"Girlie, what are you doing come and join us!" Sonja exclaimed.
"Of course, I would! This is our house that is OUR buko pie-" I pointed out the box of the buko pie.
"Um, h-how? I-i don't know. What if Elisa did runaway?" I continued. I grabbed a slice of buko pie and drink coke from Blessi's cup.
"But where's the proof? You know what I've told you guys. I think that dwarfs had taken her. She's the exact type they go for" Sonja said as she was about to finish her 2nd slice of buko pie.
"As much as enticing your theory is, Nah-ah! But, I also do think there's something fishy about it…" Blessi turned to me.
"I'm not the type to stick my noses into other people's business but… I am really curious who is this man 'they' presumed she ran away with?" I asked.
"Yeah! I mean knowing how Elisa is popular at school and had turned down a lot of men. Who is this man, that moved Elisa's heart?" Blessi answered.
Silence.
Blessi and I were waiting for a response. And looked at Sonja, who is now devouring her 3rd piece of the pie.
She stopped when she began to feel our eyes on her.
"Oh, As much as I do not care about others' love life, too. I've heard that she has a um… a chatmate? I mean what if it's a kano? Oh, that must be nice, another Filipina won at life", she sarcastically said.
"How about Juniel? He was the most serious suitor, isn't he? Where was he?" I asked.
They just both shrugged.
After they filled their stomach with everything our pantry has. They decided to go home.
"Hey, girlie! Thanks for the snacks! I knew it… that's why I miss you" Sonja exclaimed and then proceeded to hug me.
Yeah, I think because of the food.
I decided to hug her back.
"Seriously! What did the both of you do when I was away? You don't even know anything about Juniel and Elisa" I shake my head. "You just gave me the bad news and filled yourselves with buko pie" I added.
"Nah. We will see you tomorrow let's talk more of this after the mass" Blessi decided to hug me as well.
"Byeee! See ya Mons!" the two started to walked away and waved at me
"Byebye!"
Blessi stopped.
"Btw, your hair color… sucks!" Blessi added. Sonja burst out laughing. I touch my hair, then I immediately pick up pebbles in the ground and throw them at them. That made them run faster away from our house.
My parents prepared our dinner, and I swear… I already ate but I can't help how the Adobo smells amazing that made my stomach make some space for it. I just sat down at our table and ate quietly.
As I was cleaning our dishes, I can't help to think about Elisa. Is it true that Awanen's greatest example of a filial child ran away? I mean she's an adult now so I guess she's free to do whatever she wants. But, again we're talking about every parent's wish for what their kid was like, Elisa was that.
She is known for her beauty and brain. She excels at everything. She gets along well with other kids at school. I still looked up to her until now.
I can't comprehend why would she just throw everything away because of someone? Did something happen at their house? Did she run away? Is she missing and wants to be found? What if something wrong has happened to her?
I'm in a daze. I realized how much water has been wasted and quickly turned it off.
After cleaning all the dishes that we had over dinner and what my two friends used earlier. I said goodnight to my parents.
I cleaned myself as fast as I could since I'm already feeling the heavy lids of my eyes drooping.
I still can't ignore the pit in my stomach. I had to know the answers.
I woke up because of my mother's loud voice from our kitchen. I began to open my eyes slowly one by one. I scratched my nape and stretched. I have an important day today.
I went downstairs, completely dressed for the mass. I sat down at our kitchen table. I grabbed my notebook and pen with me and laid them out. I made notes about my goals about finding out the most real truth about Elisa's situation.
I will share it with Sonja and Blessi later. As I finished scribbling down my notes.
My father arrived at the table, looking like he isn't informed what today is.
"Pa? Why aren't you dressed yet?" I asked while looking at him unbelievably.
"Your father has to do something at work today so he won't be with us in today's mass" my mother answered.
Okay. I thought my father is doing one of his weird things again. Once I remember that my father insisted everyone drank a plant-infused drink early morning because he had seen it on Facebook. Which ends up sending each other to the nearest hospital because of extreme diarrhea.
My mother and I just arrived at the patio of the church. I dipped my finger in the holy water bowl. And, did a sign of the cross with it.
We luckily found a seat where an electric fan station at. As I seated I quickly roamed my eyes around the surroundings finding Elisa's family. I should also expect Sonja around.
The mass ended and I didn't get any sight of any of them.
As waiting for everyone to exit the church. I finally saw Sonja with her sisters, I guess they attended the mass while being outside.
"Mons! Oh, your hair made statements. I can immediately find you inside." she giggled.
"Ate! Look at Mon's hair!" she continued while asking her sister's attention on my corn hair.
"Ehe" I replied.
I asked my mother to come home alone and that I will be with Sonja and Blessi. She agreed and asked me to come home for lunch.
"Are we invited, Tita?" Sonja asked,
My mother turned around. "Who? Your whole family?" my mother asked.
"Just me and Blessi only" Sonja politely smiled.
"Okay, then, See you girls later!" then my mother left.
Sonja quickly turned her head back to me.
"So, let's go now and meet up Blessi at their store," she added.
I am not sure if my mother were that happy about it.
We talked about her summer job at the city office on our way. She has enough money to buy her school supplies and shoes this year. I wished I did the same as her and Blessi, working for the whole summer instead of bugging my grandfathers to cook my favorite meals every day,
We arrived at Blessi's family mini convenience store. Afar I've seen a familiar face, Elisa's little cousin. He immediately ran when he got from what it looks like ingredients from their lunch, I only got to see him run farther.
Blessi wasn't the one who was at the store so we go around in front of their house.
And yelled her name.
She quickly ran down their stair and opened their gate. We were at their garage sitting down.
"Hehe. Come on in"
I pulled out my notebook and pen. When Sonja talked.
"Is there any cold drinks at your store?" she asked Blessi.
"I knew it. I was this…" she showed us her fingers. "Little seconds to open up about that" Blessi responded,
While preparing a drink and chips for us.
"So, where did we leave off last night?" Blessi asked.
"What is that kid's name again? The Estepa's kid, the one who broke his arm while climbing the dwarf mango tree before?
"Who?"
"The kid he bought fish sauce earlier in your store"
"Atoy? Titoy? Toto? Totoy?" Sonja scratched her head. She looked like putting so much effort into the kid's name.
"MIGUELITO!" Blessi said.
"Ay. I should ask him when I had the chance earlier." I regretted.
Blessi arrived with a pitch of juice and 1 peso fish crackers.
"Anyways, have you seen any Estepa's in the mass?" Blessi asked.
"Oh, I was meaning to ask that, Sonja?" I exclaimed.
"Girlie, I don't know I mean… I am praying, singing salvation of Christ. I had my eyes closed the whole mass." she replied.
"I haven't seen any of them either" I added.
"Isn't it weird? I mean aren't they always in the church? Aling Tere does serve in the church, isn't she? Why I didn't see her?"
"Maybe just taking a break?"
Maybe?
I wrote it down on my notepad. Aling Tere MIA???
"How about Julien? How come you didn't see him for the entire summer?" I asked.
"Wow, It's not like you saw him either. You were just gone for a month. As per my calculations, just half of the summer break" Sonja instigated.
I mean I was attending the review center, so I do not know. I have my own life, too.
Juniel ???
"Okay, how about we stalked Elisa's Facebook account?" I suggested.