Chapter 49

School break

Savvy International School has been recognize as home of the athletes and intelligent students. Just these past few weeks, maraming achievements ang nakuha nang Savvy. Everyone were so grateful to be part of something dahil hindi naman inaasahan nang karamihan na ngayong taon ay mamayagpag ang Savvy from any competitions. Unahin na sa listahan ang pagkapanalo ng Savvy Football team, it is one of the first achievements na nakuha ng school.

Everyone were expecting that they will win the game at hindi naman binigo ng mga players ang kahilingan ng mga estudyante ng Savvy. And in that case, Savvy Team held as one of the strongest players and if they still win on the next season ay tiyak na mahihirapan na ang ibang team na talunin sila. They were starting to build their name ans Savvy's reputation.

Also, adding up to the achievements of Savvy were our championship on Academic Decathlon. Isa iyon sa mga maipagmamalaking achievements ng Savvy when it comes to this kind of competition dahil isa lang ang ibigsabihin no'n. The school can provide more, learning, teachings and anything that beyond what they can offer to every students. It is such a fulfilling moment when I'm a part of something people would recognize as one of the biggest accomplishment of the school.

And also to this year, Drama Club has been recognized by famous film producer and would love to do it on a big stage. Isa na naman iyon sa isang malaking achievement dahil wala ni isa sa mga club members ang nag-e-expect sa ganoong invitation. They would just perform for three days and give all their best, sa huli may isang hindi inaasahan pang balita ang ibinigay sa kanila.

Bella and Philippe were so overwhelmed by it, they even joked about going to broadway, which is not really an impossible situation because they possessed too much hardworks in it. Kaya siguro sila napansin ng film producer it is because they just didn't hold to make everyone seen them perform but show how all people put themselves in every things they did.

Hindi naman kasi lahat ng bagay ay worthless, just look on the brighter side at doon mo makikita ang worth nang lahat ng bagay. Don't keep yourself on the dark side, lalong wala kang makikitang kapaki-pakinabang doon.

"Anong gagawin this school break, Alex?" tanong ni Philippe sa akin.

"I don't know... siguro sa bahay lang." kibit-balikat kong sagot sa kanya. "Ikaw ba, may balak ka ba?"

"Wala." He simply answered.

"Anong wala?!" Bella exclaimed, Philippe were trying to warned by his widening his eyes pero hindi naman nakikinig si Bella sa kanya. "He will spend his school break with Kianna." Bella grinned.

Philippe roll his eyes, "hindi ka talaga marunong manahimik, ano, Bella?"

"Ah, so wala ka ring balak sabihin sa akin iyon?"

"He won't Alex, trust me." Bella assured.

"Meron naman, but after school break." Aniya, "and it was not a big deal though, her family just invited me to come on their vacation at Hong Kong at sino ba naman ako para tanggihan ang libreng alok nila diba? So I grab the chance and we'll be leaving the next days, darling!"

"So, what if this is Kianna's way to get you?"

"Ano na naman 'yan Alex?" aburido niyang tanong.

"What would you if Kianna end up with you, huh?"

He roll his eyes, "hindi mangyayari 'yon..."

"That's not what we're seeing, Philippines." Ngisi pa ni Bella. "But anyway, I hope you enjoy your vacation and don't forget what I tell you ha! Umuwi ka kaagad!"

"I know, I know, Bella! Hindi mo na naman kailangan ipaalala."

"Iyong ano?" pagtatanong ko pero sabay naman nila akong inilingan, "baliw kayo, kung ano-anong pinaguusapan niyo, hindi niyo ako sinasali."

"Duh, hindi naman importante 'yon dun, ang mahalaga kasama mo naman kami."

Sabay-sabay naman kaming tumungo sa school bus at nang makarating naman kami doon ay may tumawag nang pansin ko. Mabilis ko namang nilingon ang tumawag sa pangalan ko at nakitang naghuhumakahos na lumapit si Gell sa akin. Nang makalapit naman ito ay napahawak pa sa kanyang tuhod at humugot nang malalim na hininga.

"Gell, okay ka lang?" nag-aalalang tanong ko sa kanya.

Nang kumalma na siya ay umayos ito nang kanyang pagkakatayo at inabot ang braso ko, "hindi, Alex, hindi okay." Iling pa nito sa akin.

Namuo ang kaba sa dibdib ko. "A-Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Korg is MIA."

"Huh?" natanga ako sa sinabi niya. "Hindi kita maintindihan."

"Alam mo ba ang ibigsabihin ng MIA?" tumango naman ako sa kanya, "Missing In Action, right? We couldn't contact kuya since yesterday, hindi namin alam kung anong nasaan siya. We called his friends—Alec and his coach pero hindi rin nila alam kung nasaan ito kaya ikaw na ang nilapitan ko kasi kayo ang madalas na magkasama. Alam mo ba kung nasaan siya?"

Dahan-dahan akong napailing sa kanya, "I really have no idea, Gell. Ngayon ko lang nalaman 'yan... actually, kanina pa ako nagtataka bakit hindi dumalo sa general assembly si Korg which Savvy also give them such recognition as he is the quarterback... akala ko nga tinatamad lang siya. I tried to call him but he didn't answer though... kung gano'n, nasa'n ang kuya mo?"

She grunted, "I don't know Alex, I have no idea where he is right now."

"I also don't have any idea, Gell..." aniko.

She tapped my shoulder, "thank you for the time, Alex. Update kita kapag nag-message na siya sa amin, okay?"

"Okay, okay, thank you rin."

Pinanood ko naman si Gell na maglakad palayo sa akin, she headed to the parking lot and dialling some contact on her phone. Siguro naghahanap pa siya nang source kung saan makikita si Korg. Nasagot din naman ang pagtataka ko kanina kung bakit hindi man lang niya sinasagot ang bawat message ko o kahit paulit-ulit na tawag ko. Nasaan ka naman ba ngayon Korg? Ang aga mo naman nagbakasyon.

"Guys..." sa paglingon ko naman sa mga kasama ko, nagtaka na lamang ako dahil parang bulang naglaho ang mga ito. Nang tingnan ko ang papaalis na school bus ay nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita kong kinakawayan nila ako doon. I tried to follow them, shout at the bus driver but he didn't stop for me. "Saklap naman nang buhay..." buntunghininga ko nang makalayo nang tuluyan ang school bus.

I received after a message from Bella.

"What happened, Alex?"

"Korg is missing."

"What?!"

"Yes but don't worry, I got this."

"You sure?"

"Ako pa ba?"

"Sorry as well... see you this coming school resumes."

Oh, school resumes... had they forgot anything? Mukha nga...

"I think I know where to find Korg... I just needed some help..." I thought of the risk but its not a big problem anymore.

I immediately booked a car. I don't know what I'm thinking but if its help the problem, her help would be appreciated. Habang nasa loob ng sasakyan ay iniisip ko na ang mga gagawin ko sa harap niya. Alam kong maiilang ako nang sobra kapag kaharap ko siya, hindi ko lang alam kung anong magiging reaksyon niya. When we reach our destination, I contemplated myself before getting off the ride. Pagkababa ko nang sasakyan ay napahugot ako nang malalim na hininga.

Tinahak ko naman ang daan papunta sa tapat nang kanilang bahay. I use the doorbell and wait if someone would come out to see me. It doesn't took long when someone came out of the door, sa pagsilip pa lamang niya nang makita kung sino ang nasa gate ay nagtaka na ito. She attended me at the gate na puno nang pagtataka, I can see it on her face. Siguro tinatanong na niya sa kanyang sarili kung anong ginagawa ko sa bahay niya.

"Alex? What are you doing here?" she asked, "do you want our second girl's night?" she joked.

Oh my gosh, hell no.

"No, I didn't come here for a girls night, Mia."

Her forehead creased, "uh, what's this surprised visit for?"

"I needed your help." I stated.

Mas lalong kumunot ang kanyang noo. "Me? You need my help? How in the world I can help someone?" aniya.

"This is about Korg." When I said his name, nanahimik siya bigla.

"What about him?"

"He's missing."

She smirked, "that's not odd for me, that's the usual Korg I know."

"Can you help me, Mia?"

"Why me, Alex?"

"Cause you know him and you've gotta know something where he usually gone into."

"Some places... but he didn't go into those places anymore, except for the days when we were together."

Napatango na lamang ako sa sagot niya, "you know what, I think this is wrong, uuwi na lang ako, I will call some close people to him. Hindi na sana ako pumunta... I don't think you can't help me. You just don't want right?" aniko, "anyway, thank you for entertaining ang hearing my sentiments..." tatalikuran ko na sana siya nang kunin nito ang braso ko at pinigilan akong gawin iyon.

"You came here because you needed my help, Alex. And you know I can 'cause you came here." Panimula nito. "I know Korg because we shared some moments and secrets before but those aren't relevant now. You're the one who insist of needing my help, and I'm here. Hindi ako bitter kung ano man ang meron kayong dalawa ngayon. I have move on... and for you to know, Korg and I talked. I know he didn't tell you that because he didn't want to share anything that has a part of me... but we're okay now. He forgive me but he couldn't forget what I did. And for my help, Korg won't go missing kung walang dahilan. If you just know the last time he went MIA, do you remember that?"

I nodded, "the night of the victory party."

"His reason was to forget his feelings on you, but he couldn't just do that... he's starting to like you and he couldn't evade that. And I may not know what are his reasons on this matter but I think, this isn't because of you..."

"Well... anyway, thank you, Mia."

"Just one last Alex," she said. "Don't ever took him for granted, I did that and I lost him."

"Thanks..." I mumbled turning back on her.

Naglakad na lamang ako sa tabi nang kalsada habang nag-aabang nang masasakyan pauwi. Nang may huminto namang sasakyan ay pinahinto ko naman iyon at pinadiretsyo ko na sa bahay—hindi 'yong driver kundi ako. Habang lumalalim ang pag-iisip ko sa kasagsagan nang byahe ay biglang may natanggap akong message mula kay Korg.

Hey... I'll be okay. Don't worry about me. See you soon.

And that would make me fine? Hangga't sa pag-uwi ko nawalan ako nang gana makipag-usap. Gell already updated me about his brother but also her, hindi niya alam kung nasaan ito. Nakahiga lamang ako sa kama at nakatingin sa kisame, lumalangoy ang pigura nang pagmumukha ni Korg. I know you won't hurt me. I know that Korg... but why does it feel like somethings wrong?

Kung kalian nalalapit na... saka pa sila nakalimot.