1:32 AM

Denver:

Home

You:

Thanks again for saving lucho

You're still the worst though :) #ThisIsWhatEnemiesSayDontBeMadPlease

Denver:

Never

You think he'd tell Warren?

You:

Lucho knows we're enemies. Not a problem :)

Kilala mo ba sinong gumawa nun sa lucho namin?

Denver:

hindi 

You:

But can you recognize them if you seem them again?

Denver:

I don't think so... But I know someone who can help

what are you planning?

You:

I wanna find them

Denver:

What are you going to do after finding them?

You:

Just gonna tell them something 

Denver:

I sense something evil... 

What are you gonna say to them?

You:

Secret hihihi

Denver:

Make me proud, Teddy

You:

Yes, Master Denbear

Denver:

Saan pala matutulog si Lucho?

You:

Piper's bed

Denver:

Sa iisang kwarto kayo matutulog???!!

You:

Yuppp

Denver:

At okay lang sayo????

You:

Lucho doesn't snore like Riley so it's fine with me :)

Denver:

Wtf bray! Lalake siya at babae ka!

You:

But my kuya bryan and I used to sleep in one room for like 8 years hahaha 

Denver:

BECAUSE HE'S YOUR BROTHER!!! AND LUCHO IS NOT YOUR BROTHER!!

You:

BUT LUCHO IS LIKE A BABY BROTHER TO ME!!! I LOVE MY BRO SO ITS OKAYIEE

Denver:

JUST LET HIM SLEEP IN THE FUCKING COUCH

You:

BUT HE'S ALREADY ASLEEP

AND CAN YOU PLEASE STOP CURSING?

Denver:

SA IBANG KWARTO KA NALANG MATULOG

You:

BUT THAT'S LIKE VIOLATING SOMEONE ELSE'S PRIVACY AND BESIDES THEY'RE LOCKED

Denver:

GO SLEEP ON THE COUCH THEN

You:

BUT NAKAKATAMAD NG BUMABA AT LUMIPAT. CAN WE STOP USING CAPS LOCK? I FEEL LIKE WE'RE SCREAMING AT EACH OTHER HAHAHAHA

Denver:

Hey, let's go midnight exploring again

You:

Pwede bang bukas na? Antok na talaga ako eh hihihi

Tulog ka narin denbear

thanks ulit!

goodnight!

         I propped myself with my elbows and raised my head just enough to get a glimpse of Lucho. He's on the other side of the room, lying on Piper's bed and sleeping soundly. My heart feels like it's been ripped to shreds seeing him wounded and bruised up, not to mention the fact that he's also stuck at school in a holiday break away from his family. He must feel so sad being away from his family on a Christmas day, I know because that's how I feel.

        Akala ko noon si Lucho ang pinaka may maayos na buhay sa amin. He seemed so carefree and happy, he's always smiling and fooling around. He also has this nasty habit of womanizing; Lucho boy knows he's popular with the girls because of his pretty boy face. But I guess just like me, Lucho's doing a pretty good job at hiding his pain.

         "I don't know if you can hear me, but if you do please remember this... I'm always here for you Lucho Boy. Juday loves you but Braylee loves you more. Merry Christmas, Lu." I smiled and said out loud, 

****

Third Person's POV

          Napabuntong-hininga si Denver at sinuot ang hood ng kanyang jacket bago lumabas ng kanyang sasakyan. Nagsimula siyang maglakad patungo sa direksyon ng club at habang papalapit ay unti-unting lumalakas ang musika na naririnig. Nakikita ng binata ang mga taong pumipila para alng makapasok sa bar pero siya'y tuloy-tuloy sa paglalakad at ni hindi man lang siya hinarang ng mga bouncer, dahilan para maglabas ng kanya-kanyang hinaing ang mga tao sa pila.

         In the midst of people partying and dancing along to provocative music, tuloy-tuloy sa paglalakad si Denver na walang kaemo-emosyon ang mukha at walang pakialam sa nangyayari sa paligid. Umakyat si Denver sa pangalawang palapag kung saan naroroon ang VIP room at gaya ng kanyang inaasahan, natagpuan niya rito ang kanyang pakay. 

         "Cohen," walang kaemo-emosyong sambit ni Denver sa mala-banyagang binatang nakaupo sa sofa at may akbay na isang dalagitang nakasuot ng napakaikling damit. May ibinubulong ang binata sa dalaga dahilan para mapangiti ito at matawa, napakalapit ng mukha at katawan nila sa isa't-isa.

          Namilog ang mga mata ng binatang si Cohen nang makita si Denver at agad na kumurba ang isang ngisi sa mukha nito. "Holy fuck, you came here again! I guess you're finally back to your senses! Welcome back Denver fucking Hawthorn!" mangha at may pang-uudyo nitong sambit sabay hagis kay Denver ng isang maliit na bote ng alak. Nang masalo ni Denver ang alak, agad niya itong ibinalik sa mesa.

           "Out," walang kaemo-emosyong bulalas ni Denver dahilan para mapakunot ang noo ni Cohen.

           "What?" naguguluhan man, natawa si Cohen.

           "He's positive for HIV, find someone else to fuck," muli, bulalas ni Denver sabay turo kay Cohen dahilan para agad mapatayo ang babae at dali-daling umalis.

           "Babe that's not true! Damn it!" tinangkang pigilan ni Cohen ang babae sa kabila ng gulat ngunit hindi na niya ito napigilan pa. Binaling niya ang tingin kay Denver at napabuntong-hininga. "It's okay, she doesn't have boobs anyway," pakunswelo nito sa sarili at umiling-iling na lamang.

          "I need you to find someone for me," walang paligoy-ligoy na sambit ni Denver at naupo sa sofa sabay patong ng mga palad sa kanyang tuhod.

          "What makes you think I'll help you?" mapang-udyong tumawa si Cohen at uminom mula sa hawak na bote ng alak.

          "I'll owe you for this," giit ni Denver.

           Cohen grinned at the thought of Denver owing him. "Aside from that, you have to answer my question too."

          "Ask away, asshole," Denver says confidently as he gives Cohen a piercing look.

          Cohen chuckled as he leaned his head closer towards Denver's direction. "Are you head over heels for a girl named Braylee Emanuel?"

         Napakurap-kurap si Denver sa gulat pero sa kabila nito ay nanatiling walang kaemo-emosyon ang kanyang mukha. "Apollo you stupid fuck."

         Humalakhak si Cohen dahil sa naging reaksyon ni Denver. "You got that right, Apollo really is a stupid fuck... I wonder why most girls in this club are always looking for him. Looks can be deceiving nga naman." Cohen continued to take a sip from his drink. "Apollo told me about your bet, it's okay, I'm on your side. I'd like to see you punch his stupid face... But I gotta say, I'm proud of your progress man. Hope you'll turn into a proper human being because of this Braylee chick. I think love is bullshit and it only ruins lives but I guess you need it."

         "I'm not in love with her," taas-noong giit ni Denver.

         "Wanna bet on it?" ngumisi muli si Cohen.

***

Denver:

Don't sleep better be careful

Okay fine, get sleep, get some rest, just keep an eye open

If he touches you, punch him

Do you know how to punch?

I guess I'll teach you how to punch too

Call me when you wake up

You awake?

Merry Christmas

Good morning

          Napangiti si Braylee nang magising at mabasa ang mga mensahe mula kay Denver. Natutuwa siya sa kakulitan nito sa di malamang dahilan.

You:

Merry christmaaaas! Good morning!

Gift ko? hahaha

        Hindi agad nakatanggap ng reply si Braylee kaya naman nag-ayos muna ito ng sarili at nagbahis para mag-jogging. Nang lumabas mula sa dorm, nagtaka ang dalaga nang mapansin ang isang bulto na nakaupo sa kalapit na Gazeebo. Nagtataka, lumapit si Braylee sa direksyon nito at nagulat siya nang mapagtantong si Denver ito--natutulog habang nakasandal ang ulo sa haligi ng gazeebo. 

       Gigisingin niya sana ito ngunit biglang dumilat ang matamlay na mga mata ni Denver at kumukurap-kurap na napatingin sa direksyon niya. A smile forms in his face once he realized Braylee's standing right infront of him, and seeing him smile made the corner of her lips to rise. A heartfelt smile as her heart races.

       "How long have you been here?" she asked as she sat next to him, her smile can't seem to fade.

       "Si Lucho?" He ignored her question.

      "Lucho's been asleep since last night. Baby boy's a heavy sleeper," she said with pride.

      "I found them," He blurted out.

       "Huh?" Braylee asked in confusion.

       "The boys who beat him up," and when he said this, the smile on Braylee's face faded. A blank expression blanketed her face.

        "Can I be bad this Christmas day?" she asked.

        "No matter what you'll do, you'll always be the purest girl I know," Denver smiled, making her smile again.

         "You're forgetting something," she reminded him.

         "What?" he asked.

        "I'm the strongest and cutest independent cutie you know," she said and winked, making him chuckle.

**

          "Are you sure that's them?" hindi napigilan ni Braylee na magdalawang-isip habang pinagmamasdan ang mga kalalakihan na nagkakape sa labas ng isang coffee shop.

          "I have a reliable source," giit ni Denver.

           "What makes him reliable?I mean I trust you but I just want to be sure," pagtatanong ni Braylee upang makasiguro. Niyakap ni Braylee ang hawak na backpack dahilan para mapakunot ang noo ni Denver.

         "Ano ba talagang laman ng bag mo?" tanong ulit ni Denver. Makailang-ulit na niyang tinatanong ang dalaga tungkol sa backpack ngunit ayaw talaga nitong sumagot.

         "Denver, how sure are you na sila nga ang bumugbog kay Lucho?" tanong ulit ni Braylee.

        "May kilala ako, si Cohen. Lagi yung naglalagi doon sa club kung saan nabugbog si Lucho kaya alam niya ang tungkol sa nangyari at kilala niya sino yung mga bumugbog kay Lucho. Tatay ni Cohen ang may ari ng Rosepike kaya nakuha niya agad ang impormasyon tungkol sa kanila. Sa tuwing kailangan namin ng impormasyon sa Rosepike, si Cohen ang takbuhan ng lahat," paniniguro ni Denver. At dahil sa kasiguraduhang nakikita niya, sapat na ito para mapalagay ang dalaga.

       huminga nang malalim si Braylee at ngumisi. "Daanan natin sila tas ipaharurot mo agad ang car," pangungumbinsi ni Braylee dahilan para mapangisi rin si Denver. "Ay wear this pala, disguise hehehe" dagdag pa ni Braylee saka nagsuot ng medical face mask. Sinuotan din niya ng ganito si Denver.

      Wala mang kaide-ideya sa plano, sinunod ni Denver ang gusto ni Braylee, nagmaneho ulit si Denver at dumaan sa harap ng grupo. Laking gulat ni Denver nang buksan ni Braylee ang bag na dala at tumambad sa kanya ang mga maliliit na halamang nakalagay pa sa mga maliliit na paso.

      "Hindi kayo mahal ng nanay niyo! Di kayo jojowain ng crush niyo! Lang nagmaahal sa inyo! Forever kayo sa friendzone!" buong lakas na nagsisigaw si Braylee habang nakadungaw sa bintana at kasabay nito ay pinagbabato niya ang mga binata ng paso. 

        Habang papalayo ang sasakyan, tawa nang tawa sina Denver at Braylee lalo pa't kitang-kita nilang tinamaan ang mga ito at nagbulwakan pa ang mga lupa mula sa paso. 

        "Please tell me, walang fertilizer yon," tawa parin nang tawa si Denver.

        "I took it from our school's botanical area, everything's got animal manure," pag-amin ni Braylee dahilan para mas lalo pang matawa si Denver.

       "Damn! You're a savage! Bow down to baby satan!" biro ni Denver sa dalaga. "Feel better?"

       "I feel like i'm going to hell," natatawa man, bakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha ni Braylee.

       "Then, i'll go to hell with you," he says with a smile.

         Braylee turns to look at Denver. A faint smile is still on her face as she continues to look at him. "Denver, may sasabihin ako. Promise you won't be weirded out?"

       "I already know you're weird," biro ni Denver at napasulyap kay Braylee sa pamamagitan ng rear-view mirror. "Ano?" tanong niya.

         "Can you please stop saying sweet things? It's making my heart flutter," bulalas ni Braylee dahilan para agad maapakan ni Denver ang preno ng sasakyan. Mabuti nalang at kapwa sila nakasuot ng seatbelt kaya hindi sila masyadong tumilapon paharap.

          "You okay?" tanong ni Denver at tumango-tango naman si Braylee.

           Ngumiti muli si Braylee. "Just tone down your sweet words if you don't really mean them," pabiro man ang pananalita at may patawa-tawa pa, seryoso si Braylee sa nais niyang ipahiwatig sa binata.

END OF CHAPTER 35!

THANKS FOR READING!

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