Fall For You

Chapter 015

It wasn’t long when I found out what was really happening. It was when Rhys stopped going to school for around a week already, and so did his brother.

“Vince.. can we talk?”

Vince stopped and looked at me.

“Bakit?” Lumapit siya saken at pumasok kami sa Kuppa, isang coffee shop.

“Anong nangyayari kay Rhys? I haven’t heard something from him for almost a week already.” I asked worriedly.

“Hmm.. well..” Umiwas siya sa tingin ko at tumingin sa malayo sa labas.

“Vince..”

Huminga siya ng malalim before looking at me back again.

“Sa totoo niyan.. I’m not really sure kung anong nangyayari sa kanya.” He sipped from his drink. “Pero according sa Dad ko, there’s something wrong with their business.” He looked at me again. “And.. I guess, alam mo na kung bakit.”

He then stood up. “Una na ako.”

Naiwan akong nakaupo dun sa coffee shop while watching Vincent walking away from me.

“..alam mo na kung bakit.”

Could it be that Dad really had his word on us? On Rhys? I dialed his number pero off yata ang phone niya. It’s been like this since last week. Then I dialed his number on his house, it was answered.

“Yes, good afternoon?”

“G-good afternoon. May I speak with Rhys?” I asked shaking.

Silence. Isang pananahimik na nakakabingi.

“Wala siya.” She said firmly. “And please don’t call here again.” Then she hanged up.

Hindi ko alam pero parang.. ang bigat-bigat ng pakiramdam ko. Hindi ko rin namalayang tumulo na ang mga luha ko sa mga mata. I guess these were the tears that I kept on holding back since.. last week. I missed him so much and I am so damn worried.. and I feel like giving up.

“Miss.. hanky?” I saw a hand with a brown checkered handkerchief stretched out to me. I slowly looked up kasi the voice isn’t familiar. “It’s alright. It’s clean.” I was still looking at him.. puzzled. “Promise.” He smiled in an assurance.

I cried one last time, stood up and ran outside. I never looked back.

Nang dumating ako sa bahay, nagmukmok lang ako sa kwarto with the phone on my hand. Dial ako ng dial sa number nila pero tuwing nagriring ito, ang Mommy niya ang nakakasagot.

And everytime his Mom answers it, nanginginig ako.. natatakot.. na baka lumala lang ang sitwasyon.

Until..

“Hello..”

Silence. RHYS.

“Geez. Kung wala kang magawa sa buhay mo, can you stop calling our number? It’s getting on our nerves here.”

Silence. Silence. Anong sasabihin ko?

“Whatever.”

Silence.

“R-rhys..” I said in a very low voice.

Then for around 7 seconds, all I heard was silence.. and then, a long deafening beep on the phone. He hanged up. He hanged up on me. And I felt my tears at my cheeks again.

And as the days go by.. I felt more desperate and alone. Rhys never calls me.. Rhys never sees me again. Rhys never talks to me again. Rhys.. was like a bubble who disappeared at nowhere.