CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

-3-

ANALYZING DATA

3, 2, 1... SYSTEM NOW HACKED!

PROCESSING INFORMATION...

'This is all? Something's not---'

'Hmm... Interesting.'

A person in front of the computer crept a wide grin. Then, that person immediately click that button and tried to enter that system na napansin niyang kakaiba at kaduda-duda.

ENTERING PROGRAM...

ALL DELETED FILES RETRIEVE.

ALL INFORMATION SUCCESSFULLY RESTORED!

The person smirked a bit nang makita niya ang nakasulat sa kaniyang screen. Successful niyang na retrieve ang isang hidden data ng isang tao. Pero, bigla siyang nabahala sa kaniyang nalaman.

"Huh! I knew it."

After doing that stuff, the person immediately cut off all possible sources and connections. Pagkatapos no'n ay isinarado niya ang kaniyang laptop.

'What a data to start a day.' the person thought habang pinahiran niya ang salamin sa kaniyang eyeglasses.

***

LEIGHTON WAJEEH

"HUY, WAJ!" I seemed to snap back to the reality soon as I heard Eun-ji's sharp voice.

I looked at her, shocked for a while, and return to my original expression. I did not realize I was thinking that much.

"Okay ka lang? Hindi mo na naman nagalaw ang pagkain mo. Gusto mo akin nalang 'yan? Hihi." she added, slightly chuckling.

It's monday, and we are currently in the cafeteria, taking our lunch.

Napailing na lamang ako. "O-Okay lang ako." sabi ko and gave her a smile.

Bumaling naman ako kay Yuna na nakatingin rin sa 'kin. Her eyes just pierced into me, seems examining my expression. I just also gave her a smile.

"Pero seryoso, Waj. Anong nangyari sa 'yo? Bakit tulala ka kanina?" seryosong tanong ni Eun-ji. She sip her milk.

"U-Uh, nothing. May iniisip lang." sagot ko nalang. The truth is, hindi ako nakatulog nang maayos. Thinking of that person in the restaurant last Saturday.

Iyong taong may takip sa mukha, displaying his familiar eyes.

"By the way, guys, maiba lang. Nabalitaan n'yo ba? May nangyari sa loob ng isang restaurant! Holdapan daw." she diverted the topic. She exhaled. Parang hindi siya makapaniwala sa nabalitaan niya.

Hindi ko nalang siya sinagot at hindi ko na rin sinabi na nandoon ako mismo sa pangyayari. If only she knew, I am a first hand witness.

"And guess what? May dumating daw na isang taong nakatakip ang mukha! And what amazed me is that, napatay niya ang apat na tao in just a span of time!" mangha pang dagdag niya. Her utensils made a sound as soon as she scoops her foods.

"And so?" walang ganang sabat ni Yuna. Currently, she's busy eating her favorite mango pie.

"Wala lang. Share ko lang, hihi!" sabi naman ni Eun-ji. "Alam mo, Yuns, ang KJ mo talaga kahit kailan." nakangusong sabi niya.

"Tss."

Itinuon ko nalang ang aking atensiyon sa aking pagkain bago pa mawala ang aking gana, though, almost.

"Anong 'tss'?! Hindi n'yo ba kilala si Eonkie?" With wide eyes, Eun-ji relented.

Parang bigla naman akong nasamid sa sarili kong laway nong marinig ang pangalang 'yon. I stared at Eun-ji because of that. Seems like I know where this conversation is going.

Eonkie was a known person. Or some will definitely say, a korean myth. He or she was called "the heartless assassin". Nobody knows his or her identity. Even his or her gender. Well, I did not know more about from him and I chose to not know about him because I considered him as non-existing being because of lacking information. Actually, mayroon pang isa. Yung Akira. Kilala naman bilang "the great hacker". In fact, sabi nila matatanda na sila.

"Kilala ko. And don't tell me na siya 'yong nagligtas sa mga tao? Tss." sarkastikong sabi ni Yuna.

"Exactly! Baka siya 'yon. Hihi."

"Tss. If that's the case why on earth he---or what his pronoun---knows how to speak tagalog? 'Di ba taga-korea iyon?" natatawang sagot ni Yuna.

"Oo, baka siya talaga 'yon. We have a right term for that, Yuns. Multilingual! Hihi." Eun-ji insisted.

Napa-isip naman ako sa sinasabi nila.

If, we say, Eonkie was really that person, then that could mean na mali ang akala ko. I might just overthinking and hallucinating. But, it doesn't and won't gonna make sense because, number one, he's entitled "heartless assassin". Number two, it's impossible na siya iyon.

I could not deny the possibility na hindi ako nagkamali. The eyes... I am sure it was similar to the person who killed my father. And one more thing, like Yuna said, the masked person spoke tagalog, so he must not be Eonkie.

But...

What if Eun-ji is also right?

Paano pala kung si Eonkie and my father's killer were the same person? Nah, that's not possible. And if it's true, I might as well find that masked person to confirm my suspicions.

But how can I see that person again?

"Tss." I heard Yuna scoffed and continued eating the rest of her foods.

Suddenly, Eun-ji's forehead creased. "Wait a minute, what are those, Yuns?" biglang saad niya. Napatingin ako sa kung ano ang tinutukoy niya.

May plastic bag sa tabi niya na may lamang... wait, teddy bear? Bulaklak? Candies? I slightly chuckled. Parang may nagaganap kay Yuna na hindi namin alam. Hindi namin 'yan napansin kanina.

Hindi siya sinagot ni Yuna, bagkus ay ginawaran lamang siya ng masamang tingin. And with that, Eun-ji's eyes widened.

"Hala ka, Yuns. Saan galing 'yan? You have a suitor?!" Eun-ji exclaimed pero wala pa ring imik si Yuna.

Napatingin ako kay Yuna at nakita kong nag-iba ang expression ng kaniyang mukha. Wala na itong emosyon ngayon. Naintindihan naman namin yung expression ng mukha niya kaya hindi na nagtanong pa si Eun-ji.

A moment of silence.

Tanging tunog lang ng kutsara, tinidor at plato ang naririnig sa pagitan namin.

"But seriously, anong nangyare, Yuns? Is there a problem" biglang basag ni Eun-ji sa katahimikan. Ngayon, her voice is serious.

This time ay nagsalita na si Yuna. "There's someone stalking me. I don't know who he is pero patuloy siyang nag-iiwan ng kung ano-ano sa locker ko and I hate it. In just a snap, may bitbit na akong kung ano-ano, bwesit." she explained.

Natahimik muna saglit tapos bigla akong tumingin kay Yuna nang seryoso. Nawala bigla sa isipan ko ang nangyari noong Sabado dahil bigla akong naging interested sa sinabi ni Yuna.

"Stalker?" kunot-noong tanong ko.

"Yeah, perhaps. This happened last year but luckily it stopped. But bad news, bumalik na naman last week. I am pissed but most of all, I am scared." Yuna answered, resting her hands on the table with her spoon and fork.

"Kaya pala palagi kitang nakikitang may pinapasok na katulad nito sa sasakyan mo." saad ni Eun-ji na may halong panunukso.

"Do you have any guts or idea or anything about that stalker?" tanong ko. If that already happened last week, bakit hindi niya agad sinabi?

"Well, he will be no longer a stalker if I know something about him. But he always have a note kapag nag-iiwan siya ng kung ano-ano sa locker ko." she explained while handing me a piece of paper.

|vjtodyosm|

Napatititig ako doon. My forehead folds a bit.

"What's that?" Eun-ji asked.

"I don't know either."

"It's like a belief or something. Wait i-Merriam ko nga." sabi ni Eun-ji at kumuha ng phone sa bulsa at nag type.

Yeah, parang belief ng kung anong organization dahil '-sm' 'yong last letters.

"No match found." Eun-ji's shoulders dropped in disappoinment. "Pwede rin naman 'tong pangalan." she added. With that, I fall on my deep thoughts.

Takang tumingin si Yuna sa kanya. "I also thought of that too. Besides, I searched about that and no one in this campus named vij-tod-yu-zem (vjtodyosm). And I think no mothers would give that kind of difficult name." sabi naman ni Yuna.

I just keep quiet, but thinking so deep. But I have a theory in mind. That 'vjtodyosm' may just be an alias of that stalker and it's nothing to do with his real name. Also through that, he can maintain his mask closed.

I told them about that and after we had our brief brainstorming about 'vjtodyosm', we decided to finish our meal first and talk about that note again later.

Pagkatapos naming mag-lunch, bumalik kami kaagad sa room para muling pag-usapan ang stalker ni Yuna.

"So, let's call this case; Yuna's secret admirer case, hihi." Eun-ji suddenly whispered to us. Nakaupo siya ngayon malapit sa amin ni Yuna.

I heard Yuna chuckled. "Tss. He's a stalker, not an admirer." she blurted. They keep their voices lower.

"It's the same thing, Yuns."

I was about to say something when suddenly, Andrew, our classmate, spoke.

"Guys, gusto ko sana kayong imbitahan sa bahay namin ngayon." sabi niya sa amin. He's standing in front of the class while roaming his eyes to everyone of us.

"Bakit? Anong meron sa inyo?" tanong ng isa kong kaklase.

"Guess what..." pa-excite na sabi niya. He crept a smile.

"FarTehh?"

"Birthday party?"

"Yup. And all of you are invited." nakangiting sabi ni Andrew and everyone yelled, except for me and Yuna.

"Eh, no'ng nagdaang myerkules lang naman ang birthday mo, 'di ba?" tanong naman ni Trixie.

"Oo nga. No'ng nagdaang myerkules sana. Pero hindi kami gaanong nakapaghanda, eh. At saka ngayon lang rin dumating si mommy galing States. Kaya naisipan niyang ngayon lang niya pabobonggahin ang birthday ko kasabay ng welcome home party niya." sabi naman ni Andrew.

"Anong oras naman 'yang party mo?" our classmate asked, as what I've remembered, his name is Christian. Yeah, I am starting to know their names.

"Pwede naman tayong dumiritso na lang sa bahay after school. May pinapunta na akong bus na magkakasya tayong lahat. Mahihirapan kasi tayo kung magdadala pa kayo ng kotse, masyado kasing masikot ang lugar namin. Mahihirapan tayong makahanap ng mapa-park-an."

"Paano naman 'yong kotse namin do'n sa parking lot?" tanong naman ni Mark.

"Pababantayan nalang natin kay manong guard. Sandali lang naman tayo do'n, eh. Ipapahatid ko naman kayo dito pagkatapos." paliwanag ni Andrew.

Nakita ko namang tumango 'yong mga kaklase namin.

Tatanungin ko sana si Yuna kung sasama na siya nang biglang sumulpot si Andrew sa harapan namin. "S-Sasama ka ba, Yuna?" tanong niya bigla kay Yuna.

My eyes squinted a bit at napatingin ako kina Eun-ji at Yuna. Bigla akong may napansin.

"No---"

"Yes, we will come."

"Of course!"

Sabay naming saad ni Eun-ji before Yuna could finish her sentence. Masamang tiningnan kami ni Yuna pero hindi namin iyon pinansin no Eun-ji.

Then, we settled when our teacher came.

RIGHT AFTER the class ay agad na kaming pumunta sa parking lot. Just like what Andrew said, pagkarating namin do'n ay nakita namin ang isang mahabang bus. Inilagay muna namin 'yong bag namin sa aming mga sasakyan.

"Uhm, Waj, Pwede makilagay ng bag ko sa kotse mo? Hindi kasi kasya ito sa tool box ng motor ko, eh. Hihi." biglang sabi ni Eun-ji sa akin.

"Sure." usal ko nalang sabay pasok ng bag niya sa kotse ko.

"Thanks, Waj!" sabi niya sabay tapik ng balikat ko. "Tara na!" she yelled out of excitement.

Pagkasabi niya no'n ay tumango na lamang ako saka ngumiti.

Pagkarating namin do'n ay agad namang nagsipasukan ang mga kaklase namin sa loob nito at naghanap ng puwesto. Kami namang tatlo ay naghintay munang makapasok ang lahat sa loob.

"Yuna, dito ka." biglang sabi ni Christian sabay turo sa isang bakanteng upuang katabi niya. Right now, he's slinging his uniform on his shoulders, displaying his arm.

Hindi naman nag-alinlangang pumunta si Yuna at umupo roon. Napansin ko na kami na lamang ni Eun-ji ang walang upuan.

"Doon tayo, Waj." sabi niya sabay turo doon sa pinakadulong upuan.

"S-Sige." sagot ko sa kaniya saka pumunta doon sa tinuro niya at agad na umupo.

"Aheeeeerrrrmmmm." mahabang tikhim ni Alvin. He's our gay classmate and he's proud. "May napansin talaga ako lately, eh." panunuksong sabi pa niya.

"Ako rin, yieeeee..."

"Kayo ha? Parang iba na 'yan!"

Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi nila. What are they talking about? Hindi nalang ako umimik. Si Eun-ji? She's smiling widely.

In the driver's seat, Andrew asked if we are all settled and they replied yes. Nagsimula nang umandar ang bus.

"Kailan mo naman sasagutin si Leigh, Eun-ji? Yieeee..." biglang tanong ni Amanda na ikinagulat ko.

"Ano ba kayo. Hindi pa nga 'yan nagfi-first move, eh, tapos sasagutin ko na? Hihi." Eun-ji replied.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Eh? What the hell are they talking about?

Nanatili nalang akong tahimik. I could not even looked Eun-ji straight in the eye. Not even once because... I don't know.

"'Di ba, sa linggo na ang birthday mo, Eun-ji?" asked Trixie.

"Ah, oo. Debut ko na. Hihi." sagot ni Eun-ji.

"Aheeem imbitado ba kami diyan? ehheem." pabiro pang sabi ni Amanda.

"Yeah sure. Why not?" nakangiting sagot niya.

"Sino naman ang last dance mo? Si Leigh ba 'yan? Yieee." tanong ni Vince. He has a twin sister in our classmate, and I guess, it's Amanda.

Hay, ito na naman. Akala ko iibahin na nila ang usapan. Wala ba silang ibang ma-topic? I'm somewhat getting uncomfortable.

"Ahm, gusto mo ba, Waj? Hihi." tanong niya. She even looked at me that made me shocked a little bit.

Hindi ako nakasagot agad. Naghahanap pa ako kung saan ako kukuha ng sagot. I could feel my heart sudden throbbed so fast.

"U-Uh--"

"We're here, guys!" biglang sigaw ni Andrew. Naputol 'yong sasabihin ko kaya bumuntong hininga na lamang ako.

Great.

Agad silang nagsilabasan pagkahinto ng bus habang ako ay naghintay muna na makababa silang lahat.

"Tara na, Waj." anyaya sa akin ni Eun-ji.

Agad naman akong sumunod sa kanyang bumaba. Pagkalabas ko sa bus ay nilibot ko ang aking paningin sa piligid.

We are in front of a simple yet classy house. There is a gate that surrounds the space before the house. On the space, there are already tables that have been set. So far, I have only seen few people excluding us.

Tiningnan ko ang tinahak naming daan. Masikot nga ito---maliit lang ang space sa pagitan ng mga bahay. Wala akong nakikitang garahe kaya kung magdadala nga kami ng sasakyan ay wala ngang mapag-parking-an.

"Pasensya na dahil maliit lang ang bahay namin. Tara, pasok na tayo." sabi ni Andrew sa amin pagkababa niya.

He took the lead at agad naman kaming sumunod sa kanya. Pumasok kami sa gate at agad na pumwesto sa mga mesa na nandoon. Hiwa-hiwalay kami ng mga mesa dahil tig-aapat lang ang upuan ang meron sa bawat mesa. Ang mga kasama ko sa mesa ay sina Yuna, Eun-ji, at si Christian. Square ang hugis ng mesa. On my right was Eun-ji and on the other side was Christian. Kaharap ko naman si Yuna.

Tahimik lang kaming apat habang iyong mga kaklase ko naman ay nagsimula nang magtawanan at malalakas ang boses na nag-uusap.

"Eheem." Napalingon ako sa gawi ni Christian no'ng bigla siyang tumikhim. "Ang tahimik n'yo naman." nakangiting sabi niya sa amin.

"Oo nga. Parang mapapanis na ang laway ko, eh. Buti nagsalita ka. Hihi." sabi naman ni Eun-ji. And with that, the two started laughing while Yuna and I just forced a smile.

"Uh, matanong ko lang, if it's okay. Nagka-boyfriend ka na ba, Eun-ji?" tanong bigla ni Christian. I immediately looked at Eun-ji, waiting for her answers.

"Ahh, hihi. Oo, isa pa lang." nahihiyang sagot niya pa.

"T-Talaga?!" Bigla nalang silang napatingin sa akin.

My eyes widened after I realized what just happened. Did I just said it out loud?

I cleared my throat immediately. "Talaga?" pag-uulit ko pero this time ay maayos na. What's with that reaction, Leigh? Hay...

"Oo. Ngayon pa nga lang, eh." sagot naman niya.

Natigilan ako bigla sa sagot niya. So, may boyfriend siya ngayon? Well, there's nothing wrong about that. B-But...

B-But... she could have told us before. I mean---nevermind.

"Sino naman ang boyfriend mo?" tanong naman ni Yuna na nakataas pa konti ang kilay.

I just looked around and I saw some people started to deliver some foods to the other guests.

"Eh 'di, si Waj! hihi. 'Di ba, Waj, boyfriend kita?" sabi niya bigla na ikinalaki ng mga mata ko.

Eh?

Did I hear it right? Did she just said...

I looked at her with my mouth gaped open. Paulit-ulit akong napalunok at biglang lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Paulit-ulit kong naririnig ang sinabi niya. Nakita kong tumingin si Christian sa aming dalawa ni Eun-ji, forming an 'O' in his mouth. Si Yuna naman ay nakahalukipkip lang na tumitingin sa amin.

"Woah! Really?!" 'di makapaniwalang tanong ni Christian.

"Anong 'really?!'? Ngayon mo lang nalaman?" takang tanong ni Eun-ji. Her face is serious. No signs that she's joking and mocking around.

Seriously?

Hindi ko na maintindihan ang nararamdaman ko. Taka akong tumingin kay Eun-ji.

"Ano bang klaseng mga reaksyon iyan?" takang tanong ni Eun-ji sa amin.

"You mean... boyfriend? As in, jowa, nobyo, kasintahan?" pagkaklaro ni Christian. He even took glances at Yuna and then to Eun-ji

"Ahhh, HIHI!" pagkatapos no'n ay bigla nalang siyang bumuhaglit ng tawa. Tinakpan niya pa nang bahagya ang kaniyang bibig para maibsan iyon.

My forehead creased on her reaction. You really cannot predict what's in her mind. And... she's insane.

"S-Sorry." she said, motioning her hands after she laughed. "Kaya pala ganyan kayo mag-react." dagdag n'ya pa. At hindi pa talaga siya tapos tumawa. I exhaled after I realized what she would say next. "What I mean is... boyfriend. As in boy-friend. Sa tagalog, kaibigang lalake. Hihi." paliwanag niya.

"Ahh, gano'n ba. Akala ko pa naman." natatawang saad ni Christian. He looked at me, shrugging his shoulders.

"Tss." singhal naman ni Yuna.

Tumahimik pa rin ako. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. She really fond of throwing trips like this.

"Pero pwede namang mangyari ang iniisip n'yo. Hihi." Eun-ji relented which made me looked at her again. "Char!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Biglang tumawa nang malakas sina Eun-ji at Christian. I shook my head many times. Magka-vibes pa talaga sila.

Sandaling katahimikan muna bago nagsalita ulit si Christian. "Ikaw, Yuna, may jowa ka na ba?" he suddenly asked.

"None." Yuna answered without looking at him.

Napansin ko namang nagliwanag bigla ang mukha ni Christian. Mayamaya pa ay may nag-serve na sa aming mga pagkain. Sabay naman kaming nagpasalamat bago kumain.

While my companions and I were busy with our foods, I roamed my gaze around for a while and my sight then pinned to one of the tables. May apat na lalaking kumakain do'n na hindi pamilyar sa akin ang mga mukha. Malamang ay hindi namin 'yon kaklase.

Nakita ko namang lumapit sa kanila si Andrew. They must be his friends, perhaps. Pagkatapos no'n ay nadako ang paningin ko sa malaking mesa. Out of all the tables here, that one was bigger and wider. On that huge table, may mga babae naman na mukhang nasa mid-40's. Mukhang mga kaibigan 'yon ng mommy ni Andrew at malamang ay isa sa kanila ay mommy niya. They are busy talking and laughing.

Pagkatapos kong tumingin-tingin sa paligid ay bumalik na ako sa aking pagkain.

"Guys, tingnan n'yo 'yon," biglang sabi ni Eun-ji sa amin. Ininguso niya ang kaniyang bibig doon sa isang direksiyon. Tiningnan naman namin ang tinitingnan niya and we found out that she's pertaining to the four men. Bumalik ang tingin namin kay sa kaniya. "Kamukha ni Waj 'yong isa, oh, tingnan n'yo. Hihi."

Biglang kumunot yung noo ko sa sinabi niya.

Kamukha? Tsk.

"Oo nga. Para silang nawawalang kambal HAHAHA!" sabi naman ni Christian sabay tawa nang malakas.

Tumingin ulit ako doon sa apat na lalaki at tiningnan 'yong sinasabi nilang kamukha ko 'raw'. My eyes knitted. Hindi naman, ah. They must have clean their eyes.

"Kambal mo ba siya, Waj?! Hihi." pabirong sabi ni Eun-ji.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Tumawa pa sila nang paulit-ulit. Ewan ko na talaga sa kanila.

Napailing na lamang ako at tinapos ang pagkain. Pagkatapos naming kumain ay bigla silang nagpatugtog ng melo songs. Agad namang pumunta ang mga kaklase ko sa gitna. They walked in pairs and danced slowly with the rhythm.

Para silang nasa prom ngayon. Napailing na lamang akong tiningnan silang sumasayaw. Mayamaya pa ay nakita kong lumingon si Christian kay Yuna. Akmang ibubuka na sana niya ang kanyang bibig nang biglang may naunang magsalita sa likuran ni Yuna.

"Uhm, Yuna. Can we d-dance?" biglang sabi ni Andrew.

Napansin kong parang namang bumagsak ang mga balikat ni Christian habang tumitingin sa dalawa. Something's fishy and I can smell it.

Yuna looked behind her. She then looked at us and heaved a sigh. "Sure." she replied like she had no choice.

Pagkasabi no'n ni Yuna ay pumunta na sila sa gitna at sumayaw. Basing on Yuna's reaction, she did not want it. But, it's Andrew's birthday and she don't want him to feel disappointed. I looked at Christian at nakita ko ang biglaang paglungkot sa mata niya. But, in just a snap, bigla iyong napalitan ng ngiti.

Weird.

Mayamaya pa ay biglang tumayo si Christian at nagpaalam na pumunta sa cr. And it only means na kami na lang ni Eun-ji ang nasa mesa.

Tumahimik ang pagitan namin ni Eun-ji. Gustong-gusto ko na sanang ibuka ang bibig ko pero parang may pumipigil sa akin.

"Tara, Waj. Sayaw tayo. Hihi." anyaya niya sa akin na ikinagulat ko. Napalunok ako and at the same time ay nahiya kasi babae mismo ang nagyaya sa akin.

Sasagot na sana ako nang bigla kaming nakarinig ng ibang boses.

"Hi, Miss beautiful..." singit ng isang lalake. As far as I remember, siya iyong sinasabi nilang kamukha ko raw. And seeing him nearer, I confirmed that it's really not.

"Hello, hihi." sagot naman ni Eun-ji sabay kaway.

"I'm Harry Jefsoville but you can call me Harry. And you are?" pagpakilala niya.

"I'm Nikolina Eun-ji, but you can call me Eun-ji. And this is Leighton Wajeeh." sagot naman ni Eun-ji at nagkamayan sila.

"Hello, Leighton..." baling niya sa akin at inilahad ang palad niya sa harapan ko. Nakipagkamay na rin ako. Baka kung ano pang isipan niya kung hindi ko 'yon tatanggapin. "Are you a couple?" tanong pa niya. He even pointed his finger to us.

"Uh, hihi." Eun-ji responded, taking a glance at me. "No. We're just friends, actually." nakangiting sagot niya.

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Yup. hihi."

"You have a very nice hair, by the way. But what attracts me most is your cat eyes. Very cool."

"Oh, well, thank you. Hihi."

"So, Eun-ji... can we dance?" He suddenly said that somewhat made me stunned.

I immediately looked at Eun-ji soon as I heard that. Nakangiti siya kay Harry at tumingin muna siya sa akin bago sumagot. "Yes, sure..."

I don't know but I suddenly felt my shoulders dropped. They went towards the center where others are dancing. And that means, mag-isa na lamang ako sa mesa. Tsk.

Ilang kanta na ang pinatugtog at mayamaya pa ay bumalik na si Yuna pero si Eun-ji ay hindi pa rin. Tiningnan ko ang gawi ni Eun-ji at mukhang masayang-masaya itong sumasayaw kasama ang lalake.

~Now my baby's dancing.. But she's dancing with another man~

Iyan ang tugtog na sinasayaw nila ngayon. Romantic ang pagkatugtog ng kanta, hindi 'yong original melody nito ni Bruno Mars. Ibinaling ko nalang ang atensyon ko sa iba at doon, nakita ko naman si Andrew na pumasok sa bahay nila.

"How's that painful?" biglang tanong ni Yuna pagka-upo niya.

Confused, I looked at her. "Ang alin?" sagot ko sa kanya. Napakunot pa bahagya ang noo ko.

"Staring at someone you like, sharing laughs and smiles with another person." seryosong sabi niya habang tumitingin sa direksyon nina Eun-ji at Harry.

Napalunok ako bigla. Hindi pa ako nakasagot ng ilang segundo. "W-What are you saying?" sagot ko sa kaniya.

"Don't act as if you did not know what I mean, Leigh." sabi niya na ikinatigil ko. "I will tell you, Leigh. Whatever you have felt to her, you better stop it. Trust me, mas masakit pa diyan ang mararamdaman mo 'pag ipinagpatuloy mo pa." seryosong saad niya.

"I don't know what you are talking about, Yuna. Hindi kita naiintindihan." I did not expect her to said those words to me.

"Alam kong hindi mo ako maiintindihan at marami ka pang hindi maiintindihan kaya ihanda mo 'yang sarili mo." makahulugang sabi niya.

"Then ipaliwanag mo sa akin." I told her firmly. I don't really know what she meant. Hindi maiintindihan ang ano? What does she mean I should stop?

Hindi siya sumagot bagkus ay nginitian niya lamang ako. Ilang minutong katahimikan ang namutawi sa amin.

Tsk. All of them are really weird. Why do I have them in my side?

Then suddenly, the music stopped and people began shouting.

"WAAAHHH!"

"Brown out ba?!"

"OMG. I'm afraid of darkness huhu!"

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