Imee's Point of View

I was awakened because of the beam of sunrise hitting on the glass window. I stood up. Irish and Alice were still sleeping. After fixing myself not that long, I stormed out of our room. To my surprise, Xydelle was leaning on our suite's door frame with his hands inside his pocket. As usual.

"Hey." He greeted me and soon I realized that he kissed me on my cheeks. I gave him a look. What was that?

Lumapit siya sa akin, almost cornering me on the closed door, not minding other people who are passing by in this hallway.

"What are you doing?" I arc my brows on him.

"Don't you forget that you are my girlfriend now?" He asked, wetting his lower lip.

"So?" Hindi makapaniwalang lumayo ito sa akin at wala sa sariling naiiling. Maya-maya pa ay kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinila palabas.

"Pasalamat ka mahal kita." I heard him whispered causing me to flash a small smile on my lips.

Nakarating kami sa cottage at hindi na ako nagulat nang makitang nandoon na rin sina Zephyr at Aris. I even saw how their foreheads crumpled as they saw my hand being intertwined on Xydelle's.

"Where are the two?" Zephyr asked, referring to Alice and Irish.

"Still sleeping."

Foods were already placed in the center of a wooden table. Hindi ko nga rin alam kung bakit dito kami kumakain kung pwede naman sa loob ng hotel mismo. I prefer in here anyway. I love the vibes that surrounding is giving plus we have the perfect scenery of the beach.

Ramdam ko ang paglalagay ni Xydelle ng pagkain sa pinggan ko pero hinayaan ko na lang ito. After awhile, the two girls arrived. Nakisabay na rin silang kumain even though patapos na kaming apat. Such a sleepyhead.

"Guys, want to go in our private rest house later? There's a lagoon near it. Sulitin na natin pagiging absent natin ngayon." Wika ni Alice and I heard the others agreed. They even laughed. I found Alice being talkative now. Irish is such a bad influence. Tsk.

Today is Monday and if you're asking why we were absent, hindi kami nakauwi kahapon. Something went wrong on the van we used to get here two days ago and we can't used other vehicles since those were occupied by the other hotel clients.

Bandang ala una nung umalis kami sa hotel. Almost an hour of travel, riding in an electric sightseeing car, nakarating kami sa rest house nila Alice. It's big. On its left side was the pool and the lagoon was very catchy even just by standing here in the entrance. Kitang-kita kasi kahit medyo may kalayuan dito sa kinatatayuan namin.

"Guys, let's go." Natutuwa at namamanghang saad nina Alice and Irish. Tumakbo pa sila sa loob ng rest house. Two boys followed them so I was left with Xydelle.

"Aren't we going inside?" He asked after a long silence between us. Tumango na lang ako and we followed them.

The place is elegantly made from bamboo and a touch of modernized design. Bibihira lang daw sila Alice dito so she brought some foods.

"Night swimming tayo mamaya." Irish suggested while having our snacks here in the longue area.

Bandang alas sais na noon nung magswimming sila sa pool. I left them there and I went alone in the lagoon. I just don't know if it's safe to swim here but it doesn't matter. Wala naman akong balak lumangoy.

The whole place was filled with lamppost. It's as if it is still daylight. Nagulat ako nang biglang may umupo sa tabi ko.

"Mind to sit beside you?" He asked even though he already sat beside me. Napailing na lang ako.

These boys are fond of asking permission kahit na ginawa na nila. Nauuna pa nilang gawin ang isang bagay bago pa sila makapagpaalam.

Binalot kami saglit ng katahimikan bago ko naramdaman ang pagkuha ni Xydelle sa kamay ko. I saw how he carefully intertwined it on his.

I looked at him intently.

"Xydelle." Then he met my gaze.

"If you're thinking about so many things, nothing won't change. I will still love you even if you are stopping me. Not now, knowing that you love me too." He sincerely said. Napatitig na lang ako sa kanya.

I meant what I told him yesterday but I still doubt everything. I have lot of what ifs on my mind. I don't want them to be in danger. I can't lose someone in my life again. Not them, not him.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto kami roon or if we stayed more than an hour. The breezy air, the birds chirping, the trees dancing were all I heard... and the loud beat of my heart having Xydelle here beside me.

"Have you eaten?" I was caught off guard with my own question.

Nakita ko na lang ang pagngiti nito sa akin. This guy is teasing me with his smile. Mabilis akong tumayo but he pulled me, causing me to sit on his lap.

"Xydelle!" I beamed but he just wrapped me on his arm.

"You can't back out from me now, baby." No one dared to talk after that but I can hear the loud beat of his heart, like mine.

Nang pakawalan ako nito, mabilis akong nagpaalam na bumalik muna sa rest house para kumain muna since I haven't eaten my dinner yet. I saw our friends still enjoying the pool while heading my way there.

"Imee, where have you been? Kumain ka na. Nandoon sa mesa yung foods." Irish shouted. Hindi naman kalayuan yung pool sa akin para sumigaw pa siya but she wouldn't be the Irish I knew if it's not because of her voice.

Pumasok ako sa rest house. Nagpahinga lang ako saglit bago kumain. While eating, I heard my phone rings. Nangunot ang noo ko nang makita kung sino iyong tumatawag. Jazz is calling. It's his first time to call.

"What?"

[Shit Denniese. Why didn't you tell me that you're receiving such fucking message?]

Natigil ako sa pagkain nang marinig iyon. What?

[Fuck it. Where are you?] He shouted on the other line.

"Somewhere far."

[Damn. You stubborn. I don't know how Keizer handles you back then.] Tila nawawalang pasensya na saad nito sa akin.

"What the hell Jazz?"

[I received a fucking message, giving you warn to keep digging in about---]

"Shit!" That message again. Ngayon, pati si Jazz na ang pinapadalhan ng ganoong mensahe.

"Don't mind that message Jazz. Don't give it a damn. Ako na ang bahalang---" Natigil ako sa pagsasalita nang maramdaman kong may kakaiba sa paligid ko.

With the thin curtain in the middle of the window glass, I saw a shadow running at the back of this place.

"Shit!"

[Denniese, what's hap---]

Mabilis kong pinatay ang tawag at tumayo. I called Irish, nakailang ring pa ito bago tumunog.

[Imee, hey. Bakit ka---]

"Get back inside this house Irish! Call them all."

[Ha? Teka, hindi kita marinig.]

Damn. I saw the shadow again at mabilis ko iyong sinundan. Before he could hide from the tree, mabilis ko itong sinipa dahilan para gumulong ito sa lupa. Inagaw ko yung baril sa kanya and shoot him directly. Damn, they attached a silencer on it.

[Hey, what's that noise?]

"Irish, get back inside the house! We're in danger!" Malakas kong saad sa kanya. I heard her gasp, enough for me to know that she has realized what I said.

Mabilis kong pinatay ang tawag at inasikaso ang dapat kong asikasuhin.

Tila naramdaman ko ang biglang pagdami ng mga taong tumatakbo sa dilim. Pumasok ako sa loob at lumabas sa harap ng bahay. Nakita ko ang paglalakad ng mga kaibigan kong tila kakaahon pa lang sa tubig.

"Imee---"

"Hide."

"Ha?" Mabilis akong gumulong nang makita ang lalaking tinatarget ako at bago ako nito tamaan, inunahan ko siya.

With the gun I'm holding, tila nagitla ang mga kaibigan ko nang makita ito.

"Just fucking hide!" I ordered when I shoot another guy on the roof at mahulog ang katawan nito 'di kalayuan sa amin.

I heard the two boys cussed at mabilis na ipinasok sa bahay sina Irish at Alice. I run on the left side and saw two guys hiding on the big leaves of the plants. I carefully went to the opposite direction and fired them.

Pumasok din ako agad sa loob ng bahay nang maramdaman kong wala ng nakapaligid sa amin.

"What's happening?" Salubong nila Zephyr sa akin but instead of answering, I asked them how are they. Mukhang okay naman sila.

"Imee, what's really happening?" Naguguluhan nilang tanong sa akin pero hindi ko pa rin sila sinasagot. This is what I'm afraid of. Damn.

"Where's Xydelle?" Aris asked.

"Shit." Mabilis akong kumilos. Damn it. Why did I forget that guy?

"Imee---"

"Stay here! Don't go outside!" I once commanded at mabilis na lumabas. Two dead bodies were the first thing I saw. I run quickly and went to the lagoon.

"Xydelle!" I called him.

With the bright light the lamp post is giving, I saw the shadow of a guy hiding on it. Mabilis ko siyang nilapitan and kick his hand that's holding the gun. Tila nagulat pa ito but I just slammed the tip of my gun on him causing him to become unconscious.

I once called Xydelle. I will kill that guy if he gets killed. Shit.

Nang malapit na ako sa lagoon, two men blocked me. I dodged a lunging blow on them. I took their gun and before kicking them on the larger body of the water, I shoot them. Their blood were mixed on the water.

Muli akong naglakad papunta sa direksyon kung saan ko iniwan si Xydelle kanina. I saw him still sitting on the spot where I left him. I don't know if I should be thankful because a silencer was attached to this gun o kung mainis dahil mukhang wala man lang siyang kaalam-alam sa kung anong nangyayari sa paligid niya.

"Xydelle!" I grabbed his hand immediately. Akma kaming aalis nang makarinig ako ng putok ng baril.

"Anong nangyayari?" Naguguluhan nitong tanong.

"Don't ask and don't get killed." Mabilis ko siyang inilayo sa lugar na iyon.

I felt Xydelle looking at me, confused. Still holding his hand, I turned on his back as if I was blocking him and shoot the guy I saw.

"Hey, what's happen---"

"Shut up!" Tsaka ko siya ulit hinila. I stretched my hand, the one that's holding the gun and fired another man.

I run quickly, still grabbing him. Kailan ba mauubos ang mga taong ito?

Nang makaalis kami sa lagoon, I saw another guys surrounding us. Calculating the distance of that people who are holding their guns and the thought of Xydelle seeing me kill someone, I grabbed him to faced me and kissed him as I shoot these guys surrounding us. Damn it. I don't want him to see me kill.

Minutes passed, I sensed that no one's surrounding us anymore.

"What was that?" He asked when I let go of him. Pinangunutan ko lang ito ng noo hanggang sa bumaba ang tingin niya sa hawak kong baril.

"This is what I told you Xydelle! I don't want to involve you in my mess because danger is my life and---" Mula sa paglitaw ng mga taong gustong pumatay sa akin, mas nagulat pa ako dahil sa ginawa nito sa akin.

Xydelle claimed my lips.

"Then be my danger." He kissed me again and I felt how passionate it is when his lips touched mine. Napapikit na lang ako.

Tangina Xydelle. Ginugulo mo ang buong sistema ko.