Thirteenth - Taken

“WOW! HINDI KO ALAM NA MAY JOWA NA PALA AKO??”

I glared on Marcus who just frown on me. I cleared my throat and then gasped!

Well, as for you to know, this Marcus just told someone over the phone that I am his girlfriend when we're in the coffee shop awhile ago. We both are now in my apartment unit 'cause Marcus asked me to bring him somewhere private and the only place I know private is this. May tiwala naman ako sakaniya kahit papaano.

“Ganito kasi 'yon,” He sigh.

“Ano?!” I widened my eyes to him and crossed my arms.

Just make sure that it's an acceptable reason because if not? I would surely punch him in his face! Pag may nag chismis saaking may boyfriend na ako at nakarating sa parents ko ay isusumpa ko talaga ang lalaking ito.

“Someone called me, right? That's the girl you see kanina, I know na tinignan mo siya,”

I held my grip. Edi wow.

“She's my ex-girlfriend,”

“Nag ka' girlfriend ka pala?” I smirked.

He casually nodded “But she's a friend now of me although she still keep ln pushing for a comeback. Tapos kahapon na nakita niya akong kasama ka, she asked me who you are—”

“Bat girlfriend sinabi mo?!”

“Cause that's the only option I could say—”

“Hindi option ang friends?! My gosh, Marcus!”

“She won't believe that 'cause—”

“Bakit, lahat ba ng mag kasamang babae at lalaki ay couple?!”

“Of course not. It was just like—”

“Ayun naman pala eh!”

“Could you please let me finish first?!” He asked with his tone hugging by infuriate.

I smiled widely to hid the somewhat shame in my face! Sorry na.

“Kung sinabi ko sa kaniyang mag kaibigan tayo, she would surely going to ruin us inside that coffee shop! Sa gwapo kong ito? Patay na patay 'yon saakin kaya kung alam niyang kaibigan lang kita, papasok 'yun sa coffee shop kanina at didikit dikit saakin,” he breath heavily like his problem is too freaking heavy!

“Wow! Grabe! Ang bigat ng problema, ah?” I uttered sarcastically and rolled my eyes.

“Dapat nga ay matuwa ka. See, you become my girlfriend in sudden. You're lucky in that way, you know?” He grinned on me while I rolled my eyes.

“Eww,”

Days come and were just fine. We heard that the first court trial for the Judge's case and also the Congressman would start today. I was eager to see what would happen in the more upcoming trials. The only thing that I am looking forward for now is all people who is connected to this crime would be expose. That's all that is needed. This is the real justice.

“Xheidan!” I called him as I saw him entering the elevator going down the ground floor. I was rapidly running dahil pasarado na ang pintuan. Gladly that Xheidan blocked it to opened again.

He pressed his lips together na parang labag pa sa loob ang ginawa. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Wala naman akong sinabing gawin niya iyon. Kusang loob 'yon, uy.

“GOOD MORNING!” I said as I finally get inside. The smiled in my lips were couldn't vanish as uphold on his growl. Hindi parin nabubura sa isip ko ang ginawa niyang pag bati pabalik saakin last time and so now, I was anticipating him to greet back.

I looked at him. So he's going to the university in this kind of hour? I looked at his face. Napaka gwapo talaga kahit nakasimangot, never wonder why a lot in the campus are admiring him despite of his attitude. Ako lang ata ang nakakatiis dito.

“Stop staring,” He uttered without looking at me.

I remembered. He's the first ever person I knew in the University. The first moment I saw him was when in the registrar and I almost bumped on him, he just quickly moved away.

I rolled my eyes. It's barely his fault, bakit ba kasi ganiyan ang hitsura niya?

“Have you watched news?” I asked when we're already outside. I'm trying hard to get along with his huge steps. Like, his two steps were thrice on mine. Tangkad kasi.

We reached the outside and I keep on following him. I don't even know where he was going cause we're heading the opposite direction on where I am taking the ride of public jeepneys.

“Saan tayo?” I asked but he didn't answered. Wow, parang mag isa lang siya.

With hesitation but the urge to follow him is still bigger, I followed him although he's not answering me since we're in the elevator. Sooner, I wouldn't be surprised if someone accused him as being deaf 'cause look at that. Dahil sa sobrang ka-rude-an, nag mumukha nang binge.

I bumped on Xheidan's back when he stopped. I glared at him while massaging my forehead. Ang tigas ng likod amp.

“Why the hell did you followed me?!” He looked at me with his brows knitted.

I looked around. We're standing inside a waiting shed. I looked at him confusedly.

“Dito ka nag hihintay ng sasakyan?” I asked innocently.

As I knew, ang mga dumadaang sasakyan rito ay private vehicles. Sus, Xheidan.

He rolled his eyes on me.

“May period ka?”

“What?” he snarled with brows went align.

“May period ka?” I repeated.

He rolled his eyes as an answer.

Sus.

Napatahimik ako nang may humintong itim na sasakyan sa harapan namin. I sideways my glance to Xheidan when he walk towards it and hopped in. Did he just booked a grab? But is there any grab van for a single person?

My eyes widened when Xheidan closed the door infront of my face!

What the heck! Is he gonna leave me here?!

My lips fell apart as the car started to head it's way out of my sight. I don't know what to feel. Napayuko nalamang ako ako wala sa sariling napaupo sa upuan sa loob ng shed kung nasaan ako. In sudden, I glanced in my watch. Hindi naman siguro ako malalate kung dito ako mag hihintay.

I sigh. I followed him till here but he just left me. Don't he even consider me as a friend? Now that I'm expecting him na isabay ako, but just to inform me that he have a ride going to the university, I'm already fine with that. I even know that he knew I'm following him, yet he didn't even bothered to stop me.

I bit my lower lip and leave my seat. Siguro ay babalik nalamang ako roon. That's the place where I was riding public jeepneys unlike here na kaonti na ang dumadaan, puri private pa.

I was already in my way going to the terminal I used to go to when the same van Xheidan get in stopped infront of me. I was stunned and confused that I suddenly stucked in my place and just look at the van.

My brows were just knitted while looking at the van. I don't know what it was doing infront of me. Malay ko bang kidnapper 'to?

The window in the back seat opened and I saw Xheidan inside. When he saw me, he immediately rolled his eyes.

“Get in,” He uttered and pressed his lips together.

With confusion, I didn't hopped in immediately! He'll leave me alone in this shed and then he'll going to asked me to get inside this van? Is he fine?

“Get in!” He said irritatedly that made me open the one door and rapidly get inside the van!

Bakit ba siya sumisigaw?

I was quiet the entire ride, sitting at the corner with eyes are outside the window and Xheidan at the other corner sitting finely. Nang makarating kami sa harap ng university ay nag pasalamat nalang ako sa driver and just get out from the car.

I closed my eyes and so as pressed my lips. Ayos na 'yon, at least naka libre ako ng pamasahe.

When Xheidan get off from the van, I immediately followed him while he's not even paying any bit of glance to me. Bakit ba ako sunod ng sunod?

“Anong first class mo?” I asked when I reached him.

I saw him clenched his jaw.

“Next time, h'wag ka nang susunod sa akin,” He said before walking away from me. I just pursed my lips and shrug.

Ewan ko sayo.

The while day went fine not until dismissal, I received a call from Marcus asking me for a meet up. Rolling my eyes, I replied.

“Busy ako,” I replied with brows furrowed. I am now currently heading my way going to the terminal. Hindi naman talaga ako busy, eh. I just used that as an excuse cause I was too lazy today. Malay ko rin ba kung ano ang trip niya sa araw na ito.

“Anong gagawin mo?” he asked. Persisted talaga siya.

“Marami akong assignments na gagawin,”

“I'll help you as exchange,”

My shoulder fell off.

“Bakit ba?” I frown and scratched at the back of my head.

“Where are you?”

“Bakit muna?”

“I'll tell you kapag kasama na kita,”

I scowled. May magagawa pa ba ako? As far as I could know, he already knew where I was living and if I go home now, for sure Marcus would just embrace the time to went on my apartment. Why do I even brought him there? That's so stupid decision. Sana na nga lang ay may assignments talaga ako para sakaniya ko ipapagawa. Mukha naman siyang matalino para naman hindi useless ang pang iistorbo niya saakin.

“Hey,”

I looked at the car stopped infront of me. Napatingin pa ako sa paligid ko dahil pinag tinginan ako ng mga kasamahan ko sa terminal. First time ninyo makakita ng kotse?

Rolling my eyes, I get inside Marcus's car.

“Oh? Sa'n tayo?” I asked him as I seated in the front seat.

Sabi niya kanina ay sa waiting shed malapit sa supermarket kami mag kita which is just near at the terminal but then he fetch me precisely in the terminal. I don't know if he's sick or what.

“Pwede favor?”

“Ano?!” I rolled my eyes. Labag 'to sa loob ko, ha!

“Hindi kasi siya naniniwala na girlfriend kita—”

“Kasi hindi naman totoo! Duh,” I babbled.

I looked around his car. For four seats lang siya unlike on the van I rode with Xheidan this morning.

Marcus bit his lower lip and glared at me. Wow, parang kasalanan ko pa.

“Ano ba 'yon?” I asked.

“Makikipag kita tayo sa kaniya today. Act like my girlfriend infront of her. Gano'n,” He said.

“I'm not an actress,” I gulped.

“Sige na..” he plead, I even saw him pursed his lips.

I rolled my eyes.

“Bwiset ka. Make sure na hindi ako mapapahamak dahil lagot ka talaga saakin,” I warned and just decided to pull out my phone and watch some news, saktong may update tungkol sa trial.

“Aye, aye!”

“Look,” I showed him the headline if the news.

“Today is the hearing of Judge Quelloz's case,”

I nodded.

I was kinda interested to know what's happening in the hearing today. I also have read and article about the appeal of Martinez family and so other families wanted to have a justice. Mabuti iyon, all I feel right now is nothing but a pleasure. They all deserve that. Hindi na ako makapag hintay na malamang nakulong na ang mga nararapat na makulong.

“Anong gagawin ko?” I asked Marcus as he asked me to stay outside the restaurant while we're looking at the girl inside sitting way afar from us. She's the same girl I saw yesterday.

“Ako mauuna tapos susunod ka. Tapos mag papakilala ka na girlfriend ko, okay?” He told me.

“Ang hirap naman!” I complained and frown on him.

“Please? I would treat everything you want for the whole week,”

I scowled and looked away. Hindi ko nga alam kung ano ang ginagawa ni Marcus sa buhay niya eh. He looked like way older than us but not too much, I bet he's already college but older than Crizeliah. Ewan ko ba, hindi ko naman siya tinatanong.

Later on, Marcus just really left me alone outside the restaurant. Kabilin-bilinan niya saakin ay pumasok ako bigla kapag sinusubukan na siyang kausapin nung Alyse (That's what I remember) and then I'll introduce na daw. Tss, I never knew that I would became an actress in this kind of sudden.

I pressed my lips together. The girl just start talking to Marcus. In my will being oblige, I head my way going to their table. I don't even know kung ano ang gagawin ko kapag nandoon na ako. Basta I would act like Marcus's girlfriend, just that? Do I have to act jealous 'cause he's with other? Ganoon kasi ang napapanood ko sa mga kdramas. I don't know! Bahala na!

“BABY!”

Marcus immediately looked at me with a shock in his eyes because of my loud call. Napatingin rin saakin iyong babae at agad na kumunot ang noo. In that sudden, I felt a bunch of shame in my entire system realizing how much people looked at me because of my loud call.

Shit, shit, shit. Marcus this is your fault.

“Baby, who is she?!” I put my hands in the both sides of my waist and raised my brows to Alyse. Ignoring the other's eyes on me and just silently hoping that my acting wasn't look so terrible!

Alyse looked at me confusedly before glancing at Marcus who's now closing his eyes like pinag sisisihan niya na ini-hire niya ako as fake girlfriend niya!

“Akala ko ba ako lang!”

Damn! I want to fucking laugh to myself!

“Asth..” pinanlakihan niya ako ng mata.

“Are you cheating on me?!” I secretly winked on him. He just breathed.

“Hey—”

“Why are you with my boyfriend!” I immediately cut Alyse off.

PWEDE NA TALAGA AKO SA STAR HUNT!

“Oh.. s-sorry,” She bite her lower lip while keep on glancing to Marcus who I know already has an headache! Bahala siya diyan..“I thought... I'm sorry..” she immediately left her seat and walk away!

With widened eyes, I followed Alyse's figure going out from the restaurant. Napamaang ako.

“Asthreittle...”

My eyes widened more as Marcus looked at me with sharped eyes and red face! Parang any time he would blow a fire to me!

“Sorry na! Hindi ba ayos acting ko?” I scratched at the back of my head.

“ASTHREITTLE!!!”

I run away immediately!

It's his fault! Basta ililibre niya parin ako buong linggo! Close the deal!

***

If the document's content already has exposed in the media and the authorities were already worked with it, why is there still no new update as of the moment?

I took a chip beside me and chew it while scrolling down the website although wala naman akong napapala. Just a blank page. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay sa website na naito umiikot ang utak ko. Think of freaking it, my ass would woke up early just to check this damn butty website. Parang mas pinoproblema ko pa 'to kaysa sa finance na pinag hihirapan ng classmates ko—although I don't even have any idea what this site would bring to me. Gagawin ba akong milyonaryo nito?

“Hay..”

I grabbed a bar of chocolate at the plastic above my table. Minsan ay natatawa nalang ako sa mga dinadalang pagkain ni Marcus dito sa apartment ko. I thought when he don't like the way I did that day ay hindi na siya tutupad, but he still did. So heto ako, hayahay sa mga pagkain na dinala niya. I don't even have any idea of what happened to Alyse after that day, Marcus wasn't mentioning anything related on it.

I was in my way for my last class which is the math class when I felt my phone vibrated from my pocket.

My eyes immediately widened up when the website notified me! Hindi ko alam but it just suddenly made me stiffed in the floor where I was while reading the context. Sumilip ako sa relo ko saka ako napa daing sa irita!

Blue Dark Skies VIP room no. 201

Bakit kailangang iiwan ang envelope sa lugar na ito?! As far as I know, this place is a huge bar, not open 24/7 and just opening in its vital time and precise date! Tulad ngayon, sa araw lang na ito bukas yon and this hour!

I immediately took my seat as I entered the classroom with my face all distorted by frustration. Just thinking that the document is left in that place already making me shiver! Malay ko kung sino ang makakakuha no'n? What if it was taken by someone connected with the syndicate?

“Put..”

Mabilis kong hinanap ang pinanggalingan ng papel na tumama sa mukha ko. I thought the website is the only thing that would gave me irritation but seeing Crizeliah smiling whole widely to me from her seat made me groan again. Ano na naman ba.

Masama ang loob kong pinulot ang papel na ibinato niya. I was basically thinking what's in it. A piece of shit or what? Whatever.

We have to leave now. Throw this to Xheidan.

I frown at her from afar. She just shrugged and wave her hand signing me to throw the paper to Xheidan pero masyado akong mabait para gawin yon. In that case, I just stand and put it above his table without any hesitance.

Hindi ko na nainitindihan ang mga sunod na nangyari. All I could knew is that we just left the classroom with ourselves. Damn, takot ko lang na ma detention office kami bigla.

“Are you guys serious?!”

I frown in the both of them as we're already outside the classroom. We have already cut math class once but I never expect this would become twice!

“Mukha ba akong nag jo-joke?” Crizeliah asked habang nag mamadaling naglalakad. Ako naman ay patuloy lamang sa pag sunod sakanila. Even Xheidan who I never expect to be fine with this Crizeliah's plan was walking along with her!

“Xheidan, diba grade conscious ka?” I asked him as I reach his back.

“Yes, but this is exciting..” I saw him grinning.

What the heck, is he serious?

In the end, we just literary left our math class and at this moment, it's the second time! I know that this thing we're dealing on, were seriously a kind of interesting still, we couldn't just left off our studies! I'm not being somewhat studious at this moment, ha? But just receiving a message from one of our classmate saying that our math prof gave a surprise quiz made me feel so torn! I just hope that one quiz won't affect too much in my grades.

“Let's go,” Marcus uttered.

With a totally irritation distorted my expression, I entered Marcus's car and so what Crizeliah and Xheidan did. Sa sobrang badtrip ko ay hindi ko napansing tumabi saakin si Xheidan sa back seat.

“You fine?”

I glanced at Xheidan who speak beside me. I frown once again. Kahit badtrip ako ay hindi ko napigilan ang mapangisi ng maliit dahil doon. Why is he even asking me? Nagsawa na ba siya sa puros pag irap at pag tataray saakin at naisipan niyang mag bagumbuhay?

“Bakit ka nag tatanong? Concern ka sa'kin?”

Ano ba 'yan. Seriously? Bad trip ako but Xheidan is really a distraction! Parang gusto ko nalang tuloy na inisin siya kaysa isipin na badtrip ako dahil sa quiz na mamimissed ko.

“Tss..”

“Tss,” I mocked him.

Marcus was already driving the car heading the obviously place where we are going. Tahimik lang siya habang nag hu-hum ng music.

“Sino ang kukuha sa loob? It's not applicable is we all will go inside,” Marcus asked.

“Two outside, securing the door. Two inside, taking the documents,” Crizeliah said.

I was just silently listening to them. As we arrived in the bar, we didn't get in immediately dahil exclusive ang lahat ng pumapasok. Gladly that Marcus knew someone in the management so he managed to hooked us inside the bar.

“No,”

We all looked at Marcus who is facing his phone.

“Two authorities were already inside. Let's go the footage room,”

“Wait, what? How did you know?” Crizeliah asked with her brows knitted.

I glanced at Xheidan who's just silently listening as so as what I am doing. I don't usually expecting Xheidan to speak between the conversation when the topic is about the plan, but this time, he seems to urged to get in the discourse.

“No. We'll go inside the VIP room and take the documents,”

My brows knitted as of puzzlement.

“The authorities are already the—”

“There's no one there,” Xheidan uttered seriously.

“You can't be sure,” Marcus answered firmly.

Shit! Dapat kasi ay hindi kami sumusugod basta basta! Where's our plan? There is no even plan because the plan we made up before wasn't even used in anything! That's why I'm always opposing things in uphold, walang mapapala if we'll always act like this way!

“The update in website is just almost 15 minutes ago and the nearest headquarters here is almost miles away. Tell me, you think they get teleported that fast inside?”

I bit my lower lip. Xheidan has a point. As we were in the car, Marcus have driven it faster than usual and if the authorities have knew the place the same time as us, they couldn't get in there earlier as of the reason of afar location.

“You think the investigators holding this website is always staying in their headquarters?” Marcus shot to Xheidan.

Wait. Are they fighting?

Xheidan remained silent for awhile with his eyes all fixed up in Marcus's figure infront of me while Crizeliah was just silently contemplating every single words that the two man were saying.

Kahit ako, if they weren't sure what to do, hindi ako pupunta. This is already 50/50. Half of Marcus and half of Xheidan's. Hindi ko naman gustong pumunta doon without any assurance because if something happens, hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. I never imagine myself being in trouble just because of some bullshit, just like this.

“You can't be sure,” Xheidan used Marcus's words againts Marcus.

“Stop it. You both were just consuming too much of our time. Two in the footage room, two in the VIP room. Now, move.” Crizeliah declared.

****

“Fucktard, how can we enter that?” I asked Xheidan.

As of the moment, me and Xheidan head the way going to the VIP room while Marcus and Crizeliah went to the footage room. I am now being rooted at the floor where we're at glancing to the room. I'm afraid. Seriously afraid. What if there is a police inside and they caught us? We would be in surely trouble! I just don't understand why they arevall pushing this. Nakakairita.

“Using the door,”

I rolled my eyes. Kung kanina ay bad-trip na ako, ngayon ay mas tumindi iyon. Parang mas nangunguna na ang kabadtripan sa sistema ko kesa sa pag iisip kung paano siya inisin cause this time, I'm the one who's pissed off. Xheidan who I know is so duper fucking studious would left his math class just for this document? It's below on my expectation on him, I thought he won't choose something else moreover his classes.

“It's obviously locked. Ikaw nalang kaya? Dito nalang ako mag hihintay?”

Xheidan glared at me. If this moment was just in other scene in my life, I could probably feel so pleasure to see another expression in Xheidan's face but this time, it made me feel so torn. Parang kapag iniwanan ko siya rito ay  bigla niya nalang ako ihahagis sa kung saan!

“Sumama pa..” I heared him murmur

Yeah right. Who even asked to me be with Xheidan by the way? Bakit ba hindi sila mapag lapit ni Crizeliah although they look fine naman na these days—or maybe not cause I'm not focusing on then whenever they're talking or whatever but Crizeliah must be the one heading the VIP room right now dahil alam kong hapit na makakuha ng document ang babaeng iyon. Or maybe she's playing safe? Maybe, 'cause choosing the footage room together with Marcus is the safest idea to do.

Speaking of them, ano na kaya ang ganap sakanila?

“Nasaan na kayo?” I asked over the same ear device we have used last time. The time when we gone in the creepy The Dangerous Theatre! The creeps in that place is still barely in my spines!

“It's locked. The footage room,” Crizeliah answered me “But Marcus is trying to open it,”

I faced my palm.

I was just silently hoping that Marcus didn't use a pin to open that.

“Gotcha,”

I looked at Xheidan who's now holding a little piece of shit—I mean a piece of paper pala which I have no idea where he got.

“What's that?”

“A card,” He answered and then immediately leave the place where we were hiding and it made me almost choke! Damn it Xheidan, there's a lot of cameras here, moron! Lalong gusto ko nalang tuloy mahimatay nang hindi niya manlang ako hintayin! Bwisit.

With no any other choice ahead, I left that area with hesitance. I got closer on Xheidan quick and as of just a blink of eye, Xheidan opened the locked door! How was that possible? May future na siya bilang trespasser!

“Fuck,” I heared Marcus cursed in the line altogether with a clicked of a door.

“Hey, what happened?” Nag aalala kong tanong.

We got inside, I immediately roam myself around. It's just a typical room with a huge sofa and wide table in the center, a bar in the corner and stalls, obviously for a VIP room bar. So where did they put the documents?

Nang mapansin kong hindi ko makita si Xheidan ay agad akong nag ikot. There are other two doors, probably for a bedroom and a restroom.

“Xheidan..” I called him as I saw him inside the bedroom infront of the table holding a piece of envelope. Hindi ko napigilan ang pag ngiti ng malaki!

“I got this,” He uttered. I saw him grin.

I was on my pace celebrating while looking at the envelope in Xheidan's hands but I widened my eyes realizing something!

“Why did you touched it!”

Mabilis akong lumapit sakaniya. Freak, if his fingerprint would left in the envelope, baka siya lang ang pag hinalaang nag iwan nun doon.

“Your fingerprints are already there! Xheidan naman..” I immediately took it from him with a towel on my hands.

“It's given,”

“Ano?!” I glared at him. Isn't he even thinking?! What if a syndicate steal this and his fingerprints would be found? He'll be in a surely trouble!

Xheidan pressed his lips as reply. Lumapit siya saakin.

“Ano?” I asked when he's already an inch away from me. Damn, Xheidan. What's up with you?!

“We have to leave. Now,” He uttered and without any word, he took my wrist and pull me outside the room.

I already want to celebrate a new thing and act that I unlocked in Xheidan. A new thing he made for me and I badly wanted to feel the butterflies inside my stomach just thinking that he was holding my wrist. But I can't.

“They were there...”

'Cause when we got outside the bedroom, a two cops man is already infront of us which gave me an immediate shivers and made me trembled my knees. Parang naestatwa ako sa kinatatayuan ko while Xheidan is just beside me holding my wrist. Hindi ko na naramdaman na kinuhs nung lalaki sa kamay ko ang envelope.

“Thank you for taking this for us,”