Chasing Sanity (Chase Series #1)

Chapter 44

Charlie did not expect to come home in an empty house.

Akala niya mananatili lang si Kelly sa bahay buong araw kaya minabuti niyang umuwi ng mas maaga para makasama niya ito. Pero kahit isang anino pala ay wala siyang madaratnan.

She didn't even text him that she went out.

Pero baka naman sumaglit lang si Kelly sa labas at uuwi rin agad kaya hindi na siya nagsabi.

He breathed out a sigh as he shrugged his thoughts away.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and decided to chat her, informing her that he was already home. He also told her that he noticed she was not home and did not forget to send the words 'I love you'.

Pagkatapos ay muli niyang ibinulsa ang cellphone niya at umakyat na sa kwarto nila upang makapagpalit na siya ng damit na pambahay.

He checked his phone after. And to his surprise, he did not receive a reply from her.

Nakapagtataka.

Hindi naman sila nag-away o nagkatampuhan ni Kelly. It's really unusual of her not to reply to his messages when they're okay.

Napaisip tuloy siya kung okay ba sila habang nakapako pa rin ang mga mata niya sa message thread nila ni Kelly. Pero sigurado naman siyang okay sila. She was even smiling at him when he left for work. Kaya hindi pwedeng may tampo siya sa kaniya.

He exhaled.

He decided to chat her again, this time asking her directly about how she was and where she was.

He waited for a reply.

Pero kagaya ng kanina, wala pa rin siyang natatanggap na reply mula sa kaniya. Ni seen nga'y wala.

And at that very moment, he felt his heart's rhythm become a little different. Ayaw naman niyang mag-overthink kaya nilabanan niya ang kakaibang nararamdaman niya.

Minabuti niyang tawagan na si Kelly.

It rang.

It kept on ringing.

Napahawak pa siya sa sintido niya habang hinihintay niyang sagutin ni Kelly ang tawag.

She didn't pick up.

He pressed the call button again. He was hoping that she'll answer this time, but just like the first try, he got no answer from her.

He paused for a second and began thinking.

Naisip niya agad na hindi lang nasasagot ni Kelly ang mga tawag niya kapag natutulog ito o kaya naman ay nakaligtaan na niyang may cellphone siya dahil nakatuon ang buong atensyon niya kay Monica.

Maybe she's busy with Monica.

So instead of calling her, he decided to call Paul instead. Ganoon naman ang laging ginagawa niya nitong mga nakaraang buwan.

And as usual, Paul instantly answered the phone.

"Hello, Charlie. Anong atin?" bungad nito.

"Hey, itatanong ko lang sana kung nandiyan pa ba si Kelly."

"Si Kelly?" May pagtataka sa tono ni Paul. "Hindi nagpunta dito si Kelly."

"Really?"

"Oh, I thought pumunta siya d'yan. Wala kasi siya dito sa bahay, eh. Hindi naman nagsabi kung nasaan siya so I thought she's with Monica."

"Ah, hindi siya pumunta dito ngayong araw," pag-uulit ni Paul. Siguradong-sigurado siya sa sinasabi niya. "Pero gusto mo tanungin ko si Mon? Baka alam niya kung nasaan ang misis mo. Kilala mo naman 'yong dalawang 'yon..."