Chapter 3: Ice (s)cream

Carlo

I am looking at my sister's sleeping face right now. She looked like she was an angel that fell from the heavens but when she's awake, even Satan himself would be scared of her. I smiled at mg own thoughts. I remembered the time when she was asking for this certain favor and I didn't want to do it so she started her tantrums. She stopped to look at me then smiled devilishly.

Oh, hell.

This ain't good.

"November 4, 2015. 12:56 pm. You told me the name of your new girlfriend, Jamie. November 25, 2015. 11:32 am. You came home with Jamie. You introduced her to us as your "non- showbiz" girlfriend. December 15,2015. It was past midnight when I walked pass your room. I overheard you talking to someone on the phone. "Baby, I can't do that to you...Promise... Oh come on, Jane. I can't do that." What do you think will happen to poor Jamie if she find out that you guys have a third party?"

I smiled at the memory. I looked at her again and she's still sleeping. "I'm sorry Aiyah. I'm sorry I wasn't there. I should've stopped that from happening."

My tears didn't even let me finish my sentence. They just kept on falling non-stop. I was shocked when I felt someone gently brush my hair.

"You look gay." She said weakly. " Come on, just admit it already. I'll accept you anyway."

I can't help but to smile. But it quickly faded when I remembered something.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

She smiled then shook her head. I saw how she's forcing herself not to show any emotions. But I saw one. Rage. Rage to our mother.

*flashback*

"How is she? What did she say?"

The doctor didn't say anything but he gestured his fingers for me to follow. He showed me the video recording of Aiyah and her answers to the questions. They said that it's a part of their tests, they'll have to ask Aiyah a few questions then scan her brain to see if there are any damages.

"Aiyah, you know why we are here. Can you tell me what happened that day?" The doctor asked Aiyah. She just looked blankly at the doctor and sighed. If I haven't known Aiyah I would look at her differently. I will see her as this brave girl when in reality, she isn't. Like most people are, she's also running from something even I don't know.

"March 24, 2009. Our house was visited by some people. They said they were scientists from WHO, world health organizations. They said they would help me. They said they would help me forget. March 26, 2009. Two days after they came, Mama was already packing our stuff. When I asked where we're going, she said we would go to the facility. We went there, we got ur tickets from them. Then..."

She stopped. A tear escaped her eyes that she quickly wiped away.

"Then what Aiyah? What did you do when you and your mom went to the WHO?"

She bowed her head down, not wanting anyone to see her true emotions. "They asked my mom if she was sure to do it, she said yes. They led me to a room. They asked questions like, "How are you feeling?" "Are you feeling dizzy?" Then they made me lay down on a bed. They injected liquids to my body. Before I was swallowed by the darkness, they said that my wish will come true. That I will forget."

"So did you forget?" The doctor said after writing down what Aiyah said.

"Yes." She said. I was shocked with the answer she gave. Even the doctor looked like he wasn't also expecting Aiyah's answer. "I forgot my life. I just woke up here in the Philippines and a lady walked in my room. Saying that she's my mom."

"If you were able to forget, then why can you still remember all of this?" Asked the doctor after recovering from the shock Aiyah gave us.

"There is something wrong with the drug they gave me. The drug only lasted for three days, after that, I woke up due to a strong headache. I opened my eyes then realized that I remembered almost all of it." She said. You can hear the anger from her voice which made me confused. What is the reason behind that anger, Aiyah?

"Almost?"

She nodded. "I think that drug was meant to make me forget everything, and start a new life as a normal person. But when the drug faded..." She started crying loudly that made the doctors around her panic. They decided to inject some sedative on her so she would relax and fall asleep.

*End of Flashback*

"Did you know that she forced me?"

***

Aiyah

I'm looking right now at the shocked face of Kein Carlo De Guzman. I'm trying so hard to stop my self from laughing at him. God, why does my brother look like a horse?

"That is something you wouldn't see everyday." I said, finally bursting into laughter.

"HAHAHAHA! You should've seen your face! HAHAHAHA!"

"AIYAH KLAIRE!"

Oh. That's a warning. I quickly stopped from laughing when he shouted my whole name.

"Sorry."

There was a moment of silence. I was about to continue laughing but he shot a glare on me-making me look at the ceiling innocently. "I didn't knew we had such nice lights."

"Klaire." He said. Now it's my turn to glare at him. He knows that I hate being called by that.

"Don't call me that"

"She forced you?" He asked, completely ignoring the warning on my voice. I know he won't stop asking me, but I don't want to talk right now.

I quickly looked away. "Klaire." I just sighed. "You know your mom hates me to hell, Carlo." I answered.

That's true. Carlo and I don't have the same mother.

" I was born because of a sin our father did to my mom. Our parents both have their own families when I went in and destroyed whatever bond you have." I seriously would not be surprised if Carlo's mom, A.K.A 'Mama', is angry at me the way I am angry at me. I would not care, that is.

"But why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to ruin your relationship with your mom." That is one of the reasons why I didn't tell Carlo about this. Besides, It's been what? 11 years?

I totally forgot, mark the sarcasm.

"I still don't get it. How did she forced you?" Carlo said after taking his time processing what I said. "The drug. She forced me to take it." I have so many things to say, but I was interrupted by the tears that rolled down my eyes again. I inhaled and let the air out and with a shaky voice I said, "Carlo, I need to think." He looked at me, examining my emotions before nodding his head and stood up. He messed my hair before whispering, "Don't forget I'm here, okay? Everything's going to be all right." With that, he left the room, leaving me alone.

Hyperthymesia.

What will my life If I didn't have such disease? If I was able to forget, like a normal person does?

I winced in pain brought by my headache. For hyperthymesia patients, it's normal for us to have headaches every now and then. Because not like a normal person does, our memories are continuously flashing even if we don't want it. It's also the reason why we are always tired or sometimes, nauseous.

But, I am not a normal Hyperthymesia patient. I was given a chance to forget-which I regretted- even if it was only for three days. The only problem is after three days, I'm back to being able to remember. The only weird thing is, I can't remember anything that happened inside that three days.

Three days.

Three fucking days and my whole life is ruined.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

I almost jumped out of bed when I heard that voice. I quickly looked at my door and I saw that man with his damn blue eyes.

"Damn it, Joshua!" I shouted. I almost fell! He gave me a smirk as an answer. His right hand is inside his pajama pocket while the other one was holding a plastic bag.

"Why are you here? Get out."

But he didn't dare move. He walked inside without my permission and sat on the side of my bed. I have an urge to kick him off but I chose not to. He scanned the room while he handed me the plastic bag.

"I didn't knew you were a musician." He said, his blue eyes focused on the instruments on the corner of the room.

"Not me. My brother is."

He looked like he remembered something that's why he looked at me, finally getting an answer from his conclusions. "The singer? That's your brother?" I nodded. "That's why." He whispered but I still heard it. "That's why? What"

He shook his head, ignoring my question. "Nothing. That's ice cream. Eat it." I looked at the plastic bag near my bed. I took a closer look then returned it to him.

"I don't eat ice cream." I said. I looed at him and he looked like he was offended with what I said. "Who doesn't eat ice cream?" He reached for the plastic bag and got one for him and ate it in front of me. It's Pinipig flavor.

I leaned on my bed but I'm still sitting up. I closed my eyes and tried to control my memories but no avail. I let out a heavy breath and opened my eyes. I looked at him while he's still scanning my room. Joshua is handsome, I might say. He looked like he's an actor from twilight because of his skin color. His perfect jaw adds up to his serious-looking-look. His eyes are kinda small but his pupils are big, not to mention the color of his eyes are breath taking. Perfect pointy nose and pinkish lips. What is this mad doing inside a hospital like this?

"Are you done looking at me?" He asked. I rolled my eyes when he looked at me and heard him chuckled. "What are you doing here, Joshua?" I asked in a very bored tone. I seriously don't know why this an is here, inside my room! "I'm giving you ice cream." He pointed the plastic bag with his mouth and continued looking at me. My brows furrowed when he tossed the plastic bag so it could reach my lap.

I tossed it back at him and folded my arms while I leaned back and closed my eyes again.

"I told you I don't eat ice-"

"They say that eating ice cream can lift up someone's mood." He said cutting me off.

I opened my eyes when I felt something.

"Here, zy-zy. That's ice cream. It'll help you lift your mood up."

I held my head tight when I felt pain around it. It hurts so much. It feels like someone's banging my head on the wall or someone stabbing it with a knife. I closed my eyes shut, trying to focus on where the pain might be coming from. I tried to pull my own hair to try and divert the pain I'm feeling but it won't work. I started crying and screaming when another wave of pain came rushing down my system.

.

"Aiyah?! Aiyah, are you okay? Aiyah tell me!" I heard Joshua scream. His voice screams the definition of the word worry. I felt him move towards me and held my head, thinking it might lessen the pain. I kept on crying until the pain stopped. I can hear my heavy breathing, I felt like I almost died.

"Aiyah! Aiyah tell me, are you okay?"

I opened my eyes when he held my face to look at me. I looked at him even when my vision is blurry because of my stupid tears. I can still pain, like it was recharging for another blow.

"G-get out." It was almost a whisper. I feel so weak. It feels like all my energy got drained from screaming and crying so loud.

"Huh?"

"I SAID GET OUT!" He was shocked when I screamed at him. He moved back a little when he saw me crying again.

"Get out.. please."

I didn't want him to see me like this. Hell, I didn't want anyone to see me like this. This is so not me. I'm so weak. I bowed my head and covered my face as I started sobbing again. What was that? Why did it hurt so much? I felt him stand up and I heard the creak of my door closing. At the back of my mind, I want him to stay, but I'm still confused as fuck.

I hugged my knees and started crying again, this time, I tried not to make a sound. Pictures. Dates. Screams. I can see them. All of them running inside my head.

I heard the door slam against the wall, indicating someone aggressively opening the door and the sound of footsteps until I felt a tight embrace that only made me cry harder.

"Klaire.."

I cried harder. "Carlo.." I said in between my sobs. His embrace tightened when he heard me speak. His arm snaked around my head and combed it lightly. He knew it would help to comfort me.

"Shh.. It's okay, I'm here. Kuya's here."

I closed my eyes shut because of fear. I'm scared, I want to tell him but I can't seem to find the right words.

All the memories I kept running away from..

They're haunting me.

And I hate it.