Chapter 9

Michiaki’s POV:

Ilang araw na naming hindi nakikita si Xyrica kasi hindi niya na kami dinalaw. Ayaw niya naman na bumisita kami sa bahay niya kasi may ginagawa raw siya at ayaw naman sabihin kung ano. Nakakapagtaka lang kasi hindi naman siya ganoon dati tsaka nag-aalala na ang iba kong kasamahan baka raw may sakit si Xyrica.

“Subukan kaya nating tawagan si Xyrica?” Allen suggested.

Nandito kaming lahat sa sala ngayon, wala naman kaming ibang pinagkaabalahan kung hindi mag-isip ng rason kung ano ang ginagawa ni Xyrica.

“Hindi naman siya galit sa atin, diba?” Nag-aalalang tanong ni Alver.

I shook and said, “I doubt that’s the reason. We’ve asked her that a few days ago at sinabi niya lang na busy talaga siya.”

“Try calling her again,” sabi ni Yuan.

I sighed then grabbed my phone to call Xyrica. She’s not answering her phone yet, baka natutulog pa siya.

“I know she’s okay but we just want to be sure,” sabi ni Kris.

“She might think we’re invading her privacy by being annoying,” nag-aalalang sabi ni Jhin.

“Baka tulog pa talaga at paranoid lang tayo?” Sabi ni JL at may point naman siya sa sinabi niya.

Nilapag ko ang phone sa table at sinabing, “Ayaw sumagot, siguro nga at tulog pa siya.”

Warren raised his hand then said, “We should entertain ourselves so we can’t bother Xyrica while she’s at home. Let’s think of it as her day-off. Besides, lahat naman siguro ng mga babae ay gusto ng alone time.”

“May ibang bagay ka palang alam sa mga babae? Akala ko kasi pakikipag-flirt at one-night stand lang alam mo e,” natatawang sabi ni Klent.

“Hoy, marami akong alam sa mga babae. Huwag mo akong subukan Klent,” natatawang sabi naman ni Warren.

Tama naman si Warren, hindi pwedeng palagi nalang kami ang inuuna ni Xyrica. Kaya ngayon ay iintindihin namin siya kung gusto niya talagang mapag-isa at alam kong kaya niyang alagaan ang sarili niya.

Ilang minuto lang ay nakalimutan na nila ang tungkol kay Xyrica. Nagtatawanan na sila habang nag-uusap tungkol sa mga bagay na nangyari sa amin noon. Habang tumatagal ang usapan ay mas lalong nakakatawa kasi pinapaalala nina JL at Yuan ang mga katarantaduhang ginawa nina Allen at Warren.

“Naaalala niyo pa ba noong si natapunan ng hot sauce si Michiaki sa mata?” Pagpapaalala ni Jhin sa kanilang lahat habang tumatawa, sumunod naman ang iba at sinabi kung ano pa ang naalala nila noong mga panahong iyon.

“Oh, great. Now you’re roasting me?” Natatawang tanong ko sa kanila.

“Tapos na sina Allen at Warren kaya ikaw naman,” sabi ni Yuan.

“I forgot her name, that one girl who accidentally poured hot sauce in Michiaki’s eye. What’s her name again?” Tanong ni JL.

Oh, well. Here we go again.

“Clara!” Sabi ni Alver at humagalpak sila ng tawa.

“Malamya talaga ang babaeng iyon dati pa. Malas lang talaga ni Michiaki at siya ang nabuhusan ng hot sauce sa mata. Natapilok yata si Clara noon e,” sabi ni Jhin.

Minsan talaga naaawa ako sa sarili ko at naging kaibigan ko silang lahat. Gusto ko nalang talaga silang sapakin minsan para tumahimik.

“Dali-daling binuhusan ni Michiaki ang mata niya ng tubig noon. Hindi man lang naisip na may mga teachers na kumakain sa likuran niya,” natatawa habang naiiling na sabi ni Kris.

“Whose stupid idea was to scare Clara using a dead cockroach?” Tanong ko at tinitigan ng masama sina Warren at Allen. Napakamot naman sila sa batok nila.

“Tumayo si miss Caballes noon at hinarap ka Michiaki tapos nagpatuloy ka lang sa pagbuhos ng tubig sa mukha mo. Tsaka binalewala mo na kung gaano kalakas ang pagbuhos mo ng tubig sa mukha mo at nabasa si miss Caballes,” dugtong ni Alver sa sinabi ni Kris.

“Nabasa ang harapang damit ni miss Caballes at kita ang suot niyang brassiere. Sinampal si Michiaki at umalis ito,” pagtatapos ni Allen sa kwento.

I sighed and said, “I can’t believe that after all this time I still put up with your nonsense behavior. Am I supposed to rinse my eye gently when I was in so much pain? Kayo kaya ang nasa posisyon ko noong mga panahong iyon? Naisipan ko na talagang lumipat nalang ng ibang paraalan dahil sa inyong dalawa, Warren at Allen.”

“We apologized to you and Clara already. Huwag kanang magalit sa amin tutal nag-resign na si miss Caballes matagal na,” sabi ni Allen,

Magsasalita pa sana ako pero narinig namin ang pagbukas ng pinto at paglingon namin ay nakita namin si Xyrica.

“Xyrica!” Masayang sabi ni Alver at naunang lumapit kay Xyrica tsaka niyakap ito.

“I can’t believe that after all this time I still put up with your nonsense.”

Xyrica’s POV :

Isa-isa silang lumapit sa akin at kinamusta ako, ang iba naman niyakap ako ng mahigpit. Tinatanong kung bakit hindi ko sinagot ang tawag ni Michiaki kanina at kung anu-ano pa.

“Can I at least sit down before asking me a lot of questions?” Natatawang tanong ko sa kanila. Pinaupo naman nila ako at iyon na nga, isa-isa na silang nagtanong sa akin.

“How are you?” Tanong ni Allen.

I smiled and said, “Okay naman ako tsaka malusog. If you can't tell, I can because I've been gaining a little bit weight.”

“Is someone threatening you?” Tanong ni Klent.

I looked at him with confusion and asked, “What are you talking about?”

“I thought those guys in the mall were bothering you again,” sabi ni Klent.

I rolled my eyes and said, “As if… hindi naman ako natatakot sa kanila. Tsaka hindi ko naman makakalimutan ang mukha ng leader nila.”

“Did the other guy bothered you again? That one guy who was dying to talk to you,” tanong ni Yuan.

I shrugged and said, “He wouldn’t dare because I threatened him first.”

“What have you been up too lately?” Tanong ni Michiaki.

“I was preparing for my vacation,” masayang sabi ko.

“What vacation?” Tanong ulit ni Michiaki.

Ngumiti si Alver at sinabing, “Ah, it might be the reason why you were so busy these last few days. Where are we going?”

I smiled back and said, “It’s not ‘we’ but ‘me’ because I’m going on vacation.”

“You would never,” hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Alver.

“Why didn’t you answer Michiaki’s call kanina?” Tanong ni Kris.

“I was driving,” I simply said, “look, I know this is all sudden and I get it why you’re asking me a lot of questions but I always wanted to go on vacation. Just for once, I want to be alone.”

Okay, that was a lie.

“Why would you want to go alone?” Michiaki asked.

I kept it cool so they won’t notice that I’m lying and said, “My grandparents promised to bring me to two of my favorite places in the world. But now that they’re gone without taking me to any of those places, I still wanted to go even if I go there alone. I think I owe it to my grandparents.”

“So narito ka upang sabihin sa amin na aalis kang mag-isa?” Dismayadong tanong ni Jhin.

“Paano kung hindi kami pumayag?” Tanong ni JL.

“I’m not a kid anymore. I’m here to tell you about it and not to ask a permission,” sabi ko.

“Ano na naman ba ang pumasok sa isip mo, Xyrica?” Tanong ni Warren.

“What’s wrong with having adventures on my own?” Nagtatakang tanong ko sa kanila.

“I hope you’re not lying,” sabi ni Allen.

“Is there another reason kung bakit ako aalis?” Tanong ko at tinignan siyang mabuti.

“Walang aalis, Xyrica Dela Vega. Hindi ka aalis at lalong hindi ka namin papayagan. We’ll make it sure na hindi ka mapapahamak,” sabi ni Michiaki.

I rolled my eyes then said, “Bakit ba sa tingin ninyo ay mapapahamak ako? Don’t be a hero, Michiaki

kasi hindi bagay sa iyo. And I’m not a robot so you can’t control me.”

“Xyrica naman… it’s not that we’re controling you, we just want you safe. Sana maintindihan mo,” sabi ni Yuan.

I smiled and said, “Okay.

Since you’ll not agree with me

having

my

vacation, let me give you two options. Do you want to hear it?”

“Spill it,” sabi ni Kris.

I inhaled deeply. Preparing myself for what will happen and not losing my cool at the same time then said, “Your first option is that you’ll let me have my vacation and in return, I’ll come back. You will see me and I will let you talk to me. While your second option is… if you keep on disagreeing with me, aalis pa rin ako at hindi na ako babalik. Take note, I’ll make sure na hindi na kayo makakatanggap ng kahit na anong balita tungkol sa akin.”

“Hey, you can’t do that!” Sabi ni Michiaki.

 I crossed my arms then said, “Now, choose.”

I can see it in their faces how frustrated they are and I love it. Wala na kasi akong ibang paraan na naisip para pumayag sila. How am I suppose to begin my mission if they keep dragging me away from my plan?

“Ang hirap naman niyan,” sabi ni Alver.

“I’ve been nice to you but you leave me no choice so it’s now or never,” sabi ko.

“If you’ll excuse us for a moment… pag-uusapan muna namin para makapag-isip kami ng desisyon,” sabi ni Michiaki at pinasama ang iba sa kanya papuntang kusina.

Mahigit limang minuto akong naghintay sa kanila bago sila bumalik dito sa sala. Nagkatinginan silang lahat at parang nag-uusap gamit ang mga mata nila tapos tumingin sa akin.

“Okay.

Pumapayag na kami,” sabi ni Michiaki.

“But we want you to promise us a couple of things,” sabi ni Yuan.

I raised my eyebrow then said, “What is it?”

They’re so ma-drama. Kung minsan nga tinatanong ko sa sarili ko kung lalaki ba talaga sila? It's was supposed to be me being Snow White and them being the dwarves but I think we’re the opposites.

“Promise us that you’ll call us everyday,” sabi ni Klent.

“Make sure you’ll eat and sleep well,” sabi ni JL.

“Make sure boys won’t flirt with you. Punch any guy who’s flirting with you,” sabi ni Alver.

“I don’t think I can do that because I don’t want to go to jail,” natatawang sabi ko.

“Make sure your shoes are clean,” sabi ni Yuan.

I rolled my eyes after hearing what Yuan said. Pinapasa niya na sa akin ang hilig niya and what do I expect from Yuan other than shoes.

“Call us when you need us,” sabi ni Warren.

“Always take care of yourself,” sabi ni Kris.

“Make yourself happy because we won’t be there to make you happy,” sabi ni Allen.

“Don’t let any people leave a single scar on you,” sabi ni Jhin.

Tinignan ko si Michiaki at hinintay siya sa gusto niyang sabihin.

“Sure na ba talagang hindi mo kami isasama?” Tanong niya.

I looked at him and said, “I’m dead serious, Michiaki. You know that I am.”

Michiaki sighed. Looking helpless then said, “Okay then, I want you to take care of your health.

Call us if you need us. Be alert at baka nasa likod mo lang ang kalaban mo.”

“Why are you so obsess about enemies? I know maraming naiingit sa akin dahil sa title ko pero isa lang naman nagtangkang saktan ako tapos hindi pa natuloy,” sabi ko.

“Just do what I say kasi ikaw lang mag-isa ang aalis,” sabi ni Michiaki.

I just nodded then said, “It’s settle then. Aalis na ako mamaya and don’t even think on following me or else.”

Tatayo na sana ako pero hinawakan ako ni Yuan sa braso tapos pinaupo ulit.

“Wait lang. Huwag ka munang umalis,” sabi ni Yuan tapos umalis.

Umalis din si Jhin, Michiaki, Alver at Warren. Umakyat ang iba para pumasok samga kwarto nila. Ano na naman ang gagawin ng mga lalaking ito?

“What are they up?” Tanong ko.

“I honestly don’t know,” inosenteng sagot ni Klent.