18 ROSES: Laws of the Elite || #Wattys2017 Winner [UNDER REVISION]

139TH ROSE || She's Gone

"I’ll search the universe
Until I can find you again
I won’t let go, even the smallest memories
Memories engraved in the seasons
They come and go several times
But I will still call out to you."
-- Universe, EXO

∞

139TH ROSE || She’s Gone

- THE ROSE WHO LOVES TO STORYTELL -

Hindi alam ni Mama Rona kung paano n'ya sasagutin ang binatang nasa harap n'ya ngayon. Hindi n'ya rin alam kung ano ang mararamdaman habang nakikita ang pagod sa mukha ng binata dahil maski s'ya ay hindi n'ya rin alam ang nangyayari.
“Please, uncle. I’m begging you. Please tell me where she is,” halos hindi na makahinga si Tric sa sobrang bigat ng pakiramdam n'ya habang kaharap ang tiyuhin ni Michelle.
“Tric, hijo, kung alam ko lang kung nasaan s'ya ngayon ay pwede kong sabihin sa'yo agad ang lokasyon n'ya pero maski ako ay wala ring kaalam-alam kung nasaan s'ya ngayon. Nag-iwan lang s'ya ng text message sa akin at tinanong ko kung nasaan s'ya pero wala akong nakuhang sagot mula sa kanya. Buong araw namin s'yang tinawagan kahapon kung kani-kaninong cellphone na ang ginamit namin para makausap s'ya pati Facebook at Messenger flinood namin pero wala parin kaming nakuhang sagot mula sa kanya. I’m sorry, hijo. Wala rin akong alam…” malungkot na sagot ni Mama Rona.
Parang pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa si Tric matapos marinig ang sagot ni Mama Rona. Wala pala talagang balak si Michelle na sabihin sa kahit sinong nakakakilala sa kanya at kahit sa pamilya n'ya kung nasaan s'ya ngayon.
Nanghihina s'yang napaupo sa couch kasabay ng pagbaon n'ya ng kanyang mukha sa kanyang mga palad. Naramdaman n'ya ang marahang pagtapik ni Mama Rona sa kanyang likod pero hindi sapat iyon para gumaan ang loob n'ya.
She did runaway from everyone, from me.
He may be cold, ruthless and fearless. The untouchable guy you wish you’ll not gonna mess with.
But he’s still a human. He gets tired.

From: Michelle
Quia, maraming salamat sa lahat ng mga nagawa n'yo para sa akin. Sorry kung hindi ako pormal na nakapagpaalam sa pag-alis ko pero lagi mong tatandaan na andito lang ako para sa'yo. Susuportahan ko parin kayo kahit na wala na ako d'yan. I’m sorry at maraming salamat sa lahat.

“This is insane,” sapo-sapo ni Quia ang ulo n'ya habang nakaupo sa bakanteng upuan kung saan nakaupo si Michelle. Mag-iisang linggo nang hindi pumapasok si Michelle simula nung matanggap n'ya ang text message nito. “Akala ko ba okay na? Okay na tayong lahat dahil wala nang sagabal? Bakit ganito?”
“Quia, calm down. Everything’s gonna be alright,” sabi ni Errol, pilit pinapakalma ang halos magta-tantrums na si Quia.
Naningkit agad ang mga n'ya rito. “Can you here yourself, Errol?! How can you say that everything’s gonna be alright when our class president, my best friend is nowhere to be found we don’t have any fucking idea where she is!”
“Stop yelling, Quia! We’re fucking worried at her too! It’s just that we have no fucking idea where she is and it’s fucking frustrating goddamnit!” halos masira na ni Luke ang mesa sa harap n'ya matapos n'yang ihampas ang kanyang palad dito.
“Calm your tits, guys. Walang patutunguhan ang pag-uusap nating ito kung magbubulyawan tayo!” bulalas naman ni Arsean.
“Quia, please calm down. We can’t think clearly if you’re angry,” pilit s'yang pinapakalma ni Chantal matapos nitong lumipat ng pagkakaupo sa tabi n'ya.
“No, Chantal. I can’t calm like this knowing that there’s something wrong. Hindi ganito magdesisyon si Michelle. She will not leave without saying a word like this not unless there’s something happened and she was fucked up. I want to find her! Kahit pa halughugin natin ang buong ka-Maynilaan para hanapin s'ya, gagawin ko! I wanna know if she’s okay even if I’m not sure if she’s okay! She’s gone!” halos maiyak na si Quia sa kanyang kinauupuan habang mataman s'yang tinignan ng kanilang mga kaklase. Mabuti nalang at silang labing-siyam lang ang nasa loob ng classroom dahil nagsiuwian na ang iba.
“We should work on finding her. Let’s not seek on the reasons why she left. Let’s just work on finding her than throwing a fit on each other,” kalmadong wika ni Hans.
“Tric…” napatingin muna sila kay Kezie bago dumako ang tingin nila kay Tric na tahimik lang na pumasok ng kanilang classroom. His facial expression is blank and his eyes were cold and unreadable.
Agad namang lumapit sa kanya si Price na may pag-aalala sa kanyang mukha. “Tric, may ideya ka ba kung bakit umalis si class pres at kung nasaan s'ya ngayon? 'Di ba magkasama kayo? Pagkatapos kasi nung hindi natuloy mong kasal ay hindi na s'ya nagpakita.”
He stared at him blankly. “Why are you seeking for someone who wants to runaway from us and hiding herself?”
That’s it. Right there and then, Quia snapped. She stood up harshly on her seat and walked towards Tric who’s now staring blankly at her. Without a word, she raised her hand to slap him hard.
“Jerk!” agad nilapitan nina Ryuuji, Chantal at Mark si Quia nung akmang sasampalin at sasabunutan n'ya ito. Binalot ni Ryuuji ang kanyang mga braso kay Quia para hindi ito tuluyang masaktan si Tric.
“Quia, ochitsuite!”
“Damn you, jerk! Can you fucking hear yourself?! Do you really think that’s what she want to do after what she did for us?! After what she did for you?! She fucking ran away because of the fucking reason that only the two of you knows! What the hell are you thinking, Tric Marion Baek?!”
“Calm down, Quia! Tric is tired! Let him breathe for a second, Jesus!” ani Nathaniel.
“Yes! I am fucking tired of fighting!” natahimik agad si Quia matapos iyon isigaw ni Tric sa harap n'ya. Natahimik ang buong silid at tanging ang mabibigat na paghinga lang ni Tric ang maririnig. “I just want her to believe and trust me. That’s all I want and I’ll fight for us. I’ll fight against the odds for us, for her. Is it too much to ask?”
Nanatili silang tahimik.
“I am chasing her from the very beginning, you see. I am chasing her heart. I am chasing her to be by my side. God knows how much I kept on running from this never ending chase for her but she’s still running away from me. I am so fucking tired and it frustrates me that I can’t do anything to make her stay with me. She chose to leave me… and I can’t do anything about it,” pilit nilulunok ni Tric ang bara sa kanyang lalamunan na kahit ano'ng gawin n'ya ay hindi mawala-wala.
“Fuck!”
Marahas na napasinghap ang dalawang babae sa silid na iyon nung biglang sinuntok ni Luke sa mukha si Tric at agad kwinelyohan.
“Kuya! Kuya stop it!” pilit pinipigilan ni Chantal si Luke habang 'yung iba naman ay pilit ring nilalayo si Luke kay Tric ngunit tinutulak lang sila nito at nanatili itong nakadagan kay Tric.
“You’re a fucking coward!” muling sinuntok ni Luke si Tric at kwinelyohan. Kitang-kita nila ang pagputok ng gilid ng labi ni Tric at dumadaloy na ang dugo n'ya ngunit tila'y wala na itong pakealam. Hinayaan lang n'yang suntukin s'ya ni Luke. “Wake the fuck up, you motherfucker! Do you really fucking think Michelle wants this?! Do you fucking think she wanna leave you, you son of a bitch?! She’s fucking in love with you to the point that she’s willing to sacrifice everything just for you! You’re not the only one who’s doing those fucking sacrifices here! This is also hard for her! This is what you call chasing her?! This is not, you hear me?! You’re not chasing her hard to win her heart!”
“L-Luke…” Tric gaze settled on Luke as the latter kept on gripping his collar with shaky hands, trying to suppress his will of giving another blow on Tric’s face.
“You promised, Tric. You promised in front of our fucking faces that you’ll take care of her no matter what. You said that you started this, you’ll end this with her by your side. Don’t be such a fucking pussy, Tric. This is the time you’ll prove to us that you’re worth it for her. Find her even if you have to search the whole Philippines or the whole fucking universe for her then find her, chase her, hold her and never let her go. You hear me?! You hear me you son of a bitch?!” Luke slightly shook Tric who’s now staring at him with a tired but brave gaze.
They’re surrounded with silence and only their heavy breathings can be heard. No one dared to break the silence up. The two lads kept their furious eyes locked to each other.
“Fuck you for giving me two strong blows, Hemmings,” Tric broke the silence between them as he winced before he smiled. “I’ll do it. Thank you very much. I’ll make sure she’ll end up on my grip.”
Luke gave him a smug smirk. “You better be.”
Pinakawalan agad ni Luke si Tric at tinulungan na rin itong makatayo. Bakas parin sa mukha nito ang sakit na nadarama dahil sa dalawang malalakas na suntok na nakuha nito sa kanya. “I’m… I’m going to find her. And I will not gonna come back here without her.”
Quia scoffed as she crossed her arms. “You better be, Baek. Dahil kung hindi, kukunin ko talaga ang katana na nasa bahay nina Ryuuji at hihiwain kita nang pinung-pino at gagawin kitang afritada na madalas lutuin ni Michelle.”
Ryuuji snorted behind her as he gave her a pat on her head.
“Ang tanong, saan natin s'ya hahanapin? Even if we all have connections, masyadong malaki ang Luzon para hanapin s'ya,” bumuntong-hininga si Kezie na para bang napagod s'ya sa sinabi n'ya.
“Kung andito talaga s'ya sa Luzon,” napatingin agad sila kay France na prenteng nakaupo sa isa sa mga mesang naroon.
“What do you mean by that, Yzon?” kumunot agad ang noo ni Kaizzer sa sinabi nito.
France looked at him in a nonchalant stare. “Remember that she’s actually not from this city?”
Nanlaki agad ang mga mata ni Quia matapos mag-sink in sa isip n'ya ang sinabi ni France. “You mean nasa…”
“Probably,” tumango si Nathaniel at inilahad n'ya kay Tric ang kanyang cellphone. “My staff gave me this CCTV footage which was shot few days ago just now. He even sent me the picture of the ticket Michelle was holding during that time,” napatingin naman si Tric sa kanya. “Guess you already know who’s behind this shit, cous.”
Tric heaved a deep breath as he looked at his classmates in awe. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this.”
Lumipat ang tingin n'ya kay Leogne habang may nilalagay ito sa kamay n'ya. Ningitian naman s'ya nito. “Just in case. Baka kailangan mo 'yan.”
“This is our class’ fund from our cussing jar…” he muttered in awe as he looked at the ATM card.
“Just use it for emergency purposes. I bet our classmates will do the same if they know about this. You don’t have to worry,” Leogne shrugged. “Guess Michelle is right. She’s really ready for the future.”
“Thank… thank you,” Tric smiled sheepishly at them and they smiled at him too. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she’ll come back here with me.”

I’ll make sure she’ll come back to me and the chase will be over.

“Where are you going, young lad?” natigilan agad si Tric sa kanyang paglalakad nung marinig n'ya ang boses ng kanyang Abeoji sa sala ng kanilang mansyon. Hindi n'ya inasahang andito ito ngunit hindi naman s'ya nagpahalatang nagulat s'ya at nanatili lang s'yang nakatalikod dito. “I don’t think we have a business meeting outside the country. What’s with the luggage?”
“I’ll find her,” walang kagatol-gatol na sagot ni Tric.
Binaba ni Byung Soo ang binabasang newspaper at lumipat at tingin n'ya sa anak. “Do you really want to ruin your own life, huh, Tae Hyun? Why do you keep on chasing that girl who’s willing to leave you than to make her life miserable with you?”
“She left me because you threatened her,” Tric met his dad’s cold stare that made him shiver when he’s still a kid… but not anymore. “Do you really think I’m that stupid not to know that you actually threatened her to stay away from me? Well played, Abeoji.”
“Neoneun nae adeul-i pyeongbeomhan saram-eulo kkeutnagil jeongmallo wonhandago saeng-gaghani?” he scoffed as he stared at Tric. “Do you expect me to support you to this stupid puppy love of yours? No. I will not let anyone especially that girl to ruin the path that I made for you, my son.” [*TRANS: Do you really think that I want my son to end up with a commoner?]
Tric scoffed and sneered at his dad. “Adeul? Naneun ne adeul-iya? Since when did you care about me as your son, Abeoji? As far as I’m concern, you just treated me as your fucking assistant who will manage for fucking company soon and not your fucking son.”
Tumaas-baba ang dibdib ni Byung Soo dahil sa narinig. “You insolent son!”
Tric sneered. “I’ll find her and you can’t stop me from doing it.”
“Baek Tae Hyun! Come back here, you insolent bastard!” hindi na pinakinggan pa ni Tric ang kanyang ama at tuluyan na s'yang lumabas ng mansyon at sumakay sa kanyang Audi at pinasibad ito paalis ng mansyon. Kinuha naman n'ya ang kanyang cellphone nung marinig n'ya itong tumunog at gamit ang earpiece ay sinagot n'ya ang nasabing tawag.
“We’re here. It’s all set.”
“I’m on my way,” pinatay muna ni Tric ang tawag bago pinabilis ang pagpapatakbo ng kotse.

“Chairman,” napatingin agad si Byung Soo sa kanyang sekretaryang si Yong Hwa na kakadating lang. Agad itong yumuko bilang pagbati bago kinuha ang cellphone nito mula sa bulsa.
“Freeze all Tae Hyun’s debit cards and bank account. Don’t let him use his cards to get his money wherever he is right now,” seryosong utos n'ya sa kanyang sekretarya.
Tumango naman si Yong Hwa bilang tugon matapos n'yang kalikutin ang kanyang cellphone. “The bank already froze his account and cards, chairman.”
“Good,” tumango si Byung Soo bilang tugon. “Send our bodyguards after him. I want them to bring him back and I’ll send him back to Korea. If possible, I will cage him there and cut his connections here. I will not let him step in this country again not until he’ll stop his stupidity for that girl!”
“Ye, algaetseumnida.”
“Don’t you dare pull that nasty trick to our son if you don’t wanna lose everything, Byung Soo.”
Nanlaki agad ang mga mata ni Byung Soo nung makita n'ya ang pamilyar na pigurang matagal na n'yang hindi nakita na nakatayo sa may pintuan, may hawak na mamahaling puting sungkod.
He was definitely dumbstruck as he stood up from his seat, lips were parted in shock while staring at that person. “Tri… Trinity.”
She smiled at her. “Hello, yeobo. It’s been awhile.”

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To be continued…