AKIKO'S POV

I look my face at the mirror. I look like a fucked up man na nag take ng drugs for the eyebags that I have. My eyes are red and my face is haggard. My hair is longer than it was before but I have no time to fix or even comb it. I lost any interest to make myself look decent.

I felt the salty warm drops coming from my eyes. Watching myself crying. As I close my eyes, since pop from my head.

"What?" I ask coldly to Mia's parents. "You're insane."

"We're begging you Akiko. My daughter wants you so bad. She loves you so much." Mia's dad said.

I cross my legs and look at them without any emotion. They came here at my office to beg for their stupid brat daughter. I saw how they eagerly look at me. I look away and sip my wine from the glass as I saw Sky's picture at the side of my table.

I took it and caress her face the smiling in front of the camera while I'm carrying her at my back. A little smile formed in my lips. Oh how I miss my girl. I haven't seen her for I don't know how long. It feels like eternity already.

Di ko pa maaalala na may mga abala pala sa harap ko kung walang tumikhim. I rest my back at my chair and look at them. I intertwined my fingers and rested my elbow at the side of my swivel chair and look at them as If this is the last time they will see the world.

"I'm in a relationship. I don't want any distress in my life." I said straightly that made them gasp. Mia's father gave me a sharp glare as I give the same glare.

"We're here to please you. Akiko we want our daughter to continue her medication and you're the only one who can push her to do that. Please.. You don't have to tell to your girlfriend about thi--" Mia's mom.

"Are you telling me that I should agree to let your daughter feel that I love and want her for the exchange of her voluntarily? And you want me to cheat on my girlfriend for your sick daughter?"

"Yes." they answer without blinking their eyes. I laugh humorously and throw sharp glare.

"No. You daughter does not worth my time. Even the two of you."

"Akiko, hijo. Please." Mia's mom.

"If you're not going to help us, I will pull out our company from your--"

"Go on. Pull out your trash. I don't care. Our company could stand without any helps from you. Have you forgotten? Because of us, your company is still standing."

They both bow their head from embarrassment. As if I get scared. I could even pull their company down using my own power. They get silent for minutes. I was about to shoo them out when the old man talk.

"We will pull out. But one this is for sure.. What will your woman say if she knew about how broken man you are. How you pull her friend's company. For sure she will get mad and ask for a breakup."

I silently curse. I look at him. He's showing his yellow teeth and pull out his hand asking for a shake hand. I could just kill him right here right now but Sky will surely hate me. I gritted my teeth as I look at him.

I open my eyes and look at myself. I took my clothes off and walk to the shower room and took a cold shower. I miss her so bad. I miss Sky so bad. I miss how her skin touches mine. Of course I miss our love making but I literally miss her body warmth. And again, I felt the pain in my chest.

Hindi ako ganito. Hindi ako natatakot na may maka alam ng ginagawa ko pero.. Nung nabanggit si Sky, bigla akong natakot. Na hindi ko kakayanin na magalit sya sakin dahil alam ko. Alam ko na lalayo sya sakin at ngayon nga. Ngayon nga wala na sya sa tabi ko.

After I took a bath, I head to my living room.

Ilang araw na akong di umuuwi sa mansion ko at narito sa unit ko. Hindi pa nga nakikita ni Sky itong condo ko. Dumeretso ako sa kusina and took canned beers and some chips. Bumalik ako sa sala at naupo duon.

I started drinking as I open my tv. Di ko maintindihan yung palabas. This is so gay of me. So gay na umiiyak ako sa isang babae na di manlang umabot ng tatlong buwan ang relasyon. I love her that much and I still do.

It's been fucking three months. For three months, I live myself in hell. I want to commit suicide but killing myself won't help. At some part, sinisisi ko si Mia. That bitch!

Kung hindi sya obsess sakin, hindi ito mangyayari! Sana kasama ko si Sky. I drank my beer one way another ng mag ring ang cellphone ko. I look at it and saw the unregistered number. I did not look at it again when it stopped ringing. Them after minutes it rang again.

"Yukimura." I answer coldly.

[O-Onnichan.. T-Tsukette..]  I get stiff.

"Ayane? Is that you? Why are you crying, answer onnichan." ako

I get alert when she started crying. I sat from the couch and tried to calm her down.

[O-Onni.. *sniff.. Onni.. I-I don't know where I am..]

"What?! What do you mean you don't know where you are?! Nasa Pilipinas ba kayo?!" what the? She's in Japan right now, how in the hell pang Pilipinas yung naka register na contact number na hawak nya?

[O-Onni, we have field trip.. A-And I got lost..]

"Shit. Tell me where exactly you are. Yung mga lugar sa paligid mo, kung saan ka naka tayo ngayon."

After she said it, I took my key and head to the basement. I don't care if I'm just wearing sweatpants and a sando. What the fuck is going on? Why did they let that kid go here without any parents? It took an hour for me to arrive at that place. She said she's in a big aquarium so I guess she's at Manila Ocean Park.

When I arrived, nag tanung tanong agad ako. I was even wondering how did she use a phone like that!? She's only six for pete's sake! Agad akong tumakbo sa batang naka upo sa capsule like na puro jellyfish.

"Ayane!" tawag ko. Nilingon nya ako at agad yumakap.

Hinatak ko na sya palabas ng park. I'm just sitting at the driver's seat while Ayane is playing her fingers. I sigh and live the engine as I drove off. My eyes are on the road when Ayane held my hand. I look at her.

"Onnichan.. Sorry."

Tumango lang ako at tinuon ang pansin sa daan ng hatakin nya uli ako. Saglit ko lang sya nilingon. Her eye are swollen and her cheeks are read while her small mouth is pouting. The heck is she doing!?

"What?"

"C-Can I borrow your phone? I'll just call Ate Ganda. She will get worried if she notice that I'm gone."

"Get it." sabay turo ko sa dashboard. Oh yeah, the samaritan who helped Ayane. But where is that person when I found Ayane?

Maya-maya narinig ko na may kausap si Ayane. Di ko na iyon pinansin. Dumaan muna kami sa isang drive thru at bumuli ng pagkain then dumeretso kami sa condo ko. I'm walking while my hands are on my pocket when I notice that Ayane is following me. When I look at her, she's exhausted. She's already running.

This kid will give me heart attack!

As we enter my unit, her eyes roam around the place. She smile in amuse. I head to the kitchen and prepare our food when my phone rang again. She's holding it and run towards me. Good timing. I answer the phone.

[Ayane is missing. Mom said may field trip sila dito sa Pilipinas.]  Yahiro

"Yeah? Then look for her."

[Gago ka talaga! Si Ayane yung nawawala, di ibang tao! Gago ka, mag re-report na kami sa pulis--]

"She's with me."

[Fuck you, Akiko. Stop fucking around! Her bodyguards are looking for her and Mom is panicking!]

"Psh. Ayane, talk to Yahiro-onnisan." sabay abot ko sa bata.

"Onnisan.. I call Aki-onni.. Yes.. I'm sorry.. I will.. Thank you.. onnichan, Yahiro-onnisan wants to talk to you."

"Okay. Sit here and eat your food." utos ko.

Lumabas ako ng kusina saka sinagot yung tawag.

"What?"

[Thanks. Bantayan mo muna si Ayane. Yahiko is--]

I end the call. Nawalan na ako ng gana kumain. That bastard. Ano na kayang ginagawa nya kasama si SKy. Malaman ko lang na may ginawa sya kakaiba, swear to all virtues. Kahit kapatid ko sya, mapapatay ko sya!

Binalikan ko yung chips sa couch na di pa nabubuksan when I felt Ayane sat beside me. I didn't look at her but she lean herself at my side and yawn. I open the tv and low its volume. I thought she's already asleep when she talks.

"I memorized you contact onnichan.."

I did not answer.

"I hope I can meet Ate Ganda who helped me. I really like her for you.." pabulong ng sabi nya.

Nilingon ko sya. She's sleeping now. I carried her to my bed and put a blanket to her. I lay next to her and look at my phone who has the contact number of the person who helped her. A part of me is saying call that person to say thanks. But a part of me is scared.. For what reason?

I look at my inbox. Walang bago. Di narin na dagdagan yung messages sakin ni Sky. I miss her so bad. I miss her. I reach my hand to Ayane and hug her. I look at my phone again as I typed a message.

'Thank you.'

And then sent it to the unregistered number that Ayane used.