Watch your words, they become your actions: 22 | Unexpected Folks

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Someone's POV

"Anong balita?" agad kong tanong matapos sagutin ang tawag niya.

"Hindi ayos, she's in denial. Barely living, trying hard to keep herself alright."

A heavy sigh escaped me, betraying the depth of my worry as I rubbed my temples, trying to steady myself against the memories flooding back.

Memories of Ruby and the relentless struggles she endured under the Continent. Long nights of grueling work, the constant torture, and the isolation she faced-she was surrounded by people but always alone.

Her days working as an assassin on the Continent were vivid, haunting me with images of what she had endured.

Ruby's assignments were brutal, each one requiring her to be swift, merciless, and undetectable. Her targets varied-fro- corrupt officials to rival syndicate members.

But every mission was a test of survival, demanding her complete extraordinary skills that would take away her sanity.

She was known for her unerring precision, her ghost-like ability to slip through the shadows and vanish without a trace. Fear was her calling card, and death followed in her wake.

Kaya rin siyang binansagang Rude Ruby—hindi lang dahil sa kawalan niya ng awa, kundi sa brutal niyang paraan ng paglipol sa kanyang mga pinapatay. Hindi lang siya pumapatay—she made sure they suffered first, their last moments filled with agony and regret.

To be on her list meant only one thing: death was inevitable, and it would not be swift.

And I know exactly how the people she worked for had carved out another person from her, or rather, had forcibly taken parts of her, molding her into something unrecognizable.

Piece by piece, they stripped away her softness, her warmth, until all that was left was the razor-sharp edge of a weapon they could wield.

The Continent demanded extremities from her. It stripped away everything soft, everything human. She became the cruellest, deadliest force it had ever known.

There was nothing natural about it. Her soul had been carved out piece by piece, leaving only a machine built for obedience and bloodshed.

She followed orders, erased lives as if they were nothing, but I saw the truth—each mission hollowed her out a little more. Every kill, every whisper of a name she was meant to end, took another part of the girl she used to be. Until one day, there would be nothing left.

It was painful to watch someone I cared about change. Hindi ko lubos na kilala si Ruby, pero sa kaibuturan ng puso ko, alam ko ang katotohanan—sa likod ng matigas niyang ekspresyon, sa bawat kilos niyang kontrolado at halos parang makina, naroon lang ang isang munting batang natatakot masaktan.

Ang bagong siya ay may tinig na malamig, isang tunog na hindi ko nakikilala. At nang huli kong masilayan ang kanyang mga mata ay blangko itong nakatingin sa malayo. Na tila ba hinahabol siya ng multo ng nakaraan sa tuwing titingin ito't iiwas.

She was no longer whole; what they did to her couldn't be undone. She struggled to keep herself together, clinging to memories of who she was before they changed her into someone she never wanted to be.

She had fought so hard just to feel normal, dealing with people who kept breaking her apart. And now, she had to relive it all again?

Even thinking of it fills me with anger.

"I fear the worst. She hasn't been receiving any shots. Her trauma is likely to persist, nabili mo ba lahat ng supply?"

Saglit na tahimik ang linya ni Dirk at alam ko na agad kung ano ang pinoproblema niya.

I heard him groan before answering. "Yeah... The only issue is that I don't know how I could inject her prescriptions without her knowing. Hindi ko sinabing gamot niya ang binili ko, you know she'll refuse taking it."

I worried about Ruby missing her dose. The medication was crucial, not only to manage her condition but also to prevent the troubling hallucinations she'd been having.

Each missed dose increased the chance of those episodes returning, leaving her vulnerable and anxious.

"Spike her drink or something, ikaw na bahala." suhestyon ko naman pero hindi ko rin talaga alam kung papaano makumbinsi ang babaeng iyon. Knowing how detached and rude she is kahit pa sa aming mga kaibigan niya.

But if it weren't the best then It would rather be the right thing to do for her well-being and stability. Wala naman kasing makakapag pabago sa pag iisip niya at walang kahit sino ang makakaintindi sa kung paano siya mag isip.

Maybe, Dirk but not when Ruby is in her killer intent. Himala nalang siguro kapag may makakapag pa tigil sa kanya sa ganoong sitwasyon o kondisyon.

"Alright, don't worry... I'll be staying with her from now on, I've decided."

Nabigla ako sa sinabi niya, "You sure?"

"Hmm, things might be escalating too soon." damang-dama ko ang mabigat niyang pag buntong hininga.

"What do you mean? Something happened?"

"She's been dealing with rather unexpected folks."

My forehead creased. Unexpected? More of like suspicious individuals. "Hindi niya alam?"

"Ewan—" I cut him off with a disapproving scowl. He should have told me about this much sooner ago.

I was irritated and aghast by the delayed information, "Bakit hindi mo alamin, Dirk?"

"Don't be mad at me, you know how she behaves. She might have peculiar thoughts and at times, seem irrational, but there are moments when she simply doesn't care about anything around her unless she's bound to." He was clearly frustrated too, so I shouldn't press him too much.

I took a sip from my vodka, with a small dose of venom from my white-lipped island pitviper. "She's clever," I stated and heard him groaned again.

"Even clever people can act clueless sometimes. I can't tell if she's aware of something or if she genuinely doesn't know. Pero sa tingin ko talagang wala na siyang paki-alam."

Maski ako ay hindi rin magaling sa pagbasa ng mga ikinikilos ni Ruby o kung paano siya mag isip. At least Dirk somehow manages to anticipate her... I wonder who could truly comprehend the depths hidden beyond Ruby's eyes.

"That's why we need to move fast, any heads up?"

"The heiress of Yamaguchi-gumi is in the Philippines. Palagay ko kilala niya si Ruby bilang si Katana."

I paused, thoughts of the Yamaguchi princess drifted through my mind. What could she possibly be doing in the Philippines?

The Philippines seemed an unlikely place for her, and yet, with someone like her, the unexpected was almost anticipated. "Is there something I should be concerned about? The Yakuza have already taken notice of us though..."

"The heiress seems to have a connection with the sole heir of the Sicilian Mafia, the Gotti's."

"What?!" bigla nalang lumatay ang kaba ng banggitin niya ang apyelidong iyon. "Bakit ba ngayon mo lang 'to sinasabi? Oh, tapos anong problema?"

"I was busy..." pagdadahilan pa nito. "The two of them came up with a complicated situation with Ruby; highschool cliches aren't normal here, so dramatic."

Ah, what a mess. Hindi ko rin mawari kung bakit ibig niyang pumasok bilang isang estudyante, eh.

"Just focus on taking care of her and keeping an eye on the Gotti, got it?" I said, flicking my collar into place with a smirk. "I'm handling some dramatic cliche too," I added under my breath, rolling my eyes before casually tucking my hands into a shirt that, technically, didn't even belong to me.

Dirk chuckled, "Guess our world was never meant to be normal."

"Yeah," I sighed, exhaling slowly as my fingers brushed against something cold and unyielding—metal, the unmistakable muzzle of a gun pressing against my side. A slow smirk curled at the corner of my lips.

The man in front of me barely had time to react. His eyes widened in realization, his breath hitching as my fingers tightened around the grip. He had no idea how long I'd been waiting for this. How long I'd imagined this moment.

"And only the crazy ones get to survive," I whispered, letting my words slither both into his ear and into the phone before hanging up.

                
Aoike's POV

Galit akong nagising matapos ang bente kwatrong oras na wala akong malay sa ospital at lahat nang iyon ay dahil kay Gael.

My mind reeled with disbelief and frustration. How could he hurt Ruby? The thought alone was enough to make my hands clench into fists. He'd promised not to harm anyone, yet he'd shattered that promise without hesitation.

Sa sobrang tindi ng aking nararamdaman ay buong araw ata akong umiiyak. Dala narin ng pamamaga ng aking mukha at sakit sa katawan. Gustong-gusto ko nanga sunggaban ng sandamakmak na tanong si Gael 'cause I needed answers, but right then, all I could focus on was the burning pain all over my body.

"You promised you wouldn't hurt anyone. But what did you do Gaeru, you break it, you hurt Rubianna."

I said when I finally mustered the courage to face him without letting my madness rule over.

"Plano mo bang maging criminal? Una binunggo mo siya, tapos ngayon halos lagutan mo siya ng hininga dahil sa pambubugbug mo! Do you really plan to kill her? Do you know what she did for me? She saved me, she saved me from Shaneru na halos ipang sabon sa'kin ang semento at ipinahilamos sa'kin ang sarili kong dugo!"

"Hindi ko alam—"

"Puro ka kasi sugod!" pag pigil ko. "Puro basag ulo nalang ang laman niyang kokote mo! Hindi naman sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay maaayos ng sandamakmak na suntok ang galit!"

"I saw you lying on the ground, Aoike! I thought you were dead, for Pete's sake! Can you stop yelling at me?" Gael's voice shook with emotion, making me freeze. "I was scared out of my mind, thinking I'd lost you! I'm sorry, okay? I... I lost control. I didn't know what else to do..."

His words sliced through my anger, laced with guilt and raw worry. I could hear the fear in his voice—the panic he must have felt, thinking I was gone. It chipped away at my rage, leaving me frozen in place, stunned by the weight of his concern.

"Tapos makikita kong sinampal sampal ka ng Rubianna na'yon? Ano sa tingin mo ang gagawin ko? Hahayaan ko nalang na saktan ka niya?"

I quickly looked away. Everything he said felt so true and sincere at dahan-dahan ko na siyang naiintindihan.

The realization that he had truly feared for my life softened my anger, letting a sense of understanding take its place. It was clear now-his actions hadn't come from malice but from a place of panic, his emotions overwhelming his reason.

Pero kasi... He was merciless. He might have killed her. I thought he was going to kill someone!

"She... she was probably keeping me awake. If she had to slap me, then I must be grateful," I stammered, the remorse evident in my tone. "I'm sorry, Gaeru-kun."

Nakaramdam tuloy ako ng awa kay Gael. Pinangungunahan din ako ng galit at minasama ang ginawa niya ng hindi siya inintindi.

But also thinking of Ruby, I'm torn between the two. Hinayaan ko siyang masaktan ng dahil sa akin. I was supposed to sue sir Pedran for her, and end everything with that maniac pero anong kapalit ng lahat?

I still caused her pain, ako nanga ang dahilan kung bakit siya naroon sa opisina ng Pedran na'yon dahil pinilit ko siyang mag pasa ng output tapos ako pa ang magiging dahilan ng paghihirap niya? Ang sama ko namang tao kung gano'n?

Pero sa kabilang banda alam kong hindi ko rin masisisi si Gael. Hindi niya naman kasi alam kung anong nangyayari. But still, he hurt someone and break his promise.

"I'm sorry I got you that worried. I put you through all of this again..." My voice cracked, wala na'kong magawa sa tumutulo ko na namang luha.

"This was supposed to be my fight... Alone. But, Ruby showed up and stopped Shaneru from stomping on my face. Ruby had nothing to do with all of this..." tukoy ko sa mga sugat at pasa ko sa mukha. "I understand you got carried away, misunderstanding the whole picture, but you've gone too far. You almost killed someone, Cargaeru..."

Fear tightened around me as I watched Gael lose control that time. It wasn't just the chaos of the moment... it was the terror of seeing the Gael from three years ago, the one who'd wreaked havoc in school.

The thought of that side of him returning sent chills through me, a harsh reminder of a past I'd hoped we'd left behind.

Ayaw ko ng makita siyang ganoon, ayaw ko ng maulit iyon.

"Saan kaba naman kasi Chad?" baling ko kay Chad na ngayon lang din nakarating, hinihingal pa na para bang tumakbo ng ilang milya bago makaabot dito.

"Pinapahanap mo siya sa'kin, eh. I'm sorry wala na naman akong nagawa. Wala akong kwentang kaibigan." bigla niyang sabi sa huli.

"Tsk, I didn't say that." I pouted, I was just asking.

"I know but, I could've prevent any serious damage."

"Okay, enough. Let's stop this... No one's blaming anyone! Ako lang ang pwedeng manisi sa sarili ko." giit ko habang nagpapahid ng luha.

"Aoike, it wasn't your fault either; the violence between you and Chanel doesn't call for either of you to apologize; you were both victims." nangungunot ang noong bukambibig ni Chad. "Walang ibang sisisihin dito kundi ang tarantadong Pedran na'yon."

"Wait, what victim?" ungot ni Gael kaya nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Chad.

I inwardly groaned. Kahit kailan talaga hindi maaasahan itong bibig niya. Chad then apologized to me as he shifted his sight to face Gael.

"... while you were gone with Ruby the whole week..." Chad's voice trailed off as he rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at me with a mix of hesitation.

He took a big breath before continuing. "Aoike told me the truth. About what happened to her three years ago, before she left. The abuse...all of it."

His eyes burned with rage, but his voice remained calm. "We were intending to take him down and suit him for what he did to Ruby and Aoike, and we only recently discovered that Chanel was also abused. We thought it would work, but then things got messy."

Chad hesitated and looked down, as if reliving the events. "Gael, we didn't want for it to happen this way. But we also need you to keep yourself occupied for the time being since we know you'll become enraged and lose control, ngunit hindi parin naiwasan. Just... I thought you should know."

Pareha kaming tatlong natahimik sa loob ng private room ko at hindi ko naman malaman kung ano ang gagawin kaya bumalik nalang ako sa aking kama para mahiga.

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng takot dahil napa upo si Gael sa katabing sofa at doon napahilamos sa kanyang mukha.

"I just felt being deceive by you two, of all people." he murmured.

"We're sorry, okay? Pero alam mo kung bakit, Gael... Sana maintindihan mo yun."

"Yeah, either way... I'd still be irrational," he mumbled, his expression hardening, shadows settling in the sharp lines of his face.

Chad didn't respond, didn't argue. Gael's words hung heavy in the air, unchallenged. Instead, Chad simply turned, his movements steady and deliberate, as he helped me ease onto the bed. His touch was careful—gentle, even—as if I were something fragile, though we both knew better.

"No need to worry," Chad said softly, his voice steady. "I've contacted a lawyer, and we've already filed a case against Pedran. Butler Yuri is handling the stocks. All that's left is to put Pedran behind bars."

Hearing that from Chad brought a wave of relief washing over me—I finally felt like this whole nightmare was nearing its end.

"Last week... I was also tied up trying to convince that dickhead to give me a copy of the leaked footage involving Rubianna."

Both Chad and I turned to Gael, exchanging a glance, trying to decipher the meaning behind his words. My brows furrowed as I listened, a crease forming on my forehead. What the hell was he getting at?

"Luckily, Mr. Head wasn't stupid enough to erase everything," Gael said, his voice calm but edged with something heavier. "He actually managed to save the security footage from Sir Pedran's office."

I blinked. "You've been doing that?"

It hit me like a punch to the gut—Gael had been secretly gathering evidence against Pedran this whole time, even while Chad and I had been brushing him off. Guilt settled in my chest. How had I missed it? How had we ignored him when he was fighting the same battle?

"It wasn't just Ruby," he continued, his expression unreadable. "Chanel was recorded too. I've already seen it."

My breath hitched.

"So no, I'm not mad at you for keeping secrets or shutting me out," he admitted, his voice softer now, but tinged with something raw. "But I never expected Aoike to be involved too." He let out a slow breath, then shook his head. "I haven't found anything on you—nothing that could stand as evidence. But that doesn't mean you're in the clear."

Namayani sa aming tatlo ang bigat ng mga salitang sinabi niya sa huli. At hindi ko malaman kung anong susunod na sasabihin dahil binalot ako ng kahihiyan... Nahihiya ako kasi, handa silang ipaglaban ako samantalang iniwan ko sila noong inakala kong pandidirihan at itatakwil nila ako bilang kaibigan.

"Hindi nalang ako pumasok kahapon dahil pina asikaso ko kaagad sa mga tauhan ni Dad..." he added with a tinge of regret in his voice. "Tapos pagkabalik ko naman sa school madadatnan ko ang eksena niyo ni Ruby..." he cleared his throat, " Sinong hindi magagalit?" dagdag niya sabay iwas ng tingin.

"Kampante akong walang ebidensya tungkol sa nangyari sa'kin..." I managed to whisper, my voice barely there, but I knew they heard me. The silence that followed was heavy, pressing against my chest like a weight I couldn't shake.

"Sapat na ang ebidensyang nakuha mo, Gaeru-kun." Slowly, I lifted my gaze, forcing a small, fragile smile in his direction. My lips trembled slightly, but I held it. Held onto whatever strength I had left. "At nagpapasalamat ako sa ginawa mo, sa pagtulong niyo..." I continued, facing them both.

"At least Chanel and Ruby will be safe..." My throat tightened, the words scraping against something raw inside me. I swallowed hard, pushing down the ache. "I'll take that as my resolve."

Kahit sila nalang.

The air felt thick, suffocating, but for the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of closure. Even if my own truth was lost to the shadows, at least they—at least someone—would be free. And I think that was enough. 

I let out a heavy sigh, Ruby's face flashing in my mind. I never expected her to step in during the fight with Chanel, never thought she'd be the one to pull me out of it. Her courage caught me off guard, leaving a mark deeper than I wanted to admit. She wasn't cold—not like I had assumed.

But her bravery came at a cost. Gael, blinded by worry, saw only what he thought was an attack. He mistook her actions, convinced she had hurt me, and his instinct to protect me only made things spiral further out of control. What was meant to save me had only led to more damage.

Still, his regret was unmistakable—a realization that struck deep, leaving its mark. I could see it in the way his shoulders tensed, in the quiet guilt that lingered in his eyes. He had made a mistake, one that couldn't be undone, but he was doing everything he could to make it right.

And maybe that was enough, too.

His efforts were sincere, and in the end, they convinced me to forgive him. Not to forget—not to excuse what he did—but to understand. We had all been caught in a storm of fear, anger, and confusion. Now, all that was left was to find closure and finally let go.

"Bati naba tayo?" nag-aalalang wika ni Gael.

"Syempre nama-"

"Chigau!" sumigaw ako ng hindi para pigilan si Chad sa kanyang sasabihin.

"Bakit? Everything was settled, everyone is heard..." pagtataka pa nito.

"How about, Ruby?" I grumbled. "We need to see her, you need to apologize, Gaeru-kun... So as me."

"Asan ba siya?"

"Hospital maybe? Let's ask butler, Yuri. Pupuntahan natin siya." seryoso kong saad dahil hindi talaga kaya ng konsensya kong baka nasa masamang kalagayan siya dahil sa amin. And I want to thank her because, if it weren't for her, we wouldn't have found this closure—this silver lining in our past.

"Bati naba ulit tayo kapag humingi na ako ng tawad sa kanya?" ani Gael, nagsusumamo. Para bang batang inigawan ni chocolate, nakanguso.

"'Yan eh kung, papatawarin ka." pagbibiro ko naman.

"Ke, naman?"

I chuckled softly. "Just kidding, we had a little falling out, caught in everyone's dilemma...maybe she'd understand? No more internal issues, right?" They both nodded in agreement, and I felt a sense of relief that things were back on track between us.

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Gael's POV

Fuck, where do I even start?

It feels like standing in the middle of a storm, emotions ripping me apart. I hurt Ruby... again. I didn't mean to, but I did. Now I'm tangled in confusion, anger, and regret.

Ang dami ko ng nagawang hindi maganda sa kanya. I lashed out, saying things I didn't mean... words that cut deep, and now hurting her, even physically.

How do I apologize for something that feels beyond fixing? How do I even express the depth of my regret, the ache in my chest begging for forgiveness?

Last week was already chaos. Chad and Aoike shut me out, leaving me to drown in confusion and frustration. So, I did what I could... I spent my days with Ruby, trying to keep things normal, pretending to be okay wuth her weirdness and rudeness, and even sleeping with her.

Tapos heto na naman?

Pero sa kabila ng lahat may lihim akong ginagawa para makabawi sa mga kagaguhan ko. I was gathering evidence quietly, blending it into our time together. Dahil ibig ko ngang bayaran ang kasalanan ko sa kanya and made an effort to do so.

At habang kasama siya sa mga nagdaang araw... I watched her expressions, parsed her words na sana hindi ko nalang din kina-abalahan pa dahil nakakadagdag sa isipin ko ang ugali niyang hindi ko maintindihan.

Pero kasi, iniisip ko ring baka naging ganoon siya dahil sa ginawa ni Sir Pedran sa kanya tapos nasagasaan ko pa dahil sa kinginang tawag na'yon.

I couldn't just walk away, not when I knew I was equally guilty of making her the way she was, with her attitude, and everything. But every step I took seemed like I was entering a tornado of confusion.

However, as I pieced together the evidence, the reality of what Pedran was involved in became clearer. It was terrifying, knowing the harm he already caused to Chanel, his adopted daughter and to Ruby.

At dahil sadyang maangas ang panahon sa pag gawa ng plot twist, lingid sa aking kaalaman ang patungkol kay Aoike.

Three years ago finally makes sense. If only she'd told us, ME, sooner, maybe things wouldn't have spiraled like this.

Just when I thought I might have a way to make things right, things fell apart again... another mess tied up with Rubianna. I thought I was finally clearing my name, but now this new chaos has knocked me off course.

I'm at a crossroads, lost in emotions and facing a puzzle that feels impossible to solve. I don't know which way to go, only that this chaos isn't going away soon. And here I am, still hoping they'll see I'm not the bad guy anymore.

Hindi lang naman kasi tungkol kay Ruby, o sa pagkakaibigan namin ang kailangan kong atupagin. Magulo nanga social life ko, mas magulo pa ang personal kong buhay.

Sobrang nakaka gago na nga eh... It's the third week of the month, and I had no choice but to return to the mansion this coming weeks.

Dahil kung hindi, babantaan na naman ako ng sarili kong ama na ipatapon sa kung saan niya gusto at babawian daw ako ng yamang hindi ko naman hinahangad.

Bakit ba kasi kailangan mag sabay ng mga problema ko? Nakaka badtrip din, nakakawala ng ganang mabuhay.

I groaned as I rub my palms so hard on my face. "Umamin ka nga, palusot lang ang paghahanap mo ng ebidensya." my forehead creased upon hearing Chad's claim.

He sat beside me on the bench. I pursed my lips, I can't lie to him. "Mas matagal na kitang nakilala kesa kay Aoike, kaya mas alam ko kung kailan ka hindi nagsasabi ng totoo at kung kailan ka hindi ayos."

"Sabihin mo, ano bang nangyayari sa'yo?" seryoso niyang bitaw sa huli.

I cleared my throat, nakakatampo ang ginawa niyang hindi pag pansin sa'kin pero hindi ko makuhang mag amok sa kanya ngayon.

"Dad wants me back in the mansion, hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari sa loob pero alam kong magulo. I was gone this morning to check on everything, and then I got a message saying Abuelo is coming home.

"Lolo mo? Then it must grand? Bakit magulo, you should be happy instead. He was more like a father to you than tito Roman."

"Ewan, hindi ko makuhang sumaya..."

"Because he left without saying goodbye? Your abuelo is an enigmatic man, full of surprises, as you know. And you're aware that your family owns several businesses around the world, right?"

"I know that very well, Chad," I groaned.

"All I'm saying is, he must have a reason. Maybe just try to get along with your father, just be present. When does he come back anyway?"

"I don't know, maybe next month?"

"Mm, you know you don't have to face everything alone right?" tinapik niya ang balilat ko. "Feeling better?" tumingin naman ako sa kanya.

I forced a smile, "A little, thanks."

"Take your time, bro. Alam kong meron kapang hindi sinasabi..." natawa nalang ako, wala talaga akong takas sa kanya.

"Ano, tara na? Kanina pa ata nakalabas sila Aoike." tumango ako at lumabas nadin.

Naghihintay kasi kaming dalawa dito sa lounge area ng Hospital, gaya ng sinabi ni Aoike pupuntahan namin si Ruby. Pero pangatlong Ospital na'to at ang panghuli, wala parin kaming Rubianna na nakikita.

"Weird, wala parin. Where could she go not mending to her wounds? She was badly hurt!" nag aalala talaga si Aoike, nakakapagtaka nga namang hindi niya ipinagamot ang sarili.

When I saw her slapping Aoike, blood was already all over her uniform and face. She must have got that from Floid who was barely conscious when I got on their mess.

"Gaeru, who's the guy that punch you again?" pantutukoy niya sa lalaking biglang sumulpot para awatin ako sa kakasuntok kay Ruby.

Hindi ko nga naramdaman ang presensya niya eh. Namalayan ko nalang ang naiiyak na mukha ni Ruby bago ko naramdaman ang mabigat na kamay ng kung sino saking balikat. At ganoon niya lang ako kadaling dinampot bago sinuntok sa sikmura.

Sa sobrang lakas pa no'n ay tumilapon ako sa kinaroroonan ni Aoike. Gusto ko ngang sumuka no'n dahil sa sakit pero agad kong napigilan dahil mas nangibabaw ang nararamdaman kong galit kay Ruby at pag-aalala para sa kaibigan ko.

"I don't quite saw his face but I heard him saying something." seryoso kong saad. "Hindi ko rin siya kilala at mas lalong hindi pamilyar ang kanyang presensiya."

"Ano namang sinabi niya?" they both asked.

"He said, darling to Ruby—"

"Darling?"

"Darin?"

Sabay nilang sabi. "She had a boyfriend?" halos pabulyaw na sabi ni Chad.

"Who knows?" I shrugged.

"Then what kind of boyfriend not bringing his girlfriend to a Hospital when she's badly hurt?" bukambibig ni Aoike.

"Ewan ko," I retorted, why she's asking me anyway?

"Where's Ruby?!" she yelled, grunting at us before stomping her feet getting in the van.

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To be continued...