Too Good at Goodbyes

Chapter One

Achilles annoyingly cut the call. Wala pa rin namang nagbabago pero hindi niya alam kung bakit nadidismaya pa rin siya sa tuwing sasabihin ng private investigator na wala pa ring lead sa anak niya.

He never see his daughter again right after Arci took her that night. Pitong taon na ang nakakalipas pero wala pa ring lead. Para bang binura lahat ni Arci ang lahat ng bakas nito. He hired the best investigators in the country and outside but no one could trace her.

Bench helped too. Hindi sila okay pero tinulungan siya ni Bench. He provides the information that they needed. Pero wala namang naitulong iyon. Babago pa lang ang relasyon nila noon at halos wala silang alam sa isa’t isa. He said that Arci was never interested to get to know him and she doesn’t want to talk about her life and somehow, he felt sad for him. It only proves that cunning bitch just used his cousin.

“Attorney. Young, wala na pong client sa labas, nakausap na po ninyo silang lahat.” Si Owel iyon, secretary niya. Naglapag ito ng tasa ng kape sa mesa bago iniayos ang mga folder ng kaso na inaral niya kanina.

Limang taon na siyang abogado pero dalawang taon pa lang ang bago niyang firm. sa Public Attorney’s Office siya kumuha ng practice dahil mas mahahasa ang skills niya roon. Aside from that he wanted to give free service to the public.

Siguro talagang desperado na siya na pati iyong paggawa ng good deed kaplit ng kaisa isa niyang hiling ay pinatos niya na. Baka sakaling maawa sa kaniya ang Diyos at ibigay ang dasal niya.

After three years with PAO, he decided to build his own firm. Nagbibigay pa rin iyon ng libreng serbisyo sa mahihirap pero nagagawa niya ring tumanggap ng kaso para sa mga kilalang tao. But he only accepts cases that's worth fighting for inside the court room.

Hinilot niya ang sintido bago sinimsim ang kape. Few moments later his phone beeped again. It was his father. Sa hindi malamang dahilan biglang kumabog ang dibdib niya.

“Papa?”

“Achill, come home now.” He could feel the tension in his father’s voice but he feels good about it. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit kaya tuluyan na siyang nagtanong kahit alam niyang hindi naman sanay ang ama niya na makipag usap sa phone. Kapag ganoon kasing may gusto itong pag-usapan, he would just tell him to come home.

“Is there a problem?” He tried to chuckle to light up the tension.

“It’s about Yassi.”

The phone fell from his hand, he didn't even bother to pick it up. Hindi na rin siya nag abalang mag ayos muna ng mga gamit. He just grab his keys and left his office. He could hear his heart pounding so hard. Para bang lalabas iyon sa dibdib niya.

He reached his parent’s house in twenty minutes. Ipinagpapasalamat niya na nakisama ang traffic. He was told by the maid that his father is waiting inside his study. Halos takbuhin niya ang distansya noon.

Isang pamilyar na mukha ang bumungad sa kaniya. Ang mukha na hindi niya makakalimutan kahit kalian. In front of him is no other than Ramona Cecilia Evangelista.

Inisang hakbang niya si Arci bago ito sinampal. All his rage and anger was consuming him, he wanted to kill the girl.

“Nasan ang anak ko? Putang ina ka! Papatayin kita!” He could see the fear in her eyes and he felt beyond satisfied. Hindi iilang beses na pinangarap niya ang tagpong iyon. He promised himself that he’ll make her life a living hell once he find her and now here she is, in fucking front of him, alive and in flesh.

“Achill! Achilles! Maghunus dili ka! Anong ginagawa mo!” Sigaw iyon ng ina habang pilit siyang inilalayo ng ama kay Arci. Ayaw niyang magpaawat. He wants to kill her, right there, right now.  He wants her dead.