They were at the hospital now.
Word had spread quickly that Julie had suddenly fainted. Melissa was there, along with her older sister Kelly and their cousin Nicole.
Julie still hadn't fully regained her strength when they arrived. The doctors had said there were no complications—no underlying condition—but that didn't stop the worry from settling heavily in everyone's chest.
"Chris… is Julie really okay?" Kelly asked softly, her eyes fixed on Julie.
Melissa remained quiet. She gently tapped Nicole's arm, and Nicole stepped closer to the bed, watching Julie anxiously.
After a while, Julie stirred. A faint groan slipped from her lips as her eyes slowly fluttered open.
"Ouch…" she murmured, touching her forehead.
"Julie!" Nicole immediately wrapped her in a hug. Melissa followed close behind. Julie's face was clouded with confusion.
"W–What happened?" she asked weakly. "A–And why are you all here? What's going on?"
"Julie," a woman who had been standing quietly nearby called gently. She reached out to smooth Julie's disheveled hair. "Are you alright? Do you feel any pain?"
"S–Sis… who is she?" Melissa whispered to Kelly.
Kelly stiffened.
It was obvious from her posture that she was trying not to face the woman. Melissa had noticed her uneasiness from the moment they entered the hospital room.
"Ah—"
"That's Crisha's mother. Mrs. Carmen Palma," Jonathan explained calmly.
Crisha's mother?
Melissa froze.
Right…
Kelly had once been falsely accused of something she didn't do. Their parents had resolved everything back then, but the incident had left a deep scar. The guilt had stayed with her—unwanted, heavy.
How did I forget that? Melissa thought, clenching her hand slightly.
"Relax, Melissa," Jonathan said gently.
She nodded.
"J–Jonathan, I'll step outside for a bit," Kelly said quietly, unable to mask the guilt in her eyes.
"Don't." Kevin took her hand. "Stay. I'm here, okay?"
Kelly gave a faint nod.
Melissa noticed how her sister avoided looking at Carmen, who was now speaking softly with Julie.
"If you're feeling better, then I won't worry anymore," Carmen said with relief.
"Thank you, ma'am. I'm okay… I just felt a little dizzy earlier. I'm fine now," Julie assured her, not wanting to cause more concern.
Melissa exhaled in relief.
"In that case, I'll head out first. Don't worry about the hospital bill."
"Auntie, no—please. It's not your fault. I'm not your responsibility," Julie insisted.
"Julie," Carmen replied gently, "you are my responsibility. I was with you and Cielo. As an adult—as a mother—it's my duty. Please don't worry."
"But—"
"Julie."
There was something in Carmen's eyes—a quiet plea.
Julie understood. Slowly, she nodded.
Carmen smiled and gently cupped Julie's cheek before patting it softly. "I'll go ahead."
"Please be careful," Julie said.
Carmen straightened herself and turned toward the others. Kelly tried her best to remain unnoticed.
"Miss Santibañez," Carmen called.
Melissa and Kelly both turned.
Carmen's gaze rested on Kelly.
"So you have a younger sister," she said softly.
Kelly nodded. Melissa felt her own chest tighten, as if one wrong word could shatter everything.
"I understand why you've been avoiding me," Carmen continued. "Back then… I blamed you for what happened to Crisha. I know now that it wasn't your fault. But as a mother… what happened was too heavy for me."
She exhaled slowly.
Kelly couldn't meet her eyes. The guilt she had carried for years was written all over her face.
Kelly flinched when Carmen suddenly lifted her hand—but instead of anger, Carmen placed it gently on her shoulder.
"If you're not busy… perhaps we can talk properly sometime."
Kelly blinked in surprise—then nodded.
Before leaving, Carmen gently touched Kelly's cheek and ruffled her hair.
When she finally disappeared from sight—
Kelly's tears fell.
"Sis…" Melissa immediately pulled her into an embrace.
Kelly's sobs filled the quiet room. No one interrupted. They simply let her cry.
Melissa could feel the weight in her sister's chest—the years of suppressed pain finally cracking open. As siblings and cousins, they had always stood by her.
Melissa wanted to cry too.
But she held herself together.
Across the room, she saw Julie watching silently—eyes full of understanding, as if she knew exactly what that kind of pain felt like.
"S–Sorry…" Kelly whispered once her sobs subsided.
Melissa shook her head. "Kelly… are you okay?"
Kelly wiped her tears. "This is the first time I've cried like this… after seeing Aunt Carmen. I—I thought she still hated me."
"Kelly," Julie said softly, her hand tightening slightly over the blanket, "Auntie knows it wasn't your fault. You were dragged into it. You only wanted to help Crisha—but it was twisted to look like everything was your fault."
Kelly nodded, vulnerable.
"I only want one thing," she whispered hoarsely. "For her to forgive me."
"Isn't this your chance?" Jonathan said gently, ruffling her hair. "She sees who you are now."
Kelly nodded again. "I—I'll talk to her. I need to."
"Of course," Kevin added. "Things are different now."
Melissa smiled faintly.
Yeah… she's strong after all. And she's my sister.
She saw a quiet determination settle in Kelly's eyes.
Then she turned to Julie, who gave a small laugh despite everything.
"Julie, you're really not feeling anything now?" Melissa asked.
Julie blinked and smiled. "I'm okay, Melissa." She even gave a small thumbs-up.
"Really? No fever? No dizziness?" Nicole pressed.
Julie chuckled and shook her head. "I think I can go home now."
"Let's wait for Mom. She's already on her way," Chris said with a sigh.
"Julie…" Nicole hesitated. "What really happened? That's the first time we've seen you faint like that."
Melissa noticed Chris and Gabriel exchange a look.
They knew something.
"I… I don't fully understand it myself," Julie admitted quietly. "While watching the CCTV… I suddenly felt something. Like a memory trying to surface—but I couldn't grasp it."
Cielo, who had been silent, exhaled slowly.
"Julie… did the suspect look familiar to you?" he asked carefully.
Julie didn't answer right away.
But she nodded.
"Somehow… I feel like I've seen him before. I just can't remember where."
The room fell quiet.
"S–So you've encountered him before?" Nicole asked cautiously.
"M–Maybe. But I don't know why he feels so familiar. I don't know where I saw him. I don't even know if I ever spoke to him…" Julie pressed her fingers to her forehead.
"Ow…"
"Isn't that similar to what happened to you, Kev? Suppressed memories?" Dave muttered.
Chris exhaled sharply. "Let's talk about that later. Mom's already here. This isn't the right time."
Dave sighed, but he understood.
They eventually went home.
But Melissa couldn't forget what Dave had said.
Suppressed memories?
The thought lingered in her mind long after the hospital lights had faded behind them.
She pushed it aside—for now.
Sooner or later—
The truth would surface.