Behind the Mask is a Deeper Secret.

\\Chapter Twenty-five

Behind the Mask is a Deeper Secret.

[Chapter twenty-five]

Bree dropped the call and dial the emergency number. Hindi niya alam kung anong nangyayari kay Harvey pero she'll call him 'missing' until he's been found. As easy as 1-2-3. Madaming sabihin pero sa bawat pag-ring ng kabilang linya ay mas nararamdaman niya ang kaba sa dibdib niya.

"Hello, what's your emergency?"

"I would like to report a missing person."

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Hindi na alam ni Bree kung gaano siya katagal na naghihintay sa loob ng prisinto kasama si Kenedy at Raina. Feeling niya ikukulong siya kahit wala siyang ginagawang masama.

They've been waiting for news all day pero wala silang natatanggap kaya lalong kinakabahan si Bree.

Don't jump into conclusions. She told herself. And calm down, will you?

Lumapit sa kanilang tatlo ang isang police officer kaya napatayo bigla si Bree. Gumaya din naman si Raine at Kenedy. "Nakita na po si Mr. Harvey Bautista."

Halong saya at takot ang naramdaman si Bree. Bree opened her mouth to talk. Her mind racing withdifferent questions. Okay lang ba siya? Nasaktan ba siya? O talagang lasing lang siya? Nakadrugs na ba siya at high siya for the past few days kaya di siya nakauwi? Makukulong ba siya?

But no words came out.

"Okay lang ba siya?" Kenedy asked for Bree.

"Hindi ko masasabi." Sagot ng pulis.

"Ano pong ibig niyong sabihin?" Kenedy asked again.

"Sinugod siya sa ospital. Madami din siyang injuries kaya tulog siya nung dinala siya. Wala pang balita sa amin."

In an instant, nasa kotse na ni Kenedy ang tatlo at handa ng sumugod sa ospital. Ang tanging maririnig lang ay ang motor ng sasakyan at ang patugtog sa nakabukas na radyo dahil walang gustong magsalita sa kanilang tatlo.

Kahit si Bree ay nagulat sa kinikilos ni Kenedy. Alam ni Bree na kahit kelan ay hindi naging 'close' ang magkapatid pero halatang kinakabahan si Kenedy. Namumuti na ang kamay niya sa sobrang higpit ng hawak niya sa manibela, pinapapawisan siya kahit nakabukas ang aircon, at nagbu-bugtong hininga din siya sa sobrang tagal ng mga traffic lights mag-green.

He cares. Bree thought, despite her nervousness. Aubrey, please tell me he's fine.

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Nang dumating sila sa ospital ay nasa emergency room pa din si Harvey, pero sabi ng Nurse na nakausap nila ay dadalhin na rin siya sa ICU.

At sa ICU, family only.

Hindi makakabisita si Bree kasi hindi man lang siya malayong kamag-anak.

They waited for not more than an hour till Harvey was transfered to the ICU.

"He received a lot of injuries from the fight." Said the doctor with a grim expression.

Bree gathered all her energy to ask, "F-fight?" She said, her voice trembling.

Bree wants to stay strong, but her body is betraying her. She wants to stay tough like she experience this a lot but she can't. She never experienced this kind of disaster.

"The police caught four men, hindi nila kayo sinabihan?"

Kenedy shook his head.

"Well, they did. Nang makita nila si Mr. Bautista, kasalukuyang binubugbog at ginugutom ng magkakaibigan ang kapatid mo. If he wasn't found, he would died of blood loss and dehydration." The doctor put a hand on Kenedy's shoulder. "Let's just pray that he'll be okay. We'll do what we can."