to you tonight," singit ni Kassey.

"Why?"

"I don't know," kibit balikat ng kapatid nito.

"I may not be available until nine in the evening."

"It's okay. May lakad pa naman kami ni Hope. Dadaanan ka na lang namin sa ospital."

"Where are you going?"

"She's going to introduce me to her boyfriend."

Gusto niyang pandilatan si Kassey dahil wala naman silang usapang gano'n. Nakisuyo lang siya dito na ihatid siya sa office ni Kevin after nila sa restaurant.

"You've got a boyfriend, Chef?" Tanong ni Zoey na nagliwanag ang mukha.

"Y-yeah..."

"Well. I want to meet him!"

"Sure but not today... I haven't told Kev that I'm bringing people to meet him."

"Let's schedule it then."

Kinukulit pa siya ni Zoey when Kaden stood up and excused himself. Nang lingunin niya si Kassey, may ngiti ng tagumpay sa mga labi nito. Zoey on the other hand was still pressing the issue of meeting her boyfriend.

*****

SANDRA joined them an hour later. Pagkatapos kumain ay nagpaalam na si Kaden dahil kailangan daw ito sa ospital. Sumabay na rin si Zoey sa pag-alis ng binata. Kaya naman sila lang ang naiwan ni Kassey.

Sandra toured them around. Ipinaliwanag nito ang mga bagay-bagay tungkol sa pamamalakad ng restaurant.

"James actually left this property to you so whether you like it or not, ikaw ang magmamanage ng Isabella's," sabi ni Sandra.

"Tita, thank you pero ayoko po talaga," inaamin naman niyang tempting ang offer. Bawat Chef ay nangangarap ng sariling restaurant. Gano'n din naman siya. If Isabella's happened to be located in San Gabriel, hindi magdadalawang salita ang mga ito sa kanya. But it wasn't. It's located in Manila kung saan ay sobrang layo sa nakagisnan niyang buhay.

Hope wouldn't trade her peaceful life in San Gabriel to a dream life in Manila. Nasa probinsiya ang kanyang ina at mga kaibigan. Besides, doon niya gustong magsettle down.

"Think it over, Hope," was Sandra's final words before they parted.

"Take over the restaurant, Hope." Kassey encouraged habang tinatawagan ang driver nila.

"Hindi ako pwedeng mag-stay dito. My mother needs me."

"Problema ba 'yon? Eh di papuntahin mo si Tita Jacque rito."

Nagkibit balikat siya. Duda siyang papayag si Charity.

*****

"URGENT meeting? No, don't worry. I'm perfectly fine, Kev."

Kevin called to tell her na 'wag na siyang tumuloy sa office nito kasi nagkaroon ito ng urgent business meeting.

"I am so sorry, Hope. I cleared my schedules this afternoon but this one is so important. I cannot say no."

"Kev, it's okay. It's not like I told you beforehand that I'm gonna be here in Manila. Naiintindihan ko po. So no worries, okay?" Nilambingan niya ang boses para hindi na ito mag-alala. "Babawi ako sa 'yo. Pangako."

"Sure you will. Bye."

"Bye."

"What did he say?" Kassey asked.

"Wala siya sa office," she told her cousin.

"Oh, great. Let's just go shopping instead." Hindi man lang ito nadisappoint na hindi na nito makikilala ang boyfriend niya.

"Window shopping," she corrected, duh, wala naman siyang pera.

Kassey just rolled her eyes at her bago inutusan ang driver nila na bumwelta kapag may pagkakataon.

"Know what? Daanan natin si Kellen sa school at isama natin," sabi pa nito.

"Are you sure okay lang kay Tita Agatha?"

"Oo naman." She told their driver her new plan. "Maigi nga iyon para 'di na nila daanan si Kellen. Out of the way kasi 'yong school niya from her office." "Eh ikaw Kas, nagtatrabaho ka ba?"

"Oh me? Oo naman. Ano ka ba," tumatawang sagot ni Kassey. "Pero nakabakasyon ako kasi ipinangako ni lolo na break muna ako kapag nahanap kita..." "You work in his company?"

"Yup. Kailangan eh. Since Kuya Kaden didn't pursue business, ako 'yong next in line. I've mentioned to you before, kami 'yong mga paboritong apo." Maiksi itong tumawa. "Well, tatlo lang naman sila mama. Si Uncle James ang panganay, then si Uncle Peter then si mama. Uncle James didn't have a child besides you. Uncle Peter has a lot as he has two wives. Tatlo sa una. No'ng mamatay 'yong unang asawa niya at a young age, he remarried and had another four children. Then there's kuya, me and Kellen from mama. Anyway you will meet all of them tomorrow. So there, may sariling negosyo na pinapalaki si Uncle Peter kaya 'yong mga anak niya, doon nakafocus. Besides, ayaw ni lolo sa diskarte niya.

Kaya 'yong mga negosyo ni lolo, wala kaming choice kundi kami ang sumalo. Tapos si kuya piniling magdoctor. So sino pa ba, 'di ba? Ako na ang susunod."

"You make it sound so bad," she commented.

"Because I don't like business," Kassey confessed. "I want to be a detective. You know, I like adventures. I like mystery. I wanted to solve puzzles."

"Then maybe you can do all that if Kellen turns out to be the business person that lolo wants."

"I wish," Kassey sighed.

*****

KELLEN is a quiet fourteen-year-old girl. Kabaliktaran ito ni Kassey na alam na alam ang gusto. But she's a sweet girl nonetheless.

Nagshopping lang silang tatlo at nalula siya kung paanong walang pakundangang gumastos ang magkapatid. Samantalang si Hope ay hindi makapili ng bibilhin sa kakatingin ng mga presyo.

"Ate Hope, this dress looks good on you," Kellen was holding a denim shirt dress na pumasa naman sa panlasa niya.

"May I see?" Hindi muna niya ipinakita na interesado siya sa damit pero pasimple niyang tiningnan ang tag price. "I don't think it will fit me." Ibinalik niya iyon kay Kellen matapos makita kung gaano kamahal ang damit. "We're taking this," hinablot iyon ni Kassey.

"Kas!" Wala naman siyang nagawa.

Sunod siyang kinaladkad ng mga ito sa salon. She refused to have her hair cut kaya nirebond na lang ang buhok niya habang ang dalawa niyang kasama ay nagpakulay at nagpagupit ng mga buhok.

"Ate! I forgot, Liza's party is tonight. You have to drop me off her house!" Nagpapanic na sabi ni Kellen matapos makita sa relo nito na six pm na.

"You're impossible!" Kassey rolled her eyes. "Who forgets her best friend's birthday?"

"I know... Please, hatid mo ako?" Kellen begged.

"Her house is a bit far and it's already traffic by this time. Is it okay with you, Hope?" Baling nito sa kanya pero agad ding nagsalita bago siya makasagot. "I have an idea, Hope, we'll drop you at kuya's clinic. Then I'll pick you up on my way back."

"I'll just go with you," tanggi niya.

"Ma-i-stress ka lang sa traffic." Pumunta na sa cashier si Kassey habang nakasunod sila ni Kellen.

"Hindi mo naman ako kailangang samahan, ate. The driver can just take me."

"What? No. I have to make sure na kina Liza ka pupunta."

"Seriously? When did I ever lie?"

"I'm taking you. Period."

Kellen just pouted but didn't protest further.

*****

"HEY," she looked up at Dr. Kaden Aragon who approached her by the hospital's lobby kung saan siya naghihintay.

"Kaden, sorry." Tumayo siya at agad humingi ng dispensa sa pagkaabala ng binata.

"It's fine. Come with me," he smiled and Hope averted her gaze at once from the handsome doctor in a white coat. In another occasion, bubusugin niya ang mga mata sa kung gaano ito kagwapo kapag ganoon ang ayos nito. But then, she couldn't allow herself to.

Kaden led her to his clinic as she quietly followed.

"Can you wait for me here? I've got an operation in thirty minutes," he said as he gets something hanging by his computer monitor. Itinago nito iyon sa drawer pagkatapos.

"Of course. Kassey said she'll come get me after dropping Kellen off," she assured as she looked around his clinic.

"You believed her?" Natatawa nitong tanong, napakunot noo naman siya kaya nagpatuloy ito "Kassey is afraid of hospitals."

"Baka dadaan lang siya, hindi na papasok," she tried to justify.

He shrugged as he headed to the door.

"Kade," she called. "I can just take a cab ---"

"Don't ever think about it." He snapped "I won't take long, well, hopefully. If Kassey won't come, you're going home with me".

Wala siyang choice kundi tumango nang makalabas na ang binata. Naupo siya sa sofa habang iniikot ang tingin sa clinic ng pinsan niya.

Geez... She still couldn't get over the fact that he was her cousin. She should've felt some sort of blood connection right? Lukso ng dugo? After all, they were first-degree cousins. But she didn't.

Kaden's clinic was awesome. He's a neurosurgeon according to his name plate on his desk. May mga charts din ng body parts sa wall, specifically 'yong specialization nito.

Hope had grown bored at this time. Hindi siya kinocontact ni Kevin. Malamang busy pa rin ito. Kanina pa rin niya hinihintay na tawagan o itext siya ni Kassey but all she got was a message from her na napakaterible ng traffic sa labas. She's beginning to feel sleepy sa kawalan ng kausap. Charity must have been asleep by now so she couldn't call her mother. Si Myca naman nasa ibang bansa.

Pwede siyang umidlip pero natatakot siya nang kaunti. Nasa ospital pa rin siya and she had heard so much creepy stories about hospitals. Tumayo siya and walked towards the window. The moon that's peeking behind the clouds was quite a view. But as she drew closer, something bluish caught her eyes... She stifled a sob at the realization of what it was-- Forget-me-nots, in full bloom.

Kaden bothered to plant the seeds. It has got to mean something!

'Oh yeah Hope?'Her mind asked. 'It means nothing! Because he is your c-o-u-s-i-n!!!'She closed her eyes tight.'Right.'