Punk Princess of West

Chapter 5

Adamson-Voire Series #1
Punk Princess of West

Chapter 5

Farrah

It’s been days simula nung lumayas si Ybrahim sa bahay nila. He purposely disappeared in everyone’s sight, walang naging paramdam sa kahit na sino sa amin.

Nag-aalala na ang mga kapatid niya pero pinili nilang huwag magkaroon ng involvement sa pulisya para mapahanap si Ybrahim. It’s his own choice, after all.

“Wala pa ring paramdam sainyo?” Tanong ko kay Chanler.

“Nope.” He answered.

This is so unusual of him, madalas ay nagsasabi ito sa amin kung may gusto siyang puntahan. But this time, naglaho lang talaga siya na parang bula.

“Puntahan na kaya natin sa usual spots niya?” I suggested.

“Ilang araw na kaming pabalik-balik ni Simon doon, hindi naman namin siya makita.” Staccey said.

They are already losing hope, pero hindi ako. I cannot lose a friend. No, not Ybrahim.

He may be annoying sometimes but it’s better than him being missing. Mas gugustuhin ko pang asarin niya ako nang asarin kaysa mabaliw sa kakahanap sakaniya.

Ilang araw na rin ako walang maayos na tulog, nag-aalala ako kung nasa maayos ba siyang kalagayan. All I wanted was for him to be safe.

The friend group was not the same anymore since he went missing. Nawala ang ingay at kulitan, lahat kami’y nag-aalala at napapaisip kung kailan babalik si Ybrahim.

---

East Icarus Adamson-Voire sent you a friend request.

It was Ybrahim’s eleven-year-old brother. I immediately pressed the accept button, hoping that his brother have some news about Ybrahim.

7:22 p.m.

East Icarus:
Hi, ate Farrah.

Farrah:
hi, east.

East Icarus:
Friend ka po ng kuya ko?

Farrah:
yes, east.

East Icarus:
Pauwiin mo na po siya,
ate Farrah.

My heart broke upon seeing East like this. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin sakaniyang nawawala si Ybrahim nang hindi siya masasaktan.

7:37 p.m.

Farrah:
east, wait na lang natin si kuya
ilang days ha?

East Icarus:
Pauwi na po siya?

Farrah:
yes, east.

East Icarus:
Thank you po, ate Farrah. Friend na
po tayo.

Matutulog na po ako
baka po pagalitan ako ni Kuya
North.

Farrah:
goodnight, east.

Sent

After that interaction with East, I was eager to bring Ybrahim back. Kailangan namin siyang mahanap, kailangan siya ng mga kapatid niya.

Marami silang magkakapatid sa pagkakaalam ko. Hindi issue ang pera para sa family nina Ybrahim so raising them with the help of their nannies is easy.

I decided to give myself a rest after thinking for quite some time. Baka bukas, maayos na lahat— sana.

---

“Bakit ba tayo nandito na naman?” Napakamot na lamang si Simon sa kaniyang buhok habang nagtatanong ito.

“Baka pumunta rito si Ybrahim.” I answered.

“We have been here from the past three days. Farrah, he won’t be here.” Sambit ni Stacey.

“Pero malay natin, ‘di ba?” I justified my thought.

“Farrah, hindi natin mahahanap ang ayaw magpahanap.” Biglang singit ni Chanler sa usapan.

I ignored what he had said, nagsimula akong mag-ikot-ikot sa library kung saan madalas nagagawi si Ybrahim. He’s just probably here or out there somewhere. Kailangan mahanap namin siya.

I went on the building’s rooftop, hoping to see him there. It’s already five p.m. kaya hindi na mainit dito. Nilibot ko ang rooftop, pati na rin ang buong library pero wala akong mahanap na bakas kung saan man siya nagpunta.

When I got tired, I sat in a beanbag and closed my eyes when I suddenly felt a cold thing on my cheek. When I opened my eyes, I saw Chanler holding a cup of iced coffee.

Inabot niya sa akin ito.

“I just thought you might need this.” He said.

“Thanks.” I tried to flash a smile.

“Hindi ka pa ba napapagod?” Tanong nito.

“I’m actually tired, Angelo.” I admitted.

“Bakit ba inuubos mo ang oras mo para rito?”

Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig sa katawan nang sambitin iyon ni Chanler. Bakit parang hindi siya concerned na nawawala si Ybrahim? Magkakaibigan kami.

“Chanler, he’s our friend!” Hindi ko mapigilan ang pagtaas ng boses ko. “Naririnig mo ba ang sinasabi mo?”

“Hindi natin mahahanap si Ybrahim kasi ayaw niyang magpakita, Farrah.” Kalmado pa rin ang boses nito.

“Wala tayong alam, Chanler! He’s probably out there somewhere, waiting to be found!” I exclaimed.

“Exactly, wala tayong alam, Farrah. Babalik si Ybrahim kung gugustuhin niya.”

I tried to calm myself down upon realizing how Chanler was calm and was not raising his voice to me even though I shouted at him.

“I’m sorry.” I apologized.

“Uwi na tayo?” He grabbed my hand and helped me get up.

---

Nang makarating kami sa parking lot, naabutan namin doon ang iba pa naming mga kaibigan; Simon’s fidgeting his pen, Stacey’s sleeping, Levi’s eating, and Leticia’s busy on her phone.

Dalawang kotse ang dala namin kaya’t nahati rin kami sa dalawa. Magkakasama sa kotse ni Simon sina Simon, Levi, at Stacey samantalang magkakasama naman kami ni Chanler at Leticia sa kotse sa Chanler.

I sat beside Leticia who’s grinning from ear to ear.

I thought she likes Ybrahim? Bakit parang hindi siya bothered sa nangyayari?

“Hindi ka ba nag-aalala kay Ybrahim?” Hindi ko mapigilang magtanong dito.

“Nah.” She shortly replied.

“Why?” I asked once again.

“Just because.” I tried to peek on her phone but she immediately turned it off.

Nang muli niya itong buksan, I saw her wallpaper. It was a picture of her and Ybrahim, pareho ang suot niya sa picture at sa personal— the photo was taken today.