Apat na araw na rin ang nakalipas pagkatapos ng tagpong iyon. Ilang oras lang ang nakaraan simula nang ma-discharge ako sa ospital ngayong araw. Si Mr. Biljack ang nagbayad sa lahat ng expenses kahit pa tumutol ako dahil siya ang nagbabantay sa akin doon. I knew that the money wasn't really from his pocket, it's originally from Calter's. Naisauli ko na rin iyong uniform ni Calter na ginawa niyang pambalot sa sugat ko.
I filled the bathtub with warm water and soaked into it. Walang nakakaalam sa kung anong nangyari sa akin sa halos limang araw kong pagkawala. I didn't bother myself contacting anyone since I don't really care much. Besides, I don't consider the three of them as my friends and I hate Alice now for leaving her phone unattended during my emergency call.
"Alora!" Someone outside called.
Nanatili akong nakaupo sa bathtub. Si Alice iyon. Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali sa boses niya. Pinapasok siguro siya ng mga ka
We are now on our way home. Alice is currently driving while having serious conversation with us. "Everyone calls Spencer by his first name, even teachers during the class. Mr. Tuazon was just new that time that's why he mistakenly called him by his surname," Alice said. Ano naman kung nagkamali lang ng tawag? Big deal ba 'yon? "Si Calter, Alora... Hindi siya Spencer." Mabilis kong nilingon si Megan matapos marinig iyon. Ano kamong sinabi niya? "Anong hindi?" Kung hindi Spencer si Calter, ibig bang sabihin nagkamali kami? Nagkamali ako? Hindi pwede! Then Alice replied. "We can't determine if we picked a wrong target for now but I'll tell you his full name, it's Calter Vin Herism." Herism? Dala niya ang apelyido ng nanay niya, si Mrs. Veniva Herism, ang pr
Pasalamat siya at hindi ko siya maabot dahil sa layo ng pagitan naming dalawa. We are both sitting right beside the aisle. Napalingon ako kay Alice nang ilapag niya sa lamesa ko ang papel na dapat kong check-han. Agad namang binasa ni sir ang mga sagot at hindi na ako nakahabol dahil wala pa rin akong magamit na ballpen. "Number 3, B." Sa inis, binigay ko na lang kay Alice ang test paper at hinayaang siya na ang mag-check. Masamang tingin ang binato ko kay Calter kahit na hindi naman siya sa akin nakatingin. Binalik ko na sa kaniya ang ballpoint niya pero 'yong akin pa rin ang ginagamit! Sa huli, hinayaan ko na lang na gamitin niya iyon hanggang sa matapos ang checking. Binasa na rin ni sir ang mga nakuha naming scores. "Ms. Humburgs got 11 over 40," mapait na anunsyo ni sir. Hagikhik agad ni Megan ang narinig ko matapos iyon. "Stupid," aniya kay Ji
"Are you crazy?!" Kumunot ang noo niya matapos kong masigawan. Agad din naman siyang nakabawi at pinanlakihan ako ng mga mata. Mukhang nabasa na nito ang iniisip ko. "Your wound is all that matter to me! What the hell are you thinking?" he replied, shouting. Humarap pa ito sa bandang kanan at bumulong. "That body doesn't even attracts me." Nakatingin lang ito sa bintana habang nakapamewang. Akala siguro niya hindi ko narinig iyon! I looked down at my uniform and slowly unbottoned it. I know that my wound is now bleeding under this clothes. I can feel the wetness on my back. Muli akong tumingin sa kaniya. Mukhang naiinip na ito. I wonder why he's here with me. He can choose to leave and be with his friends already. "Pwede ka nang umalis," I flatly said. "Don't tell me what to do." Inirapan ko ito matapos ang matigas na sagot niya. Hindi pa rin niya inaalis ang tingin sa bintana hanggang sa mahubad k
"Hindi ko inaasahan ito. Kung kailan naka-leave ang school nurse saka pa ito nangyari," aniya. "May maghahatid ba sa'yo palabas? The gate is too far from here," he asked. Doon ko lang naisip si Alice. Nasa bulsa ng blazer ang bagong cellphone ko. "Yeah," I breathed. Nagpalipat-lipat pa ang tingin niya sa aming dalawa na parang may iniisip. Bahagya siyang tumango-tango. Tila may sinasang-ayunan sa naiisip. Tumikhim siya. "Aalis na ako. Ms. Steppingstone, kailangan mo nang umuwi at magpahinga. Don't attend school tomorrow if you think you can't. Ako na ang mage-excuse sa'yo sa ibang subjects," huling sinabi ni sir bago umalis. Nakatanaw lang ako sa pintuang nilabasan niya kanina. Naiwan na ulit kaming dalawa ni Calter dito sa loob. Kailangan ko nang tawagan si Alice bago pa man ako maubusan ng dugo. In just few rings, she answers. "Where are you?" It's her. Hininaan ko ang boses sa pagsagot. "Nasa
"Almost a month na tayo sa Herism pero yung plano natin, wala pa rin!" "We are in the process, Megan," Alice replied. We're heading to school. Kanina pa silang dalawa nag-uusap habang tahimik lang kaming dalawa ni Jinx. She's still silent. I remember what happened last night. She haven't escaped from our confrontation and just gave in. I ran towards her and grabbed her jaw, forcing her to face me. "Speak or else I will acknowledge Uncle Greg," I warned her. Ibinaba niya ang tingin saka inilayo ang mukha. Pansin kong nag-aalangan siyang magsalita. Knowing them. Ayaw nilang may makarating kay Uncle na masamang balita. Alam nilang mamamatay sila kapag pumalpak ang plano. "Oo... pinatay ko nga," tiim-bagang na pag-amin niya. "Hinipuan niya ako!" nanginginig na singhal niya sa akin. Naikuyom ko ang palad sa galit. Hindi ko na napigilang damputin ang bag sa tabi niya at ginamit panghampas sa kaniyang mukha. Bahagya si
Naikuyom ko ang palad matapos marinig iyon. Ibinaba ko ang tingin sa simento at nag-imagine na pinupukpok iyon ng maso. Hindi ko gusto ang paraan niya para lang hindi ako saktan ng mga estudyante rito. I can handle bullies on my own. He don't need to intervene! Ngayon, alam na ng lahat na may relasyon kami. Hindi ito ang nasa plano ko!A girl moved beside Rain. "Stop bullshitting around, Blake. We all knew it's just for show!"Naramdaman ko ang mainit na palad ni Blake sa kamao ko. Unti-unti niyang binubuksan iyon para mahawakan ang kamay ko nang maayos. And guess what? I let him do that. He enterlocks our fingers, leaving no space in between."She. Is. My. Girlfriend." he emphasized. "Which part didn't you understand, Trixie?"Rain chuckled. Hindi naniniwala sa narinig. "Really? Then why don't we ask Alora about it? Right, Alora?" Ang huling tanong ay napunta sa akin.Umiinit ang kalamnan ko sa paraan ng pagtingin niya. Mapanghamon ito. Magi
Marahan kong binuksan ang pinto habang sinisilip kung nadyan pa ba siya sa labas. Nang makita kong walang bakas ng presensya niya, saka ako lumabas ng banyo. Di gaya kanina, may kaunting linawag ng araw nang pumapasok dito sa kwarto. Maliit lang naman ang siwang ng kurtina sa malaking bintana. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa buhol ng tuwalya habang papalapit sa damit na nakahandusay sa kama. His king size bed is now looking neat and clean. The navy black bedsheet gives contrast to the white pillows and comforter. Iyon nga lang, nakapagpagulo lang sa hitsura nito ang mga damit na hinanda ni Calter. Inangat ko ang white cotton t-shirt with words printed on the chest part says Givenchy Paris. Sunod ay ang black jogger pants. Oversized ang pang-itaas at sobrang haba naman ng pang-ibaba. Napangiwi tuloy ako nang maisip na magmumukha akong manang sa ganitong ayos. Then I suddenly paused, questions to myself immediately followed. Why am I here? Why am I doing all of these? Tama pa ba ang m
Nababaliw na yata siya. Minsan hindi ko talaga mahulaan kung anong tumatakbo sa isipan niya. He's laughing genuinely that I'd never seen before. Yes, he chuckle sometimes but that was full of sarcasm and insult. This one looks genuine, and it's confusing! He stopped laughing when he saw me frowning, flustered by his sudden reaction. He cleared his throat to remove the laughter from his system. His face was back to serious again and I felt a strange feeling of sadness out of it. I would sound like a different person if I say this but... I kinda miss the view of his complete set of teeth. I felt so mesmerized by his wide smile. The deep sound of his laugh keeps on repeating in my head like a broken stereo. I shook that thought off of my head. Ano ba 'tong naiisip ko! "What?" he questioned as he noticed me staring at him. Balik na ito sa pagkaseryoso at pagsisinuplado. Darn this bipolar bastard! I breathed in. "Since you
It's been a week since I came here and started living with them. They've showed me around the Vantablack Headquarters and introduced me to everyone. Natawagan ko na rin sina Tita Serya at Tito Totie para ipaalam ang kalagayan ko rito. "Tinatanong nina Tita Serya kung kailan ako uuwi roon. Gusto ko sanang bukas na," pagpapaalam ko habang sabay kaming nag-uumagahan. "Uuwi roon? Isn't this your home now? Dito ka na uuwi," Dad corrected me. I got stunned for a sec. Yeah. I forgot. It is. Dito na siya tumutuloy pagkatapos ng una naming pagkikita. We spent most of our time together, as a whole family-- talking while sipping tea, talking about our lives, roaming around the bunker and teaching me this and that. It's been a week but everytime I go to bed, I wonder how fast my life turned out. Para bang pumikit lang ako saglit, nandito na ako sa puder nila. I still have questions unanswered but maybe there has time for that. I'm enjoying the moment I have right now. With them. I do hav
I feel like it would be so awkward if I start calling them Mom and Dad. I'm still not used to them, though. Kagabi lang kami nagkalapit ng sariling ina. Paniwala naman ako na biological parents ko nga sila dahil sa mga rasong inihain na sa akin. I'm already 20. Still young but already old to spot the truth of this drama that has been running for almost 3 years. I watch my mom who's busy talking to me but I can't hear her clearly because I'm not paying attention. We're now here in their office, the higher ups office. Simpleng kwarto lang ito na may malaking curved table. Sa lamesa, may limang computers at swivel chairs. Sa harap naman ng mga ito ay may malaking nakapatay na screen. I'm sitting on one of the chairs. Calter is occupying the other seat, one block away from me while Mom is standing in front of us, talking. Saka lang nahinto ang ina nang may kumatok sa pinto. Napunta roon ang atensyon namin. Bumukas ito at pumasok ang isang lalaki. He stopped at the frame and bowed his h
All this time, akala ko hindi niya alam. I thought he wasn't aware that I was really the person he was talking with at the Halloween Party. Hindi na ako pinatulog kakaisip noon kagabi. I was asking myself, like how did he found it out? Tulog siya nang pumasok ako sa van nang mahuli siya ng organisasyon. He's asleep for the whole time until he was locked in the empty room. Nahalata niya ba ako sa naging costume ko? Covered ng make up ang mukha ko noon! Heavy make up! Hindi kaya'y nakilala niya ako sa boses? So he intentionally made a confession because he knows that he's literally talking to me? Nagkunwari lang siyang hindi niya ako kilala. Bakit pa? Para hindi masyadong nakakahiya sa part niya? Sa pag-amin pa lang, bawas na ang angas niya. Pero bakit naman siya magsasabi ng sekreto niya sa hindi niya kilala? Bakit ngayon ko lang na-realize ito? Alam ng buong Herism kung gaano siya kailap. He sticks with his circle of friends and never did talked to anyone else. Hindi ko pa siya nakit
Parang kailan lang nang una akong tumapak sa Herism Academy. I remember how full of wrath I was. I was eaten by my vengeful demon that all I felt was resentment towards my biological parents. I've even created a fantasizing scene in my head that I am washing my hands with their fresh blood like a total psychopath. It's been 2 years and those memories are still vivid as if it's just a day passed by. Wala akong nakitang butas sa relasyon ko sa mga Steppingstone noon na makakapagsabi sa akin na ampon lang ako. Kahit si Uncle na lang ang nandyan para sa akin noon, I never felt neglected. He may seem like a prison guard on how strict he is but there are still times when he is calm and loose. The last time we got apart was during the battle we had against the assassins in Manila Port. He got shot by Calter that time and I don't know if he's still alive. Robert Spencer got shot as well and I had never picked up rumor about them again since I ran away. "Can I kiss you good night?" pansin ko a
When I was a kid, I never had any bad memories with Mom and Dad. They never hurt me when they had to discipline me. They were supportive. They always make sure I'm okay, happy. I never felt out of their blood, that I am adopted because they never treat me differently. They showered me with all their love that's why it's hard for me to distinguish the truth behind all of these. Tanggap ko na sa sarili ko na ampon nga ako... pero ang hirap! Tinanim ni Uncle Greg sa isipan ko na ang mga Spencer ang masama. Sila ang pumatay sa kinalakihan kong magulang. Oo't sila nga... but is it worth it to hate them? Sabi nga ni Mrs. Veniva, kinuha nila ako noong sanggol pa. Hindi sarado ang utak ko para hindi maintindihan ang pakiramdam ng isang ina na mawalan ng anak. I just can't believe that the real monsters in this story are the Steppingstones, the family I grew up with. "Get the brown envelope in the drawer, Calter," she ordered him. Sumunod naman si Calter at pumunta doon sa desk hindi kalayua
I lived my life as a teenage girl running in the track like a horse trained to race. I ran away when the table turned and found out, in the end, I was the one who got fooled by those people around me. Now, I am coming back. Faces I'd wish I will never get to see again are all plastered in front of me. I guess, running away from the reality of my life is a race I will never win. Alice's face flashed on my mind. Her eyes. The way she gaze at me feels like she saw a long lost bestfriend. I don't know. The emotions of her eyes are sometimes misleading. However, I wonder why she was stunned at that moment. She should've called for backup to catch me but she chose to remain standing while staring at me. Is she with Jinx that time? "Hija!" Napatingin ako kay Veniva Herism. She rushed towards us with open arms. Emotional siyang nakatingin sa akin at kinulong ako ng yakap pagkalapit. Kumunot ang noo ko at hindi nakagalaw sa kinatatayuan. Ang mga braso ko kasi, nakapaloob sa yakap niya. Hindi
Bumagabag sa akin ang huling sinabi niya sa gabing iyon. Criella Herism Spencer. Tinawag niya ako sa ganoong pangalan. Anong ibig sabihin noon? 'Yon ba talaga ang tunay kong pangalan... bago pa ako mapunta sa kamay ng Steppingstone at pinangalanang Alora? My mind was filled with questions I hardly seek for an answer. I was just holding to my what ifs, insticts and theories. There's no definite answers. Maybe Calter was right. I really need to talk to Veniva Herism. Ako na ang umalis sa sarili kong kwarto para lumipat sa kuwarto ni Calter. Sakanya na iyong basang kama. Kaya naman na siguro niyang asikasuhin ang sarili dahil hindi naman siya mukhang nasaktan noong biglaan siyang umupo para makalapit sa akin. Naalala ko ang hitsura niya noong ipinirmi niya ako sa kinatatayuan. Madilim, maingay ang lagaslas ng ulan at maya't maya ang pangingidlat pero sa gabing iyon, mas nangibabaw ang ingay ng tibok ng puso ko. It may sound romantic and a bit corny but that's what I really felt during
Calter kept refusing to stand up and go to his room. He didn't want me to call for help neither. Nangingiti pa siya habang ako halos malagutan na ng hininga. His blood literally flows down onto the floor and he's still acting cool! Naihilamos ko na lang ang palad habang tinitingnan siya. Gising siya pero nakapikit lang. Nakangiti kasi ang gago. "Please.... put a pressure on my wounds before... I completely lost my blood," he said in a hoarse voice. Napairap ako. Sinarado ko ang pinto. Pumwesto ako sa kaniyang uluhan. Pinailalim ang mga kamay sa likod ng balikat niya at buong lakas na hinila siya papunta sa gilid ng kama. Nasa sahig pa rin siya dahil nga basa. I don't want him to wet my bed. Napalunok ako saka lumuhod sa gilid niya. Hinawi ko ang kaniyang itim na t-shirt pataas. He slowly lifted his hand so I saw a large cut on his left kidney part. Mukhang daplis lang pero mahaba at medyo malalim. Rinig ko ang mabigat na hininga niya. Halatang nasasaktan pero sinusubukang itago. A
Calter really had the nerves to rent a room here. Hindi naman talaga nagpapaupa sina Tita pero nang sabihin ni Calter na mag-a-advance payment na siya ng tatlong buwan, sumang-ayon na kaagad ang matanda. Alam ko kung anong dahilan ng pagpayag niya. Delay na kasi ang sweldo ng mga trabahador kaya ang ibabayad ni Calter ang siyang ipapasweldo niya. Gusto ko pang hilain si Calter noon paalis sa hapagkainan para sana kausapin. 3 months, really? Parang naglalaro lang siya ng bahay-bahayan! "Ayan! Look! Ang pretty mo talaga! Wagi na tayo!" tili ni Jade matapos niya akong ma-make up-an. Nakadikit ang pisngi niya sa pisngi ko habang nakaharap kami sa salamin. Ilang beses ko nang naisip na umatras na lang sa pagsali. Hindi ko naman kasi talaga gusto 'to. However, the situation really pushes me to continue it. Deven is still out of reach. Tito's maintenance are running out and he needs a wheelchair so he can go out of the house. Suot ang dress para sa unang round ng contest, lumabas na kami