The Revelation
Sabado na.
Maki sat in her room, staring blankly at the ceiling. Anong gagawin ko ngayon? Too late na para maghanap pa ng paraan para makapagpakasal.
The wedding was supposed to happen, but after Stella's arrest, everything was in chaos.
Parang walang direksyon ang lahat. For the first time in days, Maki had no clear path forward.
Just then, her phone rang. It was Sheera.
"Maks, si Coleen! Nag-collapse siya!"
Maki’s heart stopped for a second. "Ano?! Nasaan siya?!"
"Dinala namin siya sa ospital. Punta ka na rito!"
Maki rushed out of the house, her thoughts racing. Hindi na siya nag-atubili at sa unang pagkakataon, hindi tungkol sa kasal o kumpanya ang nasa isip niya.
It was about Coleen.
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Sa ospital, Maki arrived breathless. She saw Coleen lying unconscious on the hospital bed, a nurse adjusting her IV.
"Ano'ng nangyari sa kanya?" she asked anxiously.
Gwyneth, who was sitting by the bedside, sighed. "Nagpatawag ng emergency meeting si Coleen with us. Gusto niyang makahanap ng paraan para matulungan ka after everything that happened kay Stella. Pero habang nagmi-meeting kami, bigla siyang nahilo. Sobrang stress siguro, bigla na lang siyang hinimatay."
Maki swallowed hard. Coleen was still trying to fix things for me... even after everything.
Coleen’s mother, Mrs. Vergara, entered the room and turned to Maki with tired eyes.
"Maki, may isang bagay kang hindi alam."
Maki’s brows furrowed. "Ano ibig sabihin niyo?"
Mrs. Vergara took a deep breath. "Naaksidente si Coleen, kasabay mo noong araw ng aksidente mo. Pero hindi namin alam dahil masyadong nakatutok ang lahat sa’yo."
Maki blinked. "Ano?!"
"Maki... nakasunod si Coleen sa inyo noong araw na iyon. She was driving behind your car. Nang biglang may humarang na truck sa inyo, napadiin siya sa preno. Dahil sa matinding impact ng pagpreno, hindi siya nagkaroon ng physical injuries, pero nagkaroon siya ng mild concussion at psychological trauma mula sa pangyayari."
Just then, the attending doctor entered the room, holding a clipboard.
He glanced at Mrs. Vergara and nodded slightly, as if recognizing her.
"Nakilala ko siya noong dinala siya rito kasabay ni Maki. Syempre si Coleen Vergara na yan eh. Wala siyang sugat o bali, pero base sa mga neurological exams namin, nagpakita siya ng sintomas ng post-traumatic stress at mild concussion. Ang biglaang pagpreno at matinding takot ang naging sanhi ng kanyang dissociative amnesia. Hindi niya ito namalayan agad dahil iniisip niyang okay lang siya, pero ang katawan niya ay nag-react sa stress."
Maki felt a chill run down her spine. Coleen was there that day?
She turned to the unconscious woman on the bed, studying her face. Then, something caught her eye—
A ring.
A simple yet elegant ring glimmered on Coleen’s left hand. Maki's breathing hitched. Singsing ko ‘to...
Parang biglang gumulo ang mundo niya.
Hindi ito pamilyar sa kanya, pero bakit parang alam ng puso niya?
"Siya ang dapat mong pakasalan, Maki." Mrs. Vergara’s voice was soft but firm.
Maki looked at her, stunned. "Ano?!"
"Ikaw ang nagpropose kay Coleen. Ikaw mismo ang pumili sa kanya bago ang aksidente. Sinabi sa amin ni Coleen pagkauwi niya from your proposal night. Kaya lang ang bilis ng mga pangyayari at nangyari nga ang aksidente niyo. Hindi na rin nabring up ni Coleen at dahil hindi nga ito ang tamang time magusap ng kasal habang nagluluksa kayo."
Maki’s mind reeled. I proposed to Coleen? The flashes of memories started trickling in—
A soft smile. A candlelit dinner. Her heart pounding.
Then—
"Yes, Maks. A million times yes."
Maki gasped. It was Coleen. Siya ang pinili ko.
She stepped closer to the bed, her hand trembling as she reached for Coleen’s. It was warm. Familiar.
"Coleen..." she whispered, her voice shaking. "Ikaw pala dapat... ikaw pala talaga."