CHAPTER 3: GOOD NIGHT, MILADY

Soheila's POV

"I told you Dad! Masyadong delikado why didn't you listen to me?!" I cried while shouting at him. He looked down feeling guilty. 

"Soheila calm down. She's still alive okay? We just need to find her," nang-aamong sabi ni Mimi pero umiling ako. 

It's my birthday, I waited for my sister since the clock turned twelve but she never came. Until someone reported that their mission failed. They failed to turn their base down and my sister is missing together with her comrades. 

Where is she? She promised to be here! She should be here with me!

"I'm sorry, I promise to bring her back Soheila," my father pleaded.  

"No, I will find her myself Dad. I will find my sister myself, I don't care if you agree or not!" I rushed to my room and slammed the door. 

This is the first time I shouted at my parents. It hurts but I need to , I can't surpress my anger anymore. It's about my sister being in danger. I sat at the floor and cried even louder. I don't care anymore! I just want to see my sister. 

The sun already set down two hours ago and here I am driving while typing something at my phone. Someone give me a tip they saw my sisters car somewhere so I'm heading there.

Halos tatlong buwan na nang umalis ako sa mansyon para hanapin siya pero wala pa ring nangyayari. Nakikibalita rin ako sa mga inutusan nila Daddy para hanapin siya pero kahit sila ay hindi pa rin nate-trace kung nasaan ang kapatid ko. I already talked and apologized to my father but still I want to find Silicia myself. 

Tinignan ko ang location na binigay nila at nakitang nandoon na ako. Paglabas ko ay madilim na ang buong paligid. Inilibot ko ang aking tingin pero walang ibang nandoon kundi ang maliliit na kahoy na ginawang pangharang sa bangin. My heart beat faster while walking near the cliff wishing that there's nothing that would break my heart. 

But not all wishes come true, I saw my sisters car down the cliff. Yupi ang harapan at may marka ng sunog sa likuran. I started to catch my breath to prevent myself to cry.

Dahan -dahan akong bumaba patungo doon. Masyadong matarik pero dahil sanay ako ay hindi na ako masyadong nahirapan. It took me half an hour to reach my sister's car but I immediately forced the door to open. 

Nang tignan ko ang loob ng sasakyan ay puro sira na iyon. Ibinaba ko ang tingin ko at doon ko nakita ang anklet na pag-aari ng kapatid ko. Putol na at nababalot ng dugo ang kulay puting anklet ni Silicia.

As much as I want to stop myself from overthinking I can't. Nag-uunahang pumatak ang luha ko hanggang sa humagulgol na ako habang yakap-yakap ang anklet niya. Why does it have to be her?

She promised to come back, now where is she? She's still alive I can feel it, hindi ako basta-basta maniniwala dito.

Hahanapin ko siya sa kahit anong paraan. 

Natigil ako sa pag-iyak ng may marinig akong sumigaw galing sa taas kaya tumingin ako doon. I saw a man shouting at me. 

"Hey miss! Are you okay? I'll help you wait for me!"sabi nito. 

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang sinimulan na niyang bumaba papunta sa akin. Nang makarating siya ay hingal na hingal siyang tumayo sa harapan ko kaya pinagmasdan ko siya.

The bright moon help me to recognize his face that make me shocked. 

"Alas?!" He immediately looked at me as if he's trying to recognize me, then his eyes grew bigger. 

"Milady? The f*ck you're doing here?" Nilibot niya ang paligid bago ako kinabig palapit sa kaniya. 

"What happened to you? Are you trying to kill yourself?" ani niya pagkatapos akong tignan ng mabuti. 

Smudged make up, muddy clothes, and puffy eyes. Yeah right, I really look suicidal. I took a deep breath and smiled at him beforr avoiding my gaze. 

"You look terrible, milady. Let me help you out of here and we'll talk about it," seryosong sabi niya bago niya ako isampa sa likod niya at umakyat gamit ang lubid. Hindi ko man lang napansin na may lubid siyang dala kaya mabilis siyang nakababa. 

Bumaba ako mula sa likod niya at agad na sumandal sa puno. Napansin kong ganon din ang ginawa niya pagkatapos ay tinignan niya ako. Inaalam siguro kung may sugat akong nakuha.

I know he want to ask questions but I have no energy to answer them so I just stayed quiet. 

Nang ma-realize niyang wala talaga akong balak magsalita ay tumingin nalang siya sa buwan.

I'm really confused what's this guy doing here. Sa dami ng pwedeng makakita sa akin siya pa. 

"I don't know what happened but I want you to know that you don't have to hurt yourself to release the pain, milady. If you don't want to talk about it, that's okay with me. I'll just stay here so you will not feel alone," he calmly said. 

I looked at him at my peripheral vision and saw him playing the grass with his hands. I noticed that he's still wearing office attire, probably just got out from work.

I can still smell his lavender scent even his clothes are full of dirt. He looked more stressed and handsome at the same time than the first time we met. 

"Is my face enough to solve your dilemma, milady?" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin pero tumawa lang siya. Napaka hangin talaga. 

"My sister went missing three months ago. I tried everything to find her but ended up crying here after I saw her car," sabi ko. 

Mukhang nagulat siyang bigla akong nagsalita pero tumango siya para sabihing nakikinig siya. Maybe it's not bad to open up?

S

imula ng mawala si Silicia ay kinikimkim ko na lahat ng nararamdaman ko. I cleared my throat before talking again. 

"I came here hoping that I will see her again but I only saw her car and this anklet," I showed him my sister's anklet.

"I don't want to give up, I know she's still breathing. I just want see her again...I miss her...I miss my sister."

Ayoko mang umiyak sa harapan niya ay hindi ko na napigilan. Nakita ko pang nataranta siya, nagdadalawang-isip kung yayakapin ako pero sa huli kamay ko lang ang kinabig niya at hinawakan ng mahigpit. 

Umabot ng isang oras bago ako tumigil sa pag-iyak. Pinagmasdan niya akong ayusin ang sarili ko bago naglabas ng panyo at siya na mismo ang nagpunas ng mukha ko.

Iginaya niya ako sa sasakyan niya at saka nag-drive. Babalikan ko nalang ang kotse ko bukas. 

"You can stay at my place tonight if you want. Don't worry I'm good guy," nakangiting sabi niya kaya pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata. 

"Okay. But I'm hungry," nakangiwing tugon ko at nakita ko siyang sumulyap sa akin. 

Sakto namang may nadaanan kaming fast-food kaya lumiko siya sa drive thru. Siya narin ang nagbayad at kinain ko ang akin habang nasa byahe kami.

Napansin kong pasulyap-sulyap siya sa pagkain niyang hindi niya magalaw kaya kinuha ko iyon at itinapat sa bibig niya. 

"Thank you...can I have the drinks too?" maingat niyang sabi kaya napangiti ako. Tinapat ko sa bibig niya ang straw at humigop siya. Pagkatapos ay sumubo naman ako ng para sa akin. 

"I only have one room here since I'm alone. You will sleep there, you can also use the bathroom to clean yourself," he said while I'm roaming his place. 

"Saan ka matutulog?" I asked him. 

"This sofabed will do. I'm used to sleep here too so it's no problem," turo niya pa sa sofa kaya tumango ako. 

"Can I use the bathroom now?" I asked him and he nodded. 

He guided me to his room and open it for me. There's the scent of lavender again, opposite to his manly room. Gray and maroon theme while his bed is a king size.

Office table left side of the bed while lamp and mini table at the right side. I stopped walking when I remember something. He looked at me with confuse look. 

"Well...I don't have clothes," nahihiyang sabi ko. Napaisip naman siya bago pumunta sa closet niya. Pagbalik niya ay may dala siyang oversized shirt at maliit na boxer, pati blower.

"This is the smallest one I have here, it's brand new don't worry. And for your undies...maybe you can wash it then use a blower to dry it," parang nahihiya pa niyang sabi. Gosh!

"This will do thank you."

I'm trying to clear my mind while on the shower. I thought of how I will find my sister and how's my parents doing now that I left them.

And this guy, Alas. Makikitulog ako sa bahay ng taong nakilala ko lang kung saan, ni hindi ko nga alam kung tunay ba ang pangalan niya.

I don't remember myself being comfortable with someone like this, especially a guy. Whatever is happening, it's not my problem for the mean time.

That's not my priorities here. I need to find Silicia first. 

Lumabas na ako pag katapos kong linisin ang katawan ko. Saktong nagsusuklay ako nang pumasok si Alas na bagong ligo na rin.

He looks hot with fitted shirt and pajamas. 

"Alas..." I called him. He raised his brows to ask why. 

"Alas ba talaga ang pangalan mo?" I curiously asked and he smiled. 

"Let me introduce myself formally then,"inayos niya ang tindig bago nagsalita. 

"I am Yvo Galaxias Maximo the CEO of Maxhece Company, milady." Yumuko siya na tila isang prinsipe na sinakyan ko naman. 

"Soheila Justice Rustavo, the youngest in my family." I curtsied and to my surprise, he kissed my hand. 

"Goodnight, milady."