Unsolved Mystery (Nilacabb Trilogy #1) [Under Revision]

21

"Renzo, are there any news about Chloy?" Jamiel sat beside me, Celestia's chair.

Medyo nabigla ako nang tawagin niya ako sa nickname ko. I cleared my throat before answering. Hindi ako sanay na mayroong ibang tumatawag sa akin na 'yon.

Fuck.

I miss her… so much. So so so much. I just want to see her again, smell her, hear her voice and feel her hugs. Hindi ko alam kung saan ibabaling ang atensiyon ko.

Mahal ko ang sarili ko pero hindi ko magawang maging masaya dahil sa iniisip ko. But above everything… fuck, above of all of it, mas mahal ko si Celes.

I forced myself to hold back my tears and looked at Jamiel expressionlessly.

"I still don't have any leads. Damn, I swear once I got her on my arms, I'm not gonna let her go. I'm not going to let anything bad happen to her again. Mark my words. I'll do anything to protect her, even if that means I'll have to risk my life, I'd do it."

Ang dami na naming sumubok humanap. Hindi na nga rin mapakali ang mga kaibigan niya. I'm still hoping that she would return safe.

"I know," he answered casually. "I'm not gonna lie to you. The first time I saw her with you, I saw you as a competition. Since we were kids, I'm pursuing her. But now I see… I see that she loves you, Renz. It was not about the timing all this time. It was about the person."

I never saw Jamiel as someone I'd be competing with—not in the class nor because of a woman. But I kind of feel bad. He trusted me so much with Celes and I failed both of them.

I am mourning for her without really knowing if she's still alive. But every moment I realized I'm not with her, parang mayroong pagkukulang sa pagkatao ko.

Leandro tapped me in my shoulder. "You don't get everything you want. It's true. But you can be everything you want to be. If you want to be okay, you can. I am not telling you this to move on from everything that had happen. I am telling you this to make you remember you have yourself to take care of, Pres. If she comes back, that's also what she expects from you. I'm sorry you have to go through that pain."

A comforting message from him actually made me realize something. I did not pay attention to myself since then. Mahalata naman sa hindi ko plantsadong black polo shirt, my unpolished shoes, my messy hair and my neglected self. This is not what she wants to see if she comes back.

This is not the Renzo she's trying to seek peace and comfort from.

"Alam mo, Pres. Kaya niya 'yang sarili niya kaya confident akong babalik siya. Nakita ko 'yan siya noong sinamahan ko si Kyra mag-practice ng baril and mga action moves. Kaya, naniniwala ako. Kaya niya 'yan." Rheeon added to his brother's words.

He was not joking 'cause I know Celes tried those things. It's just that, naga-act pa siya kaya nagmukhang nakakatawa.

Jairel chimed in. "If you don't know how to hold on, Pres. Watch this."

Bigla niyang pinalupot ang braso sa leeg ni Leo na ngayon ay hinahampas na siya. That made Rheeon laughed manically. Jamiel and I just shrugged. Wala namang bago sa kanila, eh.

"I swear!" Leo immediately stood up after his brother let him go. "I'm going to call mom and I'm gonna tell you choke me too hard. I don't understand girls who wants to get head locked by you, you're doing it too aggressively!" Pagmamaktol niya na tinawanan lang ng nga kapatid.