THE DIVINE ENCOUNTER

Chapter 17:FIRST ATTEMPT

Chapter 17:FIRST ATTEMPT

ROWOON

Nasa loob na ako ng aking sasakyan ng ilagay ko ang address ni Jam sa Waze para mas madali na sa akin tuntunin ang kinaroonan niya."Umm.. langya lapit lang pala dito bahay ni Jam? bakit ganon parang ang layo last time ng inikot ko." staring at the road in front of the cafe.

"Teka, naalala ko kapitbahay pala niya si Joseph?" I stop for seconds and talking again to myself.

"No way baka maglakad na naman ako like yesterday kaya 10 minutes lang andon na ako. It can't be"

"Teka tutuloy pa ba ako or next time na?"

I froze for seconds thinking, "do I walk again to that crazy alley?"

"Wag nalang kaya ako tumuuloy."

"bahala na!"

I started to follow the waze, it turns out that it is different last sunday. I saw the gate of Villa Veronica in the Arc and saw the guardhouse.

"Oh, meron naman palang gate at official security ang village na ito why did we walk from that place yesterday. What happened?"

Huminto ako for about 5 meters from the gate.

"Teka next time nalang kaya? Hindi pa ako ready. Natatakot ako."

I was thinking for 10 minutes before deciding to continue.

I stopped at the guardhouse, opened my window, and smiled.

The guards smiled at me and said, "Sir saan po sila?"

"Ahh, sa house ni Jamila Kay Lopez?" asking somehow so that they can point to Jam's house.

"Sir hindi pa namin nakita si Ms. Kay na dumaan, nasa work pa po ata ngayon, usually dumarating yun mga 10pm or 11pm." sagot ni guard na confused.

"Ahh I see. Can I go in and wait for her in her house?" I ask politely

"Hindi po Sir, bilin po niya na kapag wala pa siya ayaw niya pong may mag aantay po sa kanya sa labas ng bahay niya, tumawag nalang po kayo sa kanya kung kailangan niya po siyang makita." sabay kamot ng ulo si manong guard.

Pinakita ko kay manong ang bag, "Manong, andito kasi sakin yung bag niya. Yung cellphone niya andito din sa loob ng bag niya lahat ng important things niya."

"Ganito na lang Sir antayin n'yo na lang po siya dito sa loob sa may visitor's parking space." itinuro ni manong ang two blocks na parking space.

"Okay sige manong, pero ganito po ah wag niyo po ako ituro kapag dumaan po siya. Please don't tell her also someone is waiting for her para hindi po siya matakot okay. Lapitan niyo nalang po ako kapag nakalayo na siya dito."

"Okay Sir nakuha po namin." Sumagot ang mga guards.

"Salamat po mga manong." sabay kindat.

Pumasok na ako sa parking lot, pinatay ko muna engine ng car ko. I took out my cell phone and started to call mom. She answered the call.

"Mom, ma-late lang po ako onte sa pag uwi. How's your day?"

"It's okay son, we've been looking for you since last Friday. We don't see you anymore." pag alala ni mommy sa kabilang line.

"Mom, I'm alright nothing strange happened. How's dad and noona?"

"They are okay, dad it's already sleeping and I think Hannah also."

"Okay Mom, go to sleep, now. Don't wait for me anymore." Assuring her that I'm okay.

"That's great, son. See you then, take care." Mom's husky voice