Fragments of Us

41: Ella

In the morning, I went straight to the office and talked to Kyla privately. She's Jema's best friend, so if someone happens to know her whereabouts, it would most likely be Kyla.

"Ms. Atienza, thank you for coming right away. This is just an urgent matter. At least it is for me."

She stood there, trying her best to contain her laughter.

"I'm just really desperate and exhausted by now, and I can't find my girl."

She looked completely bemused, whether because of my utter panic or because of what I'd just said. It doesn't matter anyway.

"And by "your girl," you're practically referring to?"

She said this, almost teasing me.

"What?"

I was shocked by what she said.

"What?"

She dumbfoundedly asked back.

"Jema."

Fuck, I think my face now looks like it was painted red.

"What do you mean you can't find her?"

We both looked at each other, perplexed by what was happening.

"What? Why? I mean, I can't find her. We haven't had a word since I left for Siargao."

I was just trying to speak calmly, but I sounded like I was arguing with her. I threw her a questioning gaze, which she also turned back at me, and we stared at each other like two idiots.

"Wait, you didn't know? You two didn't meet there?"

She held on to her head while her eyebrows were now scrunched in disbelief.

"What? What do you mean we didn't meet there? What the hell is going on? Am I missing something here?"

Panic is still evident in my voice.

"You're missing Jema, right?"

She laughed out loud, and I glared at her. She cleared her throat.

"Uhm, how did you know Tatay Jessie and Mafe, by the way?"

Her tone suddenly became serious.

"How did you know about my family?"

My head's literally in a spin right now.

"You mean like family family, or you just met there and you consider them your family?"

Her tone remained serious.

"Why does it matter?"

I'm now starting to lose my patience.

"I need to know."

Kyla's now forcing me to answer.

"They took me in two years ago when they found me almost half-alive on the shore."

Shock instantly appeared on Kyla's face.

"What now?"

I'm almost shouting at her already.

"Oh my God!"

"What? Miss Atienza, if you have something important to tell me, I suggest you do it quick or you'll be losing your job."

I threatened her in annoyance.

"You know what? You should get back to Siargao as soon as possible so you don't lose your girl for good."

I was still completely confused by what was happening.

"Jema followed you back there after you left."

She was about to tell me everything when my phone rang. It's Mafe again. God, my sister's timing is always like a divine intervention.

"You come back here as soon as possible. You've got a lot of explaining to do. My sister's still unconscious because God knows how much liquor she's drank last night because she thought I was your girlfriend."

Mafe said it without any introduction.

"Okay, what the hell is happening, people?"

I pulled my hair because of all the cliffhangers these two are giving me.

"Go home, and you'll find out."

She then ended the call.

I questioningly looked at Kyla.

"Tatay Jessie and Mafe. They are Jema's family."

A surge or realization hit me. Jema and her attitude were familiar because they were just like Mafe's. Fuck, how did I not notice?

I immediately stood up and kissed Kyla because of the overflowing happiness I felt.

"Thank you so much."

I said this to her before running like a child who's chasing after some ice cream vendor out of my office.