That One Match

Chapter 17

I WAS BLANKLY STARING at the strong waves coming from the beach of Buruanga, Aklan when my father came to me and gave me my medicine. Dad kissed my forehead and sat on the sand beside me.

"How's your head, darling?"

I smiled and showed him a thumbs up.

"Is everything okay? Ilang linggo ka nang tahimik lang."

Ngumiti ako sabay patong ng ulo ko sa balikat nya. A tear escaped my eyes.

"Hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung bakit bigla na lang nawala si Blank, dad."

He looked at me full of sadness. He pulled and hugged me.

MAGTATATLONG bwan na ang lumipas nang maaksidente kami ni Asul. We were on our way to my office when a big truck crashed in my car. When I opened my eyes after a week of being unconscious, una kong hinanap si Asul. Ngunit ayon kina Heptane, the kid was moved to another hospital. Sa kadahilanang hindi naman ako makalabas basta-basta ng ospital ay hindi ko na nahanap pa kung saang ospital inilipat si Asul.

I tried asking help from Heptane but she was zipping her mouth every time I mention Asul's name.

"Nakabisita ba si Blank?"

For almost a month of being confined in the hospital, there was no shadow of Blank who showed up. Kahit sa Bubble ay nawala na rin ang account nya.

I tried to look for him l. Pinuntahan ko sya sa bahay nya pero wala ng tao roon. I tried reaching him through his company but there was no sign he was there. I even asked help from Tracy since husband nya ang kapatid ni Blank, pero gaya ni Heptane, she was also keeping her mouth shut. T.A. tried to offer help, too, but wala rin.

For the next months, I received no news about him. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganoon na lang ang biglaang pagkawala nya sa buhay ko.

I couldn't help but ask myself, what did I do? Did something happen that I am not aware of?

"ARE YOU SURE you're ready to go back to work?"

Dad asked worriedly. It's been a week since I decided to have a quick vacation here in our vacation house in Aklan. Sa isang buong linggo, pinilit kong hanapan ng rason kung bakit wala na si Blank sa buhay ko.

I have to admit, it's very difficult to look for answers to questions lalo na kung wala ka talagang kaalam-alam. Mahirap punan ng sagot ang mga katanungang hindi mo batid kung may sagot ba talaga o baka naman ang katotohanang walang sagot ang sagot?

Whatever it may be, I have decided.

Kung anuman ang ikinagalit ni Blank, kung anuman ang dahilan nya kung bakit nya ako biglang iniwan sa ere— bahala na.

Maybe Einagh was right all along. I am just another fling.

I WAS TREATING my employees for a dinner in a nearby Samgyupsal resto when I received a call from Hexion. He's back in the Philippines since last month. Mayroon kaso siyang tinrabaho rito.

He was supposed to join us in this dinner dahil isa rin sya sa mga hinire ko to take some shots in our recent event but wala pa rin sya. I went out of the place to answer his call dahil medyo maingay sa loob.

"Nasaan ka na? We're already starting."

Reklamo ko sa kanya.

"I'm on my way. May binalikan pa kasi ako sa opisina ng kliyente ko."

He replied. I could hear some car sounds around him. I rolled my eyes. Kung nandito lang ang lalaking iyon, napitik ko na noo nya.

"Nagdadrive ka!"