Intramurals came, and I was busier than ever. The art department was assigned to decorate the stage. Kahit na wala akong planong magparticipate sa kahit anong activities sa intrams, hindi ko naman pwedeng iwanan nalang ang mga classmates ko dito. Alam nilang may trabaho ako sa hapon, pero hindi ko naman pwedeng gawing rason iyon para hindi magpakita sa kanila.

I was trying my best, but I got really tired. Dahil closer ako, 5 pm to 2 am ang duty ko sa restaurant. I could only sleep for 3-4 hours before my first class. Pagkatapos pa ng lunch namin, kailangang dumiretso sa gym para sa decoration. I could see the contestants practicing for the Mr. and Ms. Intramurals. The other half of the gym, the volleyball competition is on-going. Halos hindi ako makapag-concentrate sa ingay, bukod pa sa kulang ang tulog ko.

"Czarina! Bakit kulay pula ang dahon na yan?!"

I almost jumped when I heard a shout behind me. I blinked, looking at what I've done. We are painting huge leaves for the backdrop and I painted it red! namula ako sa kahihiyan, lalo nan ang mapatingin ang ibang blockmates ko sa akin.

"S-Sorry. Papalitan ko nalang."

Our president murmured angrily under her breath before stalking out of the room. I sighed and pulled out a thick cardboard, before I started tracing a leaf based on the original design. I was squatting on the floor while the others are busy with their tasks. Rigor texted me earlier that he was tapped to do the background too, even though he's already a graduate. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung saan room siya nagtatrabaho ngayon. We've occupied three lecture rooms beside the gym para mas madali lang ang paglilipat ng props at backdrop para sa intramurals.

I was the last one to left the classroom. Tinapos ko talaga ang namali kong pinturahan kahit na sobrang hapdi ng mga mata ko. I passed by the ladies room and went into the short hallway that leads to the gym.

"Czarina!"

Napalingon ako sa pamilyar na boses. Shantel came bouncing at me, smiling widely. Napapadalas ang pagkikita naming dalawa, but I don't mind it. She's actually fun to be with.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito? Contestant ka rin ba para sa Miss Intramurals?"

My eyes widened at her accusation. Agad akong umiling. "Hindi, no! Kami ang magde-decorate sa stage,"

"I see." She placed both hands on my shoulders and quickly spun me around. I got dizzy with what she said. Excited niyang itinuro ang babaeng nagpa-practice rumampa sa stage kasama ng iba pang mga contestant. "Look! That's my twin sister. She's so pretty, no?" proud niyang wika.

"...Stormie?" I was hesitant.

"Yes! I'm so glad she joined the Miss Intramurals. It's not really her thing, but I know she'll do great. Si Stormie pa!"

I got confused for a moment. There are rumors everywhere in the campus that Shantel is dating Elton, but every time I see the two of them, they look like they want to skin each other alive. And I've seen how Elton look at Stormie... he looks as if he's writing a tragical romance inside his head with her as the character.

"May tanong ako," wika ko na nakatingin pa rin kay Stormie. She really is pretty, but she looked awkward with the other contestants. The political science students are trying to cheer her up, but to no avail.

"Ano yun?"

"Are you dating Elton?"

"What? Ew!" her face contorted into a disgusted look. Nangunot tuloy ang noo kong binalingan siya.

"So... hindi?"

"I'm not dating that brute." She shivered. "Over my dead, sexy body."

I remained silent, waiting for her explanation. She sighed and dropped her arms to the side.

"I'm just trying to protect my sister. Who knows what's going on in the head of that guy? I don't trust a Treveron-" she looked at me suddenly, and her eyes widened. "I mean, all of the Treverons except Rigor. I think he's a good guy."

"So, umaarte ka lang?" I asked, ignoring her remarks about the Treverons.

"Oo." She flipped her hair elegantly. "Ang galing ko, diba? I should be in the drama club. They're missing a star."

"You really don't like him?" pag-uulit ko. I've seen her talking to him, being active in social media and commenting on his posts... it just seemed unbelievable.

"Hindi nga! Hindi ko type ang lalaking yun. I don't even understand why my sister even likes him, not that I'm questioning her choices."

I stared at her. Alam ko namang marami akong problema sa buhay, pero sinalo ata ng babaeng 'to ang mga problema nung nagpaulan si Lord. I couldn't imagine that she's carrying such a burden when she's been defined on her bubbly, happy girl reputation both in and out of the campus.

"Anyways, I've got to go. Can you keep this a secret between the two of us?"

I nodded. Wala naman akong makukuha kung ipagkakalat ko ang nalaman ko at isa pa, mukhang mabuti naman ang intensyon niya.

"Thanks, see you!"

Kinabukasan, halos hindi na nagf-function nang maayos ang utak ko habang nagkaklase kami. I wanted to excuse myself from the production this afternoon but I know our president wouldn't let me. Napagdesisyunan ko nalang na magkape bago ako pumunta sa gym.

"Uhm, excuse me?"

Napalingon ako nang may kumalabit sa akin habang pumipila ako sa cafeteria. It's a tall guy. He's wearing an expensive-looking sweater and slacks. He's attractive, too. I wonder how he looks like without his eyeglasses?

"Nick, alis na tayo."

Mas lalo akong na-intriga nang makitang nagtatago sa likuran niya si Stormie. She looked so small next to him, so scared. I cocked an eyebrow as I eyed the two of them.

"I'm not leaving until I ask her!" the guy hissed at her, then turned to me.

"Anong gusto mong itanong sa akin?"

"W-Well..." he cleared his throat, then glanced nervously at Stormie who looks like she's about to have a nervous breakdown. "Are you really dating Rigor?"

"Dominick!"

My mouth hang open, but I didn't know what to say. I'm just as confused as them.

"Sorry, aalis na kami-"

"Yes, I'm dating him." I answered before they scramble away. Napapikit si Stormie at hinampas-hampas yung Nick.

"I told you!" she hissed under her breath.

"Bakit?"

"W-Wala po. Sorry! Sorry!" she quickly said and pushed her friend away. Hindi na ako nakapagtanong pa dahil mabilis silang nawala. I just shrugged it off and went to get my coffee.

I walked down the hallway silently with coffee in my hand when I felt an arm being wrapped around me.

"Hey,"

I frowned, looking at Thyron. He had this stupid, goofy smile on his face again and I know he's up to something again.

"What is it, Thyron? I'm busy." I said in a flat tone. Sinulyapan ko ang nanlalamig na kape, atat nang makarating sa room upang ma-enjoy ko na ito.

"May itatanong lang naman!" depensa kaagad niya. Hinigpitan niya ang hawak sa akin kaya mas lalong nangunot ang noo ko.

"If Rigor sees you-"

"Yeah, yeah. He'll kill me, I know." He rolled his eyes. "By the way, nakita mo ba si Sorcha?"

I sighed.

"Thyron-"

"Nagtataka lang ako na hindi ko siya madalas nakikita sa department nila." He licked his lower lip and looked very serious right now. "She's... still attending school, right?"

I nodded.

"And she's throwing a party, apparently." He said dryly. Nangunot ang noo ko ulit sa sinabi niya. Nagtinginan kaming dalawa na naguguluhan.

"Party?"

"Hindi ka niya inimbitahan?"

Hindi ako nakaimik. Sorcha hasn't contacted me for days again so I had no idea about the party.

Thyron cleared his throat. "She's throwing a party after the intramurals. Mukhang may business trip ata ang mga magulang niya."

"I see." I nodded, trying to hide the hurt in my face upon learning that my own best friend didn't invite me to her party. I noticed that she's been hanging out with a different circle now. Rich girls from the business department. Yung mga ka-level niya talaga. Maybe it's the reason why I don't hear from her these days?

"Yun lang naman ang pinunta ko dito," humiwalay na si Thyron sa akin. He gestured dramatically towards the door. Hindi ko namalayang nasa tapat na pala kami ng room ko. "Ge, kita nalang tayo." He nodded and walked down the hallway. I watched him disappeared from my vision of line before entering the room with my cold coffee.

The highlight for this year's intramurals was the Mr. and Ms. Intramurals. It was held on the last day and it started at 6 pm. We were all so busy and on-call at the backstage in case anything happens.

I thought I would enjoy the event but I didn't. The stage dancers were such a headache! Pati nasirang costume, sa amin pa ipinapagawa. In the end, I was stuck in the corner, fixing a broken zipper and a feather hat with a glue gun. Pasulyap-sulyap lang ako sa stage. Shantel and Elton graced the stage one last time in their winter fantasy costumes before the event started. Nagulat ako nang makita ang kapatid niya, si Stormie, na confident na naglalakad sa stage. She looked very different and unbearably beautiful with her angel costume. Nakalimutan ko ang ginagawa ko at halos lahat din kami dito sa backstage ay nakatunganga sa kaniya. We were silently cheering on her because it was very unexpected for someone like her to show up like that! Shantel was looking at her with a vibrant smile and looking so proud like a Mama. Napailing ako na nangingiti.

The show went on. When Stormie went backstage, almost everyone ran to her to cheer her up and some even congratulated her on advance. For someone with such an angelic face, she was very alluring on stage. But I doubt she'll win. The judges were whispering to each other while she walked, probably because of her costume that showed a lot of skin.

Sa kalagitnaan ng pageant ay lumabas ako ng backstage para magpahinga. I went to the vendo to get some water and stretched my legs on a cemented bench. It's almost 7 in the evening. Nakapagpaalam naman ako sa manager ko na hindi ako makakaduty ngayong gabi dahil sa intramurals. I guess I could go home and catch some sleep tonight.

Nang bumalik ako ay tapos na ang announcement ng winners. As I expected, Stormie nearly got disqualified. The winner was from the ST department. Nag-aalangan pa ako kung ic-congratulate ko siya kasi parang takot siya sa akin pagkatapos akong kulitin ng kaibigan niya noong isang araw.

I could tell she was uncomfortable with so many strange people surrounding her, but she did her best to smile at them and accept their compliments gracefully.

"Czarina, 'lika muna!" tawag sa akin ng president namin. I sighed and abandoned my plan to congratulate Stormie as I headed towards her.

Habang naglalakad ako ay bigla nalang may sumulpot na babaeng officer base sa maroon niyang shirt at tumakbo patungo kay Stormie. Out of curiosity, I glanced at them. She was shaking terribly. Nangunot ang noo ko.

"Si Zechariah! Si Zechariah... sa labas!"

All of a sudden, everyone was panicking. I could hear the noises and the scared voices as it scattered to the wind. Nawalan ng interes ang karamihan sa crowning at nagsilabasan ng gym. The production team did their best to contain them but in just a few minutes, they were all gone.

I followed the crowd outside and gasped when I saw a pool of blood in the road. Natigilan ako sa paglalakad. A lot of students were crying at the sight of it. The scent of blood became stronger, and I could feel myself throwing up. Nang balingan ko ang nakaratay na katawan ay nakita ko si Stormie. She was sprawled in the middle of the road, with blood staining her diamond bodysuit as she held the body with a crying face. It was a sharp contrast of reality. The blood and the diamonds. The dead and the living.

"Snap out of it, Czarina." I scolded myself when the image of my father, lying dead on the floor, surfaced to my mind. It was bloodless, but I could remember distinctly the foam in his mouth and the pale eyes. Pilit kong hinila ang sarili mula sa kanila at naglakad palayo.

"Shit!"

I looked up and saw Sorcha. We both looked terrified, mirroring each other. She was huffing and sweating. Takot na takot ang mga mata.

"Sorch...?" I called out when she just walked past me as if she didn't recognize me.

Dahan-dahan niya akong nilingon. Nanginginig din ang mga kamay niya. I quickly stepped towards her and grabbed her shoulders softly.

"Sorcha, ayos ka lang ba?"

"Is she... dead?" she whispered.

I blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Is the girl... is she dead?!"

"Sorch... calm down, please." She was shaking terribly so I hugged her. Nalilito pa rin ako sa inaakto niya but I just can't leave her alone like this. Sorcha is not afraid of anything, even butting heads with her rich parents so I was surprised to see her in this state.

Sorcha pressed her head against my shoulder blades and seconds later, I could feel the warm liquid seeping into my skin. Her entire body trembled, going in and out of shock, trying to keep her senses in consciousness.

"What happened?"

Umiling siya, pero umiiyak pa rin. I wonder if she knew the girl who just died? I know for sure she is someone important to Stormie, but to Sorcha? I don't think so.

The ambulance came and everyone were shunned away. The professors and faculty members finally came out of the campus to see what was happening. I saw Stormie being pulled away from the dead body. She was still screaming and crying in her blood-stained bodysuit.

"Tubig," inabutan ko ang kaibigan na ngayo'y medyo kumalma na. I twisted the cap for her. She weakly accepted it from my hand and drank a little. Tapos ay tinabi na niya.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded slowly.

"Anong nangyari?" pang-uusisa ko sa kaniya. My eyes kept being drawn to the red marks on the insides of her elbows. Sorcha has a pale complexion, so it was very easy to spot tiny blemishes, let alone an injection mark that pierced through her skin. Inignora ko muna ito at pinilit ang sariling mag-focus sa tulalang kaibigan.

"Nothing..." she lied. She was obviously lying. "I was just... shocked."

I stared at her, waiting for an honest answer but it never came. I could hide the hurt and disappointment in my face.

"Sorch, talaga bang ayos ka lang-"

"Ayos nga lang!" she stood, irritated. Kinamot pa niya ang injection mark sa braso. "I'm tired. Uuwi na ako."

Hindi ko na sinagot ang kaibigan. She just left. I rubbed my temples and glanced at the gym. Parang ayoko nang sumali sa pagliligpit sa sobrang daming nangyari ngayong gabi.

The tragic event spread like a wildlife for the following days. It was all the students could talk about. The girl who died is not a student here, but rumors say that she is the illegitimate daughter of the mayor. He was seen at the funeral, too. His presence was enough to spark more rumors, covering her life and I've seen some reporters harassing other students nearby just to get more details about her.

My phone buzzed while I was walking. Rigor is next to me. awtomatiko siyang napatingin sa akin nang hinigit ko ang cellphone mula sa bulsa.

It was a message from Thyron. Rigor didn't say anything, but he keeps on glancing at me.

"It's just Thyron." I said.

"What?" kumunot ang noo niya.

Ipinakita ko sa kaniya ang text ng kapatid niya. Mas lalong nangunot tuloy ang noo niya.

"What does this dumbass want from you?"

"He's asking if I could come to Sorcha's party."

"She's still pushing that party? Despite what happened?"

My lips went into a thin line. Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Rigor.

"She's not related to the girl who died, Rigor. Normal lang naman siguro na mag-party siya. Isa pa, matagal niya na 'tong ginagawa. What's wrong with it?"

"Sorry."

Hindi ko pinansin ang lalaki at nagtipa ng sagot para kay Thyron. Sorcha didn't invite me to her party. Pati mga text ko ay hindi na niya sinasagot. I asked Kirby about it and he has no idea as well. Pati siya, hindi rin inimbitahan.

Ako:

idk. i'll try.

Thyron:

ge, see u.

Something was bothering me about it but I can't point my finger on it. Sorcha has her ups and downs, but never like this. Rigor must think I'm an idiot for defending a friend who doesn't seem to give a single damn about me, but I just couldn't help it. something is telling me that Sorcha is going through something tough and she just wouldn't tell me.

Pinigilan ko na ang sarili sa kaka-overthink at nag-focus na lamang sa klase. I didn't wait for Rigor's class to be over this time. Dumiretso na ako sa pinagtatrabahuan ko. Right after my shift, I went home.

I stripped off my clothes and stepped inside the bathroom to shower. After washing up, dun ko pa lang napansin na deadbatt pala ako. I plugged in my phone and jumped in surprise when a knock sounded on my door.

"S-Sino yan!" I called out, panicking. I'm just wearing a white towel and nothing else! Basa pa ang buhok ko.

"It's me."

Relief washed over me when I recognized Rigor's voice on the other end. Without even thinking about it, I dropped my phone to bed and crossed the small space to open the door.

"Rigor?"

He looked angry at first, then his expression melted when he saw me. napaawang ang bibig niya. I blinked and realized what just happened. Kaagad siyang tumalikod. He cleared his throat.

"Put on some clothes, Czarina." He said in a stern voice.

I bit my lower lip and stepped back. "Okay. You can come inside-"

"Put on some clothes. Please." He almost pleaded. I smirked.

"Alright." I said in a singsong voice. "Magbibihis na ako."

I closed the door and chuckled, then hurried to my closet. I put on a pair of maong shorts and white tee. Hindi na ako nag-abalang patuyuin ang buhok at nilabas na ang nobyo. He was sitting in the cemented stairs with tensed shoulders.

"Rigor?"

"Nakapagbihis ka na?" tanong niya nang hindi ako nililingon.

"Yes."

He was hesitant at first, but he glanced over me just to make sure. Ipinagkrus ko ang braso sa dibdib at tinaasan siya ng kilay.

"Papasok ka ba o hindi?"

Sighing, he got up and went to me. His towering height filled the doorway and immediately intimidated me. nawala yung tapang ko kanina nang makita ang reaksyon niya. I swallowed.

Rigor gazed at me darkly as he stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. I heard the lock click into place.

"Cherié, we need to talk."

-

#HanmariamBFLChap19