Searching the Light

PROLOGUE

I turned my swivel chair back to the glass window while holding a glass of brandy. Silently, I roam my eyes outside, everything is black but a little shed of light from the moon is evident. I've been letting out sighs from time to time. Medyo malapit ang hotel na tinutuluyan ko sa dagat, kaya walang masyadong maaninag na ilaw galing sa syudad. I gave out a curse when a noise from my phone filled the room. Inabot ko ito sa lamesa at sinagot ang tawag.

"What, Kuya?"

"You've been travelling places for months now. Singapore, huh? I wasn't informed that you left the court for that." panunuyang sagot niya saakin. Tumahimik lang ako.

"Hindi ka ba uuwi? I told you I can help you manage the company! Walang silbi ang pinag-aralan mo ng biz kung hindi mo gagamitin, Kylo!" 

Kinuyom ko ang kamao dahil sa iritasyon na nararamdaman. Sabi ko na nga ba't hindi ko na dapat sinagot ang tawag dahil mapupunta na naman dito ang pag-uusapan.

"Hindi ko nga gusto 'yon, Kuya. I already told Dad I wanted out of it and I surely know you'll handle it well even without my presence. Why do you keep on dragging me in to that?"

I heard a cursed from him. "I'm not dragging you into this, Kylo. This is a fucking family business!"

Huminga ako nang malalim para kumalma. I do understand where he's coming from, in fact I know I also have responsibilities as a son, but I think I couldn't just do it for now. Magsasalita pa sana ako nang bigla ulit siyang nagsalita.

"Oh by the way, I heard from Uno that Jared had a warrant of arrest for sexual harassment and drugs, matagal mo nang minamanmanan 'yon hindi ba ngunit laging may lusot dahil sa ama....." 

Napaayos ako sa pagkaka-upo sa sinabi niya at hinihintay ang susunod na sasabihin.

"What a great news to finally be home, huh?" 

Fuck! Umiling ako habang dismayado dahil aminadong alam niya kung saan ako dapat tutukan.

"What do you want?" I finally offered.

"Wala. I just want you home and be part of this business, Mavi. Hindi ko pinakialaman ang prospesyon mo so stop being a pain in the ass."

I let out a heavy sigh, "Alright, then."

"See you, little brother." mapang-asar na sabi niya bago ibaba ang tawag.

After the call, I immediately booked a flight back to the Manila. Sumandal ako sa swivel chair at iniisip na ang mga pwedeng gawin at posibleng mangyari pagbalik ko. Ibinaling ko ang tingin sa orasan na nasa dingding at tumayo para dumungaw kung may tao pa ba sa pool ng hotel kung nasaan ako. I see no one so I decided to go down and take a dip to let out some steam. Inilubog ko ang sarili sa malalim na parte ng pool, hindi iginalaw ang katawan at hinayaan lang ang sarili sa tubig. Wala pang ilang minuto ay naramdaman ko ang mga kamay na humawak sa braso ko para umangat. The hell? Napaahon ako, hinawi ang buhok at ihinilamos ang kamay sa mukha dahil sa tubig.

"Are you okay?" a lady asked while looking at me worriedly.

Our faces are close to each other that a slightest move we make may turn in to a mistake, so I decided to slowly push back my head. Kunot noo ko siyang tiningnan dahil nagtataka at lito sa ginawa niya.

"Ano bang ginagawa mo? Marunong ka bang lumangoy? Shit, ba't ba ako nagtatagalog hindi ko naman alam kung Pilipino 'to." she continuously asked me but ended up whispering the last sentence. May be she realized she's in a foreign country that's why. 

I hid a smile as I look at her, not even minding to say I'm a Filipino too.

She again looked at me and asked, "I mean, do you know how to swim? Or are you even with someone?" while holding my arms tight.

Pinagmasdan ko siya bago sagutin. She's still in her ponytail and is wearing a shirt on. Did she jump out thinking I'm drowning? Pinigil ko ang paglabas ng tawa dahil nakatitig pa rin siya saakin na tila ba naghihintay ng sagot.

"Sorry, I think you're mistaken, I'm taking a dip here." 

In a blink of an eye, she withdraw her hands and pushed me away– creating a space, after realizing what I've said. I observed what she'll do next and noticed a blush on her tan skin. I lick my lower lip and let out a chuckle.

"I'm sorry! I thought you were drowning or what, you were not moving so I assume-- uh, sorry I didn't mean to disturb you!" she panickily explain. 

I nodded. I don't mind what she did though, I mean if I was really drowning a while ago then I should thank her for saving me.

Iniiwas niya ang tingin saakin at tila nangangapa pa sa sasabihin. Magsasalita pa sana ako para sabihing ayos lang talaga at hindi niya ako naistorbo ngunit nakita ko ang mabalisan niyang pag-agyat at agad kinuha ang kinakain.

A cup of ice cream. Wow.

Still in the pool, I followed her rushing over the exit while her loose white shirt is still wet making her black bikini visible, along with the water still dripping from it, hindi niya ata alintana iyon dahil sa hiya. Hapit ang basang damit sa kanyang katawan kaya naman bakat ang hugis ng katawan. I shook my head before finally swimming towards the deeper part of the pool.

I stayed in the pool for almost an hour just in silence to clear up my mind from everything. When I felt a cold caress, I decided to get myself out but before I can do that, something shiny caught my eyes in the pool. Sa kuryosisdad ay nilangoy ko ang parting iyon at sinisid para kunin kung ano man ito. 

It's a solitaire diamond necklace and a W.Y was engraved at the back of it.