Versailles Series Book 8: The Designer [COMPLETED]

PART I: CHAPTER 15

~ philip ~

I opened my eyes and stretched out. I am about to go out for my run when I read Grazie's chat. She got home safely. We have a 12-hour difference from here in Boston. I woke up late at 8 am which meant she got home around 7:30 pm.

"Have dinner, my love. I'll talk to you when I get back from running."

I ran for a good two hours before returning to the dorm. She hasn't read or answered my message. She's probably reviewing. I don't disturb her when she's reviewing, which she does. That's why she isn't replying to me.

My whole day in school went by without anything happening. When I got home by 7 pm, she should have messaged me already but still nothing from her. I tried calling her through the chat and her mobile to no avail. Is she that busy? After grabbing a quick dinner with Damon, I settled down in my bed to review some lectures when my phone rang. I saw Manang Ising's name.

"Hello Manang! You miss me already?" Masayang tanong ko rito. Kahit sabihin na mayordoma namin ito sa mansyon ay malapit ako rito na parang anak ako nito. Minsan tumatawag ito sa akin para mangumusta.

"Philip..." Nanginginig ang boses nito na parang galing lang sa kakaiyak.

Nawala ang ngiti ko sa tono nito. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa telepono. Sinalakay ng kaba ang dibdib ko. Lolo Lito is here in the US so its probably another matter. "Manang? What's the matter?"

"Si Grazhiella. Tumawag ang lola niya. Hindi pa raw siya nakakauwi mula kagabi."

Napatayo ako. "What? But she messaged me that she got home yesterday." I was already frantic, borderline panicking.

"Sabi ng Lola niya ay hindi raw dumating kagabi. Wala rin paalam. Hindi rin namin matawagan ang telepono niya. Naku, Diyos ko." I can imagine her pacing around already.

"Have you asked the police for help?" That's the first thing you should do right?

"Dapat daw 24 hours na nawawala bago nila i-report na missing." I get that but what if the missing person is on the brink of fucking death?

"Fuck! I'll book a flight home right now." I opened my laptop and searched for flights.

"Ayaw mo bang mag-antay muna, Philip? Baka nakitulog lang o kaya na-lowbat?"

Bumuntong-hininga ako. "She told me she got home last night. But okay, fine. I'll book the earliest one whether she's found or not on the 24th hour mark."

"Sige, Philip."

"Manang, please keep me updated." I don't care if I sounded desperate or if I sounded like I was about to cry. My fucking girlfriend is missing.

So I sat at my desk and booked the earliest flight home which was in two days. Fuck it if it's the economy. I need to get home fast. Doon ko lang namalayan na nanginginig ang mga kamay ko. Binasa ko ang huling chat niya sa akin. She said she was home. Where could she be?

There were several call attempts after that but of course, she won't answer. I wish she would. I suddenly missed her voice. Napasabunot ako sa buhok ko. Where the fuck could she be?

Sleep evaded me that night. Still no update from Manang. The 24 hours passed, then another, then another. My flight has been delayed due to a typhoon that's currently in my destination country. It worried me more that I almost flew the plane myself if I had to. Until I landed in the Philippines, she still hadn't been found...

"Lola Lu?" Una akong pumunta sa bahay nila.

I saw her sitting on the sofa. Hopelessness was on her face. She looked like she lacked sleep and food. It worried me because she was old and now she looked frail. We probably looked the same. How can we look alive if we don't know where Grazhiella is?