Fundamentals of Marriage | Suarez I

Chapter 39

"My seventh sense warned me about this."

Elias and the rest of his cousins who heard me dropped their jaws in synch. Like it was a part of a performance and all of them had to do it. While the man in front of me just stares at me blankly, probably processing what I said.

"You're not lying to me, are you?" si Franco matapos ang matagal na pananahimik.

It didn't sound like he was happy about it and he was doubting me but this is not the right time for me to get mad. His reaction is understandable after all.

"I-I knew you won't like it but d-don't worry, I'm not d-demanding you to be a father to her just please... h-help me find her. Let's find our daughter, Franco."

"What the fuck, Era," he cursed. He's stopping himself from yelling. He vented all his emotions to his eyes, dahilan kung bakit dinaluhan niya ako sa pagluha.

"Please... s-she doesn't know how to swim. S-She can't save herself," I cried, grasping his shirt now with my trembling hands. "You can get mad at me all you want. F-For what I did and everything. I can't lose Felize. We need to find her."

Tears made his eyes blurry. In one exhale of frustration, he buried those tears and nodded. I felt relief when he took my hand. He wrapped me with his blazer. "Calm down. You won't be able to breathe in your state."

But he's crying too. Guilt visited me, seeing that I'm hurting him again.

"I-I'm fine. It's nothing bad. L-Let's just go and find her. W-We need to hurry." Kanina pa ako binabagabag ng mga pwedeng mangyari. I can't breathe, my thoughts is drowning me.

"Stay here, Era. I promise I won't go back without her. I'll find our daughter." He buttoned his blazer on me and held both sides of my arms. "I will bring our baby back. Besides, you got a lot to explain to me."

I can feel nothing but assurance that our daughter will be safe because it's him. Franco never broke his promise, he never failed when he said he will. So I nodded, not minding the explanation he's demanding me.

"D-Don't stop searching until she's with you. Please."

He swallowed hard and turned his back as if it's his way of saying yes. Humarap siya sa mga pinsang hanggang ngayon ay nabigla sa nalaman.

"Chase, alert the Management. No one can leave and no one can check in. Walang makakauwi hanggang hindi nahahanap ang anak ko."

"I'll leave to do that now." Tinakbo ng lalaki ang daan patungong hotel.

"How about the employees, Franco? Should we let them go first? It's an hour and a half before the flight."

"I said no one can leave until I find my child. I can pay to compensate. We can buy tickets for everyone tomorrow."

"The team is here. You should go. We'll search here. She could be just walking around."

"How about Kai? Kararating niya lang kanina pero hindi ko pa nakikita. I can't contact him. He must've not brought his phone with him."

"Baka umalis. Hindi naman natin siya kasamang uuwi ngayon. He'll give no help anyway."

"Maghiwa-hiwalay kayo. Go in partners," ani Franco. "Maiwan ang isa."

"Should I stay?" si Elias.

"Stay here," Franco said and glanced at me. "Watch for my woman. I will be back in no time," he added without looking away.

"Copy, Daddy."

They talk to him like he's the boss and no one can complain or go against him. His authority always scares me but I never know if it works for the people he grew up with.