Threats

Jennifer.

Friday's my favorite day of the week. I was walking along the hallway when I felt eyes staring at me.

Why are they staring at me?

"Good morning, Jen," biglang may kabuteng sumulpot. Ang lapad pa ng nguti niya.

I sighed. "Good morning."

"Come on, hatid na kita sa room ny-" I immediately cut his words off.

"Renz, wala ka nang obligasyon sakin, kaya pwede ba-" natigil ako nang hawakan niya ako sa kamay. "What's your problem?"

"Ikaw. Ikaw ang problema ko. The deal's over but I'm not done with you," lumapit siya sa akin. Sobrang lapit. "I told you already, I want to be with you, Jen."

Syempre ako, tameme. Ang tigas talaga ng ulo nya kahit kailan.

"Kaya tara, ihahatid kita sa classroom niyo whether you like it or not," giit niya.

Naglakad kami sa kahabaan ng hallway nang walang imikan. He's inches away from me, hinayaan niya lang ako. He puts his hands in his pockets. Nang makarating kami sa classroom, nakatayo lang siya habang hinihintay akong pumasok.

"You can go now," I said but only got him staring at me. "Stop doing that."

"Do you hate me?" seryoso niyang tanong.

"Go," irap ko. Papasok na sana ako nang magsalita siya.

"Yung deal lang ang natapos. Sana naman walang deadline ang pagkakaibigan natin, Jen."

I hate him!

I heard shoutings from the restroom kaya't nagpunta ako kaagad.

"Damn it, bitch! Kahit kailan ka talaga! Agawin ba naman ang boyfriend ko?"

"Hindi ko siya inaagaw, wala akong ginagawa, you stupid cunt!" sinabunutan niya rin yung isa pabalik.

"Wala pa! Leche!"

I heard a loud slap saka ko nakita na lumabas ng restroom iyong leader ng cheering squad kasama ang mga alagad niya. Nagtitigan kami pero umiwas din siya kaagad. I was right, judging from the hair, nagsabunutan nga sila.

So if she's here, then Jiemie must be in there. Pumasok ako sa loob at nakita si Jiemie na inaayos ang sarili. Her hair looks bombarded.

"Jiemie."

She's crying. Namamaga ang mga mata niya kakaiyak. "J-Jen? Jen. Huhu!" niyakap nya ako agad.

"Anong problema?"

"S-Si Lyn kasi, inagaw ko raw ang boyfriend nya. Inagaw ko raw si Kyn mula sa kanya!" iyak nya.

"I didn't know he has a girlfriend," pagtataka ko.

"How could you not know that? Ano ba yan, Jen!" tinampal niya ako.

But I don't even know his gf's name.

"Punasan mo yang luha mo. Baka mapansin nila," binigyan ko siya ng panyo.

"S-Salamat."

"Go back to your room, Jiemie. You can also go to the clinic and rest," suhestyun ko.

"Hindi na. Papasok pa rin ako, Jen," lumabas kami ng restroom.

"But you look terrible."

"Jen naman, e! Thank you sa panyo, I'll return it tomorrow," aniya.

And all of this is happening because of my brother... again.

"Jen, do me a favor and don't tell anyone about this, especially Jehna."

"Okay."

Pumasok ako sa room. Bakit ganito? Bakit nakakaramdam nako ng lungkot?

Jiemie.

I fixed myself before returning to class. My eyes are still wet but I managed to drizzle it with water.

"Emotera, umiyak ka ba?" bungad ni Al sakin.

"I didn't," saka ko siya dinaanan. I slumped my face on my desk.

"*Yawns* Ang sarap ng dota ko. Good morning sa inyo," bati ni Niel sa amin kaya't binati namin siya pabalik. "Anyare kay Jiemie?"

"Let her be, Niel. May period ata," Al responds.

"Girls," iling nila.

-Fast Forward-

Pumunta ako ng canteen nang matanggap ang text ni Jehna kaso may bruhang sumulpot at nagparinig ng kung ano-ano. Not that I care.

"Hoy malandi! Ang lakas mo rin makakapit sa boyfriend ko ha!"

"Nagdedelusyon ka na naman dyan! Hindi naman ako kagaya mo na isang LYNta!" asik ko saka umalis.

Nagpunta akong canteen at nadatnan ang iba sa mesa.

"What took you so long?" tanong ni Jester.

"Sorry. Umorder na ba kayo?" naupo ako sa tabi ni Jester na ikinagulat niya.

"I'll order something for you," ani Jen.

"Don't bother, Jen. I'm full, thank you," ngiti ko.

Napatingin ako kay Renz na nakatingin lang kay Jen. Did something happen?

"That's the same thing you said to me when you didn't want to see Kyn here," Mike joked which made everyone go silent.

"Michael Jan Estrella, get out of the table," Jen demands, glaring at him.

He raised his hands, surrendering and decided to shut his mouth. "I'm just stating facts."

Umalis si Kyn at pumila para sakin. Napabuntong kaming lahat kaya't sinundan ko siya nang makita ko si Lyn, papalapit sa kanya. Kumapit siya rito... LYNta talaga.

"Hi, baby," she kissed him on his lips.

Hindi nako nagulat, mas nagulat pa ata si Kyn. Mukhang hindi pa siya sanay na hinahalikan nang Lyn na yan in public.

"What are you doing here, Lyn? We need to talk," galit niyang hinila si Lyn paalis.

"Yeah, sure. But can you loose your grip, baby?"

Nakatingin lang ako habang paalis sila. Grabe ang hawak ni Kyn sa kamay nya, sobrang higpit.

"Let's follow them," she whispered.

Nilingon ko ang nagsalita at nakita si Jen. "Teka, Jen. It's their personal problem not ours, wag na tayong mangialam." Nilamigan nya lang ako ng tingin.

"He's my brother and you're his ex. Hindi ka ba curious?"

"C-Curious."

"Then let's go," saka niya ako hinila.

When Jennifer says it, you need to do it. Wala kang magagawa kundi sundin ang gusto niya. Napadpad kami sa court. Nagtago lang kami sa gilid upang makinig. Para kaming chismosa dahil sa ginagawa namin. Nakasandal lang si Jen sa pader habang nakayuko ako. Baka kasi makita ni Kyn ang buhok ko.

"Hindi nya ba tayo mahuhuli?"

"If you won't stop talking, baka nga mahuli tayo," malamig niyang sagot.

"Ano ba, Lyn! Wag ka ngang gumawa ng eksena in public. You're embarassing me for fuck sake!" asik niya.

"Kyn naman, girlfriend mo ako! Are you not happy na hinahalikan kita in public? I am the queen bee in this campus!" sumbat nya pabalik. "I own the campus. I own the title. Therefore, I own you."

"Now she's being delusional," nailing si Jen at bumulong. "I technically own this."

"Lyn, can you stop? Tapos na ang pagpapanggap natin kaya pwede ba, huwag ka nang makipag-flirt sakin."

Pagpapanggap? Is that what he's trying to say to me before?

"We are pretending for 5 months already, Kyn, and I've loved you for real, baby. Please pagbigyan mo ako. I love you," mangiyak ngiyak nyang sabi.

I can't bear to see this side of Lyn. Masyado siyang desperada. Naaalala ko lang ang sarili ko sa kanya.

"I'm sorry but this is the end," Kyn condescended, leaving her with no other choice.

"Sorry? Bakit, Kyn? Do you like someone else? Yung impaktang Jiemie na naman ba, ang walang kwenta mong ex?" matigas niyang sambit.

Bakit ako nadamay! Susugurin ko na sana si Lyn pero pinigilan ako ni Jen. Umiling siya at sinenyasan ako na makinig.

"Sit," she gestures her hand.

Natigilan ako nang marinig ang sagot ni Kyn. "Hindi. I don't like Jiemie," he replied.

He didn't even stutter. Tumulo bigla ang mga nangingilid kong luha sa mata. Ayokong umiyak, ayokong umiyak!

"Jen, aalis muna ako. May naiwan ako sa classroom," palusot ko.

Jen noticed and nods. Yumuko ako upang hindi makita ni Jen ang luha ko. Gago! Walang hiya. Naniwala ako. Akala ko pwede na ulit. Nagtiwala ako kay Kyn pero ang tanga-tanga ko sa part na yun.

Ang tanga mo pa rin, Jiemie.

Jennifer.

"Hindi. I don't like Jiemie..." Kuya sighed. "I love her so damn much, Lyn. I still fucking love her."

I can't describe her reaction but one thing's for sure, she'll make him pay for the damages he's done. Pero alam ko naman na walang pakealam si kuya. He knows who he wants. This is also the reason why I don't like asking about his personal issues.

Kuya is selfish.

"You don't mean that," she gritted her teeth.

"I'm sorry, Lyn. But I'm tired of making this stupid show for you. I shouldn't have believed you when you badmouthed my girl."

Lyn smirks, crossing her arms. She glared at my kuya in anger. "But you did believe me, Kyn. I bet doubtful ka rin sa relationship niyo noon," she chuckles. "You're gonna pay for this. I'll do every means to bring you down! Watch me tear everyone in your circle apart, Kyn."

She didn't even shed a tear. Now this is Lynicole Perez's darkness.

"It's me you want. Don't you dare touch Jiemie or else-"

"Or else what?" she raised a brow.

"Ako ang makakalaban mo!"

"What a rusty line. You better find a good one," she scoffed. She touched the tip of Kyn's chin, stared at his brown eyes, and kissed him. "Better watch your back, baby."

Umalis si Lyn ng court. Hindi nakapagsalita si kuya kaya't lumabas nako nang mawala si Lyn sa paningin namin.

"Kuya..." I called pero nagulat lang siya.

"Kanina ka pa?"

"Maybe," I sat beside him. "Do you still love Jiemie?"

"I do."

"I have to tell you something," tumingin siya sakin. "When I first met Jiemie, she was crying because of you. I didn't know she was your ex-girlfriend tho."

"Saan mo siya unang nakilala?"

"Mike's party," I replied. "I saw her at a bench, and she cried again because of you, kuya. She cried again when Lyn came to her and slapped her in the ladies' restroom. And a while ago she cried again because she heard that you didn't like her and walked away."

His eyes widen in shock and quickly stand up pero hinila ko siya pabalik. "You came with her? Where is she? Bitiwan mo ako, Jen!"

"I'm telling you this because you always make her cry, kuya! Hindi na ako natutuwa. You're fucking selfish even though you know what you want, you know who you want, but you didn't make a fucking move. Either way, Jiemie will lost her feelings for you and that's a good thing."

Lumukot ang noo niya. "What are you talking about? Are you saying-"

"Stop giving her mixed signals. Kung alam mo lang, sa tuwing nagkikita kayo ay hindi niya magawang ngumiti dahil sayo. I know that you know what I mean, kuya. You saw her cried a million times pero wala kang ginawa kundi panoorin siyang umiyak."

"You don't know what you're talking about, bunso."

"I know everything, kuya. I can read people very well. And you're an open book. Jiemie is an open book trying to close her pages for you but she just can't," tumayo ako at tinapik si kuya. "Let her go."

"I love her, Jen. You don't know how I feel, you've never been in love," he insists.

"And now you know exactly why," I smirked. "Look at you. You still don't know what to do."

"Lyn's going to hurt, Jiemie! At hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko kung may mangyaring masama sa kanya!" hinawi niya ang kamay ko.

"I'll make sure she won't do anything to her. In exchanged, you let her go," giit ko.

He needs to move on and let Jiemie go! They're both stuck in the past that doesn't exist anymore.

He didn't respond. Tumayo siya at umalis ng court. Nagbell na for next subject pero naupo lang ako sa bench. I called him where he's hiding.

"Come out, please."

"How did you know that I'm here?" pagtataka niya.

"It doesn't matter. Bakit mo kami sinundan?"

"You disappeared from my sight, Jennifer. So I looked for you," he coldly said. He was standing inches from me, staring at my eyes. "What you said to Kyn, I know you didn't mean it. You just want him to decide on his own."

"You don't know that, Yver."

"But I know you. You lie but your eyes don't."

--