Chapter 51: A Good Friend

It was a fine day and so far, the day seems to be doing great. Despite the bandage that I have in my head ay naging masigla pa rin ang araw ko. The houseparent of the dorm asked me what happened and I refused to tell her the truth behind the wound dahil baka malaman pa nila ang panaka-nakang pag-alis namin ng Bridle sa pamamagitan ng 'backdoor'. The gates are still closed to the public after the seven missing students case— that makes it six since natagpuan ng patay ang isa. Chancellor Judas hasn't done further actions aside from closing the gates. Or maybe he did, hindi lamang namin alam. And I hope that they have take actions in redeeming the school's good name.

I don't know how that organization can take innocent students at gawing human carrier and then killing them after. I don't know what exactly they are planning to do, I'm sure there are more missing students in other schools too at ang organisasyon ang responsable doon! That's why I want to curse them to the pits of the hell.

Nagising ako na malakas ang ulan but it doesn't stop me from rising early, taking a bath and grabbing my oatmeal for breakfast. Nang makapaghanda na ako ay kinuha ko ang payong at tinungo ang classroom namin after I waved Andi and Res my goodbye.

Nakahilera ang mga payong sa labas and I did the same to my black umbrella. Pagdating ko doon ay ako na lamang ang wala pa sa upuan namin.

"Good morning!", masiglang bati ko sa kanila. Gray nodded slightly while Math has her face pressed on the table. Si Jeremy naman ay maluwang ang ngiti.

"Good morning Bestie! It's a beautiful day, isn't it?", he asked at kasabay niyon ay ang pagtunog ng kulog. Napasigaw ang mga kaklase namin dahil sa takot. "Don't mind that."

I smiled at Jeremy. Yeah, what a beautiful day it is. Tiningnan ko si Gray na mukhang malalim ang iniisip at gayundin ang nakasubsob na si Math.

"What's with them?", bulong ko kay Je at ngumuso sa dalawa. Je shrugged his shoulders. He touched Math's forehead using his palm.

"May lagnat yata si Maya", he said and he also touched Gray but the latter resisted and darted a glare at him. "At may toyo si Gray."

"Anong problema mo?", I asked Gray. He sighed and shook his head. I woke up on the right side of the bed so I will be annoying people as I want. And I want to annoy Gray para sabihin niya sa akin kung ano nga ba ang meron.

"Hoy", I said at mahinang sinipa ang sapatos niya. His brows met but he chose to ignore me.

"Hoy!" This time ay pinitik ko ang tenga niya and it was effective. He sighed bago kinuha ang kanyang cellphone. Pinakita niya sa akin ang isang balita.

"Bridle student found dead on a river creek."

Iyon ang nakasulat doon at may kasama pang litrato ng isang lalaki na wakwak ang tiyan. I refused to read more at inilayo sa paningin ko ang cellphone. So that explains his mode.

"The organization is still on the loose and no one can stop them", wika niya. "This information is kept from the student body but Inspector Dean passed this to me."

"My God! They're really cruel!", I hissed. "What are we gonna do now?"

Kumunot ang noo niya at tiningnan niya ako ng masama. "Don't do anything stupid", he snapped at me.

"Hoy anong ibinubulong-bulong niyo dyan?", Je asked. "Classmates oh, si Gray at Amber nagbubulungan. Nanliligaw yata si Gray eh."

Napuno ng kantyaw ang mga kaklase namin and I'm sure I'm as red as a tomato. Je raised his arm in surrender nang parehas namin siyang tiningnan ng masama ni Gray.

"Ano na nga kasing pinagbubulungan niyo dyan?", he asked persistently. I saw Math straightened from her seat at humarap sa amin. Her eyes are drowsy yet she still managed to smile at us.

She glanced at her wristwatch. "It's been ten minutes since classes started pero wala pa ang subject teacher natin", she said.

"Oo nga, tama si Math. Baka absent si Ma'am", sang-ayon ng isa kong kaklase.

"Oo nga."

"Jeremy, laro ulit tayo!", yaya ng ilan sa mga kaklase namin kay Jeremy.

"Oo nga Je!"

"Laro lang pala! Walang problema yan. How about battle of the brainless ulit?", Jeremy said with a wide grin.

"Game!"

Pumunta sa harapan si Je upang makipaglaro sa mga kaklase namin. Bumaling naman ako kay Math. She doesn't look fine.

"Gusto mo bang samahan ka namin sa infirmary Math?", I asked her. I gently touched her skin with the back of my palm at mainit nga ito. Maybe it's because of the weather.

She shook her head. "I hate being confined in bed. Isa pa ay hindi dapat minamahal ang sakit. 'Dili daw palanggaon para mawala."

Alien language again eh?

"Are you sure?", Gray asked. Maging ito ay nag-aalala din para kay Math.

"I'm positive. Don't worry about it. Nakainom na ako ng gamot bago ako pumasok", paninigurado ni Math sa amin.

Napalingon kami sa harapan nang magsimulang magtawanan ang mga kaklase ko. Uh, looks like Je's at it again.

"Kevin, bigyan mo ako ng tatlong paraan upang ipasok ang elepante sa loob ng ref."

Napakamot sa ulo si Kevin. "Tanga ka ba Jeremy? Di naman kasya ang elepante sa ref ah!"

"Tanga ka rin ba? Simpleng pagbukas ng ref lang, ipasok ang elepante at isara. Ganun lang!", Jeremy exclaimed. Nanatili lamang kami sa upuan namin at tinanaw sila.

"Oh ikaw naman Robert. Apat na paraan na ipasok ang leon sa loob ng ref."

"Hala, bakit apat? Buksan ang ref, ipasok ang liyon at isara. Ano ang pang-apat?", Robert asked.

"Ang tanga niyo naman. Syempre bubuksan ang ref, ilalabas ang elepante, ipasok ang leon at isasara! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!", Jeremy started laughing and my classmates are puzzled.

"Nakakatawa na yun?"

Je scowled at him. "Ang KJ niyo. Ito, nasa eroplano ka at kasama lahat ng uri ng appliances sa mundo, tapos nag-over loading kayo at kailangan mong maglaglag ng isa. Ano iyon?"

"Alam ko yan! Syempre yung ref kasi mabigat yun eh. Nandoon ang leon HAHAHAHA", my classmate Raffy answered at natawa na sila.

"Galing naman. Kapag may meeting ang lahat ng hayop sa gubat, sino ang hindi makakarating?", Je asked.

"Ang pagong kasi ang bagal niya?", Yuri answered.

"Eenk!!"

"Ang kwago kasi tulog pa siya?", one of my classmates answered.

"Eeeeenk!"

"Ang kuneho. Naiwan kasi siya kasi nagpahinga pa siya."

"Eeeeenk!"

"Eh? Ano pala?"

Jeremy let out a silly grin. "Syempre yung leon, nasa loob siya ng ref na nalaglag eh HAHAHAHAHA."

I prevented myself from rolling my eyes dahil hindi naman ako kasali sa laro nila. Maging si Math at Gray ay nakamasid na rin kina Jeremy na naglalaro.

"Eto, may matandang 100 years old na namatay sa daan. The question is, ano ang ikinamatay niya?"

"Natural death? Ang tanda na kasi", Robert answered.

"Eeeenk."

"Heat stroke?", Lori said. "Mainit ang panahon eh."

"Eeeenk!"

"Baka nasagasaan ng truck. Matanda na kaya malabo ang paningin", Andrei answered.

"Eeeenk! Ang tamang sagot ay nalaglagan ng ref na may leon! HAHAHAHAHA", Je said and burst out laughing.

Meh, just as I thought. Mafa-final destination nga ang matandang iyon dahil sa ref.

"Siya nga pala Math, how was the case yesterday? ", tanong ni Gray kay Math. The latter straightened from her seat at humarap kay Gray. She really doesn't look fine ngunit kahit pilitin namin ito ay ayaw niyang magpadala sa infirmary.

"The motive is clearly to steal the compromising photos and videos on the phone. They switched the phone with the same model for a while but luckily I was able to see through it. That case is a piece of cake", she answered. Oh, she reminded me of the detective I hate. Detective Adler. Kulang na lamang ay gamitin din nito ang linyang "I am not a detective for nothing."

"Really? That's good to hear."

"How about yours? Anong nangyari sa ulo mo Amber?", she asked at inginuso ang kanyang labi sa ulo ko na nakabenda.

"Konting sugat lang naman Math", sagot ko sa kanya. I just hope na mawala agad ang peklat sa noo ko.

"We found the girl", sagot ni Gray. "But something is bothering me."

"The same case?"

Gray slowly nodded his head. Kaya pala medyo malalim ang iniisip ni Gray. It isn't just about the news that he received recently. Mayroon ding tungkol sa The Raven Case na sinolusyonan namin kahapon. But what is it about?

Kung tama ang pagkakaalala ko, I saw a blurry image before I passed out. The blurry image was standing in front of me before he smashed a hard object on my head. It was shortly after Gray, Khael and Edward left. The image was standing in front of me.

Standing in front of me?

I'm not really sure if it is Mr. Isaias, the driver but what I was certain is that he was standing in front of me after we were knocked by the sleeping gas.

Posible kayang...

Posible kayang pinepeke lamang ni Sir Ravino ang pagiging paralisado niya?

"But I'm not really sure about it. Let's forget about it now", Gray said at tiningnan ako. I wonder what he has in mind. Kahapon ay panay ang paghingi niya ng tawad dahil sa sinapit ko. It wasn't that severe though ngunit pakiramdam pa rin niya ay kasalanan niya ang mga nangyari.

"Oh, siya nga pala, are you busy this weekend? How about going with me to a friend's wedding?", Math asked.

"Okay lang ba sa kaibigan mo? Iimbitahan mo kami kahit hindi naman niya kami kilala? That sounds like gate crashing to me", wika ko sa kanya. Hindi talaga ako mahilig sa mga pagtitipon na maraming tao. Kahit family reunions at gatherings ay ilap ako. I wonder how reunion will be for me now lalo na at alam ko na kung ano ang pamilyang kinabibilangan ko. I'm sure as hell that Dad's brother, Tito Benedict, is somewhat connected to the organization too. The Sison's and Allejo's. Whatever name they have.

"Yup, I already told her I'll be tagging three people along. You can bring Filter too at pwede ring dalhin ni Jeremy si Porsche", Math said with a smile.

"Pwede? Bakit saan ba ang reception ng kasal?", Gray asked.

"Iligan City."

"Ah, doon—"

Sabay na nanlaki ang mga mata namin ni Gray. "What? Iligan City?"

"Yup, my hometown. Ayaw niyo ba?"
Iligan City, that is somewhere in Region 10, Northern Mindanao and that's pretty far from where Bridle is. Para sa isang katulad kong homebody, such long trip is a big no no.

"That's pretty far..."

"Bakit, pinapagalitan ka pa ba ng mama mo kapag pumupunta ka ng malayo?", Math smirked at me. It sounded like she's saying I'm too old to be restricted. Hindi naman ako binabawalan nina Mommy sa mga lakad na malayo, they trust me in handling myself. It's just that ayaw ko lang. I hate travelling, nahihilo kasi ako sa byahe.

"Hindi naman but..."

"No buts. This weekend, prepare for our trip okay?"

I looked at Gray kung poprotesta din ba siya sa paanyaya ni Math sa amin but I don't see any protest from him. He just let out a smile and slowly nodded his head. Ibig sabihin ay pumapayag siya?

"You're coming along?", I asked in surprised. Gray is never the kill joy guy yet Math's hometown is really far.

"Why not? It's not that far anyway, we're not gonna need visa and others. Time to explore the city of waterfalls, what can you say?", he asked. See? Okay lang sa kanya. If Jeremy will be tagging along too, ibig sabihin ako na ang KJ.

"Uh, I'll think about it", sagot ko sa kanila. It's not a bad idea anyway. I've been to London and that's considerably far. Travelling within the Philippines, maybe I will consider it.

Muli akong napalingon sa gawi nina Jeremy nang magtawanan sila. Looking at Je now, he's a far cry from the Jeremy that we used to know. Kailan nga ba iyon nagsimula?

Ah, it was last year when Marion was still with us, hiding in a sheep's clothes when in fact she's really a wolf. If anyone would ask me if I have forgiven Marion after all she did, the answer is yes. Kahit gaano pa kadami ang nadamay niya just because of her jealousy and obsession, I have forgiven her. I wasn't the kind who holds forgiveness and bear grudges. I have prayed for her every night.

"May tanong ako sayo Raffy", narinig kong wika ni Jeremy. "Pag may nakita kang 1,000 at 500 sa daan, ano ang pupulutin mo?"

"Syempre yung 1,000! Mas malaki iyon diba?", Raffy answered.

"Ay tanga!", Je snorted. "Bakit yung 1,000 lang, eh pwede namang yung dalawa diba para may 1,500 ka! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

I heard my classmates laughed and even Math who's sitting beside me. Naramdaman ko ang pagvibrate ng cellphone ko mula sa bag kaya agad ko iyong kinuha. It was Dad calling.

It's been a while since I talked to him and I already missed him. Kahit galit ako sa kanya dahil sa involvement niya sa Genesis, he's still my Dad after all and I still love him despite everything. After I found out that Rionessi isn't my Dad but Zywon's, I was confused and sad to know how complicated everything was ngunit natuwa pa rin ako dahil siya ang Daddy ko.

Bernard Sison...

No.

Rovan Allejo III.

I excused myself from Math and Gray at agad na sinagot ang tawag.  "Dad...." I'm still mad but I have to talk to him.

"Amber, can we talk? I missed you." His voice is sweet, the usual voice that he always use at home kapag naglalambing siya sa amin ni Mommy. The usual tone that I have been hearing from him.

I slightly smiled. God, he has no idea how much I missed him too. I have this urge to see him right now and hug him tightly. "I missed you too Dad. Ngayon na po ba?"

"If you don't mind", he said.

Of course I don't mind. Wala akong klase sa first period and even if I have, I would still skip classes just to see my Dad. "Of course, I don't. Are you coming over?"

"No, I want to see you somewhere. And I have someone to pick you up there. We'll see each other in a cafe", wika niya. I don't have to tell him about Bridle's locking of gates. I'm sure he already knows about it, after all they're responsible for the reason why Chancellor Judas came up with that decision.

"Sure Dad", wika ko sa kanya.

"Bye sweetie. I love you."

Napangiti ako nang marinig iyon. It's been a while since the last time I heard it from him. "I love you too Dad..."

"Oh, just wait at the gates okay? The guard was already notified", pahabol nito bago pinatay ang tawag.

I keep my phone in my pocket at bumalik sa upuan ko. I reached for my bag at nagpaalam kay Gray at Math.

"I have to see my Dad", wika ko sa kanila. Gray stared at me for a while. I'm wondering what he's thinking. Well, thanks to him for discovering that I am not a Vander.

"Take care!", Math said. I smiled at her at hinarap si Gray.

"Take care of Math!", I said and dashed towards the door. Kinuha ko ang payong ko at bumaba ng building. I have so many thoughts in my mind about meeting with Dad.

Malakas pa rin ang patak ng ulan and it doesn't stop me from happily walking through the wet corridors of Bridle. When I reached the gate ay bahagyang ngumiti ang guard sa akin at binuksan ang gate. Unlike the first week that the gates are closed, the reporters are nowhere to be found now. I hope they have found another scoop and decided to leave Bridle alone. Having them lingering around Bridle choke the students.

We don't want the gates of Bridle to be closed. Isa pa ay gusto naming panatilihin ang magandang imahe ng skwelahan. That damn organization stained Bridle's shining name. Kung dati ay isang prestihiyoso, academically excellent at values-oriented ang madalas na iugnay sa pangalan ng Bridle, ngayon ay nagiging negatibo na ang mga iyon. There was these missing students cases, brutal murders and others. Nakatanggap ng ng critic ang skwelahan tungkol sa pagiging pabaya umano nito sa kanilang mga estudyante. I wonder how Chancellor Judas would respond to it as well as Sir Arman.

Isang puting kotse ang nag-aabang sa labas and I'm sure it is someone whom Dad sent. I slowly walked towards the car when the door in the driver's side opened at lumabas doon ang isang lalaki na may dalang itim na payong. The way he stood would make girls stop on their track to pay attention to him.

I was surprised for a while to see who it was. The guy smiled at me, the smile that I have seen the first time that we meet in an island. Matagal-tagal ko ding hindi nakita ang ngiting iyon dahil palaging seryoso ang mukha nito nung mga nakaraang araw.

"Hi", bati niya sa akin. He maintained a distance between us but it was enough fore to clearly hear him despite the rain.

I stop from my track which is few meters away from him. Nagflashback sa utak ko ang mga nangyari these past few weeks which involves me, him, the Genesis and the mafia. He used to be the faceless name who brings shivers down my spine. He used to protect me from Ryu's threats before and I have enjoyed the privilege of being under his protection for quiet some time. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin lubusang maisip kung bakit nagawa niyang traydorin ang mafia just to protect me.

"Cooler..."

"Yup, that's my name", he said. Oh well, the bubbly Cooler's back. I wouldn't be surprised if he's the one sent by Dad to pick me here. He's been collaborating with him to protect me, isn't he? And that explains why the guard immediately agreed on letting me out despite the order that no student shall be allowed to leave Bridle's premises without the company of parents or guardians. He's been befriending the guards for a while now unlike Khael who's been befriending the wall.

"Cooler...."

"Paulit-ulit ka Amber, I know that Cooler's my name", he said. Tinawid niya ang muting espasyo sa pagitan namin but still maintained few steps distance in between. "I would love to hug you now but the rain's not permitting me to do so. I cannot just abandon our umbrellas, I don't want you to get sick."

I smiled at him bago binitawan ang payong ko. I crossed the distance between us and hugged him tightly. I haven't got the chance on thanking him for everything dahil hindi ko alam kung paano ko iyon gagawin.

"Err, Amber I told you, the rain would not permit me to do so, I haven't told you to do it instead", he said at napangiti na lamang ko but I never pulled myself from him at sa halip ay mas isiniksik ko pa ang sarili ko sa kanya. Since he's a bit taller than me, my head rested on his chest. I am really thankful to Cooler, I feel so indebted to him for everything. I was wondering if he doesn't regret doing it just for me.

"Amber, I would love to be hugged by you but we just can't do it here. Let's get a room", he said with a chuckle. Mahinang hinampas ko ang likod niya but I didn't let go.

"Oh, just kidding. You cannot just hug me here, someone might see us and I might receive a good beating."

I don't know what he's talking about but nonetheless, I pulled myself from him. Pinayungan niya ako as he stared at me.

"Sorry. I know you've been through a lot these past weeks", wika niya sa akin. Uh, why does he have to apologize for it? It wasn't his fault, at sa katunayan ay isa pa nga siyang malaking tulong.

"Bakit ka nagsosorry?"

"Because I haven't done anything to lessen your pain", he said. I picked up my umbrella at itinapon ang natipon na tubig doon.

"I'm not your responsibility Cooler so no need to apologize. Besides, you have done everything for me. I was wondering if I was even worth it", wika ko. Am I really worth it?

He snapped my nose and pulled me towards the car. "Silly, of course you are. You are worthy of everything. If we will go back in time, I would still choose to protect you no matter what."

I stopped and stared at him. "Even if it would means betraying the mafia?"

He let out a wide smile. "Even if it would means betraying the mafia."

His smile is telling me how lucky I am to have known him. I don't know how he was able to do it for me. If it is because he likes me just like what he said, his affection for me is just so immeasurable that it turned out to be like this, na kulang na lamang ay maging bayani siya at magpakamatay para sa akin. I'm really clueless why he is this kind to me. What I know is that I'm really lucky to have Cooler Vander on my side.

#

—ShinichiLaaaabs.