The Taste of Forgotten Love (Rated R-18) [COMPLETED]

Clockwork Orange

Germany

One year ago,

Sweet symphony rendition of Bach's Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Concerto in D major played in the air of the huge halls of Friedrichstadt-Palast.

Nathan and Lucindra are on the balcony row watching Merrida Hermosa's fifth recital for the month.

She looks so effortlessly beautiful in her long white dress and waist long hair.

Dati pa naman ay ito na ang pinakamagaling sa kanilang lahat pagdating sa pagtugtog ng kahit na anong instrumento. The kid's simply gifted and now, she's improved so much over a span of only a year.

She's playing with her violin like she never saw her do it before.

Pero may napansing kakaiba si Lucindra. Kahit anong saya ng tugtugin ay hindi sumasalamin sa interpretasyon nito.

The message of the piece is not going through. Masaya naman ang bawat nota pero wala siyang maramdaman.

Parang nagpapanggap lang ito. Umaarteng masaya kahit hindi.

The feeling is fake. Huwad. Just like all the memories she had now.

Walang buhay ang mga mata nito na animoy iiyak na sa sobrang lungkot. Nakangiti naman ito ngunit hindi umaabot sa mga mata.

"She looks so happy and contented, Lucy. Look at her eyes. They sparkle like never before."

Napailing siya. What happiness is he seeing? Pareho ba talaga sila ng pinapanood o gusto lang talaga nitong lokohin ang sarili.

"Is this the reason why you kept the truth, Nathan? I don't think Alcindra is really happy. Look at her. She looks so hollow. She's like a mechanic playing on that stage. She's confused. Parang hindi na siya ang Alcindra na kilala ko."

Nathan's face went grim. "That's because of the trauma she went through. Masaya ang kapatid ko Lucindra at 'yan lang ang pinakamahalaga sa akin. This is the best life for her. I made sure of it. That man will take care of her forever."

"Who? Howard? Your paid actor?" she said snorting while referring to the man behind the piano. "I don't think Alcindra ever needed him. We both know who she really needs right now, Nate. It's her loving brother who sacrificed his love for his sister."

"Lucy, alam mo ba ang naramdaman ko nang makita ko siyang nakalutang sa dagat at halos wala ng buhay? I wanted to kill not just that man but all the Asturians. You can't tell me otherwise what's good or bad for my sister. Hangga't nakikita ko siyang nahihirapan sa dilim, hinding-hindi ko hahayaan na makabalik ang alaala niya. I'll hinder it no matter how many lives I should kill."

"Nathan!" Medyo tumaas ang boses niya kaya napalingon sa kanila ang iilang concertgoers. "Ang dami mo ng kasalanan. Tigmak na ng pagkarami-raming dugo ang kamay mo. Would you still aimlessly kill? Ganiyan ba ang klase ng kapatid na gusto mong makilala ni Cin? Tinitingala ka niya. Kung alam lang niya ang mga pinaggagawa mo ngayon ay alam kong siya pa ang unang pipigil sa iyo. Please Nate. Do not go this way. Stop your manipulation already. I told you there's a better way!"

"And what is that?"

Pumailanlang sa ere ang mga palakpakan kaya nahinto pansamantala ang kanilang bangayan.

Sighing, she followed Nathan to the side of the stage to congratulate Cin.

"Kuya!" masayang sigaw nito nang makita ang kapatid.

Lucy's eyes glowed. It's the first genuine smile she saw from Cin since she got on the stage.

"Merrida." He handed her a bouquet after embracing her and kissing both of her cheeks. "That was wonderful. Congratulations."

"Thank you, kuya."

Tinanggap nito ang bulaklak at niyakap ang kapatid kaya bumaba ang sleeve ng dress nito at lumitaw ang malaking pilat ng hiwa sa braso na natamo nito sa pagkahulog sa bangin.

Next week pa ang scheduled cosmetic surgery nito kaya narito sa Germany si Nathan para samahan ang kapatid.

He made up a story about her being involved in a car crash accident kaya marami itong pilat at sugat sa katawan at hindi makaalala.

Lucy gave her a bouquet and hugged her too.

"Congratulations Al... I mean Merrida. That was phenomenal."

"Thank you, Ate Lucy. By the way, kuya, ate, there's an after party celebration after this. Will you guys be there?"

Nagkatinginan silang dalawa ni Nathan.

"Of course Merrida. We'll be there," agap niya agad nang makitang tatanggi si Nathan.

"That's awesome! Ah kuya, do you know someone named Casindra?"

Natahimik silang dalawa. Nathan's eyes narrowed.

"Why Merrida?" he asked in a tense voice.

"I kept having dreams about her. I kept saying her name. Ang sabi mo ay sasabihin ko sa iyo ang mga napapanaginipan ko 'di ba? Kilala niyo ba siya kuya?"

Lucy looked at Nathan who looked as uneasy as her.

"She's a relative. You too are very close with each other," sagot ni Lucy.

"Talaga ate?" Her face lit up in joy. "Wow! I'm finally hearing a new name! I only knew you and kuya. Where is she ate?"

"I'll tell you later angel. O, hinahanap ka na ni Howard. It's time for the photos," singit ni Nathan na nag-iba ang timpla ng mukha.

"Oh, right. Join us for the photos later ha."

Nagmamadali na itong tumakbo papunta sa nobyo na maingat na hinawakan ang kamay nito.

"Why did you do that?" Nathan asked in a suppressed tone after he pulled her to a corner.

"She's asking if we know Casindra. Syempre sasabihin ko ang totoo. Aren't you embarrassed to refuse to tell her the truth when you're even using Casindra?"

"Lucy, I can't let her know about Cas! Maaalala niya ang lalaking iyon! I want her to be happy!"

"Then stop messing with your sister's head! Akala mo ba hindi ko alam ang mga paulit-ulit na pagbalik-balik mo sa hypnotic doctor na iyon? Anong plano mo? Mabuhay siyang manikang de-susi sa loob ng pekeng mundo na ginawa mo?"

Natigilan si Nathan bago sumiklab uli ang determinasyon sa mukha. "What's wrong with that?"

Hindi makapaniwalang umawang ang bibig ni Lucy. "What's wrong with that? Are you hearing yourself? Nate, you're not a god! Don't try to be one!"

"I'm not trying to be one. I just want her to forget about that time. I'll take her over and over again to that doctor. Wala akong pinagsisisihan! Kung kailangang ipa-hypnosis ko siya araw-araw ay gagawin ko para hindi niya uli maalala ang hayop na yun!"

"Why? So that you could continue playing with all of the feelings of the people you have irresponsibly dragged in this? How about Zen? Tatiana? Your own parents?! Kailangan mo ba talagang bilugin ang ulo nila para lamang masunod ang mga plano mo? Hindi na kita mahahayaan pa."

Tumingin si Nathan sa stage kung saan patuloy pa rin na nagpapakuha ng larawan ang kapatid kasama ang mga fans at staff.

"I think Merrida is almost done. Come on."

"It's Alcindra and she's intelligent. She will figure it out sooner. Ano ang gagawin mo kapag nangyari iyon?"

"Come on now, Lucy," pag-iwas pa rin nito.

"I think I should tell her."

Nilagpasan niya ang pinsan pero mabilis na siya nitong naharangan. He let out a sigh.

"What happened to you, Lucy? Akala ko ba magkakampi tayo."

"I never agreed to your methods, Nathan."

He snuffed. "So gusto mong gawin natin sa paraan mo?"

"Why not?! You've already killed many people, Nate."

"Oh stop with your sermons!" pigil na sigaw nito. "Mas masahol pa ang ginawa niyong dalawa ni Zen kaysa sa akin para sa isang laban na wala namang pinatunguhan."

Nasaling ang pride niya sa narinig. He can pick on her on all sides and angles but never crossed that line.

"How dare you!" she said in trembling lips. "Nasaan ka noong nakikipaglaban kami ng p*****n, Tryst? Nasaan ka noong iniligtas namin ang iyong mga magulang? Where were you? Let me answer that. I know where you are! You're somewhere else hiding like a coward!"

Hinila siya nito papasok sa dressing room ni Alcindra nang mapansing kanina pa sila pinagtitinginan ng mga tao.

Galit na hinarap siya nito nang maisara ang pinto.

"Where was I? I was protecting Alcindra!"

"And we're protecting all of you by taking arms kaya sinasabi ko sa iyong wala kang karapatan na sabihin iyan sa amin! I was there, I experienced it all. Our men lost their lives in front of me. That's why I have all the credibility to say that you planning to mass murder the Asturians is unachievable. It's not worth it. It's not what should be done. Naranasan ko kaya ayaw kong maranasan mo!"

Huminga siya nang malalim. "I am telling you, Tryst. Tama na na may isa sa atin ang largo impiyerno ang biyahe. Ibigay mo na sa akin ito. You still have Alcindra. She's your sister! Kailangan na kailangan ka niya pero hindi sa paraang ito. Huwag mong hintaying magaya ka sa akin. Hanggang ngayon ay nabubuhay pa rin ako sa guilt dahil sa mga nagawa ko. I don't want you to end up like me."

"I don't care, Lucy. I'm ready."

"Christ! You are tampering with people's minds and emotions. It's not worth it!"

"It is. For my sister."

"I'm telling you it's not worth it because of the consequences! Hindi mo na maibabalik pa ang mga nagawa mo, ang mga salitang nasabi mo, ang mga buhay na napatay mo! Did you think there's going back after this, Nate? Wala na. Habang buhay kang mumultuhin ng mga kasalanan mo!" mangiyak-ngiyak na paliwanag niya.

"I don't intend to go back, Lucy. Wala naman kasi akong babalikan pa. I'll rebuild our name again. That doesn't mean going back to old ways."

"Anong wala na?! Wala ka nang babalikan? Are you sure? You have a sister, a complete set of parents, you even have a woman back home who's ready to give up everything for you. Kompara sa akin, ang dami mo pang babalikan, Nate. Nakuha mo na ang ginto. Ano pa ba ang gusto mo? The Hermosas were there in the exact moment and were able to save Cin. I don't know if it's luck or divine intervention but I know it meant something."

Humina ang boses niya para sa susunod na sasabihin. "Cas wasn't given that same chance, Nathan. 'Yan ang pakaisipin mo."

Inayos niya ang sarili at tinapik ang braso nito. "Come on, Alcindra is waiting for us."

Nagpatiuna na sa paglabas si Lucy habang si Nathan ay naiwang natitigilan pa rin.