The Gangsters Meet The Bad Girls Trilogy [Book 1]

CHAPTER 16

3rd Person’s POV

Nag-uusap ang mag-asawang Smith sa hapag ng umagang ‘yon habang hinihintay na bumaba si Sofia para saluhan silang kumain. Araw ng Sabado kaya naman wala itong pasok.

“Bukas, ihahatid na natin ang mga bata sa bago nilang bahay”.

“Do we really need to do that? You know how much your daughter despises that idea. Pwede naman sigurong pagkatapos nalang nilang ikasal”.

“No, it’s for the better. Mas lalong makikilala nila ang isa’t-isa kapag nagsama na silang dalawa sa iisang bubong. If they won’t get along together after three months then we will be calling off the wedding pero duda akong hindi sila magkakamabutihan. They are such a good match”.

“Three months, I’ll keep that on mind. Just make sure you’ll do what you say”.

Inabot ng lalaking Smith ang kamay ng asawa nito at pinisil iyon.

“Of course. Sofia is my Princess, she’s our only daughter. You really think hahayaan kong magdusa ang unica hija natin?” Dinala niya sa bibig niya ang kamay nito at hinagkan, “Don’t worry, everything will be alright”.

“Ma’am, Sir, wala po si Ma’am Sofia sa kwarto niya”.

“What?!” Sabay silang napatayo sa narinig.

“Did you check the bathroom? Baka nandun lang siya naliligo”. Uutal-utal na saad ni Cassandra. Hindi na siya makapagsalita ng maayos sa sobrang pagkabog ng dibdib niya. Saan naman kaya pupunta ang anak niya?

“Tiningnan na po namin pero wala pong tao roon”. 

“Baka nasa garden lang nagpapahangin, tingnan niyo”. Nanginig ang tuhod niya nang sunod-sunod na umiling ang katulong.

“Sinuyod na po namin ang buong kwarto niya pati buong bahay pero hindi po namin siya mahanap”. Nakatungong sagot nito.

“That’s impossible! Saan naman siya pupunta ng ganitong kaaga?” Nasapo niya ang kanyang noo sa sobrang tensiyon.

“Calm down, Mahal. Baka pumunta lang siya kina Sam o baka lumabas lang siya sandali”. Alo sa kanya ng kanyang mister at pinaupo siya.

“Eh sir, patawarin niyo po ako pero wala pong kasambahay na nakakita na lumabas si Ma’am Sofia”. Halos mawalan ng kulay ang mukha ni Cassandra sa kanyang narinig pero ayaw parin maniwala ng kanyang asawa na nawawala ang kanilang anak. Nananatili parin itong positibo at nakaisip ulit ng maaaring dahilan kung bakit walang nakakitang lumabas sa anak nila. “She must have sneak out while everyone is busy doing their job. Tama na ang pagpapakaba sa asawa ko, manang. Sofia will go back home later. Sige na, pwede mo na kaming iwanan”.

“Ryko, what if...what if naglayas si Sofia? What if may mangyaring hindi maganda sa kanya while she’s away?” 

“That’s just a what if. Calm down and don’t overthink too much. Silly”. Anito at pinitik siya sa kanyang noo.

“No, I can’t calm down—not until I got a glimpse of my daughter”. Hindi paawat na sabi ng babae.

Nasapo ng Mister ang noo nito, “Uuwi siya. Hintayin nalang natin”. Masyado siyang kumpiyansa na hindi naglayas ang anak nila. Masyado itong nasanay sa marangyang buhay kaya malabo na gugustuhin nitong maghirap at mapalayo sa kanila.

“Hintayin? Hanggang kelan? Hindi siya lumalabas ng bahay na hindi nakakapagpaalam sa atin but now she did. I can’t just sit down here and wait until God knows when she will come back. Paano kung hindi na talaga siya umuwi? Ayokong magpakampanti. Kung ayaw mo siyang hanapin, ako nalang”.

“Shit! I was just calming you down kasi baka kung ano pang mangyari sa’yo. I’m worried with my daughter at the same time I’m worried with you. Wala akong sinasabi na ayaw ko siyang hanapin, we got all the means to find her kahit nakaupo lang tayo”. Frustrated na naihilamos nito ang mga kamay sa mukha.

“You don’t need to worry with me, kaya ko ang sarili ko. Ang hindi ko kaya ay ang mapalayo sa kaisa-isang anak ko”.

“I—”

“Stop. Huwag na tayong magtalo. I will go out and go to every place Sofia could have gone by and you...bahala ka na sa kung anong klase ng paraan ang gagawin mo para mahanap siya”.

“Cass, please—”

“Please Ry, I’m not mad at you. Gusto ko lang mahanap agad ang anak natin. Magkita nalang tayo mamaya”. Aniya at  tinalikuran na ang kanyang asawa.

“Tonyo pakihanda ng kotse, aalis tayo”. Tawag niya sa kanilang family driver. Balak niyang suyudin ang buong subdivision at ang mga katabi pang subdivision o kahit mga karatig bayan at lungsod hanggang sa makita niya ang kanilang anak. Malakas ang kanyang pakiramdam na naglayas ito pero kahit na ganun ay labis niyang pinapanalangin na huwag naman sanang mangyari ang nasa isip niya.

[ END OF 3RD PERSON'S POV ]

RYKO’S POV (Sofia’s Dad)

“Fred, I need your help. This is an urgent matter”. I said as soon as he accepted my call.

“I’m sorry. I’m afraid I couldn’t lend you any help now, Ry. I’m in Switzerland having a vacation with my family”. 

“Please, I really need your help—I’ll pay you big”.  He’s the best person in terms of investigating and finding informations, he’s a fast worker. I know he could help me track my daughter the fastest way.

“I’m sorry, man. I’ll make it up to you when I come back. Relay my greetings to your wife and my godchild”. He said as he hanged up. Shit. This is driving me crazy.

I tried calling him up again but I can’t reach him. Seems like he shut his phone down! Darn it!

“Pleasant morning, Mr. Park. Anong maipaglilingkod ko sa’yo?”

“My morning ain’t pleasant General Oligario. It seemed like my daughter ran away from home. Hope you could help me find her as soon as possible”.

“We’ll do our best, Mr. Park. I’ll call you as soon as may nakuha na kaming impormasyon regarding this case”.

“Salamat”. I mouthed as I ended the call.

I sighed heavily and sat on my chair. Was it my fault? No. I was doing this for her own good. I know she’ll realize it soon.

Did she actually intend to ran away from us or was she kidnapped? I clenched my fist as I think of the latter. We’re fealty rich, everybody knows that. I’m afraid bad men took her for money. Or what if my enemies took her to take me down? Any of the two, I’ll wreck every piece of them if they dare to touch my daughter!

[ END OF RYKO’S POV]