• SKY JAMES ANDERSON •
Oh my God.
"Y-Ynna?" I said as tears fell down my cheeks. I'm running out of words. I just can't believe that she's in front of me right now.
Is this just a dream?
"Sky." She said. "I'm her sister."
"J-Janina?" I asked. Shocked. Why is she with the vengeance?
"Why are you with them?" I asked, pointing my team. They were all looking at me but no one wants to talk.
"I am here to fix the mess that I made. I am here to help. I know you will find it hard to believe that I am helping this time. But, now, I am pretty much sure about this decision." She said. She looked.. serious. Is she telling the truth this time?
Silence...
"I don't think I need your help." I broke the silence.
"Dylan is my personal fitness trainer" she said, pointing at the good-looking, muscular guy on my left.
"the hell I care?" I hitched, raising my voice.
I saw for a moment that Janina sighed. She is trying to control her temper. I know that Janina, the real one, is really short tempered just like me. I saw Dave simply squeezed Janina's right arm to give her a message to calm down. She followed and continued what she was saying. Are they back together? Good for them.
"Dylan knows everything from the beginning. Yung pagpapanggap ni Alynna to be me." She continued. Hmm.
I stayed quiet after that. I don't care if that Dylan guy knows everything from the beginning. I don't even know him personally. This is pure nonsense.
"Dylan is Shibama's boyfriend."
"Okay...So?"
"And Dylan is also Erick's cousin. They live together." She said while looking at Dylan and Erick.
What?
So Erick... knows?
Hell! I'm confused!
What is going on?!
Silence...
"You knew everything from the beginning?" I angrily asked Erick. The silence is killing me. I need answers. And I need them right away.
"Yes, bro." he started. "I've been planning to tell this to you for a very long time but the way I s—boogsh" I punched Erick before he can continue what he was saying. I was in wrath. I don't know what has gotten in to me. I know he was trying to explain and all but it's just... wow. I can't even say a word for what he did. I'm speechless.
"I'm sorry." He said while wiping the blood on his mouth. "I deserve that anyway."
"Sky will you please just calm down first?" Ash. Fuck.
"This is just the beginning of what we are about to say. There's more. But please know that we are all here for a good purpose. We want you and Aly back together. That is what we came here for – to help you. But how can you fix your relationship with Aly if you can't even fix yourself at all?" he is serious.
Fine.
He is actually right.
I am so driven by my stupidity.
I am so furious of the fact that Riri hates me. I wanted to punch everyone. Even Janina. I wanted to be alone. I don't want to see their faces. But they have something to tell me. And they won't be here, complete, if it isn't important. So I tried to calm myself down and tried my very best to listen to what they were about to say.
"I'm good. Now say what you guys are about to tell me and I'll try my very best to stay composed." I said honestly.
"Can I continue?" it was Dwight. The ever so comedienne Dwight is now holding a serious face. I wonder what's going on. I nodded to tell him that I am allowing him to talk this time.
Debbie was crying with him as they moved closer to where I was. The minute Debbie was crying, and Dwight was approaching me, I knew it has something to do with the voice record. Why haven't I realized that before? And why was that recorded in the first place? What is with Debbie that Dwight cannot say no to what Farrah wants? What is going on in here? Why do we have to have so many secrets?
"What's with Debbie? Why do you have to protect her that bad and spill everything to Farrah?" I asked as if I know what is already about to say. It is kind of obvious anyway.
Silence...
Seems like Dwight is waiting for Debbie to speak up this time. But Debbie is still trying to compose herself from crying. Ugh. What a waste of time.
Silence...
"I-I have a video. A rape. A scandal. It was a very long time ago with my ex-boyfriend. We were young and reckless." She cried. "It was a mistake to t-tape everything. I never knew that my ex knows Farrah. I don't know if he is a relative, a lover, a friend or what not. But for some reason Farrah has the tape with her. And she is keeping on blackmailing Dwight about spreading it online if she will not get anything that will bring Ynna down. She hates Ynna so bad." She finished. Fuck Farrah. I never thought she'll go this far. And I cannot believe this is the girl I fell in love before. She is a monster. Never in a million years I would do that to someone yet she seems so calm about doing it. She looked like she is so used to it.
"Our conversation. Why was it recorded in the first place?" I asked, looking at Dwight this time. This has been the question I have been dying to ask.
"I'm just too proud of my plan. I want it as a proof once you've broken Ynna's heart - that you know, we have completed all of what is planned. I never knew that you two will fall in l-"'
"And you knew everything from the start?" I cut Dwight's words. I am asking Erick this time. I'm like a detective trying to solve a puzzle on who is the killer. Funny.
"Yes. I knew everything from the start. Akala ko kasi noon hindi naman masasktan si Ynna kasi hindi ka naman nya kakilala. Hindi ko pa alam na magkakatuluyan kayo nun. At higit sa lahat, hindi ko alam na recorded tayo nun." He said. He also looked at Dwight. Are they blaming each other now?
Tsk.
"AAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" I shouted to release all my anger. I just can't handle this anymore.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH" someone shouted louder than me with a very tiny voice. The fuck? My ears hurt!
"Who the hell is that?" Ash asked annoyingly. The voice was indeed annoying.
"I am sorry. Ako yun. Nagulat lang ako kasi kay Sky hehe. Sorry na." It was... Dylan? What kind of voice is that? Is he the voice of chipmunks? Ugh.
"What the fuck? Why is you voice like that?" Janina, annoyed as well.
"Oo nga. Isasali pa naman sana kita sa the Vengeance! Hahahaha! Disqualified ka na boy. Hindi pwede Chipmunks sa team namin!" Viel. Such a bully.
"Bagay na bagay nga talaga kayo ni Shibama. Kaya please, pakisabi naman sa kanya na wag na nya akong paghahabulin next time. Ang gwapo mo na eh. Wag ka nga lang magsasalita." Ash. Rude as always.
"Hep hep. Hayaan nyo na yang pinsan ko. Ganyan talaga ang boses nya. Gwapo lang yan pero di yan pinagpala sa boses." Erick cut the reaction of every person about Dylan's voice. Dylan just smiled. Good thing he is not offended with what everybody is trying to say against his voice.
Dylan actually helped a lot to ease the tension in the team. The rage I felt for Erick, Dwight and Janina finally lessened. The mood is a little bit lighter this time around which is better that earlier.
"The vengeance has been a team for a very long time. We had our fair share of problems, crazy exes, love lives, and happy moments." It was Chase. He was smirking. What is he trying to say?
"What we have now is another challenge accomplished. Not yet a hundred percent but almost." Still Chase, looking at Janina this time.
"What's important is we are complete now. And Dave..." he looked at Dave. Dave nodded. "Even though you left our team for a very long time because of your conflict with Sky. You were never removed from the team. Because for me, and I believe this also goes for all of us, you were always part of the team. Once a Vengeance, always a Vengeance. Right, Sky?" he looked at me this time.
"Of course." I half-smiled. I saw in the corner of my eyes that Dave smiled too.
"I remembered when we first formed our group. Our only rule is not to fight with each other. I don't know how many times this rule has been broken since then." Said Viel, laughing. Everyone including me laughed as well.
"We're just people. It happens." King said. "Shit happens."
"We mostly fight because of girls." Clyde said while looking at Janina's direction, teasing her. Janina just looked away.
"Don't blame me. It is not my fault that everyone likes me." Janina said teasingly. Ugh. I thought she looked away because she is shy. I guess I'm wrong. When did this girl became shy anyway?
"I like your sister. Not you." I said with a smirk.
I saw her change her reaction from smiling to serious. I don't know why I did that. I just don't like this girl a lot. She is so full of herself.
"I like you. Not your sister." I heard Dave whispered to her. She blushed.
"WHOHOOOOOOO!!!!!" Austin shouted.
"WHOHOOOOOO!!!!!!"
"WHOHOOOOOO!!!!!!"
"WHOHOOOOOO!!!!!!"
"WHOHOOOOOO!!!!!!"
"WHOHOOOOOO!!!!!!"
"WHOHOOOOOO!!!!!!"
Everyone copied what Austin said making a huge noise in Tritonne. Annoying. I actually don't care if they are already back together or what. I'll mind my own business with Riri. I miss her so bad. I hope she is doing okay. I hope she isn't crying anymore. I hope her dad is not sick anymore as well. I hope everything's fine.
-
• JANINA NICOLE FORTALEZA •
"I like you. Not your sister." Dave whispered to my ear. I blushed immediately. What's going on with me? And with him? Urggghhh.
Little did I know, narinig pala nilang lahat yug bulong ni Dave sa akin. Annoying. Now everyone is making palakpak and all. Nagtatanong sila sa akin kung kami na ba ulit ni Dave. Sky just looked away. He seems not interested on about what is happening. I am not interested on what he is thinking anyway. Ewan ko ba at ang bigat bigat ng dugo ko sa taong yan.
And going back to Dave, he is smiling like crazy. Oh my Dave. Namimiss kita lalo e.
"Kayo na ba ulit?" asked Ash.
"Yes." Dave. WHAT? W-What did he just said?
"Soon." He said to me before he winked. Luh?
Kinurot ko ang tenga nya at dinala ko sya sa madilim na bahagi ng lugar na bando doon sa CR. I hate him. What is he trying to do? Hindi pa nga okay si Alynna and Sky. Akala ko nagusap na kami na tsaka nalang yung sa amin and now ganito? And I thought gusto nya si Alynna? She even kissed Alynna sa cheeks noon e. He is so weird. And he is always on the wrong timing.
"What are you trying to do?" I asked. Confused.
"Pasimple kitang nililigawan." He grinned.
"Dave." I said seriously, with authority.
"Janina, I want to know you again. I want to court you again. I know, we still have a mission na pagbatiin si Sky and Ynna. Pero magbabati din naman sila eventually. I know the both of them. Especially Ynna, mahal na mahal nun si Sky. Hindi nya yun patatagalin. At si Sky naman, hindi yun susuko. Ang swerte swerte na nya kay Ynna para sumuko pa sya." He said. Why did I felt jealous there?
"You like Ynna?" I asked. My eyes getting smaller.
"Yes. I like her as a friend."
"Are you sure?"
"NO?" he said teasingly.
"The fuck?" I shouted!
"I'm kidding. Of course ikaw lang ang gusto ko. I like her as a friend and that's all. Kahit gaano ka pa kasama ang ugali mo at kahit gaano ka pa ka maldita, hindi ko talaga alam eh. Ikaw talaga ang gusto ng Sistema ko eh. Siguro sa pinagsamahan na din natin. At siguro mahal lang talaga kita noon pa." He said with conviction this time.
"Okay, I believe you now." I said. Kinilig naman ako dun. Pero hindi ko naman pinahalata.
"So can I court you, miss?" he said while offering is hand to me like a prince asking his princess to dance with him.
"Tayo nalang ulit. You don't need to court me. I am not that kind of girl, Dave." I said. I just want everything faster. I want him now. I miss him. I was us to do what we were doing before I went to NYC. I want him beside me all the time. Ligaw ligaw? That's for beginners! Pang probinsyana yun. Iba na ang panahon ngayon. Di na natin kailangan ng ganyan ganyan pa. Kung mahal mo, go lang. Wag mo nang patagalin pa.
"No. I don't want to." He said. What? Ayaw nyang maging kami na ulit? What the hell? What is wrong with him?
"And why?" I asked.
"I want to know you better." He said while looking on my legs. I know this time this is not him being a maniac. He looked at it with worried eyes. It is bruised. Oh fuck, why did I wear a short skirt today? I have been hiding my bruises ever since I arrived back in Manila. Was he looking at it all along? Ahhh, I almost forgot that Dave has always been a good observant at all things, especially to me.
I tried to pull down my skirt for the bruise to be hidden.
"You were in New York for 6 months. We both know that you were in good shape when you left. You were the prettiest girl I my eyes when you left. You are, until now. But we both know that something has changed. And we both know that it is not a minor change. We both know that you've got a lot of explaining to do. And you will explain them to me one by one, in complete detail while I am courting you." He said. Serious.
"But Dave.."
"No buts, Janina. It is going to be your decision anyway. Are you going to let me court you or not?"
"Dave..." I said again.
"I am giving you a minute to answer my question." He said seriously.
"What if..."
"It is a yes or no answer, Janina."
"Why do you have to know that? It's part of the past, Dave!" I almost cried.
"I don't want to have a relationship with someone I don't fully know. I will commit myself to you once I already know everything." Please Dave! Not now.
"What if it's gruesome?!" I asked. My voice became louder and a tear dropped in my right eye.
"With your bruises and your wounds? It looks like it is. I am already aware of that." He said with a blank tone. What is this guy thinking? What is running on his head?
"What if it's my fault?" I asked.
"We all make mistakes honey." Still a blank tone. A tone I cannot describe.
"What if I cheated on you?" I asked, partly admitting what I have done. I did cheat on him with Calvin anyway.
"As far as I remember, we broke up that time. So you were free to do whatever to want to do at that moment..." he said, still blank. I know he is controlling something. Although I don't exactly know what that something is.
"Dave, can we just forget about it?"
"Yes or No" he said. Ugghh Dave! You are making it hard for me! You are making it hard for both of us!
"It is just a memory that I don't want to remember anymore. It is just the shittiest, ugliest and scariest thing that can happen to anyone!" I screamed.
"Yes or no, Janina. Your time is almost over."
"B-But please please let me know that you will still be by my side once you already knew everything. Please confirm to me that you will still be there after!" I said, already crying. I don't want to lose him. Not his time around. Not anymore.
"I'll try." He said. Try?!
TRY?
Oh God.
"10...9...8....7....6...5...4...3..." he is counting the minutes left.
"Fine, yes! Court me. And I'll tell you everything!" I said, finalizing our conversation. Bahala na. Shit. I don't want Dave to know it. Sobrang nakakahiya. Nakakaliit ng pagkatao. I don't want anyone to know it. But, I don't want to lose Dave either. I just have to risk it. And hope that he will still be by my side once he gets all the answer he wants. Oh Lord please help me, kahit ngayon lang. Magdadasal ako. I don't want to lose the person I love. Not now. Not ever.
Inakbayan ako ni Dave at inaya na umalis na at bumalik na sa kung nasan naroroon ang team nila. Everyone was looking at us. Clyde and Viel was even grinning thinking that we had a quickie or what. I really don't care at all. All I care about is Dave and how will I say what happened in a way that he will still not leave me afterwards. Ugh. Why does it have to be so hard? Why does he wants to know everything? Why is this happening to me?
Silence filled the room when Dave and I arrived. Were they silent all along? What was our last conversation when Dave and I was still here? Why can't I remember it anymore? Masyado yata akong naging focused sa usapan namin ni Dave. I am going crazy.
"Everyone..." Sky started.
"I just want to tell you that I am very sorry for everything. I know that I am not the easiest person to deal with. I am short tempered. And I only want to hear what I want to hear. I have been living like that all my life but you are still here for me up until now...." Wow. Sky is saying sorry? Is this true? Is this Alynna's effect on him? My sister is really a nice person.
"I am sorry Erick for punching you earlier." He looked at Erick. Erick just gave him a thumbs up sign.
"Dwight..." Dwight gave him a thumbs up sign too.
Looks like everything is now going well with Sky and his friends. That's a pleasant thing to see.
"Dave..." he looked at my man. "I apologize for punching you before too." He said with a smirk. Wait what? Sinuntok nya si Dave? How dare him! "And I am sorry for always getting jealous about you and Riri. I just can't stand you being with Riri or even Ash. Even Caloy." He admitted. Alynna is so lucky to have someone to love her that much. And it's so cute how Sky calls Alynna Riri this time. I wonder when Dave could call me Nini. Our childhood nicks are so cute and adorable.
"And Ash... Sorry kuya sa lahat lahat." He said in Tagalog. Wow. I never knew Sky can speak the language quite fluently without any English accent. I guess he learned a lot from my sister. He really loves her so much. They are very lucky with each other.
"It's okay brother." He patted Sky at the back. Awww. Bromance. Whew! Sky and Ash are already okay with each other. It is only me and Alynna that is not yet okay. We need to be okay as soon as possible.
"And to everyone..." Sky continued. "Even to you, bitch." He smirked ate me. How dare he call me a bitch! Ahhh this guy! Why is he always getting into my nerves?! He is so annoying!
"Thank you. Thank you for everything you do for me and for Riri. Thank you for being here all the time." He said seriously. You are thanking me and you are calling me a bitch at the same time? How lovely.
Although I never knew that Sky can also say thanks. That's new. And that is something that I could not do at the moment. If Sky can change. I think I better change myself for the better too. Hindi ako dapat nagpapalamang at nagpapatalo dito kay Sky na to. Aayusin ko ang buhay ko tulad ng pag aayos nya ng buhay nya. Kailangan ko na rin kasi talagang ayusin na rin lahat ng gusot na ginawa ko. I can't believe how I am so selfish back then!
"I have made my decision." It was Sky again.
Everyone was silent. Seems like we are all waiting for what sky is about to say next. What decision could that be?
"I will go back to Bohol tomorrow. I will do everything to get her back again. And I would need, again, all your help. I need to get her back and I will never let her go this time. Are you with me?" he asked everyone. He is serious.
"Syempre tol." Viel.
"Sure." Chase and Aus at the same time.
"Naman." King
"I'm with you." Ash.
"Oo naman. Ako pa ba?" Clyde.
Erick, Dylan, & Dwight just put their thumbs up. Why are they using sign languages? What happened to their toungues? Naputol na?
"I'll help you." Dave. "Bati na tayo diba?" he smirked. Inaasar nya yata si Sky. Sky just raised his eyebrows teasingly and then looked at...
"Are you with me?" he is now asking... me?
"Yes, I am asking you Janina, are you with me?" he asked again like he has read what is running in my mind.
Silence...
Silence...
Silence...
"Of course." I said with genuine smile.
Of course I will help. I don't like Sky's attitude but this is not about him and me. It is all about my sister. I will help you Alynna. Ate is coming to fix her mess. Just wait for me. I will be there. And Shibama, please please please kumapit ka pa. Stay strong for me and Alynna. We love you so much. I will fix everything with Alynna and me. I want you to live. I want us all to be happy in the end. Including me and Dave, we must be happy in the end. I will not stop unless everything is okay.
Alynna. Shibama. Dave.
I have a lot of problems I need to work on. I have no idea what will happen in the future but there is no choice but to be ready. I will do my best this time.
I will make sure I use my purpose appropriately this time around.
Purpose?
Funny. Who would've thought that I'll have one?