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MACKENNA

IT HASN'T BEEN 48 HOURS since I arrived in Brooklyn, but a lot has already happened. Scout, the guy in a pilot's uniform who I met at the bar last night, and I had an unplanned one-night stand. Ryder, who has been nothing but kind and helpful to me, despite the fact that I made him wait outside my unit for hours last night. And now, Freya, who I'm video chatting right now and who thought I'd been laid the instant she saw me, which I strongly denied, despite the fact that she is correct.

"Babe, just admit it. It's very obvious." Freya was adamant, her index finger pointing to my face on the screen.

I rolled my eyes at her. "Whatever," I said as I averted my gaze away from the screen, preferring not to make eye contact despite the fact that we were only video chatting.

"All right, all right, lie all you want, Missy!" She chuckled, "Anyway, how are you doing? Any news from your runaway sister?"

Thank God she finally stopped questioning me. I sighed and shook my head.

"I haven't heard anything yet, but I'm going to Foster's workplace later today to speak with him. I'm hoping he'll tell me where my sister is." I sank into the couch with a distressed expression on my face.

"I'm hoping so, too, babe."

"How 'bout you? How's work?"

"Ehh, nothing much. Same old shit," she said, laughing.

Nag-usap pa kami ni Freya sandali bago siya nagpaalam na dahil kailangan na niyang maghanda para magtrabaho. Ako naman, naghanda naman ako para pumunta kung saan nagtatrabaho si Foster. I'm not going to waste any more time. I can't be distracted by anything or by anyone.

But it's very difficult not to get distracted when all I can think about is Scout and what happened last night. He's not only amazing in bed, but he also went out of his way to ensure that I was satisfied, which is exactly what Freya advised me to look for in a guy. Worse, our in-bed connection was undeniably strong!

Mababaliw na yata ako!

Ni hindi ko nga alam kung makikita ko ba siya ulit. At ang tanging alam ko lang sakaniya ay ang pangalan niya, isa siyang piloto at isang linggo lang siya rito sa New York. Meaning, mas malabo pa sa malabo na magkita ulit kami. At kung ano man ang nangyari sa'ming dalawa kagabi ay 'yon na ang una at huli. After all, that's why it's called a one-night stand.

I did all I could to clear my mind and focus on why I had come to Brooklyn in the first place. Even though it's difficult after seeing all the markings on my body that Scout had left while showering, I manage to get myself together so I can finally go out and find Foster.

I planned to arrive at his workplace much earlier than usual. Foster is a pipeline technician, and he works for a huge oil pipeline company called The Motor Oils. When I finally arrived at his workplace, everyone was busy and I wasn't sure who to ask, so I just went straight to the woman in the reception area.

"Good afternoon," The receptionist smiled at me. "What can I do for you?"

I smiled back at her. "Hi. I'm looking for Foster. Is there any chance that I could talk to him?"

"May I please ask for your name?"

"It's Mackenna Evans. Just tell him that I'm his girlfriend's sister."

"Okay. One moment please," the receptionist said. I waited patiently while she paged Foster on the speaker phone. "You can take a seat. He'll be here in a moment."

"Great. Thank you," I said before taking a seat on the couch while nervously fiddling with my fingers. Kahit na gusto kong kumalma ay hindi ko magawa dahil sa bilis nang tibok ng puso ko.

Maya-maya lang at nakita ko nang naglalakad papalapit si Foster. He's dressed in a hard headgear and greasy overalls and gloves. He also has grease on his face that he didn't bother to wipe off.

Agad akong tumayo at nilapitan siya. Bakas sa mukha niya ang pagkagulat nang makita niya ako.

"Hey, Kenna! How are you? What are you doing here in Brooklyn?" Foster asked, smiling.

"Where is Savanna? Where is she hiding?" I begged. My frustration began to seep out of me.

"What the fuck?" he said. His face was flustered by my question. Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa naging reaksyon niya. He took off his gloves and headgear, scoffing. "What do you mean, hiding?"

"S-savanna just left without telling me. Then I went to your apartment to ask you, but your landlord informed me that you had been relocated to Brooklyn, so I suppose you two are still together. That's why I came to Brooklyn to look for her."

"Wow! I swear I didn't know that Savanna didn't tell you about it." Foster let out a soft chuckle. "So that's why she insisted that we change our phone numbers so you couldn't contact us anymore." he started laughing hysterically.

"Where is she Foster? I want to see her." I demanded. I don't care whatever lies Savanna has told him, because all I want is to see my sister.

"That little bitch has been lying to me all this time."

"Don't call her that!" I hissed, glaring at him for calling my sister a bitch. I may hate my sister right now, but he doesn't have the right to call her that.

"Chill out, Kens." He raised both his arms, gesturing for me to calm down, but I kept my glare at him. Naglakad siya papunta siya receptionist para humingi ng papel at nakita kong may sinulat siya doon.

"Here's the address for our apartment. I don't know if Savanna's at home right now or probably wasting our money again, but you can try your luck." Foster handed me a piece of paper with their address on it.

"Thank you." I thanked him and was about to leave when Foster called me again.

"And if there's any way you can persuade her to come back to Vegas, that would be great." Foster said before turning away from me and walking away. I didn't even have a chance to ask about what he had just said.

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My pulse was racing at triple speed as I sat inside a taxicab on my way to their apartment. Paulit-ulit nagre-replay sa isip ko 'yung sinabi ni Foster kanina. Bakit gusto niyang kumbinsihin ko si Savanna na sumama sa'kin pabalik ng Vegas? Nag-away na naman ba sila kaya gusto niyang umalis na si Savanna?

Sobrang dami ko ng iniisip at ngayon dumagdag pa 'yung sinabi ni Foster sa'kin kanina. Mas lalo tuloy akong hindi mapalagay.

Malayo-layo 'yung apartment nila kaya sigurado akong malaki ang babayaran ko sa taxicab, pero hindi ko na muna inisip 'yun. Saka ko na ulit poproblemahin pa kung saan ako kukuha nang pera dahil mas mahalaga na makausap ko agad si Savanna.

My phone chimed. I immediately checked who texted me.

Ryder: I made chicken noodle soup. I thought you might need one for your hangover :)

A smile appeared on my lips as I was reading a text from Ryder. He's like the most thoughtful person I know. I quickly typed a reply.

Me: Thanks! But can you come by around 7ish?

Ryder: Sounds good to me. See ya later!

Maya-maya lang at tumigil na 'yung taxicab sa tapat ng isang bahay. I paid the taxicab and got off. My heart was pounding so hard while my hands started to get sweaty from nervousness.

I've been standing on the concrete for more than 5 minutes, just staring at their apartment. I couldn't bring myself to go up to their front door and knock on their door. Biglang parang pinipiga 'yung dibdib ko sa kirot. Para akong masusuka dahil sa sobrang kaba.

I was startled when the door suddenly swung open and Savanna appeared, holding two large garbage bags. I took a deep breath and swallowed hard. My feet wouldn't move an inch. I simply stood there staring at her, tears streaming down my face. Then our gazes meet. Her eyes widened, and the trash bags she was carrying slid from her grip as she was surprised.

Walang gumagalaw ni isa sa'ming dalawa. Nakatitig lang kami sa isa't isa. Siya na hindi makapaniwalang nandito ako sa harapan niya, habang ako naman ay hindi makapaniwala sa ayos niya. Savanna is wearing an oversized t-shirt with holes on it. Her hair, which was once straight and healthy, is now dry and neglected. Her face, which used to be glass skin, and she didn't need to wear makeup since she was naturally gorgeous, is now gone, and she seems to have not slept at all.

What the hell happened to her?

As I managed to compose myself and cross the space between us, I swallowed the lump developing in my throat and frantically wiped the tears stained on my cheeks. Nakatayo lang si Savanna habang nanlalaki pa rin ang mga matang nakatitig sa'kin.

"What...why are you? What are you doing here?" Savanna stuttered. Her hand is on her mouth from shock.

"Hello to you too, my dear sister." I retorted sarcastically. I looked at her from head to toe. Then my gaze was drawn to her left arm, which was covered in a purple bruise. Agad napakunot ang noo ko dahil sa nakita kong malaking pasa sa braso niya. Sinundan niya 'yung tingin ko kaya agad niyang itinago 'yung braso niya sa likuran niya.

"H-how did you find me? Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

"Why did you do that, Savanna?" ibinalik ko 'yung tingin ko mukha niya. Napalunok siya nang makita niya ang galit sa mukha ko. "How can you do that to me?" I exclaimed at her. Hindi ko na napigilan pang bumuhos ang galit na matagal ko nang kinikimkim.

Humakbang ako palapit sakaniya, pero agad niya akong tinalikuran.

"Leave. Or I'll call the police to make you leave from our property."

"Savanna!" I yelled and grabbed her arm. "What is wrong with you? Ano bang nangyayari sa'yo? Why are you doing this to me?!"

"I want you to leave Mackenna. I want you gone from my life. I don't want you anymore. You can do whatever you want to do, just don't bother me anymore. I'm sorry for robbing you, but I don't have any choice. I needed money, and that was my last resort, so Foster wouldn't leave me." I couldn't hold back my tears anymore. Akala ko hindi na ako masasaktan pa dahil sa nagawa sa'kin ni Savanna, pero mali ako. Dahil mas masakit marinig mula sakaniya lahat ng 'to. Mas masakit marinig nang harap-harapan mula sakaniya na pinatatabuyan niya ako paalis sa buhay niya. Parang dinudurog 'yung puso ko sa bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig niya.

"I told you that I couldn't be your anchor forever." Savanna slowly peeled my hand off her. "I'm really sorry, Mackenna, but I want to have a complete family of my own and I'm going to do everything to have that. I don't want my child to suffer and experience what we've experienced from our parents. I want my child to have a complete family, and I'm going to do whatever it takes for that to happen."

"Y-you're... you're pregnant?" Gulat na tanong ko. Hindi niya ako sinagot ko, pero base sa paghipo niya sa kaniyang tiyan ay nakumpirma ko na.

"Foster doesn't know yet." she said. Matagal ko siyang tinitigan dahil hindi ako makapaniwala dahil sa sinabi niya. Buntis siya, pero bakit parang mas lalo siyang pumayat? At hindi pa rin mawala sa isip ko 'yung nakita kong pasa sa braso niya.

"Sav—" Napatigil ako nang bigla niyang hilahin 'yung kwintas niya na may anchor na pendant at inilagay 'yun sa kamay ko.

This is our couple necklace.

"I'm tired. So please go." sabi niya bago siya naglakad paalis. Nakuyom ko 'yung palad ko habang hawak ang kwintas ni Savanna. Hindi ko na siya napigilan pa dahil pilit kong pinoproseso lahat nang sinabi niya sa'kin. Pilit ko ring pinoproseso sa isip ko 'yung sinabi ni Foster sa'kin kanina.

I'm still not sure what's going on with them, but one thing is certain. I can't leave Savanna alone until I'm positive she and her baby are safe.

W H A T Y A S E Y