One More Night

kabanata 22

Steve's PoV

Its been days. But I didnt see Ellaine. Hindi siya nagpunta kina Yohan. Tita Veronica said na may emergency daw sa bahay nila.

I hope she's okay. I hope they are all fine whatever that emergency is.

"Hae Jun." napalingon ako. Its eomma. And she still loves to call me Hae Jun. Syempre, totoong pangalan ko yon e.

May dala siyang box. At nang makalapit sa akin ay ibinigay niya naman iyon. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang laman nito. Tatanungin ko sana pero siya na ang nagsabi.

"Mga libro ito. You told me once that you want to visit that orphanage again, diba? Kaya ito. Napadaan kasi ako sa book store last time. And maybe, kids will be happy if they receive this." she said.

"Thank you very much, ma."

Naalala ko ang ampunan dahil sa sinabi ni mama, at sa dala niyang regalo para sa mga bata. And it made me happy. Napaka busy ko na talaga siguro dahil hindi ko na sila napuntahan.

Well, Ford always handle my out of the country meetings but I'm still a busy man.

And I remembered her again. Sa ilang mga araw na naming magkakilala ni Ellaine, I already know that this is denifitely what Av said. I like someone. It is not just a mere attraction. It is like. And that someone I like is her, Ellaine.

Sayang lang at wala siya kahapon. Hindi tuloy namin nagawa ang iba pa niyang gustong gawin. Pero, may next time pa naman e.

Kinuha ko kay mama ang box. I will put it inside the car. I was just taking few steps pero nag ring ang phone ko. Kiel texted me. I read the message and it suddenly broke my heart.

"Please come here bro. Ford needs us. They're all dead." -Kiel.

Who? They? No. No, mind. Hindi sila yon. It cant be.

"뭐가 잘못 됐니?" mwoga jal mot dwaetni? What's wrong?

Hindi ako nakasagot kaagad. Kasi, unti unting nilalamon ng kaba ang dibdib ko. Hindi ako mapakali. Kiel just texted that 'they're all dead'. But the question is that... Who? Sinong patay na?

And why did he used they and all?

"Ma, I have to go. I'll get this books later, okay?"

And mom nod. She kissed me in my forehead. "Okay, son. Take care."

"I will."

Matapos kong magpaalam ay agad ko nang binuhay ang makina ng aking sasakyan, at pinaharurot ito. Minutes passed and I received a text message from Kiel. He texted me where are they now. Kaya nagmadali na ako.

Kasi, I want to know if what really happened.

"WE WILL INFORM YOU kung mayroon na kaming bagong nakuhang mga ebidensya." I just heard that from a police officer. It is not so loud, but I can hear it.

Nandito na ako ngayon sa  ospital. And I'm with them. Hindi ko akalain na ganitong klaseng balita ang madadatnan ko. And it totally broke my heart, from pieces to crumbs.

The sisters that I already treated as a family, and all the children that has already a big space in my heart, na hindi ko na nabisita ay biglaan na lang naglaho. I cant accept.

Hindi ko talaga alam na ganitong klase pala ng balita ang sasalubong sa akin pagdating ko rito sa ospital. It really shocked me.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang labis sakit ja dulot nito sa akin. I cried. Because it hurts a lot. Even Kiel, he's also crying.

And then, I just feel a hug. And its from Ford. He gave us a hug. Dahil doon, mas lalo pa akong naging emotional.

Seeing Dragon, he is only silent. He's not crying but we all know that he also feel what we feel right now. Nakayuko lang siya, at kanina pa hindi nagsasalita. He's very very silent.

And I'm too worried. In that kind of attitude, he's not kind. At ilang tapik lang siguro sa kanya at lalabas ang tinatago niyang sobrang galit.

And I'm scared. I already saw how he looks like when he's mad. And I'm afraid because I might see it here, again.

"It's supposed to be Lino's birthday today and I want to surprise him. Pero ito ang nadatnan ko. I will adopt him today, pero iniwan na niya ako." Kiel said.

Lino, I remembered. He is the child na talagang gusto nang ampunin ni Kiel.

Mas nadagdagan pa ang lungkot na naramdaman ko dahil sa sobrang pag iyak niya. He also has the weakest heart from the four of us. Syempre, bunso siya sa aming apat e.

"Ang tagal ko na silang hindi nakikita, pero kung kailan ko sila bibisitahin, ngayon pa sila mawawala." I said as I wiped my tears and force myself not to cry, but I can't. I really cant.

Naalala ko si eomma. She even want to give that books to them. Napakasaya ko pa kanina because I will visit them all again and have some time together lalo na at medyo hindi ako busy.

Pero, ito ang naabutan ko.

Kaya ngayon, they already decided na i-cancel muna ang lahat ng mga schedules namin for now. I dont know if kailan ulit kami makakabalik sa work.

Pero, sino ang nagtangka sa buhay nila?
Mga wala silang puso! Mga halang ang kaluluwa!

Its really painful. Feels like a big space om my heart was hammered. Napakasakit. I even cant find the reason why those masterminds killed them.

Now, all those happy moments will now only be a memory.

I'm already missing the sisters. Sina sister Mary, sister Soli and sister Mercy. And all the children in the orphanage.

Why did you all leave? Why? You left us, with teary eyes, broken hearts, and with big questions in our minds.

Ngayon, hindi ko alam kung bakit nangyari ito. But I'm sure that we'll all find the truth behind this merciless crime.

And I'm sure, that they will pay for what they have done.