THE HILARIOUS HUSBAND (LEE BROTHERS #2)

Chapter 56

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

VISITOR

❥ ELISSE GARCIA ❥

"What?!"

Ang malakas na boses ni Hope ang gumising sa 'kin dahil um-echo 'yon sa kuwarto. Agad akong lumingon sa side niya, and I saw him with his phone pressed to his ear, deep in conversation. Glancing at the wall clock, I saw it was only five in the morning. Who would be calling him at this hour?

He must have felt my gaze because he glanced over, but he didn't say anything, salubong lang ang kilay niya as he listened intently. After a few moments, he finally ended the call, letting out a long, heavy sigh.

"Bakit?" Hindi ko napigilang magtanong.

"Si Faith, tumawag. Nakaalis raw si Ella sa bahay nila nang hindi nila namamalayan."

I blinked. "Saan siya nagpunta?"

He shook his head. "Hindi nila alam. She left without a word. Pina-check nila ang CCTV footage sa main gate ng Villasis Park, and it shows your sister leaving the compound around two in the morning."

Alas dos ng madaling araw?

Sa kabila ng pangyayari at sa ginawa ni Ella—na hindi ko pa rin alam kung totoo—hindi ko naiwasang mag-alala sa kaniya. Agad kong inabot ang cell phone ko sa nightstand para subukan itong tawagan. Mabuti at naipagawa ko na kahapon ang screen bago ako nag-check in sa hotel kaya maayos na uli. I waited anxiously, listening to the dial tone, but each call went straight to her voicemail. I couldn't reach her.

When Hope noticed me redialing repeatedly, he turned to me. "Get some rest first," he said softly. "Masyado pang maaga. Mamaya kapag sumikat na araw, hanapin na lang natin si Ella. I'm sure she has somewhere in mind. Maybe she went to a friend's place."

I glanced over at him, frowning. "What if she didn't? What if something happens to her?"

He sighed, giving me a reassuring look. "Kahit papa'no nakilala ko na kapatid mo, Elisse. Kahit nga sa simpleng bagay humihingi 'yon ng saklolo, e. So, I doubt she'd just leave Faith's place without a plan. Kampante ako na meron s'yang tatakbuhan kaya siya umalis nang gano'ng oras."

I fell silent. After years of living with Ella at Dad's house, I still felt I barely knew her. Yet Hope, somehow, seemed to understand her so easily. How could he read people so quickly while I was left second-guessing my own sister?

"Saan ka pupunta?" tanong ko kay Hope nang tumayo siya sa kama, palabas na siya ngayon sa kuwarto namin, bitbit ang phone niya. Wala siyang pang-itaas, sweatpants lang ang suot niya. Natulog siya nang gano'n? Hindi ba siya nilamig?

Huminto siya saglit nang mahawakan na niya ang door handle at lumingon sa 'kin. "Susubukan kong bulabugin si Mommyla at Daddylo. I'm sure they won't turn me down if I ask for help finding Ella. Dahil bukod sa 'kin, gusto rin nilang magkaayos tayo." With that, he opened the door and stepped out, disappearing down the hall.

⫘⫘⫘

Alas sais na ng umaga, nakapagluto na ako ng almusal at kasalukuyang naghahain. Si Edward ang kasama ko sa dining, nakapuwesto na siya sa upuan niya. Hindi natuloy ang paglipat niya sa apartment dahil hindi ko rin naman inaasahang pipilitin ako ni Hope kagabi na bumalik dito.

Anyway, nasa living room siya, still waiting for news about Ella. He was already dressed, but not in his usual work attire—just casual pants and a black Guess polo shirt. It seemed he had no intention of going into Lee Entertainment today, just like me.