Heart of the Ocean

Weight

Weeks had passed, Glaiza was consistent with contacting the law enforcement of GenSan  since the island where they went are a part of the that province,  in search for her beloved. Umiwas siyang makipagusap kina Sheena at barbie dahil sa mga sinabi nila but Max, from time to time, calls her for updates. She stayed in the province longer than she had to, ignoring some engagements that her parents starts to worry dahil pati ang kanilang mga tawag at voice recording messages ay di na napapansin.

The words that Sheena had told her about Rhian rings to her head na kahit ilang beses pa niyang pilit alisin, matindi ang kapit. 

"Rhian, a mermaid? Preposterous! Mermaids are just fairytales!"  sambit nito sa kanyang isipan habang patikhim na iniinom ang alak sa hawak niyang kopita. The heat of the strong wine that flows down her throat somehow brings her back to reality. Ang reyalidad kung saan ang mga sirena ay walang katotohanan. There are videos in youtube that shows the existence of the creature but it was never proven. Sa buntot pa lang makikita na ang pagiging peke nito. Ang kanto kung saan malalaman mong may tuhod ito. May macapture man, malabo ang pagkakakuha nito o di man kaya ang nahagingan lang ng camera at kapag binalikan ay wala na ito at walang trace. Kaya't kahit ano pa ang sabihin nila, hinding hindi siya maniniwala sa mga sinasabi nila.

"Pero bakit nila ito sinasabi sa akin? Bakit nila sinisiraan si Rhian?"  muli niyang tanong sa sarili.

Hawak ang kanyang cellphone, muli niyang idinayal ang numero ng pulis na namumuno sa kaso ng pagkawala ni Rhian. Sa unang ring palang ay agad na itong sinagot.

"Ms. de Castro..." sagot ng nasa kabilang linya.

"Insp. Daez, any progress?"

"Same as what we had told you earlier this morning Ms. de Castro. But don't worry, hindi namin pinababayaan ang kasong ito. Right now we are heading back sa island,"

"I'm putting my faith in you, Insp. Daez," then she tap the end button. 

Placing the phone on the center table, she sighed as she tries to comfort herself. Gusto niyang gumawa ng sarili niyang imbestigasyon pero saan siya magsisimula. Ni hindi niya matandaan ang mukha ng lalaking pinaghihinalaan nila Barbie na maaaring dumukot kay Rhian.

Whatever that made Glaiza atleast to feel at ease somehow instantly gone dahil sa tawag na yun sa kanyang telepono.

Since her phone is on the table, she has to sit erect to see the display at ang nakalagay na pangalan ay Max. Napabuntong hininga si Glaiza, gusto niyang baliktarina ng cp niya to silence it but there's this gut feel na kailangan niyang sagutin ang tawag ng kanyang kaibigan.

"Ma....."

"Buddy you have to come back here in Manila asap!" pinutol ni Max ang sasabihin sana ni Glaiza at ang urgent na tono nito ay tila nagpaandar ng relax na dugo ng dalaga.

"What is it?" she asked between sighs.

"Basta you have to come home," pamimilit naman ng kaibigan.

"I'm busy looking for..."

"Its about Rhian," sa pangalang nabanggit, tila tumigil ang kanyang paghinga.

"What about her? Have you found her?"

"Not yet but we discovered something that might help. Kaya kailangan mong bumalik muna dito,"

After the call ended, she immediately accessed an online airline ticketing and purchased a plane ticket for the next earliest flight back to manila. She texted Max her flight details to pick her up. Then she stood up and head to her room to pack up.