"Where's our daughter, honey?" Mrs Mondragon asked her wife worriedly as he arrived.
"As you can see I just came home, so how I will know where is she. What's the matter? Is there's something wrong, honey?" Instead of answering his wife, he also asked a question.
But his wife seems to be uneasy as well. Because by her expression added by her reaction, she easily got mad. He didn't get an answer from her. Because aside from walking around, his wife said something else.
"I'm really going to pinch this girl even she's already an adult! It's becoming more common for her to go out without saying goodbye. There's no problem if she wants to go for a walk or go anywhere as long as she at least says goodbye. So that we don't have to worry like this." She is in a constant going back and forth.
"Maybe it's just late to come home, hon. Just like the past few days, she may not have noticed the passing of time," Clarence said again.
It's still the same. It's like being in front of a court questioning the defendant. He is the one who is dizzy because of her actions. But he also doesn't want his wife to fight. So he left her in that situation.
But...
Hours have passed!
It's already past nine in the evening. But there's no Mariz Kaye come home. That's why they were more worried.
"Call the secretary--- No. It's already nine in the evening and I'm sure May is at home already," the lady said incoherently.
"Stay here, hon. I'll go to check the HT. If she is there, maybe she only didn't notice the time. But if it's not, God forbid but I have these feelings already," he promised his wife.
It crossed his mind what they might have caused when they constantly prevented him from meeting new acquaintances but she ignored it. And now they fear that everything may have come true. It seems that for the first time they failed to guide their children.
"I'm coming with you, hon," said the lady but was immediately contradicted by her husband.
"You stay here first, hon. She might call and someone can answer the phone just in case. The maids are taking their rest already. That's why I'll go to the theater first," he said again.
In his mind, everything was just a guess. Because they have no hints where to look for him if what he has in mind is really right.
MaCon did not insist what she wanted. She just let her husband left. They have no idea where their daughter is.
"My Lord, I hope you will save our daughter. I know we always advise her about his new acquaintance but we have no other desire for her than a better future," she prayed fervently while continuing to go back and forth to their living room is wide.
ON the other hand, due to the type of work they do, they did not have a hard time obeying their friend's wife the night they got married. They also brought the suitcase to Curly Boy's house. They let her act on her own before their friend take her in the theatre where she is working.
"Oh, I thought we were all leaving?" Mariz Kaye asked kindly when she and her husband boarded the bus alone. As they were escorted inside, they got off when the conductor said they were about to leave.
"We will follow, sister-in-law. Don't worry about us because after everything Curly Boy and I will follow you," Mundo promptly explained.
"Hey, this isn't what we're talking about, brod. What's the problem and you suddenly changed your mind?" Luther then looked at his friends.
If only they were not inside the bus, he would have hit three of them. They might even be humming. Their conversation was beautiful, but at the last moment, they changed their minds.
"Listen, brother. It's true that we didn't tell you this. But we have to be left behind so that the others (both undercover) don't immediately notice. If we disappear at the same time, we will definitely not be able to get to the place you want to go. And Besides, we have to make sure that your parents and sister-in-law don't come after you," explained Mundo, which Bong-Bong agreed with.
"Tol Mundo is right, brod. We have to leave you for your safety until you get there. Just don't change your number so we know your condition. Don't worry, Parekoy, everything's gonna be alright. It's just a matter of time, we will follow you," he said.
MEANWHILE, when Mariz Kaye heard his last lesson, he was shocked, something that was not hidden from his companions.
"Is there a problem, my sweet? You seem restless?" Luther immediately turned to his wife. He was next to him that is why he felt that there's something wrong.
"Please ask the conductor because I'll buy a new sim card, 'heart. I'm sure by this time Daddy and Mommy have found out that I'm not in the theater," she replied looking up to her husband.
Curly Boy's henchmen are more proactive.
"You stay here, sister-in-law. I'll buy it myself. You heard what the conductor said earlier. I'll be back in just a minute." Ron-Ron was prompt.
Because apart from the fact that he doesn't want anyone to see their sister-in-law and possibly see her, he also doesn't want her to be crowded. He didn't wait for someone to answer the friends and wife of their brother (Curly Boy). He was walking faster and the conductor was already counting the passengers.
"Brod, just a moment. I'm just going to buy a sim card down there." He even managed to turn the conductor past.
"Hurry up, bro. Then it's only two tickets---"
"Only my brother and his wife Brod will ride." He immediately cut it and quickly went down.
Not even a minute later he came back with the purchased sealed sim card.
"Here it is, sister-in-law. Just remember that we will follow. In case of emergency, which we haven't followed yet, call us. Don't worry because our brother won't leave you," he said immediately as he reached for the sim card.
"THANK YOU, Kuya Ron. Take care here too. And I hope we meet again," Mariz Kaye simply replied.
"Thank you, Tol. Don't keep us waiting for too long. You know my patience is as short as my curly hair. Everyone be careful here in the city." Curly Boy patted his friends on the shoulder one by one as he was separated from each other for the first time.
"Nothing, Tol and don't worry about us. You know the three of us. There should be a mini-curly boy when we arrive." Even though she was crying, Bong-Bong still managed to make a joke.
For the first time since their group or BAKAL NA REHAS UNIT was formed, it was at that time that they split up. That's why they can't help but feel sad and they are a friend in need, a friend indeed. Sadness of one, sadness of all of them. The same goes for pleasure. Difficulty for one is difficult for all of them. Just as they were about to hit the four cases, the conductor interrupted.
"I'm sorry bros, but you need to get off, the bus is about to leave," he said.
"It's okay, bro. We're going," Mundo answered then turned to the two again.
"Keep in touch, Curly Boy, sister-in-law," he said but she only nodded in response.
IF the three got off because the bus was leaving, Luther was different because he was supporting his wife in her seat.
"Sleep first, my sweet. We have a long trip," he said to his wife then leaned her against his chest.
"Aren't you sad to be separated from your friends for the first time?" she asked then looked up at him even though she was leaning on his chest.
"It's sad of course but we're married so we have to be away from them for a while. But I have faith in them, when they say they'll follow, they'll really follow even if it's not that fast. It's you I'm thinking of---"
"Don't say it, 'heart. Because like you said, we are married already. Daddy and Mommy will also understand me. And my twin sister know about this. Because she herself suggested the run away portion." Mariz Kaye promptly interrupted her husband and then whispered the last part.
That's why Luther couldn't help but smile. He thought that his wife's entire clan was against him. But in this statement, it seems that the twins are on the side of their husband and wife.
"I love you so much, Mrs Bartolome," he whispered sweetly in her ear.
Wow! It's hard for fellow passengers to see them! Well, it's their first time to be together even not alone. Still, they were the only couple in the two seats.
"I love you even more, my Curly Boy." Before Mariz Kaye could stop herself, she reached for her husband's lips and kissed them.
So what! His beloved wife kissed him as he did during their wedding.
Although Luther was surprised by his wife's decision, he did not reveal it because he did not want to offend her. He knows that she only kissed him in public because he loves her as much as he does to her. He just hugged her tightly as if someone was going to grab her, which she also responded to. A few moments later, he only heard a soft snore, a sign that he had fallen asleep.
"Thank you so much for everything, sweetheart. Because of you, my world has changed. All my life, I dedicated my time to my job. But I can abandon that for you, Sweetheart. The one who never judge me and my sworn brothers by our outlook appearance. I can't promise you any material wealth, Sweetheart. But I promise I will risk my life for you. I love you so much, my dearest wife, Mariz Kaye Mondragon Bartolome. And I hope you will be able to forgive me when you'll find out that I'm not just a prisoner but I'm an undercover agent and going in and out of jail is just part of my job. I love you very much, my wife." He gently caressed her hair and kissed her from time to time.
What he does not know!
Because of the shaking of the bus, his wife woke up so he heard her whisper even more and his lips rested on her head.
"I know it, my dearest husband. You are not an ordinary prisoner but nothing will change because I love you so much. I don't care what others say. You are my one and only prisoner of my eyes. I prayed for a farmer of my life but instead I met you, my dearest Curly Boy." Mariz Kaye silently smiled before she continued sleeping while clinging to her husband's broad chest.
He didn't just let it be known that he had heard his painful monologues for the sake of his feeling. The important thing is that he already knows the truth about this mysterious person.
THE following day.
"Boss! Boss!" De Silva loudly called the boss.
He was still out of breath so it was a lecture.
"Morning, De Silva, but you look very tired. Could you clean yourself up before facing me!" his boss scolded him.
But he didn't care about that because he knew that it was just a normal reaction of the boss. He will care more about what he will announce to him.
"Boss, we have a problem," he said. So he looked at him again.
"Repeat what you said, De Silva? Where in the world did you come from and you know of a problem early in the morning?" Boss Jolbon replied questioningly while frowning.
"Young master is missing. It looks like he and his girlfriend runaway together," De Silva immediately explain.
It's a different story when the young master is involved! The skin of the body will mix when it is discussed.
"What?! How did that happen, De Silva? Didn't I say that you should never lose sight of him?!" asked the boss loudly again.
"That's what I can't answer, boss. But according to your staff there, only his friends entered," De Silva said.
His Boss is really angry! His boss who rarely got angry was shaking with tension.
"Go and tell the management! Urgent meeting that everyone must attend! I need to talk to his men. This can't happen!" he shouted angrily or it would be more correct to say he is heuristically panicked.
Boss Jolbon let his son live without wealth or a poor person but that doesn't mean he doesn't care about it. Yes, his son is Luther Bartolome or better known as Curly Boy among his friends. He did what he knew was good. He watched his growth even when he was not with him so he knew the hardships he went through until his dream was reached. It seems that his negligence has gone too far. He has no objection if he wants to get married because as a father he will be the first to be happy when he gets a wife. But not in a way that his son did.
"But, Boss, are you going to show yourself? The moment you reveal yourself, there's no turning back. Even Sir Skyler will know when you do that, boss." De Silva contradicted.
"Then what! What do I need to do? He's missing and no one knows where he is!" he said still angry, the strength of his voice was proof.
Before the staff could answer, the main guard ran up to them. Ah, what's happening on earth? Why did it happen in a day? But wait! What is his best friend doing at his house?
"Boss, Sir Andaya is outside, he is asking if he is coming in or if you will talk as usual," he said.
That's why he slapped his forehead while the other was on his waist. He forgot that his best friend is coming because they had something important to talk about.
"Go and tell him to wait for me outside. I'll be there in a short period of time," he replied before turning to his right hand man who immediately understood what he meant.
So it wasn't long before the black and white Toyota car was in a row. The white car belongs to Jhay-R Andaya, and the black car belongs to Jolbon Xavier. They headed to the private place where they'll be the only person in that place. There's an important matter they need to discuss.
FEW hours later that day, Mariz Kaye woke up because of the caress of her beloved husband on her face. She noticed him staring at her. So instead of sitting up, she hugged him tightly.
"I love you, sweetheart," she said softly.
"Yes, I know that, wifey. Because I love you even more than you love me. But we need to step down from the bus already," he replied.
Hearing that, she immediately straightened up. Then he realized that fellow passengers were getting off.
"The long trip was over. Sweetheart, am I seeing this right? I guess we're here in Bicol?" she asked in a whisper.
"You are right, wifey. We are here now in Bicol. This is where we will start life. You and I, my wife. I may not be able to give you the luxury that you are aware of but I want you to know that I will do everything for you and the future our family. Here in Albay, wifey, will be our home, but before everything, come downstairs. We will ride the jeep to our future house, and when my brothers come, they will build their house here." He was serious while speaking, but his voice and eyes still shone brightly.
They just waited for everyone to get off before they stepped down. He (Luther), didn't let his beloved wife get together with other people. They were there so why would he rush. In his mind, he will spend his whole life loving and protecting his wife. His precious wife, the love of his life who accepted and loved him without a doubt.