Strange

Ciara's pov

"Are you okay? What in heaven are you saying?" Jennifer's voice was so confused.

"Who is he? Did you suddenly get amnesia?" It was kinda sarcastic, and it made the atmosphere a bit off and awkward between them. Ciara was caught off guard, but after hearing what Jennifer had just said, she decided it was a better idea to keep acting as if she didn't recognize the people in front of her.

I innocently looked Jennifer in the eye. "I don't really know him, what are you talking about?  Is he your friend? Sorry, I really can't remember him.." as I mentioned him, the shock was evident in his face, bewildered, too stunned that he can't even speak, can't believe what he heard.

My heart ached when his eyes shimmered with tears as if he was about to cry, he pursed his lips and blinked rapidly to stop himself from being emotional.

I want to burst out laughing like there's no tomorrow. Is he kidding me? How could he manage to make himself look pitiful in front of me? Acting as though he had no intention of putting me in this situation. Isn't this exactly what he wanted? Then fuck him, can't he simply stop being pretentious and show me his victory smile as if he succeeds in messing up with my life?

He should be pleased, since here I am, finally, stepping backward in order to keep my path clear of him. Don't tell me, he'll still blame me for staying out of his life If that's the case then, he's truly pathetic.

"How about them? Who are they? " Jennifer's jaw dropped as I looked at my parents, who abandoned me a long time ago but still appear here unexpectedly, acting as if they still care about me. I'll be out of my mind if I laugh hard in front of them. What they're doing right now doesn't make me feel less hurt; it makes me feel humiliated. I am embarrassed at how shameless they are in showing their faces to me after they made me suffer for the things I should just live peacefully.

Aren't they ashamed of themselves? Will they honestly believe that I'll continue to be their pathetic wife and daughter after what happened to me? The person who is so gullible and just does whatever her parents wanted her to do is already dead.

I want to get mad. I want to yell at them to tell them how much I despise them for putting me here. But what all I can do for now is to act as if I don't know them to ease the pain I'm carrying all through my life.

Mommy became distraught and sobbed uncontrollably; I could sense her regret in each tear she shed, but it didn't change the fact that they let me suffer alone.

"Ara..." with innocent eyes, my head snapping over Jennifer's direction, who was frowning and appearing perplexed at how I was responding at the moment.

To be honest, I thought this situation was hilarious. It's funny how they seem to care about me now that it's too late. I've already resolved to forget about them and begin my life without becoming involved with them; will they suddenly become interested in me? Isn't it amusing?

To be honest, this scene was kinda amusing for me. It's strange how they seem to care about me now that everything is too late. I have already decided to forget about them and start my life without becoming involved with them, then will they suddenly show concern for me? Isn't it odd?

"They are your parents..." Jennifer's voice was so soft that it was so close to sobbing.

"Aren't my parents dead?" I acted surprised.

I heard mom's sob grow louder, my chest aching from seeing her like this. But wasn't she supposed to show that to me those times I was seeking her arms? I was hoping for one of her embraces to console me. But where is she? They blame me for everything, and I don't know where they get it from. I don't want to be soft anymore. I'm always the loser here when it comes to them. For now, I want to choose myself. I want to recover. I don't want to lose anymore, just like I always end up.

"S-sweety, she forgot about us," mommy cried which made dad encircle his arms around mom to comfort her.

"There's nothing we can do if you don't remember us, baby, because we know we haven't been good parents to you either," dad's voice was too weak.

"C-Ciara," Tyron's rasping voice prevailed. Unwillingly turning my head to where he was.

"H-have you really forgotten about me?" He asked, my gaze fixed on his, and all I saw was sheer grief. I want to be happy and ultimately congratulate myself on the fact that he has finally noticed me, seeing him like this that I'm the reason behind just made me want to be happy.

But it's different now. Now that I'm ready to let him go.

"I haven't forgotten you..." I replied as his face lit up.

"How could I forget someone who I don't actually know," I added, causing his shoulders to drop.

I followed him slowly walking and sat beside me, clearly seeing his tears and the twitching of his lips, as if he wanted to say something but he couldn't. I just let him hold my hands which gave electricity to my whole body. I wanted to hug him but my heart was stopping me. I can already feel the coldness of my heart that I couldn't even think of doing something stupid again like coming back to him.

'Why are you doing this just now, Ty?

"I-It's me... Tyron, your husband—" he didn't get to finish his words knowing his tears were threatening to fall at any moment he continued speaking. It's obvious how he's hurting right now, it's so clear to his eyes that he wanted to apologize and all, but he just can't.

I sarcastically laughed mentally. Wow, just wow. For the first time in his entire life, he finally claimed me as his wife. Isn't it funny?

I couldn't help but burst the laugh I was holding, but the bitterness was still there.

"Are you kidding? How can that happen if I'm still young to have a husband... like you?"  I intentionally made the last word sound insulting to him, and couldn't help but be sarcastic. Darting my eyes on his hands slowly let go of me, obviously got embarrassed by what I said. Did I sound so rude? Well, I must.

Uncomfortable silence engulfed the atmosphere right ahead of the four corners of the room in this hospital. No one dared to speak, only mom silently sobbed.

"A-ah. Tita, Tito, Tyron. Give us a moment for a second, please. We have something to talk about," Jennifer breaks the silence and I want to thank her because I can finally breathe in relief.

When they all got out and left Jennifer closed the door, it was only then that I let out my tears caused by resentment. I couldn't stop my tears from escaping because of the bitterness I was feeling.

"Ara!" I felt Jennifer's quick approach to where I was and her tight embrace that wrapped around me.

"Ara... What happened to you? What's happening?" She couldn't hide the concern in her voice, so I wiped away my tears.

"Why did you act like that? Did you really... got amnesia ?" Her perplexed expression explained how worried she was, but instead of answering, I let a silent sob. It took a moment before I calmed myself down.

"Why does it need everything to turn out like this, Jennifer? The moment I decided to give up on them, I know everything will be okay, but why are they here? Showing they finally see my worth when it's all late now?"

I could see the astonishment by the way she reacts, and the meeting of her eyebrows.

"You mean... It's not true? Oh my gosh—!" She hysterically put her face on her hands, and couldn't believe it when she realized what I was pointing out.

"So you're telling me that you are just pretending?" A line etched between her brows.

"Gosh! Do you even know what you're doing?" I pursed my lips, and couldn't answer her, which was quite obvious that my answer was no. She faced palm.

"B-but that's the only way—"

"Way? Why? To escape your problem?"

"N-no..."

"Oh God, Ara! For heaven's sake. I understand how you feel right now because I feel the same way. I'm mad at them because they're not here when you need them the most. But why does it need to be like this?" She's frustrated.

"What do you want me to do then? Jump in joy because they've finally noticed me?" Tears were threatening to fall again but I held them back. The pain was so much and unbearable that all I can feel now is anger, resentment, shame, and hatred towards those people who made me turn out like this.

Jennifer didn't answer, instead, just let out a loud and heavy sigh.

"I just can't really understand them. Why are they only doing this just now? Suddenly having a concern when I got into an accident? What if I haven't been involved in an accident and got close to death, will they still do this? Just think about it again, Jennifer. Should I really thank them for giving concerned about the fact that they really don't care about me in the very first place? It's just so odd..."

"Yeah... I understand. But, I hope you were able to thank him. Did you know that Tyron has been watching you all night without getting sleep or rest? If there is, maybe just close his eyes for a second then back to checking on you again, hoping for you to wake up. Honestly, Ara. When he did that... My anger towards him subsided a bit. It's just funny because at first, I became so frank with him, throwing threatening words at him, blaming him for everything, why you ended up like this, wherein in fact it's really him who's at fault. But little did I know, he's also the one who will willingly risk his life just to save you from the sting of death." She wiped the tears from her eyes.

"He did everything he could just to save you. Did you know we heard something explode here? We can't even get in because he locked the door. If only you see him that time, seriously, he looks really pitiful. Repeatedly pumping your chest while we clearly hear his heart-breaking screams, keep on saying and begging you to wake up. You would literally burst out crying too when you saw him, his tears were so contiguous that we can also feel the misery and pain he goes through while trying to save you from dying. You know that feeling... You're angry, but you're glad because he can't really leave you, he doesn't open the door until you wake up from laying down there..."

"After you were saved then, I could feel his joy as he told me how you came back in life. His eagerness of him to save you made me amused so much, the fact that there were no more available nurses and doctors at that time. But you know what's more intriguing? That time your body already gave up, thinking that you would really be gone forever, he really doesn't hesitate to scream that word, asking him to revive you. He even told me he wouldn't be surprised if anytime me now, he suddenly disappeared. He's happy while saying that, he really is." Her lips curved, forming a bitter smile. Suddenly, my heart pounds in nervousness.

"What do you mean?" She forced a smile.

"Because for the last time... he asked for your life to come back, in exchange for his life." Her tears rolled down her cheeks again.

"It's just funny that when you finally wake up, he wouldn't expect that you wouldn't recognize him. You didn't remember him. But the truth is you do, you remember him but act as if you forgot about him. Forgotten yet remember, right? Do you know how painful that is?" The bitterness in her voice was so visible, but rather than answering her, I turned my gaze to the window, where I knew I could see him outside.

I was stunned for a moment when I saw that he was also looking at me, and I could see the sadness in his eyes again, even though the smile was still curved on his lips.

I didn't realize that he was standing now and seemed to be bidding goodbye to my parents. He once glanced at me again and gave me a genuine smile, but his eyes were saying something that I didn't catch.

"I don't know if there's a chance for you to see him again, but this is the last chance that Tita gave him to talk to you. Well, it's all over now, he already talked to you, so it's likely... he'll leave as well." I didn't look at Jennifer and just followed Tyron's walk away.

"Tita and Tito, they already know everything, because I stand them blaming you without knowing the truth. That's why when they found out everything Tyron did to you, they pushed him away." I heard Jennifer sigh. I feel like my heart is hurting but not because of what Jennifer said. I don't know but I don't seem to feel any guilt for Tyron or pity. I couldn't feel myself wanting to chase and hug him.

Because that's how I am, that's how the real Ciara will act. But now it is very different. I couldn't feel anything. And the pain I'm feeling now? Maybe it's the pain because I'm sorry I let myself go through all this. I am hurting for myself and nothing else.

"I'm not going to tell them about your pretentious amnesia, but hopefully, you can stand it." I got distracted by Jennifer's words when she spoke, but her eyes were not on me.

Tyron's pov

I already bid my last goodbye to Tita, and right now I'm walking down the hallway out of the hospital with heavy footsteps. Finally going home with a heavy heart and eyes, feeling sleepy, and tired, yet happy and content to see her alive and safe.

This is probably the right time for me to stay my path out of her. I don't know, I'm happy but I couldn't feel myself now.

"Tyron! Oh, God! It's good that I see you here!" I was surprised when a woman suddenly approached me, obviously coming from running because she was also sweating profusely.

"You need to leave now!" My eyebrows met.

"I'm about to do that if you didn't block me though," I answered reluctantly, feeling so drained and tired.

"Who are you and why are you saying these to me?"

"I'm Jennifer's friend, Ciara's friend," she replied while still panting.

"I already know who ran into Ciara last night." My brows furrowed even more in astonishment.

"How did you know about that?" I asked, confused.

"Because I was there last night too," he replied as I paused.

"I saw everything because I was assigned to follow that person."

"The man who did that to Ciara?" She nodded. My lips loosen. So she knows who the fuck is that bastard?

"I'm an agent and someone ordered me to follow those people. I was even surprised when I found out that Ciara was their target," she said with a frown on her face.

"You know who that person is?" I asked nervously, referring to the person she was following who was also the one who did a hit and run last night to Clara. She nodded.

"Who is he?"

"Kervy Soriano." When she said that, it was as if cold water had been poured all over my body, and my knees had begun to weaken when I heard his last name.

'Soriano... How is he connected to Hannah? Hannah Soriano? Maybe, I'm just thinking the wrong idea, right? It can not be her. She can't be involved here.

"Do you know Hannah Soriano?" I asked nervously, she immediately shook her head. It can't be, I just hope I'm wrong. Too impossible. She's too good to be involved in such incidents.

"No. All I know is that they're just two siblings. He and that woman, Shaira Soriano," she replied, I gasped.

"But why are you approaching me?" I wondered.

"Because you're their next target," she replied seriously, which stopped me.

"What? Me?"

'"What do you mean?! Why me?! What have I got to do with that?" I asked, confused.

"I heard in their conversation that they will finish you off, they will take revenge on you, because of what your parents did." She replied that I was even more surprised.

"Finish off? Get revenge? Parents? What the fuck are you talking about? I don't remember anything my parents did. Aish! You know what? I'm going home, I'm tired. I want to get some rest," I said and was about to leave when she stopped me.

"I'll take you home, you don't look into yourself right now. Give me your key."

"No need. I can handle it."

"What if you got in an accident?"

"I said, I can do it."

I yawned as I drove home. I feel like my eyes were so close to shutting because of how heavy it was. But I still tried to focus on the road, despite wanting to close my eyes.

But I'm just too tired...

"Beeeeeep!- Bogssh!!"