Gleaming Part

....25

Chapter 25

Eugene's POV

Today's a weird day. I mean it should be a happy day because its graduation, but I haven't heard from Cadie yet, it's been a week since I last talked to her. She's not replying to my texts and calls. Kahit si Thomas hindi ko matawagan. It just makes me worry why she's not answering. She usually answers in a span of seconds or minutes.

"Anak. Are you okay?" I looked at my mom trying to fix my collar and I slightly smiled.

"I'm just worried about Cadie, Mom. I haven't talked to her. I haven't seen her today. Even Thomas." I noticed my mom's mood changed.

She smiled in an awkward way before fixing her posture.

"Maybe, they're busy with some family matters. Sometimes, they have something to deal with in their family. Like, we do." She looked around and smiled back at me.

Its been a while since I noticed something from my parents. My dad isn't that pressuring when it comes to my profession. My mom usually don't talk about Cadie and her family. It's like they have different matters to deal with. It's weird because, I feel like I'm wearing a loose leash.

"Mom. Do you want to say something?" I carefully examined her. But she just shrugged her shoulders and smiled a little.

"Well, I want to say is that we should get going inside." Hinila na niya ang braso ko papasok.

Where's Cadie?

I looked around here in the Honor Section because she is the only one in our batch who will graduate as a highest honor but she's not there.

Hindi ako mapakali kahit kanina pa when we were marching, I saw our other friends but, I haven't seen her.

When her name was called, I knew she was gone. Just like that. Ni hindi man lang nag paalam.

She just left me hanging.

Usually when my friends and I hang out. Lagi ko tinatanong kung alam ba nila kung nasaan si Cadie at Thomas, ngunit hindi naman nila ako masagot kasi kahit sila hindi alam.

I felt like a lost puppy, abandoned by the owner at the middle of nowhere. Lagi kong hinahanap si Cadie kahit sa mga kaklase nila. I even asked Ashley and Cameron so many times because they were the closest to her. Cameron, even my bestfriend doesn't know where she is.

Nasaan na ba kasi talaga sila? Where did they go? Is it family matters?

Until, I knew the reason.

I just woke up from an afternoon nap when I went downstairs to grab a snack. I saw my mom and dad standing in front of the TV.

"Business Tycoons in the Philippines such as Loki Suarez, Tyrone Ty, and Finn Rom is arrested for having illegals drugs not only delivered through parts in the Philippines but also manufactured in abandoned factories."

Tinatakbuhan pala niya iyong dumi ng pamilya niya. I smirked. Liar.

"Hello? Sorry I had no time to look at the caller ID, who's this?" Ashley answered my call and seems busy.

"Hey. I'll make this quick as possible. I have a question." I heard her gasped and I think she fell some thing on the floor. I heard something bang the floor.

"What the hell? Is this the person who I think it is? Hoy, Eugene? Is it really you?" She's so conyo.

"Yeah, hey. Did you know?" I asked her.

"Know what? Thank you so much for helping me pick these up, Stephanie. I'm sorry, that was my co-worker. Anyway, know what?" I breathed and tried to calm down.

"She's back here. It's not that I hate her as a person, but why does she has the audacity to come back here? Masaya naman siya kung nasaan siya nung iniwan niya ako, iniwan niya tayo. Tumakas siya diba? Kasi baka sakaniya isumbat iyong ginagawa ng ama niya. Why is she back?" I heard her sigh.

"Don't say that." I felt her become serious.

"Please, don't ever say that about Cadie. Hindi natin alam kung bakit siya nag leave in the first place. Hindi rin natin alam if she knew the dirty-doings of her dad. Labas siya sa issue ng dad niya. I know, it hurt knowing she and Thomas left without even telling us, no proper goodbyes happened. You have in any right to be mad. But please, consider how she feels too." I scoffed. How will I understand her?

"How will I understand her when she left all of a sudden? She may be lying too, Ash. I don't know if I can believe her. She ghosted me. Ano iyon? Ipapa-feel niya sa'kin na special ako sakaniya? I gave her privacy, I gave her time, so she could be comfortable once she opens up. Pero ano iyon?" I heard her talk to someone before answering me.

"If nakayanan mo siya i-understand dati. Please understand her now. We will have a lot of time to catch up. She's here. Don't let your pride take over you, andiyan na siya oh. Will you waste time and not ask questions you've been longing to have answers on? I know you are better than this. Gumraduate ka ng may academic distinction, you're smart. I got to go. Catch up soon." Binaba niya na ang tawag at naiwan naman akong tulala.

How will I understand her? Baka mamaya, mag sinungaling siya sa'kin. Make up excuses to cover up the truth. But, I know she's not like that. But what if? What if she has that kind of side?

Argh, this is frustrating me. Bakit pa kasi kailangan pa siya bumalik dito?

I called another friend, I need someone to be with me in the same perspective.

"Hello, dude! What's up!" Cameron greeted and I can't help but to be straight to the point.

"She's back here. I don't know why she has the audacity to come back here after she left us." I heard him scoffed.

"Sino? Si Cadie?" I sighed.

He breathed, "Alam mo, dude. I understand why you're mad. Pero sana isipin mo rin posisyon ni Cadie. I'm not saying that you guys have different tolerances kaya kailangan mas intindihin si Cadie but, I just hope you learn to ask. She's back, hindi ba? It's the time to be clear. Throw away the grudges. And sana hindi mo isipin na lahat ng sinasabi ni Cadie ay hindi totoo. Minsan lang mag open up si Cadie and I know you know that. Don't make her feel na hindi worthy pag open up niya just because nafeel mo na nag sisinungaling siya. She had her own sufferings too. And I bet marami rin siyang tanong sa'yo. Sige na, dude. Huwag ka sana magalit sa'kin. Labyu!" He ended the called and didn't even get me the chance to speak.

Wait? Does our friends know what happened to her? That's why they're not surprised she's back? What the hell?