Missing

Finale. Missing

"DO you want her to remember you this way?"

Rexton asked coldly to the main reason why they immediately went back to the Philippines.

"Why don't you just kill me now instead?" ganting-tanong lang ng lalaki. "Siguradong siniraan mo na ako sa asawa mo."

Walang emosyong bumaling siya kay Devon na nakatali ngayon sa isang upuan sa dating hideout ng Phoenix. Sa loob ng interrogation room niyon kung saan niya piniga ang ilang mga nahuli nilang mga kriminal noon para kumanta.

"Patayin mo na ako!"

He suddenly thought of the faking of the other agents' death. Why did they give them new lives? Because most of them were victims of cruelty before... of how unfair the world was for them. Nikolaj turned them into sleeper, and now, chose to fake their deaths to start anew.

Itong si Devon lang talaga ang hindi niya magawang bigyan ng pagkakataon kaya sinabi niyang siya nang bahala sa lalaki.

"I won't. That would be too easy."

"Anong balak mong gawin?" walang emosyong tanong nito.

"Kung ako ang papipiliin, gusto kong ang asawa ko mismo ang tatapos sa iyo para hanggang sa impiyerno ay dadalhin mo ang sakit." Ngumisi siya dahil iyon mismo ang mangyayari.

Pagak itong tumawa. "You're just doing me a favor, then."

Napapikit siya at nang magmulat ay nanggagalaiting sinuntok niya ang lalaki. Imbis na ito ang pikunin niya ay siya ang mas napipikon.

"If I didn't decline her offer to marry me before, you wouldn't call her your wife now."

"Should I thank you, then?" antipatikong bulalas niya, kahit sa totoo lang ay pikon na pikon na siya.

"I should have had sex with her when I had the chance to. I had a lot of chances..." sising-sisi ito.

"If that happened, you only got her body. Not her heart, neither her soul."

He smiled bitterly. "Alam ko."

Rexton sighed to control his anger. Nagagalit siya dahil ngayon pa lang ay naiisip na niya ang sakit na mararamdaman ni Bree kung sakaling malaman na nito ang dahilan sa lahat ng kagaguhang nagawa ng lalaki.

The devil really loved his wife. And, he thought she would never go astray. But now that they got married already, he realized he was already too late. That no matter what he'd do, he could never have her the way he did before. Hindi na puwedeng makasama si Bree dahil nga lumagay na sa tahimik.

"Why did you film us that night?"

Devon clenched his jaw. "Pati iyon, nalaman mo na?"

He had a hunch why, but he's still confronting him to confirm it.

"So I could use that against you when the time comes. I plan on using that to blackmail her, so she'd come with me. And we'll get married just like what she wanted to happen before."

"Do you think she'd go with you?"

"No. That's why I planned on using you. But you fucking tied her in your hands!"

"You mean, we tied the knot?" nang-aasar na bulalas niya.

This man seriously needed to seek professional help. His love over Bree wasn't healthy anymore. It'd lead him to destruction... Or, he would destruct him himself.

Ngumisi siya.

"She will kill you."

Litong-lito itong nag-angat ng tingin, lumapit siya rito at mahigpit na hinawakan ang panga nito gamit ang isang kamay.

"Papatayin ka ng babaeng pinakamamahal mo..." nakapanghibilakbot niyang bulong.

He moved closer, just enough for him to whisper disturbing things to him. He planned on torturing him mentally, until he couldn't take it anymore.

"You know, we have this plan..." And he went on telling him a portion of their plan, focusing on that part wherein Bree would kill Devon.

Nang lumayo siya ay namamawis na ito at paulit-ulit na umiling. Hindi makapaniwalang gagawin iyon ng babae.

"You choose, Cristobal... You will live, but, she's going to remember you as the worst person who came in her life, or you'll die in her hands instead?"

Pumikit ito nang mariin at pagkamulat ay namumula na ang mga mata sa pamumuo ng luha. Naapektuhan na ito sa mga pinagsasabi niya kanina.

He smirked triumphantly. There, he knew that the latter had made the choice.

But when he saw how many times did Bree hesitate, everything backfired at him. He suddenly felt sorry about telling his wife to end the life of the person whom she relied with for the past few years.

Hindi niya pala kayang hayaan si Bree na dalhin ng konsensiya nito ang tungkol doon habambuhay, dahil ganoon din ang mangyayari sa kaniya. He could easily do this with other people, but he couldn't with her.

There and then, he decided to not go on with the plan while his wife was still clearly under the gun to execute that man.

He sighed and he got his riffle ready. And when she was about to pull the trigger, he shot Devon's head, making her think that she's the one who did it.

Bree's excruciating cries for thinking that she finished him were making him feel her pain and guilt, too. That's why he certainly knew that he made the right decision to interfere with the plan he made himself.

Because he could never allow Bree to fall on her sword as it would mean that he'd fall on his own sword, too.

He let her mourn while they were on the road, and when he parked the car in their garage, she was still weeping. He sighed and wiped her cheeks using the back of his hand. Inipit na rin niya ang mga takas ng buhok nito sa tainga, at patuloy pa rin ito sa impit na paghikbi. Napabuga siya ng hangin at tinanggal ang seat belt nito saka marahang binuhat. Nagpagiya naman ito, marahil ay wala nang lakas pang kumilos.

She was a total mess.

May dumaang sakit sa kaniya nang humigpit ang pagkakakapit nito sa tela ng kaniyang damit. Nasasaktan siya hindi dahil sa umiiyak ito sa pagkawala ni Devon, kundi dahil nasasaktan ito nang husto.

Napapikit muna siya nang mariin bago nagmulat at buksan ang pinto. Dumiretso sila sa banyo at dahan-dahang ibinaba si Bree, at tinulungan ito sa pagtanggal ng damit. He also carried her to the bathtub and filled it. While she was there, he prepared a wine so she could relax a bit. Pero naparami ang inom nito; halatang gustong makalimot.

He only sighed and took a shower instead. Mas nauna siyang natapos kay Bree at nagsabing maghahanda siya ng pagkain.

She was silent the whole time. Sumasagot, pero tipid lang. Kadalasan ay tango o iling.

Imbis na ipagpatuloy niya ang paghahanda ng pagkain ay nagpasya siyang balikan ang asawa. Hindi niya kayang manahimik lang din.

Napalunok siya nang pagkapasok niya ng silid ay napansin niyang nasa banyo pa rin ito. Mabilis na pinuntahan niya ito para lamang matigilan din siya sa naabutang sitwasyon.

She was devastatingly crying again as she was hugging her knees. Nakayuko ito at hinayaang lumagaslas ang tubig na mula sa shower na nakatutok sa tub.

His heart was like being hammered. T'was exactly the reason why he was so sorry about what happened.

He came towards her and joined her, not minding if he's getting wet again.

"Love, your body feels cold. Let's get you dressed already, hmm?" masuyong bulalas niya nang ipatong niya ang palad sa likuran nito.

He lost his cool when she met his gazes. Magang-maga na ang mga mata nito. "Love," pumiyok ito. "You know he used to call me that..."

Kahit katiting lang ay may dumaang selos sa kaniya.

"I shouldn't have k-killed him," her fragile voice cracked.

Nangilid ang luha niya dahil siya ang dahilan kung bakit nasasaktan nang ganito ang asawa niya. He shouldn't have ordered her to execute the plan. He should have had listened to her when she said they should just free him.

Hinigit niya ito ng yakap at bahagyang nanginig nang haplusin niya ang buhok nito.

"I'm sorry... Forgive me..."

She was too weak to even ask why he kept on apologizing. Yet, he decided to tell her now.

"I killed him."

She's taken aback, puzzled by what he said.

"Your bullet didn't hit him. Ako ang bumaril."

Slowly, he told her about his talk with Devon before she came to the hideout. Hindi ito kumibo at nakinig lang, na nagparamdam ng kakaibang kaba at takot sa kaniya.

"Baby, why aren't you saying anything?"

"Why did you do it?" she asked coldly with her now bloodshot eyes.

He frowned, but eventually avoided her gazes. Iyon na nga ba ang ikinatatakot niya... He's scared that she would see right through him.

"Why did you tell me to go on with your plan? To finish him?"

"Love, why do you sound so cold?" He looked back at her and he gulped when he noticed she was dead serious. "Are you hungry?" Goddammit... Please, no...

"Rexton, bakit?"

He licked his lower lip, then, he gulped nervously. Many times.

"Is it because you didn't like him? As my friend?"

"No," halos hindi marinig ang boses niya.

"Then, why?" she sounded monotonous. He knew that there's no point of running from it. She already saw his reasons.

"I admit it's because I want him to suffer in your hands, the woman he's in love with—"

"You know he's my friend! I hesitated lots of times because I just couldn't." She sighed; hurting. Hindi na rin ito umiiyak, pero hindi maalis ang takot sa kaniya. "It's much harder to lose a friend, Rexton."

He didn't know what to react, he didn't know how to calm her. He just let her pushed him so she'd get up. Ni hindi na ito nag-abalang magpunas ng katawan, at dumiretso sa walk-in closet.

Nang makahuma ay kaagad siyang sumunod. She was already dressing up even if she's still dripping wet.

"You are selfish, Rex. Just because you're jealous, you killed him. You even planned on using me. Ni hindi mo na inisip ang mararamdaman ko!"

There, she said it. Deep within, he was jealous, that's why he pushed through with the plan. He was blinded by the unhealthy jealousy, so, he failed to notice and think about his wife's emotions.

Almost.

Because he realized how wrong he was for letting his wife finish Devon. And without further ado, he decided to end him instead. Not thinking about the consequences.

Galit na galit si Bree. Sa sobrang galit ay natabunan na niyon ang pagmamahal nito sa kaniya.

"Mahal na mahal kita, pero hindi ko alam kung kaya ko 'tong tanggapin ngayon."

Nagtagis ang bagang niya dahil wala siyang nagawa upang ipagtanggol ang sarili. That night, he just watched his wife go away. Umuwi ito sa kuya nito, at dahil galit din sa kaniya si Brian ay hindi sila nagkaroon ng tsansa na makapag-usap pa ni Bree.

May Temporary Restraining Order ding inilabas ang korte sa kaniya, dahilan upang hindi makalapit sa kaniyang asawa. Kung tutuusin ay wala siyang pakialam doon, pero nirespeto niya ang desisyon ni Bree. He would give her months—or a year if he had to—and would get her back again.

But her brother made sure he couldn't get in touch with her even if his in-laws were in favor that they should talk. At kahit wala nang bisa ang TRO ay hindi niya nakausap o nakita man lang ang asawa.

Hanggang sa halos kalahating taon ang nakalipas ay nakatanggap siya ng mga papeles.

Nakatulala siya sa mesa kung nasaan ang ilang pirasong papel. They're annulment papers, and Bree already signed.

He felt hollow; then, he felt mad, hurt, devastated...

He could never allow it. He'd never let her go. Ikababaliw niya iyon, kaya sisiguraduhin nang mahahanap na niya ito ngayon. Kung hindi siya mabibigyan ng impormasyon ng mga nasa Phoenix ay sa ibang mga imbestigador na niya ito ipahahanap.

"Dad..."

Napapitlag siya nang pukawin ni Hans ang atensyon niya. Hindi niya namalayan ang pagdating nito sa opisina niya sa MI Ent. It's his son's vacation but he's not seeing him all the time because he rarely went home.

"I'm sorry."

Doon siya nag-angat ng tingin at napansin niyang nakatitig ito sa annulment papers. Nagtaka naman siya kung bakit ito humingi ng tawad.

"I know where Mom is, but, I chose to keep it to you. She asked me not to tell you anything, and I promised her..."

Napapikit siya nang mariin at huminga ng maluwag. Hinayaan na niya ang kagyat na galit dahil sa pagtago nito roon.

Again, he sighed.

"Where's she?" mahinahong tanong niya. Pagkuwa'y umiling. "No, don't tell me. I'll find her instead."

"I'll just tell you where she is, and I'm going to apologize to her."

"No, son, I'm going to find her now."

BREE kept on sighing after she talked to Hans over the phone. Their boy asked for permission if could he tell his dad about her whereabouts already. Since she didn't want him to carry the burden of keeping where she was a secret, she agreed.

It was also because she's kind of hoping to see him already. After she left, her heart felt so hollow. Like it was missing its biggest piece.

She sighed.

It's been months, and he deserved to know what was happening.

Napapitlag siya nang pabalyang bumukas ang pinto, at iniluwal niyon ang kaniyang kuya. Nasa ospital sila ngayon kung saan siya naka-confine.

"Kuya..."

"He signed it." Hindi man sumisigaw ay ramdam niyang nagpupuyos ito ng galit.

"What?" She blinked twice.

"What do you mean he signed it?" bulalas ni Chelin na kalalabas lang ng banyo. Nanlaki ang mga mata nito nang makuha ang sitwasyon. "Did Rexton freaking sign the papers?!"

Her eyes immediately watered with tears. Mula nang magbuntis ay naging emosyonal siya. Mas madaling umiyak, mababaw man o malalim na dahilan.

The reason why she noticed how she gained weight while they're in San Salvador before was because she's already weeks pregnant.

Nang iwan niya si Rexton at tumuloy sa kuya niya ay bigla na lang siyang dinugo. But since she first thought it's just her menstruation, she didn't mind about it right away. She had PCOS, so, having a delayed period was just normal for her. Even if it's months already.

But as she was in the bathroom that night—cleaning herself—she realized she never missed her prescription medicines that's making her menstrual cycle go normal. Kinabahan siya at naramdaman ding kakaiba ang sakit niyon, kaya kaagad siyang nagpatakbo sa ospital, at doon nga nalamang sampung linggo na siyang nagdadalang-tao.

At ngayon ay kabuwanan na niya, kaya nagpasya silang maglagi na siya sa ospital. Ayaw pa nga sana niya kasi in two weeks pa ang due niya, pero nagpumilit ang kuya niya para siguradong ligtas sila ng anak niya.

"I told you, didn't I?" bakas ang iritasyon sa boses ni Chelin habang kausap ang kuya niya. "This won't do good! Sinabi ko nang huwag mo na iyang ituloy."

Paano'y ang kuya rin niya ang nag-suggest na padalhan ng annulment papers si Rexton. It was sort of a 'test' if could he really let her go or not.

"I told you he would sign it because he must be thinking it's what Brianna wants! Alam mong hindi—"

"Tama na!" sigaw niya para awatun ang dalawa. Marahas na bumuga ng hangin si Chelin at mabilis siyang dinaluhan, niyakap, at pinatahan.

"Don't cry," anas ni Chelin.

"I want to talk to him..." She's almost begging. It hurt her that he didn't even excel efforts to see her. He just signed the annulment papers without trying to talk to her. To make up with her.

Napansin niyang pabalyang binuksan at sinara ng kaniyang kuya ang pinto, habang siya'y pilit na pinatahan ni Chelin.

Nang araw ding iyon ay dumating ang abogadong personal na naghatid ng mga papeles na iyon kay Rexton noong nakaraang linggo. Si Sinned.

"He told me to give these to you."

Nangunot ang noo niya nang mapansing mga papeles na naman iyon. It had her name, and the details about her, breaching her contract in Sunshine. Dahil sa pagkawala kasi niya ay natigil ang concert tour ng banda at ang ilan pang schedules. The girls couldn't contact her as well, and she's certain that they're worried to her, not with their contract.

After she gave birth, she would get in touch with them already. They would surely understand. She knew how amazing those girls were.

Bumalik ang atensyon niya kay Sinned. "He wants to meet you right now—to personally talk about this matter. He's just at The Dreams," he informed her. The Dreams was a restaurant.

Bumusangot siya. "I can't now. Kabuwanan ko na."

Ngumisi naman ito. Sa sobrang lapad niyon ay gusto niya na itong palayasin doon dahil nainis siya bigla.

"Anong nakakatawa sa kabuwanan ko?"

Tumuwid ito ng tayo at sumeryoso; tumikhim. "Sorry," he mouthed. "Hindi lang kasi ako makapaniwala na pinagtaguan mo ng anak ang kaibigan ko. At wala talaga siyang kaalam-alam."

She rolled her eyes and told him to get out. But, he didn't.

"Stone wants to say sorry, too."

"Why?"

"He didn't tell you the reason why Rexton chose to end Devon Cristobal's life. I didn't, too. So, I'm also sorry."

"What reason?" Ain't it because her husband's blinded by his jealousy? She shook her head. She already decided to let go of everything and start anew. But her brother came up with the idea of sending her husband those annulment papers instead to see if he's worth to have back.

Tapos ngayon, pinirmahan nga nito iyon. Gusto niya itong puntahan at magwala para gisingin ito na ayaw niyang mangyari iyon.

Bumalik ang atensyon niya sa kausap. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because we thought that Rex would eventually explain to you."

Nangunot ang noo niya pero tumahimik pa rin. Paanong mag-e-esplika kung tinaguan niya ang asawa? Nakuha naman ni Sinned na naghihintay siya ng mga susunod nitong sasabihin.

"That friend of yours tried to blackmail you."

"Why would Devon blackmail me?"

"So you'd go with him. You'd marry him. Damn, he's that obsessed with you."

"No, he's not."

"Don't be blinded. He's not a good person just as how you thought he was." He disappointingly shook his head. "Nagawa nga niyang bumaliktad sa misyon para ipahamak ang asawa mo. Para sa kaniya ang bagsak mo."

"No..."

"Who do you think was your target that night?"

Napamaang siya nang makuha ang gusto nitong iparating. "N-no," in denial niyang sambit.

"It's your husband..."

Nalaman niyang sinigurado ni Devon na mababaril niya si Rexton nang gabing iyon, kung saan nagpanggap bilang ibang tao.

"What do you think would happen if we didn't interfere that night? Or if Rexton wasn't able to save you that day, too?"

Hindi siya makasagot. It was either Rexton, or she's the one who died...

"He loved you the wrong way," siwalat pa nito.

Hindi siya kumibo. She had a hunch that he had feelings for her, but never entertained that thought. Naisip niyang baka kasi maling akala lang.

"That video, too. Cristobal was the one who—"

"That's enough."

They both looked at the door, where Rexton was catching his breath as he's loosing his necktie. Halatang nagmadali para makapunta roon. Though she's confused how did he know she's there, she just couldn't help but stare at him. She missed him so much.

"I only told you to give her those damn papers, and say we must meet today," medyo iritado ang boses nitong humarap kay Sinned.

The latter only raised his middle finger towards him.

"Oh, by the way," bumaling ito sa kaniya. "Those papers he signed aren't authentic. These are not legit, too. Gumawa lang ng dahilan ang torpeng ito para makausap ka niya."

Hindi niya alam pero bahagya siyang natawa sa ginamit nitong deskripsyon sa bagong dating, na kaagad niyang pinigilan, saka tumango kay Sinned na nagpaalam nang aalis na.

Now, she's thinking twice why didn't she stop the lawyer. Ang awkward tuloy sa loob ng pribadong silid!

"Uh," panimula niya. "Water? Want?"

Dang it, Bree, complete your sentence!

"Why didn't you tell me you're pregnant? Are you planning on keeping our baby away from me?" His jaw clenched, and he muttered a soft curse. "Ngayon ko lang nalamang buntis ka!"

Nagulat siya sa inasta nito, at kahit gusto niyang maluha ay pinigilan niya. Hindi niya kaagad na napansin ang kakaibang kislap sa mga mata nito.

"Damn it, Bree..."

"B-bakit nagagalit ka?! Ayaw mo? Gusto mong maghiwalay na talaga tayo? Sige! Totohanin na natin!"

"No!" His face softened, noticing how his eyes were screaming his longing towards her. "No..." he repeated huskily.

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin, lumapit naman ito at ginagap ang kaliwang kamay niya.

"I was planning on getting back at you for sending me those annulment papers... Had I known that we're pregnant already, I would never send you those papers... and these, too." Kinuha nito ang nakalapag na envelope sa tabi niya kung saan nakalabas ang inabot na papeles ni Sinned sa kaniya kanina.

Mahabang katahimikan ang namayani sa kanila, pinanood niyang punitin nito iyong mga papel saka itinapon sa basurahan.

"Why would you get back at me? I didn't mean to leave you," in her low tone.

"You still left me, Bree."

She sighed. "How about these? It never crossed in my mind that you'll file a lawsuit against me."

He shook his head. "These were just baits. So you'd show up yourself to me."

Umupo ito sa gilid ng kama, at hinaplos ang kaniyang sinapupunan gamit ang malayang kamay nito. The moment she stared at his eyes, she regretted leaving him behind. Aside from his love, it was full of guilt and regret, too. As if he was blaming himself because he wasn't beside her during her pregnancy.

Pinisil niya ang palad nitong nakahawak pa rin sa kaniya para iparating kung gaano siyang nagsisisi. "I'm sorry..."

He was teary-eyed when he met her gazes. "This is real, right?"

Tumango siya't ngumiti kahit parang dinadamba pa rin ang dibdib niya. "I was selfish. I should've asked you the reason why. Hindi iyong nagpabulag ako sa galit."

"You were right, then. He was your best friend."

"But you are my husband. No matter how mad I was, I really should have listened to you days after..." Because deep within, she knew he meant no harm to her. "Sinned's right. Devon loved me the wrong way."

"Let's not talk about it, okay?"

Marami pa siyang katanungan dahil naguluhan siya sa mga nalaman. Pero marami rin namang silang oras ni Rexton sa mga susunod pa.

"Babawi ako sa iyo... sa inyo," he added as he kissed her forehead.

Umisod siya para patabihin ito sa kaniya, at pumwesto naman ito sa espasyong ibinigay niya. Umunan siya sa braso nito habang ito ay nakasandal sa dulo ng kama.

"I love you," he uttered. "I love you. I love you so much and I can't bear to lose you..."

Her sleepy eyes found his loving gazes towards her tummy. Mahina siyang tumawa at sinagot na mahal na mahal na rin ito.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't with you during your pregnancy. Babawi ako, Bree... sa inyo ng anak natin."

She slightly ran her fingers through his hair as she was smiling at him.

He, on the other hand, just couldn't stop admiring her baby bump so he kept on stroking it gently until she fell asleep.

Finally, her heart found its missing piece.

***