Random Guy - LARO NG TADHANA

EPILOGUE

Nagising ako sa pagbabalik nang nakaraan ng muling tumunog ang cellphone ko. Nagulat ako ng country number ang gamit nitong numero. Hhindi rin ito registered sa phone ko.

“Hello?” dalawang kinakabahan na paghinga ang narinig ko sa kabilang linya bago ito tuluyang sumagot.

“H-Hello? I-Is this Ace? Ace Ivanov?” it’s a womans voice. bakas sa boses nito ang pag-iingat sa pagsasalita nito. “I don’t have much time, your assistant said this call is bugged for 30 seconds to cover this call from Alfonso's men. I’m Alexandria, I need you to meet me at Mexico tomorrow 4:00am. I want u to look like your jogging with me at *********’s park.” Mabilis na paliwanag nito bago tuluyang pinutol ang tawag nito.

Natulala ako ng ilang Segundo bago muling tumunog ang phone ko at si Riley na ito.

“It was really her?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko rito.

“Yes sir. I’ve sent her a bugged mails to avoid being traced and she agrees to meet with you. She’s been scared for the past two years. Nahack ko po ang system nila dahil sa dalawang minutong blackout sa lokasyon niya. Our theory was right sir. She knows something about Snow.” Naikuyom ko ang palad ko habang patuloy na kumakalabog ang puso ko. Nagmamadali akong lumabas sa bar pauwi sa hotel ko para magimpake.

“I’ll send you her location. It’s an hour travel from your current location sir. I’ll book a hotel for you around the park sir.” I hope everything becomes worth it this time.

“Thank you Riley.” I said as we cut our lines.

Alas-tres pa lang ay nasa park na ako. I wore a dark hoodie in case someone is watching her. I did a first round at the park trying to check the perimeter secretly. May ibang mga nagjo-jogging din katulad ko, pero hindi rin nawala sa paningin ko ang ilang mga lalaking tila nagmamasid lang sa paligid. I lower my gaze because of that. Tumingin ako sa oras at alas-kwatro na nga.

Maya-maya pa’y nagulat ako ng may blonding babae ang bumangga sakin. Napansiin ko ang sandaling panic sa mga mukha ng mga security sa paligid so I remained my gaze low at mas inayos ko pa ang hoodie ko.

“Find her in this..” She whispered as she look at me directly in the eyes. Hindi ako nagkakamali. She’s Alexandria Amber. I’ve seen her in photos.

“Por pabor senior!” (Sorry Sir!) she said in a spanish accent as she offer me her hand to help me stand. Alam kong sinadya niya akong banggain.

Sinadya din niyang palakasin ang boses nito para hindi magtaka ang mga bantay nito sa premises ng park. Tinanggap ko ito ng hindi nakatingin sa kaniya. I felt a hard thing in my palm as her hand meet mine. It’s a small folded paper.

“It’s fine Seniorita (Miss). Buenas dias (Good morning)!” I said bowing at her. Remaining a low profile as I pocket the small piece of paper.

“Buenas dias!” she answered as she jog away from me na ginawa ko din naman. Umikot ako sa park ng dalawa pang round para hindi mahalatang iyon lamang ang pinunta ko sa lugar na iyon tsaka tuloy-tuloy na umuwi sa hotel na tinutuluyan ko.

I almost lost my breathing nang sumandal ako sa nakasarado kong pinto habang dahan-dahang binubuksan ang maliit na papel.

There’s a name written on it. It says “Amanda Garcia” and there’s also an address from a certain restaurant bar around mexico and 7:00pm was written on the paper. I sent it to Riley na agad naman niyang ni-locate. He said it’s safe there, wala ring bakas na may tauhan doon si Alfonso.

It’s a small town away from the City and its 3 hours travel from here. Wala na akong sinayang na oras at dali-daling sumakay sa sasakyan ko pagkatapos kong magbihis.

Pasado alas-sais na nang dumating ako sa lugar na iyon dahil kinailangan ko pa itong hanapin at ipagtanong. Tila sikat naman ang lugar dahil marami ang nakakaalam nito.

“Buenas Noches (Good evening) Senior!” masiglang bati sa akin ng mayari ng resto bar. Bumungad sa akin ang masiglang ambiance ng lugar.

“Buenas Noches. I just want to ask if there’s a girl named Amanda Garcia who works in this place?” ipinakita ko sa lalaki ang address at laking ngitti nito tsaka ako hinatid sa upuan sa unahan.

“Oh I see!” tila tuwang-tuwa ito. “You’re her fan huh?” nagulat ako sa sinabi nito pero hinayaan ko na lang ito. “She will perform here later at exactly 7:00pm. You can wait here Senior!” masigla talaga itong tao. Pumalakpak ito ng dalawang beses tsaka dumating ang isang waiter para bigyan ako ng makakain at maiinon.

“You seem to have traveled faraway senior! That’s our bestselling food! Alegrar (enjoy) senior!” I sighed at tila ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang gutom ko. So I just have to wait huh.

Unti-unting dumami ang mga tao nang malapit nang mag alas-syete. Mukhang sikat itong Amanda Garcia dahil ramdam kong karamihan ay hinihintay talaga ang magiging performance nito. Kaya pala tuwang-tuwa ang mayari ng resto sa kaniya. I was drinking my wine when I heard the sound of the mic being held.

“Buenas Noches Senior y Senioritas!” totdo sigawan ang ibang mga manonood habag ako ay halos tumigil ang mundo nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses na iyon. Napatayo ako nang makita ko ang mukhang matagal ko nang hinahanap sa loob ng dalawang taon.

“Snow..” I whisphered to the air. Sandaling nagawi ang tingin nito sakin dahil sa pagtayo ko. Natigilan ito ngunit agad din naman nagiti.

“Ola Senior! You seem new here!” pati ang mga manonood ay napatingin na din sa gawi ko. Nagitla ako ng nakangiting lumapit sa akin ang manager at dahan-dahan akong pinaupo dahil nagrereklamo na din ang ilang taong nakaupo sa likod ko.

“Calma Senior. We have a meet and greet for tonight. You will have som time to talk to her.” Nakaramdam ako ng kaunting hiya ng dahil sa naging reaksyon ko. Kaya naupo na lang din ako.

“For a start up, I will sing for you Fotographia or Photograph originally sanged by Ed Sheeran.” She did not recognize me, that’s for sure. So she’s Amanda Garcia. Her identity might have changed but everything about her is just the same. The burnt scar on her right neck is a big evidence that she went into an accident.

“Loving can hurt..” she started singing, her voice is still the same. Angelic and calm that mends every pain inside me. “Loving can hurt sometimes. But it’s the only thing that I know.” The place got quiet as everyone remained their attention to her.

“When it gets hard,

You know that it can get hard sometimes,

It is the only thing that makes us feel alive.”

I cant just grab her and take her away from this place.

There are many questions that’s bothering me while she sings in front of us. How is she? How did she live? What’s she been doing all those painful two years of mine? Does she still remembers me? But it looks like not. she close her eyes as she reach the chorus. tila dinarama ang bawat salita ng kanta. There's no doubt that its her. My Snow.

“…wait for me to come home.” Everyone cheered when she finished those last lines of the song. Every word and every rhythm of the song keeps on strucking my soul.

“I’ve waited all my life for you Snow. And I won’t let anyone get you away from me ever again.”

Those are the last words that came into my mind when I grabbed her on my arms as I hugged her so tight. Everyone was so surprised but I don’t care anymore. No one could stop me anymore. Not Alfonso's ghost or mens and not destiny or time. This is our fate.

I love this girl and I will always love her no matter what.

She just stare at me for a while. Surprise was evident on her eyes kaya hindi ito nakapagsalita.

“I will never let you go again Snow.” I said as I lock our lips with a longing kiss.

I am not the Random guy in her life anymore. I am Ace Gregory Ivonov, he's forever man. She is everything to me and I will do everything to get her back to my life once more.

*** THE END ***

♠️