I Won't Last A Day Without You

Chapter Seventeen

"Shh..." Whispered Fredrick.

He was glad there were trees to block them from being seen. He can also sense that there is someone watching and waiting. Fredrick found a large bush, enough to hide Lucille. He asks her to stay in the same spot, while he looks to see who is there. 

"Fredrick, please be careful."

"I will. Now don't come out until I say so. Do you understand?

Lucille nodded a yes to him. 

"Now, I need to head back to the house, so I can get help." Fredrick says to himself as he walks away from where Lucille is.

Hindi alam ni Fredrick kung nasaan na yung lalaking nagmamasid sa kanyang bahay pero pakiramdam niya andiyan lang ito. Maingat siyang pumasok ng bahay at dumeretso siya sa kanyang bedroom para kuhain ang cellphone niya, pero hindi niya iyon makita. Pinuntahan niya ang silid ni Lucille at hindi niya rin mahanap ang cellphone nito. Naalala niya na may emergency phone sa ilalim ng kanyang kama. Dali-dali siyang bumalik doon. Habang kinukuha niya ang emergency phone ay nakirinig siya ng putok ng baril. 

Kinabahan siya dahil nag-iisa lang si Lucille. Dali-dali siyang kumuha ng knife at inilagay ito sa bulsa niya sa likod.

"Mang Karding, where are you?" Bulong ni Fredrick.

Pagkadating niya sa isang lugar. Nakikita parin niya na nakayuko si Lucille. Nagpasalamat siya at ligtas ito. And then, may isang lalaking nakatalikod at may hawak na baril. Nagulat siya, si Mr. Andrews nakarap sa kapaligiran. Nagsasalita itong mag-isa at takot na takot.

"Sige lumapit ka! Do you think I'm scared of you. YOU ARE DEAD!" Sigaw ni Mr. Andrews.

Sa isip-isip ni Fredrick ay baka si mang Karding ang kausap nito. Pagtingin niya ulit kay Lucille ay may isang lalaking nakaitim, nakatayo sa di kalayuan. Kinabahan siya. Pupuntahan na san niya ito, pero umawat si mang Karding.

Huminga si Fredrick ng malalim. Maya-maya ay may nagpaputok ng baril. Galing ulit ito kay Mr. Andrews.

“Who is he dealing with?” Tanong ni Fredrick sa kanyang sarili. Nagtataka siya dahil wala naman siyang makita.

Another shot was fired, and this time to Lucille. Fredrick thought Lucille got shot, so he hurried towards her.

Mr. Andrews caught a glimpse of him and then fires a gunshot. Fredrick tripped over a branch on his way to Lucille. As soon as his head emerged, he saw Lucille lying on the dirt. He became worried and suddenly got up towards Lucille again. 

"Lucille!" Called Fredrick. He was glad to see her move. Everything happened so fast that when he look around, he saw Mr. Andrews lying lifeless. He looks back to Lucille and confused.

"Could mang Karding have done all of this?" Thought Fredrick.

Suddenly police starting to show up and manang Gloria run towards Lucille. Mang Karding wave at Fredrick and ofcourse he follows him.

"Okay ka lang ba Lucille?" Alalang tanong nito.

"Manang Gloria, I'm so happy to see you." Yakap ni Lucille.

"Asan si Fredrick?"

"Nandito lang siya kanina. Sandali po."

Nahuli naman ng mga police yung isang lalaking naka-itim. Kapatid pala ni Jason ang kasabwat ni Mr. Andrews. Nagulat si Lucille sa kanyang natuklasan. Hindi siya makapaniwala kung bakit pati ang pamilya  ng kanyang tinutuluyan ay kasali rin sa gulo.

Sa wakas nakita niya rin si Fredrick at tila may kina-kausap ito. She couldn't tell if it was the sun shining from where Fredrick is standing because she couldn't keep her eyes open. As she gets closer, she  notices a man standing right infront of Fredrick. A man in white.

"Tatay Karding?" She couldn't believe her eyes. Talagang gulat na gulat si Lucille. 

Ngumiti naman ito kay Lucille at lumapit. 

"Anak huwag kang matakot o mag-alala. I'm in a safe place now. Things happen for a reason. Starting from how Fredrick father's died, and how I found you. All what matters most is, it brought you to Fredrick."

"Tatay." Umiiyak na si Lucille. Nilapitan naman kaagad ito ni Fredrick at niyakap.

Unti-unting nawala ang kaluluwa ni mang Karding. Umiiyak si Lucille dahil nakita niya na rin ang kanyang tatay Karding even just for the last time. Tumingin naman siya kay Fredrick.

"Your tatay Karding was with you the whole time."

"Huh?"

"Yes."

"He couldn't leave without making sure your taken care off."

"He looks so peaceful. I'm happy for him."

May naalala namang bigla si Fredrick at tumawa ito. Napansin naman kaagad siya ni Lucille.

"Anong tinatawa mo diyan?"

"It just reminds me of how the first time I saw him." 

"How?"

"Trust me you don't want to know."

"Fredrick, I'm so happy, you are here with me. I love you so much."

Hinalikan naman siyang pabalik ni Fredrick at nagsabi itong...

"I won't last without you, my Lucille."

The end.