Where Do Broken Hearts Go by Whitney Houston

We flew as fast as we could. My wound is bleeding profusely, and I'm getting weak. We were over the seas already back to Palacio when Antonio woke up furious and in pain. I don't have enough energy to restrain him. As I asked Toni to put my airjet in an automated pilot, Antonio took charge and drove us away from..our designated route.

"Toni. Tell Martin I'm having an emergency. And Toni, you control the jet."

"Rey, stop it or we're going to crash."

"It's better that you take me away somewhere else, except in Dalum."

I tried to stop him piloting my jet, but I didn't have the energy left.

"I'm taking you to Palacio. It was your home a year ago."

"I told you I have no business with Palacio. What the hell is wrong with your airjet?"

" Toni. Take us back to Palacio...What happened to your Rey? You sacrifice your life for Palacio when Kingdom Tres invaded. Have you forgotten?"

"No I haven't, because I don't remember such things. Why would I sacrifice my life for Palacio? Why do I have to deal with them?"

"Our Prime Minister is your uncle. You served there as a General for two years. You brought me there after you were rescued from Kingdom Uno."

"I don't even remember you. Why are you saying nonsense?"

His words hurt more than the life-threatening wound I'm suffering right now.

"Whatever happens, I'm taking you to Palacio."

"I won't let you. I would rather die before I get there."

Our jet is malfunctioning now. 

"Stop it Rey!" I tried to keep him from controlling the airjet. As a retort, he choked me. He was merciless.

"Don't call me Rey because I'm not!"

I didn't see it coming, but our jet crashed on the sea shore not far away from Palacio. I flew away from the jet and crashed on the shore. Antonio managed to get out in one piece out of the crashed jet.

"Toni, give Martin our coordinates."

I forced myself to sit up and rest against a big rock. I have short staggered breaths. I'm not gonna hold on for long. I saw Antonio coming my way with a laser gun in his hand. I saved a man who was going to kill me in the end.

Pointing his gun at me, "You are a piece of shit! Where did you get your guts to ruin my wedding?"

Crying and coughing blood, I feel so helpless. "Rey, how come you have forgotten everything just like that? You left me in Kingdom Uno with the promise you asked me to keep. For two years, I have lost my parents, I was imprisoned, tortured and was shot to death. I did all of that for you. I did that because you are more than just my friend. You are my family. I sacrificed my parents and my life for you. I don't know why. I could've just told them you escaped to Dalum and saved my family. But I didn't. Until now, I never regretted anything I've done for you. The day you rescued me, it was supposed to be the end of my life, but you came and saved me. I won't forget the time you made me feel safe and loved. I will always remember, even in your last moments, you told me you love me, and you wanted me to live. I did keep my promise again. I tried to live with a purpose. I joined the military because I wanted to save lives like you did. I swear, when I saw you today at your happiest with your new-found life and love, I wanted it for you. Even if it hurts me that it could kill, I want you to be happy even if it's not in Palacio and not with me. But I just have to do one last thing. It will even cost my life. I want to take you home. This is your home, your refuge, Palacio."

Gabriela, hold up. Martin is coming. Toni comforted me.

Antonio, still standing there, drops his gun, looking at me, waiting for me to die.

Gabriela? Gabriela?

I woke up from the incessant calling of my name. I found myself again in a hospital room. It was Yan who was calling my name.

"Yan?"

"Gabby, I'm here. Thank God, you're awake."

I tried to move but my wound hurt like hell.

"How long have I been here?"

"One month. You've lost a lot of blood and we have to infuse you with more RBT cells. You almost died, Gab! You forgot what we talked about coming home safe. You almost died, Gab! Almost."

Then Martin came in. "Stop it, Mom. She's not well yet. Gab has surely need to strengthen up because she got a lot of explaining to do."

I smiled and tried to sit but I was stopped by Yan.

"Gab, don't even try."

"I've rested enough already, Yan. I'm getting sick of sleeping."

"Martin, how's everything?"

"Everythings fine except that…."

Martin was abruptly stopped by Yan. 

"You can do all the military talking soon. This time, please, Gab, make yourself better."

I have to wait another week before I get discharged. I found out everything through Toni .

Thank God, Gabriela, you're alive! I tried to shout at you while you're sleeping but it didn't work out. I guess you got yourself so bad!

"I'm fine now, Toni. Can you give me updates?"

Sure thing, Gabriela. Well, Antonio was able to get to Palacio safe and sound. He was reported to be Mindcleared but he seems to be fine about it. Well, he was furious when he learned that he was kidnapped because we thought he needed rescue. He met his wife Princess Erys when he got to Paradiso after he was sold. Princess Erys begged him to save Paradiso by returning to Kingdom Uno. When he returned to Uno, his father wouldn't accept him unless he was Mindcleared. That's why he can't remember anything from the years he spent here in Palacio. He…

Tony and I were interrupted when Martin, Joshua and the Prime Minister came into my room.

I tried to salute, but I couldn't hold my arm up.

"It's fine, how are you Gabriela?" The Prime Minister talked first. He took the space beside me, Martin on the other side and Joshua at my feet.

"I want to personally thank you for everything you've done for the mission, and I'm sorry that you almost lost your life."

"I thought I had died, but I'm still here, sir. So everything's good."

"Yes. I'm grateful for that. But I'm also here because I would like to personally reprimand you for insubordination. Nothing like this would've happened if you had followed our instructions." The Prime Minister is crossing his arms to tell me he's serious.

"This is where I wished that I should've just died."

The Prime Minister couldn't hold it as he giggled. He coughed and continued. "Well, we are again thankful that you lived. But I'm sorry to break this news to you but… you're stubborn enough that we thought the military wasn't right for you. As a punishment, I'm giving you indefinite leave from the military."

All the men in the room tried to hide their disappointment but I am not.

"I expect that, Sir. I have served my purpose anyway. I joined the military because of Antonio. Now, that's…. "

Martin said "But you can still find a job, Gab. You're smart and skillful." Joshua nodded and agreed. He added, "and I told them about your AI."

"May I know how you got one?" The PM asked.

"When Antonio crashed his jet, it just came out. She said that she automatically turns on when her maker dies. It turns out Antonio made it for me."

"Is she still accessible?"

No way, I'm going to tell them.

"Toni, you have to disappear. Turn off all your connection. Be back for me when asked for you. Now."

Copy that.

I continued. "No. I was waiting for her after I woke up but she's still not here. You can check it if you want. I wanted to know what happened to her."

"So it was female?"

"Yes. She said Antonio put her in a private cloud."

"We'll look into it, Gabriela."

"So what happened to Antonio?"

"He's gone up there to Uno. He was mindcleared with his permission. He wanted to forget anything that got to do with Palacio, sad to say. And I'm sorry dear for putting your life on the line for nothing."

"Yeah but there's nothing we can do about it. Right?"

"His marriage to Princess Erys of Paradiso was to unify the kingdoms. Paradiso has lost its power as a peace task force. Five years ago, we were accused of kidnapping the Queen, my sister. Those were bad years of war. That's why Antonio came here. He thought he could find the Queen here. He hated his Father at that time that he wanted to kill him and also because of what he did to you. Antonio was blinded by his rage. When we rescued you, it was found out that the Queen was held up by Paradiso… They thought the war between Uno and Palacio would make them necessary for both kingdoms. After that, Uno waged war with Paradiso. It was also Paradiso which made Tres attack our city. Antonio figured that out. More people and kingdoms are affected by the series of wars. To keep peace throughout the New Earth, he accepted his Father's request and helped Paradiso. It so happened that Antonio fell in love with Princess Erys. Well, it's a win-win situation."

"Lets hope it wasn't witchcraft." Martin remarked.

"Oh come on. We don't have that anymore." Joshua added.

"I still don't trust Paradiso." Martin stated.

"Well, we have accepted the fact that Antonio has forgotten us," the PM was staring out of the window, his sadness visible. "He had forgiven us for ruining his wedding. He considered everything as a misunderstanding. And…" PM had his tears falling down…"He wanted nothing to do with me. He is not my nephew and Palacio is never a part of him."

I tried to reach out for the PMS hand and squeezed it. I looked around, Martin and Joshua were in tears too. "We trained together, you know. I was his best friend." Martin smiled but the tears flowed. "He was my student. I flew out with him during the Tres invasion. I was his last contact."

"He may have forgotten us but he will never be who he is without you." 

The PM retreated his hand to wipe his tears. "He will be coming over tomorrow to visit you. He wanted to talk to you. That is his last request."

"What if I don't want to?" All three were shocked with my decision.

"Why not?" The PM asked.

"What for, Sir? He wanted nothing with Palacio so I will not be keeping him. Please do me a favor, Sir. Tell him I don't want anything to do with him, too, Sir."

"Understood."

Why would Antonio want to see me? Why? I was discharged that afternoon and went home. I'm still figuring out what to do with my life.

I went out for a walk and I found myself in the woods up to the mountain cliff overlooking the ocean. The last time I was here, I was fighting for my life for Antonio. Now, I've got nothing to fight my life for. I am alone. Worthless. 

The family I had back at Palacio was because of Antonio. Now, I'll forever be a reminder of Antonio to them. A reminder that will hurt them every single time. I have to start anew. I have to be somewhere else. But I've got nowhere to run to. Not on air or on land. Outside of Palacio, Earth is unlivable. Unless, there is a place for me.

"Toni? Toni? I need you now."

Gabriela?

"Toni. Thank you. I need your help."

Shoot.

"What if I decided to live on my own outside of Palacio….where can I go?"

Well, you could try other earth-based kingdoms.

"No, I don't want to do anything with the kingdom. I wanted to be alone."

You mean outside of a livable environment?

"If there are still places that live aside from the kingdoms."

Actually, according to the recent information in the cloud….places near the oceans are livable. The strong air currents washes away the toxins in the air.

"Is that so?"

Yes, there's one. Just nine fifty kilometers away from Palacio. It's along the shore of the Pacific Ocean. Four years ago, a couple was sent to live there. 

"What happened to them?"

After two years, they were sent back home.

"Why?"

Paradiso claimed them. Are you planning to live there?

"Yes. Can you check it for me?"

Are you sure of this, Gabriela?

"I am. 100%"

When I returned home, I saw a black van and military transports outside. Something is going on. It was eight in the evening.

I tried to sneak out the back door, but military officers were everywhere. What the hell is happening? I tried to call Yan on my interface, but I forgot that mine is still under maintenance. I couldn't ask for Toni, or she would be caught. One military man saw me and lit me.

"Sila, freeze!"

"Okay, I'm not going anywhere. What the hell is going on?"

More men came to my place and tried to hold me.

"Don't touch me. Just tell me what's going on."

The Prime Minister followed by Joshua, Martin and Yan, went out of the house. Yan ran to me and pulled me to her side.

"You've got a visitor," she whispered. They dragged me inside the house. Our house was not a small one. It was considered as a mansion. On my way in, I saw guards with an Uno ensemble on their suits. I paused and pulled Yan back. PM, Joshua and Martin were at the table.

"Yan, what do we have here? Why are there guards from Uno outside?"

At the center edge of the table, there sat the person I started to despise. Antonio. The PM stood and asked me to come forward.

"Gabriela, remember when you told you that Antonio would like to see you? I told him you respectfully declined, but he insisted he's here."

"Good evening, Gabriela." Antonio greeted me with his unusual kind demeanor.

I stared at him for a second, but I refused to reply. Yan nudged me with her elbow, but I didn't react.

"I'm sorry, Antonio. She just got out of hospital and the drugs might still have effects on her."

I don't understand why these people accept him after pushing them away.

"It's fine. Is there somewhere where I can have my privacy with Gabriela?"

"In our backyard," I answered nonchalantly. I want this thing to be done and over. I walked past him to the door that leads to our backyard. Our backyard is wide enough that a baseball field fits. I stood in the middle of our yard. The little bushes are well-trimmed around us. Antonio followed, and I made him stop when he was ten feet away. He stepped one more foot forward. I stepped two backwards.

"What do you want?"

"Only you who could talk like that to a prince."

"From what I remember, you don't want anything here to do with you. Change of mind?"

When I looked at him, he was handsomer than the last time I saw him. But in a different persona. He wasn't the boy I once loved.

"No. I still want nothing to do with you. I was just triggered but what you told me right on the shore."

"Right before you're supposed to kill me?"

He was taken aback. "No… um… " and he couldn't look at me straight.

"I forgot all the things I've said and done before. Like Yan said, effects of drugs."

"I am here because I don't want to feel indebted to anyone. You told me about saving me and saving you."

"Like I said, I already forgot it."

"I don't know. It feels not right."

"It's not my problem anymore."

"You loved me before, right?"

It caught me off guard. I couldn't answer.

"I was too naîve to see it as love, Prince. You must not bother yourself about it. I can't even remember anything that is related to you."

"There are some things I wish I could still remember."

"You wanted to be mindcleared. Bear with it. If we're done here, Prince, I've got to go. I'm tired."

"Can you help me? Remember it?"

"No. I don't even want to remember it."

I ran back to the house and locked myself in the room. When I think about it, Toni has his memories. Should I tell him? But...what for? If he wants nothing to do with it. Yan knows enough to leave me alone. I saw Antonio with his military troops leave the house.

When the coast was clear, I went out of the room. PM, Joshua, Yan and Martin are still in the living area. 

"What was that all about? I thought he didn't want anything to do with us."

"He came back this afternoon, and he humbly asked to forgive his unkindness. He was confused, that's all," the PM explained.

"That's it? After he treated us like trash? Why didn't he tell us he was alive?" I retorted.

Martin and Joshua sighed. Joshua went to my place and held on to my shoulders. "His intention to be mind cleared is pure. He wanted the war to be over. Against his father and the Paradiso. Now, all he wants is to start over. Who are we to deny him that? After all, he is still a Palacio. Let's be thankful for all the good things that happened no matter in what way it came."

I can't believe all these people. How could they forgive him just like that? Anyway, they weren't the ones who were about to be killed by Antonio.

Yan approached me with her usual kind demeanor. "And he especially wants your forgiveness. Can you at least do it for us? This could be a start of everlasting peace among the kingdoms."

I just bowed my head and avoided their stares. I guess I won't be staying here long. The following days, the morning news was plagued by the hope of a better future. Indeed, Antonio is working hard to unify the kingdoms. 

"He will be conducting a lot of conventions to gather the kingdoms," Martin said one morning.

The rest of humanity may be looking forward to the bright future Antonio has prepared for them. I alone, will be making my own future.

I worked with Toni day and night to furnish my exile from Palacio. I found a place and I just have to prepare for it. I also accepted Yan's offer to work in the hospital.

Gabriela, a list I have sent for you to bring to your new abode. Long list, it is. We have a lot of time to work on it. 

I can't stand Palacio anymore. Anywhere and anyone would talk about Antonio and Antonio. I badly needed a new life. A new life without emotional attachment, indebtedness, and false hopes.

I have prepared my first batch of supplies to deliver to my new place. I just have to borrow an airjet in the middle of the night. I work clean and seamlessly. Toni and I make a good team that, after all those rendezvous jobs and work, we left no track to be traced and no suspicions arise.

When I came back that evening, I saw a royal jet from Kingdom Uno landing in our airbase. Antonio might be here. I was very anxious when I left the airbase. I prayed that we would never cross paths. 

When I arrived home, I saw a car and a tall man watching our house. He was unrecognizable, but he didn't seem to be a threat. Palacio has zero crime rate. People don't have a reason to commit crimes. I climbed up a tree near our house, to see who it was. I carefully treaded a big branch to identify him. It was Antonio. I can't formulate a reason why he would stare at our house in the middle of the night. Why won't he just come in and knock? I'm sure Yan would love to see him, unless everyone is asleep in the whole neighborhood. He grew tired, I guess, of unproductive activity, so he decided to leave. He was about to get in his car when I accidentally slipped off the branch and fell. It hurt somewhere in my shoulder, but I'm sure nothing is broken. The next thing I knew, Antonio was kneeling before me.

"Hey, don't move." Antonio demanded.

"I'm fine… Just don't touch me." I retreated away from me. "Why are you here? You're being weird staring at our house."

"I'm trying to get a chance to see you."

"See me? I thought we were done."

Under the moonlight, our long shadows almost intertwine. "Can you just please hear me? Just this once."

"I don't want to give you false hope. Whatever you're going to say, nothing would change my mind against you."

"Just at least hear me."

I sighed. "Go on."

We both stood. He tried to hold me up, but I repulsed. His face was clear under the moonlight. His long black hair contrasted with the light ash gray of his eyes. And his lips I once tasted, now look like a dead memory to me.

Then he stared for a few seconds and blurted out ,"You are still beautiful. I may not remember, but I know your beauty is unparalleled."

It was supposed to warm my heart, but loneliness took over. I'm the only one who remembers anything between us.

"What? Aren't you going to say something more important?"

He gulped and continued. "Everytime I remember those words you said to me at the beach, it makes me restless. I admit that at first, it meant nothing to me. But those words still echo in my mind. It tells me something more. Like it begs me to be freed. It didn't make sense, but it felt real. Gabriela, you are the only thing that felt real to me among other things. I felt like a floating soul with no direction or purpose. There is something missing and I can't figure out why. That's why I need you, Gabriela. You have to help me to be real again."

There was a long pause between us. I get him but nothing justifies why I should help him. We are both floating souls. But my soul knows where to go, that is away from him.

"I still don't understand why you decided to be mind clear. It's like they've decided to forget me and everything else."

"I don't even know. The only reason I hold on to is that it would save me, my father and Paradiso." He is indeed helpless.

"But I feel there is something so wrong with doing the right thing. I can help you but I felt so wrong. What if I didn't ruin everything before I came to save you? I can clearly see you being so much in love with your bride and the life you got there. What if I didn't take it away from you? You wouldn't be like this if it weren't for me. It is all my fault, Antonio. That is why I'm keeping my distance. I'm trying to get away from you. You don't deserve to be suffering right now. I only wish nothing more than your happiness and normal life to be back. Do you want me to help you? Stay away from me and forget everything about me and what I said, Antonio."

"You know I can't, Gabriela. I would've been married now and at peace. But it won't last. I would always know that something is missing. You just made me realize that a little bit earlier. You have to understand that the Antonio you're talking to right now, is not the real me. I am not me. I'm not."

His tears flowing down his face were glistening against the moonlight. He fell down to his knees and embraced me. His head was resting against my legs and I felt his tears through my jeans.

We were both broken. But I chose to stand tall and fight against it. He must've really suffered because of me. And it made me feel guiltier than before. I squatted with him and hugged him. A little gift from a lost soul to a broken heart. 

"Antonio, you have to stay strong. I'll figure out a way to help you. But in the meantime, I want you to be the fighter you've always been."

Antonio went home to Palacios's main building to meet with his uncle. Antonio has a way of ruining my plans.