Chapter 4: Darling

"Criasha, why are you going home this early again?" Ayana pouted.

"It's my mom's birthday, doofus. Kailangan ko pang bumili ng cake," sabi ko at mahinang pinitik ang nuo nya. Parang bata talaga itong si Ayana. Parang Koala din.

"Really? Can I eat the cake then?" prisinta ng bibong si Matrix.

I can't afford a big cake, that's why I couldn't invite them. Mahirap lang ako, e'. It doesn't mean that I would be poor forever, of course. My dream is to rise from the dirt and give my mother a happy and carefree life.

"Next time, kiddo. Sa birthday mo bibilhan kita ng cake," tawa ko at nanggigigil na pinisil ang pogi nyang mukha. Agad siyang sumimangot at tinanggal ang kamay ko. He pointed at me.

"I'm not a kid! Just wait 'till I marry you one day. Because you're the only girl who can beat me in video games!" he exclaims coolly. Ayana giggled and layed her head on the bag beside me.

"No."

Sumimangot si Matrix.

"I'm handsome!"

Tumawa ako. "No."

"I'm smart!" hataw nya pa.

"Don't try anymore, brat," tawa ni Ayana na nagbabasa na ngayon ng comics.

"I'm not a brat, shut up!" sigaw ni Matrix. Napaupo si Ayana at inis na tinignan ang bata.

"Who are you telling to shut up, boy?! You're rude!" natatawa ko lang silang pinanuod at inisip kung saan ako bibili ng cake mamaya. Napatingin nalang ulit ako sa kanila ng habulin na ni Ayana si Matrix. He bumped at his brother by the door.

"Hi," casual na bati sa akin ni Jax ng nagtakbuhan sa labas sila Ayana at umupo sa tabi ko. His sparkling white teeth gleamed in the light. "You done with Matrix?"

Tumango naman ako at agad na tumayo.

"What's wrong, baby?" he asked, a small smile etched on his face. His warm eyes twinkled.

"Hindi ako sanggol, daddy," asar ko pabalik at halos matawa ng napanganga sya. "I need to go. May mahalaga pa akong gagawin."

Madalang kami magkita ni Jax pero sa tuwing magkikita kami, umaarte sya na parang napaka-close namin. It's okay, though. It doesn't harm me in any way. He's sort of a friend, too, anyways. For me, at least...

"Mas importante sa akin?" napahinga nalang ako ng malalim at nginitian sya. Kinuha ko agad ang bag ko at naglakad na palabas sa HQ.

"Bye!" bati ko bago ako tuluyang makalabas. Napangiti ako ng marinig ko na ang sigawan nila Matrix sa malapit.

"Bye, sweetie," Jax quietly said and grabbed the game controller as I walked out.

"Ayana, I'm going!" sigaw ko ng pababa na ako. Her head peeked from a wall and I could hear Matrix crying.

"Bye, girl!"

Nag-exit na ako at agad na sumakay sa taxi. Bumaba ako sa malapit at pumasok sa Goldilocks. I looked for a small cake but I still didn't find a cake that is within my price range. Pagod akong lumabas at sinalubong ako ng mainit na hangin.

"Sa bakery nalang kaya?" tanong ko sa sarili ko at naghanap pa ng mga bilihan. After a while, I was already holding a pastel purple cake in my hands. I grinned. Hah, for momma.

I walked calmly. Nagpagpag ako ng sapatos at agad na pumasok sa maliit naming condo. Binati ako ng amoy ng tahanan namin. 

If I was happy a while ago, then I'm not anymore. Binalot ako ng takot. Nanginig ang kamay ko at agad na inilapag ko ang cake sa lamesa at lumabas. Tumambol ang puso ko sa dibdib ko. It's happening again. Those thugs.

May sigaw. Doon na naman sa eskinita na nahabol ang nanay ko. Bakit laging doon? Tumakbo agad ako. Namasa ang mata ko sa galit at kaba. Our house was a mess.

"Mama!" sigaw ko pagdating ko sa bukana ng eskinita. Isang suntok sa sikmura agad ang sumalubong sa akin. Napaluhod ako at nakita ko ang pagbulwak ng dugo sa bibig ng ina ko. It's her birthday, though. Why...

Tumulo ang luha ko.

"We paid you already!" sigaw ko at inabot ang ina 'kong hindi na makadilat sa sobrang pagkabugbog. Her eyes are swollen and bleeding. I screamed in agony. Fuck money. 

"Hindi pa iyon buo. Bayaran nyo iyon kung ayaw niyong lagi kayong hinahabol!" sipa sa akin ng isang lalaki sa ulo. Sinunod nya ang tiyan ko. Nahilo ako, naubo, at umikot ang paningin ko. Everything blurred for a moment, the silhouettes doubling. By the time my vision went back to normal, I saw the familiar steel colored eyes. Hindi sinasadyang napangiti ako sa isipan ko.

I closed my eyes and hugged my passed out mother, acting as her shield. Seryoso, sa birthday nya pa talaga...

Narinig ko ang pagkabarag ng mga buto at ang mga suntukan at sipaan. One body hit my side. 

"Hitting girls again, huh? I see..." hindi na bago ang kuryenteng gumapang sa buong katawan ko ng magsalita sya.

"You probably don't have a mother, asshat," I heard a head snap. Hindi ko alam kung bakit galit na galit sya, pero wala akong pakielam. At least he's here again.

Nakapikit lang ako at nakakapit sa ina ko ng mahigpit.

"Can you stand up?" naramdaman ko ang tanong nya. The shivers were cold and they felt nice. Hot skin touched an inch of my arm. Sasagot na sana ako at magpapasalamat ng buhatin nya ang nanay ko. Lihim akong napangiti.

He's so much taller than me. And he just stood there, frozen. His eyes traveled up to meet mine.

"She's heavy."

My jaw dropped despite of my hurting body.

"Mads, anong gagawin natin dito sa mga ito?" sabi ng isang lalaki ilang metro sa likuran nya. Hindi ko man lang napansin na may mga kasama pala sya. But, Mads? Is he gay?

"Iwan nalang natin," parang walang hiningang sabi ni 'Mads'.

"And don't call me Mads, babatukan kita!" dagdag nya at tumawa naman ang dalawa niyang kasama. They're all so tall. Damn, I feel like a pebble.

"Miss," sabi ng isang lalaki sa pinakalikod. Hindi ko makita ng malinaw ang mga mukha nila dahil sa kakulangan ng ilaw. I can see their figures, though. "Where do you live?"

Nanigas ako. Babalikan nila kami, panigurado. 

"I..." napatigil ako at tinignan lang nila akong dalawa. "We don't have a house... anymore."

Nagkatinginan kaming lahat. 

"Look, whoever you are, that's impossible. You need to have a house," Mads said. "And hurry up, I'm not trying to be rude but, my arms are about to break."

My lip twitched. Am I annoyed or was I about to laugh? There's no way I would've laughed, though.

"They know our house. Mamatay kami pag bumalik kami doon. C-Can you wait for me? I'll pack our bags and then just go to a hotel," sabi ko at hinintay silang magsalita pero tinitignan lang nila ako.

"Please?" mahina 'kong pakiusap. "It's her birthday, and I'm not even joking."

"Just lay her down for a bit. B-Baka lang kasi may kasama sila," sabi ko, tinutukoy ang mga nakatumbang lalaki sa sahig.

The silver-eyed guy sighed and put my mom down for a second. Umalalay ang mga lalaki sa likod. He took of his hood and his fluffy hair bounced and covered a portion of his forehead. "Seriously, you're a pain."

Sa normal na sitwasyon ay maiinis ako pero ako na nga lang ang tinulungan...

"You're broke. Anong hotel sinasabi mo dyan?" he said, looking kind of mad. "Take care of your mother properly."

"I'm trying..." mahina 'kong ganti. He soesn't know how hard it is.

"Try harder," sabi nya muli at tinignan ako na para bang sinusuri ako. I felt the electricity travel inside my whole body just from his gaze again. "You don't look like you'll blow up a house... want to use my spare house?" 

Napatingin ako sa mga mata nya at nagulat ng ilang segundo. "I don't trust you."

"I don't trust you either," he scoffed and rolled his eyes. "I'm just lending you a spare house for your mom. I don't use that, don't worry. And stop whining!"

Huminga ako ng malalim at tinignan ang nanay ko. Masakit din yung tiyan at ulo ko. Makakatipid ako  ng pera kung doon ako titira.

"Darling," he sighed and goosebumps spred on my entire body. Teka, bakit... "You're lucky you have a mom. So just make up your damn mind. I don't have all day."

Huminga ako ng malalim at mahigpit na hinawakan ang laylayan ng t-shirt ko.

"S-Sige."

"Get the car, Storm," sabi nya.

"Hoy, hindi mo ako driver, Maddox," sabi ng pinakatahimik na lalaki sa likod. "I'm busy breathing."

"Oh, jeez. Lazy asses, I'll get it for you, Mads," the wacky one said and jogged to the left, since nasa bukana lang kami ng eskinita.

Isinakay nila kami sa isang malaking black na sasakyan. Kinabahan ako ng ilang segundo. This is the suburbs, kung mayaman sila bakit nandito sila? Baka nagbebenta sila ng lamang loob ng tao?

"Is it here?" tanong sa akin ni Storm na nasa tabi ni Mads sa harapan. He sat on the shotgun seat and looked back at me for a bit as he asked.

"Yes," I answered.

Agad akong bumaba at kinuha ang mga gamit namin ni Mama. I grabbed the small box of cake before going out. I'm moving again. Sumandal ako sa sandalan, sinarado ang mga mata ko at huminga ng malalim. Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa mga gamit namin. Takot pa din sa mga kasama namin.

Katangahan itong ginagawa ko. Sumama lang ako dahil teenager din sila. Teenagers wth cars, seriously.

"Oh, it's really her birthday," sabi ng lalaki sa likod ko. He smiled and lent me a hand. "Hi, my name is Friax. Just call me Ax."

Reluctantly, I took his hand and shook it. "Criasha..."

"That's a pretty name," he politely smiled, making me unconsciously smile back.

"Don't flirt with her, dumbass," sabi ni Storm.

"That's a pretty name," Mads mocked Ax. Sabay na tumawa si Storm at Mads. Napangiti ako ng kaonti. When we stopped in front of a big mansion and the gate opened for us, my jaw dropped.Nakabukas ang lahat ng ilaw sa bahay.

"Go," sabi ni Mads at hinagisan ako ng susi at papel. "Save my number. I'll check on you guys every month. Baka mapasabog mo bahay ko. Leave the cooking to your mother."

I clutched the items in my hand and opened the door. Tinulungan ako ni Storm at ni Ax na magbuhat ng mga gamit. My eyes bathed in the sight of handsome faces. Papasok na kami sa bahay ng tumingin ako sa likod. The lights from the mansion illuminated Mads' eyes and face inside the vehicle. Tinitigan nya ako at ang mga kaibigan niyang papasok na may seryosong tingin sa kanyang mukha.

That night was a dream. I even remembered them waving at me when they drove away. They didn't kidnap us, afterall...

**********

"Criasha!" sigaw ni Ayana at tinalunan ako. Natawa ako at yinakap din sya.

"Why were you absent yesterday?" nguso nya. "Hindi ka man lang nagtext!"

"Naubos yung load ko, 'e."

"Aish, sa susunod ako magpapaload sa'yo. Why don't you settle for a plan na kasi?" tanong nya at naglakad na kami papasok sa Grade 12 building. People gathered at agd akong sumubok sumiksik palayo pero nakakapit sa akin si Ayana. 

"Excuse me!" sigaw nya at nagsialisan ng kaonti ang mga taong nakapalibot sa amin. I thought it was over at nandoon lang sila dahil kay Ayana pero may pinagkakaguluhan pa sila sa kabila. Dahil chismosa kami ni Aya ay nagpunta din kami doon.

"OMG!" tumili si Ayana. Nagulat ako at napatingin sa kanya. "Maddox!"

Tumakbo sya at yinakap ang lalaking nakatalikod. He's wearing his button up and his waistcoat uniform but his coat is hanging on his arm. Gamit ang hintuturo nya ay tinulak nya ang ulo ni Ayana palayo.

"Calm down, Ayana. Sheesh," tawa nya. Oh, they're close. It's been two months since school started but this 'Maddox' never showed up at school. Now he's here. Hmm...

The familiar fluffy hair moved when he scanned the crowd of girls. Nanigas naman ako ng magkatinginan kami.

His pinkish lips went up in a dazzling smile but his eyes are piercing me with a smoldering look. Kumaway pa sya sa akin. His charm radiated as he said, "Hi, pretty darling."

Napatingin sa akin sa gulat si Ayana at ang mga nakapalibot sa amin. Agad akong tumalikod at naglakad palayo, kunwari ay walang alam. I'm so dumb! Mads is Maddox! The infamous Maddox Lucas Vasileía...

Ugh.