OPERATION: Finding My Lost Fiancee

PART 5

"Ew! This is gross!" Thaniah complains as she make her way to the mirror. "Ang pangit ko na tuloy."

"Who said you're pretty?" I asked—teasing.

"Ang pangit mo kabonding kahit kailan. Mas lalo ka pang pumangit sa suot mong 'yan. Kung ano-ano pa kasing ginagawa eh pinag bawalan na nga tayo ng Aqua the kidnapper na 'yon!" umiirap na sabi niya sa'kin habang padabog na sinusuot ang mumurahing slippers na binigay ko sa kan'ya kanina.

Hindi na 'ko magugulat sa inkasta niya ngayon. Maarte talaga siya. I already expected her to complain...all day.

"You can stay and work with my dad if you want. Sino ba kasing nagsabi na sumama ka ha?"

"Pake mo ba? Eh sa gusto ko. And your dad has his own secretary. Baka masabunutan ko pa 'yong feelingerang secretary niya, eh mas maganda naman ako sa kan'ya. Ang pinagka-iba lang namin, may manliligaw siya—ako wala!"

"Aww! Poor you." Tinapik-tapik ko ang balikat niya...kawawa naman kasi talaga~nahiya na tuloy akong single since birth. I'm not interested anyway, tch!

"Let's go. We'll be walking." I make my way first 'cause I know I'll be hearing her irritating voice while complaining nonstop.

I decided to go back there, the squatters area, wearing clothes like them. Simple clothes, slippers, no perfume, no make up for Thaniah, no transportation, but with extra money for emergency. I decided to bring our cellphones with us and hide it with assurance. Maybe Aqua won't be mad at us if we dress like them. I just hope.

'Iviohne, wherever you are—just show yourself now. And if ever you're already dead, let us know—let me know. Just touch my hair, Iviohne. Once I feel your presence, I will definitely stop finding you.'

Agad na nagsitaasan ang balahibo ko no'ng naramdaman kong gumalaw ang buhok ko.

"I was just joking, Iviohne. 'Di ko naman akalaing seseryosohin mo pala." I whispered—almost trembling. Unti-unti akong tumingin sa likod ko at...

"AAAAAHHHHHH!"

"WAAAAAHHH!"

"Damn you, Thaniah! You almost scare the hell out of me!"

"You, idiot! Ikaw nga 'tong kinakausap ang sarili! May pa Iviohne, Iviohne ka pang nalalaman!" Sinabunutan niya 'ko! "Idiot! Why'd you left me there?!"

I can't manage to speak, still trembling in shock. A-akala ko...aish!

Hindi ako nagsasalita habang naglakad kami 'cause I'm still shocked—hindi maka move on! Tch! Silly to hear.

No trace of Aqua and her company when we came here. Ine-expect kong aabangan nila kami ngayon kasi nga alam niyang babalik at babalik kami rito sa lugar nila.

Tuluyan kaming naglakad ni Thaniah, ramdan ko ang mga kamay niyang naka angkla sa braso ko.

"I think Aqua is damn right. Umalis na Tayo, Skyler. Mukha pa lang nila parang papatay na eh!"

"Shh! They might hear you." Tumahimik agad siya.

The thought of wearing clothes like them is kinda failed. Is this the sign that I'll give up finding for my lost fiancee? I'm running out of choice, but all I want now is to escape from these drunk men infront of us. I'm taller than them, younger and stronger. I know I can beat them one by one but I don't want to make scandal here.

"To the right," I whispered and she nodded. "One...two...there, RUUUUUUUUUN!" Tumakbo kami nang tumakbo nang 'di lumilingin sa likod namin, it gives distraction.

Suddenly, I felt a palm covered my mouth and pulled me somewhere. Sinubukan kong lumingon sa likod ko para tignan si Thaniah pero nawala siya.

Where is she?

Humigpit lalo ang pagtakip ng kung sino man sa bunganga ko. Mas matangkad ako sa kan'ya dahil hanggang tenga ko lang siya. Tumigil kami sa isang eskinita at kita ko ang unti-unting paglitaw ng mukha niya no'ng alisin niya ang face mask niya.

"Aqua..."

"Shh! Tarantado kayo, ang kukulit!" Napapabuga na siya ng hangin ngayon. She's right, bawal kami rito. 'Pag nagkataong naabutan kami ng mga lasing na 'yon, hindi ko na alam kung makalalabas pa kami nang buhay rito. Maybe we should stop?

"Sorry, I just need to find her as soon as possible."

"At sigurado ka talagang mahahanap mo 'yang hinahanap mo rito? Kasi kung oo, tutulungan namin kayo. Kung hindi, ako pa mismo ang kakaladkad sa inyong dalawa paalis dito sa'min."

"I'm not sure but—"

"Eh 'di ka pala sure, alis na kayo."

"No, damn it! I can feel that she's here so I must find her!"

"Putanginamo! Huwag mo 'kong sigawan!"

"Tch!"

"Boss mo ako ngayon. Pati 'yong maarte mong kasama, boss niya rin ako ngayon."

"Wait, what?! Why would I treat you as my boss?"

"Kasasabi ko lang kanina, kung sigurado kang dito mo siya mahahanap, tutulungan namin kayo. Matutulungan lang kita 'pag tinuring mo na 'kong boss slash, master Aqi mo. Gets mo ha?!"

Uh? "Oo. Gets. Tch!"

"Tara na, hinahanap na nila tayo." Nauna siyang naglakad at may napansin akong mali. Sumunod ako sa kan'ya habang sinusuri ang likod ng katawan niya...

"Wala ka palang p'wet?" I quickly covered my mouth when I realized what I said.

Masama siyang tumingin sa'kin, "Bastos! Wala kang pake kung flat ako ha! At bakit ka tumitingin sa p'wet ko? Gusto mo bang masapak?"

"Chill, I just came up with a conclusion that's why I said that."

"Conclusion, conclusion, pwe! 'Wag mo ng tangkaing tignan ang hinaharap ko dahil wala kang makikita, punyetang 'to!"

"Hinaharaop? As in your future? Nah, I won't. I'm not a seer."

"Gago! Isa kang manyakis na bobo!"

"You called me what?!"

"Bingi pa!" At nauna ng naglakad.

"Hey wait! I don't get what you mean! 'Pag nalaman ko talaga ang meaning ng hinaharap na sinabi mo, titignan ko talaga!"

She growled, "Boboooo!" and I don't like the sound of that.