Imee's Point of View

I woke up with my head throbbing in pain. When I opened my eyes, I noticed I was inside in an unfamiliar room. Shit. I still remember what happened yesterday. But where am I now? I am even wearing different clothes.

"Shit!" Mabilis akong tumayo and I'm about to call someone when the door opens. Nagulat pa ako nang makita kung sino ito.

"Hey, you're awake." Aniya.

"Where are we? And why the fuck am I wearing different clothes?" Tanong ko sa kanya pero pinitik lang nito ang noo ko. What the hell with Xydelle this time? Tinignan ko ito ng masama pero nginitian niya lang ako.

"Tsk. Yaya changed your clothes yesterday. You were drunk last night kaya inuwi kita rito. I already informed your brother about it so no need to worry." Saad nito sa akin kaya napatango na lang ako. "Fix yourself. I'll wait you downstairs." He said and stormed outside. When I was left alone, inayos ko na lang ang sarili ko bago ako bumaba. I even saw Principal Avah sitting on the dining table. Yeah I already know that she's Xydelle's mother.

"How do you feel hija?" She asked nang makalapit ako sa kanila.

"I feel better Principal Avah. Thank you for letting me stay here." Hindi ko alam kung anong irereact ko.

I somehow feel shy? Goodness. Of course they saw my state yesterday. Uh, it's kind of frustrating. Magpapaalam na sana ako sa kanila but Principal Avah invited me for breakfast. Wala na rin naman akong nagawa.

"You can call me Tita besides nandito lang naman tayo sa bahay, okay?" Usal nito sa akin at tumango na lamang ako.

After awhile, tsaka ako nagpaalam sa kanila and Xydelle brought me home. Since Xydelle told me that Kuya Denver knew what I'm up to yesterday, hindi naman nila ako pinagalitan pagkauwi ko.

I went upstairs at mabilis na inayos ang sarili ko. I still have class to attend to. Mabuti nga dahil hindi ako nalate. Well honestly masyado akong maaga para malate. I am alone here, still waiting for the others to arrive. Nasasanay na talaga akong pumasok ng maaga.

"Oy, nandito ka na. Ang aga mo ah? Okay ka lang ba? Hindi ba sumakit ang ulo mo kahapon?" Sunud-sunod na tanong ni Irish pagkarating niya. Inismiran ko lang siya. Ang dami niyang tanong.

"Kasi naman hindi mo sinabing weak ka sa alcohol. Malay ko bang malalasing ka agad." Sabay tawa nito at naupo sa tabi ko. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin. Hindi naman ako nalasing kahapon. Nahilo oo.

But I only did that because I want to get those thoughts off my mind. For once, I wanted to have some peace of mind because I was so confused about the things that are happening to me.

Natapos ang sunud-sunod naming klase matapos ang ilang oras. Mabuti na lang at nagawa ko pa ring magfocus while our teachers were discussing. My mind went haywire. I almost lost focus, good thing I did not.

Maaga ang uwian namin ngayon but I don't want to go home yet. Irish went home already. Boys are still having their class. Wala naman akong gagawin sa bahay so might as well waste my time here. I went for a walk and decided to stay at a coffee shop nearby. Unexpectedly, I saw Jazz there.

"Hey, Denniese. You're here." Tumango lang ako sa kanya.

Among the Black Gang members, siya na lang ang nakakausap ko. I don't know where are the others. I lost contact with them the moment I lost Keizer. 

After having his coffee, naupo ito sa harap ko.

"What's up? Are you fine?" Tumango lang ulit ako.

Jazz knew what happened this past few weeks. He's the person whom I seek for help when I'm still looking at the Ruthless Gang.

Now thinking that Ruthless Gang was not the group who killed Keizer, nafufrustrate ako sa sarili ko. All along, I cursed the people whose really not at fault.

"What's your plan now?" Napasandal ako sa kinauupuan ko.

What's my plan now? I'm not fond of making plans but I really don't know. I don't even know where to start now. Magsisimula na naman ako sa pinakasimula. Magsisimula ako sa isang panimulang wala akong kaide-ideya. Definitely, I will start with a scratch.

"Death Shadow, he's the last resort I have." Kumunot ang noo nito pagkasabi ko nun. Yeah, he didn't know a thing especially about the message I'm receiving.

"Denniese." He called my name and there's a hint of warn on it.

"I sometimes doubt if Keizer's death has something to do with the Underground Empire." I sip in my coffee. Nakatingin lang ito ng diretso sa akin.

Thinking those things that happened back then, thinking about Keizer, wala akong makitang ibang dahilan para ganun yung gawin nila sa kanya.

Aside from the Ruthless Gang and other gang groups in the empire, wala akong maisip na iba pang gumawa nun sa kanya but Celine told me everything and she said that Keizer's death was not her doing.  

If it wasn't related to the gang, what was the possible reason then? They will not kill him for nothing. There must be a reason behind it at yun yung gumugulo sa isip ko simula nung malaman kong wala naman palang kasalanan ang Ruthless Gang sa pagkamatay niya. Who would dare to kill him?

"What's on your mind right now? Don't be so impulsive Denniese."

"Don't you think someone's targeting me without my knowing?"

Napaayos ng upo si Jazz. That's not impossible. Maybe I'm really their target and it just so happened that Keizer was involved. If they're really aftering the top rank in Underground Empire, then definitely they should have targeted our gang mates. Not that I don't want them to get hurt though. I just can't see the logic in it.

Gusto nila kaming pabagsakin sa ranggo. That's given. But to kill the leader alone, don't they think that's just it? In Underground Empire, having the leader being killed can be a reason for that opponent to take over the rank but it depends whether to change the leader or not. Members can also be a leader if they will be able to defeat the other gang leaders who want to beat them down.

Everything seems odd now. I don't know now if these sudden events have something to do with the Underground Empire or with me, alone.

"Just don't be reckless Denniese." Mariin nitong saad sa akin.

That incident flashes on my mind. Napapikit ako nang may maalala ako. Aside from dealing with Death Shadow and with the message sender, then here's Keizer's killer. That girl. I still remember her but I don't have any idea who is she. If I only had the chance to see her bare face, we should not be suffering right now. Shit. That girl. Who would be that girl?