———

Nagmamadali ang lakad ni Judge, kumaliwa siya sa isang kanto, kumanan, kumaliwa ulit. Dumaan siya sa makitid na daan. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay madilim na dahil wala ng street light at masyadong malayo ang pinakamalapit na poste. Imposible nang masinagan ng kahit onting ilaw.

Still, he remained calm and continued walking.

Suddenly, he regretted his decision of smashing his phone. He could've use it as his flashlight or perhaps call someone for help.

Well, it didn't matter. He's not scared anyway.

Marami na siyang napagdaan sa buhay. Ngayong araw, nawalan siya ng career. He even almost died. Ano pang ikinatatakot niya?

He won't be frightened by simple dark place. Never.

He's fearless— "Shit!"

Napatalon si Judge sa gulat nang gumalaw sa bandang gilid niya. Dahan-dahan siyang tumingin doon.

"Pusa lang pala," he sighed in relief as he saw its head swivelled slightly to look up at his direction.

A black big kitten in a middle of the night, really?

Slowly, the kitten crawled towards him and gently poked its fury head to his feet momentarily stare at him asking to pet her.

Judge sighed and carefully bent down to pet the little fury gal.

Is it even a girl?

"Where's your home? Baka hinahanap ka na." The kitten licked his hands in return. It didn't look stray to him. Malinis ito at hindi mabaho.

Tumayo siya at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad, ngunit ilang sandali ay napahinto siya.

May sumusunod sa kanya. He thought.

Kanina pa niya iyon napapansin. Simula pa noong pagliko niya sa makipot at madilim na eskinita. He felt the foot steps from behind. It's quiet almost seamless if you're not that observant to notice.

Naging maingat si Judge, habang mas lalong padilim ng padilim ang paligid ay binilisan niya ang paglalakad. Nang makakita siya ng eskinita ay agad siyang lumiko roon at nagtago para abangan ito.

When Judge got the chance, he grabbed him by his collar and slammed him on the wall.

"Bakit mo ako sinusundan?" Kalmado ngunit nakaamba na ang nanginginig niyang kamao sa anumang posibleng mangyari.

Nagpupumiglas ito.

"S-sino ka? Why are you following—"

Tuluyan itong nakawala at sinuntok siya. Napaatras si Judge dahil sa suntok, ngunit nang muling humarap siya para gumanti ng sapak ay nasilaw siya ng flashlight na nakatutok sa kaniya.

"Judge?"

Ang boses na iyon ay galing sa hindi kalayuang parte ng kalsada.

"Lala?"

Agad na lumapit ito sa kanila.

Holding a flashlight, hair tied in a loose bun, average height and with the help of a bit of light he could see the worry and fret on her already wrinkled face.

"Judge, anong ginagawa mo— Jeru?"

Doon napatingin si Judge sa lalaking na sa harapan niya. Nakahilig ito sa pader at inis na nakatingin sa kaniya.

"What the.... Fuck?"

Wait, haven't he heard that voice before?

"Jusko! Ano bang ginagawa niyo?"

Red dyed hair, pierces and creased eyebrows. He was the guy from the hospital. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa paa nitong may leg brace pa.

"He was f-following me."

"Ano, si Jeru? He works at RORO. He's a part timer."

Pinagpagan ng lalaki ang sarili at naunang naglakad papunta sa loob ng RORO.

Hindi nagtagal ay pumasok na rin sila sa loob. Lala as what Lola Millie insisted Judge to call her, she owned a small pub— RORO. It's been there for almost a decade and since then it became her living... and also became a safe haven for him.

Brick walls, high-ceilinged, wooden and small interior making it more intimate. It evoked a homey-space vibe.

Umupo si Judge sa wooden high chair.

"Naku namang bata ka! Ano bang nangyari sa'yo bakit ang dami mong pasa?"

Lumapit si Lola Millie sa kaniya na ngayon ay may hawak ng ice pack.

He didn't answer her, instead he tried to divert her attention. "What's with the books? Gagawin mo na ba 'tong café ang pub?"

He pointed out as he noticed shelves packed with books. But he doubt that, he clearly smelled cider and beer a while ago. At napatingin siya sa bar counter, na roon si Jeru at nagpupunas ng baso. Judge saw alley of alcoholic beverages such as beer, gin, whisky and more.

"Ah the books. No, no, naisip kasi namin to enhance the whole place."

At the lower corner just near the bar counter, there's the book shelves, sofas, tables, chairs and lamps with mellow music creates a relaxing atmosphere.

"Instead of a messy ordinary pub, we made RORO as a more laidback alternative. We offer relaxation, good food, quality drinks, comforting ambience. Feels like home, right?" Lola Millie explained.

"Maganda ba? Naisip 'to lahat ni Jeru. He's a gem."

Judge nodded. "I see, it changed a lot. It's good."

"Oo, you changed too. When was the last time you visited a barber shop?" Puna nito sa buhok niyang ilang cetimetro na lang ay aabot sa balikat niya. "Kamukha mo na si Vaness Wu."

When lola Milie says Vaness Wu, it only meant you're handsome.

He chuckled.

"Where have you been? Isang taon ka ring hindi nakabisita rito."

"Diyan lang."

Lola Millie's lips twisted. "Diyan lang—Jusko!" She scorned. Halatang hindi kinagat ang palusot niya.

"Kumain na lang tayo. Jeru sumabay ka na."

"Hindi na Lala—"

"Naku! Masamang tanggihan ang grasiya."

Hindi na nakatanggi si Jeru at umupo sa tabi niya habang si Lola Millie ay na sa harapan nila.

"Jeru anong nangyari sa paa mo?"

Judge looked at Jeru's leg cast. Damn. It's pretty bad. Namamaga pa ito, halatang hinampas ng kung anong matigas na bagay.

"Nadapa lang," walang pag-aalinlangan na sagot ni Jeru.

"Palusot," Judge whispered as he shook his head.

Tumango-tango si Lola Millie, mukhang hindi narinig ang ginawang pagbulong niya. Sa halip ay tumingin si Lola Millie kay Judge at tinanong siya nito ng parehong tanong ng kay Jeru.

"Ikaw Judge bakit ang dami mong pasa?"

Tumikhim si Judge.

"N-nadapa rin La."

Sa puntong iyon si Jeru naman ang umiling.

"Lame," Jeru whispered, just enough for him to hear.

Gamit ang ang kaliwang paa sinipa ni Judge ang paang may cast ni Jeru. Napangiwi si Jeru at ginantihan din siya ng sipa. Tumigil lang sila nang magsalita na si Lola Millie.

"You two must knew each other?"

Kapwa silang dalawang napangiwi. Lola Millie must've assumed that they knew each other since she caught them about to kill each other not that long.

Si Judge na ang sumagot. "Kinda."

Tumango si Jeru bilang tugon.

"Classmates? Sa bagay magkasing edad lang kayo ni Jeru," she said about to devour a spoonful of sisig with rice. "St. Augustus si Jeru, doon ka rin ba Judge?"

Hindi siya nakapagsalita.

Actually, he didn't enroll this sem. Naisip kasi niyang magfocus sa training ngunit mapupunta rin pala sa wala ang lahat. Since he quitted already.

"W-well I'm—"

Damn. Lying wasn't his forte.

Kinabahan siya ng binaba ni Lola Millie ang mga kubyertos niya. Tumitig ito sa kaniya parang naninimbang.

"Hindi ka na pumapasok?"

It was a rhetorical question. This old lady clearly knew what's up.

He nervously chuckled. "Babalik din naman ako Lala. May inaayos lang—"

He was cut off when she grabbed his ears and pinched it hard.

"Aray La! Ang sakit!" Sigaw niya sa bigla.

"Masasaktan ka talaga sa akin. Bakit hindi ka na nag-aaral? Bakit hindi ka man lang pinigilan ni Arturo?"

"Kung dito ka titira sa puder ko, Judge. Mag-aaral ka. Sasamahan kita bukas, mag-eenroll ka."

Hinimas niya ang tengang sigurado siyang namumula ngayon. "Sinabi ko bang dito ako titira?"

"At saan ka naman titirang bata ka? Kabisado na kita. Alam kong wala ka ng mapupuntahan kaya nandito ka ngayon."

"Exactly Lala, I have no where to go. Hindi ka ba naaawa sa akin?"

Dinuro siya ni Lola Millie. "Don't guilt trip me Judge— Jusko! Pupunta tayong St. Agustus bukas."

She was the final say. Judge couldn't do anything.

Pagkabukas na pagkabukas. He was awakened by the loud thuds banging on the door. Groggily, he opened the door.

"Maligo ka na raw sabi ni Lala."

It was Jeru, already in his uniform. Gray slacks and white polo with a weird patch on its lower chest.

"Ang aga pa," sabi niya habang humihikab pa.

"Lala ang aga pa daw!" Sigaw ni Jeru at umalis roon.

Agad pumalit kay Jeru si Lola Millie at binatukan siya. Napaaray si Judge at napilitang maligo at magbihis. Sabay silang pumasok sa skwelahan.

Huge, white cemented concrete buildings, spacious field, great gym. This school's pretty decent, except the uniforms— ang panget.

Napatingin siya kay Jeru na complete uniform. Jeru then gave Judge a 'fuck you' when he caught him glancing.

"This is Judge my grandchild."

Na sa loob sila ng principal's office. Kapwa silang nakaupo sa harapan ni Mister Lewis Boulez. He's the principal. Surprisingly he's not bald. Infact, he's quite muscular, tall with a lot of facial hair.

Mister boulez smiled," actually, pwede na siyang pumasok ngayon."

And a lot of teeth too.

"Thank you for considering. Kahit wala pang mga credentials. May boy badly wanted to go to school. He's diligent."

Lola Millie glared at him, " 'di ba Judge?"

Lumabas na sila roon. The sky was a bit gloomy today. It looked like the rain will pour soon. Lola Millie headed straight to the gate, already under her huge black umbrella.

"Hoy Judge, saan ka pupunta aber?" Tanong nito nang mapansing nakasunod lang siya.

He smiled wickedly. "Bukas na ako papasok!"

After that he rushed out and immediately find the nearest bus stop. When he found it, he ran fast to catch the bus. Unfortunately, he didn't make it.

Napaupo si Judge sa waiting shed at napatingin sa harapan kung saan na roon ang pedestrian. There was a little girl crossing, probably 7 years old, pig tails and pink out fit. Agad siyang napatayo nang muntik itong masagasaan ng isang kotse.

Why do parents leave their children crossing the road all by themselves?

With worry on his face he walked towards the little gal, who was slumped to the the ground, with trembling knees and quivering in fear.

Judge squat. "Hey," he said gently as he held her tiny face. She was crying probably in fret.

"Shush... It's okay. Stop crying."

Kinarga niya ito at tumayo para umalis doon, but he felt something weird.

He couldn't move.

He tried.

He tried again, but still no signs of motion. It's as if he's stuck— literally stuck in the middle of a busy road.

"Judge!"

There's a voice.

Lumingon siya kung saan nanggaling ang boses ngunit wala siyang nakitang tao.

"Judge!"

There's it. Again.

He tried to find the voice but there's no people around the area, only vehicles— damn. When Judge looked in front, huge, dangerous and frightening 10 wheeler truck in full speed was approaching him. Straight.

This is bad.

###