Imee's Point of View

Xydelle's just looking at me the whole time since he parked the car. Ramdam ko ang pagpisil nito sa kamay ko dahilan para mapalingon ako sa kanya. He gave me a small smile.

"You're okay right?" Tumango lang ako, tipid na ngumiti tsaka kami lumabas sa kanyang kotse.

Xydelle fetched me very early. I don't know why. Maybe he's just worried about what happened yesterday. I know his mind is now clouded with questions because it happened not just once but already twice.

Alam ko ring marami siyang gustong itanong sa akin especially why these things are happening pero mas pinili nitong tumahimik. I can't tell him everything, yet. It's better this way. Kapag may nalaman siya tungkol sa akin at sa pagkatao ko, mas lalo lang siyang mapapahamak.

Tahimik kami nina Irish at Alice dito sa may cafeteria. Boys are still having their classes so we decided to just take our break here. Jazz went somewhere. Hindi ko alam kung anong pinagkakaabalahan niya. Nang matapos kaming kumain, tumambay muna kami sa isang nook.

Since I used to roam my eyes whenever I'm staying in some place, iyon ang ginawa ko hanggang sa makita ko ang isang taong abala sa paglalakad, hatalang baguhan at tila naguguluhan pa sa unibersidad na ito. Then our eyes met. Dali-dali itong lumapit sa akin.

"Denniese! Gosh! Good thing I saw you here." Lumapit ito sa direksyon namin, tila nagkaroon ng pag-asa.

I gave her a quizzically look. Nabasa naman nito ang gusto kong ipahiwatig sa kanya.

"It's Mom's doing! Hindi ko alam kung kailan kaming babalik ng States so she suddenly transferred me here." Kwento nito, she looks pissed.

Irish, the curious person, nudged me again kaya pinakilala ko na lang ang mga ito sa isa't isa.

Napatingin na lang ako sa kawalan. Who would transfer here next time? Jazz transferred here just yesterday, now it's Summer's turn. Tss.

The following days, may kanya-kanya kaming pinagkakaabalahan. Boys are busy for their training in the upcoming sports fest. Alice for the Regional School's Press Conference. Jazz and I, the two of us were still busy digging some information. Blevins' case is still under my hand while Jazz is dealing with the message sender and Death Shadow.

Irish, Alice and Summer became close. Their personalities match well so no doubt about that. Well, I can say Summer became closer to us, sa aming lahat, except Jazz because he's distant.

"Next week na ang basketball competition. Sunod nito finals na tapos OMG! Makakapagbakasyon na rin tayo! Can't wait for it!" Sambit ni Irish nang makaupo ito, halatang tuwang-tuwa. Alice and Summer agreed to her.

I just don't know how to handle these girls anymore. Masyado silang maingay.

The boys then arrived. Halatang katatapos lang nila sa kanilang practice. Xydelle looked at me. I just handed him a bottled water. Kinuha niya naman iyon at agad na ininom. Habang masaya silang nagkekwentuhan at ako ay nakikinig lamang, Jazz called me.

"Denniese." Tinignan ako nito. He tilted his head a bit, giving me the hint for us to talk privately.

Tumayo ito at naunang maglakad palayo. Napatingin silang lahat sa akin nung sunod akong tumayo. I even felt Xydelle's hand on me. Tinignan ko siya. I can read lot of questions in his eyes but I'll stand with my decision not to tell them anything.

Call me selfish but their safety is what matters to me.

He loosen his grip on my hand. Maya-maya lang din ay binitawan niya ako so I followed Jazz immediately. Sabay kaming napabuntong-hininga matapos nitong magkwento sa akin. He went to Underground Empire the other day at nalaman nitong ginawa na nga talaga itong racing field.

"Is the empire not operating anymore?" I asked.

Simula nung umuwi ako rito, I haven't heard the empire operating for gang fights just like before, or maybe, since I wasn't part of it anymore kaya hindi ko na rin alam kung anong mga ginagawa nila roon. I'm just wondering.

"It is. It only stopped when Death Shadow disappeared." He shrugged both of his shoulders.

Isa pa ang Death Shadow na 'yun, I wouldn't mind killing that guy when I saw him. Sure, he gave me hint pero ginulo niya lang ang utak ko.

Madali lang natapos ang buong araw. Xydelle texted me saying that he can't send me home due to their practice.

"Hanggang gabi raw yata ang practice nila." Irish informed while heading our way to the locker.

Sumama rin sa amin si Summer since she has her locker already. Si Alice ay busy pa sa workshop related to journalism.

"Oh, kasali rin si Zephyr sa basketball?" Summer asked her. Irish nodded. Silang tatlo nila Aris actually.

Dahil nga hiwalay kami ng locker ni Irish, lumiko ito sa kabila habang pareho kami ni Summer ng area. Medyo magkalayo nga lang. The moment I opened my locker, I saw the crumpled paper. This was the last message I received. Hindi ko alam na nailagay ko pala ito rito. I took it out.

While reading it, I turned my gaze on Irish's direction and I saw her looking at me intently until her eyes went down on the paper I'm holding. She's curious, I guess? Itinapon ko na lang iyon sa isang trash can malapit sa akin.

"Tara na?" Aya nito pagkalapit sa amin.

Lumapit na rin si Summer tsaka kami nagtungo sa parking lot. Since boys are still busy practicing, Irish called their driver to fetch her. Before closing the door of her car, napalingon ulit ito sa akin. Sa huli ay ngumiti siya. She's weird.

"Can I go with you?" Tanong ni Summer nang makaalis na si Irish.

Lulan kami ng kotse pauwi sa bahay ngayon. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla nitong naisipang bumisita sa bahay but since she mentioned it before, hinayaan ko na lang.

"Tita! Tito!" Masigla nitong bati sa parents ko pagkapasok namin sa bahay.

"Summer, hija?" My mom was surprised when she saw her.

Tumakbo si Summer sa direksyon nito at niyakap ang mom ko, gano'n din kay Daddy. She's close to my parents anyway.

Hinayaan ko lang muna silang mag-usap-usap sa baba. I went upstairs to change my clothes. Pababa na ako no'ng mapansin kong may kakaiba. Stepping on the last step, mabilis ang naging kilos ko nung mabasag ang vase hindi kalayuan si direksyon ko. Shit.

Nagkagulo na lang bigla sa loob ng bahay. Glass walls, windows, everything broke because of the gunshots outside. Sinabayan ito ng mga iyak ng mga taong nandito sa loob. The continuous gunshots only lasted for a minute, enough for the house to be in its untidy state. Nagkalat ang mga bubog sa floor. It's all messed.

Dumiretso ako sa parents ko. Dad was hugging and hushing my mom and Summer whose crying because of what happened. Pati ang ilang mga kasambahay ay umiiyak din, halata ang takot sa kanila.

LThen butlers came out, humahangos pa ang mga ito. They tried to catch who did this thing pero wala silang nakita. They even reported that no one killed.

Pigil ang hiningang umupo ako sa sofa. My parents looked at me with worry in their eyes, still crying. Frustrated, napahilamos ako ng mukha. Planado ang lahat. They did it for a purpose, as if it's a threat. This is not about the gang world anymore. May gusto talagang pumatay sa akin. Fuck.

"3 points for Jimenez." Said the announcer and loud cheers filled the whole place.

I saw Xydelle run quickly on the side of the court, trying to escape from the other team whose guarding him. After that, he threw the ball from the three-point line and the supporters let out a loud cheers when he made it. Ringless.

"Ang galing ni Xydelle! No doubt he's the captain!" Ramdam ko ang pagyugyog ni Irish sa balikat ko. Sinasabayan din nito ang pagchicheer ng mga manunuod sa bleachers.

Xydelle sat on the bleachers after drinking some on his Gatorade bottle for substitution. Kasabay ng pagpunas nito ng kanyang pawis ay ang paglingon niya sa akin. He smiled and waved at me and the three girls here teased me.

Ibinalik nito ang tingin sa court. He's supporting his teammates. Sa tuwing nakakapuntos ang mga ito, he would stand, claps for them and he'll cheered them. Nakangiti lang ito sa buong duration ng laro. He was guiding his teammates throughout the game.

Nang tumunog ang buzzer, mas lalong lumakas ang hiyawan at tilian ng mga manonood. Students from Jimen University waved their balloons. Xydelle's team just won on this sports fest at kaagad silang dinumog ng mga estudyante sa gitna ng court, maybe to congratulate them and take some pictures with them.

"Puntahan mo Captain mo oy!" Irish intentionally pushed me a little, natutuwa ito na may halong pang-aasar.

Nauna silang bumaba. Kalauna'y sumunod din ako. Halos ilang minuto pa ang lumipas bago naubos ang mga taong nagkakagulo sa kanila.

When Xydelle saw me, nilapitan niya kaagad ako. His hair's messy. He's all sweat but I can still smell his manly scent and he's wearing the medal he got. Halata ang sobrang saya sa mukha nito.

"We won." He proudly said, wearing all smiles in his face.

"Napanood ko." Nailing ito sa naging sagot ko kasabay ng panggugulo niya sa buhok ko.

"Napakasweet." He said sarcastically, pero tumawa siya sa huli.

Saglit itong nagpaalam para magshower. Nauna na rin sila Irish sa tambayan. I don't know if they will throw a victory party after this.

Sumandal na lamang ako sa wall while waiting for Xydelle. Minutes passed, lumabas ito ng shower room. He just wore a simple short and white shirt. On his left shoulder was his duffel bag hung on it.

"Matutunaw ako. Gwapo ko ba?" Saad niya pagkalapit sa akin.

Inakbayan niya rin ako kaagad kasabay ng panggugulo niya muli sa buhok ko, halatang nang-iinis. Sinamaan ko lang siya ng tingin.

"Mas matutuwa sana ako kung ni-cheer ako ng girlfriend ko." Pagsasalita nito habang naglalakad na kami palabas ng court, nakaakbay pa rin siya sa akin, hindi pinapansin kung anong sinabi niya.

"I'm not a cheerleader."

"You can sugarcoat your words, you know." Napailing ito, amused. "Babe, robot ka ba?" Bigla niyang tanong. Napakunot noo tuloy ako.

"Bakit?" I asked, we're still walking.

"Nagtanong ka pa." Pabalang nitong sagot.

Doon ay kumawala ang maliit na ngiti sa labi ko nang makuha kung anong gusto niyang iparating.

"Kung wala akong pakialam sa'yo, wala sana ako rito." Saad ko. Dahil nga nakaakbay ito sa akin, napatigil din ako nung huminto siya.

"You care?" Pinipigilan nitong ngumiti.

"I do." Tuluyan na niya akong hinarap at sa isang iglap, nakalapat na ang labi nito sa akin.

"I'm not prepared with my vow yet, baby." He teased.

I just glared him pero hindi ko maiwasang hindi ngumiti sa sinabi niya. Lumakad ako palapit sa direksyon niya and rested my forehead on his broad shoulder. He stiffened a bit pero hinayaan lang ako nito.

Sa kabila ng mga nangyayari sa paligid ko, sa magulong takbo ng buhay ko, nandito pa rin siya at nagagawa niya akong pangitiin kahit papaano. Having Xydelle here beside me, I'm able to forget my problems kahit na pansamantala lamang.

Using his free hand, he pulled me towards him and embrace me with a hug. Mas lalo kong isiniksik ang ulo ko sa may leeg niya as if my life depends on it. I encircled my arms on his nape to hug him back.

"Don't leave me." I whispered.