THE CHESS GAME (Completed)

SPECIAL: SEEKING HELP (Racey)

Special Chapter: Seeking Help (Racey)

🏁MRS. RACEY🏁

"I know, pa. But for now, I will just absorb first all the things that happened. Magpapahangin muna ako sa labas."

IYAN ANG huling sinabi ng aking anak bago siya umalis. After how many hours, nagsimula na akong mag-alala kung nasaan na siya. Kung bakit hindi pa siya umuwi.

"Hon... alas 8 na ng g-gabi. Hindi pa bumabalik ang anak natin." sambit ko sa aking asawa. Nagsimula na akong kabahan. It's not the first time that Jobella is still outside of the house at this hour. Pero iba ang pakiramdam ko.

He stopped from sipping his coffee. "Baka mamaya uuwi na 'yon. You know your daughter. So calm down." he said while putting the cup on the table in front of the couch. Sumandal siya sa couch then his left hand reach for my left shoulder and caressed it.

Yes. I know my daughter very well. She does not do something that can make us worry. But as a mother kasi, we have a strong gut feel towards our daughter—or son, for other preference—dahil kami ang nagluwal. But...

I just heaved a sigh.

...okay. Walang nangyaring masama sa anak ko. Uuwi siya mayamaya lang. Alam niyang sabay kaming magdi-dinner at alam kong hindi niya iyon sasawayin.

Pero sumapit ang alas 10 ay hindi na ako mapakali. Hindi pa rin siya umuwi. We haven't eaten our dinner yet dahil inantay namin siya.

"H-Hon..." alalang sambit ko kay Alfred. Even though I didn't utter any other words, alam na niya ang gusto kong sasabihin.

Bumuntong hininga siya. I know he's also worried right now but he remain calm. "Okay. We will find her."

Umalis kami sa bahay at kung saan-saan kami nagpunta. Sa mall, sa park, even to her favorite spot which is the cliff near the bridge ay pinuntahan namin but we didn't find her. Ilang gabi akong hindi makatulog, hoping that my daughter will come back. I feel it. Nasabi ko na kanina na malakas ang gut feel naming mga ina. Alam kong ligtas siya. I will hold onto that.

We just find her by ourselves. Hindi kami nagpatulong sa mga police dito sa bayan kasi even if we will seek help to them, they will just go to a little place and pretend that they are exerting effort to find a missing person. Our system here ay katulad na katulad talaga sa pinuno namin. They will only into money, not responsibility. Kaya for me, seeking help from them is still useless. Masasayang ang perang ibabayad namin.

Susubukan rin sana naming puntahan ang mga kasamahan ni Jobella sa laro. But hindi ko alam kung saan ang mga bahay nila. And even if I know, hindi ko gustong mangambala ng ibang mga tao.

Hindi kami nawawalan ng pag-asang mahahanap namin or babalik ang anak namin. Malakas talaga ang kutob kong uuwi siya. Hindi niya kami iiwan. I really know that. She already proved that during the game that even though I know na nanghihina na siya emotionally, she still went on. And I am very proud of her for doing that.

Ngayon ang panglimang araw ng paghahanap namin. As usual, my husband and I are carrying backpack na may lamang pagkain, pera at tubig for our thorough finding of our daughter. But I almost leaped in joy when we suddenly heard three knocks on the door at pagkatapos ay iniluwa ang anak ko! She came back!

Agad na naibaba ko ang hawak kong backpack. I rushed towards her and hugged her so tight. Klase-klaseng emosyon ang nararamdaman ko. Pagkabahala, because we didn't know what happend to her. Pagkasabik, dahil ilang araw siyang nawala. I missed her so much. At pagkatuwa because she's back.

Halos humagulgol ako sa pag-iyak.

But...

...she looks different. I can't exactly tell pero parang may kakaiba sa anak ko. She looks like someone that she's not before. Her aura is so odd. Pero I didn't entertain that thought. Maybe sanhi lang ito ng pagkawala niya ng ilang araw.