BADA LEE as Your Deranged Stalker

t w e n t y t w o

Malalim ang hininga ko nang nasa harapan na kami ng bahay namin. Medjo naninikip ang dibdib ko kase may mga nakapaskil na litrato ko  sa dingding at gate ng bahay.

URGENT APPEAL: MISSING PERSON

"We are desperately seeking the whereabouts of Kathreen Jewels Armenia, a young woman of 20 years, who resides at *home address*. The last confirmed sighting of her was at Palpitate Coffee Shop, where she was attired in a white top and jeans. Her best friend has informed us that Kathreen received a text from someone claiming to be her parent, requesting her to return home early. However, it has come to our attention that her actual parent did not send any such message.

Numerous attempts have been made to reach out to Kathreen, but regrettably, she remains unreachable. Our family is consumed by worry and apprehension and we implore anyone with any information or potential leads to come forward and aid us in reuniting with our beloved daughter. You can contact us via this *phone number* or *email address*. Your cooperation could make all the difference in bringing Kathreen back to us safely."

Tahimik na nilingon ko si Bada na nasa tabi ko lang. Halatang kinakabahan siya pero pinipilit niyang kalmahin ang sarili, in fact she will be meeting my parents.

Hindi ko alam kung paano kaming napunta sa gan'tong sitwasyon. Para bang, panaginip lang ang lahat?

Magd-door bell na sana ako pero nagulat kaming pareho ni Bada nang may biglang tumawag sa pangalan ko. Paglingon ko, si mama, si papa at si Jisoo ang nakita ko. May mga hawak silang papel na kapareho sa mga nakapaskil sa dingding.

"Anak?! Ikaw ba 'yan? Talaga ba?" halos hindi na makatayo ng maayos si mama nang lumapit siya at yakapin ako. Pareho na kaming naiyak pati sila papa at Jisoo. Binatukan pa nga ako ni Jisoo bago niya ako niyakap nang mahigpit.

Wala pang isang segundo ay napansin niya agad si Bada sa tabi ko.

"So, anong ginagawa ng isang Bada Lee dito?" nagtatakang bulong niya sa tenga ko. Bago paman ako makasagot ay masaya akong hinila nila papa at mama sa loob ng bahay. Sa sobrang overwhelmed nila sa pagkakita sa akin, nakalimutan na nilang kasama ko si Bada.

Hinawakan ko si Bada sa kamay at sabay na siyang hinila papasok ng bahay.

Agad na naghain si mama ng pagkain sa lamesa para sa aming lahat at tska pa lang niya napansin si Bada nang paupo na kami.

"Ah, ma. Si Bada po pala. Bada? Ito nga pala si mama, si papa tska bestfriend ko, si Jisoo."

Sila mama at Jisoo, parehong hindi natutuwa sa presensya ni Bada, samantalang si papa, siya pa ang unang naglahad ng kamay para makipag shake hands dito.

"Hello, hija!" bati ni papa kay Bada. "Kaibigan ka ba ng anak ko? Ngayon ka lang kase namin nakita."

I can't really explain it but it felt like time itself came to a screeching halt and I found myself fixated on Bada. Wala akong ideya kung anong isasagot niya, actually. In fact, all I managed to convey to Bada during our journey was a plea to let me handle the conversation with my parents. She doesn't need to say anything.

"Ah ma, pa... kase ano, sa kanya ako naki—"

All of a sudden, Bada tightly hold my hand, her eyes filled with certainty and determination and then her words spilled out, "I'm her girlfriend. Sinabi ko pong makipagtanan siya sa'kin kaya nawala po siya ng halos dalawang buwan." Bada's reply was resolute and unambiguous. A wave of shock and disbelief swept over all of us, leaving us utterly and profoundly speechless.