Finding Avie's body

Chapter 9

Drake and I both decided na pumunta nalang muna sa condo nya. While were on our way to his condo he was silent, really really silent. His eyes were fixed on the road like he was here but his mind is totally elsewhere.

“Are you really sure na walang ibang nakaka kita sayo bukod sakin?” He suddenly asked why he stopped the gas for the red light.

“Paulit ulit? You tried to touch me di ba? What happened? Kaya avoid talking to me pag may ibang taong nakapalilgid. They will think that you are totally goiong insane” Pairap na litanya ko sa kanya.

I’m sure gulong gulo na si Drake ngayon, ako din naman. Actually hindi ko na alam kung ano ba yung dapat kong isipin at dapat kong paniwalaan. Sobrang naguguluhan na talaga ako.

Ang hirap ng ganito, ang malinaw lang para sakin kailangan kong mahanap ang katawan ko para makabalik ako. That’s the only concrete idea that I have, but sadly hindi ko alam kung pano at kung saan ako magsisimula.

“I know, I know. It’s just that I just still couldn’t fathom everything until now. Naguguluhan ako” He said while he continued driving.

“I know, nakakalito din talaga ako nga nung unang akala ko talaga wala na akong pag asa at hihintayin ko nalang yung araw na maglalaho ako na parang bula.” I sighed while saying how hopeless this situation is.

After some time we reached the building of his condo. Dumiretso si Drake sa parking lot para iparada yung kotse nya.

“Were here, come on” He said while unbuckling his seat.

I didn’t know na dito pa din pala sya nag-sstay sa condo na to. I really expected him to move out after our relationship. We have so many memories in this condo unit. It actually breaks my heart knowing that his condo could have possibly changed just like us.

 When we ride the elevator its just me and Drake. Hindi pa din nya ako masyadong kinikibo he just asks me from time to time if I was fine or comfortable enough.

I realized that we are already on the 17th floor when I heard a *ding* sound from the elevator, meaning that we reached the floor of our destination.

Drake get out of the elevator hastily, I just quietly followed him while he was walking right to his unit.

“Come on in.” He said while opening the door of the condo.

“I’ll cook for you Kiesh, what do you wanna have for dinner?” He asked while browsing through his fridge.

I just laughed a little.

“I don’t think makaka kain ako sa situation ko” I said then slyly smiled.

Napa kamot nalang sya ng ulo nung narealize nya na hindi nga ako makaka kain.

I just shrugged and continued to look around his living room.

“I’m sorry, I’ll just cook some noodles here for me para makapag usap na tayo” He said while he got himself a pack of ramen noodles.

I didn’t bother answer him. I decided to have a little walk on his condo. Malaki yung condo ni Drake it two storey and has 3 big rooms.  He has this huge living room and gym room.

While he’s busy cooking his ramen I went to the kitchen to tell him that I want to take a nap.

“Drake I’ll just take a nap. I feel so tired. Parang drained na drained ako. You can do everything you have to do. Just wake me up after 30 mins. Okay?”  Dire-diretso kong sabi sa kanya.

After I said that dire-diretso na akong lumabas ng kitchen.

I could really use some sleep right now. Napupuyat din pala ang mga wandering souls.

Funny right? I have my own term now of what I am, I am a ‘wandering soul’ ang pangit naman kasing pakinggan ng kaluluwang ligaw o kaluluwang gala.

At least my term  ‘wandering soul’ still have some class.

I know. Ang arte ko. This should be the least of my concern now, pero ayoko naman na matawag na kaluluwang ligaw or kaluluwang gala! That is so not me! So not me!

I didn’t wait for Drake to answer me, I just lie down his big sofa.

 As I slowly close my eyes, sleepiness slowly crept into me.

I know I just slept the other but I feel like I haven’t had any sleep for centuries!

I just feel so tired and burned out.

After a little while I heard Drake calling my name.

“Hey sleepy head” He said while he sat down the sofa in front of me.

I slowly opened my eyes to see a freshly bathe Drake Christopher Lacson III.

I used to call him Tres. That’s my endearment for him since he was a ‘the third’ he hates it so much but when I told him that I find the endearment ‘tres’ really cute he said he’d take it.

“So how’s your sleep princess?” He asked while smiling at me.

I never realize that Me and Drake will ever be in this kind of situation again. After what happened to us I really thought that we will never get to do this again. You know, late night talks.

I looked at the wall clock and notice that it’s already 10 PM.

“Bakit hindi mo ako ginising? I told you I’ll just take a nap. Not a sleep. You are such a douche as always.” Naka-irap na sabi ko sa kanya.

“Why would I wake up you up. You look like you haven’t sleep in ages” he said while crossing his legs.

“ Okay. Point taken.” I surrendered. Ghad I still want to sleep I really feel like I could even sleep for an entire week!

“Don’t you dare close your eyes again miss. Bawal ka ng pumikit. Madami tayong kailangang pag-usapan” He seriously said.

Drake’s like this, he likes to spoil me so much but still he gives me limitations. He tells me when I should stop doing something coz’ its not going bring any good to me.

Why does it feel like after all these years nothing really changed?

This is damn frustrating for me.

“okay. So saan tayo magsisimula?” I get up and sat down like him. I have to clear my head and set my mind straight.

Please Avrielle, know your limitations. Know your priorities.

I wanted to slap myself on the inside.

“I want you to tell me everything that happened that night. Lahat ng kaya mong alalahanin, you have to try to remember at least somethings na pwedeng makatulong sa atin” Drake seriously said while grabbing a ledger and a pen.

I knew that this time I have to get all the memories that I can get. This is the first step for me to get my body back. I closed my eyes and I started narrating to Drake what I remember that night.

“Nung gabing yon I checked into Bella towers kasi I wanted to have some rest and pampering time before my flight. I also decided that I will check in there kasi mas madali ako makakapunta ng airport from Bella towers kesa mang galing pa ako sa Mansion”   I said while trying to be as comprehensive as I can.

“It was 4 am in the morning nung nag doorbell si Mang Ernesto, I was all ready set by then. I have all my things in the luggage and we went directly at the parking. Pag sakay naming ng kotse we were already  on our way to the airport that time. When I felt a really loud bang. Next thing I know is nakita ko nalang si Mang Ernesto na duguan. He is really covered with blood, even with my blurry vision I saw how terrible Mang Ernesto looked like. Sinusubukan nyang huminga that time pero nung napatingin sya sa akin he was saying something na hindi ko na maintindihan”

It feels now like my head is spinning. Para akong nahihilo habang lalo kong pinipilit na isipin kung ano ang nangyari

“Kiesh you can stop. Pag hindi mo na kaya you can stop okay?” Drake sounds worried now.

Its really hard for me. Para akong nasusuka na nahihilo habang binabalikan ko sa isipan ko kung ano yung mga nangyari but I don’t want to stop. I have to remember everything as much as I can.

“No. Nong nakita ko na parang may sinasabi si Mang Ernesto sa akin na hindi ko maintindihan. I felt like my body was being moved para akong binubuhat and slowly I saw Mang Ernesto lost his lif habang binubuhat ako palayo kay Mang Ernesto nakita ko pa sya sa huli nyang hininga.”

The tears that I have been holding back are now out of my control.

Patuloy lang sa pagtulo yung luha sa mata ko kahit wala na akong sinasabi.

Mang Ernesto…

I started shaking and trembling. Why does this have to happen? Why to me?

And specially, why with Mang Ernesto?

“Hush Now Kiesha. Maayos din natin ang lahat. For now I had everything you said noted and recorded. You have to sleep. Ako na ang bahala dito. We will talk about this again tomorrow” Drake said seriously.

“Pero baka may maalala pa ako, I think again baka sakali na may maalala pa ako” I said while crying.

I want to do this not only for myself but also for Mang Ernesto. I have to find the truth for the both of us.

“Kiesh it’s okay tama na muna. Nahihirapan kana. Nakikita kong nahihirapan kana. Tama na muna” He said while placing the ledger on his cabinet. He looks so worried.

I thought this journey is all about me finding my body and getting my soul back into it. I totally forgot about Mang Ernesto.

Hindi lang ako yung nawalan ng buhay.

Hindi lang ako yung may deserve ng katotohanan. I can only imagine the pain of his family. Mang Ernesto is dearly loved by his children because he is such a good father. I suddenly remember that day when I told him na I’ll just get a grab or uber for my ride into the airport, he insisted that he will be the one to drive for me.

Sabi nya sakin hindi nya ako pwedeng ipagkatiwala sa mga grab at uber driver.

Kahit pa graduation ng anak nya kinabukasan. Pinilit pa din nya akong maihatid kasi sabi ni Mang Ernesto na trabaho nya na ihatid ako sa kahit saan at anong panahon.

Sadly, Mang Ernesto will never be able to drive for me anymore and will never be able to attend his daughter’s graduation ceremony.

He was so proud of her. Gagraduate ng Highschool as a valedictorian yung anak nya, pero wala na sya para sabitan ito ng medalya.

I couldn’t help but cry and cry as I feel the pain of losing a dear friend.

If I can only turn back time. I shouldn’t have let him drive for me.

 “ Drake we need to find out kung sino o ano ang nakabangga sa amin ni Mang Ernesto.” I told Drake seriously.

“I don’t know kung narealize mo na to before or not but you have to know this Kiesh. Your body is missing, kaya nandito ka pa at hindi pa namatay ay dahil yung physical body somewhere is still actually alive. This means na kung anong yung nangyari habang papunta ka ng airport, hindi yun basta isang aksidente lang” Drake said while intently looking into my eyes.

He has a point.  Bakit buhay pa ako at hindi si Mang Ernesto? Dahil kung talagang aksidente yung nangyari dapat parehas kaming binawian ng buhay ni Mang Ernesto.

“And think about this Kiesh, the body that was found in the car is actually two.” Drake honestly said to me, knocking some sense into my nerves. 

He has a point.

This is far from accident.

This isn’t an accident.

“Kiesh I am afraid that what happened to you and Mang Ernesto is not an accident. This was planned. It was well planned.” Drake is now shaking in anger.

Namumula na sya sag alit.

But who could possibly such a cruel thing like this?

Alam ko na may mga taong galit sa akin dahil sa pagiging straight forward at strikta ko. But I don’t think that is enough reason to kill me.

“Drake sino naman ang pwedeng gumawa sa akin nito? I don’t think na sapat na dahilan nag alit sila sa akin para gawin yungn ganito karumal dumal na bagay. Buhay na ang pinag-uusapan dito Drake. Wala akong maisip na nagawan ko ng kasalanan na maaring umabot sa ganito” I said with a shaking voice.

This can’t be happening to me.

“I wanted to hug you and tell you that its going to be okay, but I can’t. Because I can’t even touch you.  But I promise you Kiesh that I will find your body. I promise to bring you back your life.” He said while intently looking into my eyes as if he was saying that he will do just everything to help me.

These are things that I failed to realize at the very beginning…

Hindi aksidente yung nangyari sa akin…

And Mama Catleya is right.

This is no ordinary journey.

For myself and for Mang Ernesto, I will find the truth.

I will get my life back and bring justice for what happened to Mang Ernesto.

Pag-babayarin ko ng mahal kung sino man ang gumawa nito.

“Let’s find my body Drake. I am counting on you.”