Lea's POV
I woke up this morning without Claire on my side. I and Aga looked for her everywhere but she's nowhere to be found.
We asked the security guards in the village and they told us that she left riding her motorbike almost two in the morning. It made me anxious.
I wasn't even aware that she already sneaked out!
Eight in the morning, we recieved a message from her telling us that she's sorry and that she's okay. She even told us that she's with Gab which surprised us all. We thought that kid already left for LA, but we didn't know she's leaving to live with that man. I don't get what's going on to the youth's head sometimes.
"Dawn is coming to fetch us. She knows where our daughter is. Tumawag na daw si Chard sa kanya."
"I don't know, Aga! Hindi ko alam kung anong magagawa ko kapag napahamak ang anak ko sa kalokohan ng anak nila!" He makes me sit in the sofa and holds my hand.
"Let's just pray for their safety babes. Calm down."
"Calm down, Aga?! How the hell will I calm down, ni hindi ko alam kung nasaan ang anak ko o kung anong nangyayari sa kanya?! Sila ang dapat na magdasal na walang mangyaring masama kay Claire dahil kakalimutan kong kaibigan natin sila!" I know Aga is mad like I am, but I just can't help it. Kinakabahan ako ng sobra.
Chard's POV
"Excuse me po, Sir. Heto po ang mga gamit ng mga pasyente. Heto ho yung sa buntis; heto naman po yung sa isa." I take the burnt clothes, but wait... buntis?
"What do you mean buntis?"
"Hindi niyo po alam? Yung pong may-ari ng damit na 'to," he points at my daughter's clothes "three weeks na pong buntis. Sino po ba ang anak niyo sa kanila. Kukunin ko na din po ang mga pangalan nila."
Buntis siya? Halos mabaliw na ako kanina pa and to know that she's pregnant makes me go crazy even more.
Dawn popped in my head all of a sudden. Paano ko sasabihin sa kanya na sa pangalawang pagkakataon, namatayan nanaman kami ng anak? I've witnessed how she almost killed herself when our eldest child died because of cancer.
Ayokong makita ulit siya sa ganong sitwasyon. I can't lose my wife this time. I need her. A selfish idea came to me. I need to do it. To save my wife.
Aga's POV
I, Lea and Dawn are almost running to the hospital where Richard is. We still don't have any idea what is happening. Richard just told us to come here. Lea and Dawn are in panick, even me but I don't show it for Lea.
"ICU??? Richard! Anong gagawin namin sa ICU? Ano bang nangyayare???" Dawn asked anxiously.
"Where is the ICU here?" I ask the nurse.
"Second floor po. If you'll take the elevator, right side po."
"Okay, thank you." I pull Lea's hand and the three of us ride the elevator. I can feel Lea's hand is cold and shaking. I just gulp in nervousness.
"Anong sabi ni Richard?? Who's in the ICU??" I ask.
"I don't know. Wala siyang sinagot. My God, 'wag naman po sana."
The elevator opens and we run to the ICU and found Richard sitting on the floor beside the ICU door. He looks messed on his pajamas and his eyes are puffy.
"Where is our daughter???" Dawn asks while crying. Richard looks at the transparent glass of the ICU.
"W-Why are you looking inside that room?! Tinatanong kita, nasaan ang anak ko??!" Dawn shouts at him and clutches his shirt.
"Honey... T-The person lying in that bed inside this room... is Gab. Our daughter."
"Oh my God." Lea whispers in surprise.
"You're lying! My daughter is not in that ICU! Sabi okay lang siya?! Why are you saying now that she is inside this damn room?!!!"
Dawn keeps punching Richard's chest. How did this happen to Gab? Where is my daughter? Richard walks toward us. He did something we never expected. He knelt down in front of us and cries so hard.
"W-What --- what are you doing???" I grab his collar and make him stand.
"What the hell is happening here?! Where is my daughter?!" He just keep on crying.
"I--I'm sorry... She's ---- She's dead." I punch him on his face as I heard Lea's brawl.
"Bawiin mo ang sinabi mo!!! Buhay pa ang anak ko!!! Buhay pa si Claire!!!" I was about to punch him again when the doctor came out from the ICU at umawat.
I went to Lea who is almost drowning in her tears. I can't believe this is happening. My daughter was just inside her room last night, how come she's already dead??? Lea hugs me. She lose her strength to stand.
"You are probably the parents of Claire Muhlach." We face her and she was surprised to see us.
"Ms. Lea, Sir Aga, I'm sorry for your lost. Nurse Jen will assist you to see your daughter. Excuse me."
"This way po..." Ang bigat sa pakiramdam. Every step we take to the morgue gets harder.
"Aga... I can't do this." She says between her sob.
"Babes, it's hard for me as well. But we need to be strong. Let's do this together, please." She nods.
The very second we step inside ther room where dead bodies are layed, Lea's cry became louder. The tears I've been controlling finally pours.
"Here is she, mam, sir. I'm very sorry for your lost." The nurse points to the the body that's covered with white blanket stained with blood.
Lea takes the plastic near the feet of our daughter. It contains the burnt clothes she wore during the incident and the latest gift we gave to her. A white gold necklace with a small cross pendant.
"Noooo!!!! Claire!!! Please... Claire!!!! Anak ko!!!"
My sobs became audible as Lea screams in pain. She's breaking down.
"Claire... Baby..." I simply call her.
