AOT : Caught In The Fire

Epilogue

I don't know how painful it is to lost someone you dearly love. I grew up isolated from other people. I grew up thinking my feelings mattered the most. That even if my happiness means hurting other people, I would still go for it. I think of myself highly to the point I'm looking down at others.

But the moment she took a step in my house, I realized the world doesn't revolve around me. Hindi lang ako ang may nararamdaman. Hindi ako ang may-ari ng mundo. She made me realize things I have never realized before. She made me feel emotions that are very foreign to me.

She's like a ray of sunshine and thunder through my storm.

“No way.” Umiling si Alas at humalakhak. “She's ten years younger than you, jackass! You're what? Thirty two? Tapos siya?”

“At least it's not pedophilia. She's not minor, Alas,” bored na ani ni Blaze.

Hindi ko na lang sila pinakinggan. I don't know if this is just a fatal attraction or something. I don't want to know. Basta't ang alam ko ay ayaw ko siyang umalis sa bahay ko. Ayokong makita siyang nilalapitan at nakikipagtawanan sa ibang lalaki. I want her for myself. She's mine and she needs to know that.

But those feelings were tested when I saw how the palpitations in her throat goes together with her heartbeat. I am not dumb not to know it was a heartbeat from someone inside her tummy.

She's pregnant. I know.

Napatingin ako sa orasan ngunit hindi pa rin siya umuuwi. Nauna siyang pumasok sa opisina kanina ngunit wala raw siya roon sabi ng aking tauhan na pinapabantay sa kanya.

I wonder where she is?

Nang sumapit ang alas siete ng gabi, nagdesisyon na akong hanapin siya. Nagbihis ako at nagmamadaling lumabas ng bahay dala ang aking susi at cellphone. I went to the garage while dialing Kryzler's number to locate her. Baka kung napano na.

Ngunit nagulat ako nang may humarang sa harap ng aking sasakyan pagkalabas ko ng gate. He's wearing a doctor's coat. Kaagad siyang tumakbo sa aking windshield at kinatok ito.

“You're Damien, right?” he asked.

Nangunot ang aking noo. He looks familiar. That's when I realized he's my girl's bestfriend. “Bakit? Nasaan si Micah?”

“Wala rito si Micah?” he asked back. “Shit!”

Tinulak ko pabukas ang pinto at lumabas. “Alam mo ba kung nasaan siya?”

“No!” Umiling ito. “Shit! We have to find her! She's pregnant!”

I was taken aback after hearing him. Kaagad akong napakunot-noo. “How did you know?”

“She went to my hospital this morning!” Ginulo nito ang kanyang buhok. “Fuck! I'm getting worried! Hindi ko ma-access ang mga footages ng CCTV sa parking lot sa ground floor. Her car is still there!”

My heart started to beat rapidly. Kaagad akong kinutuban sa narinig. Muli kong tinawagan si Kryzler at paulit-ulit na nagmumura nang sobrang tagal nitong sinagot ang tawag.

“Hello, what?”

“Locate Micah Dane right now.”

“Locating. I'll send you the address.”

As soon as the call ended, Kryzler texted me the address. Nangunot ang aking noo nang mapansing nasa labas na ito ng syudad.

“Nasaan daw siya?”

“Outside the city.” My jaw set. “Do you have guns with you?”

I saw how his forehead creased but nodded anyway. “Yes. Why?”