After All This Time

Waves Of Memories.

Patrice's POV

"Buti na lang bestie pumayag yung management. Sinabi ko na lang na nagkaron ng emergency yung family mo na kailangang kailangan mong makauwi tonight. Ano ba kasing nangyayari?"

"I just..."

Nagflashback sa utak ko yung naging pag-uusap namin ni Alex kanina. Just thr thought of it brings me goosebumps.

"...miss my family so bad Philip. And Ryle misses his daddy."

"Naho-homesick ka na dito? Eh bakit kasi hindi ka pa bumalik for good satin? Mukhang okay nanaman lahat dito ah."

Umiling ako.

"I still have one branch to open kaya babalik pa rin ako dito. Gusto ko lang talagang makita family ko ngayon."

Bumuntong-hininga si Philip at tumango.

"Oh pano, girl? Mauuna na ko sayo ha? Kailangan na kami sa eroplano eh. See you later."

I smiled timidly and nodded.

"Thank you sobra Philip."

"No problem sis. Ikaw pa ba?"

Naglakad na si Philip palayo samin ni Ryle. Napahinga na lang ako ng malalim at tinawagan si Brent. I need to talk to him. He'll play a really really big part in this. After a few rings, sinagot niya ito agad.

"Bff! C-can we talk later? Hinahanap mo ba si Ricci? Hindi kasi kami magkas—"

"I know where Ricci is, Brent."

"Talaga? Putek na yun! Buti ka pa alam mo! Bigla na lang silang nawala ni Eunice kanina. Meron pa naman kaming exam ngayon sa major namin."

"Listen to me Brent. And please wag kang mag-rereact. Go some place where you can be alone."

"Huh? Bakit?"

"Just listen to me."

"Okay sige. Wait."

Narinig kong naglakad si Brent at biglang tumahimik yung paligid.

"Game."

Huminga ako ng malalim.

"Ricci and Eunice has been kidnapped by Alex, Brent."

"What?! That's impossible!!"

"Shhh!"

"Oops. Pero what the fuck? Imposible!! Pano nangyari yun? Nasan sila?!"

"Brent, relax. Pauwi ako diyan. Tinawagan ako ni Alex. I need to go to the place na itetext niya sakin. I need to be there within 24 hours kundi..."

Tears started to blur my vision.

"What? Fuck."

"She s-said she'll kill them. Hindi ko alam kung pano sila napunta dun or what. Ang importante makapunta ako dun. Please Brent, you can't tell anyone else please. Makinig ka lang sa mga sasabihin ko sayo please."

"O-oo Pat."

"My flight is scheduled tonight. Pagdating ko sa bahay, itetext kita okay?"

"S-sige. Tangina sabi ko na eh. I knew something was up nung nagmadali si Ricci na umalis kanina! Dapat talaga sinamahan ko siya eh."

"Nagulat din ako Brent. And I'm so scared. Ayokong may mangyari sa kanya. Hindi ko kaya."

Hindi ko na napigilan yung luha ko. Naiisip ko pa lang na sinasaktan niya si Ricci, parang magco-collapse ako. Fuck, I sacrificed everything for that guy.