"Arghh." Sandali akong napahawak sa aking ulo.

Ansakit.

When I opened my eyes, nasa isang puting kwarto ako.

And then it all sinked in, the accident.

Agarang tumulo ang luha ko, I need to find ricci.

Hinugot ko ang nakasaksak sa aking kamay.

"Fuck!" masakit but I have to see my man.

I opened the door and walked myself out.

Habang naglalakad ako I heard 2 nurses talking.

"The famous rivero is now gone..." sabi ng nurse na matangkad.

I felt a pang in my chest.

This must be a joke.

"Everyone is murning, I'm a fan too... I felt sorry for Ricci's family."

As I walk closer to them my heart shatters.

Ng ganap akong makalapit, "excuse me..." I politely said.

My voice is shaking.

"Ma'am you are supposed to be in your room right now, kakagamot nyo lang po." The tall nurse said.

I acted as if I didn't hear anything from her.

"Please take me to ricci, I need to see him." I told her as I start to hold my chest. It hurts.

"Ma'am Mr. Rivero is..." before she finished her sentence mommy abi arrived.

She slaped me.

"Mommy..." I said while holding my cheeks.

I bet she hated me more than anyone does.

"Stop calling me mommy, you took away my son!" What I heard from the two nurses felt like a bad joke, but hearing it from a mother. Saying her son is now gone isn't a freaking joke.

This can't be true oh God.

"Kung hindi kapa lalayo sakanya, ano pa ang balak mo? Miski ang bangkay nya ay ilagay mo rim sa piligro?! Ricci doesn't deserve this! Ang bata pa nya... he is in the peak of his career... then you came and pretended to help him pero this is what you caused!"

"I-I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..." I can't even complete my sentence...

I'm not believing this.

"You didn't mean to but you freaking did! I thought you're good for my son! Like father like daughter... if only I knew you are the daughter of that devil hindi na sana kita pinalapit pa sa anak ko!" Her voice shouted.

I can't understand things, all along ang alam ko kaya ako pinalalayo ni dad kay ricci dahil gusto nyang maprotektahan ang yaman namin.

But I think the story is different.

"...if he can't accept the fact that our relationship didn't worked. he could have told you! Stay away from my son! It has been 4 decades! And still your father can't accept it? That I chose his bestfriend?!" I am shocked, my parents never told me about their past. "Your dad, paolo and I had been highschool friends... when we were about to graduate from highschool both of them confessed that they like me. I was shookt then, but when time flies I fell in love with paolo he always sees the best of me, jasmine. My bestfriend liked your dad, I told her about my feeling for paolo. I told her to take good care about your dad. But when your father knew I chose paolo? He beat up paolo and wrecked our friendship, he can't accept defeat. And now he is using you? To hurt us? To hurt ricci?" Kaya pala the day mom and dad went home, dad told me "pareho lang sila ng tatay nya." From that point I thought he knew tito paolo for some reasons, I never knew they were bestfriends back then.

And now He thinks that maybe another Rivero in His life wouldn't work.

Kuya prince showed up he hugged his mother, she is crying as much as I do.

"Shhh, mom stop crying..." he said while looking at me.

"I'll be letting you to see my brother for the last time, after this you can't go near to him. Ni bisitahin sya sa kung saan man sya ilalagay hindi pwede." Kuya prince said, nawala ang dating kuya prince na kilala ko na masayahin pala ngiti at lahat all I can see is pain.

He bring tita abi to tito paolo.

"I'll wait here outside. You only have 10 minutes before we transfer Ricci to his final destination." And without any word I rushed in to Ricci.

As saw Ricci, with his closed eyes. Bruises are all over his face and body, but it didn't changed the fact that he is still handsome.

"Babe..." I held his hand for the last time.

His hand is freaking cold already.

I called him but he didn't answer.

"Babe... why did you have to be like this. I told you, sabi ko don't look after me. Don't bother to but you still did. Why do you always have your own things to follow bakit hindi ka nakikinig..." I just want to see him happy again.

Kung nakikita lang ako ni ricci ngayon, I bet he'll hug me and tell me everything is going to be fine.

He'll kiss my tears good bye.

"Babe, please wake up and tell me everything is going to be fine. Tell me that you are going to be with me so I don't have to bother anymore... please tell me..." I can't help myself, gustong gusto ko syang samahan kung saan man sya naroroon.

I want to runaway with him.

"Please tell me that you'll stay, that you won't have to leave me..." I kissed his lips, but he didn't move even a bit.

"Ricci paano na ako kung wala ka..."

The thought of me not having Ricci makes me feel lifeless.

While starring at him, I asked God what did I do to deserve this.

Amdaming what if's ang tumatakbo sa isip ko gaya ng what if lumaban ako? What if I didn't runaway from him? What if I stayed longer sa unit. What if I didn'rt asked the driver to drive faster...

Gusto kong sabihing mahal ko sya, na walang iba na hindi ito laro na lahat ay totoo.

The door opened, I saw kuya prince.

"10 minutes passed, you can now leave." His voice was cold.

"Can I stay longer? Please I just want to see ricci..." I pleaded him.

I don't want to leave Ricci.

"You had so much time to take care of him, but you chose to dump him and now that its too late you want to act as if you really cared?!" Ngayon ko lang nakita si kuya prince na ganito umiiyak sya out of anger at sinisigawan nya ko.

"You can now leave and stay gone away from our family forever. Pag hindi ka pa umalis I swear to God I'll call the security to drag you out of this room." Habang sinasabi nya nag mga yun nakayakap ako kay Ricci.

I guess this is really a goodbye. Or I mean, bye this isn't even good.

For the last time I savour my lips to his lips. Binulungan ko sya, "Ricci, you will always be in my heart..."

And after that I went out and cried myself to sleep on my room.

After that nightmare mom and dad went to the hospital to visit me.

The thought of my father trying to act as if he truly cares about his daughter sickens me.

If I know he wants this.

When my mom and dad entered the room, I told them I wanted to leave this country.

I also asked them to stay away from my life forever, They told me gino died this morning.

his car crashed on some place. Screw him, I know maling maging masaya but somehow I felt happy.

3 days after,the doctor told me that I can now go back to our home.

Is he even joking? My home is now freaking gone!

He is now gone.

Before I went out of my way to the hospital I tried to go to Ricci's room.

Wala na talaga sya...

After they settled everything I get all the money I can get to my parents, they gave me my savings and all.

I don't want to live with them anymore the moment they decided to make my life miserable nakalimutan ko ng mayroon akong pamilya.

Sa korea ko balak mag stay, kleise also visited. She hugged me, si kleise nalang talaga ang meron ako.

I told her everything, the gino stuff and all.

She asked me kung gusto ko daw bang samahan nya ko sa korea, I told her not to join me.

I know how happy she is with brent, I don't want to mess things up between the two of them.

She told me she'll visit me every now and then to see if I'm okay.

I smiled a bit, I will never be okay not even a second.

Days after that I went to korea.

Pinili ko to dahil eto yung place na nakakapagpaalala ng maraming bagay about samin ni Ricci.

3 months later, I started to study here. Lumipat ako ng course. I picked the course I really wanted to, film making.

I wanted to make myself busy, as much as kaya ko. I don't want to make myself crazy missing him.

Nasa school ako nun ng bigla akong nahimatay.

Nagising ako sa hospital, I asked myself how much is my condition para itakbo ako sa hospital.

My mind is still flying when the doctor came in.

"Ms. Stephanie you should take care of yourself, you'll be experiencing a lot of breakdown headaches vomiting and all."

She continuesly said.

Naguguluhan ako anong sakit ko? "Congrats you are 3 months pregnant, take a lot of sleep and don't stress too much." Baby...

Baby...

Buntis ako?!

I remembered the night we spent at the air bnb, dito sa may korea.

The cr moment, I remembered Ricci didn't use any protection.

Walang paglagyan ang saya ko, This baby is a blessing.

I cried out of happiness. Kung andito lang si Ricci I bet he'll scream how happy he is...

Kaso wala sya...

I called kleise she is the only person I can tell things to.

"Hello?" Narinig ko ang boses ng isang lalake. This must be brent.

"Brent bat mo sinagot sino yan?!" Narinig kong sabi ni kleise, ang cute talaga nila.

"Unregistered number eh! Malay ko ba kung sino tong hamal na to! May lalake ka ba? Kleise namaaaan!" Hindi ko napigilang matawa.

"Brent ikaw lang lalake ko, akin na nga yan. Hello?" Now kleise is in the line.

"Kleise..."

"Beshie? Beshie I miss you!!!!"

"Si loyre ba yan? Hi loyre!!!!" I heard brent sobra talaga ang energy nila together.

"Tell brent I said hello, kleise I have something to say..."

"Naka loudspeak ka, beshie wag mog sabihing... may oppa kana jan? Beshie naman ang bili--" I cut her off.

There is no way I can replace ricci in my heart.

"You know Ricci will always be in my heart, and no one can ever replace his place in my heart."

"Sabi ko nga, so bakit ka napatawag? May masama bang nangyare sayo? Gusto mo ko lumipad ngayon jan sa korea teka mag aayos lang ako ng gamit at ng maka---" sunod sunod nyang sabi.

"Kleise calm down, stay right there. Ako muna ang pagsalitain mo hahahahaa."

"So ano nga yan beshie sabihin mo at kinakabahan ako sa mga ganyan mo!" Parang sya pa ang magulang ko hahahahaha oops nagkamagulang ba talaga ako? Psh.

"Buntis ako."

Wala akong narinig, tahimik lang. Tinignan ko ang cellphone ko bukas naman.

"BUNTIS KA?!" Nagulat ako Sabay na sigaw ni kleise at bren kailangan talaga sabay sila?!

"Oh my kelan mo pa nalaman? Anong balak mo babae ba o lalake magiging ninang naba talaga ako??????!" Hahahahahaha, ang cute talaga ni kleise.

"Isa isa lang ang tanong, ngayon ko lang nalaman. Nasa school ako nahilo ko and then ng magising ako andito nako. I thought may sakit ako or what since I deserve it... but the doctor siad I'm pregnant. And you are the only person I can tell things with." Naiiyak ako.

I wish you were here.

"Anong balak mo jan beshie? Do you want me there? Para tulungan ka? Sasabihin mo ba kela tita abi?" I will sa tamang panahon.

"no just stay there, kaya ko to. I'll tell them when I'm ready. I better get going kleise thank you for the time. Ingat kayo ni brent."

After that I ended the call.

I went to the place where our love locks is, I want to tell him everything kahit di nya na ko naririnig.

"Babe, I'm here. Alam mo ba marami akong bagay na gustong sabihin sayo... mayroon na tayong little rivero, hindi ko pa man sya nakikita pero alam kong magiging kamukha mo sya. Sana nga... ng maibsan ang pangungulila ko sayo. Alam mo ba babe, the moment I heard na buntis ako I want to kiss you and tell you how happy am I. Kaso wala ka dito..." I wiped my tears I need to be strong for my baby.

"I promise to be the best mommy for this little baby... don't worry too much babe." After that I went home and eat.

I need to be strong, di lang para sa akin kung hindi para narin sa anak namin.

6 months passed, 9 months na ang tyan ko...

Anytime pwede nako manganak.

Ang hirap na wala kang katuwang, I asked kleise to come over with brent. Sobrang nagcacrave ako sa bagoong chicharon and some pinoy snacks, di gaya ng ibang buntis na mga asawa nila ang bumibili ng pinaglilihian nila ako I have to do it by myself.

My parents knew about my pregnancy, sabi sakin ni kleise tumawag sakanila si mom at dad hindi kase nila ako macontact gusto sana nila akong bisitahin but I told kleise not to tell them where I live ayokong makita sila.

Kumakain ako ng mangga at bagoong ng biglang nakaramdam ako ng kakaibang sakit.

Manganganak na ata ako!

"Kleise brent! Arghhhhh ansakit ng tyan ko manganganak nako!" I heard kleise and brent rushing tinakbo nila ko sa hospital.

After 5 hours, nanganak nako.

When they gave me my child all I did is cry.

My little rivero...

He looks like his dad.

Yung labi yung kilay pilik mata ilong lahat ang nakuha lang ata nya sakin ay ang kutis.

"Name of the child?"

"Rashaun Reid Rivero."

The moment I gave birth to shaun, I tried to contact Ricci's family. Pero ni isa sakanila walang sumagot, tinulungan dun ako nila brent at kleise pero sabi nila the moment Ricci passed nawala nalang ng parang bula ang pamilya ni Ricci. Wala narin sila sa dati nilang bahay.

Hindi ako nagkaron ng pagkakataong ipaalam sakanilang meron silang apo.

5 years later.

Shaun always asks where his daddy is, lagi kong sagot "somewhere in his happy place..."

I had to go back, ikakasal si kleise at Brent sa pinas 2 days from now.

I'm so happy for brent and kleise they deserve each other.

Akalain mo yun, mauuna pang ikasal sa akin si kleise. Brent is now playing for Pba, Ginebra ang team nya just what Ricci and him planned to.

Kaso magisa nalang na tinupad ni brent yun.

Wala na si Ricci.

7 months nalang... ikakasal na sana kame ni Ricci, sa mismong araw na nilagay nya sa love lock...

Sana...

Pagkatalikod ko may nabangga akong isang babae.

"I'm sorry..." unang bungad ko.

She's tall sexy and she dresses pretty lit.

Kurbadang kurbada ang kanyang mga kilay,"sorry? Idiot. Anong magagawa ng sorry mo?" Pagmamaldita neto.

Una sa lahat, sya ang nakabangga. But I showed some manners para mag sorry sakanya.

I am about to speak nung may dumating na lalake.

The moment I saw the guys, tumigil ang buong paligid.

Paanong...

Buhay si Ricci?

I saw him, dead.

Paano?

Am I dreaming?

"Babe..." malambing na sabi ni Ricci sa babaeng kanina lang ay tumawag saking idiot.

The girl kissed his lips. Unti unting nabasag ang puso ko.

"Come on aldridge, sayang lang ang oras ko dito. Lumipat nalang tayo ng store for khalib dun tayo bumili ng damit nya."

Maybe... just maybe he is not ricci pero... why do they look so freaking the same! Ansin lahat except for the name!

"Okay as you wish tara na? Khalib is waiting for us. Nagaabang na yun sa bahay, that baby manang mana sa mommy mainipin." He said and went out of the store.

They... have a baby?

The thought of Ricci having another family.

Napahinga ako ng malalim, hindi.

Sure naman akong hindi sya si Ricci, kase kung sya si Ricci why would that girl call him Aldridge?

At sure akong kung si Ricci sya he could have been with me long time ago, alam kong hahanapin at hahanapin nya ko.

Tsaka, everybody kmows ricci is gone for 6 freaking years na.

I even saw him life less.

Ricci and that guy really did look the same lang talaga I told myself.

Sa pagkakatunganga ko hindi ko napansin na may nahulog sya, wallet.

Pinilit ko silag hanapin pero mukhang nakaalis na sila.

And when I opened the wallet to see if there are some traces on where I can find him to give his wallet back.

The heart shaped leaf caught my attention

I gave that to...

Ricci!

______________________________________

This ends the Falling For Ricci Rivero.

Thank you for the love and support grabeeeee :-(

I'll be answerkng your questions here ;)

In case na guguluhan kayo or what ;)

Thank you fam ❤

I hope you enjoyed this story ❤

Much love loys ❤