The Switch (ViceRylle)

40. Hope

Those first three weeks after Karylle left were the most difficult days not only to her family but also to Vice. At naging saksi ang pamilya ni K lalo na sila Anne, Vhong at Billy sa mga pinagdaanan ni Vice. To the point that the three take turns sa pagstay sa bahay ni Vice maski ba na parang hangin lang sila sa binata. Araw-araw ay inuubos ni Vice ang kanyang oras sa loob lamang ng kanyang kwarto. Nilulunod ang sarili sa alak at hindi napapagod sa maghapong pag-iyak. If you will see him now, he is a perfect picture of a total mess. Malaking eyebags, namumugtong mata, hindi naahit na balbas at bigote, mabahong amoy dahil sa ilang araw na di paliligo, idagdag mo pa ang marumi niyang kwarto, nagkalat ang mga bote at mga walang laman na lata ng alak, gulo gulong higaan at basag basag na gamit. From the Oh-So-Clean Vice to a total wreck. He is also back to bar hopping and drinking to death, sometimes with Team Vice but most of the time he's alone. He's also back to playing with different boys every night. The Vice few years ago.

Aside from the pain that Vice is experiencing now, ay tila tinik din na tumutusok sa puso ng kanyang mga kaibigan ang makita siya sa ganoong kalagayan. This is the first time they saw Vice this depressed and down. Bagaman nalulungkot sila sa biglaan na pag-alis ni Karylle ay mas nalulungkot sila sa nakikita nilang pagbabago kay Vice. Who he is now is the opposite of who he was when everything's okay.

And it pained Anne, Vhong and Billy that they cannot do anything to make him feel less depressed. The three of them have been seeking all the possible help they could get just to have a contact with Karylle. Simula kasi ng umalis ito ay ni minsan ay hindi ito nagparamdam maski sa isa man lang sa kanila. Hindi naman nila mahingi ang tulong ng mga magulang ni Karylle dahil pinanghawakan ng mga ito ang pangako kay Karylle na hahayaan ito sa piniling desisyon. Halos mag-tatatlong buwan na ay wala pa ring progreso sa kanilang paghahanap. And they are down to their final ace that is to call Coco and Zia, Karylle's sisters, to force them to atleast give them basic information about their sister's departure.

*On the phone*

"Hello? Who's this calling?"

"Hi! This is Anne, your ate's friend. We've been fr--"

"Yeah! I know you. I heard some stories about you.."

"Ohh! Are those good stories or not?"

"Hahaha of course good. My ate loves her friends so much.."

"And we love her too so much.. Actually, that's why I called you up. I'll go straight to the point. Nagbabakasakali lang na baka matulungan mo kami kahit papaano about your ate's itinerary."

"Kase--"

"Look, we won't tell Tita Z about this. Wala kasi kaming mapiga sa kanya, she kept mum about your ate."

"Believe it or not I know nothing."

"Please!! We badly need to know where she is before my friend, actually her best friend, die because of depression."

"What? Why?"

"Let's just say that your ate is too adorable that his gay best friend fallen in love with her."

"Whaaat? You mean Kuya Vice?"

"Yesss!!"

"OMG!! I've been rooting about their teeny-weeny love team ever since. Sabi na e there's something in them hahahaha.. But despite that like what I said kanina wala talaga akong alam kung nasaan si ate. My mom won't tell. Pero maybe we could figure things out. Could we meet somewhere to talk about this?"