This Time We'll Never End

Conrad's POV Part 4

"It was sent from England..." imporma ni Zeke sa akin.

I nodded once, nakapikit na hinihilot ang sentido.

"You should rest, dude. Our people are already looking for her there. I asked the others, by the way. Nakatanggap din sila ng sulat... l-lahat," si Andrei.

My days were darker these days. Parang isang maliit na pagkakamali lang mananakit na ako o magwawala.

Akala ko masosolb na lahat ng problema dahil sa mga ginawa ko... hindi pa pala. I'm getting impatient and frustrated. Hindi ko na alam ano pa ba ang gagawin para umuwi si Amorah sa akin.

It's been a year...

Hindi ba niya ako nami-miss? Dahil ako... kung hindi lang siya nagpaparamdam sa mga kaibigan sa pamamagitan ng liham, baka nabaliw na ako.

She's been sending letters to her friends: Lia and Zeke, Yvonne and Andrei, Jia, and her parents. I understand that. They're precious to her. To us. Pero bakit... Walang akin? I mean, kahit kumustahin o banggitin man lang ako sa mga liham niya, hindi niya magawa?

Is she angry with me? Didn't she watch news or do social media for updates here? Hindi niya ba... napapanood o... pinapanood ang tungkol sa akin? Sa amin? Sa lahat ng ginawa namin sa mga nanakit sa kanya? Mas naniniwala ba siya sa mga narinig at nakita niya noon kung gano'n? F**k!

Why can't she just talk or contact me to clarify everything, then? W-Wala ba siyang tiwala sa... a-akin?

I have publicized my identity and the companies we have built with friends just so in case if it is her safety she's concerned of. I shut the companies of those involved social media and news stations, and bloggers and individuals who spread that fake news, and even imprisoned everyone related to it. Lalo na ang mga masterminds. I also made our relationship known to everyone. I even arranged an exclusive interview for it at naka-publish sa kahit saang papel, social media o telebisyon.

Ano pa ba ang kulang?

"I'll be there, too."

"Dude, magpahinga ka na muna. Mahahanap din natin si Amorah, or maybe she'll come home the next days. For now-"

"Did she tell in her letters so?" I asked sarcastically cutting off Andrei.

Galing sa isang baso ko ng whiskey sa mesa ay mabagal kong nilipat ang paningin sa kanila ni Zeke. He looked away, blinked a few times before hearing his sigh. Bigo namang bumaling sa bintana si Zeke.

See?

Paano ako mapapanatag kung ganito?

"Maybe she needs time, Conrad. She's hurt. Antayin na lang natin na siya ang magkusang umuwi. Her parents are here so I think she'll still come back," says Zeke.

Her parents are here. I often visited them since the incident and obviously worried of Amorah even after receiving her letters. Her friends on the other hand, are also worried. They're missing her but like these two, they kind of understand her for staying away for the moment. The last time we all met, they told me to wait, too.

Hindi kaya...

"Someone's helping her for sure, boss. This is the first time na nahirapan ang team namin sa paghahanap sa isang tao. Someone close to her, perhaps. And someone who knew you," Mr. Guerrero, my trusted investigator, concluded when we met where the second letter was sent from. England.

Someone close.

Someone who knew me.

An enemy?

A friend?