To Charm a Playboy (COMPLETE)

Part 33

NAPAUPO si Eadon sa kitchen chair, parang bigla siyang nanghina.

"What the hell, Imogen?" may gigil na naiusal niya.

He read the letter again, slowly this time, sinikap ma-absorb nang maigi ang laman niyon. Noon niya napansin na may hindi itinuloy na salita si Imogen sa last part, may gulislis iyon.

Lalo siyang nanggigil, napabayo sa mesa. "You stupid, stupid girl!"

Did she really think he would let her do this alone?

Mabilis siyang nagpunta sa garahe. He found out that Imogen went to his home to change cars. Ang Mercedes Benz E-Class niya ang sinakyan nito paalis. She left the Infinity. And he knew why, alam nitong hahanapin niya ito gamit ang kotse. At nasa kotseng iyon ang kanyang protection amulet. She wanted him to be safe.

Trenta minutos na si Eadon sa kalsada nang tawagan niya si Raven.

"I need you to check on your sister, go to her house," diretsong sabi niya rito.

"Ha? Hindi ba kayo magkasama ngayon?"

"No. She left. Her phone is off. She said..." Sumisikip yata ang dibdib niya. "She said she has to do this alone."

"Hala, si Ate! 'Muntanga lang."

"Exactly!"

"Puntahan namin siya sa bahay niya. Don't worry about her. I strongly believe the curse is gone. Melodramatic lang iyon."

"I'm on my way."

"Ay, hala ka rin! Ano ba kayo'ng dalawa? Pareho kayo'ng 'muntanga. My gosh. Paano kung may mangyari sa iyo sa daan, ha?" sermon ni Raven.

"I'll be fine." Humawak siya saglit sa amulet na nakasabit sa rear-view mirror, praying to all gods in the universe to keep his girl safe. "J-just look for your sister, please. And, tell her I will be there soon."

Eadon drove aggressively but defensively at the same time. Kailangan niyang makarating ng Batangas nang buo.

It was thirty minutes to midnight when he reached Imogen's house. Nagkakagulo doon ang pamilya nito. Wala doon ang babae.

"That's it. I'm gonna have a heart attack and I'm gonna die first," sabi ni Grandma Myrtle.

"Lola! Ano ba kayo? Don't say that," bulalas ni Raven.

"You, all of you!" Pinagduduro ng matanda ang tatlong apo. "Kung bakit kasi ang titigas ng ulo ninyo!" gigil na sabi nito.

"She'll be fine," kalmadong sabi naman ni Willow, nakaupo sa couch at nakatutok ang mga mata sa cellphone. "We're a coven, I can feel it."

"I think I know where she is," sabi ni Eadon. "Follow me."

Mabilis siyang naglakad palabas ng bahay, huli na nang napansin niyang nakasunod sa kanya si Thackery. Dinampot niya ang pusa at inilagak sa passenger's seat.

"Let's go get your mommy, Thackery."

IT WAS a full moon that night, pero natatabingan ng mga ulap ang maliwanag na buwan. Madilim tuloy sa kinauupuan ni Imogen. She was alone in there, just her and the world.

Sa buong pagkakataong nakaupo siya roon ay inisip niya ang kabuuan ng kanyang buhay. Ang pinakamasamang nangyari sa kanya ay ang pagkawala ng kanyang mga magulang. She was a kid then, and maybe her natural resiliency that time had helped her moved on with life, carrying that emptiness from that massive loss.