When This Song Ends (When Series #1)

PROLOGUE

Disclaimer:

This story is made of fiction. Any resemblance to actual person (living or dead), place, or events are pure coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without the permission of the author. Plagiarism is a crime.

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PROLOGUE

"Calm down, hija. We'll find her. Give her some water, Jean."

Lola's secretary handed me a cup of water since I was panicking. I drank the water she gave me and continued to dial my sister's number from my phone. Hindi pa rin siya sumasagot. Napasabunot na lang ako sa sarili ko.

"I don't know what will I do if something bad happened to her, Lola," I said. Hindi ko alam kung saan ko ba hahanapin si Alyssa. Gulong gulo na ako.

"Her friends? Did you contact her friends?" Lola asked.

Tumango ako. "She only has one friend here in Canada, Lola. 'Di rin niya alam kung nasaan si Alyssa," I replied.

I left my sister for work yesterday. When I came back home, wala na siya roon. I tried calling her but to no avail so I just assumed that she was at her friend's. It turns out na wala pala siya roon. Where on earth is that kid?

"That child has been here for four years. Do you think she feels suffocated?" Lola asked again. Natahimik ako. Nandito kami hindi naman dahil gusto ko. Kailangan naming lumayo.

"Kahit na, 'La. She could've told me if that's the case. You know I give her everything she needs," I said. I can't think of one thing that may drive her to run away from us.

"We'll never know, Isobel." Lola sighed. "We'll never know what was she thinking all this time. She never opens up to us."

That girl is expert when it comes to bottling up her emotions inside her, as well as her thoughts. Whenever I ask her anything, sinasabi niya lang kung ano 'yung gusto kong marinig para hindi ako mag-alala. Aware naman ako roon. I'm just waiting for her to willingly open up to me. Ayoko siyang piliting magsabi kung hindi pa niya kaya.

"Go to work for now. I'll find her no matter what, so don't worry," Lola reassured me.

I went back to work and started working, even though I can't concentrate that much. I cancelled all my meetings for the day. Hindi ako makakapagtrabaho nang maayos kung may iba akong inaalala.

Later that day, I received a call from Lola's secretary, saying that she wants to talk to me. I quickly grabbed my coat and rushed to Lola's office.

"We found her," bungad niya sa akin. "She flew back to the Philippines. Alone."

My jaw dropped. I can't think of a single thing that would probably drove her to go off there alone. Bakit 'di niya sinabi sa akin?

"She probably didn't tell you because she knows you'll be against it," Lola said. " Your sister's a grownup now. She's not the same kid she was four years ago."

I didn't know what to do anymore. My sister is there. At the same place where she lost herself. I told Lola that I would fly back to the Philippines and look for my sister, and I would bring her back to Canada for good.

"I can see you now," Theo said on the other line. "On your right. There. Welcome back."

He was holding a banner for me. Napailing na lang ako nang mapansin ang itsura niya. He was still wearing a white tuxedo. Nasabi niya sa aking may party siyang pinuntahan bago niya ako sunduin.

"Hindi naman na 'yan kailangan," I told him, pointing at the banner. Kinuha niya ang bagahe ko at siya na ang nagbitbit noon.

"You're welcome," nang-aasar na sagot niya. "Any clue kung nasan si Aly?"

Umiling ako. "Wala. Tinawagan ko na lahat ng kaibigan niya rito, pero hindi rin nila alam."

"Baka naumay na 'yon sa mukha mo kaya tumakas. Kung ikaw rin ang ate ko, baka languyin ko ang Pilipinas mula Amerika," sagot ni Theo. Inirapan ko lang siya na lalo niyang ikinatawa.

Papalabas na kami ng airport nang biglang dumami 'yung tao sa exit. Mayroon ding media. Theo and I stopped walking when it gets too crowded. Hindi na kami makausad dahil ang daming nakaharang sa exit.

"Anong meron?" I whispered to Theo. He didn't answer. Nang-aasar pa iyong itsura niya. Ano bang meron sa mokong na 'to ngayon? Inirapan ko siya at tiningnan na lang kung sino ba 'yong pinagkakaguluhan nung mga tao rito.

The cameramen are following a certain group of people. Hindi ko makita kung sino ang mga iyon dahil naka-cap at facemasks sila. Celebrities siguro?

"Theo, tara na..." I tried to drag Theo but he fought back. "Ano ba, anong oras na?! Mas-stuck tayo sa traffic."

"You'd regret that later," he warned me. Hindi ko naman siya naintindihan kaya napakunot ang noo ko.

"Bahala ka nga." Inirapan ko siya at dumiretso na ako papalabas pero lalong nagsiksikan 'yung mga tao kaya napaatras lang din ako pabalik sa loob. Ano ba kasing meron?!

"Miss, you're blocking their way!" Someone shouted. I was just gonna ignore it but I felt like everyone was staring at me. Na-conscious ako bigla.

"Excuse me..." The person behind me cleared his throat so I turned around to look at him. I froze when I realized who it was.

"Grabe, sino ba 'yan?! Bakit ba siya nakaharang?!" One of the people outside shouted again. Hindi ako makagalaw sa pwesto ko. Good thing, Theo pulled me away from the crowd.

"I told you you'd regret it," bulong ni Theo sa akin. I didn't talk. I just stared at that person walking past those people who are chanting his name.

So, he really made it. He finally reached the dream he used to tell me about.

Sadly, I wasn't there when he did.

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