Adela, as soon as her gaze zeroed in on Callisto, the scenery changed around her.
She stood under the spotlight in the middle of nothing but the silence of the dark. A single bed was in front of her, where the lifeless body of Leona was laid.
Her mind was screaming to turn back, to walk away. But her body couldn't muster the strength to move even a muscle.
"A-Ah... ah... aaahh!"
She screamed helplessly on top of her lungs, only then did the scenery returned to normal. It left her sweating profusely and panting.
Unable to look at Callisto the second time, Adela started turning her car around. But then, she retracted her foot off the gas pedal.
"What are you doing," she asked herself, straining her voice and her arms shaking as she held the steering wheel. "You didn't come here just to leave for nothing, Adela."
"They're waiting for you. It's your turn to be brave."
Those words coming from her assistant was stuck in her mind, knowing full well what they meant.
She got out of the car, reluctantly turning at the convenience store's entrance where she last saw her daughter.
But she was no longer there. A look of sadness and longing washed over her face.
Adela slumped back against the driver's seat. And with a heavy sigh, she drove away from their hometown back to her office.
*
*
*
A couple days went by since Adela visited the barangay of Silangan.
Stuck inside her office that seemed gloomier and darker despite the light on the ceiling and from glass window behind her, Adela was on the final stretch of preparation for her presentation in the coming shareholder meeting that will start in less than ten minutes.
Tap, tap, tap...
With a practiced efficiency, her preparations were complete. She looked at her smartphone to see the time.
"Still seven more minutes, huh..."
Adela's smartphone plopped on top of her desk, her arms flailing down to her sides as she looked at the ceiling in total silence.
A heavy sigh escaped her lips.
Her last visit to barangay Silangan was weighing on her mind. She couldn't help but think about the moment she got out of the car as she looked back to where Callisto once stood.
Adela should have gone and tried to find her daughter.
"They're waiting for you. It's your turn to be brave," Karen's voice echoed in Adela's mind one more time.
Adela's junior helped her realize what was needed to be done. She knew it was the right thing.
And yet, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
She wanted to accept what everyone was telling her for years now. But she didn't want to let go of her own belief either.
After all, somewhere in her heart, the thought that Leona was still out there felt real.
Just as she was feeling tormented by a whirlwind of thoughts...
Knock, knock, knock!
Someone knocked on the door to her office. Adela was quick to hide the conflicted expression raging on her face as that someone pardoned himself into the room.
"The shareholder meeting will start soon," said the old man, his voice as gentle as his wrinkled face and demeanor. "I heard Karen isn't here today as well, so I came to pick you up instead."
"Mr. Lamont," despite a great turmoil whirling inside her right now, Adela managed to beam a soft smile at the old man. "You should've just asked someone else to come. And besides, I was about to go anyway."
The old man chuckled. "Well, my grandkids told me that I should try to keep moving as much as I can. So you could say that they are the ones who incited me to come here."
Adela picked up her things and opened the door for Mr. Lamont as they left the office.
On their way to the meeting room...
"How are your grandkids doing these days, Mr. Lamont," Adela asked politely.
The old man chuckled softy. "Young people are full of energy as they should. One of the younger ones is excited to go back to school just because she cannot wait to see her crush again."
"I guess mid-teens really is the age where love and romance becomes a big interest for them."
Adela found herself agreeing to her own statement, only because she was guilty of the same thing. Talking about young love reminded her of herself and Raymond.
"Is something weighing your mind, Adela?"
They continued walking along the hallway, but Adela could not hide how her expression darkened at the question.
"It's that obvious, huh," Adela said in a low voice.
"You're a strong girl, Adela. Being in a vulnerable state is so unlike you. So, care to share that burden to an old man like me?"
A slight pause before Adela responded to Mr. Lamont. "I'm afraid only I can solve my problem, Mr. Lamont."
Mr. Lamont gave the CEO an understanding nod. "I see. You really are a strong girl, Adela. Though, I must say, we humans are social creatures. As capable as you might think you are, and I think you are, Adela. There's only so much you can do by yourself."
"Yes, I know that, Mr. Lamont."
Before long, they found themselves stopping right in front of the door to the meeting room.
"I know you do, Adela. That's why your parents entrusted you the company. Because you're a strong girl."
Adela opened the door to the meeting room where the rest of the shareholders were waiting for her and Mr. Lamont's arrival.
"By the way, I haven't properly apologized for collaborating with Raymond in making a mess in the company, have I?"
Adela chuckled at the old man's words, reminding her of Raymond using his connection to cause a ruckus in the White Lotus Trading Co. in order to keep Adela busy and not suspect anything about them performing the MDF on Callisto.
"Please do not worry about it," she said reassuringly. "Raymond is the one who owes me an apology."
They entered the meeting room and guided the old man to his seat.
"Well, has he?"
"I still got things I need to do first, but I will talk to him soon."
"I see."