CHAPTER 11
"Ang dami naman yata ng kaibigan mo, 'nak?" Tanong ni dad nang sunduin niya kami sa dorm namin.
Weeks had passed. My parents decided to move our vacation para matapos ang exams namin and also, para gumaling si Effie.
Napangiwi ako. "Okay naman diba? I mean, they were all excited when I said the word 'beach'."
Dad chuckled. "It's fine, anak. The more the merrier. Kamusta na nga pala si Effie?"
I glanced at Effie who's laughing with the others. "Mabuti nga at okay na siya, dad. She's the only one who survived dahil naisugod agad sa ospital." Sabi ko.
Kinuwento ko ang nangyari sa gambling center. Effie's parents were mad and also mine. Bakit nandun daw kami. We briefly explained naman na nandun kami for an investigation.
"Anyways," my dad teasingly bumped his shoulder to mine, "what's with you and Chaos? Kwento sa akin ni Wednesday, kayo na raw?"
"Ha? Hindi kami ni Chaos, dad! He just confessed that he likes me but I don't feel the same way." Sambit ko.
Tumango-tango ang dad ko. "Okay. Sabi mo eh." He shrugged at nagpatuloy nalang sa pagbubuhat ng mga bag sa van.
Lumapit sa akin si Twilight. "Pasensiya na, Friday. Ang mga kuya ko kasi, siyempre dahil sa beach pupunta, hindi nila ako hahayaang magswimsuit."
Tumango ako. "Ayos lang. Wala naman yon sa parents ko. Masaya nga sila at marami tayo." Sambit ko.
Twilight just smiled and later on frowned nang tinatawag siya ng mga kuya niya.
"Pasok na kayo!" Sigaw ni dad.
Pumasok na ako ng van. It's a twelve-seater van. Sa driver's seat si dad. Katabi niya si mom. Sa likod naman si Wednesday na naglalaro sa cellphone niya at may kasamang isang lalake. Hm, sino kaya yun?
Sa likod ni dad ay si ate Monday na katabi ni Daeril. At sa likod ni ate ay ako na katabi si Chaos.
Dapat ay si Effie ang katabi ko pero hinila siya ni Rebel at sila na nga ang magkatabi. Si Twilight naman ay katabi si Midnight. Pinagpipilitan niya na tumabi kay Matix dahil isosolve daw nila ang passcode sa videos ni X. Siyempre ang mga kuya, hindi pumayag. Kaya ang katabi ni Matix ay si Slate na kumakain habang binabalaan at tinatakot si Matix.
Napapikit nalang ako dahil sa sobrang ingay. "Ayos ka lang, Friday?" Minulat ko ang mga mata ko.
It was my sister, Monday.
Tumango ako. "Maingay lang ang mga kasama ko." Napangiwi ako.
Monday chuckled. "Masaya nga kapag marami." Aniya.
Ako naman ay tinuro si Wednesday. "Sino yang kasama ni Wednesday? Parang ngayon ko lang siya nakita." Puna ko.
Tumango si Monday. "Ngayon lang din namin siya nakilala. He's Stefano Lim. Wednesday's classmate."
Bumaling ako kay Wednesday at kay Stefano na nanonood ng horror film habang si Stefano ay panay hawak kay Wednesday. Ang kapatid ko ay inis na inaalis ang hawak ng katabi. "Don't touch me! Kaya nga tayo nanonood ng horror film para mawala iyang takot mo." Sambit ng kapatid ko.
"I'm scareeed." Igik ni Stefano.
Napangiwi naman ako. Matatakutin pala siya. Based on Stefano's appearance, he looks brave and calm. Kaya pala we shouldn't judge someone based on their appearance.
Bumalik naman ang tingin ko kay Monday na ngayon ay kausap na si Daeril. I smiled. Hindi ko inexpect na magiging close sina Monday at Daeril. Hindi ko rin inexpect na tinanggap pa rin niya si Daeril kahit na marami itong krimen na nagawa.
Their relationship just grew much closer and closer. Sinundan pa talaga ni Monday si Daeril sa community college para lang makasama ito at hindi ma-op.
"Ayos ka lang? You feel sick?" Rinig kong tanong ni Monday kay Daeril na nakahiling sa balikat niya.
"Nope. I'm fine." Sagot naman ni Daeril.
"Hey! Tumahimik nga kayo. Mahiya naman kayo sa pamilya ni Friday. Nakikisama na nga kayo hindi naman kayo invited." Twilihht exclaimed. Paano ba naman kasi, napakaingay ng tatlong weirdo na 'to. Isama mo na si Matix na kumakanta at si Midnight na kinukulit si Chaos at nagbabangayan.
"Sorry, tito, tita. I don't mind kung iiwanan natin ang mga kuya ko." Ani Twilight.
Mom laughed. "It's okay, Twilight. Mas masaya ang marami and I want you to enjoy. Katatapos lang ng exam niyo. It's the best time to relieve some stress."
"You hear that, Twilight? Friday's parents doesn't mind." Ani Slate at patuloy na nagsasoundtrip kasama si Matix.
I just palmed and peeked at Chaos's phone on his hands. Kanina pa ito at nag riring. Hindi lang napapansin ni Chaos dahil abala ito sa paguusap kay Midnight.
It's an unregistered number. Tinapik ko si Chaos sa balikat. Bumaling siya sakin. "What?"
Tinuro ko ang phone niya. "Your phone is ringing."
Tinignan nito ang phone na hawak at iritadong dinecline ang call. "Who was that?" I asked.
Umiling si Chaos. "I don't know. Its been calling me since earlier." Aniya at pinikit ang mga mata.
And what he did next surprised me and caught me off guard.
He rested his head on my shoulder so I went stiff.
"A-Ang bigat ng ulo mo, Chaos." Puna ko.
He chuckled and using his hand, giniya niya ang ulo ko para isandal sa ulo niya.
"Rest." He said and started humming something.
After a few minutes, I started feeling sleepy so I closed my eyes and fell into sleep.
• • •
"I love the smell of the beach!" Sigaw ni Effie habang hinahawakan ang beach hat nito.
Nilapitan ko siya. "Ayos ka na ba talaga? You can rest if you're not feeling well." Sambi ko.
Tumango si Effie. "I'm perfectly fine, Friday. This is the beach! I don't want to miss it." Anito at naglalaro-laro sa sand.
Lumapit sa akin si mom. "Nak, dalhin ko lang ito sa kwarto niyo. All girls will stay in one room. All boys will stay in another room."
Tumango ako. "You need help?" I asked.
Mom smiled and shook his head. "Kaya ko na 'to. Daeril is already helping me." Aniya at hinalikan ako sa noo.
Mom and I used to be in bad terms before. Dahil sa nag-asawa ulit ito at nahiwalay sila ni dad. Dad got into another relationship with tita Ermie, ang taong pinaka-ayoko sa lahat.
Mabuti nalang ay maayos na sina mom and dad. Though they can't get married again. Napagdesisyunan lang nila na maging maayos para sa amin.
I walked back to go to our hotel room nang may mabangga ako dahilan para mahulog ang dala nito.
Oh. It was Stefano.
"Hala, sorry! Di ko sadya." Sabi ko at tinulungan siyang magpulot.
Ang mga snacks at tubig ay natapon at nadumihan ng buhangin.
"Anong nangyari?" Wednesday asked.
Agad akong tumayo habang si Stefano naman ay pinupulot ang snacks at drinks. "Nabangga ko kasi siya kaya nahulog yung mga pagkain."
Wednesday crossed her arms at matalim na tumingin kay Stefano. Si Stefano naman ay umiiwas ng tingin kay Wednesday at bumubulong-bulong ng, "I'm so dead."
Wednesday cleared her throat. "Sa tingin mo may kakain niyan? Madumi na yan. Go buy some snacks and drinks instead." Utos nito.
Matuwid na tumayo si Stefano at sumaludo. "Yes, ma'am." Sarkastiko nitong sagot.
Wednesday grinned and playfully messed with his hair. "Good boy. Bumili ka na." Aniya. Agad na tumakbo si Stefano at bumili.
Kapagkuwan ay bumalik ito. "Hindi mo ko binigyan ng pera." He frowned.
"Provide your own money. Ikaw naman ang nakahulog." Ani Wednesday.
Agad akong kumuha ng pera sa bulsa ko at inabot kay Stefano. "That's five hundred. Buy some snacks." Sabi ko.
Tinanggap naman iyon ni Stefano at tumakbo para bumili.
I faced Wednesday. "You don't have to be so rude to him." Ani ko.
"Hayaan mo na. I'm training him." She playfully grinned.
Umiling-iling nalang ako at akmang maglalakad palayo nang may mahagip ang mga mata ko.
It was a tattoo on Wednesday's arm near the shoulders. A tattoo of a detective hat..
Wait, nakita ko na ang tattoo na yan eh. Saan ba? Parang familiar sa akin...
I gasped. Naalala ko na. That's the same tattoo on the Agati sibling's forearm!
"Wednesday, saan mo nakuha iyang tattoo na iyan?" I asked pointing to her arm.
Wednesday glanced at her arm and smiled. Nilagay niya ang daliri sa labi na parang pinapatahimik niya ako. "Shh." She shortly answered and winked bago umalis.
Is Wednesday part of that secret organization?! Anong trabaho niya roon?!
I sighed. Pinapahamak ni Wednesday ang sarili niya!
"You look scary, ayos ka lang?" Midnight suddenly asked behind me.
I faced him. "Si Wednesday kasi, I saw a tattoo similar to yours on her arm."
"Oh. I saw that too. Pinakita ko sa kaniya ang tattoo ko. I told you that the organization has different units, right? My siblings and I are part of the spy units."
I frowned. "Ang kapatid ko? What unit is she part of?"
"The assassins unit."
• • •
"Tara na kasi!" Pilit sa akin ni Effie at Twilight. Hinihila nila ako papasok sa isang store.
The store is a cafe where you can have your future told.
Hindi ako naniniwala sa mga ganiyan kaya ayaw ko ring pumasok.
"Come on. Nasa loob na sina Chaos." Ani Twilight.
Wait, si Chaos nasa loob? Nakakagulat naman na napapayag nila si Chaos.
Hindi na ako nagpumiglas at pumasok sa loob. I ordered one frappe and sat om the same table as the others. "Asan na ang fortune teller?" I asked impatiently.
Midnight answered. "She'll be here soon. Hintayin mo lang." He grinned excitingly.
Bumaling ako kay Chaos sa kabilang dulo. Katabi ko kasi si Effie. Katabi naman ni Effie si Twilight at Matix.
Nasa harap ko si Midnight. Katabi niya si Rebel at Slate at sunod ay si Chaos. "Buti pumayag ka?"
Chaos shrugged. "I'm curious to know my future." Aniya.
I breathed heavily. Hanggang sa dumating ang fortune teller, maingay pa rin ang mga kasama ko.
Sa dulo ng table, nakaupo ang fortune teller na may mga baraha.
"Unahin natin ang career niyo. Each of you pick three cards."
Unang hinulaan si Slate. "The cards shows that you'll be successful in the future. You are feeling a little confused right now. Ibig sabihin, hindi ka sigurado sa kung anong ginagawa mo ngayon. You are looking for another path. I advise you to explore and find out what you love." Aniya.
Manghang napatigin si Slate sa fortune teller. "Wow, how did you know that? That's amazing!"
Ngumiti lang ang fortune teller at hinulaan pa ang iba sa amin.
"Let's move on to love life." The fortune teller grinned at hinarap kay Twilight ang cards
"Pick three." Utos ng fortune teller.
Twilight picked three. "The cards are telling me that you already met your soulmate."
"What?!"
"Who the hell is that?!"
Galit na sambit ng mga kapatid ni Twilight.
"You have deep feelings for him but you feel like he doesn't like you back. This what's recoiling your deep relationship with him. If you'll keep liking him from far away, your relationship with him will only go farther ang farther. Tell him regardless of his feelings for you." Anang fortune teller.
Twilight gasped. "Woah, you got that a hundred percent right!" She exclaimed.
Sunod na bumaling ang fortune teller kay Effie. "Hm, I see water and fire. It means the person you'll be with has contradicting personality with yours. You may be positive and he'll be negative or vice versa. But this kind of relatioship, it will get strong. Your contradicting personalities keeps your relationship stronger because instead of competing with each other, you help out in lifting each other's weaknesses."
"When will I meet him?" Tanong ni Effie na nangniningning ang mga mata.
The fortune teller smiled and looked at someone in our group. "You've met him already."
Sunod na tumingin sa akin ang fortune teller at pinapili ako ng tatlong cards. I randomly picked three. "I see a knight in one of the cards you picked. It means, your soulmate is kind of a protector. He might be willing to die just to protect you. But I see a storm in this card. This relationship might fall if one you keeps on denying your feelings. But the third card shows a flower. This flower symbolizes hope. There's hope in your relationship because either you or your soulmate is willing to be with you."
Matix whistled. "Sino kaya yun?"
"Oo nga, sino kaya?" Twilight teasingly asked.
I just frowned.
"Miss, siya naman." Ani Matix at tinuturo si Chaos.
The fortune teller then gave the cards to Chaos. He picked three.
"Hm, weird but I see death in one of the cards. This reaper symbolizes death. Be careful of your surroundings or you'll fall up dead. For the second card, there's this enclosed book with a padlock without the key. It symbolizes the secrets you've been hiding. Bottling up your feelings all by yourself will be your downfall. For the third card, I see a key. This is connected to your second card. Someone is the key to your happiness. But at the same time, that key may open the door to something bad. That someone may also be the reason why you're hurting. To open the book, you need to keep the key and keep it safe. Always." Anito.
"Woah, that was deep." Komento ni Slate.
Makalipas ang ilang minuto sa pagfofortune telling, napagod rin ang mga kasama ko.
"Let's play volleyball!" Effie exclaimed.
With the word volleyball, nagsisigawan ang mga kasama ko at sumama kay Effie para maglaro. Naiwan kami ni Chaos na binabantayan ang mga pagkain at gamit namin.
I spoke, "you need to be careful."
Chaos snorted. "Naniniwala ka naman sa fortune teller na yun?"
Umiling ako. "Siyempre, hindi ako naniniwala but the thought of you, dying is hurting me. Nang banggitin niya kanina ang salitang "death" sa fortune mo, I felt weak and I felt that I have to protect you."
Umiling si Chaos. "Nothing will happen to me. I''ve been very careful." Sambit niya.
I nodded. "I trust you."
Chaos cleared his throat. "About my confession, I take it back."
Natigilan ako. "What? Why?"
Chaos shrugged. "I realized that I was rushing. I confessed while expecting you'll give me a positive answer. So I'll slowly win your heart then I'll confess again after."
I just chuckled and went silent. I want to say something but I feel like this is not the right time.
So Chaos spoke again, "I'll never give up because I want you to be mine. It hurts that I only feel this way but I'll try and win you."
"Paano mo naman yun gagawin?" I asked.
Tumabi ng upo sa akin si Chaos. "I'll treat you to dates and parks. I'll give you flowers everyday to make you feel special. I'll never stop sending you a message on how special you are to me. That's how I'll win you."
I smiled and unconsciously wrapped my arms around his. "Ang cute mo. Si Chaos ka ba talaga?"
Chaos frowned. "It's me. Ayaw mo ba? Do you want me to return to being cold?" He asked.
I just laughed at pasimpleng tinanggal ang pagkakahawak sa braso niya.
"Wala ka na ba ibang sasabihin sa akin?" I asked. Pertaining to the phone calls he'd been receiving.
Chaos stilled before looking at me. "Does it bother you?"
"I know I shouldn't mind but, yes, it's bothering me. Sa tuwing may tumatawag sayo, namumutla ka. I'm worried. Sino ba ang tumatawag sayo? I want to help you. Talk to me, please." Pakiusap ko.
Chaos breathed heavily before speaking. "It was Mr. Albert."
Natigilan ako. I though it was X. Si Mr. Albert pala, ang ama nito?
"B-Bakit daw?"
Chaos breathed heavily. "He offered me a deal."
"What deal?" Tanong ko.
"He'll order X to leave us alone but in return, I have to testify that he's innocent. Kung hindi ko gagawin iyon, he'll hurt you and the others." Aniya
Hinagod ko ang likod niya. "Will you? Testify?"
Umiling si Chaos. "No. Iyan ang sagot ko kaya hindi siya tumitigil sa kakatawag."
Huminga ako nang malalim. "Thank you for telling me. We'll work this out together." I assured.
He smiled. "Thank you."
Chaos and I went silent as we watch out friends playing volleyball. Minsan ay tumatawa kapag hindi nasasalo ni Rebel ang bola at hindi nito naseserve nang maayos dahil hindi talaga ito marunong.
...and then we heard a loud bang. Like a gunshot sound. Nagsitakbuhan ang mga tao, panicking and scared. Tumakbo palapit sa amin ang mga kaibigan namin. "Ano yun?" Kinakabahang tanong ni Effie.
Another loud bang was heard and this time, Twilight shouted, "Chaos!"
I stilled. Dahan-dahan akong tumingin kay Chaos na ngayon ay dumudugo ang bibig at hawak ang dibdib kung saan patuloy ang pag-agos ng dugo.
"Friday! What happened?" Wednesday asked. She's with Stefano.
Hindi ko sinagot ang kapatid ko. My attention was on Chaos who's bleeding.
"Chaos was shot. Near the heart." Sagot ni Rebel.
"Stefano and I will find the culprit. Take Chaos to the infirmary." Ani Wednesday at naglabas ng maliit na bagay na naging matalas na espada.
My mind was blank. I couldn't hear anything and I couldn't see anything other than Chaos's who's bleeding to death.
"Wake up, Chaos. Don't close your eyes." Utos ko habang buhat siya ni Midnight at Rebel.
"It...h-hurts..." sambit nito at tuluyang pinikit ang mga mata.
Dinala si Chaos sa emergency room para gamutin agad.
Then I received a message on my phone.
"That's what happens to dogs who doesn't obey their masters. I'll make sure to kill Chaos. Slowly.. -X"
I clenched my fist.
Now I'm angry...