I'll be Home [On Going]

Chapter 37

A cold breeze of air touched Aga's face as he stands outside his room veranda. On his right hand is a glass of whisky and the other is in his pocket. His eyes were on the clear night sky, it's already late in the evening but drowsiness seemed to be aloof. The past episodes of his life were playing vividly at the back of his head.

' "I couldn't thank God enough for giving me a woman like you. I'll be forever grateful for your existence." he's talking to his wife as if she can hear him, he's caressing and kissing her hands lovingly. She's fast asleep after hours of cramping and high intensity of pain she's been through. That's the worst pain he has ever seen she endured.

' "Hey babe, look at here!" he called his wife who's now holding their newborn. He would like to capture each moment as he has promised long before they even got married. She glanced and gave him a quick gentle smile. She's an epitome of inhumanly tough woman for bringing out this little bunch of joy in their lives. He smiled and mouthed her 'I love you' which she chuckled in return.'

He smiled upon remembering those days, becoming a father of her child has been the best moment he has experienced in his life. But then a fiery smile registered on his face when another memory flashed. The strongest memory in his mind, the day when both of his and his daughter's life changed. He took another sip of whisky.

' "Babe? Babe I'm home!" he said loudly as he walked in their room. He was wearing a full smile before entering their room as he's always been excited to see them everyday from work. As soon as he opened the door, the babysitter went near him.

"Sir, kanina pa po sya umiiyak. Napakain ko na rin naman po, nakatulog lang saglit tapos heto po ulit. Hinahanap na po siguro si Ma'am." the bbaysitter said and his smile faded. He took his daughter from the her and his little girl hushed.

"Hello baby... There you go, that's it." he said as he cradles his baby, "Kanina pa ba umalis si Lea ate?" he asked the babysitter who's now packing her things to go home. She wasn't like the others who stayed in and that they had agreed on.

"Opo Sir, kanina pa pong alas dos umalis." she looked at the wall clock before answering.

"Saan daw ang punta?" he asked while looking at his daughter who's now holding a bottle of milk.

"Wala pong nabanggit eh."

That's unusual, his wife never left the house without informing him or even the babysitter.

"Sige ate, pwede ka ng umuwi. Pasensya na ginabi ka na. Ako na dito, salamat." he said while glancing at his daughter who's now holding a bottle of milk on her crib.

He sighed out of relief when his daughter was already asleep. He proceeded to his table to check his mails while waiting for his wife until he didn't notice it's already ten in the evening. He sent her a message earlier and he didn't receive any response yet. He checked his phone and tried calling her again, but her line cannot be reached anymore. He tried several times but it says the same. He called their friends and any possible persons he knows his wife's acquaintances but all of them told the same.

'Where are you Lea?'

Suddenly his heart pounded in a rapid state as he went to her closet to check her things. Part of him tells to do so.

Her clothes were still there, even her shoes and bags. He breathed out and called her line again for the nth time. He doesn't like the way it's turning out to him.

Then, he thought of the attache case  where most of their personal documents were sealed.

That's when he lost his strength, his knees felt so weak he needed to hold on the table for support. Hot tears started to well up in his eyes.