Chapter 14: The Worst Birthday (Pursuit Chapter)

Gray Ivan Silvan is the most mysterious but complicated and unreadable guy that I have ever met in my entire life. Ano bang problema niya sa monggo ni Jeremy? And why did he walk out? Ayaw ba niya sa pagkain? Tsaka what if himatayin siya sa daan? Hindi ba't may sakit siya?! Hahabulin ko na ba siya? On the second thought, why would I run after him? Inutusan ko ba siyang magwalk out? In fact siya nga tong bastos eh. Iwan ba naman ang pagkain?! Argh! Daig pa niya ang babaeng nagme-menopause!

I haven't talk to him since that happened yesterday and it is the end of the week. I cannot just barge into their dormitory and ask him what's his problem with the food.

Sa ngayon ay pinili kong magpunta sa mall. It's the 9th of December, Khael's birthday and I need to buy gifts. Gifts dahil pagkatapos ngayon, birthday naman ng may pagka-flip ang utak na si Gray. And of course I also have to buy myself a gift. Masaya sana ang kaarawan ko kung nandito pa si Daddy. Kapag naiisip ko iyon ay nanginginit ang mga mata ko at may mga likidong nagbabadyang dumaloy. Good thing I can still hold them back. No more tear shedding, I already told that to myself.

Nang makarating ako sa mall ay nagtagal ako doon ng ilang oras. I shopped without anything to buy in my mind. Ano nga ulit ang magandang bilhin para sa lalaki? Hmm, pabango? Ah no. Mabango na si Khael and his scent is soothing that I wouldn't dare to change it with my own preference of a man's perfume. Belt? Wag na. Baka ano pang kamanyakan ang pumasok sa isip nun kapag binigyan ko ng sinturon. Relo? Mayaman yun kaya for sure, nakatambak ang relo nun, pwera nlang kung yung relo sa Big Ben ang ibibigay ko. Shirt? Hello? Hindi namumulubi si Khael at saka baka sabihin pa nitong binibigyan ko siya ng relief goods. Phone? Yeah, eh ako nga wala ng cellphone, mamimigay pa ako. Ano siya sineswerte?

My gift for him last year was a monkey-printed pillow. Bigyan ko kaya siya ng kumot na unggoy din? Lagyan ko na rin ng kulambo. Meh, wag na lang pala. Baka sabihin pa nitong gusto kong matulog katabi siya. Tss! In the end ay nagsayang lang ako ng oras sa mall dahil wala naman akong binili. Instead, I took a cab at agad na nagpahatid sa Athena.

Gaya ng Bridle, bukas ang gate ng Athena kapag weekend. Agad akong pinapasok ng guard nang sinabi ko na may bibisitahin ako sa dorm. Dahil medyo pamilyar na ako sa Athena, agad akong dumeretso sa kanang bahagi kung nasaan ang dormitoryo ng mga lalaki. I thought calling Khael in the dorm would take time ngunit hindi pala dahil nasa labas siya ng dorm. He was feeding two love birds on a cage sa labas ng dormitory. Kinakausap pa niya ang mga ito. He happened to look at me ngunit agad din naman akong nilagpasan ng tingin. Then he looked at me again but this time, with his eyes wide open.

"Special A?!" He rubbed his eyes like he was dreaming and then looked at me again. Hindi pa ito nakuntento at kinurot pa ang kanyang sarili at mahinang sinampal. Geez, weird.

"Khael ang OA mo, alam mo ba?", I said at lumapit sa kanya. I looked at the lovebirds inside the cage. I'm not really a fan of birds but looking at these cute creatures right now makes me love them.

"Who wouldn't be surprised Special A? You're here standing in front of me, once in a blue moon ka lang yata pumunta dito sa Athena. You really missed me that much huh? Uy Special A ha! Ikaw ha! Napaghahalataan na kita", he said as he tried to pinch my side.

Iritableng iniwas ko ang sarili ko mula sa kamay niya. Ayaw ko ng kinukurot o kaya ay kinikiliti ako. "Gising na Khael, nananaginip ka pa yata."

"Pero seryoso Special A. What do I owe you for the visit?", he asked. Inilapag niya ang pagkain sa tabi at muling tiningnan ang mga ibon.

"Some jerk from Athena is turning 19 today and I feel like I'm obliged to pay him a visit", I replied sarcastically. "Sa iyo ba to?", I asked referring to the birds.

"The one with a yellow on its chest is owned by the house parent while the one with blue chest is my birdy."

My birdy. Meh. I tossed away such thought at tiningnan ang mga ibon. "What's their name?"

"Etong kay Tito Ely ay si Khael, tapos ito namang sa akin ay si Amber", he said while grinning. Khael and Amber? What the hell?

"At sino namang nagsabi sa iyo na gamitin mo ang mga pangalan natin?"

He pouted and scowled at me. "Aba! Bakit, tayo lang ba ang Khael at Amber sa mundo?" Inirapan ko siya. Tama nga naman pero hello?! Masyado kayang obvious. Just then he grabbed me by my shoulders at inakbayan ako. He rested his cheeks on top of my head since he is taller than me. "I really miss you Special A. Sana pala araw-araw birthday ng jerk na ito para araw-araw ka rin na obliged na pumunta dito."

Khael is always the sweet talker that would never fail to make every girl feel the butterflies in their stomach. And he's not only sweet in talk but also in gestures. How many times did he help me in a situation? Noong naging exchange student ako ng Athena, he was always the guy who got my back. By simply existing, girls hated me but he was always there to defend me. Nang minsang pinagmatch ako ng kalahating tao at kalahating sadista na PE teacher ng Athena kay Zywon, he was the first one to stood up and volunteered to take my place instead. Though Sir Monte rejected his appeal that time, his effort was counted for me. He also demanded Zy for an apology for me. And if you will ask me what are the other reasons to like a Khael Alonzo, I can give you a long list. I can even make a book out of it.

And if you will ask me if I like him, yes I do. There's no reason not to like him. Well his cockiness at times just spices up the long list of his likeable traits. Hindi naman siguro masama na magustuhan mo ang isang tao. I like him as he is. I mean there's no rule saying that you must have an exclusive liking for one person only. Baka nga crush ko si Khael pero ayaw ko lamang aminin sa sarili ko. As of in a romantic way called love, I cannot say so. Love is a gamble. Pagsusugal ito, hindi nga lamang sa pera. Kasi ang pera, kapag sinugal mo at nawala sa iyo, you can have it back. But when you gamble your heart, that's too difficult to win back. Isa pa ay hindi pa iyon sumasagi sa isip ko. I have a revenge plan and that is my priority.

I pushed him away gently. "Sige na, magbihis ka na at aalis na tayo."

He moved away but his hands linger on my shoulders down to my hands. He gently squeezed it. "Teka, ililibre mo ako?"

"Opo", I replied and shoved away his hands at muling tinulak siya papasok ng dorm. "Pero wag mong abusuhin ang pera ko. Magtipid ka kasi ulila ako."

"Aye aye captain. Just wait here for a while", he said and ran towards the main door of the boys' dormitory. Like he said, he only takes for a while at agad na nakapagbihis. Damn, how can a man be so gorgeous in his after preparing for only ten minutes? Well, things work in an instant for Khael too.

Dala ang kanyang kotse, I told him to drive into the nearest mall but he objected. At dahil birthday niya, siya ang masusunod. And I cannot believe where he had brought me.

Sa zoo.

"Zoo? Bakit dito? Nami-miss mo ba ang mga kapamilya mo?", I asked jokingly as I removed my seatbelt.

"Bakit? Ayaw mo? Tsaka wag kang mag-alala. Nagtitipid ka diba? So dito na lang tayo, wala pa tayong makikitang mga mamahaling bagay na ipapabili ko sa'yo", he said at naunang bumaba. Umikot siya sa kabilang bahagi ng kotse and open the door for me. He is really the gentleman that every girl is looking for.

"At feeling mo naman, ibibili talaga kita?"

"Of course. I'll throw a tantrum at the mall then maraming makakakita. Syempre mahihiya ka so bibilhin mo na lang."

"Hindi no. Iiwan kita at ipagkakanulo ko na kilala kita." He laughed on my remarks before he pulled me at agad na nagpunta sa entrance ng zoo. It was supposed to be my treat but he paid for it.

Nagsimula kaming maglakad sa loob at tiningnan ang mga hayop na naroon. It was my first time to enter a zoo dahil gaya ko, hindi naman fan ng mga hayop ang mga magulang ko. Usually ay sa mga amusement parks at beach resort ang bonding namin dati.

"Alam mo bang ang saya ko ngayon Special A?"

Mula sa malaking tiger ay nabaling ang atensyon ko sa kanya. His eyes really look so happy. "Kasi birthday mo."

"Yeah, that's one but you're mainly the reason. Sino bang hindi magiging masaya kapag nakasama niya ang crush niya?"

There he goes again with his boldness. Other guy finds it too hard to confess how they feel for a girl but Khael is an exemption. Kaya nga nasasabi kong trip lang niya iyon but his acts tell the otherwise.

"Mahiya ka nga sa akin."

"Totoo naman ah. Since the day I walked in Bridle, I saw an angel-"

"Khael ipapalapa talaga kita sa tigreng ito kapag hindi ka tumigil", I said to him.

"You are really different Special A", he said in a half smile. "Hindi ko pinagsisisihan ang araw na nagpunta ako sa Bridle. I saved my best buddy from being poisoned and met you. Kung mamatay man ako atleast I have met a special person in my life at ikaw iyon."

I was a bit uncomfortable with what he is saying. Birthday lang naman niya, hindi pa siya mamamatay. Why keep on saying such things? Inapakan ko siya ng ubod lakas. The 'ipapalapa kita sa tigre' thing was all a taunt. Takot ko lang kapag ganoon 'no!

"Aray! Birthday ko ngayon! Why are you hurting me?!" He bite his lower lip to prevent the smile to emerge from his lips but that doesn't escape me.

"And I wouldn't mind hurting you everyday kapag ganyan ka ka-OA."

He laughed hard and refused to remarks. Nagpatuloy na lamang kami sa paglilibot sa loob ng zoo. We took photos of us with the animals there. Halos dalawang oras din kami roon bago namin napagpasyahang kumain muna. He had touched the big yellow snake there and I refused to get physical contact with him. OA na kung OA pero ahas pa rin iyon! Don't he dare touch me unless nakahugas na siya ng sandamakmak na alcohol.

We decided to drive into the nearest fast food restaurant ngunit habang nasa daan ay napansin namin ang mga police car na may serina. It seems that the police are chasing someone.

"Mukhang may hinahabol ang mga pulis", Khael said at inihinto ang sasakyan. Sinundan niya iyon ng tingin mula sa bintana ng kotse. Agad naman siyang bumaba at pinara ang isang police car na huminto naman.

Perks of being a son a police chief.

"Sir Chu! Ano pong nangyari?"

"Khael ikaw pala. Hinahabol namin ang mga drug dealer. Malaking shipment kasi ang nangyari at natunugan ng mga police", the fat police said. He had chinky eyes and I guess may lahing banyaga ito. "Kakaiba daw ang mga drugs na iyon."

His last words immediately stir me up. Bumaba na din ako ng kotse at agad na lumapit. "By any chance, are the drugs are in powder or liquid form at kulay asul?"

Saglit itong nag-isip. "Hindi ko nakita eh, at saka galing ako sa isang subdivision at pabalik pa lamang sa HQ ng tinawagan nila ako. From what I heard, mukhang kulay asul nga ang mga iyon. Sige Khael, Miss, mauna na ako."

Khael gave me a worried look. Alam niyang hindi na maganda ang nararamdaman ko. Hearing news concerning the blue drugs only reminds me of the Genesis. It's clearly the Genesis. No doubt about it. I realized that I am clenching my fist so hard nang mahinang ginagap ni Khael ang mga kamay ko. He gently opened my fist and tried to calm me by holding my hand. And it really worked. Khael Alonzo had this so called soothing power. I just found myself exhaled so deep bago ko naramdaman ang bahagyang pagkalma ng sarili ko.

"You want to follow their trail?", he asked and stared at me. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot ko. If I say yes, that would be a 50-50 chances that we could still be able to catch whoever they are following. At kung mahabol man namin, our life could be at stake.

"Of course you want. Tanga talaga ako minsan", he said and chuckled after he answered his own question. Iginiya niya ako pabalik sa kotse at sumakay na din doon. He opened his phone, checking something.

"What are you doing?", I asked.

"GPS tracking. Right now nasa Roque Street sila. Maybe we can take a shortcut on the left alley", he said at agad na binuhay ang makina. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang itina-track niya. Maybe his own father.

Somehow I felt guilty. It's his birthday and we're supposed to be enjoying this day, not following the diabolical organization. But I just can't let this pass. Nanahimik sila ng matagal and now is a good opportunity to follow them. Hindi nagtagal ay narinig namin ang busina ng mga kotse. Nagka-traffic jam sa kabilang kalsada and most of it are police cars. Ibig sabihin, the shortcut was a good one and now we are getting closer to the criminal.

When we observed a black car left open on the side of an abandoned building, we already know that it was the get away car. Nagmadali kaming bumaba at akmang papasukin ang abandonadong building. The will to lay a hand on the wicked organization has pushed me to do this kahit pa sabihing nakakatakot ang ginagawa namin. We might end to being a cold corpse in the end. On the other hand, his natural curiosity and sense of justice has pushed Khael. Nang akma akong pumasok sa building ay agad akong hinila ni Khael.

"Where are you going?"

"It's possible na nasa loob ang mga lulan ng kotseng ito. One is bleeding kaya posibleng hindi pa sila nakakalayo."

"That's what they want the police to believe. Sinadya nilang itinapat diyan ang kotse to make us believe na diyan sila pumasok. And don't fall for that trap, let's enter the other building", he said. At tama nga siya. There were traces of blood on the ground kaya posible ngang doon pumasok ang mga lulan ng kotse kanina.

We entered deeper into the building at hinati ang area na pupuntahan. I was on the first floor samantalang pumunta naman si Khael sa second floor. I know hindi si Detective Tross ang makikita namin dito but still, having the organization's pawn captured is a great thing. I slowly walked towards at bahagya akong napahinto nang may narinig akong kaluskos. Nang dahan-dahan kong tiningnan iyon ay may nakita akong lalaki. His leg was bleeding at duguan din ang kamay nito ng higitin niya ang kanyang cellphone at may tinawagan.

"Tin! The transaction is off. May nakapag-timbre sa mga pulis and right now they are chasing me. Pick me up here", wika niya. I looked for a possible thing na pwede kong ihampas sa kanya. There's no way I will let them get away!

Habang naghahanap ng matigas na bagay ay patuloy ako sa pakikinig sa usapan ng lalaki sa telepono.

"The STX are safe. I already informed the clients about the cancellation-", he stopped and looked around. Shit! I tried my very best to hide myself. Hindi naman siguro siya tatayo at pupunta dito sa pinagkukublihan ko, I even stopped my breath for a while. "Nothing. Napa-paranoid lang siguro ako. I thought someone's here."

Nakahinga ako ng maayos dahil sa sinabi nito. Saglit siyang tumahimik ang lalaki upang makinig sa kabilang linya. "Yes. Make it fast bago pa kami mahuli ng mga parak dito."

I was feeling angry by simply listening to them. They instantly boil my blood and awaken my killer instinct. Binubuhay nila ang kung ano man ang nasa loob ko. Well I never knew that there was this monster. Sabi nga ni Zywon dati, monsters are real and sometimes they are inside us.

Namataan ko ang isang tubo sa paanan ko and I picked it up. The man's wounded kaya mahihirapan siyang kumilos. Maybe I can just hit him using this thing and then I can find a way to call Detective Adler to lend me a hand. We're not close pero dahil interesado din siya dito, I'm pretty sure that he will help with this.

Bahagyang napapikit ang lalaki, pilit na iniinda ang sakit na dulot ng kanyang tama sa binti. Mukhang iyon na ang tamang panahon para isagawa ang plano ko. I held the pipe tightly and slowly stepped ngunit nakaisang hakbang pa lamang ako ay may naramdaman akong malamig na bagay mula sa sintido ko. When I slightly turned my head, it was a cold black thing that I hate the most.

"Go ahead at hindi ako magdadalawang isip na pasabugin ang bungo mo. But maybe after I beat up the hell out of you gaya ng kasama mo", a guy with a very familiar face said.

Lowie Mondino.

I wasn't surprise to see him but what he said is what worried me.

Did he kill Khael?!

Before I can think of anything, inihampas na niya ang baril sa ulo ko and I felt a sticky liquid ran down to my face bago ako tuluyang nawalan ng malay.

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-ShinichiLaaaabs