Chapter 49: Treacherous

AMBER SISON'S POV

Nagulat ako nang makita kong nakahandusay si Jeremy sa sahig. His head was bleeding as if he was hit with something hard. I was so worried kaya nais kong tumakbo palapit sa kanya but I saw Marion holding a gun. She flashed an evil smile on her lips. Did Marion hit Jeremy? I keep myself calm at mahinahong kinausap si Marion.

"Marion, si Jeremy! What happened?" I asked her. The truth is I'm so scared. One thing is for sure, dahil kami lamang ang naroon ay malamang si Marion ang may kagagawan ng nangyari kay Jeremy.

"Oh, Jeremy? He's lying cold on the ground," she said without any emotion. Kakaiba ang Marion na kaharap ko ngayon sa Marion na araw-araw kong kasama sa Bridle. This Marion here seems so dangerous. Is this really Marion? Unti-unti siyang lumapit sa akin habang hawak-hawak pa rin ang isang baril. Marion looks so dangerous in her long black gown and gun. Unti-unti akong napaatras dahil lumalapit siya sa akin.

"I-ikaw b-ba ang may gawa niyan kay Jeremy?" nauutal kong tanong. Bahagya niya itong sinulyapan bago muling tumingin sa akin.

"Yeah, that nerd is annoying. Isa pa ay ayaw ko ng audience the moment that I will kill you." Papatayin niya ako? Bakit? Ano ba ang kasalanan ko sa kanya?

"Marion, ibaba mo yan! Delikado yan," I'm trying to tame her. My God! How could she hold that gun in a way like she was just holding a pen? Tila madaling-madali lang sa kanya ang paghawak niyon.

"I really thought you're a cat Amber. You've got nine lives! Ilang beses na kitang pinagtangkaang patayin indirectly but I always failed. That's so bothersome. I have to give a code and cite Holmes' quotes just to plan your death ngunit palagi na lamang akong palpak. That's when I decided to kill you directly," she said.

Ibig sabihin siya si X?! But why? Bakit kailangan pa niyang mandamay ng iba?

"You're X?" halos hindi ko makapaniwalang tanong sa kanya.

"That's right. Nice to meet you, I'm X," she said and laughed like a maniac.

She's X? Pero hindi ba ay muntikan na siyang maging biktima ng unang beses na nagpadala ng notice sa akin si X? She and Jeremy were almost hit by that big flower pot!

"N-no. You're not X! Isa ka lamang sa mga nadamay ni X," I said stattering. No, Marion can't be X! Mabait si Marion. She's the happy-go-lucky girl that I've known in school. She can't be the cunning and evil X! It's impossible!

"That's part of the trick Amber," wika niya.

"Bakit Marion? Bakit?" tanong ko sa kanya. As far as I can remember, I haven't done any harm to her. Maayos ang pakikitungo naming dalawa sa isa't-isa tapos ngayon ay malalaman ko na lang na siya pala ang may kagagawan ng mga banta sa buhay ko. Idinamay pa niya si Ma'am Sera!

"Ibig bang sabihin ay ikaw din ang may kagagawan ng nangyari kay Ma'am Sera?"

She laughed evilly again. "Oh, that stupid chemist? Yeah, I shaved her hair. Pakialamera kasi."

"Why Marion? I thought we're friends?" tanong ko sa kanya. Other than fear, I also felt so angry. Hindi nakakatuwa ang ginawa ni Marion!

"Friends? Naririnig mo ba ang sarili mo? We can't be friends! Not even in hell!" she shouted at napapiksi ako. She's scary! This is not the Marion that I used to know!

"Ano bang kasalanan ko sayo? Why do you have to undergo so much trouble just to kill me?" sigaw ko sa kanya.

"It's because I HATE YOU! So much! I really hate you Amber to the point that I want you dead," lumapit siya sa akin at hinampas ang ulo ko gamit ang hawak niyang baril. I was caught off guard but I was still able to take a step backward. Tumama ang baril sa gilid ng ulo ko but I haven't lost my consciousness. Naramdaman ko na lang ang hapdi at ang pagpatak ng dugo sanhi ng sugat. Naalala ko ang sinabi sa akin ni Cooler.

"Because I have a bad feeling about tonight. A premonition that something bad will happen."

Ito na ba ang ibig niyang sabihin? He said he got a feeling that someone treacherous is among my friends. Naniniwala na talaga ako na malakas nga ang gut feel nito. DAMN! I should have listened to him.

"But why do you hate me? Ano ba ang ginawa ko sayo?!"

"You don't know bitch? You're a pain in my neck! Pabida ka eh! You stole Gray-chan away from me!" she said at namumula ang mukha niya sa galit. I stole Gray from her? Gray was never hers on the first place!

"Wala akong inagaw sayo!" I hissed at her. God, just because of Gray? Ganoon ba siya ka-obsessed kay Gray to the point na handa siyang pumatay?!

Kinalabit niya ang gatilyo at nakarinig ako ng malakas na tunog mula roon. I just felt pain on my right leg at nang tingnan ko iyon ay agad iyong dumugo. Damn! Hindi matao ang parking lot ng hotel, which is the basement. Ibig sabihin, maliit ang tsansang may dumating upang tulungan kami ni Jeremy.

Naalala ko ang sinabi sa akin ni Gray kanina. He told me not to go anywhere with Marion. Hindi kaya alam na niyang si X ay si Marion? Ito ba ang mahalagang bagay na inasikaso niya kaya siya muntikan nang hindi makarating sa party ko?

"I hate you Amber! I hate your existence! You're always the smart one! Papansin ka! Akala mo ba hindi ko alam na inaahas mo si Gray? That's why I've sent you snakes but hell! You survived it and I don't know how!" galit na galit nitong wika. Darn! I have survived those snakes because of Gray and his roommates. Kahit anong pilit kong isipin ay hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang tunay na rason kong bakit siya nagagalit ng ganito.

"Palagi na lang ikaw! Ikaw! Ikaw! Paano naman ako?! Ako naman Amber!" bigla na lamang siyang napaiyak. Ako? Naging pabida nga ba ako sa buhay ni Marion? Why is she acting like an egocentric bitch? Hindi kaya... Marion is mentally ill?

"Do you know that I killed my personal maid nang magkomento siya na ang gwapo ni Gray? I stabbed her to death! Gray is mine! Only mine kaya ayaw ko na may ibang kumakausap, humahawak o kung ano man sa kanya! And you bitch! Ikaw lang naman ang may lakas ng loob na ilapit ang sarili mo! Alam mo bang nangangati na ang kamay kong patayin ka kanina habang sumasayaw kayo?! Hindi ko lang magawa dahil maraming tao sa party and my bullets are not enough to kill everyone!" nagsimula na naman siyang tumawa na parang isang baliw. God! She's really ill!

Lumapit siya sa akin at tinusok ang baril sa sugat ko. I cried in pain nang maramdaman ko iyon! Shit! It hurts like hell! She pulled my hair at sinampal ako. Haven't I told everyone na ayaw kong sinasabunutan at sinasampal? Damn! I just can't move dahil patuloy niyang idinidiin ang baril sa sugat ko. Inipon ko ang lahat ng natitirang lakas ko at sinipa siya nang malakas. She cried in pain when I kicked her in the gut and I also cried in pain nang mahila niya ang buhok ko. I took the opportunity to run kahit na napakasakit ng paa ko at paika-ika ang takbo ko.

"YOU CAN'T ESCAPE ME AMBER!" narinig kong sigaw niya at agad akong nagkubli sa isa sa mga kotse doon. My leg hurt at maging ang mukha ko. My sight is getting blurry too sanhi nang paghampas niya ng baril sa akin kanina. I wonder how Jeremy was. I just hope that he's fine at sana ay tumakas na ito.

Nagulat na lang ako nang bigla siyang sumungaw sa harapan ko na may malademonyong ngiti sa labi. She glanced at her watch at inangat ang baril sa akin.

"It's still 11:58. Happy birthday Amber," she said. I guess I have no escape and the only thing I did was closed my eyes bago ako makarinig ako ng malakas na putok ng baril.

GRAY IVAN SILVAN'S POV

I was so worried nang muntikan na akong hindi makarating sa hotel na pinagdaraosan ng birthday ni Amber. Kung nagmamadali ka nga naman, saka pa ako na-traffic. Holy crap! Ilang beses akong bumusina sa kotseng nasa harap ko kanina. Kasalukuyan kong kinakausap si Khael at nasa roofdeck kami. I chose to talk to him in private upang makapag-usap kami nang masinsinan without everyone interrupting us. I told him everything about Marion. Matapos ko kasing malaman na si Marion ay si X ay gumawa ako ng mabilis na research about her. Nagpunta ako sa mansion nila at nakausap ko ang isang katulong. I asked her about Marion. At first ay maingat pa ang pakikiusap nito sa akin. She didn't tell anything bad about her ngunit kalaunan ay sinabi na niyang psychopath si Marion. She even killed one of their maids.

I was so fucking shocked nang malaman ko lahat ng iyon. I can't believe it! The jolly Marion is actually a psychopath? What the hell! Marami pa akong nalaman tungkol sa kaya nabahala ako sa kalagayan ni Amber if ever she's leave with Marion alone.

"What? Are you sure about it?" halos hindi rin makapaniwalang tanong ni Khael after I told him everything about Marion. That's so damn shocking, I knew it.

"I'm positive," sagot ko sa kanya.

"I knew it. That excess baggage has really something in her sleeves. Iba ang mga tinging ipinupukol niya sayo Silvan," Khael said.

According to the maid na nakausap ko, she was obsessed to someone named Gray kaya hindi na ako nagpakilala bilang Gray. I just introduced myself as Ivan. I can't believe what psychopaths are capable of doing. They think of nothing but themselves. Umaabot pa sila sa puntong pumapatay sila ng tao just because of their egocentricity.

"Ilang beses na niyang pinagtangkaan ang buhay ni Amber."

"Well that explained my weird feelings towards her. Hindi ba't noong una pa lamang ay hindi ko na siya gusto. Now I know why," Khael said at sumandal sa grills doon.

"Listen Alonzo, huwag mong ipahalata na alam na natin ang tungkol kay Marion. We have to protect Amber at all cost," wika ko. "Sa mga sandaling ito ay kasama pa nila sina Cooler at Ryu kaya marahil ay hindi gumagawa ng hakbang si Marion. Those guys are from the mafia kaya pinagkakatiwalaan ko silang magprotekta kay Amber sa nga sandaling ito."

I don't want those guys around Amber but I think they're the safest companions that Amber can have habang wala kami ni Khael.

"Mafia?"

"Yes. Mafia. The one named Cooler is my brother and the other one is my cousin. Please don't ask questions about them now. We can talk about it some other time. As of now we have to plan to stop Marion from doing anything," wika ko sa kanya. We can't risk any moment. Amber is in grave danger kapag umatake na si Marion sa kanya.

"Hey Silvan. Does those guys drive a Ford Shelby GT500 convertible model and a black Jaguar?" tanong niya na ipinagtataka ko.

"Yes. Cooler drives the convertible car while Ryu drives a jaguar. Why?"

Khael flashed a worried face. "Dahil kanina ko pa napansin ang pag-alis ng dalawang kotse na iyon. Ibig sabihin ay hindi na nila kasama si Amber."

Saka lamang promoseso sa utak ko ang mga sinabi ni Khael. Damn it! It only means one thing. Amber could be in danger now! Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Khael and by that ay nagkaintindihan kami. We both rushed towards the roof deck's door and hurried to the nearest elevator.

COOLER VANDER'S POV

Katatapos lamang ng birthday party ni Amber na dinaluhan namin ni Ryu. I really like Amber because she's so different. Ano ang iba kay Amber? She's not the typical girl who's afraid of breaking her nails. Nagulat nga ako nang malamang marunong pala siya ng martial arts, hindi halata sa hitsura niya. I was even more surprised when the mafia is after her. Not for her life but as I potential reaper. Sa kakabuntot kasi ng mafia kay Gray ay nalaman nila ang tungkol sa kakayahan ni Amber. She's a sharpshooter, a skill to be possessed by a reaper.

Even though I like her, I'm not pursuing her. I know Gray likes her and I know she likes Gray too but both of them are dense or maybe they just don't entertain such feelings. Another reason why I'm not pursuing her is that I don't want to risk her life. Panganib lang ang maibibigay ko sa kanya lalo na at maraming kalaban ang mafia.

She's very carefree and smart. Nag-enjoy ako sa lakad namin kahapon kahit wala itong ginawa kundi ang ibulgar ang trick ng pinanuod naming magic show. She even asked me for a Baymax stuffed toy! I was amazed on everything about her. Ngunit kanina, sa buong durasyon ng party ay kakaiba ang pakiramdam ko. Like I said, I have a treacherous feeling about tonight. I told Amber about it ngunit ayon sa kanya ay pinagkakatiwalaan niya lahat maliban kay Ryu. That's exactly what treachery is about. Someone you trust will harm you. Hindi ako mapakali sa nararamdaman kong ito. Agad kong kinuha ang cellphone ko at tinawagan si Ryu.

RYU VANDER MORISSON'S POV

Gaya ng sinabi ko kay Amber ay ito nga ang unang beses na dumalo ako sa isang pagtitipon na walang kinalaman sa mafia. All my life evolved within Vander Mafia. I breathe for the mafia, I woke up for the mafia, I stay alive for the mafia. Lahat ng ginagawa ko ay para sa mafia. I even studied abroad and become a famous hacker all for the mafia.

I order people to kill other people for the mafia. I became heartless because of the mafia. Kailan ba ang huling beses na nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataong maging si Ryu na para sa sarili ko and not for the mafia? For my 21 years of existence ay umiikot ang buong buhay ko sa mafia.

Rionessi, my father even intervened with my personal affairs. He wanted me to court the daughter of the rich textile king, which was Marion. Sinunod ko sila and I stick to that annoying girl but recently I found out that she's a lunatic.

When I say lunatic, I mean that she's mentally ill. Nang minsang pilit na pinadalaw ako sa mansion nila ay wala ito kaya inutusan ako ng ama niya na puntahan ito sa silid niya and I was shocked when I saw her room. Puno iyon ng larawan ni Gray! Stolen photos of all angle. May mga in-edit pa na magkasama sila at magkaakbay. Some edited photos were Gray kissing her! Hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman ko na may gusto siya kay Gray but this is too much! I mean I don't know that she was this obsessive! That's when I told Rionessi about her and he agreed to call off the engagement ayon na rin sa request ko at ni Marion.

You see? My life is all controlled by the mafia. You may see me as the tough Ryu but the true me is a lost soul. Hindi ko kilala ang sarili ko. And when do I forget about my obligations for the mafia? It's only when I pissed the hell out of Amber. Yes. It's true.

Every time I talk death with her ay naiinis ito at ako naman ay natutuwa. Heck, that's rude but it's the truth. Naaaliw ako kapag nawawala ang kulay sa mukha niya. Not that I mean it when I said I'm after her precious life. I was really into killing her at first when she messed up with the transaction na unang beses kong hinawakan. I was freaking angry that time. Kaya ko hindi malimutan iyon dahil iyon ang unang beses na pinahawak ako ng malaking transaksyon ni Cronus. Kumbaga initiation rites ko iyon to prove myself to the mafia and Amber ruined it. I ended up not gaining Cronus' trust and remained in my position as the mafia hacker instead of being a negotiator like Cooler.

Bakit ko gustong bwesitin ang buhay ni Amber? I don't know. Maybe because I see her as the younger sister that I never had. The truth is I have a younger sister but she's killed together with my mom and for Pete's sake, she's only a fetus when she was killed. Ni hindi man lamang ito nagkaroon ng pagkakataong masilayan ang mundo. I even named her Ryle. But am I really seeing Amber as a sister? Well, maybe. Just maybe.

I was driving my car at pauwi na kami ni Cooler mula sa birthday party ni Amber. Bigla na lang tumunog ang cellphone ko at rumehistro ang numero ni Cooler. He's driving ahead of me, knowing him, he is a speed racer. Madalas itong sumasali sa mga street racing and he was a popular one lalo na sa mga mahilig sa drag race. I answered the call and turned on the speaker upang maka-focus pa rin ako sa pagmamaneho.

"Cooler."

"Ryu, when is the last time na nagkamali ako sa gut feel ko?" Kapag tinatawag niya ako sa tunay kong pangalan ay ibig sabihin ay personal affairs ang nais nitong pag-usapan.

I wonder why he's asking such question pero sinagot ko pa rin siya. "As far as I can remember, it's when you're 16 years old. You said you had a feeling na maba-busted ako but I didn't," sagot ko sa kanya. Yes, that's Zeus or Cooler. He has a good sense of, I don't know how to put it. Maybe he got a good sense for upcoming things. Laging tama ang nararamdaman niya. He sometimes predicts that a transaction is hoax ngunit hindi nakikinig ang mafia and ended losing millions for such transactions. Kumbaga siya ang Nostradamus ng mafia.

"Why?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"I have a feeling of upcoming treachery. I guess Amber is in grave danger," wika niya at agad akong napa-preno. Unti-unting bumalik sa gunita ko ang mga nakita ko sa silid ni Marion. On one side were photos of Amber. May mga nakatusok na dart doon. Some were crashed using a sharp object.

I immediately turned the car at muling tinahak ang daan pabalik sa hotel.

AMBER SISON'S POV

I can't imagine myself being dead right on the last few minutes before my birthday ends. Masakit ang paa ko at ramdam ko pa rin iyon. After I heard a gunshot ay pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili ko. I don't feel anything maliban sa tama ko sa binti at ang dumudugong sugat sa ulo ko na sanhi ng paghampas niya ng baril. Masakit rin ang pisngi at ang anit ko. Damn! Full packed ang sakit na iginawad sa akin ni Marion.

When I slowly opened my eyes ay nakita kong napaupo si Marion sa sahig. Dumudugo ang braso nito, marahil ay dahil sa tama ng baril. Napalingon ako sa bumaril sa kanya. Dahan-dahan itong humakbang palapit sa amin.

Ryu. Ryu saved me? I thought he's after my life too?

"How dare you!" sigaw ni Marion sa kanya. Nang akmang kukunin niya muli ang baril ay may biglang pumulot niyon bago pa man iyon makuha ni Marion.

MIKHAEL TIMOTHY ALONZO'S POV

Pagdating namin ni Silvan sa parking lot ay mas binilisan pa namin ang takbo. Matagal pa bago ko natanto ang sitwasyon ni Amber. I just hope that she's not hurt. Nang makita namin sila ay nakaupo sa sahig si Special A. Her head was bleeding and she got a bruised cheek. Dumudugo rin ang binti niya!

I also saw Marion at gaya ni Special A ay dumudugo rin ang braso nito and I saw the Ryu holding a gun kaya ito marahil ang bumaril kay Marion. Silvan ran towards Special A while pinulot ko naman ang baril na akmang aabutin ni Marion.

"Pistole 80, Glock 17. A semi-automatic type parabellum with 9×19mm caliber. Don't you know that a beautiful girl like you should not carry a thing like this?" wika ko habang maingat na sinusuri ang baril. Identifying guns is just a piece of cake for me! Pops is a police chief and guns really interest me.

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ako halos makapaniwala sa isiniwalat ni Silvan sa akin. This girl with a very beautiful face is actually a psycho? Yes, she's beautiful but I found her annoying mula sa simula pa lang. Ang ipinagtataka ko ay bakit niya ginagawa lahat ng iyon kay Special A.

"Give me that gun! This is between me and that bitch kaya 'wag kayong makialam!" she shouted. She must really hate Special A para gawin niya ito.

"Walang ginagawang masama sa iyo si Amber!" the guy named Cooler said. I can't believe it nang sabihin ni Gray na kapatid niya ito ngunit habang pinagmamasdan ko siya ay nakikita ko ang pagkakatulad ng features nila ni Silvan.

"She stole Gray from me!" Marion shouted. "Gray is mine!" Unti-unti itong umiyak at naging tila maamong tupa. "I'm sorry! I- I just love Gray so much! I'm sorry Amber!" Humagulhol ito at nakakaawang tingnan. I pity mentally-ill people like her.

"Marion wala akong inagaw sayo and if I have done any wrong against you, my apologies for that," mahinahong wika ni Special A. Why is she so kind despite all her damages? If it would be me ay baka sinira ko na ang mukha ng kung sino mang bumaril sa akin.

"F-forgive me!" patuloy pa rin sa pag-iyak si Marion. Crap, I hate dramatic scenes like this. I hope this is the part where everything comes to an end. Pagsisihan ni Marion ang kanyang ginawa at magpapagamot ito. And then eventually Special A would fall head over heels in love with me and OKAY! That idea is stupid. Iniisip ko pa iyon sa mga ganitong pagkakataon? Iwinaksi ko ang isiping iyon sa isip. I tucked the gun on my side at tinawag si Cooler.

"Hey, Silvan's bro. Can you lend me your phone? Tatawag lang ako ng ambulansya at pulis," wika ko sa kanya. He took a deep breath bago kinuha ang cellphone sa bulsa at inihagis iyon sa akin. Buti na lang magaling akong sumalo! Hindi man lamang ito sumenyas ng ihagis iyon! Argh! Magkapatid nga sila ni Silvan!

Patuloy pa rin sa pag-iyak at paghingi ng tawad si Marion. Dumistansya ako upang makatawag ng pulis but right after I took a few step ay bigla na lamang nagsalita si Marion.

"You all think that I'd say that?! No way!" she shouted at inangat niya ang suot na damit. She got the revolver that she kept in her thighs at pinaputok iyon kay Amber ngunit agad itong nayakap ni Silvan. He got the bullet that was intended for Special A right on his back, near his lungs. Isa pang putok ang narinig ko and then I saw Ryu lying on the ground.

DAMN! We can't really trust psychopaths!