Her Steps (GS #1)

Chapter 25

Warning:
Suicidal and bloody contents ahead. Please read at your own risk.

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I believe it's Chloe's instagram post where I saw her that night of Lady Rhianne and Yenna's graduation.

She was accidentally caught in one of Chloe's street fashion posts—in Paris. Paanong kasama niya ang batang nakita ko sa airport sa Pilipinas ngayon sa New York? The IG post wasn't even a week ago?

"Ghil, get me the list of passengers." mabilis ang lakad ko patungo sa opisina rito sa cruise ship.

23. Krytienn Jaile Muardez

It's really her. I found you, marshmallow. Or... did you find me?

It's been a few years since I last saw her. After that argument in our house, she disappeared completely. No one has seen her for years. Even the tabloids were silent about her, even her father who stayed as the mayor of our city was silent about her whereabouts. It's like she left with no intention of coming back nor being found.

What caught my attention even more was the name listed under her.

24. Jaile Kane Muardez

Is that the kid? She has both of our second names, and her last name. Who is this kid?

I closed my eyes. Sumasakit ang ulo ko.

"Aren't you going out? The party's about to start." Uriel said.

Right, there's always a welcome party on the first night of the cruise.

"I'll just fix myself." sabi ko rito na tinanguan niya naman.

It's already 8:30pm when I went out and a kid bumped on me. It's that kid at the airport.

"Aww, sowwy." there goes her tongue who doesn't like 'r'.

"Don't run like that, baka masaktan ka." sabi ko rito.

"I was just twying to find my mom." bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko sa narinig.

"Your... mom?" tumango ito sa akin.

Is she talking about... No, impossible.

"Come with me, let's find your mom." I said and lent my hand.

"No, she says not to talk to stwangews. They'we bad. They huwt people." napaawang ang labi ko sa sinabi niya.

"You're actually talking to me, kid. Call me Jhiezzel." I said as I continue to lend my hand.

"Should I call you ate ow tita?" she asked.

"Nah, Jhiezzel's fine." sabi ko rito. Tumango naman siya at hinawakan na rin ang kamay ko.

Dinala ko siya sa party.

"Tell me when you spotted your mom." tumango naman ito sa akin.

"Jhie, sino 'yan?" Uriel asked.

"Some lost kid, hey, what's your name?" I asked.

"My name's Kane." Great. She goes by my second name.

"Oh, you have the same name." Uriel said.

"No, she's Jhiezzel. I'm Kane." sabi ng bata.

"Kid, she's Jhiezzel Kane." Uriel said.

"Weally?" tiningnan ako nito as she tilted her head. Hindi ako nagsalita.

I also can't believe we share the same second name, kiddo.

"Kane!" pareho kaming lumingon sa tumawag.

Shock was written all over her face. She entered this cruise ship without knowing I'm here? Really, Tienn? When the ship's name was actually JaiTienn?

"Uriel, can you get the kid first?" I asked without taking my eyes away from her.

"Ha?" Uriel asked.

"No. Kane, let's go." she's fast to get the kid away from me but I'm faster to walk beside her.

"What are you doing?"

"You said let's go, you even called my name." patay malisya kong sabi.

"I was talking about my kid—,"

"Right, why is her name the same as mine?" nag-iwas siya ng tingin bago binuhat ang bata at mabilis na naglakad palayo.

I poked the side of my cheek with my tongue as I watched her get out of my sight.

You've changed, Tienn.

Hindi naman 'yon makakalayo. The ship may be big but it would be too small for us two.

"Jhie, sino 'yon? She's familiar." Uriel said.

Nagkibit balikat ako. He probably saw her in Lady Rhianne's parties before, whatsoever.

The party ended at 3am and the people were gone at around 4am when did some rounds to check the situation of my clients and found out the person I went here for is already resting. Maybe I'd talk to that investor tomorrow.

As I roamed around the ship, I saw a figure on the dark deck. Who the hell turned the lights off when there's still a person here?

"Excuse me, do you still want to enjoy the deck, I'll have the lights turned on." sabi ko rito pero hindi ito umimik.

Lumapit ako lalo and saw how she chugged down the bottle of alcohol she's holding.

"Miss—..." I stopped when she looked at me.

"Tienn..." I was stunned.

"What are you doing here? It's already 4 in the morning, malamig na." Hindi pa rin siya umimik sa akin.

"How are you, Tienn?" still no response.

"You were... out of everyone's sight. Walang nakakaalam kung nasaan ka."

I stopped and let the wind speak in between us.

"Tienn, where... have you been?"

Ni hindi niya ako magawang lingunin.

"That kid... sino 'yon?"

"My daughter." mabilis niyang sagot.

I felt a pang on my chest. Daughter.

"You... had a daughter."

"Yes, she's beautiful, right?" dahan-dahan akong tumango sa sinabi niya.

"Mana sa'yo." I couldn't help but to say it.

I decided to sit on the chair beside her. She was about to leave when I immediately grabbed her arm.

I was shocked when she removed my hand and gave me a slap.

"You have no right to hold me." but I couldn't care with what she said nor with how she slapped me.

I looked at her hand intently. She noticed that and put her hands behind her back.

I stood up and grabbed her hand.

"What the hell did you do?" itinaas ko ang kamay niya at sinuri iyon.

Binawi niya ang kamay niya.

"Huwag mo sabi akong hawakan!" were her last words before she started walking away from me.

Her drunkenness was already visible. Gusto ko siyang lapitan para tulungang maglakad but I just sighed. I guess she wouldn't like that.

After arguing with her that night, and knowing she disappeared the next day, I was out of myself. I regret what I did. Knowing there wasn't a trace of her anywhere got me so mad at myself.

Hindi ko alam ang kaya kong gawin sa sarili ko kung may nangyari sa kaniyang masama and here I saw scars in her wrists—what the hell did I do to her?

I grabbed the bottle of alcohol she was holding earlier at binasag iyon sa upuan to release my anger. I watched my own blood flowing down my hand. I felt my heart breaking as I felt my tears flowing down. Walang wala itong dugong ito panigurado kumpara sa dugong umagos sa kamay niya sa tuwing ginagawa niya iyon. Hindi lang isa o dalawa ang nakita ko. Marami.

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