"Ano na ang balita kay Arthur?" Coco asked the moment he stepped inside the house.
My tired eyes watered again when I heard my twin brother say his name. I hadn't slept a blink or eaten at all since yesterday. It was five in the morning when Coco and his family arrived from the airport and headed straight here. I greeted him a hug and he hugged back even tighter.
"Hindi pa rin nila nakikita si Arthur..." I sobbed into his shoulder.
"It's going to be okay." He gently said. "Makikita din natin si Arthur. Hindi tayo titigil hangga't hindi natin sya nakikita."
"Tita Drey, I hope we find him soon because I miss him so much. We even bought toys for him." Cookie's lips tugged downwards, his eyes getting misty.
Anais stood behind her son with a sad expression on his face. Hardly anyone in the house had a good night sleep. There were police everywhere. Our phones had been tapped incase the kipnappers called. Kuya Miggy and Callum had been up all night getting updates from the police. Ni hindi ko nga nakita ang dalwa na umupo man lang para pumikit. Ronnie wouldn't stop crying and blaming herself even thought I kept telling her that it wasn't her fault. Tito Axel sent the best search team to look for Arthur. Pumunta din sila Uncle Tristan at aunt Andi and all Dad's friends were heare with us until midnight. Help poured in like rain.
Kuya Miggy said Mama and Dad were on their way home.Hindi ko pa sila nakakausap. I couldn't. Ano'ng sasabihin ko sa kanila at paano ako haharap sa kanila? Pakiramdam ko napabayaan ko sya. He'd been with Mama and Dad his whole life at ilang araw lang nilang silang nawala at pinagkatiwala sa akin si Arthur ganito na ang nangyari. He was better off with them. I felt like I was a useless mother.
"When will this end? It feels like it's happening all over again." Coco raked his finger through his hair.
"Sana wala silang gawin masama kay Arthur. Sana ako na lang kinuha nila. Bakit siya pa? Arthur's too young. Siguro takot na takot siya ngayon." Maluha-luha ng sabi ko.
Callum pulled me to his side and tried to comfort me. "We'll find him."
"I hope they're just after the money. Kahit mahknaong halaga ang hilingin nila ibibigay ko, masiguro lang ligtas na makauwi si Arthur dito." Kuya Miggy said as he paced back and forth. He closed and opened his palms as if to relieve his stress. Anxiety was evident.
Could it be na may kinalaman yung mga kumuha kay Drey dati sa kumidnap kay Arthur? Coco said.
"Oh, I hope not..." Anais said, putting her hand over her chest.
"What do they want from Audrey? From us? I don't understand why they're doing this!" I could hear the frustration and anger in Coco's voice. "When Audrey was kidnapped, we didn't receive any calls. Walang humingi ng ransom o kahit ano. Is it their life long mission to make us miserable?"
Mama and Dad suddenly entered the living room. Mama's eyes were red and puffy from crying and Dad had dark circles under his eyes, a sign that he hadn't slept very well.
"Kumusta na? Wala pa din bang lead ang mga pulis?" Dad said, looking and sounding stressed out.
"No calls, no anything?" He asked.
Kuya Miggy quiety shook his head.
"Mama, Dad, I'm sorry." I got on my feet and Mama embraced me. "Hindi mangyayari ito kung hindi ko pinabayaan si Arthur. It's my fault. I should've taken better care of him. Ngayon ko na nga lang siya nakasama, mawawal pa siya."
"No, Don't blame yourself. Walang may gusto sa nangyari." Mama said, her voice raw from crying. "Walang mangyayari kung magsisisihan tayo. It was nobody's fault. Ang mahalaga maibalik si Arthur ng ligtas."
"Paano pag may nangyari kay Arthur?" I could feel the physical pain clenching in my chest at the thought of it.
"No, no..." Mama shook her head vigorously. "May awa ang Diyos. Mabait na bata si Arthur. I know He won't let anything happen to him."
