Only You (Completed)

Twelve

It's been two months since Careen left. No calls, no texts, no emails from her. Binugbog niya amg sarili sa trabaho. The case was dismissed sa mga Santillan dahil wala silang makuha na solid evidence. Kahit 'yung tao mismo na nagdala ng mga supplies pinahanap niya pero hindi rin makita.

Araw-araw inaantay niyang tumawag ang dalaga sa kanya. Pero ni hi hello wala siyang natanggap. The last messaged was sent to him at ung huling send nito sa kanya na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nakabura sa inbox niya.

Aside from being workaholic ay nagiging hobby niya na rin ang pag-inom lalo na 'pag kasama mga kaibigan niya. Dinadamayan siya tuwing nalalasing at nagwawala 'til he passed out.

He tried talking to Careen's mom pero wala itong sinabi sa kanya.

"Please tell me where she is right now, I'm begging you Tita." Pagsusumamo niya sa ina nito.

"If you love my daughter then wait for her. Kung kayo talaga, then you are meant to be. All I can say that she is fine. You don't have to worry about her kung 'yan ang inaalala mo." Nakangiting saad nito.

"Why did she have to leave me?" Halos pabulong na tanong niya.

"Because she needs to. Trust me, hindi niya rin ginusto ang umalis." Paliwanag nito sa kanya.

"But atleast she could have called me." Giit niya.

"She's just doing the right thing hijo." Malungkot na saad ng ina nito.

Mapait siyang napangiti. "Doing the right thing? Leaving me was the right thing to do? Is that it?"

"Hijo..."

"It hurts like hell when she broke up with me and chose that Santillan over me. Pero mas masakit pa palang iwanan na lang ng basta-basta. Hindi na lang nagparamdam sa 'yo bigla. Like you're being a fool waiting for nothing. Ansakit pa lang umasa sa wala." Hindi niya namalayan na napaiyak na siya.

Natahimik ang ginang sa narinig. "Don't worry po, this will be the last time I will bother you about her. Thanks for the time." With that he turn his back and walked away. He promise to move on and forget all the pain he's having right now.

***

Careen smiled when she saw her mom calling. Agad niyang kinuha ang phone at sinagot iyon.

"Hey mom." Agad niyang bungad.

"Hey baby, how you doin'?" masiglang bungad ng mommy niya.

"I'm fine mom, how's dad mom? Can I go home now?" She asked her mom.

Malalim na buntong hininga ang narinig niya sa kabilang linya. "You can't baby, your dad was so persistent to find you lalo pa at tinutulungan siya ng mga Santillan. I just called to warn you. Mas maigi na ang mag-ingat ka. Huwag kang lalabas diyan, do you understand?" Mahabang litanya ng ina niya.

Nanghina siya sa narinig. She wants to go home. She wants to see Thamuz. Ayaw niyang tawagan ito at baka ma-trace niya. Besides ayaw niya rin madamay ito.

"How about Thamuz mom?" Nakagat niya ang labi pagkabanggit sa pangalan nito. She missed him so much.

"He's fine, kagagaling niya lang dito kagabi asking about you. I'm sorry but I can't tell him anak. This is for your safety I hope you understand." She heave a sighed.

"I understand mom." Kahit mabigat ang loob ay sumang-ayon na lamang siya. "I'll hang up now mom, may gagawin lang ako." Pagpapaalam niya sa ina.

"Okay baby, take care of yourself." She ended the call.