THE DEAL

TD- 74

She wiped her tears away for the nth time that week. And yes, they have been trying to find Aga for a week now. They searched everywhere, asked friends and colleagues and even reported it to the police but Aga is still nowhere to be found.

She couldn't sleep at night thinking where Aga is, how he is or what he might be doing at the moment. She couldn't sleep knowing that her husband is somewhere she doesn't know.

"Lei, stop crying na. Hindi tayo titigil hangga't hindi natin siya nahahanap, okay?" her friend, Vice, rubbed her back. "Haggardo ka na."

She sobbed, "Vice, I can't stop crying. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko ipapaliwanag kay Gale that her dad is missing. I don't know anymore."

"Lea, we are all trying our best naman to find him. Ikaw, you have to rest. You are a mom. And you own a company. For now, hayaan mo muna 'yong mga pulis na hanapin si Aga. Magpahinga ka."

She stood up, "Dawn, I can't rest. Hindi pwedeng wala akong gawin. Hindi pwedeng matulog lang ako na hindi man lang nakakasiguro kung okay lang ba 'yong asawa ko. Kung kumakain ba siya? O kung buhay pa siya. Hindi ako pwedeng magpahinga lang. Don't you understand that?"

"We are just concerned, Lea. Alagaan mo naman 'yang sarili mo."

"Hindi ka na halos kumakain. Hindi ka na rin halos natutulog. Kung nandito si Aga hi--"

"Kung nandito si Aga, malamang tatanungin niya kung sino ako. Malamang hindi niya ako kilala." she said and cried harder. "Kaya lang naman siya umalis kasi may sakit siya, 'di ba? Hindi naman siya aalis kung talagang kilala niya pa kung sino ako."

"Makikita natin siya."

"A-and by t-that time, he won't... he won't r-remember me."

--

"Anak, kain ka na." she told her Gale who was just watching TV.

"No."

She walked towards her and stroked her hair, "Tara na. Let's eat. Mimi will eat with you. Come on. Ihahatid pa kita sa school."

Gale shook her head and frowned, "Dada, I miss dada."

Lea sighed, "I miss him too, anak."

"When is he coming home? He told me that he will still teach me how to play piano."

Lea's eyes squinted. Magtuturo pa ng piano, ni kumanta nga, hindi marunong. "Kapag kumain ka and you follow mimi, dada will go home na. Halika na."

Gale's eyes sparkled and looked at her, "Promise?"

Lea faked a smile. "Tara na."

"Promise first, mimi." she insisted.

Left with no choice, she spoke up, "Promise."

Gale then hugged Lea and kissed her, "I love you, mimi. And I love dada, too. I hope he would go home tomorrow or later."

She smiled, "We both love you, too, anak. And yes, dada will be home soon."

--

She reached the office and started working. And though Aga is still on her mind, she has to focus on her work. The police and her friends keep her updated anyway.

After a three-hour meeting, she went straight to her office to rest. And to check e-mails and messages if someone has seen Aga or has an idea where he was.

She shook her head when she saw that there were still no messages. And shook her head again as she remembered that she went to where Aga brought her the other week. The house where pictures and stuff were pasted and placed. Aga wasn't there.