We're on a big boat now, going for a cruise. It's private, owned by Mateo. Only ten of us are on board, including the driver.

Mommy is taking pictures with Dad, even though he doesn't want to. Lolo is sitting, drinking wine, and reading a newspaper. Chatalina spread out a blanket and sat there taking pictures. I'm taking pictures of the sea. Mateo is silently following me. The twins are with us. I don't know where Tito and Tita are.

I noticed how similar Mateo and Daddy Carlo are, especially to Lolo Carlitos, in their mannerisms, habits, and dislikes, like being in pictures and being in noisy environments.

"Aren't you done yet?" Mateo said impatiently. I turned to him and rolled my eyes.

This man. Sinabihan ko na siya kanina na 'wag na sumunod sa akin.

"I told you, sit down over there," I said, not turning to him, as I looked at the pictures I had taken.

"Ate Zylene, let's take a picture!" Alicia shouted. We both looked at her.

"I'll sit beside Grandpa and Dad. Don't move too much here, you might fall," he said. I just nodded and didn't turn around. I heard him sigh and kiss me on the top of the head. I started to walk towards Alicia.

While we were taking pictures, someone spoke from behind us. I turned around, and it was Chatalina.

Bilis nito kanina lang naka upo at nag p-picture ngayon nasa likod na namin. Para siyang kabute.

"Enjoying living like a princess, huh," she said, smirking. I was about to answer when Alicia cut me off.

"What the hell is your problem?! Leave us alone nga!" Alicia said nastily. Tayrence approached her and held her arm.

"Enough, Alicia. Don't mind her. I'll take your pictures. Just don't mind her," Tayrence said authoritatively to the twins, but his sister just rolled her eyes and pulled her arm back. She then handed the camera to him with a slam.

"You know what, Alicia, I'm so annoyed with your attitude. You have no manners. You're smart, but simple. You don't have respect for your elders," she said and pushed Alicia, making me gasp. I approached Alicia to help her up.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, Chatalina?!" Tayrence said angrily, while checking the twins for scratches.

Alicia laughed sarcastically.

"Respect? Who do you think you are to be respected?" Alicia said, and then she suddenly grabbed Chatalina's hair.

"Ahhh, Let go of my hair!" Chatalina screamed and pulled Alicia's hair back.

"Alicia, let go of her hair!" Tayrence commanded his sister, but she seemed not to hear him.

I took a deep breath and approached them.

"Alicia, tama na," I said, but she just shouted.

"Let me go! She deserves this. This bitch really knows how to get into my nerves," she pulled Chatalina's hair even harder.

"Ahhh! You witch!" Chatalina screamed. I searched for Mateo, but they were gone.

"Get off, Ate! You're hurting my twin!" Tayrence shouted, trying to pull Chatalina's hand off Alicia's hair.

I was shock when Tayrence accidentally pushed Chatalina.

Tyrence got in between them, and I tried to get Alicia's hand off. Finally, I managed to pull her away.

Alicia's hair was messed up, and Chatalina had scratches on her neck and face. She stood up from where she was sitting.

"What's your problem again?! Chatalina, can you just leave us alone!" I was about to walk away and pull Alicia with me. I saw anger in Tayrence's eyes as he fixed his twin's hair.

Chatalina suddenly grabbed my arm. I saw anger in her eyes.

"Let her go, Ate Chatalina! What is wrong with you?!" Tayrence shouted angrily, but she ignored him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Alicia shouted hoarsely and was about to approach us, but this woman was only focused on me.

"Ano ba! Bitiwan mo nga ako," I said, but she tightened her grip on my arm.

"Listen, I like Mateo. But you're here being epal, and because of you, Tita hates me," she said, tightening her grip on my arm, making me wince.

"Ah, ano ba! Bitiwan mo 'ko! Nasasaktan- Ahh!" I screamed as I fell off the boat. I felt my head hit something hard.

"Ate ZYLENE!" I heard the twins scream.

"ZYLENE!" I heard Mommy shout loudly.

I felt the coldness of the water and my body slowly weakening. I tried to swim, but I couldn't. Maybe it was because I was weak, or maybe it was because I don't know how to swim. It was taking all my strength. Before I closed my eyes completely, I saw an image of four people-two women and two men, smiling.

That damn Chatalina.

~~~

Even though my head was still fuzzy, I could hear a loud voice from someone shouting out in desperation.

"No. N-no, open Y-your eyes, wife," a raspy voice said.

Something soft brushed off my lips, and somehow, it got air into my lungs.

I opened my eyes halfway, tired and gasping for breath. I coughed repeatedly. My head still hurt.

I felt someone lift me and lay me down somewhere.

"This is all your fault!" I heard Alicia shout. It seemed like she was attacking the woman because her Mommy was stopping her. I could also hear the woman scream.

"Drive this fucking yacht now!" I heard Dad's authoritative voice.

I heard someone running, and then the boat suddenly started moving. Soon, we reached our destination. They immediately got off, and an ambulance arrived, but I don't know where it came from.

"My god, Chatalina. Why did you push Zylene?!" Mom said, almost attacking Chatalina. Thankfully, Dad was holding her back.

"Tita, I didn't push her. She pushed me first, that's why I pushed her back- Enough with your lies, Chatalina. I don't know what you're doing here. You're not even part of our family. You're just a FRIEND of my son," Mom said, cutting Chatalina off. There was emphasis on every word she said. Tears started to well up in Chatalina's eyes, but she quickly wiped them away.

"What a liar, you even pulled my hair," I heard Alicia whine.

I heard someone scoff.

"She did what?" I heard Tita say.

"Enough, Ma, Alicia," Tito Jaron said.

"Starting later, I don't want to see your face. You heard me?" Mateo said. Even though I was weak, I forced my eyes open. I saw Alicia and the twins watching, smirking.

"What? I am your friend. Listen, I didn't push her. Tita is lying- Chatalina, your mouth! How dare you call my daughter a liar. I will tell Jano about your behavior," Lolo Carlitos shouted. Chatalina flinched in fear, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Calm down, Grandpa. I will talk to her," Mateo said calmly, but his eyes still showed anger. Daddy Carlos remained silent.

"Let me go, Carlos, let me slap that bitch!" Mommy Majika struggled against Dad, but he didn't let her go.

"Enough, Ma. Mateo will fix this- No way! Let me go. I will not tolerate her for pushing Zylene and pulling Alicia's hair. What if I didn't see her push Zy, what would have happened? She would have lied?!" Tito spoke, but he didn't finish his sentence when Mom spoke again. Her voice was mumbled. I guess they left.

"I'll go to my room. Talk to her, Mateo, or else you know what will happen," Lolo Carlitos said authoritatively. He glared at Chatalina, who was hanging her head, before leaving.

Mateo didn't respond, but he nodded.

"Let's talk outside," Mateo said angrily to Chatalina.

Alicia approached me and whispered.

"She deserves it anyway. Sleep now, Ate. You need to rest," she said, smirking. I just nodded and let sleep take over.

~~~

When I woke up, it was 5 pm. My head still ached. I looked around. Mateo wasn't there, but Mommy Majika was asleep.

I tried to sit up, but I couldn't. I tried to speak, but nothing came out. I tried again, but I still couldn't. As I was about to try again, the door suddenly opened, and Mateo appeared, holding some food. When he looked at me, his eyes widened, and he put the food down on the table and rushed to me.

"Wife, you're finally awake," he said and pressed something on my headboard. Suddenly, three people entered-a male doctor and two nurses.

The doctor approached me and checked my eyes. The two nurses checked the things connected to me.

"How's my wife?" he asked the doctor coldly, but his eyes showed concern.

Ngumiti sa akin ang doctor, na kita ko ang pagsalubong ng kilay ni Mateo.

"She's fine now. She needs to rest because her body is still numb. About the results, her memory is slowly getting back. Because of the bump on her head, we'll be back here later to check on her. We'll still conduct tests. We're leaving. Excuse us," the doctor said, smiling. He gave me a small smile and left with the two nurses.

"Your memory is slowly getting back," he whispered, sounding unhappy. But I ignored what he said because I was so thirsty.

"T-tubig," I said with difficulty. He quickly stood up and got me some water. When I looked at Mommy, she was still asleep.

Mateo sat me up before giving me water.

"More water?" he asked. I nodded, so he stood up again to get more water and gave it to me. I stopped after drinking half of it.

Ibinigay ko na sa kaniya ang baso dahil nawala na ang pagka uhaw ko.

"Do you want to eat something?" he asked, but I refused. I just closed my eyes because I was full of water. I didn't realize I fell asleep.

I felt him kiss my temple and whisper something I couldn't understand.

"I don't want your memory to come back. I fucking don't want that. I don't want to lose you," he whispered, but I didn't answer because I was already drifting back to sleep, exhausted.

I won't leave you, Mateo.