A Life Without You [Completed, Published Under Ukiyoto Publishing]

22.

"Hello, Sam?" Bungad ko mula sa linya nang masagot ang tawag nang nakababata 'kong kapatid na si Sam.

Patuloy pa rin siya sa paghahanap kay Ate Sky, dad doesn't want me to know about this. But, since Sam's on my side... she manage to report every possible informations of Ate Sky's informations.

Ate Lilac and the other people around me are little bit suspicious ever since. Parang may tinatago silang ayaw ipaalam sa akin though tulad nang dati hindi ko na lamang iyon pinapansin as long as wala naman iyon koneksyon sa akin.

"How are you, Ate Stella?" Tanong nito.

"I'm fine? Teka, may nangyari ba?" Kuro ko nang mapansing may kakaiba sa boses nito.

"Wala naman, I'm just a little exhausted. Naguguluhan kami ni Mateo sa nalaman namin ngayon tungkol kay Ate Sky." Mateo is one of her friends, matagal ko na itong kilala. He used to be with us in every occassions.

But, I noticed his weird actions towards my sister. The way he speak towards her, the way he looks at her. Lahat n'on ay parang sinasabing nitong may nararamdaman siya sa kapatid ko. Though, I'm not against with them. Besides, they're just friends. Kung totoo man ang hinala ko na itong Mateo ay may gusto sa kapatid ko then, I will let them do what they want as longs as hindi sila gagawa ng mali. I'll support them.

"Ano iyon?"

"Graduate si Ate Sky nang nursing, tulad nang sabi ko... sa school natin siya pumapasok. Lumipat sila rito nang Laguna para sa trabaho niya." Aniya.

"How about her location?" Muli 'kong tanong.

"Still no progress ate, kaunti na lang mahahanap na natin siya. Just stay still, take care of yourself okay? Don't leave me that early, I will be mad at you." I chuckled.

"Alright, munchy." Pang-aasar ko sa kaniya.

"I can wait, Samantha. But  I don't know how long I can wait despite of my situation right now.."

"We can make this through, we will find Ate Sky."

Matapos iyin ay ibinaba niya na ang linya, I look away as tears started to pool in my eyes. I heard a fake cough that's when I turned my gaze in my room's door. It was Clight. Nakapamulsa ito habang seryosong nakatingin sa akin. I forced a smile.

"Hey," I called him but instead of replying back he walked next to me and hugged me tight.

"C-Clight.." utal na saad ko.

"Noah, call me Noah, Stella. Starting right now. No one ever did that again... calling me by my first name except for my kuya." Aniya, I felt my heart crashed.

"Noah," pag-uulit ko, atsaka lang siya kumalas mula sa pagkakayap sa akin. He bent down his knees to label our height. Nakaupo kasi ako sa kama ko hababg siya naman ay nakatayo.

"Your sister called, what happened?" He asked. I gulped.

"It's nothing," pagpapalusot ko nguni't nadala ako sa pagpapakawala nito ng malalim na hininga.

"Hindi ko alam kung gaano pa ako katagal maghihintay, Noah. Hindi ko alam kung mahihintay ko pa ba si Ate Sky. I'm afraid that I need to say goodbye soon." Nag-iwas ako nang tingin rito at ipinako lamang iyon sa labas ng bintana.

"Don't say that, look at me, hey." He cupped my face.

"We will find her, I-I'm sure she's out there somewhere." Aniya. His eyes were talking to me as if he's sure that Ate Sky is still out there roaming to also find us.

Ano kayang ginagawa niya ngayon? Nakakain ba siya sa tamang oras? Hinahanap niya rin kaya kami? I hope she's doing fine.

"Stella?" Muli akong napalingon sa may pinto nang pumasok roon si dad kasama si mom na may dalang isang basket ng prutas.