Seven years ago...

"Lagot tumatawag na si Dad!" Ali exclaimed and is now panicking.

"Sino bang may kasalanan kung bakit tayo ginabi?" I replied, with my gaze still focused on the road. Gabi na at sobrang dilim na sa labas at hindi pa ako masyadong sanay magmaneho sa gabi.

I just got my driver's licence a few months ago when I turned 17. And this is also the first time our parents let me drive from Manila to Isabela by myself. So, my goal for tonight is to arrive at the rest house. Safely and alive.

"Bilisan mo na kasi mag drive. Ang bagal mo magmaneho e," reklamo ni Ali.

"Ayaw," I briefly glared at him. "Gusto mong ibaba kita sa tabi tapos lakad ka nalang papuntang Isabela?"

Ali chuckled. "Grabe biro lang naman brother. Hindi ka naman mabiro."

"Just put some good music on."

"Yes, boss!"

After another two hours of driving, we finally arrived in Isabela, and after another ten minutes, we were on our way inside the town.

It's almost midnight. Madilim at tahimik na sa labas. Halos wala na ring mga sasakyan sa daan at tanging ilaw na nagmumula sa kotse ko nalang ang liwanag sa daan.

"Onyx may tao!" Ali yelled, and I immediately slammed on the break. My heart is pounding, and my hands start to sweat in nervousness.

Bago pa sumigaw si Ali, nakita ko na ang babae sa daan na kumakaway, pero mas kinabahan ako dahil sa biglaang pag-sigaw niya.

"What the fuck!" Ali cursed. "Sabi ni dad dapat makarating tayo do'n nang buhay at walang napapatay!"

Hindi ko na pinansin si Ali at agad akong bumaba ng kotse.

"Miss? Are you okay?" Nag-aalalang tanong ko.

"Tulong... Parang awa mo na, tulungan mo ako," nanghihina na sabi niya kaya agad akong naglakad papalapit sa babae. Halos hindi ako makapaniwala sa estado at itsura ng babae.

Her clothes are ripped and covered in her own blood. Her face—oh my god, her face—was so beaten. Her eyes and lips were swollen and bruised.

"Miss, anong nangyari sa 'yo?" Agad na tanong ko nang makalapit ako sakaniya, pero hindi na niya nagawang magsalita dahil nawalan siya ng malay sa braso ko.

"Anong nangyari?" Hindi ko namalayan na nakatayo na sa likuran ko si Ali.

"We need to get her to the hospital." Mabilis kong binuhat ang babae at isinakay sa sasakyan ko.

"Hindi naman natin siya nabangga di ba? Anong nangyari sakaniya!" Nag-pa-panic na sabi ni Ali habang maingat kong inihiga ang babae sa backseat ng sasakyan.

Hinawakan ko siya sa magkabilang balikat. "I need you to calm down, Ali. We need to help her. I think... somebody did this to her." Agad siyang tumango. Namumutla ang mukha niya dahil sa takot.

"I-I'm going to call dad." His voice is trembling, just like my hands are shaking in fear, but I can't let him know that I'm scared just like him.

Everything that happened that night was a blur. We arrived at the hospital, and the doctors and nurses brought her immediately to the ER while Ali and I waited for our parents to arrive.

Our parents were not angry or upset with me or Ali. Rather, they were so proud that we helped that girl and brought her to the hospital.

I stayed and waited for her operation to be done. After her operation, the doctor said that she was in a coma because of the head trauma she experienced. May dumating din na police officer para kausapin kami ni Ali. And we gave our statements about how and what happened.

By 10 a.m. the next day, my parents forced us to go home so we could rest, as we hadn't slept a wink and that we should just leave the rest to the police and doctors.

"I'm sorry for ruining your anniversary celebration." I told my mom before kissing her cheek.

Mom just smiled at me and caressed my cheek. "No, honey, you and Ali did great by saving that poor girl."

"Can I visit her again?"

"Okay, but for now you have to sleep first. Wala ka pang tulog simula kagabi. You even drive all night from Manila to Isabela."

For two weeks, I visited her every day at the hospital, hoping that she would wake up before I had to come back to Manila. Dapat isang linggo lang kami sa Isabela, but I begged mom if I could stay for another week.

The only thing I found out about her is that her name is Miranda, that she's 15 years old, and that she's an orphan. How did I find out? Well, for the past week, no one has come and visited her. And I also heard from the two nurses that she doesn't have any family left, as her parents and younger brother were killed in a car accident.

I asked the police for any updates about her case. I want to find out who did this to her. And why would anyone do this to her. But they wouldn't tell me anything.

"My life is brilliant
My love is pure
I saw an angel
Of that I'm sure
She smiled at me on the subway
She was with another man
But I won't lose no sleep on that
'Cause I've got a plan

You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You're beautiful, it's true
I saw your face in a crowded place
And I don't know what to do
'Cause I'll never be with you"

(You're beautiful - James Blunt)

"You're a great singer." Agad akong napalingon sa pinang-galingan ng boses. "Onyx, right?"

"Yes, doc." Tumayo ako mula sa kinauupuan ko. I usually visit Miranda and sing a song to her. Sabi kasi nila na kahit coma ang state niya ay mas mabuting kausapin siya. Pero wala naman akong alam na dapat i-kwento sakaniya kaya madalas ay kinakantahan ko nalang siya.

"Nahanap na po ba ang gumawa nito sakaniya?"

Dr. Cinco simply shook her head. Siya ang doctor at nag-operate kay Miranda and like me, she's been taking care of her like a daughter.

"Doc," I said, letting out a sigh. "I'm going back to Manila tomorrow." Inabot ko sakaniya yung papel na hawak ko kung saan nakalagay yung cellphone number ko.

"What's this?" Tanong niya.

"Can you call me when she wakes up? Please?"

"Okay..."

I waited for days. Weeks. And after a month, I finally got a call from an unknown.

"Hello?" I said.

"Listen to me very carefully, Onyx. Nagising na si Miranda, 3 weeks ago pa, and she lost all of her memories and is still recovering. It will take months and months for her to fully recover."

"I found out everything, Onyx. Everything she has been through is sickening and heartbreaking. So, I advise na mas makakabuti kung hindi mo muna siya makita dahil baka bumalik lang ang memorya niya at hindi niya kayanin."

"I'm so sorry, Onyx. But I'm only doing this for her sake." She said this before hanging up.

I couldn't even utter a single word after hearing what Dr. Cinco had just said. I tried calling her again, but her phone could not be reached anymore.

And that was the last thing I heard from Miranda again.

W H A T Y A S E Y