Gabb's POV :

Nandito na ako ngayon sa Philippines at agad naman kaming dalawa ni Nate sumakay sa sasakyan ko, but he suddenly say, "Gabb, pwede bang umuwi muna ako ng bahay?" Tanong nya and I nod at him.

"Sure, but why?" I asked and he reply, "Miss na kasi ako ni mama, alam mo naman yun." He said and I suddenly get to understand what he meant.

Mama nya kasi ay palaging nasa bahay, kaya nalulungkot ito kapag umaalis sya ng bansa.

"Sure, no problem. Ikamusta mo na lang ako kay tita when you get there." I said at napatango sya sakin, "Sige, I'm sure matutuwa yun." He said and relax his body.

At yun din ang ginawa ko, magrelax ng konti to all the stress for the past six years.

Pero bigla kong nakita ang picture namin ng mga Trinidad at ako sa isang malaking billboard, at kahit malayo ako ay nakikita ko ang lungkot na nakabalot sa ngiti ni ate Abby.

At ganun din sa mukha ko.

I can't hide the fact na hanggang ngayon, sinisisi ko pa rin ang sarili ko dahil sa pagkawala nya.

Pero kapag nahanap ko din si Josh, I'll surely make him pay for everything he did to my wife, especially ng pagbabanta nya and then sa pananakit nya.

At sa anak din ni Coleen na si Gabby.

And a few minutes later ay nakarating kami sa bahay ni Nate at agad naman syang bumaba, "I think kaya mo na kunin ang mga gamit mong mag-isa?" I asked and he nod.

"Of course. I know na pagod ka kaya pag-uwi mo, tanggalin mo lang muna lahat ng nagpapa-stress sayo." He said and I know that he's just concern, pero I think hindi ko kayang gawin yun.

"Okay." Sabi ko at napatango na lang kasi feeling ko na magiging dramatic lang kung magpapakita ako ng kahinaan na hindi ko yun kayang gawin.

And besides, this is all my fault, kaya ako ang dapat na maghanap ng solusyon kung pano ko to aayusin.

Hinawakan ko ang dalawang singsing sa kwentas ko and close my eyes, "Coco, sana hindi ka takot ngayon." I wish na sana hindi nga sya takot.

"Gabb, mauna muna ako." Paalam ni Nate at napatango ako, hindi na ako nagsalita kaya sinara na lang ni Nate ang pinto ng sasakyan and let the driver leave the place.

Then I gently massage the bridge of my nose and I felt a little bit dizzy, pero tiningnan ko ang oras sa relo ko and saw that it was already One pm in the afternoon.

I think nalipasan na naman ako ng gutom.

Kung nandito lang si Coleen, surely hindi yun papayag na hindi ako kakain sa tamang oras.

And after a few minutes, nakarating ako sa bahay at agad na sinalubong ako ni mama ng halik sa pisngi. "Gabb, kamusta?" Tanong nya and I smile at her.

"Okay lang naman, Ma. I'm just tired." Sabi ko and sat down in the sofa and sigh deeply, tapos umupo si mama sa tabi ko and say, "Kung may problema ka, you can tell it to me or sa papa mo. You knew that we're always here for you." She said and I look at her and I wanted to say something.

Pero parang ayaw lumabas sa bibig ko yung gusto kong sabihin, "Wala, Ma. You know me, kung kaya ko, hindi ako magsasabi sayo." I said and I can see that my mother is worried.

"I know that you're independent person, but you cannot keep things to yourself forever." Sabi nya and hearing that makes me want to cry, pero yun na nga ang nangyari sakin.

"Bakit sobrang supportive mo, Ma? Even you knew it's my fault." I said and she embrace me and comfort me, "Gabb, wala kang kasalanan. Nasaktan ka at naloko ka, it wasn't your fault." Sabi nya at parang hindi ko sya kayang paniwalaan.

"It's my fault why my wife is missing!"

"Gabb, sa tingin mo ba na matutuwa si Coleen if she knew that you're crying?" Sabi nya and hearing that makes me think na 'what if nandito sya and seeing me like this?'

"Ma... Nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa na makakasama ko pa sya ulit. It's been Eight years nung nag-divorce kami."

My mother nod at me and say, "I know. Pero kung yun yung rason why you keep punishing yourself, anak wag! Wag mong pasanin lahat sa sarili mo!" She said and I put my head in her shoulder.

"Thank you, Ma kasi nandyan ka." I said as I cry, tapos niyakap nya ako ng mahigpit and say, "Naalala ko tuloy nung bata ka pa, palagi mo syang pina-iiyak and then you would push her. Tapos pag-umiyak na sya, magso-sorry ka and then hahalikan mo noo nya." She said and hearing that makes me to be confused.

"Ma, hindi ko naman ginawa yun kay Coleen ah?" Sabi ko and she look at me and say, "That time, kami ng lolo mo at ang nga Trinidad, nakita ang efforts mo kung paano mo pakalmahin si Coleen by just kissing her forehead and saying sorry.. Hindi dahil sa mabait na bata si Coleen but we really knew na kayo ang para sa isa't isa." She said and I was still confused to what she's saying.

"Hindi kita maintindihan."

She smile and say, "Sandali lang." She open a drawer and then get a little box.

Tapos binigay nya sakin ang isang red string, "Ano to?" I asked and take it, "Yan yung red string na nilagay mo sa daliri mo at kay Coleen nung time na umiiyak sya. Dahil hindi mo na kinuha nung umuwi sila, tinago ko na lang." She said and I smile widely.

"Tell me, ito ba yung reason kung bakit pinili kami ng mga lolo namin?" I asked and my mother nod at me, "Wag ka ng mag-alala." She said and hug me again.

Now I understand.. Kaya pala kinasal kami because of the red strings.

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Chapter 3 ends.

Update muna tayo kasi broken ako.