CHAPTER 7

TYRANNY'S P.O.V.

After she arrived from somewhere, she changed. I don't know what happened 'cause she always refuse to answer. I also asked Zero to talk with her but he can't also talk with her. I tried to encourage her. She lose herself and also the organization, she can't handle it. To maintain our positions, I managed it all.

"Tyranny, itong mga damit san ilalagay?", Quinine asked.

"Siguro diyan na lang sa mga karton", I answered and focus on my laptop.

I am currently having a conversation to some church who adopts kids. Some of them were located in the Visayas and Mindanao region that's why its hard for me to talk to them all. All of them need some help but honestly, I can't do this. I am just desperate... trying hard to survive and maintain our positions to the organizations.

"We're here!", Yore shouted.

I turned my face to them. Finally, they're here.

Thanks, God they accept our invitation.

"Kalat ah" reklamo ni Vise "makalat talaga ang mga babae" 

I saw how Quinine rolled her eyes to Wry. 

"Wag na kayong dumaldal. Tumulong na lang kayo", Swiss said while packing some clothes.

"Oo nga, tumulong tayo" Wry said and go near Swiss "diba, love?" he added.

She didn't hear any response from Swiss, so he decided to continue what he's doing. He also packed some clothes. Seconds after, I found themselves on the floor while helping us in packing the clothes.

"Nasaan si Urea?", Zero asked me.

He look so tired. His eyes looks so sad and maybe he also lose his weights. He still have his masculine body but it was different from before.

"I don't know. Maybe she's wasting her time or doing something stupid like she did before", I answered.

Zero gave me his what-do-you-mean look. 

"She also lose herself before when we were studying in junior high. She was quiet, looks like an angel, a weirdo, and she don't know how to speak with other people. She only started to change when she heared a news about an old man who died because someone stab his heart while he was in the forest. Actually, the crime scene was near to Urea's place. We have the doubt that maybe she killed him but, she know nothing. After that, she started to talk with us and she became one of my friends" I said.

Zero was quietly yet serious while listening to me.

"Pero bakit siya nagbago? Bakit ayaw niya na ako kausapin? May ginawa ba ako?", he asked me.

He looks like a child asking if he can have something he wants.

"I don't know. Hindi ko rin alam bat bigla siyang nagbago. If only I knew, Zero", I answered.

Natahimik kami matapos ang pag-uusap na yun. Miski ang mga kasamahan namin ay tahimik narin. Nakikiramdam kung sinong unang magsasalita.

"But wait" Cupola said and turned her face around... seeking for someone "hindi niyo kasama si Dupe?"

Napalingon kaming lahat sa paligid at hinanap si Dupe. He's missing. Miski anino niya ay hindi man lang namin nakita.

"Hindi mo siya sinama, Rosin?", Yore asked Rosin.

"Sinama ko siya. We also ride on my car hanggang sa makarating tayo dito", Rosin answered.

"Eh nasaan na si-"

"HELPPPP!!!"

Yore cutted his words when we heared someone calling for help. 

Zero and I faced each other.

"Is that-"

"Sh*t!", after he said that word, he immediately run to that voice.

I know her name. It's her. 

"UREA!!", Zero called her.

She was lying on the floor and looks unconscious.

Zero comes near her and lifted her.

He immediately go outside with her.

Susundan ko na sana sila nang makaaninag ako ng tao sa gilid. He was hiding. Lahat ng kasama ko ay sumunod sa kanila kaya ako ang naiwan. I get my gun and point it to him.

"Dupe?", tawag ko sa kanya nang makalabas siya sa pinagtataguan niya.

I didn't expect that it's him.

He gave me a weak smile and stand in front of me.

"Why are you here? Bakit nandito rin si Urea kanina? Did you hurt her!?", I asked while still pointing my gun to him.

"I didn't hurt her... I will never", he answered.

"Eh bakit nandito ka? Paano ka napunta dito?", I asked again.

"I was with Rosin when I heared someone... crying. I thought that was a child but its not. I saw Urea... she's crying here. I was trying to approach her but she was screaming until she lose her consciousness" he explained "I swear to God, I didn't do anything" 

He's a good guy and I know it. I know that he will never hurt Urea. I don't know what's happening but maybe I need to wait for Urea's explanation before I accused him.

I put my gun down.

"Sasama ka ba?", tanong ko sa kanya.

I will go to the hospital. He didn't answer so I started to walk.

"Pinagsisisihan ko ang araw na yun" I stopped and listen to what he say "Tell her, please... I'm really sorry... Kung malakas lang sana ako para iligtas siya, kung malaki lang sana ako para protektahan siya, kung... kung hindi lang sana ako naging duwag... baka nailigtas ko siya" 

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?", I asked him.

Nginitian niya lang ako atyaka siya naglakad papalayo sakin.

"Dupe! ano ba!?", I shouted but he never turned his back again.

Anong ibig niyang sabihin? Ibig sabihin ba no'n matagal na silang may koneksyon ni Urea? Pero paano mangyayari yun? Hindi nga siya kilala ni Urea eh.

"There you are" its Yore "Sabi na nga ba ay naiwan ka dito"

Sabi niya habang nakatingin parin ako sa direksyon na dinaanan ni Dupe kanina.

Sino ba talaga siya?

"Hey, Tyranny?" I faced him when he grab my hands "Naririnig mo ba ako?" he asked.

"A-Ahh... o-oo", sagot ko sa kanya.

"Okay ka lang? Para kang may sakit dahil sa putla ng mukha mo", mungkahi nito.

"No... I'm fine... maybe dahil lang to sa pagod", I answered.

"Okay. Tara na. We'll go to the hospital", yaya niya atyaka niya ako hinila papasok sa kotse niya.

Tahimik lang kami habang nagda-drive siya ng kotse niya. He never start to talk again when we enter his car. Good thing dahil kanina ko pa iniisip ang mga sinabi ni Dupe. Sino ba siya sa buhay ni Urea? 

Suddenly, an idea comes to my mind.

"Yore", I call him.

"Hmm?", he respond.

"Kailan nabuo ang Ace's?", tanong ko sa kanya.

"Why do you want to know?", tanong niya pabalik.

"We started to build our organization when we entered Senior High. We took the same strand", umpisa ko.

I want to know something about Dupe but I need to be careful.

"Well, we started when we were in our 10th grade. We're all came from the same school except Dupe. As you can see, parang ilang kaming lahat sa kanya. I don't know kung bakit. He joined Ace's when he was in his first year in senior high... At first, we didn't accept him but he made a deal. Zero needs to fight with Dupe. If nanalo si Zero, he will never disturb us again but if he won, we need to accept him to the group. He encouraged Zero to fight with him, and the result? Obviously, he won. Imagine? Zero? Ang ginagalang ng lahat ay napatumba ng isang Dupe. Hahhahaha. That's fun-", I cutted him.

"Saan nanggaling si Dupe?", I finally asked.

"Well, galing siya sa paampunan. Kinuha siya ng DSWD noong 9 years old pa lang siya. Namatay ang nanay niya... ayyy hindi... pinatay ng tatay niya ang nanay niya. Kaya binubully siya ng mga kaklase niya. Well? Miski ako... iisipin kong mamamatay tao din siya. It runs in their blood", paliwanag niya.

"Did he kill someone?", tanong ko sa kanya.

"Ahhh... no", he answered.

"Do not accuse someone if it is not true and you don't have some evidence", sabi ko sa kanya.

He glares at me.

"Do you like him?", he asked.

Buang din 'to.

"Zero felt jealous towards him and Urea... do not let me feel that way, Tyranny", he said and continued driving