The Good Bitch

Chapter 20

20: Concert

Clark's Point of View

"Are you sure, Leah? You are going with them? If you are going with me, you could be in the backstage. You are safe there."

"No, Clark. Ayoko namang ma-special treatment dahil fiance ako ng bokalista. Saka, kasama ko naman sila Maurice."

"Are you sure?" Tumango ako. "Final decision?" Tumango ulit ako. "Sigurado ka na talaga?"

"Ang kulit mo naman, Clark."

Tumawa siya. "I just want my fiance to be safe." Ginulo niya ang buhok ko. "Mag-ingat ka."

"Opo boss."

Hinalikan niya ang labi ko at nagpaalam na kami sa isa't isa.

Pumunta na siya sa backstage at lumapit na ako sa kanila Maurice.

***

Leah's Point of View

Kalagitnaan na ng concert nang mauhaw ako. Kinalabit ko si Marie.

"Bes, may inumin ka?"

Kinalabit naman niya ang asawa niya.

"Beyb, may inumin ka daw?"

Umiling si Maurice at pinasa kay Kuya Chris ang tanong. Hanggang sa umabot ang tanong kay Sam na nasa pinakadulong upuan. Umiling naman siya.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. "Sige, bibili na lang ako." Tumayo na lang ako at umalis.

I squeezed myself out of the crowd para lang makabili ng inumin. Eh kasi bawal daw akong magpauhaw. Ewan ko kung bakit. Saka kanina pa ako nauuhaw actually.

Lumabas pa ako ng venue para lang makabili. Agad naman akong nakahanap ng bilihan at bumili ng isa. Pero pagkatalikod ko, bigla na lang may nagtakip sa bunganga at ilong ko.

***

Clark's Point of View

"Shit!" I curse. "Bakit kasi walang sumama sa kanya?!"

Walang nakaimik sa kanila. Natapos na kasi ang concert pero hindi pa din nakakabalik si Leah. Pinaghahanap na siya sa buong venue pero ni isa ay walang nakakita sa kanya. Tinanong na din namin kung nasa bahay na ba siya, pero wala pa din daw.

"Fvck! Goddammit!"

Sumakay ako sa kotse. Tinawag pa ako nila Maurice pero hindi ako lumingon at mabilis kong pinatakbo ang kotse.

Tangna sila! Ipinagkatiwala ko sa kanila si Leah!

My phone rings. I look at the caller ID but ignore it immediately after I saw an unregistered number.

Nakarating ako sa police station.

"Sir, magre-report po ako ng missing person!"

"Ilang oras na po ba siyang nawawala, mister?"

"Two hours."

"Nako! Hindi pa po missing ang isang tao kapag dalawang oras lang po-"

Hindi ko na siya pinatapos at lumabas na lang ako. Shit. Walang kwenta naman oh!

Sumakay ako sa kotse at nagmaneho ulit. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. Inikot ko na lang ang buong siyudad.

Imposible namang umalis na lang si Leah nang walang paalam. Walang rason para gawin niya 'yon.

Muli nanamang tumunog ang cellphone ko. Parehong numero.

"What?!"

[C-Clark. I-It's me.]

"I don't know anyone with a name of 'Me'. So, if you don't mind, please drop the call now." I sarcastically said.

[N-No, Clark! This is Verah!]

Si Verah lang pala. "I am busy." With that, I hung up.

She calls me again. Ugh. Damn.

"What?!" iritado kong sabi. "I have more important things to do than talking to you. Hang. Up. Now."

[No, Clark! This is important! Like, really important!]

I sigh. "What is it?"

[The Vespers and I planned all of these.] My eyes widen. My hold of the steering wheel tightens. Shit. [From the resignation of your original manager until what is happening now. They kidnapped Leah.]

Vespers again?! Dammit! I thought we are already done?! Those bastards really don't know when to stop! Fvck!

Third Person's Point of View

Marie felt vibrations from her bag. She opened it and she was shocked to see a phone in it. Marie and Maurice look at each other as if sharing unspoken thoughts. Maurice grabs it and answers the call.

"Hello, Kesha."

The mere mention of Kesha's name caught John's attention.

[Who is this? Where is Leah?]

John grabs the phone from Maurice. "This is John, Kesha. Leah is missing."

[M-Missing? Shit! Why?!]

"We don't-"

Kesha dropped the call. Another call got connected but this time, it is from Clark. John gave the phone back to Maurice.

[Leah! Where are you?!]

"Clark..."

[Maurice?! Dammit! Why is her phone with you?!]

"She accidental-"

Clark dropped the call.

"Pota. Bakit palagi nila kaming binababaan?" Maurice said to himself as he mentally face-palmed.

"Pa'no na 'yan?" Maurice's wife frustratedly whined. "Bakit ba kasi hindi ko siya sinamahan? Edi sana kasama pa din natin siya ngayon at everybody happy. Ang tanga ko talaga. Sariling best friend ko, pinapabayaan ko."

He pulled her to a warm hug. "Don't put all the blame on you, Babe. It is also our fault."

Patrick spoke behind me, making me pull away and look back at him. "I think it is them again."

"Them?" Cedric confirmed. "Are you referring to The Vespers?"

"Yeah."

No one spoke again afterwards. But, Adrian breaks the silence. "Why don't we just disband? Para wala nang mapahamak. Para matapos na ang lahat ng ito."