It was few minutes past six in the morning, batid ko na ang liwanag ng umaga nang lumabas ako ng broom closet. I had, probably, a little over two hours of rest, but I don't think I was able to sleep at all. Teacher Kim forced me, in his domineering hotness, to eat two chocolate power bars and take an energy drink. So despite feeling exhausted, I was oddly, pretty jazzed up.
"Cece!!"
Nagulat ako sa biglang sigaw ni Mecky sa pangalan ko nang makarating ako sa center lobby ng main building.
Mas lalo naman akong nabahala nang makita kong nagkukumpulan malapit sa entrance ang ilang mga teachers, si Principal Moon, ang parents ko at ang mga kuya ko.
Karipas na tumakbo papalapit sa akin si Mecky. "Cece, we've been looking for you all night. Where were you? Ok ka lang ba?" her face was covered with deep concern.
Bukod sa namumuong kaba, may pagaalangan na akong maglakad papalapit sa mga nagkumpulan, who looked both surprised and relieved.
"What's going on, Mecks?" I whispered.
"We don't know where you were last night, hinanap ka namin all over the campus. We all got so worried na kaya they decided to call your parents na."
Dama ko ang pagusisa ng mga mata ni Mecky sa akin habang kasabay kong marahang naglalakad.
Mabilis din kumaripas nang lakad si daddy nang malapit-lapit na ako. "Oh, sweetheart, I was so worried about you," sunod sa pagakap niya ng mahigpit.
"Cecelia, were have you been? God, you're giving me a heart attack." Sumunod din si mama sa pagakap, sabay halik sa noo at pisngi ko. At silang lahat na nga'y pumalibot na sa akin.
I looked at my brothers whose faces were as hard as steel, it was obvious they were all twice as worried about me. I heard comments from teachers like 'thank God, your safe' and 'let's just be glad nothing bad happened'.
"Great god! You are ok, Cece. What happened to you? I've searched every corner of this school for you all night, I didn't spare no room at all." Principal Moon sounded more self-important than concerned.
"I'm sorry." I tried to keep my thoughts intact, worried they'd be anymore suspicious. "I was.. I fell asleep."
"I've been calling you last night, you weren't answering. I had a feeling something was up. Why weren't you answering?" matigas na tanong ni kuya Jako.
Dahil medyo naalimpungatan ako, medyo slow ako magreact. Tulirong napalingo-lingo na lamang ako.
"Uhm, she forgot po her phone sa camp. I heard it ringing pero hindi ko pa kasi naisip nun na nawawala siya kaya hindi ko sinagot," Mecky interjected, apologetic.
"Gusto na nga naming sumugod ni Jako dito kagabi eh, pinigilan lang kami ni Japo," sabat naman ni kuya Jared, whose grumpiness, I know, was doubled from worrying about me and waking up too early this weekend morning.
"It's just isn't you to be reckless, Cece," paglingo-lingo naman ni kuya Japo.
"We'll leave her to you for now; Cece, I'll see you later ok?" said Principal Moon.
I smiled sheepish and apologetic. "Sorry po Principal Moon for, the trouble I've caused."
"No. Don't be. What's important is your back and safe. I don't know what I will do if something happened to you."
I forced a smile. It just felt weird with his exaggerated concern.
"Where did you fell asleep? Bakit hindi ka nila nakita?" asked kuya Jael. Both my parents' arms wrapped around me while we all headed out towards the camping ground.
"Isa sa mga rooms malapit sa back exit," I answered simply. I thought short answers would be best at this point.
"Don't do that again to us, Cecelia. You'd kill me, my god!" said Madam Kim in her usual sophisticated distress tone, who still looked elegant and dolled up despite being woken up by an emergency situation.
Kuya Jako stopped us walking and stood in front of me; he cupped my face and surveyed me. "You look tired. I thought you slept. You're pale and exhausted."
His observation must be right because my other three brothers acted just as suspicious.
"Stop it, you boys. This midnight event was never really a comfortable night. You all know that. It's not like they sleep in the comfort of a hotel. They had activities last night. Don't hound your sister, like you always do. She's safe. No wound, no bruises. She's fine. And she's smart enough not to give us another heart attack like this again. Right, little peach?" saved by my dad.
I pursed my lips and smiled in promise. "Yes dad. I promise. And I'm really sorry. Ma, I'm sorry. Honestly, this is quite embarassing, really. To think, yung mga teachers and whoever else were frantically searching for me last night?" I looked at Mecky, I shaped my eyes and brows apologetic, she smiled too to ease my shame.
Hindi rin sila nagtagal at umalis din. Nangako si dad na he'll be back by lunch and will try the games I've prepared. Si mama naman at sila kuya babalik for the bruncheon, it has been our little tradition during this event since I started high school.
Then, finally, I breathed.
❧ ❧ ❧
"You got your own hashtag now on Twitter, Cece. #FindingCece," said Balong who's about to finish up a large box of pizza at eight o'clock in the morning.
Sinubukan kong dedmahin ang komento ni Balong habang nagtitimpla ng hot choco sa sponsored Milo booth namin sa camp. Naiilang na rin ako sa ilang mga bumati sa akin ng 'welcome back, Cece' at mga tanong like, 'is it true?", "what happened?", at ang pinakamalala, "how did you escape.. the devil?"
"Talks in this hashtag, you were taken by the devil daw last night. Some claimed they heard you screamed, and then you tried to fight the devil, but then you just disapeared. Ridiculous. These idiots," paglingo-lingo ni Mecky habang nakatutok sa cellphone niya.
"Isn't it ironic, you created an Escape Room game and you weren't able to escape last night," paasar na sambit pa ni Balong.
"I heard you were missing last night."
Bigla akong napalingon sa pinagmulan ng boses. And there he was, all fresh and magnificent. I wondered how he got a new set of clean clothes.
"Good morning, sir," pagbati ni Mecky na siyang ibinalik ni Teacher Kim with a smile.
"Heard everyone's searching for you. Are you ok?" he asked me with an all-knowing look in his eyes.
I thought how convenient he'd just ask, I couldn't help but show some sarcasm and tease. "Rumor has it, I was taken by an evil monster last night. I guess, I was lucky, I was released. I just, I don't remember what the devil did to me tho."
His jaw tightened, his lips thinned. "Glad you're fine, Cece. It would be a shame to not have you in the US for the competition."
"If I don't get kidnapped by the devil again, I'd be sure to be in the competition, sir."
I turn my head and realised my friends' baffled expressions at the exchange of words they just heard, but I kept my poker-face and remained non-chalant. Teacher Kim looked at Mecky shortly and gave her a nod, ignoring Balong, then he left graciously.
"If I didn't know you better, Cece, I'd think you got a thing for Clark Kent. 'Cuz he's got the hots for you."
Mecky and I scowled Balong for his blatant observation.
He reacted defensive. "What!? Sa tu-wing tumee-tingin yun kay Cece, parah siyang nalee-libuugan! I'm just sayin'."
"You are so disgusting Balong!" Mecky complained..
Balong's expression dulled. "Ahr-te, sus! As if you're still a virgin no!"
"You.. ! Balong!!"
One day, I imagined, Balong's bluntness would really get him killed. Instead of feeling outraged, naawa na lang ako sa kaniya na literal nang hinahampas-hampas ni Mecky. Funnily enough, it seemed, only Balong could released the beast in an introverted Mecky.
"Baby girl!" sigaw ni ate Juris na mabilis ang lakad papalapit sa akin. Agad din siyang yumakap. "I just heard. The stories on twitter are crazy, are you ok?"
"I'm ok ate. Fake news, don't believe twitter."
"I don't."
She held both my hands, then she surveyed me; her shimmering lips pouted, her poreless face was as radiant as the morning's vibrant blue sky, her lashes swayed with alluring flair, her expression was sophisticated; I was amazed how she could look so clean and glammed up despite sleeping in a tent.
"So, I heard, you just.. fell asleep, and they couldn't find you?"
Embarrassment took over me. "Err, yea, it's stupid. Ngayon, kung ano-ano nang kwento ang kumakalat. I don't know how I'd get over this."
She shrugged. "Oh, it won't last. In a day or two, there will be another story. They all have an attention span of a goldfish."
I grinned, cheesy. "I hope so. I don't like the attention at all."
She smiled, like she understood me well. "I'm just glad, you're fine. Madaming creepy perverts around no. This is the kind of event na lumalabas sila sa lungga nila."
I nodded and smiled in agreement. It made my heart happy that I have friends like ate Juris who gets really concerned about me. Ayoko yung feeling na may naaabala, o may nagaalala sa akin, but it is good know who your friends really are. Nakakaguilty lang dahil alam kong kasalanan ko naman talagang nawala ako kagabi, and I was, in fact, doing something very naughty.
"Hey, good morning you're royal highness," malokong bati ni Balong kay ate Juris nang makabalik siya mula sa habulan nila ni Mecky.
"Ah, speaking of creepy perverts," ate Juris glazed over Balong at tinaasan niya ito ng kilay.
"Ganda mo, grabe. You make my day horny, princess."
Mecky and I was appalled at the bluntness, but ate Juris remained impassive and seemed to be not offended. "Hmmm. Pity. Anyways, Cece, I saw Teacher Kim talking to you earlier. Heard, he went home last night?" asked ate Juris.
"Uh, I don't know. Akala ko he was on night watch?" In my mind, I was my shaking my head for how casual I've become about lying.
Ate Juris showed an all-knowing expression. "He wasn't. He went home, yun ang sabi. It's just weird, he took a taxi, then he dropped off at the corner sa likod ng campus natin. I saw him when I went out to get a chai tea latte sa starbucks."
"Why were you out that late? Sarado na lahat ng gates at 8pm, except the one leading to the track and field, you can't even go out from there," Mecky asked.
"Oh, we're not first years Mecky. They closed the gate for the thirteen-year olds," ate Juris responded with a touchy sarcasm.
She and Mecky were never fond of each other, no hate, they were just not the type who'd be friendly with each other. It was quite odd considering pangpolitician ang friendliness ni ate Juris.
"I don't know ate. Hindi ko nga alam na umalis siya. Lumapit lang siya kanina 'cuz he heard I went missing," patuloy kong painosenteng tugon.
"If you also want Clark Kent, princess J, just grab him by the balls. I bet, they are super big british balls. And, bah-ket, eenan-tay moh ba siya kagah-bi sa tent mo?"
Muling hinampas ni Mecky si Balong sa komento nito.
Ate Juris just ignored him. "Glad, your fine, baby girl. Be safe always, ok? Better if you just stay out of... disgusting pervs," she glazed over Balong again.
I smiled cheesy. "Thanks ate. Really, I can handle myself naman."
❧ ❧ ❧
Nagpatuloy pa ang mga concerns from my teachers during bruncheon until lunch to the point of exaggeration na. Other than shame and guilt, I've never felt so fragile. Para akong munting tuta o sanggol kung ituring ng lahat. Mahigit limang daang high school students ang nag overnight stay sa school kagabi, at tila ba lahat nabulabog noong nawala ako.
"Last night turned out to be more than eventful, huh."
Lumapit sa akin si Teacher Kim habang tumutusok ako ng fishball at kwek-kwek sa isa sa mga food stall sa track and field.
"I don't know about eventful, it didn't feel like that at all."
He laughed. Then he paused. "Seriously, are you ok?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't I be?" suplada ko pa.
"I'm sorry. It was completely my fault."
I calmed. "No, sorry. I'm just.. I'm pissed and sick of everyone thinking I'm so stupid, I'll just get myself lost inside the school.
"You know that's not true. You're not stupid, and everyone was just concerned."
I sighed. I felt uncomfortable at the way Teacher Kim looked at me, he was, romantic. Nagalangan tuloy ako kung kakainin ko yung fishball at kwek-kwek na tinusok ko. Naalala ko rin bigla 'yung binulong niya sa akin kagabi - I love you.
"But, really, how are you? Sore?"
I flinched at his last word. "Oo. Mahapdi at namamaga. Nahihirapan nga akong umihi eh," I flinched again at my brazen honesty.
He let out a wide grin and shook his head. "And yet, everybody thought you were some lost puppy."
I glanced at him, I brushed my hair from the back and then massaged my nape. Nangibot ng bahagya ang mahapdi at namamaga kong hiwa. I could still feel him inside me.
"Teacher Kim!"
Mala-sangganong bumati si kuya Jared habang papalapit silang apat kong kuya sa amin. "I heard, you were also missing last night, sir," patuloy ng badboy sanggano kong kuya. Dumagdag pa sa dating niya ang sleeveless black shirt niya at butas-butas niyang jeans, pati na rin ang nakasabit na shades niya sa batok.
"I went home," maikling sagot ng greek god ko.
"Too bad, you missed an eventful night, sir," patuloy pa ni kuya Jared, habang ang tatlo ko pang kuya ay naging abala na sa fishball, kikiam at kwek-kwek.
Matindi ang tinginan ni kuya Jared at Teacher Kim na halos magkasingtangkad lang, it looked as if they were in some sort of a staring contest, fighting dominance over each other. Sumingit ako sa gitna at sinuntok ng mahina si kuya Jared sa sikmura.
"Awww!"
"Tigilan mo na nga yang angas mo kuya. Seriously, ikaw na lang ang tanging nagsusuot ng butas-butas na jeans sa panahon ngayon. May pashades ka pa sa batok!"
"Cuz they can't wear this as good and as hot as I do."
I rolled my eyes, na sinabayan din nang pagasim ng mukha ng tatlo ko pang kuya dahil sa mahanging angas ni kuya Jared.
"Hmm. Teacher Kim, have you tried Cece's Escape Room challenge yet? It's very intuitive, lots of Maths," tanong ni kuya Jako habang kumakagat ng kwek-kwek.
Teacher Kim chuckled. "Cece sure love problem solving. I bet the game must be fu -- "
"Mmmm! Peach! How was the Midnight Mission Impossible? Ilang hostage ang naligtas?" kuya Jared blatantly interjected, habang nakikikain naman siya sa baso ng fishball ni kuya Japo. Kuya Japo looked not pleased about sharing his fishballs tho.
I glanced at Teacher Kim who looked rather humored than annoyed. "Seven. Six out of nine teams lang yung nakakumpleto ng challenges, but isa sa kanila was able to save two hostages," simpleng sagot ko.
"Cool.. Sana ngayon na lang ako naging high school. You make fun games, Peach!" komento naman ni kuya Jael.
"Ah, Teacher Kim, would you care to walk me back to the campus po? I remember, Mecky has a trivia question for you from our Escape Room challenge," painosente kong pagchange ng topic.
"Sure."
Dedma lang yung tatlo kong kuya na umalis kami pero si kuya Jared, masama talaga ang tingin. I thought, maigi nang nailayo ko ang divirginizer ko sa kanila, baka madelikado pa.
It should have felt strange, or dapat naiilang akong kasamang naglalakad si Teacher Kim. The judging stares mula sa paligid, the annoyed expressions ng mga nakakasalubong namin, and my own personal guilt that I have a dirty secret with him, it should have been awkward. But no, there was a glorifying feeling that I was walking side by side with him. I don't know, parang may konting yabang lang akong naramdaman.
"Why do they call you Peach?" kaswal niyang tanong.
I smiled remembering the story. "Kuya Japo said, I started talking shortly before my first birthday. I turned into an annoying, talkative parrot, I copy everything I hear. So they began teaching me polite words, one in particular was 'please'. I couldn't utter it properly, of course, like most of the words too, so 'please' would sound as 'peach' when I say it. Then I got better at pronouncing as I aged older, but I'd still say 'peach' until I was like in.. 2nd grade? I was laughed at in class because of that but it didn't bother me then. So, dad called me little peach, so did my four kuyas. It's nothing of a story, really."
"Your brother, Jared is it? He's the most protective, isn't he?"
I laughed wryly. "I'm not sure. I guess, they all have different ways of doing it. Kuya Jared? He was just the most annoying."
"Ah.."
I thought I should add more. "He comes off a little too strong with you no?" I asked.
"Yes."
"He thinks his girlfriend broke up with him because of you."
He looked surprised, then confused. "His girlfriend?"
"Yea, Maine Corpuz? Something about, she's been seen with you at the Fort Club? And she stalks you on the internet."
He looked to the lower left corner of his eyes. "Fort Club. Huh. I frequent there."
Biglang parang may pumisil sa puso ko. "So, it's true?" I asked, hesitant.
"I don't think so. I mean, I don't know, I don't know your brother's girlfriend. But, it's a club. People meet people. And I don't usually remember who I meet from there."
Parang may humarang naman bigla sa air passage ko. "You don't remember the girls you bring home?"
He sniggered. "I don't bring them home. In fact, I have never brought anyone home. Well, not until you."
Reluctantly, I felt pride. "Really... why not?"
He paused and pondered. "Hmm. For one, it was my granddad's home. I had to show some respect even if he's no longer living. And I don't quite like to go personal with girls I fuck. And my home, or my bed, is quite personal for me."
"Then, why me?"
"Ah! There's Mecky. She's got a question for me, you say?" he thwarted my question.
"Errr, no. I just said that so I can save you from my brothers."
His brows arched and a small grin appeared. "Why do you think I'd need saving?"
"Maybe you don't, but I do. Another minute of us with them, they may turn suspicious. I was never really good at lying to them. They'll see right through me."
His expression turned all-knowing. "I know. You're quite bad at saying things you don't really mean. You do that, thing, with your lips."
"What thing?"
"That, like a grumpy little three years old."
"No, I don't."
"Ah, you did it again."
I glanced up at him, he was smiling. His expression was bright, his gaze was romantic, it looked as if he was inlove, or at least that's how I think I've seen it in movies.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked, but then, I was suddenly unprepared to what he might say.
"Looking at you like how?"
Sumandal ako sa rails ng corridor where our Escape Rooms were. "Like, I don't know. Like you just ate a butterfly."
His brows twitched up. "That's quite a harrowing thought. Why would I eat a butterfly?"
"Never mind," I laughed at my dumb statement.
To avoid his gaze, I glanced at Mecky who was several feet away, busy on a book she was reading.
"You know," he paused, "last night was, quite incredible. I was worried, you'd be, scared of me now." His face lowered, it was as if he was shy, which was quite adorable.
"No... I mean, it was intense. I was surprised to, to what you've become. But then again, you created a pleasure dungeon, so, I had ideas. I still feel pain when I think about it tho."
I regretted my last sentence. His little finger brushed mine while we were leaning back on the rails. "I, uh, I didn't intend to hurt you."
I snickered, "You didn't seem to bother about it. You just kept going." I sensed he turned uneasy, "but it's ok," I quickly added, "you were gentle through the end."
"You know what, we should go out. Maybe lunch, or dinner, or milktea?" he asked.
Yumuko ako at napangiti. "Like, a, date?" I asked shy and hesitant.
He paused for awhile. "Yeah. Err, sure, why not? It should not be awkward, right? I mean, we've been on, you know, we're way passed the standard way of dating."
Natawa ako ng bahagya na walang tunog. "I guess. But I've never been on a date before. My kuyas would never let me go on a date."
We were both startled at the voice that followed. "Who's taking my daughter to a date?"
"Dad."