These corneas were from Kuya Zion.
I stood when Jacob appeared in front of me, his eyes were in pain and he rushed to imprison me in his arms. I let him do that despite the pain I was feeling.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry if I didn't believe you," I sobbed and he carefully rubbed my back.
"I hope... this will make you realize that you need to stop." I supposed he already opened the pictures I sent earlier. I think he already knew everything.
"Did you know?" He nodded and distanced himself from me and gestured me to take a seat on the bench. His eyes looked at the mesmerizing fireflies that glimmered in the scenery in front of us.
"I understand Jess and I just want you to know that I still love you." He didn't answer my question but when he leaned to kiss my forehead and imprisoned me again in his arms, it broke my heart.
"I'm sorry... for hurting you babe," he whispered and it made me cry more. We stayed in that position until I calmed down and hearing those words from him made me let go of everything. The anger, vengeance... everything.
Eventually, I pulled away from his embrace and craned my neck up to look deeper into his eyes. He stood and knelt in front of me holding my hand, his cheeks wet in tears, his eyes pleading for me to come back. I controlled my tears from falling, but they were unstoppable.
"I'm willing to do anything to have you back. I'm willing to wait until your heart is mended. I'm willing Jess... Just tell me." His sobs were full of desperation and defeat but this time, everything is clear to me. We need time to mend our hearts, we need time to recollect, and we need time to fix ourselves from the damage done.
Under the light, there's a glint of hope reflected in his eyes. I cupped his face and wiped his tears.
"You are forgiven Jacob but ..."
I looked down when he held my hand tighter as if he won't allow me to run away again. His eyes were pleading for me to stay, persuading me to give our love a second chance but I know that... this is not what I want. I'm sorry Jacob.
"We can't be part of each other's life anymore."
"I just can't."
***
The endless tears welled up in my eyes as if water never run out in my body. After I left Jacob in the pavilion, I immediately left and took a taxi home. To my surprise, Manong guard opened the door for me and did not ask why I was in the taxi.
My steps were small and weak as I approached the mansion, but my attention turned to the vast garden which was my Mommy's favorite place. It's heartbreaking to think that she's not here next to me when I really need her the most. How much I wanted to ask her a lot of questions and I regret all the times I drove them away every time they mentioned Jacob to me.
Tears pooled up in my eyes again as I remembered everything I learned tonight and at the same time the happy faces of Mommy and Daddy when I regained my vision. I slowly stepped on the grass and after a few steps, I fell to my knees. My legs ran out of strength to keep my balance on the ground.
Hazel and Jia spotted me sitting on the front porch of the mansion and currently looking forward to the meteor shower tonight. They immediately called Marz to meet me and hurriedly ran to me in the garden.
"Jess, what happened to you?" I couldn't speak when Marz asked me as he helped me stand up. Hazel caressed my back and I hugged Jia without a word coming out from my mouth.
"Did that Jacob hurt you again?" There was a look of concern on their faces, but I only sobbed in response to Marz's questions and I could do nothing but cry all over Jia's shoulder.
We caught the attention of a few housemaids and soon Manay came with a tray of cheesecake and ice cream, which Mommy often did to calm me down from crying. Manay's eyes went blank when she handed me the tray and left without speaking. I could no longer thank her and tasted the cheesecake first. It made me cry more, but I was relieved until I stopped crying.
The four of us are sitting here on the lawn now, I am leaning on Jia's shoulder and looking up at the sky. They accompanied me here to the garden and decided to wait for the meteor shower. I wanted to tell them everything but I preferred to keep it to myself and let the silence heal my broken heart. I could clearly hear their sighs until my raining eyes stopped crying.
Around 9 pm, the four of us witnessed the most beautiful meteor shower that streaked through the peaceful night skies. I smiled at our memories that flashed like a hidden flipbook that might as well fade as the days passed by. Maybe this will be the last and hopefully, tomorrow will be sunshine.
The next morning, I woke the three of them like nothing happened last night just to prepare a party in the mansion for Dad's arrival this afternoon. Firstly, I thank Manay for what she did last night and asked for the cooperation of all the maids to prepare a simple party for Dad. Marz was constantly checking on me while Jia and Hazel locked me in their tightest hug, now I feel like a deflated marshmallow. And speaking of marshmallows, Marc arrived with a chocolate cake for today's party and 2 packs of marshmallows I've asked for the camping tomorrow.
Amid the busy morning, Marc approached me and asked me what happened last night but I refused to share it with him because I don't want to ruin my mood for today. Since the party is set and the confetti is ready, everyone took a rest and I invited all the maids to join us in watching 'Insidious 2'. They were shocked by what I ordered them to do, but they have no choice but to obey so the living area became a movie house saturated with screams and shouts of fear. On top of that, Amy was the noisiest and even Manay excused herself after Manong Arthur pranked her with a voodoo doll. While everyone was focused on the movie, I clutched my phone in my back pocket and answered the call from Dad.
"Daddy! Are you at the gate already?" I greeted him cheerfully and he sighed heavily, making my smile fade. Probably, he canceled his flight again because of an urgent business on the new hotel branches in Cebu and it's devastating on my part.
"SUPRICE!" I almost jumped on the couch when Dad greeted me behind. I automatically threw a big hug at him and became teary-eyed again. I miss him so much. But how come, he knew that 'suprice' thing. I eyed Marc and I know he was behind it, he ruined my surprise party for Dad.
Everyone greeted Dad then we headed to the dining room where the party is waiting. Nevertheless, the surprise party is still a surprise for Dad when the twins threw the confetti.
"Thank you very much everyone for maintaining the mansion, for taking care of my only daughter, and reporting to me what she is up to while I am away." The maids maintained their bows and secretly laugh at Dad's speech, but I know he was just making them laugh as usual.
After the party, Dad directly went upstairs to his office and I also left the dining to get the brown envelope in my room and gave it personally to him. I knocked carefully and opened the door slowly but when I was about to enter the office, I accidentally overheard Dad mentioning a woman's name - Sabrina Fogarty. He quickly ended the call when he saw me standing at the door, his eyes were filled with shock when he saw the envelope in my hand.
"I'm sorry Dad, but this envelope arrived yesterday." I was taken aback when Dad suddenly took the envelope from my hand as if there was something inside it that I must not know.
"D-id you open this?" Dad stuttered and it was the first time I saw him nervous.
"All your files are confidential Dad so, of course, I did not." I honestly answered and he nodded in relief which made me curious about what is inside the envelope.
"Good. Take a rest now my dear. I love you." He kissed my forehead and dismissed me.
"I love you too Dad." I hugged him before leaving his office and decided to go back to my room to change before going downstairs and watching the remaining movies together with my friends.
However, before I could reach the stair, I saw Marc enter Dad's office discreetly, and I wonder what they were going to talk about. I decided to ignore him because maybe he just wanted to say hello to him so I went straight to the living room, but the flat-screen LED TV has turned off already, and no sign of lively people. I looked for Marz in their rooms, but they weren't there either. I decided to contact them but failed when I receive a call from an unregistered number. I answered the call despite the risk and a familiar voice greeted me on the other line.
It's the snake, Ivy.
"Yes? Everything alright?" I responded using my usual line in the past when we were still friends. The other line was silent, so I wonder why she called. Did something happen or did she need something? Their breakup is already given, but I can feel that there's something else.
"Ivy, are you okay?" Despite my anger at her, I put it aside for a moment.
"I'm here across the gate of the mansion. I'd like to talk to you about... your Mommy." Her voice broke and I already saw this coming. She ended the call without getting my response and knowing my weakness, just hearing about Mommy makes my whole body tremble but... what about her? What do I need to know?
I haven't thought thoroughly and rushed back to my room to grab my keys and hurriedly go downstairs without asking approval from Dad that I will go out to see Ivy. My eyes were straight on the path going to the parking area and when I reached it, I suddenly stopped and looked at my reflection in the window of the car. I took deep breaths and with all the stress disturbing my homeostasis, I can't think clearly so I called Marz for support and he agreed to go with me.
"This is crazy! Now that we're going to face our witch ex-friend, I hope my preparation is exceeded the 'enough level' right?" That was Marz's immediate introduction to me when I got in the car and he really made an effort to apply lipstick just for it.
"I'm nervous Marz, but it's necessary." Hesitantly, I told Marz and he carefully held my trembling hand.
"I'm here best, don't worry." I smiled anxiously at Marz but I can't help it.
"Why did your mommy get involved with that witch anyway? Or maybe she's just fooling you. Remember that snake? Even how many times a snake changes its skin, it's still a snake." I leaned on the headrest, trying to ponder the possibilities she will say about my Mommy but I had no clue at all.
"Marz, did Mommy mention anything to you before she said goodbye? Did she reveal something to you?" Marz thought deeply like me, but even he didn't remember anything very important that Mommy told us except...
"Actually, there was one thing best, but you knew it already." Marz cupped her cheeks, trying to figure out what Ivy is up to this time and we shared a stare of understanding.
"That I'm adopted." I sadly answered and Marz nodded in agreement, but there was something off about it, it was because Mommy never told me who's my real parents are.
"You know best, we need to talk in the fish pond to find out." I agreed with Marz's suggestion and decided to fetch Ivy at the main gate.
Every second that passed, I was nervous about the next thing that I will find out. Is this another painful truth that I have to accept just like the day when Mommy confessed to me that I am adopted or a dormant secret just like the one behind my cornea donation waiting for the right day to be exposed? Nonetheless, I still need to know.
***
I greeted Ivy without a smile and Marz just waved at her to get into the car and drove to the fishpond ten kilometers away from the main mansion. We went down together straight to the wooden tables where we often hung out when we were high school students. Ivy sat carefully in the opposite wooden chair and it was obvious that her belly was growing under that black maxi dress.
Marz's two arms crossed over his chest and Ivy had raised an eyebrow earlier. I noticed Ivy's eyes were puffy and exhausted. I had a strong feeling that it was because of the pictures I sent to the two of them, but even though I managed to destroy them, I was not relieved and was even more unhappy. The three of us are still silent, waiting to see who will speak first until...
"I want to apologize." Marz and I looked at each other once Ivy stood up.
"Wow! You just realized that after how many years? 3 years for heaven's sake!" Marz stood with his eyes full of flames of anger. I pulled his arm to force him to sit back down and let Ivy finish.
"I'm sorry... especially to you Jess. I'm sorry too, Marz." Ivy bit her lip hard and bent down to hold back the tears. She shyly looked straight into our eyes and took a deep breath before speaking again.
"It's all my fault, I'm sorry. It's not Jacob's fault. I had no other options at that time, so I betrayed you. I'm really sorry." Marz scoffed at what Ivy just said, completely unconvinced. From what I see, she's reckoning her like what I also have in mind.
In the past, Ivy and I were so close almost like siblings.
"I think you're just wasting our time and can you stop that drama queen of yours? I'm trying my best not to vomit tho you deserve that." Marz was about to leave and pull me away too, but I stopped him and convinced him with my eyes to listen to Ivy. Somehow we got together and she deserves to be heard.
"Marz, wait. I used to be your friend too. Please let me explain." We witnessed tears welling up in Ivy's eyes, begging and struggling.
"What's your valid excuse now Ivy? Jessica was a good friend of yours... I just can't understand why you have to hurt her and let Jacob impregnate you! What were you thinking?! Or are you even thinking?!" Ivy clenched her fist on the wooden table accepting those painful words from Marz. Because of the recurring pain, my lips were sealed and just let my tears tell them how I felt.
"Because she already had everything Marz!" Ivy stood up facing Marz. Their eyes narrowed with a blend of anger and pain as I sat still in my place between them.
"I met Jacob first! I loved him first, and I ran out of other ways!" Ivy held on to the table with a heavy breath as Marz wiped the tears destroying his mascara.
"WOW! YOU'RE SO SELFISH AND INSECURE!" Marz exploded with heavy emotions without batting an eyelash.
"Do you know how it feels?! How heartbroken I was when I saw Jess crying, struggling... And losing hope because she couldn't see anything? You broke her for what? Just to get the man you wanted? Your greed and insecurities broke her you ungrateful b*tch!" We cried more with each word Marz uttered. He was already holding on to the table, drawing strength to release all the pain from the deepest part of him.
"You don't know how painful it was hearing her call me, but she can't see me. You almost killed our friend, do you know that? What kind of friend are you?!" Marz could hardly speak while crying but managed to release her mad voice at Ivy. His index finger pointed at Ivy trying to control the anger that might drive him to do something physically unexpected.
"I didn't want that Marz! I swear I didn't wish her to get into an accident. I'm sorry. I didn't expect that she will be endangered after accepting her Mommy's offer. Jess, I'm sorry."