The Person I Once Loved

PROLOGUE

HIS

"Make sure you'll do it by today because I need it now! Maybe if you'll do your job better we will have no problem!"

I can't help but shout to my Head of Finance. The financial report is not accurate and I think there's a fraud that's happening in my company.

"If there's a fraud that's happening in this company, give them a notice that I will haunt them down."

"Yes, sir." Lumabas na siya at pagtingin ko sa pinto, papasok na si Miguel. Miguel greeted him and patted his back.

Nilagay niya sa magkabilang bulsa niya yung mga kamay niya bago tumingin sakin at ngumiti.

"Bro, you gotta chill. If sisigawan mo lahat ng emplayado mo, might as well do all of it on your own."

Umupo na ako sa swivel chair ko bago hilutin yung noo ko.

"They should know better. I didn't hire them para magkamali sila sa trabaho nila." I sighed then sipped on my glass of rum.

"Isn't it too early for that?" tinuro niya yung hawak kong baso bago lumapit sakin at umupo sa may upuan sa front desk ko.

"You want some?"

"No, thanks."

"This helps me a lot, Miguel. Just let me."

"The chairman will be here tomorrow and if he'll see you like that, might as well say goodbye to your position as the President of this company."

"I didn't want this in the first place. Look what I've got when they gave me this fucking position."

"What do you got?"

"I got nothing because I lost everything. I lost her and now I don't even know where she is. It's been three years, Miguel."

"You said that it's been three years. I think it's time for you to move on."

I shook my head, clearly disagreeing with what he just said.

"No, Miguel. I promised that I will see her soon. I fucking promised."

"Make sure you'll contact me after you arrived."

Nakayakap siya sakin ngayon, and I feel like she doesn't want to let go.

I will go to the US because of my family. They want me to be there because of the problems our company is facing at the moment.

I kissed the top of her head before I let go of her. I touched her cheek and tucked a strand of her hair to her ear.

"I will. Make sure you'll take care of yourself, okay?"

"You too. I will miss you so much, Kiefer."

"I will miss you too, babe. See you soon."

"I'll see you soon, I promise."

And that's the last day I've seen her.

"The private investigator can't find anything. You went to Cebu for her but you still can't find her."

"So what are you trying to say?"

"I don't want to say it. It's for you to find out. But I really guess it's time to have a life."

"There's no life if I'm not with her."

"You really love her, do you?"

"I do."

"I have to go. I have work to do baka mapagalitan pa ako ng boss ko."

"Gago."

Umalis na siya at mag isa na lang ulit ako dito sa office ko. I will have a long day today since I have a lot of meetings to attend. Minsan nagpapakabusy na lang talaga ako para minsan hindi ko na siya maisip. But I felt like a fool and angry with myself whenever I tried to forget her because I couldn’t. She lives and will live in my mind and my heart forever.

I sighed before opening the drawer of my desk. I picked our last picture together and stared at it. Reminiscing all of the memories we had before all of these miserable things that happened to us.

I contacted the private investigator I hired in the Philippines to find her. I'm still not losing hope. She taught me how to always have faith and be strong despite the hard challenges I'm facing right now.

They still have no clue. The plan for me was to just stay here for a month but then I had to stay for another month. Her friend told me she's lost that's why I lost contact to her, so I did all I have to do and went back to the Philippines even if my grandfather was against it, even if it's a little too late.

Wala na akong pake, I just want to find her. I stayed for five months, but I didn't find her. She doesn’t have any family left so looking for her was really challenging. I had to go back to the US because of my grandfather. Now it's been three years since I last hugged and kissed her. I just want to see her again that's why I can't give up.

"Sir Kiefer." I looked up and saw my secretary at the door.

"Yes?"

"Someone's in line three, they said he has something important to tell you."

"Tell him to wait. I don't have time."

"He said it's important, sir."

"And what's important about him? I have a long day today I don’t want to waste my time over nothing.”

"He said it's about Alyssa Valdez, sir." My secretary told me.

My eyes got wide and I immediately grabbed the telephone to answer the call in line three.

"He--hello?" I'm stuttering because I'm nervous. This is the day I've been waiting for and it's finally here. Fuck, I'm so happy.

"Mr. Kiefer Ravena?"

"Yes. Who's this?"

"I’m Andrew Jacobs. I called to tell you about Alyssa Valdez.” He calmly said to me.

"Is it true?" I’m fidgeting and gusto ko na malaman kaagad kung totoo ba o hindi. I need to hear him say it to me.

"Yes, she's here in Sydney and staying with me. I'll send all the details and proof that it's her and please let me tell you the whole story once you got here."

“Can I talk to her?”

“You can’t. She is sleeping right now.”

"Okay, I'll be leaving here soon. Send me your contact number and info. I'll be there quickly. Thank you so much."

"No problem and please take it easy on her. See you soon." Napaisip ako kung ano gusto niya sabihin pero pinagsawalang bahala ko na lang muna dahil ang mahalaga sa akin ngayon ay makikita ko na siya ulit.

Mayayakap at mahahalikan ko na ulit siya. Fuck! This is really the moment I’ve been waiting for.

"See you soon," I told him before ending the call.

I'm coming home, Alyssa. I'm finally coming home.

-paglathala-