OBSIDIAN ISSUE #2 : WOUNDED

FORTY SIX

I lost track of the time struggling to digest what I've just read. It may be a basic information, but it was impactive enough to birth speculations about the intent for my husband. Despite assuring myself that it was just a friend, but a teenager?

Sa pangalawang sulyap, nagtagal ang mga mata ko sa litrato. The photo that Cher took of the girl waiting in my office was vivid, almost high definiton, so we easily concluded that she's the exact same person in the photo from the link my friend had as well sent me.

"May bodyguards, Deirdre!" halos naghihisteryang bulong ni Cher, may bakas ding excitement. "Not that I mind dahil mga papabols naman. They're quite intimidating guarding such a sweet looking girl. And their sexy accent! Kaya alam mo? Manginig na sila. Single pa naman ako."

"Okay, Cher," I licked my drying lips. I took a few steps farther from them. "This should stay confidential until Angelov receives a word of it from me, okay? I know it's impossible since this person's identity is highly publicized. Pero wala naman sigurong nakakakilala sa kanya rito. Sinong bang nandiyan kasama mo? Is Evrose with you?"

"She's out meeting someone for her sunnies business line kaya ako lang mag-isa. So far, wala pa namang nakakatunog. Besides, the body guards are strategic enough to lay low. They only revealed themselves when I offered her a seat and a drink. Iyong isang body guard ang tumanggap, tsineck yata kung spiked yung inumin."

Pang-ilang buntong hininga ko na ito pero hindi pa rin napapanatag. I know there'only one way for this and that is to ask him. Though I'm not in a flap about her to him but the information I've just read online!

"Aren't we going to be in trouble for this, D? Pinaghintay natin ang isang... alam mo na," si Cher na kausap ko pa sa kabilang linya.

"Well, it's not that I can ask Angelov to fly post-haste back there to serve her request. I don't know yet, pero makakarating 'to sa kanya." A swift coursing thought pushed my brows together. "It just beats me why she chose to pop in my office when she could've just went straight to Angelov's brother's suite where he stayed the last time." I thought outloud.

"They're probably close acquaintances," Cher surmised. "Maybe he talked to her about you. Kaya kung asawa mo ang sadya, baka may impormasyon na talaga siya sa 'yo beforehand. She most likley thought he could be found anywhere around your work place."

I'm not convinced.

"If they're close acquaintances, which for me is still unlikely basing their age, she would be notified by Angelov that he's not there in Manila," I voiced.

"Then we have no options left for this, Deirdre, but to ask your husband. Nasaan ka ba? Are you with him?"

Mabigat na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ko nang binalingan silang tatlo sa boutique, nagbabayad na ng pinamili. My eyes rounded seeing the tall heap of clothes in the counter! Is that for the three of them or for Dorcas alone?

Lifting my gaze at the boutique name, I came to find out it was from a prominent designer brand. Naalala ko ang kaparehong brand na laging nireregalo nina Cher at lalung-lalo na ni Evrose sa mga bata tuwing Pasko.

"Yeah..." wala na sa sarili habang dinahandahan na ang paglapit sa boutique kahit huli na para pigilan sila. "I'm with him. With the kids."

"Oh, amiga. I feel bad for calling at the wrong time. I'm sorry--"

"It's not your fault, Cher," I assured rightaway hearing my confidant's genuine regret. "I'm glad you called me for this. I will tell Angelov then I'll call you back, okay?"

"Hmm," she let out a contrite sigh. "Enjoy kayo diyan. Ako muna bahala rito. I'll keep these papacitos occupied for the mean time."

"Aren't you going to be busy?"