FORGET ME NOT

Kaden stared blankly at the little blue flowers of the plant that was sitting on the ledge outside the window of his clinic.

Forget-me-nots. Then a packet of seeds, it was the keepsake he got from Myca's.

He wondered what Zoey got. Pareho pa kasing mga buto ang nakuha nila na nakalagay sa loob ng souvenir ng resort. Nito lang din niya nalaman ang pangalan ng halaman noong magsimula itong mamulaklak.

And since knowing it's Forget-Me-Nots, he couldn't help but look for its meaning, -associated in the language of flowers with true love - the love that never dies. It also relates to good memories, memories you wouldn't want to forget. Still another meaning was, when one was given such plant, it's wanting to tell you that you have forgotten someone close to your heart.

And that's what he had been pondering over in the past days since the plant starting having those lovely blue flowers.

Several months after meeting Hope, he still kept her ring. Ginawa niya iyong pendant ng kwintas niya tapos isinabit niya sa computer monitor niya where he could always see it.

Zoey never visits his clinic so it's safe. Hindi naman sa nagtataksil siya sa kasintahan sa ganoong paraan but they're getting married in two months at ayaw niyang ngayon pa sila magkakaroon ng 'di pagkakaunawaan. Isa pa, hindi niya itinago ang singsing ni Hope dahil may pagtingin siya sa babae.

It wasn't like that.

It was the unexplainable feeling he's got towards the ring and the owner of it. The ring wasn't the expensive kind. At glance you would know that it only costs ten thousand at the most nor it's owner the most beautiful girl on the planet. No. Zoey is more beautiful in a lot of ways. So that couldn't be the reason why he's thinking of Hope.

But there's just this connection he couldn't fathom.

And despite not having to see the Chef in the past months, her face remained vivid in his memory. Para na nga itong nakaukit doon. Sometimes he was able to think of her doing things he was sure she didn't do while he and Zoey were in San Gabriel and yet the memory was so alive. Like it really happened...

His thoughts snapped when his phone started vibrating against his coat's pocket.

It was Zoey as her beautiful face flashed across his cellphone's screen.

"Hey babe," bungad niya.

"Hi handsome Doctor," tugon nito. "I'm wondering if you're free tonight?"

Tumingin siya sa desk calendar kung saan nakalagay ang mga schedules niya.

"I have a surgery by eight in the evening... Why?"

"Your sister."

"What did Kassey do to you this time?" Napahilot siya sa sintido. His brat sister, who was never a fan of his fiancee had been making Zoey's life difficult. "Surprisingly nothing this time," she sighed. "She just wanted me to accompany her in some province where she claims she have found your cousin."

"She's still looking for Isabella? Impossible," mas lalo siyang na-stress sa nalaman.

"Yes. You know Kassey, may ambisyong maging detective ang kapatid mo. Anyway, I can't come with her. There's still so much I need to do for the wedding. Besides, may fashion show ako on weekend..."

"Alright. Don't stress yourself. I'll talk to her."

"Thanks, Kade. Please make her understand."

Nagpaalam na ito and they agreed to just have breakfast in her place tomorrow since he couldn't make it tonight.

He sighed. It was already twenty six years ago since his uncle's one and only love went missing with their newborn child. Ang sabi ng mga matatanda sa pamilya, she received a huge amount of money kapalit ng paglayo nito. Ayaw kasi ng mga Aragon sa babae sa kadahilanang anak mahirap ito.

Everybody moved on from the incident including his uncle James. Nagkaroon ito ng asawa but failed to have a child with his wife.

Noon nag-umpisa ang paghahanap nito kay Isabella at sa ina nito na sa ano mang kadahilanan ay hindi nito natagpuan. Hanggang sa ikamatay na nito iyon. James suffered from cancer before he died last year.

Hindi alam ni Kaden na ipinagpatuloy pala ni Kassey ang paghahanap. In the first place, wala itong idea how Isabella looks like dahil hindi pa naman pinapanganak noon ang kapatid niya at sanggol pa lang din noon ang una. And Kaden himself was barely five years old that time.

"What do you think you're doing?" Bungad niya sa kapatid matapos nitong sagutin ang tawag niya.

"What?" Pamaang na tanong ni Kassey.

"Isabella... Who told you to keep looking for her?"

"Uncle James did."

"He's dead."

"He told me before he died."

"Kas, what will you get for doing this? Tita Sandra will not be happy if she finds out you're looking for her deceased husband's daughter!" Tukoy niya sa naiwang asawa ng tiyuhin.

"You're kidding me, Kuya. Tita Sandra wanted to find Isabella too... Know why? Because it is in Uncle's last will that unless she finds his daughter, walang mapapakinabangan sa kayamanang iniwanan niya si Tita Sandra."

"What are you saying? He wouldn't do that!" True enough that they didn't have a child. Pero hindi naman siguro gagawin ng tiyuhin niya iyon sa sarili nitong asawa.

"He did. Now, did your girlfriend ask you to tell me she couldn't accompany me?" Kassey asked.

"Kas, you can't expect Zoey to oblige with what you want. Busy siyang tao. Don't test her concern like this and when she says no, you'll take it against her."

"Well, Isa is going to be her cousin-in-law. Might as well show some concern, right?"

"Did you really find Isabella?"

"Why do you always doubt my ability?"

"Hindi sa gano'n. But Uncle James did everything to find her but he failed."

"Sabihin na lang natin na meron akong kakayahan na wala siya," hindi niya nakikita ang kapatid pero base sa pagkakasabi nito noon ay halatang nagpapacute ito. "Charm, I know," he wanted to roll his eyes, Kassey and her not so common ways...

"Got to go now. I need to catch that bus to San Gabriel," nagmamadali nitong sabi. "Bye kuya!"

"Alright," he sighed, he was about to end the call nang marealize niya kung saang lugar ang binanggit ni Kassey. "Wait---!" Busy tone na lang ang narinig niya San Gabriel. Kassey said San Gabriel!

*****

"HOPE."

"Ate..." Nagising siya sa pagyugyog ng kapatid.

"Gumising ka na. Tanghali na oh. Alas syete na. Wala ka bang pasok?"

"Ha?!" Napabalikwas siya bigla ng bangon. "Syempre meron! Hala..." She glanced at the wall clock. Charity wasn't lying. Mabilis niyang hinagilap ang tuwalya at tumakbo sa banyo. "Dahan dahan uy!" Pahabol ni Charity.

Hope couldn't be late. Kahit nasa resort naman si Cindy at kayang-kaya nitong gawan ng paraan ang almusal, hindi pa rin siya pwedeng ma-late.

Isa pa, aalis ngayon si Kevin.

"Ate, babaunin ko na 'yan." Inagaw niya sa kapatid ang sandwich na ginagawa nito para sa kanya.

"Wag ka ngang magmadali. 'Di pa tapos yan..." Kinuha nito ulit iyon sa kanya.

"Pag 'di ako nagmadali, 'di ko aabutan si Kevin!"

"Di mo nga kailangang magmadali," relax na sabi nito. ""Andyan siya sa labas. Hinihintay ka."

"Ha?" Napamaang siya kay Charity. Totoo ba?

"Silipin mo."

She did. And she saw Kevin Tiu leaning against his car. May maliit na ngiting sumilay sa mga labi niya at the sight of his suitor waiting patiently for her.

"Kailan mo ba sasagutin 'yan? Aba, anim na buwan na atang nanliligaw yan?"

"Ate Charie, gusto mo ba siya para sa akin?"

"Hope, kung ikaliligaya mo, hindi ko hahadlangan. Siguraduhin mo lang na iyong mayamang pamilya ng tsinito na iyan eh tanggap ka. Hindi tayo mayaman, Hope. Gusto ko lang makasiguro na hindi importante sa kanila ang kalagayan mo sa buhay."

"After his mom's surgery tonight, ipapakilala na niya ako sa pamilya niya." Ngumiti siya.

"Meet the family na agad eh hindi mo pa nga boyfriend?"

"Mas maganda, 'di ba? Para kapag ayaw nila sa akin, hindi ko na siya sasagutin."

"Hmn... Alam ko 'yang ganyan eh. Hope, mahal mo na ba yang si Kevin?" Nananantiyang tanong ng ate niya.

"Gusto."

"Hindi yan ang tanong ko."

"Ate, Kevin is a good man and he said he loves me."

"Pero ikaw, okay ka na bang magmahal ulit?"

"Oo naman," mas mabilis ang pagsagot niya kaysa sa gusto niya. Hindi tuloy kapani-paniwala iyon.

"Okay." Charity shrugged at ibinigay na ang sandwich niya.

"Salamat. See you tonight, ate!"

"Bye!"

She went out at sinalubong siya ni Kevin ng napakaganda nitong ngiti. Kung itsura ang pag-uusapan, hindi naman siya lugi.

She smiled at the thought. Gwapo rin naman kasi si Kevin. Parang 'yong mga leading men na Filipino-Chinese sa mga pelikula. Mayaman din naman. In fact, nagsisimula ito ng sarili nitong negosyo sa San Gabriel. That was when he learned that she didn't wish to live outside her town.

He loves her. He had already made her realize that. Sobra-sobra na ang effort nito para sa kanya.

Pero handa na nga ba siyang magmahal?

Eight months after saying her goodbye to Rain--- or Kaden, Hope knew she haven't moved on completely. There's still that part of her that wishes for Rain. She still longs to see him again. She would still want to love him. And if she would have to choose again, she would choose Rain over and over again until they would end up together and have their own happy ending.

Pero hindi naman kasi ganoon iyon. After that week he spent in San Gabriel, she never heard of him again. Baka by this time, kasal na ito at si Zoey.

She sent Kaden forget-me-nots, that was her last straw. She had hoped he would realize what it means. Pero mukhang failed attempt iyon. Maybe he didn't even bother to plant the seeds.

So that left her with no choice but bury the past and start a new life. Hopefully, she was making the right decision.

Kevin wasn't a bad choice after all. He has his own good qualities. At ang pinakaimportante sa lahat, wala itong amnesia at totoong mahal siya nito.

"Kev, I'm sorry."

"No worries. Maaga pa naman." Pinasakay siya nito sa sasakyan matapos gawaran ng halik sa pisngi.

"Nag-check out ka na?"

"No need." he shrugged. "Babalik naman ako agad."

"Maaksaya ka. Babayaran mo 'yong kwarto kahit wala ka 'no!"

"Baka makuha ng iba eh." Totoo naman dahil peak season sa kasalukuyan. "Aampunin mo ba ako sa bahay ninyo kapag wala akong tutuluyan?"

"Negotiable 'yan. Pero mas mahal ang renta namin sa bahay."

"So that's a no?" Umakto itong nasasaktan. "I thought I already gained your trust."

"OA mo... Hindi ka mauubusan ng kwarto sa Myca's. I'll make sure of it. Hindi ba nga't discounted rate ka na roon? And all you ever did was date the owner's best friend."

"Oo na..." Hinawakan nito ang isang kamay niya. "Hope, Mom's operation is tonight. After that, I need to stay by her side until she recovers. Will you promise not to look at any other guy while I'm away?"

"Kev, I'll just be right here. I wish your mom well." Ngumiti siya sa binata. With that said, she made a mental note to herself na sasagutin na niya ito upon his return.

"Thank you." He smiled back.

Hindi natuloy ang kasal nito noon kay Fiona dahil nanindigan itong hindi nito mahal ang babae. Dahil doon ay matagal itong 'di nag-usap

ng ina nito.

He returned at Myca's. Pero boyfriend niya noon si Rain. Kevin knew Rain. He respected the guy. At noong mawala si Rain two years ago, he didn't pursue her at once bilang respeto pa rin sa dati niyang kasintahan. Nagsimula lang itong ligawan siya several months ago, claiming that his love for her never changed and in fact intensified even more.

Hope, however, didn't mention to Kevin na nakita niya ulit si Rain pero bilang si Kaden na. She decided na hindi na nito iyon kailangan pang malaman. Ang importante, pinakawalan na niya ang sarili niya sa pag-asam na magkakatuluyan pa sila ni Rain.

Hindi na mangyayari iyon gaya ng hindi na kailanman mangyayari na babalik pa si Kaden sa pagiging si Rain...