Paying Off

Chapter 18

"Daddy! Let's go to the mall!" Chloe said while smiling ear to ear kaya agad akong napa-tingin sa mama nya na ngayon ay napapa-iling na lamang ng marinig ang sinabi ng anak. "You should ask your mom first," I said at agad namang tumalikod sa akin si Chloe and run towards her mom and cling on her neck sabay halik sa cheeks na ikina-iling ko. Mahilig talaga yan mag lambing lalong-lalo na kapag may kailangan. "Mama, pleaseeeeee!" she said with a pleading eye na ikinga-buntong hininga ni Sofia. Sino ba namang hindi mag memelt kung ganyan ka cute ang mag pleplease sayo, diba? "Not too much. Don't spoil her Kevin!" nangliliksing matang sabi ni Sofia sa akin but I just shrug my shoulder. Knowing this little girl - halos lahat gusto, pag hindi mo bibilhin papaganahin na naman nya ang 'cute and pleading' face nya just to lure you. "Go tell that to your daughter," I said sabay tayo mula sa pagkakaupo. Andito kasi kami ngayon sa sala — wala naman kasi kaming ginagawa kaya why not spend our time here kasa mag kulog sa loob ng kwarto. "I'll just change my clothes," I said making Chloe shouts 'yehey!'.

Maaga pa naman, it's 10:00 in the morning and I also don't have work today — naka 3 days off ako. And again, I always end up taking my gaze away from Andrea's room. Sofia keeps on telling me kung bakit daw hindi ako pumapasok dun, but same as my excuses, I keep on saying "I can't, hindi ko kaya."

Totoo naman, on the past 6 years, I still can't move on. Hanggang ngayon, buo pa rin ang loob kong mahanap sya. May mga naakukuhang lead ang investigator namin for the past 6 years, pero once na mapunta kami sa lugar na yun - Andrea is nowhere to be found, at higit sa lahat, no one knows her on that certain place, kaya nauuwing dismayado na naman kami. But despite of that, I know Andrea is somewhere - may mga leads, which means chances is she's only here.

"Daddy!" I am taken back to reality when I heard Chloe shouting on the other side of the door kaya naman, binilisan ko na ang aking galaw para hindi na ako kukulitin ng batang to.

"Daddy! What took you so long?" bagot nyang sabi as soon as I open the door. Napa-iling na lamang ako sabay yuko para buhatin sya.

"At least, lumabas ako, diba?" I joke making her pout kaya napa-tawa na lamang ako at sakto ding palabas na si Sofia sa kwarto nila.

"Tara," she said at agad na naunang bumaba kaya sumunod na rin kami.

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"Mama! Mama! Let's eat sa Jollibee ha!" we are currently on the road at ma buburyo ka nalang sa sobrang bigat ng traffic ngayon. Hindi naman weekends pero grabe pa din kabigat ng traffic.

"Later Chloe, once we get there," Sofia answer sabay buntong hininga "Wala bang short cut didto? Yung hindi traffic?" may bahid na pagka-irita na ang kanyang boses kaya napa-iling na lamang ako at sakto ding tumunog ang phone ko kaya I connect it to my Bluetooth earphone and answer it.

"Hello"

"Boss, good morning," Detective Drillon greeted me kaya I greet him back.

"I have collected a new data sir, about sa nawawala nyo pong asawa," I tighten the grip on my steering wheel after hearing his good news. Sana this time, mapapalapit na kami kay Andrea.

"What is it?" kahit ilang taon pa akong mag hintay, I won't loss hope. I know someday, Andrea will comeback - mag sasama na ulit kaming dalawa at gagawa ng masamang pamilya. Andrea, I'll find you soon.

"I'll be sending the folder to your secretary boss. Ikokompile ko na muna ang iba pang important information regarding to the case," he said making me said "okay" and bid my thanks.

"Sino yun? Parang bigla kang na tense kanina," Sofia ask me as soon as I put down my earphone.

"Detective Drillon," I plainly said and I saw how she flinch on her seat sabay tingin sa akin.