Always Chasing the Sunset (Tale of Love Series #1)

Chapter 40

A week has passed... There was no trace of her.

Hindi na rin ako masyadong pumupunta sa kanila dahil masyado akong abala sa pag-aasikaso sa tatay ko. My mother and sister... they don't know yet that I already found my father.

Bumaba ako sa sasakyan ko nang marating ko ang bahay namin. I went inside, my sister were watching on her laptop. On the other hand, I saw my mother inside the kitchen.

Umupo ako sa dining area, ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko at itinungo ang ulo. Ang kapatid ko at si Mama ay hindi masyadong malapit sa isa't-isa. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Sometimes, they were close but most of the time they were treating each other like they're not blood related.

Nagsimula ito noong mga panahon na inilipat ni Mama si Mavi sa kabilang kwarto para matuto siya at lumaki nang may alam. They rarely get along before because my mother became busy with different jobs and Mavi didn't get enough attention from her.

Matapos magluto ni Mama ay tinawag ko na si Mavi. She went to us and sat down without making any noise.

I looked at both of them. They deserve to know what's happening to my father. After all, we're family.

"Ma..." My mother looked at me while chewing.

"Bakit?" She asked, smiling.

"Mavi..." I tried to get Mavi's attention and I did.

"Hmm?" She uttered, focused on eating.

"Si Papa," panimula ko. Tinignan ko sila pareho. My mother's brows creased as if she was trying to figure out what I am going to say. My sight went to Mavi, halata mo sa kaniyang mukha ang pagkalito dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Nahanap ko na siya." Mahinang sabi ko, sapat lang para marinig nila ngunit para silang nabingi dahil pinaulit sa akin ni Mavi ang sinabi ko.

"Ang sabi ko... nahanap ko na si Papa," pag-uulit ko.

Mavi faked a laugh. "Buhay pa pala 'yon?" Mayroon mapaglarong ngiti sa labi niya habang nakatingin sa akin at hinihintay ang sagot ko.

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa inasal niya.

"Mavi, bakit ka ba ganiyan?" Pagtatanong ni Mama.

"Wow..." She scoffed. "You don't know why I am like this?" She asked, mocking.

"Well, I just don't experience having a father beside me... at kapag minamalas nga naman ako, the attention that I wanted to get from my beloved mother just vanished like how my father disappeared. A sad story it is, isn't?" Malumanay na sabi niya ngunit punong-puno nang damdamin at tsaka pinunasan ang pumatak niyang luha.

"Anak..." My mother tried to call her but she just shook her head.

"Si Papa nasa hospital, sabihin niyo lang sa akin kapag gusto niyo siyang makita. I'll take both of you to him." I said and went out of the kitchen.

This isn't my family before. We used to be a happy family ever since Mavi came but, of course, not every story is always happy. My parents separated and that's when my mother lost her attention to us.

Two weeks... two weeks without her. Kung nandito lang siya, sana mas makakaya kong harapin ang lahat ng 'to kasi alam ko na sa paglubog ng araw ay makikita ko na siya... makakasama ko na siya.

Ang mga bagay ay unti-unting bumabalik sa dati. Ang mga piraso ay unti-unting na-ku-kumpleto. Ang pamilya ko ay unti-unting nabubuo. Pero sa hindi malamang dahilan, wala akong maramdamang saya at pananabik. May kulang... parang may mali pa rin. Hindi ako buo kasi may parte sa akin na hindi ko mahanap, at hindi ko alam kung saan ko mahahanap.