Warning: read at your own risk.
^TW// death, murder

Kabanata 12

"Commitment, gaga ka talaga times ten."

Binigyan ko lang siya ng isang ngisi sabay kibit ng aking balikat.

Umiling-iling si Franny at dinugtungan ang sinabi niya. "Ayaw mo ba ayusan kita? Okay ka na riyan?"

Nakasuot ako ng simpling crop top shirt at pantalon lang. May nakasabit saakin na sign board na may nakalagay na 'commitment'.

Marami naman talagang takot sa commitment.

I simply shook my head. Okay na ako sa ganito dahil hindi rin naman ako sobrang invested pagdating sa mga parties. I heard that next year, we will be the ones to organized the party since we are from the TVL track. Hindi ko lang alam kung saan na subject pero magiging requirement 'yata ito kaya naman sinilip ko kung paano nila ito ginagawa.

Kanina ko pa ginagala ang mga mata ko pero wala akong makita ni anino ni Adren. Ngumuso ako dahil balak ko pa naman siyang asarin ngayong gabi.

I mean, what's a halloween party without the prince of darkness himself? Isang ngiti pa lang niya, pamatay na!

Ngumiwi si Franny. "Bakit may naglalakad na kalabasa?"

Tinuro niya ang isang babae na naka-kalabasa na costume. Hardcore.

I saw Zafirah wearing an angel costume and honestly I find her really pretty. Tiningnan ko tuloy ang mga costume ng mga kasama ko.

Franny was wearing a Supermario costume. Inayos niya ang cap niya at nagtaas ng kilay. Suzette was Jessica Rabbit for tonight and Camisha was a white lady.

Suzy was able to dressed like that because she was wearing a different costume when she went in. Hindi ko alam kung paano siya tatakas kapag may nakakita sa kanyang teacher o SSG.

Hagikgikan lang ni Suzy at Camisha ang halos nagpapaingay ng paligid namin. Malayo kami sa main stage kung kaya't hindi masyadong dinudumog ang lugar kung nasaan kami. The flash of red and black lights were really blinding, kaya naman lumayo kami.

Suzette sighed. "Akin ka na lang, Sarathiel."

Nakatanaw siya sa isang lalaki na simple lang din ang costume. Halos nga isa lang ang props niya, meron lang siyang suot na horns. May kausap itong mga lalaki at nagtatawanan sila. Infairness, gwapo nga pero mukhang masungit.

Humalakhak si Franny. "Magi sis! Matalino 'yan, baka madismaya siya sa'yo puro kaharutan lang nasa utak mo."

Tumawa rin ako. "Akala ko ba kay Gio ka lang kakalampag?"

Ngumuso si Suzy. "Di naman namamansin 'yon e! Tamang ngiti ngiti lang, naka-ilang wave na ako sa messenger, feeling ko nga makakagawa na ako ng dagat sa sobrang dami ng wave na ginawa ko!"

She animatedly created a wave using her body. Her curves were in the right places. Agad naman siyang lumayo sa akin at tumawa.

"Si Iscalade rin!" Hagikgik ni Camisha. "Crush ko si Iscalade."

Iscalade was a familiar name. Isa siguro sa mga social butterfly sa STEM dahil madalas ko marinig ang pangalan. Hindi dahil sa masamang damo kung hindi dahil marami siyang kakilala. Tatakbo 'yatang mayor.

Franny rolled his eyes. "Crush ka ba?"

Siniko ni Suzy si Fran. "Sus, Franny. Crush mo lang si Camisha kaya ayaw mong may crush na iba e."

Umaktong nasusuka si Franny. "Kung kayo lang din, no thanks na lang."

"Wala pa crush ko." Bumuntong hininga ako at muling ginala ang aking paningin.

Nang hindi ko talaga siya mahagilap ay nag-tipa ako sa aking cellphone para kamustahin siya.

I mean, I think we're close? Binigay ko kay Mama 'yung five thousand na binigay niya sa akin at sabi ko na may dadalhan ako ng pagkain araw-araw magmula no'n.

Arrisea:

Hi! Halloween party ngayon, saan ka?

Napakagat ako ng ibabang labi ko. I don't know if he'll reply back. Pero sana naman ay sumagot siya.

A few minutes later, my phone vibrated and I saw a reply from him.

Adren:

Why?

Hanimal talaga, Adren. Hindi ko mapigilan ang ngiti ko.

Arrisea:

Akala ko kasi nandito ka saktong-sakto ka para sa event.
Madali akong matakot sa'yo.
Madali akong matakot na baka mawala ka saakin. <3

Franny snatched my phone. Umawang ang labi ko dahil sa biglaan niyang pagkuha rito. He was reading my text and he immediately rolled his eyes as he gave it back.

"Gabing-gabi na, umaariba pa rin ang kalandian mo babaita ka."

I stick my tongue out. Tiningnan ko na lang muli ang screen dahil baka nag-reply si Adren.

Adren:

Enjoy the event, Arri. :)

Ngumuso naman ako dahil mukhang wala siya rito. This will be boring then. Gusto ko lang naman siyang ma-solo ngayon.

Kinuha ni Suzette ang cellphone ko at binasa ang mga texts. Tawang-tawa si Suzy habang nagtitipa ng reply. Agad naman ako umangal.

"Wala ba kayong cellphone? Bakit niyo ba inaagaw 'yung sa akin!"

Binalik ito ni Suzy na may ngisi sa labi. Binasa ko kaagad 'yung sinagot niya kay Adren.

Arrisea:

Si Gio na lang lalandiin ko tutal wala ka naman.

"Baliw ka!"

Hinampas ko si Suzy na malakas ang tawa. Franny and Camisha joined in and my face was flushed.

Pero ewan ko dahil gusto ko malaman reaksyon ni Adren. Medyo umakyat ang antisipasyon sa puso ko. Normally, I'd hate someone for being possessive or controlling — but it's different when it's him.

Nagitla ako nang tumunog ang cellphone ko. He replied back. Sinilip ko ang sagot niya.

Adren:

Gio's not there.

Aren't you afraid you're flirting with a doppelganger? :)

Bigla akong kinilabutan. Kung hindi ko lang 'to crush, matagal ko na 'tong pina-albularyo o kaya pinatawas. Baka may ligaw na kaluluwa kasi sa katawan niya e.

Arrisea:

Literal na tinatakot mo talaga ako. Sige, salamat na lang sa lahat.

Adren:

Do you want us to meet?

"Hanimal!" Tumalon-talon ako sa sobrang kilig at inalog-alog ko si Franny.

"Ano na naman ba 'yan! Tinamaan ka na riyan ah," saad ni Franny. I ignored him and excitedly replied to Adren's text.

Arrisea:

It's a yes!

Adren:

Okay, see you in a bit.

Napatili ako nang wala sa oras. Kinurot ako ni Franny sa tagiliran. Napahawak tuloy ako sa bibig ko kaya naging impit ang tunog nito.

"Arrisea! Sino ba 'yan? Gayuma lang pala katapat mo!" Halakhak ni Franny.

"Sa lahat ng naging lalaki mo, Arri. Ngayon ka lang naging ganyan. Delikado 'yan sis, kapag ikaw 'yung mas hulog? Magi!" Umiling-iling si Suzy at pinag-krus pa ang dalawang kamay.

"Sino ba 'yan?" Camisha chimed in. "Nabihag na naman ni Arri?"

"Babe ko." Bungisngis ko sa kanila.

I waited for him for at least thirty minutes while my friends already went on their own ways since they all have other things to do. Naiwan ako sa Bonanza Area habang nililigpit na halos lahat ng mga booths para sa halloween. It was funny how UJD does these events for extra cash, kaya mahal tuition dito e.

Dumating naman si Adren at nakasuot ng high-end tailored suit, I know because it looks fancy. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan ang mag-laway sa kanya ngayon. He looks expensively dressed.

"Sorry, did you wait for too long?" Pambungad niya sa akin. He looks concern.

"Di naman." I smiled at him and cupped his face. "Ang pogi mo ngayon, saan ka galing?"

He looks surprised by my action but immediately smiled. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko na ginamit ko upang hawakan ang mukha niya para tanggalin. Arte talaga nito.

"Also a party."

"Gan'yan costume mo?"

Sumagot siya. "It's a formal party."

Lumabas na kami ng school at niyaya ko siyang kumain na lang sa labas. May nagaabang na kotse at driver para sa'min. Medyo nahiya naman ako. During the trip, he removed his suit. Tanging ang panloob na puting polo ang suot na lang n'ya.

"Where to?" tanong n'ya.

"Kahit saang fastfood na lang." I answered since I'm not really that hungry. Sulit kaya ang red tea at nachos kanina na pinapamigay nila sa mga booths!

He shrugged."Army Navy?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Fastfood ba 'yon? Tunog barilan."

He nodded his head. I was up for an adventure so I didn't protest. Bago kasi sa pandinig ko kaya gusto ko rin tikman.

We stopped at a resto where there's a sign that says Army Navy.

"Do you want to try their burritos or their burgers? Do you have anything in mind?"

Nanglalaki naman ang mga mata ko nang makita ang presyo ng mga pagkain kaya naman umiling ako.

"Tubig lang, healthy living ako." Napakapit ako kay Adren.

Jusko, the menu was similar to UJD's and it made me crawl back to my inner frugal self. Isang burger lang nila ay parang makakabili ka na ng isang bucket ng manok sa isa pang fastfood chain na alam ko.

He leans towards me."What?"

"Bakit ang mahal? Akala ko naman 'yung thirty niners lang 'yung presyo!"

"Hindi naman ikaw 'yung magbabayad..."

My eyes widened at him. "Kahit na. Mahal masyado."

He sighed and shook his head.

"Arri, hindi naman masasayang 'yung pera kasi kakainin naman natin." Mahinahon niyang sabi.

He's right so I just nodded at him. Umupo na lang ako nang taimtim at siya na lang pinag-desisyon ko kung anong kakainin namin.

I waited for him at the table and I played on his phone while he was ordering. Pinayagan naman niya ako na hiramin ang cellphone niya. I tried snooping around but every application has a password. Salamat na lang, Adren.

Bumalik siya na na dala 'yung pagkain. The food was wrapped in aluminum foil and it was neatly prepared. Dalawa ang ang inorder niya para sa'min.

"Ano 'tong isa?" tanong ko at tinuro 'yung parang pahaba.

"Burritos." Adren answered.

Binuksan ko 'yung isang mukhang burger. Well, it really was a burger.

"Hindi siya scam!" I said, upon noticing the burger was big just like in the picture.

Adren looks at me and he was stifling a laugh.

Kumagat ako at para bang bumukas ang langit. It was so good! Hindi ko maiwasan ang mapangiti. I really like food.

Totoo nga na hindi lugi sa presyo. Matapos kong maubos ang pagkain ay pinunasan ko ang ilang mantika sa gilid ng labi ko.

"Happy Halloween! Baka maging busy ako sa Undas pero huwag mo ako papalitan sa buhay mo ha!" I told him when I finished eating.

Adren was tapping his fingers on the table while looking outside the window. Mukhang malalim ang iniisip.

I can't help but notice how everytime I see his face, it's almost devoid of emotion. Parang ang hirap makakuha ng emosyon galing sa kanya. Sometimes, he even have odd thoughts which makes me think that he really does have something to hide.

Napatingin kaming dalawa sa mga batang naka-costume na kakagaling lang niya sa pag-trick or treat. Ang cute ng mga ito habang iniwan sila ng mga guardians nila na pumunta sa may cashier.

"Hindi ko 'yan naranasan, mga madamot kasi 'yung tindahan sa bahay e. Kahit mentos, ayaw mamigay." I told Adren while wiping my hands with a tissue. "Ikaw? Nakapag-trick or treat ka ba nung bata ka?"

"No and I'm glad I never did because I've watched a crime documentary before about kids being banned from trick or treating because of a certain case," he answered nonchalantly.

"Crime documentary? Parang SOCO?" my eyes widened. "Nanonood ka ng mga gano'n?"

He slowly nodded his head.

"Arrisea, do you know the candyman?"

"Hindi e. Artista ba 'yan? Idol mo?" tanong ko.

"It's a true story, wanna hear it?" his eyes were void of emotion, it was dark but I could see my reflection in it.

Napalunok ako ng sarili kong laway. Sasabak na naman ba ako sa mga riddles nitong si Adren? In the end, I decided just to go with it.

"Sure."

"It happened on October 31, 1974. A man accompanied his children to trick-or-treating." Panimula niya.

"They went to a house but the house didn't answer the call of the kids so the kids went off except for the man who stayed behind. The man later went to his kids and said that the house gave him five Pixy Stix. He gave it to his children and three other kids."

I can't sit still so I leaned forward. Kumuha ako ng tissue at nilagay ang ilan sa mga ito sa ilong ko at kunyari. Natigilan si Adren pero tumango lang ako sa kanya.

"Sige lang kahit dinudugo na ilong ko, mag-kwento ka lang."

He narrowed his eyes and laughs a little.

He continued."Before going to bed, his son wanted to eat some candy and choose the Pixy Stix his dad gave him."

"He told his dad it tasted bitter and his dad helped him take away the taste of it. Still, he started vomiting to the bathroom and his dad held him. His son died less than an hour after."

I felt pity. "That's so tragic. Kawawa naman siya at 'yung anak niya."

He looks at me and continued the story. "The police concluded that it was the Pixy Stix given by the house the man went to. So they searched for the remaining four, the parents of the fifth child panicked when they can't find the Pixy Stix. They found it on the hands of their child while he was asleep, it was unconsumed since the fifth child had a hard time opening the candy."

His story is like horror movie. Nakakakilabot na may mga alam siyang storya na ganito. Bakit ako puro mga vlogs lang na scripted ang alam ko? Kailangan ko na rin ba mag-search ng mga ganito?

"Ano bang meron sa Pixy Stix?" I asked, curiously.

He shrugged his shoulders and looked at me intently.

"It was laced with a fatal dosed of potassium cyanide and the candy wrapper was sealed with staples."

Tumango-tango naman ako dahil unti-unti ko nalalaman ang kwento niya. Someone put poison on the kid's candy on halloween. Kumulo ang ulo ko dahil sa napagtantuan.

"Ang sama naman nung mga nagbigay no'n! Kung ayaw nilang mamigay ng candy, sana di na lang sila nagbigay! They're so cruel!" Nanggagalaiti kong sabi.

His brows rosed. "Who said that the house owners were the ones who gave the candy?"

Natigilan ako at lumingon sa kanya. I can't see his expressions well. It was hard to see his real intentions.

"W-what? Well, the man or the dad got the candy from the house who initially didn't answer the kids right?"

He only smiled.

"Who said that the man wasn't lying?"

Umawang ang bibig ko at halos manginig ang kalamnan ko sa sinabi niya.

"Ibig sabihin..."

I don't even wanna know...

"He killed his own kid, Arri."

Ilang beses akong napakurap ang mga mata. "Bakit? What the..."

A parent would kill his own kid? Para saan? Hindi ko maintindihan. I can't see the reason for it. Walang magulang ang makagagawa nang masama sa anak niya — sa sarili niyang dugo at laman. That's what I know.

"You wanna know the reason?" he slouched on his chair, continously tapping on the table while looking at his own slender fingers thumping on the hard surface.

"Bakit?"

"Money." Adren continued tapping on the table, his sight on his own fingers."He applied insurance for his kids before that event. The police was able to see through him but he still denied the accusation."

Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig sa sinabi niya. A father would do that to his own child for money?

"What happened to him?"

"Lethal injection."

Medyo tumahimik ang paligid para sa'min. It felt cold all of the sudden. The dryness of the air from the aircon from this burger joint can't be compared to the coldness that the conversation gave us.

I decided to ask, para sa peace of mind ko.

"Gawa-gawa lang ba 'yan?"

Hindi ko masikmurang isipin na may magulang na papatay sa sarili niyang anak dahil sa pera. Sobrang sama naman 'yon at parang hindi makatao. Murder isn't even humane anymore, paano pa kaya kapag mismong anak mo na?

"I told you it's real..." mahinang sambit niya, hindi pa rin kasi ako makapaniwala.

"It's a true crime. I watched a documentary that tackled it," he says, nonchalantly. Tiningnan niya ako sa aking mga mata.

There's this abyss of darkness in his eyes that slowly pulls you inside of it. I cleared my throat as I also stared at with the same intensity.

"What will you do for money, Arri? Do you think money is more important than a person's life?"

"Of course not," sumagot ako sa kanya at mariin na umiling-iling. "It's always life over money. Ang pera ay napapalitan pero ang buhay? Hindi. Money is created by humans but life is given to us by Him. Nababawi ang pera pero ang buhay..."

I found it hard to continue because of how he was looking at me.

His eyes softened and for the first time, I saw another fragment of him tha he seems to hide from others.

"If you'll only stay with that kind of mindset, Arri. I think I'll like you," he gently murmured. My heart felt like it was exploding. Namula naman ako sa sinabi niya.

"Bakit naman? Lahat naman ng tao ay mas pipiliin ang buhay sa pera..."

"Not everyone," he smiled, a hint of sadness in the way his lips spread the smile on his face.

A flickered of sadness washed over me. Nakita ko kung paano lumutang ang kalungkutan kay Adren. He looked so vulnerable even if he was just sitting infront of me.

"This is the second time..." I told him as I realized something.

"Hmm?" he tried to feign innocence.

"Pangalawang beses na nag-kwento ka tungkol sa isang magulang at anak." I paused and look at him. "Your family is great, huh?"

The ghost of smile returned on his face. He nodded slowly.

"That's right," his voice was laced with poisonous rage. "My family is great."

❛ ━━━━━━･❪☽༓☾❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜