That hug of his... When will I ever get the feel of that warmth again? Naglakad na ako papasok sa plane. He gave me two plane tickets... telling me to not let anyone sit beside me. I don't know his deal pero natatakot ako. I can sense that something is wrong. Argh, I should just focus on getting home. Nang makaupo na ako sa seat ko by the window, I looked at my phone. I'm surprised that it is not in low battery... "Excuse me, ma'am. We are now taking off and your phone needs to be turned off. Thank you." a flight stewardess said. I just nodded and shoved it in my sling bag. Maliit lang dala ko and so it passes as a carry - on bag. I sighed. This bag... it's been with me eversince. Tumingin na lang ako sa may bintana. The sky looks like it's calling me... I've never been this eager to get off the plane. Dad... I hope you are doing fine. Up until now, I still don't understand why he wants me to stay in New York. Tapos I can't contact him... or even that woman. Something isn't right... Isa pa, yung mga taong sumugod sa apartment last time... they were looking for his camera... for the evidence. Anong ginawa niya that caused such ruckus? I sighed. Inabot ko yung eye mask na binigay ng isang crew at inilagay sa mata ko. This will be a long ride pero I need to be patient... I'm coming home, dad. By then, please, answer your daughter. Kahit ngayon lang, explain to her what is happening... why you had to be away from her for so many years with that woman... why, why you need to choose something over your daughter... Is the hospital much greater in value than me? Or that woman? Gosh... I can't sleep properly like this! Inalis ko yung eyemask ko at sumilip sa window. The dark sky is now here... with tiny stars lighting it up. It is peaceful... If he can see this... if we can only see the same sky together. "Gosh..." I murmured to myself. I need to go to a bathroom. I opened my eyes and dark na sa paligid. Shocks, what time is it? I looked at one of the screens behind the seat in front of me. The hell? It's alread four in the morning? So three hours na lang... Bilis ng oras ha. Anyways, I need the bathroom na. I kept on taking bathroom trips kanina pa... pang fourth na siguro 'to. Tumayo ako at nagkalad papunta sa bathroom. There are crews na gusto akong iassist but I just thanked them and went on my way. I looked at myself at the mirror. My hair is a mess, and I'm not wearing any makeup now...gosh. These past few weeks had been hell to me. Why do I always get into those kinds of situations? His face crossed my mind. That ocean blue eyes of his... the eyes of which... the lies came from. I hate him. Pero my dad ordered him to ensure my safety. From what? Lumabas na ako ng bathroom. It's been bugging me for days... but I can't seem to connect the dots. He surely knows something. Isa pa... he took the effort to give me tickets... as if ready siya. It's his work, Daliah. Nothing special. "...I cared. I really did. Please... trust me." Argh! Nevermind! Nang makalabas ako ng bathroom ay nakadim pa rin yung lights. Well, it's only four... I walked to my seat. My eyes widened sa nakita ko. There is someone sitting beside my seat! Both seats are paid though... "Umm, excuse me," I called out to the man. I cannot properly see his face since the lights are dimmed. "Yes?" "I paid for both seats... if you may--" "I paid for my ticket here. My ticket states that this is my seat. The plane is probably full that's why they gave me this seat. Just refund your payment or something," he states. I sighed. I don't have the energy to deal with this. Even though I slept throughout the flight, I feel somewhat groggy. Hungry lang siguro ako. I sat on my seat. Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm hungry na nga. My back and neck hurts as hell din... Humarap ako sa right ko kung nasaan yung aisle at akmang tatawag ng crew nang mapansin kong gumagalaw yung katabi ko... he seems to be doing something but I can't properly see it. Screw the lights. I can feel my heart beating for some reason. I just stared at his hands... nang bumukas unti - unti yung lights. Sa wakas! It's announced na malapit na ang landing... And I haven't eaten anything the whole flight so I think I'm going to eat muna! How can I forget eating? I called one of the crews and they gave me something. I looked at the window while eating the pretzels... For the second time around, nanlaki ang mga mata ko. I can see, kahit konti na may parang syringe na hawak yung katabi ko. Gosh... dapat nag first class na lang ako! But... still thankful for Marcus. Humarap ako sa kaniya to confirm it. I'm right... He stopped doing whatever he's doing and looked at me, "Oh, I have diabetes. Gotta take some insulin..." Okay...? Pero parang kanina niya pa hawak yan... My heart is beating loudly again! Gosh! I think I need to walk away from here muna. I looked at him and he's staring back at me. His crooked smirk sent chills to my spine. "Ms. Ty?" he whispered. OMG. "Help! Ah!" Sigaw ko. He quickly grabbed me and enclosed his left arm across my chest. What the hell is happening now? "Don't get near us! I will kill this lady right here and now!" he shouted. I can't feel anything... Parang hindi ako makagalaw. Sa tuwing gumagalaw yung lalaki, nagpapatianod na lang yung katawan ko. Help... I can see the terror in people's eyes. May mga sumisigaw na rin. I can see in my peripheral view na hawak niya yung syringe... and it's aiming at me! What the hell is inside that?! "This syringe has cyanide... so get away if you want this lady to live!" he shouted once more. Nagsigawan pa lalo ang mga tao habang kinakalma sila ng mga crew. I can't move... I feel colder here... my body is freezing... Suddenly, the familiar feeling is coming back... kahit na magkaiba iyon at ito... I don't want to die... I found myself looking straight in front of me. Ito na ba yun? End na? Parang tumahimik ang paligid at tanging boses lang ni dad naririnig ko. Dad... I need help... bakit ba hindi kita pwedeng makasama? I understand naman na may business... but it seems that you don't like the work too. That you've been forced into doing it... May mga lumalapit sa amin at pinapakalma yung lalaking nakahawak sa akin. Naglakad siya paalis sa seat namin at papunta sa aisle, while dragging me as well. I have no choice but to follow him... I don't know what to do. "This lady needs to die! I will lay my life, just kill this woman too!" he shouted once more, bringing the syringe closer to my neck. What does he mean by that? I'm confused... Isa pa, I can't do a thing here... I'm here standing in front of everyone... the reason this flight is turned into a disaster. Why am I expecting him to come to me? WHY? Naramdaman kong nawala yung pagkakahawak niya sa akin kaya napaupo ako sa may aisle habang hawak ang neck ko... I embraced myself. Men in civilian came to arrest the guy behind me. He was struck from his behind. "Let's go, ma'am. The airplane will land soon and you need to be seated properly." the crew assisted me back to my seat. Ganoon din ang ginawa ng kasama niya sa ibang passengers. Sa bilis ng pangyayari, I can't think straight. Hindi ako hiniwalayan nung crew kanina. I just looked down on my lap. "Ma'am...?" her voice pushed my tears out. "Can I... can I still go home? I'm scared," I grabbed her and hugged her. "Umm..." Naramdaman ko yung hand niya on my back. It's soothing but I can't stop my tears... Dad... finally. I'll be there. Akala ko tapos na. Pero sigurado na ba talagang makikita kita? "This way, ma'am." Someone from the airport came to me and lead me to the airport's clinic. Finally, I'm here. Someone talked to me about what happened... but I can't put words into it. I've had enough... "Doc, excuse me. Is that Ms. Daliah Ty?" I heard a voice. "Yes, why?... Ah okay. Wait here, miss, okay?" the doctor stood up and walked out. "Kawawa naman siya... her dad is--" Nang marinig ko ang salitang iyon, I immediately stood up from my seat and walked out of the room. I went to the woman who talked. Napalayo siya sa gulat nang makita ako. "Wait lang, miss Ty. Calm down, please," the doctor held my hand. "My dad! Where is my dad?! I need to see him!" I screamed. I don't know anymore... I just know one thing-- I need to go to him. "Did you call her family?" the woman asked. Family? Yes! My dad! I need to talk to him! He's the only one who can help me... "Yes I called her kanina pa, she's coming na daw." the doctor answered. I stopped squirming and my body once again froze. She? Sino yun? Don't tell me... "My daughter!" a woman's voice echoed the clinic. I looked at the direction where the voice came from. A woman, wearing a red off-shoulder, mermaid cut dress. My mom. Stepmom. Hindi ako nakagalaw nang yakapin niya ako bigla. She even massaged my hair. "Aww... what happened to my precious daughter? Are you alright, honey?" Hearing her voice makes my stomach turn, but feeling her touch is worse-- making my skin burn.