ROYCE
“Nelly, baby, please…”
“Stop following me,” Nelly said, pointing a finger at me. Her eyes were piercing as she looked at me while tears cascaded on her cheeks.
How I wanted to wipe off her tears but I can’t. It’s even more painful knowing I was the one who made her cry. I made a mistake.
“My love, don’t leave me, please…”
Employees are all eyes on us but I didn’t care and neither did Nelly. It was the last time she looked back at me. Nelly ran out of our office. Nelina tore my heart into pieces. She didn’t even look back when I begged her to stay once more.
I went back to my office as I let Nelly go as she demanded, I didn’t follow her. My mind was so occupied with Nelly’s voice that it echoed repeatedly. “You are one of those evils in this world.”
“Am I? I never wanted to hurt her.”
I thought of the best idea on getting Nelly back while pacing back and forth in my office until a knock came on my door.
“Come in.”
My secretary, Jerry, hesitated as he came in.
“Sir, is there anything you want?”
I combed fingers in my head as I heaved a sigh. “Jerry, please cancel all my appointments today. Something urgent came up.”
“Alright, sir. Let me know if there’s anything more you want to add”
“Nothing, you may leave,” I said as I grabbed my suit and followed Jerry outside the office.
I drove fast to my condo hoping Nelina was there to pick up her things. The way she reacted in the office, I was certain she wanted to leave me.
When I arrived at my condo, it was quiet. I went directly to Nelly’s room but there was no sign of her. I checked the bathroom and even the walk-in closet, no Nelly. I sat in Nelly’s bed, releasing a deep sigh in frustration, thinking what I should do next.
I went back to the walk-in closet, checking her things. Nelly only took the things she brought and left everything I gifted for her. I keep telling myself not to give up.
A minute later I found myself on the street again, driving fast to Nelly’s condo. I was confident I’ll find Nelly there, it’s the only safe place for her to hide.
When I get to Nelly's condo, I knock on her door successively. I called her name but no one answered. I dialed Nelly’s number in the hope that it would ring and she might want to answer my call, but no. I was scared something bad happened to Nelly, she could be abducted. I thought of the incident that happened in the cafe with Apple.
“God, I hope I’m wrong,” I whispered.
I keep dialing Nelly’s number until it cannot be reached. Nelly must have turned it off herself. My only hope was that Nelly was safe. I sniffed the door trying to find Nelina’s smell. It was a crazy idea but I didn’t mind looking stupid at all.
I continued knocking on the door until a woman probably in her 40’s showed up from the elevator.
“Hey! I think no one is there. Nelly’s parents are in Manila and Nelly was with her boyfriend. I’m not quite so sure, though.”
“Ma’am, I was wondering if Nelly visited just earlier?”
“I don’t think so. I was in the lobby for an hour before I came here. If Nelly visited, I would have noticed her. And besides, we are neighbors, my unit is in front of hers. Sweet girl Nelly would always want a short talk when she sees me.”
“I see. Thank you, ma’am, I have to go,” I said, releasing a deep breath.
I walked away from Nelly’s condo but something told me that Nelly was in there. The frustration was making me insane. I left Nelly’s front door with a heavy heart.
I went home and banged my body on the couch, exhausted. And because I didn’t want to give up I called Marica. Thankfully the call connected immediately.
“Hey! I didn’t expect you to still have the nerve to call me after what you did to Nelly,” Marica said. She sounded irritated but I understood her completely.
“So, you already know about those fake documents?”
“Fake? Can you prove that those are fake?”
“Yes, I can. Marica, please, listen. Before anything else, I wanted to know if Nelly is safe with you.”
“Safe? What’s wrong? Is Nelly in danger?”
“No, I mean, she could be in danger. She left the office alone and left her car key here in my living room. That means she rides a taxi to wherever she might be now. And I don’t feel comfortable about it, knowing Roxie and Dennis are just around the corner.”
“Oh, no. You have a point. Royce, I got to go. See you around. Come to my party. I’ll send you an invitation.”
Marica hung up and didn’t give me a chance to ask what kind of party she was talking about. Well at least I reminded Marica, she will surely find Nelina. Still, it wasn’t enough.
I had no other choice but to call my trusted private detective. He should find where Nelly is. I can’t forgive myself if Nelly’s life is in danger because of me. I thought Roxie and Dennis could take advantage of the situation and do something stupid.
The call connected immediately. “Hello, I have a job for you. I will send you a photo and find her immediately. I need an answer tomorrow.”
It was a quick call and as expected the man on the other line accepted the job immediately.
I went to my room and soak myself in a cold shower to release the stress from my body. I had a long day. In the shower, I could still remember Nelly’s furious voice, repeating in my head. Nelly hated me so much. She despises seeing me, she doesn’t even answer my call.
After the shower, I didn’t have the appetite to have dinner and only wanted to rest my exhausted mind and body but my bed doesn’t look the same anymore. I left my room and went to Nelly’s room instead. The sweet smell engulfed the room as I opened the door.
The room was empty and sad that Nelly wasn’t there anymore. The walk-in closet was full but useless and worthless without Nelly. I chose to lie on Nelly’s bed, sniffing her sheet and hugging her soft pillows. It was like having Nelly wrapped around my arms.
I didn’t notice my tears streaming down my face as I continued to dream of her being with me. The smell of her hair, soft skin, and her sweet smile. She’s all I need. I stayed wrapping my arms around Nelly’s pillow until I fell asleep.