My Lost and Found Love

Chapter 3 (Lokey is Waiting)

"Sir Lukass?"

Tila nagising sa panaginip si Lokey dahil sa boses na iyon. Maingat na ibinababa niya ang picture frame at ibinaling ang tingin sa nagsalita. It was Cecilia, his secretary.

"Pasensiya na Sir sa pagpasok ko. Nag-alala ho kasi ako ng hindi kayo sumasagot sa mga katok at tawag ko sa labas ng office ninyo," hinging paumanhin nito.

Tumango siya. "It's okay, Ms. Galvez. Anyway, may problema ba?"

"Eh sir, ang papa ho ninyo, tumawag kanina. Ibinilin niya na tumawag kayo sa kanya after ng meeting ninyo with the clients. Urgent daw po, Sir," imporma nito sa kanya.

Tumango na lamang siya at hindi na sumagot. Matapos niyo'y nagpaalam na ito.

Ang pamilya Hermosa ay ang nagmamay-ari ng Herms Hotel na sikat sa buong Pilipinas. Itinayo ito ng lolo niyang dating sundalo at ipinamana sa ama niya. And now, he embraced his duty as the sole heir after Kairie left.

Hindi niya talaga gusto ang magpatakbo ng isang negosyo, lalo pa't ganito kalaki ang business at ipinamana pa sa kanya. Ang ginagawa niya noon ay ang pagbabanda at pakikipagkarera. Simula pa lamang ng kolehiyo siya ay rebelde na siya. Hindi suportado ng mga magulang niya ang pangarap niyang maging musician at drag racer. For them, both are just hobbies and waste of time. Nag-aalala rin ng husto ang mga ito dahil delikado ang gusto niyang sports. They didn't understand how he really love music, and how much joy and excitement racing gives him. Only Kairie supported him that time. Ito lamang ang nag-iisang taong hindi minaliit ang pangarap niya. She was his best gift he ever received from heaven. That is why he just can't let go from the past and forget her. Their memories is what makes him going and fighting.

Nang maglaho ito, tila naglaho na rin ang dating siya. The cheerful guy people used to know became serious, quiet and cold. Simula ng mawala ito ay tumigil na siya sa pagtugtog at iniwan ang banda niya. He used to be the vocalist and bassist in their band. Simula rin noon ay hindi na siya humawak pa ng gitara. He stopped doing his favorite dangerous sport. He stopped doing everything he used to do because of her. It seemed like his world stop revolving. Dahil para sa kanya, naging parte si Kairie sa lahat ng mga kinasanayan niyang gawin. Kaya hindi niya na kayang ibalik ang dating sarili ngayong wala ito.

Naalala pa niya kung gaanong nagulat ang kanyang mga magulang ng sabihin niyang gusto niyang pumasok sa kumpanya nila. He remembered the exact question his father asked him. "Why, anak? Are you now ready to let go and start your new life.. without Kairielyn?"

His heart stopped beating. Matigas ang naging pag-iling niya. "No, dad. I'm not going to let go. I know someday, Kai will be back. I just have to find a way to ease the pain while waiting. And I tought working in our company would be of great help."

He sighed when he thought about the conversation he had with his father. Hindi ito umimik sa sinabi niya noon at hinayaan siyang maging parte ng kumpanya. At heto nga, Vice-president na siya ng kanilang kumpanya. Isinubsob niya ang sarili sa trabaho hindi upang makalimutan si Kairie, kundi upang kayanin niya ang sakit habang naghihintay.

His eyes became misty and his breathing became heavy at the thought of it. He's been carrying this agony for two years, and he doesn't know if he can still hold on. Dalawang taon na ang nakalipas at hindi pa rin natagpuan si Kairie. Not even her personal stuffs were found inside her car or outside the incident. Kaya naman nagduda na siya noon pa man na namatay talaga si Kairie. His theory was that somehow, she made it to escape from the car before it burns and called for help. Pero nasuyod na nila ang mga kalapit na barangay sa pinangyarihan ng aksidente ngunit walang senyales na naroon ito.

Huminga siya ng malalim at iwinaksi muna sa isip si Kairie. Inayos niya ang kanyang mga gamit at naghanda sa pag-alis. He glanced at his wristwatch. It was only 9 o'clock in the morning. Mamayang seven o'clock pm ang dinner meeting niya sa kliyente niya. Tumayo na siya at naghanda sa pagpunta ng Baguio.

He looked again at Kairie's photograph displayed in his table. Tila biglang narinig niya ang pangako nila sa isa't-isa noon. Ito pa ang nagsabi sa kanyang walang iwanan.

"We already had each other since we were young, and so it must be a rule that we won't leave each other alone, Lokey. That should be a pinky promise, okay?"

With a heavy heart, he sighed and pinched his eyes to stop the tears starting to fall. You broke our golden rule, Kai. But if you do come back, I'll still be here. I just hope you do it real quick, because I think I'm going to break down and die with a heartache soon..