Chapter 46: Escape Gone Wrong

I can't believe na dalawang araw na lang ay nasa legal na edad na ako. Today is December 9 and oh! It's Khael's birthday today! Ano nga bang maari kong iregalo sa unggoy na iyon? Should I give him bananas? No. Not bananas. Malamang marami iyong supply ng saging. Hmm, how about a harness? Para naman sigurado akong ligtas ako sa mga "akyat gate" missions nito.

Maybe he doesn't need a harness. Magaling siyang kumapit diba? How about a trampoline at ng sa ganoon ay tatalon na lang ito sa halip na umakyat? I rolled my eyes on my own stupidity. Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at idinial ang number ni Khael. It's still six in the morning kaya marahil ay naghahanda na ito upang pumasok. Agad naman niyang sinagot ang tawag ko.

"Atlast Special A! I've been waiting for your call or text since 12 am!" wika nito. Uh, does he really have to wait? Bilib talaga ako sa mga taong sinasalubong ang birthday nila. Well not me. Tinutulugan ko lamang iyon. 12 am calls are the serious one at ayaw kong magdrama ng ganoon ka aga.

"Who told you to wait?"

"Wala. Sabi ko nga diba? Sige na Special A, simulan mo na ang speech mo," wika nito. Meh! Who told him that I will be giving him a speech?

"I'm hanging up now. Itetext ko na lang ang HBD ko sayo," I told him and he chuckled.

"You're hurting me Special A," wika nito ngunit bahagyang natawa.

"Happy Birthday Khael. Saka ko na lang ibibigay ang gift ko kapag nagkita tayo. Probably on my birthday. I have to hang up now, do good in your exams by the way."

***

This day is very boring. Wala akong nagawa sa buong klase kundi punuin ng mga walang kwentang sulat ang likurang bahagi ng notebook ko. Bigla na lang nahulog ang hawak kong ballpen nang mahina akong siniko ni Jeremy. What's his problem?!

I gave him a deadly glare at agad naman itong nagfocus sa harapan but he slipped a piece of paper on my desk. Nang kinuha ko iyon at tiningnan ay may nakasulat doon.

*Gray is staring at you from behind.*

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinulat niya. Malamang Gray is staring from behind. Nasa likuran ko siya kaya kung titingnan man niya ako it would be from behind―wait. Why would Gray be staring at me? Agad kong pinulot ang ballpen at nagsulat doon.

*What kind of stare?*

Ipinasa ko iyon sa kanya at patagong kinuha naman niya iyon upang basahin. We're trying our best not to get caught dahil kapag nahuli kami ay katakot-takot na detention ang aabutin namin. Napaubo ako nang basahin ko ang isinulat ni Jeremy.

*Lust look.*

What the hell! Ano ba ang alam niya sa mga ganoong bagay? And lust look?! That's disgusting! Nagsulat ako at ibinalik ang papel sa kanya.

*Shut up.*

Nagsulat ulit siya at ipinasa sa akin ang papel. I rolled my eyes when I read what he wrote.

*Lust look. Yun bang Huling Pagtingin. Tawa ka na HAHAHAHAHAHA*

Gumuhit pa ito ng isang emoticon na nakatawa. Oh another Jeremy's trash. I never saw it coming. He must mean last look. Siguro kailangan muna nitong magworkshop sa pagjojoke. Nilakumos ko na ang papel bago pa man madagdagan ang walang kwentang joke niya.

***

Lumipas ang araw na wala masyadong nangyari. The class ended at agad akong umuwi ng dorm dahil aalis pa ako. I'll be buying gifts for Gray and Khael. Matapos magbihis ay agad akong umalis ng Bridle at nagpunta sa mall kasama si Andi.

"Amber huwag kang swapang. Dapat isa lang sayo. Sino ba talaga, si Khael o si Gray?" tanong niya habang naglilibot kami sa mall. Pinigilan ko ang sariling sapakin ito. Oh, si Gray at Khael ay pawang kaibigan ko lang. What's with buying your friend a gift anyway? Wala naman sigurong masama roon.

"Andi wag mo ngang bigyan ng walang kwentang kahulugan ang pagkakaibigan naming tatlo," wika ko sa kanya.

Bigla na lamang itong napatigil at napaisip. "Pero Amber ganito kasi yun. Crush ka ni Khael tapos crush mo naman si Gray."

What?! Who told her that I have a crush on Gray! Wala kaya! Hindi ko siya crush! Hindi talaga! Hinding-hindi! Promise di talaga!

"I don't have a crush on Gray."

Pinisil niya ang ilong. "Ayy, humaba ang ilong ni Pinocchio." I pushed away her fingers from my nose. "Alam mo kung magiging movie ang lovelife mo, ang themesong ay Mahal ko o Mahal ako. Aheem," she started singing the song. "Nalilitong-lito ako. Sino'ng pipiliin ko? Mahal ko o mahal ako?"

Nagpatiuna na akong lumakad sa kanya at iniwan ito. "Ewan ko sayo."

Gabi na nang makauwi kami ni Andi. Mabuti na lang at hindi kami naabutan ng curfew! God, chosing a gift for a guy is very time consuming! Ang hirap palang pumili ng maaring iregalo! In the end, I picked an ipod for Gray at isang malaking unan naman na may nakaprint na unggoy ang binili ko kay Khael. It was cheaper compared to my gift for Gray ngunit alam kong magugustuhan naman ito ni Khael. Wag lang sana silang mag-inarte! Ang hirap kayang pumili ng bibilhin para sa kanila.

I woke up early the next day ngunit nagtagal ako sa cafeteria. I'm eating my breakfast nang nakita ko si Jeremy. When I glanced at my watch, it's ten minutes before the first period ngunit nasa cafeteria pa ito. You will seldom see him outside the classroom dahil madalas, twenty minutes before the class ay nasa classroom na ito. He's never been late for all of his life.

Bumili ito ng freshmilk at agad din namang lumabas ng cafeteria ngunit bago pa man ito makaalis ay tinawag ko ito. "Hey Jeremy, wala pa ba ang first period teacher natin?" I asked him. He looked at me at umiling.

"May usap-usapang faculty meeting ulit ngayon," he said at matapos magpasalamat dito ay agad na itong umalis. Ipinagpatuloy ko naman ang pagkain ko.

Nang dumami na ang mga kaklase ko na nasa cafeteria ay mas pinili kong magtagal muna rito. Looks like walang iniwang seatwork o activity ang subject teacher namin unlike the other sections. I spent almost 30 minutes inside the cafeteria at nang lumabas ako ay natanaw ko ang isang pamilyar na sasakyan. Huminto ito sa harap ko at binuksan ang shotgun ride.

"Good morning Amber! Care for a ride?" tanong ng driver and it was Cooler. Bumaba siya ng sasakyan at bago pa man ako makasagot ay bigla na lang niya kong binuhat at ipinasok sa loob ng kanyang kotse.

"On the second thought, I'm not asking for your opinion," wika niya at inilapag ako sa loob ng sasakyan. Agad siyang tumakbo papunta sa driver's side at pinaharurot ang sasakyan.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing Cooler?" tanong ko sa kanya na nakabusangot ang mukha. Napansin ko ang isang itim na bagong porsche na pumasok ng Bridle at iniluwa niyon si Gray.

He's driving a porsche?!

"I'm eloping with you" Cooler said with a big smile. Ibinaling ko na lang ang paningin ko sa labas bago ko pa ma'smash ang mukha nito sa dashboard ng sarili niyang kotse.

"Okay, that look is scary. I'm taking you somewhere. Kumbaga pre-birthday treat," wika niya. His gaze was still focused on the road.

"You should be treating your brother and not me," wika ko.

"Naaah. Baka bugbugin lang ako niyon. You know how much he despises me."

Oo nga pala. Hindi pala sila magkasundo. Ni hindi nga maatim ni Gray na tawagin ito sa kanyang pangalan.

"What are you doing here this early by the way?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"I delivered Cronus' gift for Gray," sagot niya.

"You mean that black porsche?" I asked and he nodded. Spoiled rich brats! An 18-year old is driving a porsche? Uh, how spoiled.

"But it looks like he doesn't like it. I'm expecting him tonight at the mansion upang isauli niya ang sasakyan. I know he doesn't like things that were acquired through the mafia's transaction," wika ni Cooler. Enough of this conversation. Lumalayo na kami sa Bridle.

"Hindi mo ba sasabihin sa akin kung saan tayo pupunta?" tanong ko sa kanya. Sumandal ako at napahalukipkip. Good thing hindi nito pinapalipad ang pagmamaneho.

"I told you I'm giving you a pre-birthday treat," sagot nito.

"With me in uniform?"

"Why? You want to strip naked?" he asked with a naughty smile. Kinuha ko ang car freshener na nakita ko doon at binato iyon sa kanya.

"Shut up pervert!"

Natawa lang ito at nagpatuloy sa pagmamaneho. "By the way thanks for the invitation Amber. Asahan mo ako bukas."

Itinuon ko sa labas ang paningin. "Sabi nang sumobra lang ang invitation kaya ko kaya ko kayo binigyan."

"You know you're not a good liar," wika niya. "I'm looking forward to be your last dance."

"Uh, it's Gray. He will be my escort tomorrow," pagbibigay alam ko sa kanya.

"I'm jealous."

"Shut up Cooler."

"I'm really jealous."

"Wala akong pakialam."

"You're so hard on me," natatawang wika niya.

Inihinto niya ang sasakyan sa harap ng isang amusement park.

"Anong gagawin natin dito?" I asked when he pulled the car on the side.

"May dadalawin sa sementeryo," seryosong wika niya.

"Walang sementeryo sa amusement park!" I hissed at him.

"Exactly!"

Mahinang sinuntok ko siya at lumabas ng kotse. Maaga pa lamang ngunit marami-rami na ang tao sa amusement park. I received stares from people. Marahil ay nagtataka sila kung ano ang ginagawa ng isang estudyante na nakasuot pa ng uniform and it's class hours sa ganitong amusement. Oh yeah, I ditched class!

"Ang ganda mo. Tinitingnan ka ng mga tao," komento ni Cooler and I gave him a deadly glare.

"They're thinking why there's a student in an amusement park lalo na at umagang-umaga," wika ko sa kanya.

He laughed heartily. "Don't burst my bubble. Alam mo bang iniisip ko na naiinggit sila sa akin dahil may kasama akong magandang babae?"

I gave him a punch in a gut at napangiwi naman ito. "You're really a sadist. Since you love mysteries, let's watch a magic show," wika niya at hinila ako papasok sa entrance ng amusement park. We went to a hall kung saan may nakalagay na tarpaulin sa labas.

MOJO MAGIC SHOW

Open every Mon-Fri from 9 am to 10:30 am ~

Witness a spectacular magic brought to you by Mojo ~

I'm not into magic dahil naniniwala akong wala naman talagang magic. It's all tricks and illusions that were used to make people think na may magic nga. Pumwesto na kami sa harapan. Cooler paid for everything. It's his pre-birthday treat as what he said anyway. I'm just taking advantage of his generosity. I frowned all the time nang naupo kami. Kumunot ang noo ni Cooler nang lingunin niya ako.

"Could you atleast pretend that you're enjoying?" he asked. He was excited for the show. Well, what's to be excited about?

"I'm not into magic. Tayo lang ang niloloko ng mga magician na yan," paliwanag ko sa kanya.

"They don't intend to fool us. They intend to entertain us," pagkontra naman ni Cooler.

"Exactly. They entertain us through fooling us."

"Ah! Please don't poison my mind. Kahit ano'ng sabihin mo ay naniniwala pa rin ako sa magic," he said at itinuon ang atensyon sa stage nang bigla na lamang namatay ang ilaw at nagkaroon ng spotlight sa stage. Isang lalaki ang umakyat sa stage. He was wearing a black tuxedo at nakasuot ito ng maskara na tinatakpan ang mukha niya. Uh, reminds me of the mafia's guys.

"He looks like one of your goons," wika ko. "They also dressed like that when I saw them before."

"Uh, please Amber, don't say it. I'm thinking of the same thing too," natatawang sagot niya.

"Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat! Are you ready to witness Mojo's magic? Wag kayong kukurap!" the guy said at muling namatay ang mga ilaw. Meh, I'm sure they're using the absence of light to set up their trick! Nang bumalik ang ilaw ay may maliit na mesa sa harapan. Mojo was holding three cups at iwinagayway niya iyon sa audience kasama ng tatlong bola. He put a ball in one cup and nested the other two cups above it. When he pulled the middle cup, the ball was there.

"Whoah! That ball was inside the first cup but now it's in the middle cup? Did he make the ball penetrate in the second cup?" amazed na tanong ni Cooler.

Then Mojo put another ball in the cup. He separated it with the other cups but when he got the other cup, the ball was there at wala na sa unang cup na pinaglagyan nito. He did another trick using only the three cups and the balls. He stacked the cups, making the balls seems like it penetrated through the cups. In the last part of his performance, all three balls are in the first cup kahit pa inilagay niya iyon sa tatlong cup ng isa-isa.

"Mojo is awesome!" Cooler exclaimed kasabay ng palakpak.

I rolled my eyes at him. "The trick to such performance is a secret fourth ball. Also he uses misdirection to trick us. He wants us to focus our attention to the cups and balls because his hand is doing the trick," paliwanag ko kay Cooler.

"But I didn't notice anything!"

"Well that's exactly his plan that's why he uses misdirection," wika ko sa kanya. Mukha itong bata na nae-excite sa susunod na gagawin ng magician. The next thing that Mojo did is that he got aluminum pan with a lid. Iniharap niya iyon sa audience and the pan seems empty. He poured some volatile liquid inside the pan. Kumuha ito ng apoy at sinunog ang loob ng hawak nito. He slammed the lid to extinguish the fire.

Naghintay naman ang lahat ng naroon kung ano ang mangyayari. After a while ay pinabuksan niya sa isang audience ang hawak-hawak and then suddenly a dove flew from the pan. Lumipad ito at dumapo sa balikat ng audience na nasa stage. Applause filled the area matapos iyon.

"Oh, I don't know that we can produce a dove from fire!" wika ni Cooler.

I gave him a bored look. "The secret to that trick is the lid. There is a liner there or another pan in that lid kung saan nakalagay ang kalapati. You noticed that he didn't properly show the lid to us? It's because of that trick."

"You're spoiling my amazement," wika niya. Oh. Am I?

"Uh, I'm just explaining the trick behind it," I answered him.

Marami pang ginawa si Mojo na trick sa kanyang show. Naaliw na naman ang nga tao sa kanilang pinapanood, even this guy beside me! Mukha siyang bata na panay palakpak sa bawat magic trick na ipinapakita ni Mojo. As a finale, Mojo performed a predicament escape. He went inside a big box, chained and locked. His assistant locked him up inside the box and then his other assistants came, bringing big swords. They signaled each other at agad na tinusok ang mga hawak na espada sa malaking box kung nasaan si Mojo. They used 10 swords at tinusok iyon lahat sa box

Natakot ang mga tao sa trick na ginawa ni Mojo. Lumipas ang ilang minuto ay hinugot ng isang assistant ang isang espada but when she pulled it out, it was covered with blood! Napasigaw ang mga tao sa takot. Even Cooler arose from his seat dahil sa gulat. They pulled another sword ngunit gaya ng nauna ay may dugo pa rin iyon. The people began fussing about what happened to Mojo.

"Shit, Amber! There's a critical situation over there!" he said hysterically while I remained calm and maintained my pokerface.

"Just relax Cooler, bahagi 'yan ng trick," mahinahon kong wika sa kanya.

"But look! Even the assistants are worried! Puno ng dugo ang espada! Isa pa nakakadena si Mojo! Is it possible that he is murdered?" natataranta pa rin si Cooler. Patuloy pa rin ang pagkabahala ng mga tao at maging ng mga assistant nito.

Just then the spotlight turned towards the upper part of the hall, near the audience. Nakatuon ito sa nakangiting si Mojo, safe and unscathed. Pumalakpak naman ang mga tao. They really thought that he was killed inside the box.

"See? I told you. You may now take your seat Cooler," wika ko sa kanya matapos itong makahinga ng maluwag nang makita si Mojo.

"I really thought that he was murdered," wika niya at biglang napaupo. "Thank God! I was scared! I thought that he was killed."

I rolled my eyes at him. It's so ironic that he was scared when he thought that Mojo was killed where in fact killing is just like drinking your cup of coffee in their mafia.

"Really, you're scared?" Pinitik niya ang ilong ko at hinila ako patayo. He pulled me towards the exit at sumunod naman ako.

"I know what you're thinking. Don't worry. Hindi pa ako nakapatay, I'm not a reaper and I wasn't caught yet in a situation where I'm leave with no choice but to kill them," wika niya habang naglalakad kami. I don't know why but I immediately believed him when he said that he hasn't killed anyone.

"Since you already spoiled my love for magic, would you mind explaining to me that trick? I really thought he was killed," nakangiting wika niya.

"Easy. You haven't observed that the box is right in front of the curtain which is the background of the stage. Well I can't blame you for not observing it. The dim surroundings and the spotlight is a great tool in achieving this trick. He went out in that box probably through a secret passage at the back part of the box and he passed through the curtain," I explained to him. Well, I'm not really sure but it could be the possible way.

"But he's chained and locked!"

"Tinanggal niya ang lock ng chain probably using the key that was hidden inside his mouth. And he's only locked from the front and not at the back, who knows that there is another door there." Matamang nakikinig si Cooler sa paliwanag ko.

"How about the blood? At paano siya nakarating doon sa taas?" he asked again.

"They must have installed blood bags inside that box that will burst if pricked with a sword causing the blood to splatter. As of how he arrived above, he made his way towards there. Marahil ay nagdisguise siya and since people were worried and confused about the situation onstage, hindi siya napansin. That predicament escape trick is also known as escape gone wrong. The trick is presented initially as escape acts na mukhang nabulilyaso, giving the audience the impression that the performer must have been killed. You see, everyone was worried and Mojo used that opportunity to escape. In the end, it will be revealed to the audience that he is alright but leaving the audience in awe," paliwanag ko sa kanya.

He stopped walking and he made a face. "You seem to know a lot about magic tricks."

I shrugged my shoulders and walked pass him. "Uh, I used to be a reader of Harry Houdini's escapology tricks."

"Unbelievable!" he said at hinila ako papunta sa isang arcade. He pulled me towards a booth. Basketball shooting booth.

Naalala ko na magaling pala siya sa basketball. He plays well just like Khael. As of Gray, oh he's brainy. He's good in deciding a strategy at wag na lang nating pag-usapan ang tungkol sa pagshoot nito. Oh, mali. He doesn't know how to shoot kaya wag na lang nating pag-usapan ang tungkol sa hindi pagshoot nito.

"Anong gagawin mo diyan?" I asked him and it was too late to realized that it was a stupid question lalo na at kalahating engot ang kasama ko, malamang ay isang katakot-takot na pamimilosopo na naman ang matatanggap ko. "Uh, on the second thought,wag mo na palang sagutin ang tanong ko. I know you'll be playing basketball and we're not eating balls here," bawi ko and he laughed.

"You're fast! But that's somewhat green." Bahagyang siyang natawa. Eh? Ano'ng green doon?

"Ayoko lang mapilosopo."

He paid on the little guy in counter. Nag-inquire pa siya kung ano ang magiging premyo.

"Kailangan po ng 15 consecutive shoots sir upang makuha ang malaking stuffed toy," the guy said and he pointed on the stuffed toys inside a glass case. And I was like: OH MY BAYMAX! I pulled Cooler's shirt at tinuro ang malaking stuffed toy na si Baymax.

"Let's make use of your skill. Shoot 15 times and give me that Baymax stuffed toy over there," wika ko sa kanya. Uh, I'm really taking advantage of his generosity.

Humarap siya sa akin at nagpokerface. "Hi, I'm Cooler, your personal healthcare companion. At the scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your pain?" he asked, imitating Baymax but failing big time.

"Even if you'd be displayed in that glass case, I don't think I'd be picking you over Baymax," wika ko sa kanya.

Hinawakan niya ang dibdib at umaktong nasaktan. "Awww! That hurts! Now I really need Baymax. I'd rate my pain at a scale of 10 and it's emotional pain," he said at pinigilan kong matawa sa kanya but I ended up laughing.

"See? You laughed. I mean it you know," he said and he pouted. "But I'm glad. You said you will not pick me over Baymax, ibig bang sabihin niyan, you would choose me if it would not be Baymax and just the other stuffed toys over there?" he said at mahinang siniko ako.

Ugh, I can't believe this guy. I pushed him towards the playing area. Medyo malayo rin ang distansya ng ring but I do not doubt Cooler's capabilities.

"Dream on Cooler. Just go and get Baymax for me," wika ko. He smiled at kumuha ng bola. People began gathering around us, oh well, most of them are girls.

They must be jealous with me; I'm with a handsome guy. I don't feel privileged being with him or any other handsome guy though. Naalala ko rin noong nag-arcade kami ni Khael. He also gained a lot of fans when we played basketball. He even gained fans when he sang kahit gaano pa nito kasintunado!

I shook my head to clear my mind. Ang landi naman ng utak ko! Why do I keep on remembering those guys? Una ay si Gray, ngayon naman ay si Khael? Arrgh! Is this some side effect if you're turning 18? Saka lamang ako nakabalik sa wastong huwisyo ko nang makarinig ako ng palakpakan. When I looked at Cooler, he already scored 3 consecutive shots. Uh, that fast?! I heard another clap from the spectators and it was his fourth shot. He made his last shot at gaya ng mga nauna ay walang kahirap-hirap na na-ishoot niya iyon hanggang sa ikalabinlima.

Humanga naman ang mga nanuod while I went to the counter to claim my prize. Yes, MY prize even if Cooler played and not me. Niyakap ko ang malaki at tumataginting na Baymax stuffed toy.

"Ang baba ang kaligayahan mo. I told you, I'm Cooler, your personal healthcare compa―"

I cut him off. "Please Cooler, don't ruin Baymax's image on my mind," wika ko sa kanya and he gave out a cute chuckle.

Hinila na naman niya ako papunta sa Carousel. Uh, why a carousel? "I've rode a horse yet I haven't ride on a carousel," wika niya habang nakapamulsang pinanuod ang mga nasa carousel. Like seriously?

"The opposite of me. I have ridden a carousel but never on a horse," wika ko sa kanya. Palagi akong dinadala nina Mommy sa amusement park dati. It used to be our bond.\

"You want to ride a horse? I can teach you horseback riding," he said and I shook my head.

"No thanks. I think horse stinks," wika ko sa kanya. "You want to ride a carousel?" I asked and he shook his head.

"I was thinking of the roller coaster."

"No way!" I hissed ngunit hinila niya ako. No as in no way! Kung may hindi man ako sasakyan sa isang amusement park, it would be the roller coaster. Mas pipiliin ko pang sumakay sa isang Ferris Wheel kaysa doon! Patuloy pa rin siya sa paghila sa akin and when I saw a metal bench ay kumapit ako doon. He continued pulling me but I held tightly in the bench. Pinagtitingnan na kami ng mga tao but I don't care as long as hindi ako makasakay sa roller coaster.

We spent most of our time pulling each other and in the end ay wala kaming nasakyang rides sa amusement park. He invited me in a fastfood inside the amusement park at kumain kami. He ordered foods enough for 5 people! Ano ba ang akala niya sa akin, malakas kumain?!

"I felt guilty somehow," wika niya habang kumakain kami. I gave him a questioning look.

"Saan?"

"For my brother," wika niya habang nilalaro ang kinakain na inihaw na manok. Naaawa na ako sa manok! He murdered it few times using his fork. Kay Gray? Ano naman ang dapat niya ika-guilty kay Gray?

"Para saan naman?"

Inilapag niya ang kutsara at tinidor sa mesa at hinarap ako. "Today is his birthday and he's supposed to spend time with you but here you are, I stole you from him. I hope he don't mind total araw-araw ka naman niyang nakakasama."

Uh, why? Does Gray have to spend time with me porke't birthday niya?

"Why should he spend time with me?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

Cooler frowned at me. "Slowpoke! Of course because you are special to him." Special? Ako special kay Gray? Am I?

"So monggoloid ako?" I joked and he faked a laugh bago muling nagpokerface. Sabi ko na nga na sana tinago ko na lang ang joke ko sa sarili ko.

"Please, out with a joke. As of our topic, how could you be so smart yet so slow? Hindi mo ba ramdam na special ka kay Gray?" he asked at napaisip naman ako.

Special ba ako kay Gray? Hmmm, is it because palagi niya akong sinasama kapag may hinahawakan siyang kaso or was it because ako ang unang nakasakay sa bagong kotse niya? You know, his convertible BMW.

"I don't think I'm special," wika ko sa kanya. Naalala ko noong minsang sinabi ni Gray sa akin na he is falling. "Cooler, I have a question."

"Shoot."

"Ano'ng ibig sabihin kapag sinabi ng lalaki sayo na he is falling. He said it kahit wala naman kayo sa isang mataas na lugar," wika ko sa kanya and he put his palm on his face. Uh, what now?

"Amber, nagka-microdeficiency ka siguro noong bata ka pa ano? Hell, you're so slow! Let me guess, it's my brother, right?" he asked and he let out a naughty smile.

"Si Gray?! Hindi ah! Iba! It's... it's my classmate! Natanong lang niya sa akin!"

He laughed. "You know, you're not really good in lying."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa kanya. "Hindi naman talaga. Just answer it, okay?" wika ko. Paninindigan ko na ito. Deny to death Amber!

"Ibig sabihin ay gusto ka niya," Cooler said.

"And?"

"Gusto ka niya."

"That's it?" I asked and he nodded. "Wala kang kwentang kausap, alam mo ba?"

"Bakit naman? Magtatanong ka tapos kapag sinagot kita sasabihan mo akong walang kwentang kausap?"

"Ewan ko sayo," wika ko at ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain.

Marami pa kaming nilaro maghapon. We were enjoying ourselves nang napansin kong panay ang lingon ni Cooler sa paligid. It's like pakiramdam niya ay may nagmamasid sa kanya. Ginaya ko siya at lumingon din sa paligid. Saka ko lamang napansin ang mga lalaking nakasuot ng itim. Nakakalat sila sa paligid at may nga suot itong headset at panay ang bulong.

Mahinang siniko ko si Cooler. "You recognize those guys, Cooler?"

Tiningnan niya ako ng matiim and he slowly nodded. "Yes, they're from the syndicate that fooled the Vander mafia and Poseidon end up killing their transactor. Nabunyag din sa kanila na ako ang transactor ng Vander mafia," wika niya.

Oh no, this is really a serious situation. "What are we going to do now?"

"What do you call Houdini's special trick?" tanong niya sa akin.

"You mean escapology?"

He held my wrist tightly at tiningnan ako. "That's it. When I say run, you run okay?" I nodded at him. Nang nilingon ko ang mga suspicious na tao ay saktong tinuro nila si Cooler at tumakbo palapit sa amin!

"Now run!" he said at sabay kaming kumaripas ng takbo.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano na kalayo ang tinakbo namin. Ang alam ko lang ay nakalabas na kami sa amusement park. Mabuti na lamang at nailagay na namin si Baymax sa kotse ni Cooler at kung nagkataon ay mahihirapan pa kaming tumakbo. Napunta kami sa isang mataong lugar, a market to be exact. Napahinto kami at sabay na napahingal.

"Damn you Cooler, I'm not going out with you again," wika ko sa kanya at panay pa rin ang hingal.

"Who would have thought na may time pa palang mag-amusement park ang mga goons ng sindikatong iyon?" he said at muling nilingon ang paligid. Masikip ang paligid but he was still observant dahil baka mayroon na namang goons na humahabol sa amin.

This time, he took a deep sigh. "Amber, what do you call the trick that Mojo used when he escaped in the box, making the audience worried?" he asked with a very serious face.

Kahit nagtataka ay sinagot ko pa rin siya. "Escape gone wrong. Why?"

"Because that's our situation now," he said at lumapit sa amin ang dalawang lalaki. They wore formal clothes at hinawakan si Cooler. Hindi sila naging bayolente kaya nagtaka ako.

"Zeus, pinatrack po kayo sa amin ni Cronus dahil hindi niya kayo macontact. Kailangan niyo pong sumama sa amin ngayon din dahil naghihintay na ang mga armas sa pantalan," wika ng isang lalaki.

"Please tell Cronus na ihahatid ko muna ang kasama ko," mahinahong wika ni Cooler but I know that he is pissed.

"Ngunit ang sabi niya ay ngayon din. Kasama namin si Apollo. Siya na lang ang maghahatid sa kasama ninyo," sagot ng isa.

"Hindi niyo ba ako narinig? Ang sabi ko ako ang maghahatid!" malakas ang boses na wika ni Cooler. He sounded scary at naisip ko na matatakot din ang mga lalaki but to my surprised, they handcuffed him.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang si Cooler at tila pinipigil ang galit. He looked at me and he frowned. "See? I told you, we're in an escape gone wrong situation. I'm sorry Amber, I can't do anything if Cronus ordered them to handcuff me." Bumaling siya sa mga lalaking may hawak sa kanya. "Just make sure na hindi kayo magpapakita kapag wala ng posas ang mga kamay ko."

This time ay rumehistro na ang takot sa mukha ng mga lalaki. Uh, serves them right.

"Okay lang Cooler, I understand," wika ko at naramdaman kong may humawak sa braso ko. Paglingon ko ay nakita ko ang nakangising mukha ni Ryu.

"Ako na ang maghahatid sa kanya Cooler," Ryu said at tumango naman ang huli sa kanya. Muli siyang nagpaalam sa akin bago ito hinila ng mga lalaki.

Paglingon ko ay nakahalukipkip si Ryu habang nakatingin sa akin. "So? Where's our destination school girl?" he asked habang nakatingin sa kabuoan ko. Uh, yeah. I'm in my school uniform.

"I'm going home on my own," wika ko at iniwan ito. Nang napagtanto kong nasa bag ko ang wallet ko at iniwan ko ang bag ko sa kotse ni Cooler ay muli akong bumalik at lumapit sa kanya.

"I changed my mind. Take me home," wika ko at natatawang hinawakan niya ako sa balikat at pinatalikod. Nagsimula na siyang lumakad habang tulak-tulak ako.

Did the devil just laugh?