"And just like that, she vanished into thin air."
Umigting ang panga ni Josh dahil sa narinig sa kanyang pinsan.
"Bakit mo hinayaang makatakas ang mag-ina ko? Haven't I told you that they're in danger? They need my fucking protection!"
Felix held up both of his hands as a sign of surrender.
"Chill, man, hindi ko naman sinasadya iyon. Malay ko bang gagawin niya iyon pagkatalikod na pagkatalikod ko." Kibit balikat nitong sabi.
Joshua Gonzales firmly shut his eyes as his frustration and annoyance towards his cousin grows bolder. Hindi ba pumasok sa kokote nito na Claire will most likely attempt to escape from him again dahil natunton na nito kung nasaan talaga ito? Felix introducing himself to his wife, mentioning the surname Gonzales, 'di ba nito naisip na pwedeng maghinala ang babae?
"Bakit ba hindi ka nagdala ng mga tauhan mo?", inis niyang tanong.
"Have you forgotten how strict the Tiburcias are? Sa tingin mo papayag ang mga 'yon magpapasok ng mga tauhan mong may masamang pakay?", Felix scoffed before sipping on his wine. "You know how they hate the immorality of humans... of us. Mas gugustuhin nilang tumagal ng ilang taon ang paghahanap mo kay Claire kaysa mag-hire sila ng private investigators. They are crazy about human rights, and we cannot violate their beliefs and laws."
If only he was there with Felix. Siguradong wala ng takas pa si Claire sa kanya. Humigpit ang hawak ni Josh sa doorknob. The memory of him and Felix conversing about Claire's disappearance never left his mind. He felt a constricting pain in his heart as Josh shut his eyes firmly.
It has been months since she got away again. Paulit-ulit na lang itong nakakawala sa kanila. Sasha is too cunning for their league. Josh could not believe how childish Jake's aunt can get. Kung hindi lang nito pina-photoshop ang picture ni Marni at Claire, hindi sana maliliko ang mga hinala nila.
Matagal ng nasa isip ni Josh na pwedeng sa Tiburcia lang namamalagi si Claire. After all, it is the nearest city that she could escape to. Alam niyang ilang beses ng lumabas ng isla si Claire simula nung umalis ito sa poder nila. And everytime their men are close to locating his wife, maaabutan na lang nilang walang nakatira sa bahay na itinuro sa kanila ng mga witnesses.
Sasha was smart for bringing the ring to England. Kahit naiwan ni Claire ang halos lahat ng gamit niya sa Ignacio Manor, it's not impossible for Sasha to hire someone who could immediately create a fake passport, ID, and Social Security number for Claire. But Joshua Gonzales knows how much Sasha values her citizenship in UK.
Mahigpit ang bansang iyon, oras na malaman ng Embassy na illegal na nakapasok si Claire sa bansa, it will only take the country a few minutes to pinpoint who let his wife sneak in without proper assessments. After all, Sasha is no longer with the Ignacios. They cannot backup nor defend her, dahil pinili niyang iwanan ang sariling angkan.
Ilang buwan ng nasa isip ni Josh ang kanyang theory na ito because Jake had told him himself of where Claire might be. And his husband was right. Nasa Tiburcia nga ito, at katulad noon, isang abandonadong bahay ang laging naaabutan ng kanilang mga tauhan. Claire can only shelter herself in Amparo Island safely because it has strict laws. Each city has its own rules and laws. One family cannot defy the other, and to prevent Civil War from happening, they must obey each other. At iyon na sitwasyon na 'yon ang nagpapahirap sa kanilang mag-asawa para makuha ang kanilang mag-ina.
"What are we going to do?", nalingon ni Josh ang asawa. Nakatayo ito sa tapat ng bintana habang nakahalukipkip dito sa opisina sa kwarto. Jake's sad voice says it all.
Halatang problemado ito. Idagdag pang matagal na itong nangungulila sa kanilang asawa.
Kakauwi pa lang ni Josh galing opisina matapos nilang mag-usap ni Felix. Ilang buwan na naman ang lumipas. Halos mag-iisang taon na naman ang dumaan matapos ni Claire matakasan ang pinsan niya... hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ito nakakabalik sa kanila.
BINABASA MO ANG
Trieja: Jake And Josh [Under Revision]
Художественная прозаSiya si Claire Agustin, nagtatrabaho bilang nurse sa isang ospital at may dalawang kaibigan na nagngangalang Jake at Josh. Sila nga ata ang pumalit sa Hollywood actor na gumanap bilang Drake and Josh, pero mas gwapo itong dalawang kaibigan niya ng i...