A short extra. I miss them and I need their chaos.

-special chapter-

FINN

"Lilliane."

Ibinalik ko kay Wes ang tingin. Nakakunot ang noo niya habang nakatitig sa'kin. I bit my lower lip, averting my gaze again. Kanina pa namin nilalaro ang iwasan ng tingin pero kasi... hindi ko siya kayang matingnan sa mata...

"Lilliane," he called again. "What's wrong?"

Umiling ako at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. I want to answer while meeting his eyes because that makes me comfortable, but I can't afford to see his face right now!

Napabuntong-hinga siya. He didn't pursue the topic further and gave me space. It's one of the things I love about Wes. He knows and respects all my preferences. And whatever silence we may have, he doesn't feel pressured to fill it.

Hindi naman talaga namin kailangang mag-usap lagi. I am assured just by his presence, and I know siya din.

Nagulat ako nang maramdaman ang kamay ni Wes sa ulo ko. Tapos na pala siyang kumain. He gave me a small pat.

"I don't know what's wrong but tell me when you can, alright? So we can solve it together, hmm?"

I felt guilty. Wala naman talaga siyang kasalanan at problema ko 'to sa sarili...

Kumuha ako ng lakas para i-angat ang tingin sa kaniya at ngumiti. "Mm!"

He smiled back and was about to give me a peck on the cheeks when I pushed him away. Gulat naming tiningnan ang isa't isa doon. Umuwang ang labi ko pero walang lumabas na salita. I swallowed hard. If I say sorry, baka mas maging awkward lang. I know Wes was hurt by my actions, but he didn't show it. Instead, he smiled at me again and told me he'd be home early.

Nang makaalis siya sa bahay ay inuntog ko ang ulo sa lamesa. Ang sama! Ang sama-sama mo, Finn! Hindi ko lang naman pinansin si Wes buong umaga, pero tinanggihan ko rin ang halik niya!

Ano ba naman kasi... With his face so close to mine... May naaalala ako!

Pagkatapos kong linisin ang hapagkainan ay naisipan kong tawagan si Gavin. I would call Renée since she knows this best, dahil paborito niya magbasa no'n, but she and Baste are out on a honeymoon trip. I don't want to disturb them.

Gavin is my best bet. Kung alam ni Eura na ako ang pupuntahan niya, baka sumama din siya. It's a better situation kaysa sa tawagan ko si Eura at siya lang mag-isa ang pupunta.

We decided to meet up at a nearby cafe. Nang dumating ako ay naabutan ko na ang pagtatalo ng dalawa. They never seem to stop fighting. Kahit maliit na bagay lang, pag-aawayan. Siguro paborito nilang kulitin ang isa't isa kasi nagpapasuyo sila pagkatapos. Ang weird lang.

Tahimik akong umupo sa harap nila. Eura was whispering loudly, her tone complaining, at Gavin who had his brows furrowed. Mukhang sa order ang pinag-aawayan nila. Kesyo daw gusto ni Eura 'yong strawberry pero pinagbabawalan siya ni Gavin kasi mukha na siyang strawberry.

Hindi ko alam kung sobrang interesting ng away nila o sobrang tahimik ng pagdalo ko kasi sampung minuto na ang nakalipas at hindi pa rin nila ako napapansin. May napatay na akong boss sa game na pinag-abalahan at nasa caramel syrup na ang topic nila. Nakaorder na nga din ako at lahat-lahat.

Hm. Ano ba ang best way para makuha ang atensiyon nila? Should I shout? 

Pero ayoko naman no'n. Paboritong gawin ni Oliver 'yon kasi ang hilig niyang magpapansin. But shouting... might disturb other people in here.

Hampasin ko kaya ang mesa? 

'Yon ang paboritong gawin ni Ate Depore at Eura 'pag may super wonderful point daw sila. But I don't want the drinks to spill.

Maybe I should chuckle evilly and lean back on my chair while imposing dominantly? 

Iyon lagi ginagawa ni Kairo. Ewan ko ba pero paborito niyang tumingin sa mga tao na parang langgam na madaling tapakan lang. Kairo just looks at someone straight in the eye whenㅡ

Nasampal ko ang sarili at inuntog ulit ang ulo sa mesa. Mahinang napahiyaw si Eura dahil nadisturbo ko ang sweet moment nila.

"Jusko, tangina naman, Gavin! Bakit ang ingay mo?!"

"A-Ano? Bakit ako? Anong ginawa ko?"

"Gavin... Eura..." dahan-dahan kong ini-angat ang naluluhang mata.

Medyo natigilan pa ako dahil kini-kuwelyuhan na ni Eura ang bestfriend ko pero agad din niya naman 'yong binitawan. She leaned over the table, staring at me with full concern.

"Anong problema, Finley? Ba't ka naiiyak? May nagpaiyak ba sa'yo? Sino nagpaiyak sa'yo at papaiyakin ko din? Mga walanghiyang 'yon. Hindi alam kung sino ang binabangga nila! Sa lahat ng pwedeng paiyakin, ikaw pa talaga! Wait- don't tell me... si Wes ang nagpaiyak sa'yo? Gagong 'yon! Huwag kang mag-alala at marami pa diyan ang pwede, Finn. Hindi lang si Wes ang lalaki sa mundo! May babae din! Like me, for example. Nandito din ako- Aray! Putangina, Gavin, ba't ka nambabatok?"

"Pwede ba, tumahimik ka nga. Hindi pa nga nakakasagot si Finn pero nag-a-assume ka na diyan," saway ni Gavin sa kasintahan na agad siyang pinatay ng tingin. "Bakit, Finn? Ano ba ang nangyari?"

I bit my lower lip, now hesitating whether I should tell them or not. But Eura looks so desperate that I had no choice. So I softly told them, "I... had a dream."

"A dream? Na ano? Na finally iiwan mo na si Wes?"

Napanguso ako doon at sinamaan ko ng tingin si Eura. "Why do you want to separate us so much? Do you like-"

Natigilan ako. Suddenly, I remembered that dream again. Frustrated, I sobbed into my hands. Bakit ba iniisip ko pa rin 'yon? At bakit ba iyon ang napanaginipan ko kagabi?!

"A-Ay... Ano, Finn, joke lang. Hindi naman ako tutol sa relasyon niyo. Ano... hala, Finn, huwag kang umiyak!" tila naiiyak na pagdalo ni Eura sa'kin.

"Can the both of you calm down?" Gavin heaved a deep sigh and made me raise my chin. He frowned at the frustration on my face. "Ano nga ba kasi ang nangyari?"

"Kasi..."

It all started with that dream.

Yesterday, nothing momentous happened. Wes' fetched me from work, we bought a couple of groceries, and had a peaceful dinner together. Naglaro pa nga kami saglit bago natulog. There's nothing out of the ordinary.

Then... I dreamed of us back when we were beta testers for Rogue Wars Online. It started with Kairo standing behind me, whispering dangerously in my ear as he pointed a knife at my neck. It was strange because I'd never dreamed of him. Minsan lang ang cameo niya sa panaginip ko at kapag nas-scam lang ako.

We were caught by Marcella and her group. That's when I first met Wes. I remembered him staring at me intently, but in my dream, when I followed his gaze... he was staring at Kairo. Malalim ang titigan nilang dalawa. Makahulugan. 

"Wait- Wait, Finley," Eura looked at me scandalously, cutting off my storytelling. "Huwag mong sabihin..."

Iniwas ko ang tingin at tumango.

When my dream progressed, there were a lot more moments of Kairo and Wes together. One of them was when I accidentally entered the portal for the ninth city and got chased down by the beast. Ngunit sa panaginip ko, nakita ko kung ano ang nangyari sa mga taong iniwan ko. While Caspian and Oliver looked worried over me gone, and when Wes wanted to chase after me, Kairo grabbed him by the arm. 

"She's going to be fine. But look at you, you're injured," sabi pa ni Kairo at kumuha ng healing potion. "I know you've used up yours, so use this."

Tumango si Wes sa kaniya. "Thanks," he cooly said and looked Kairo up and down. "How about you? Are you alright?"

Kairo scoffed at that. "What do you take me for?"

Wes smiled at him. "Yeah, I forgot who I was speaking to."

Humagalpak sa tawa si Eura nang ulitin ko ang narinig na usapan nila. Gavin was also trying so hard to contain his laughter that he looked constipated. 

"I can never imagine Kairo and Wes like that! What the fuck!" mas lalo siyang natawa. "Ang galing, Finn, grabe! Hindi ako makahinga-" she choked on laughter. 

Pinanood naming umubo si Eura habang pilit na hinahanap ang baso ng tubig para makainom. May mga luha pa sa mata niya. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa pagtawa o malapit na pagkamatay niya.

"And then, what else happened?" Gavin curiously asked as he patted his wife's back.

Napakagat ako ng ibabang labi. There were actually a lot more moments. Parang kapag nga nakaka-interact ko ang isa sa kanila ay may something na nangyayari din sa kanilang dalawa. Everytime they're in one room, their tension became heavy and they kept on eyeing each other. Dumating pa sa punto na bawat sulyap ko kay Wes, nakatitig lang siya kay Kairo. And the damned man is always checking my husband. 

But that wasn't it all! What's infuriating was that one day, Kairo knocked on my door and I opened it to him carrying Wes in his arms. He shot me a smirk. Iyong ngisi niyang siguradong uubusin pera mo, tapos tinakbo niya si Wes mula sa'kin. He was even laughing evilly as he kept on carrying Wes as they went over the rainbow bridge. Nang sundan ko sila, I arrived at their wedding and both of them were smiling at me while giving their vows to each other. Tapos... Tapos... nagkalapit ang mukha nila! Kulang na lang may sasabog na confetti habang lumilipad ang balloon na nakakapit sa kanilang 'We Are Happily Married' banner!

Halos mahulog na si Eura sa upuan dahil sa pagtawa niya. Gavin was holding the back of her chair to stop her from falling. Iyong bestfriend ko ay sobrang natatawa din dahil nakikita ko na ang luha sa mata niya. He once tried to stop his laughter but he only snorted his drink out at the failed attempt.

I couldn't blame them though. It was such a weird dream! I didn't even know why it suddenly occurred to me. Huling kita ko kay Kairo, balak niya akong ilibre ng cake pero hindi ako pwede no'n kasi may meeting kami ni Theo. Tapos... Tapos... bigla ko 'tong mapapanaginipan!

"Oh my gosh, Finley! Hahaha! I can't believe it... I can't believe you thought- pft! Sineryoso mo talaga si Kairo-"

"Hm? What's that? I heard my name."

Natigilan kaming tatlo nang magpakita nga ang nagnakaw sa asawa ko sa panaginip! He smiled at me, trying to be all innocent, but all I sent his way were glares. Siguro'y natakot siya sa sama ng tingin ko kaya nilipat niya ang tingin kay Eura na mas lalong nagalak sa mukha niya.

"Hoy, pangit," tawag niya kay Eura. "Ano na namang sinasabi mo kay Finn? At bakit nasa usapan ako?"

Pinunasan ni Eura ang luha sa mga mata. "Hay, nako, Kairo. Kung alam mo lang..."

"What's wrong? Sabihin mo na nga."

"Pft. Ayoko nga. Bahala na si Finn do'n."

Kairo glanced at me, his eyes questioning. Inirapan ko siya.

"Wha- kitten? What's wrong? Ba't mo 'ko sinusungitan?"

"Nagseselos lang 'yan," tugon ni Gavin.

"Nagseselos? Saan naman? Wait..." Kairo turned serious. "Did Wes do something? Nakita mo ba siyang may kasamang babae, kitten?"

Humagalpak ulit sa tawa si Eura at naging biktima si Gavin ng mga walang-awang hampas niya. Kairo was still staring at me, a scowl on his face. Ngumuso lang ako at umiling sa kaniya.

"No... this is suspicious. Ano ba kasi talaga ang nangyari?"

"Babae kamo, Kairo? Mali ka," Eura gulped down her next laugh. "Dahil... lalaki iyon."

Inihilamos ko ang mukha sa palad. That dream is seriously so strange! And Eura is not helping me at all!

"Ha? Lalaki? Anong sinasabi mong lalaki? Hoy, tangina, Eura, huwag mo 'kong tawanan o papaluin kita. Ano ba kasi? Lalaki ba ang ka-affair ni Wes, ibig mong sabihin?"

Eura fell into a fit of laughter again, now joined by Gavin. Ipinikit ko ang mata sa hiya. Naramdaman kong may nagyugyog sa balikat ko kaya pansamantala kong ini-angat ang tingin. Kairo's lost expression filled my view. He was still scowling, though, probably pissed at the idea of Wes cheating on me.

Iniwas ko agad ang tingin sa kaniya dahil siya 'yong cheating partner ni Wes.

"Hey, kitten, ano ba talaga nangyari? Babae man 'yan o lalaki, did Wes really cheat on you?" hindi ako sumagot. "That damned demon! Hindi na lang naging masaya at kontento na nasa kaniya ka na? What the fuck is wrong with that asshole?!"

Bigla niya akong pinihit patayo. I heard Gavin asking where we're going, and Kairo only barked his answer in anger. "Saan pa ba?! E'di sa putanginang 'yon!"

Nabalik naman ako no'n sa realidad. I tried stopping him but Kairo just wouldn't listen! I hazily remembered being dragged to Wes' workplace, how I greeted the hospital staff while Kairo stormed inside his office, slamming the door open to my husband drowned in his paperworks. Nang makita ako ay nagliwanag ang mukha niya pero agad din itong napalitan ng inis nang makita si Kairo na kasama ko.

"What the fuck," he murmured, standing up. "Why are you here?"

Sinugod siya ni Kairo, na hindi nagpapigil sa'kin. Agad niyang kinuwelyuhan si Wes na takang-taka sa lahat ng nangyayari. 

"You fucking-!" pilit na kinontrol ni Kairo ang sariling hindi alam ang kontrol. "You damned demon! You fucking cheated on Finley, ha?" tanong niya sabay suntok.

Nanlaki ang mata ko at agad din akong lumapit sa kanila. "Wait! No, Kairo... It's not-"

"Don't try to stop me, Finn. This fucker fucking deserves it!" kinuwelyuhan niya ulit si Wes na nag-aalab din sa galit.

Wes spared me a glance. "Lilianne, is this why you were avoiding me earlier? You think I cheated?"

Mabilis akong umiling. Wes sighed, clicking his tongue as he stared down Kairo.

"Damn it. This moron must be out of his mind then!" malakas niyang inalis ang pagkukuwelyo ni Kairo at ibinalik ang suntok. "I never as much blinked at other girl's way and now you're accusing me of cheating?! Ano, akala mo sa'kin, ikaw?!"

Natigilan ako. Wait... that sounded like the same line from the dream I had. When Wes and Kairo had an argument because they thought the other liked a girl.

Kairo's jaw clenched. Naka-amba na siya para sa isa pang suntok nang may pumigil sa kaniya. Oliver caught him by his arms and pulled him away from Wes, who was being pushed away by Caspian who was now standing in between them.

"Whoa, whoa! Pare, chill," ani Oliver. "Ang babangis niyo. Ano bang nangyari dito?"

"Well, I doubt you won't be angry if I told you that fucking piece of shit cheated on Finn!" sigaw ni Kairo.

Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Oliver. He glanced at Wes. "Weh? 'Di nga?"

"You idiotic asshole! I already told you I didn't!" sigaw din ni Wes.

Napabuntong-hinga si Caspian na nasa gitna. "Calm down, you two. You won't solve anything with those clouded head of yours. Mabuti pang sabihin niyo mula sa umpisa kung anong nangyari."

"Kairo just-!"

"That fucker-!"

Nagsamaan ulit ng tingin ang dalawa nang sabay silang nagsalita. I sighed and came forward. Agad na dumapo sa'kin ang tingin ni Caspian na umiling. Huwag daw ako lumapit. I didn't listen to him.

"No..." panimula ko na agad nilang pinakinggan. "It's not- Wes didn't do anything wrong."

"You don't have to defend his sorry ass, Finn!"

"Tumahimik ka nga," ani Oliver at tinakpan ang bibig niya. "Ano ba kasi nangyari, Finn?"

"Had a dream..."

Kumunot ang noo nina Caspian at Oliver, while Kairo used that moment to slap the hand covering his mouth. "See?! Finn wouldn't dream of that if she didn't think it would happen!"

Gusto kong mapahilamos ng mukha sa sobrang pag-i-istress. Why do Kairo have to be this loud and stubborn? Mula kanina pa niya hindi pinapakinggan ang sasabihin ko.

Sa pagkakataon naman na 'yon nagpakita ang nobya ni Kairo. "What happened? I think I heard an annoying voice-"

"Oh, thank God you're here- no, wait, why are you here? Don't tell me-"

Bago pa magkaroon ng panibagong akala si Kairo ay mabilsi akong nagsalita, "Wes and Kairo are together!"

I swear, the room and even the hallway became so silent that you could hear if a pin dropped to the floor. Ang apat na lalaki na kanina'y nagkakagulo ay naestatwa. They could only stare at me blankly. Wes looked like his soul left his body. Halos mapasukan na ng langaw ang bibig ni Oliver. Caspian's brow was twitching in confusion, and Kairo's mouth kept on opening and closing. Walang may nagsalita hanggang sa marinig namin ang malakas na tawa ni Eura sa labas.

"Wait- si Kairo at Wes? Bakit hindi ko alam 'to? Kai, akala ko ba best buds tayo?!" panggagatong ni Oliver.

"What the- I- Finn? What made you think-?" Wes stuttered out.

"Ako?! Tangina," Kairo paused, then pointed to himself. "Ako talaga?! At siya? Sa lahat ng pwedeng lalaki sa mundo?!"

"So, that's your taste. Okay lang naman sa'kin, Kai," ani Jamaicah.

"What the fuck?! This is so not okay!"

"Wait," Caspian frowned. "Ito ba ang sinasabi mong panaginip, Finn?"

I stared at Caspian with admiration in my eyes. Tumango ako bilang sagot sa tanong niya. Talagang, maasahan ko siya sa ganito! He was the only one who clarified that!

"Pft," natatawang dumating si Eura. "Sinasabi ko kasi sa inyo, mula pa noon, totoo na talaga 'yang KaiWes. Even Finn ships it-"

"Tumahimik ka," malamig na tugon nina Wes at Kai kaya napatahimik siya.

Oliver still looked so entertained in the corner and he already has his phone out, fingers rapidly flying across the screen. Namataan kong lumalapit sa'kin si Wes kaya unti-unti din akong umatras. He sighed and stopped, staring at me with tired eyes.

"Is this why you've been avoiding me?"

"Sorry," I quietly answered with a pout. Itinuro ko si Kairo. "Just. He annoys me."

"Ako?!" hiyaw ng lalaki. "Bakit naman ako? Ako nga dito ang dapat ma-annoy, kitten!"

"He carried you bridal-style to your wedding, then teased me when he kissed you. Tapos may fireworks pa at confetti, e wala nga 'yon sa planong kasal natin," reklamo ko.

Wes pursed his lips like he was fighting a smile as he approached me.

"Kasal natin?" tanong niya.

I pursed my lips, trying to avoid his eyes. Okay na sana ang lahat kung hindi lang maingay na hindi makamove-on si Oli.

"Wait? Nagpakasal sila Wes at Kai? At naghalikan pa?!" sabay tawa niya ng malakas.

Kaya naman, sa kanina'y tahimik na hallway na 'yon, nagsimula ang gulo nang masapak ni Kairo si Oli.

I didn't have those dreams again, though.