THE ABSENCE

Chapter 3

"What happened to you? It's a good thing that I passed by your house yesterday. Annalise is still very mad at you because you chose Amelia over her even though you knew she was going to die. And now you are here in jail?"

Adan bowed when he heard that from Marco. He tried to ease his own will.

"She didn't die, did she? Let me be the one to talk to her when she visits," he said to his friend and nodded. He even noticed him staring at him.

"Did you really kill someone?" This question to him was full of doubt. Apparently unwilling to believe the news that reached him.

Adan smiled at Marco and nodded. "Why? Don't you believe me because I'm so handsome?"

"Damn you, Adan! Aside from the fact that you're not that handsome, I really can't believe it because you dream of becoming a doctor. Why would you kill someone?" Marco was so irritated that he laughed even more.

Marco's forehead tightened on his.

"People change, Marco."

"I still don't believe it. Tell me what really happened. Amelia has something to do with this, right?"

Adan immediately averted his eyes from Marco when he mentioned that name. This is the second day of his stay in jail but it still does not visit him. He couldn't help but worry because maybe something might happen to Amelia.

"Silence means yes. Are you really losing your mind? You took the blame just for that woman who couldn't even come here."

Adan looked sharply at Marco. That if he hadn't just been in the back of that jail, he would have quickly kicked it.

"I was brought here only yesterday. She was traumatized, Marco. I understand her situation and I don't care even if she doesn't visit me now. All that matters is that she is in good condition," he told Marco emphatically and motioned for him to leave.

They looked at each other for a while before Marco finally turned his back on him. Even before he could get away, he called his best friend again.

"Take care of Annalise for a while. I'm sure I can't be forgiven by that one so it's good that I'm here," Adan finally said to Marco and turned his back on it.

Adan almost sat on one side there and closed his eyes firmly. Where are you, Amelia? Why won't you come to me until now?

***

We, the jury, in the case of the people of the Philippines versus Mr. Adan Javier de Alegre, find the defendant guilty of the charge of murder beyond a reasonable doubt.

Adan heard Annalise's loud cries as the police took him back to the jail. This is the last day of the hearing of his case and now he is also convicted.

His eyes searched for his sister and as soon as he saw her, he forced a smile on it.

"A-Adan… why did you do that? I can't believe you killed someone!" Annalise shouted and tried to reach him but the police pulled him out of the courtroom.

Adan didn't even notice what Annalise said next because his eyes were busy looking for the woman he hoped he could be with there. He looked around the whole place but his eyes still could not find Amelia. He felt intense pain in his heart when he realized everything.

Two months had passed but not even for a moment had he seen it visit him. He is not sure what happened to his girlfriend but he still believes that it will not disappoint him even if he just asks her a simple thing.

Because that's what Adan always does for Amelia. He gives everything to her even if it's a simple thing.

It took about two hours before Adan was allowed to receive the visit. He immediately hurried out when one of the guards told him he had a visitor, thinking it was Amelia but he was wrong.

"Aren't you tired of coming back here?" Adan said lazily.

He just heard him swearing.

"I still can't believe you're going to be in this place. What are you going to do now? You don't have money to bail you. Annalise is very worried about you," Marco told him seriously.

Adan just averted his eyes when Amelia suddenly entered his mind.

"Do you have any news about Amelia?" He couldn't help but ask.

Marco laughed, so he threw a spoon at him. When he looked at him again, his expression was serious.

"Are you really still waiting for that woman? Did you know that I saw a rich businessman taking her to the university where she was attending?"

Adan was shocked when he heard that. He didn't know how to react, so he just shakes his head.

"Why should I believe you, you liar," he said lazily. He even grinned sarcastically and shook his head.

Adan felt his heartbeat slow as he waited for the next thing Marco would say to him.

"I am telling the truth, Adan. That woman has always been like that but you never believed me. Now here you are, as a convicted criminal because of her. You know Amelia and you also know that she's tired of being poor. Do you think that woman will still be with you now that you are in jail?"

"Shut up, Marco. You're not helping," he told his friend tiredly and stood up.

"Wake up, dude. Amelia only used you for her own personal gain. If what I'm saying isn't true, why isn't she still showing up to you?"

That was the last thing Adan heard from Marco before he decided to go back to the cell. He tried to dismiss what he had heard, but little by little, it only disturbed his whole being.

Wondering what happened to Amelia. Why is it still missing now? He knew his girlfriend couldn't do it to him. He didn't want to believe until Amelia herself told him the truth. He still wanted to wait for her. He knew in his heart that he still wanted to wait for her until she came to him again.