A Heart's Antidote (Diamond Series #1)

3 - Mutual Help

Chapter Three
Mutual Help

 

“So now, are you in?” I asked.

“Ano ba kasing gagawin niyo sakin?”

“Simple lang. You wish, I’ll grant it using magic spells.”

Nabigla siya. “Wish? AS IN YUN LANG? Pag nag-wish ako makukuha ko agad?”

“Of course, may kapalit.” Bigla siyang nanghina. “Ayy.”

“Ganun talaga. I need to change my identity Franzes. And you need to solve your problem. We need each other.”

“Change your identity? Bakit di ka na lang magpalit ng iyo, kelangan mo pa ako?”

“Kasi for me to change, I need someone. Para kumpleto ang spell. Hindi ako makakapagpalit hangga’t walang nangangailangan rin sakin. You see, it’s really complicated and the Sacrifice Spell is not just an ordinary spell. It's very powerful.”

“Okay fine. I’ll tell you my wish. Pero that doesn’t mean na payag na payag na ako.” Tumango ako.

“Gusto kong maging maayos kami ng pamilya ko. Yung hindi ganito. Yung hindi na kriminal si kuya, hindi na baliw si ate, wala nang sakit si papa. Gusto kong mabigyan sila ng maginhawang buhay, yung hindi na sila dadanas pa ng paghihirap. A-yokong n-nahihirapan sila... lalo na’t...” Nagsimula siyang umiyak at kinakalma naman namin ni Kierre. “Lalo na’t wala man lang akong magawa para matulungan sila.”

“You can help them now Franzes.”

“But what’s your condition?”

“You have to forget about Kyle.” Parang nanigas si Franzes pagkasabi ko nun. Sigh. There’s no other options anyway.

“W-what? Y-you want me to forget K-kyle?” I noticed that her tears are heavily falling from her eyes at this moment.

“Yes. Not just forget, erase him in your life. Leave him.”

“What?” she said almost whispering.

“I believe that’s it Franzes. You need to sacrifice something. Because change always comes with sacrifice. They’re hand in hand Franzes. And that’s in exchange with what you desire for.”

“Then I’ll sacrifice anything except that... Please...”

“But I can’t think of any sacrifice except that. You love your family, and you love Kyle too. Franzes, it’s a matter of love for love.”

Though I’m not on her situation, I can feel her pain. Though I can’t feel that what-so-called love, I know that letting go of your loved one is a very destructive part on someone in love and committed.

Wala eh. Ganun talaga. I’ve been on this many times before. Yung iba ring sacrifices ng mga nangailangan noon is also a matter of love for love. Yung iba naman, tulad nung bago kay Franzes, nung nagpalit ako as Raymond Zalazar, si Grace, isa siyang singer sa ibang bansa na lumuwas dito sa Pilipinas dahil namatay ang kanyang ina, ang kaisa-isang natitira niyang pamilya. She wished for life. And I granted it, in sacrifice of her voice. Her voice is her life. Nabuhay ang kanyang ina, ngunit siya ay napipi, hindi na makapagsalita and worse of course... hindi na siya maaari pang kumanta.

That’s the compensation. Sa pananatili ko dito, tuwing magpapalit ako ng identity ang pinakanakakalungkot na parte para sa akin. Well, so far.

Napaluhod na si Franzes sa pagkalito. Hindi na niya malaman pa ang gagawin.