Everything will be alright. Somehow, someday.

***

Jasmine's POV

Hindi ako mapakali. I walked towards Nightmare and clasped his hand in mine. Agad na nabaling ang atensyon niya sa akin. His deep brown eyes, almost the shade of black, stared back at me with reassurance.

"Don't worry, Jasmine."

Naramdaman ko ang paghigpit ng hawak niya sa kamay ko. Kinakabahan ako. I glared at him. "Tanga ka ba?! Sinong hindi mag-aalala sa ganitong sitwasyon? Night, may tiwala ako sa'yo.. Kay Lee ako wala." I admit and almost felt the tears on my face.

She's all laid up in bed with a broken heart

While I'm drinking jack all alone in my local bar

It's true. May tiwala akong mas magaling umasinta ng baril si Noctis, pero bigla akong kinutuban nang masama. Napabaling ang mga mata ko kay Ryder Lee. There's something about that evil glint in his eyes that tells me he's up to no good. Paano kung---

"Jasmine, do you trust me?"

And we don't know how, how we got into this mad situation

Only doing things out of frustration

Trying to make it work but man these times are hard

My eyes found the ones of my better half at hindi ko  maiwasang malunod sa mga mata ni Noctis Mercado. He's staring down at me with affection, assurance and love.. What did I do to deserve a man like this? Naramdaman ko na lang ang marahang pagdampi ng mga labi ni Nightmare. I closed my eyes and felt his breath fan my face as I answered,

"I do."

He chuckled softly, "Ayun naman pala eh.. Practice na yang sagot mo. Jasmine," biglang sumeryoso ang mukha niya, "I know what Lee wants. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya makapaniwalang pinatay ko ang kapatid niya. Years ago, he vowed he'll get back on me.. Halata naman siguro sa lawak nang narating ng mga plano niya.." Napadako ang tingin niya kay Mars.

She needs me now but I can't seem to find the time

I got a new job now in the unemployment line

His eyes bore in mine again, "Hindi ka dapat madamay dito.. Naaalala mo ba? Magmula nang makilala kita, ilang ulit ka niyang sinubukang kunin mula sa'kin." Tumango ako. I remember all too clearly ang mga panahong iyon. The first, I almost died from falling off a building.. And the last one, a year ago, Tyler stole my innocence.

"Exactly. Jasmine, hindi ko hahayaang madamay ka pa uli, got that? Ililigtas natin si Clex. I know you're a big girl now but no matter how badass you are, remember that I will always be here to protect you."

Napatingin ako sa iba. Dream. Skyler. Chase. Mars.. At sa di kalayuan, I can see Neptune emerging from the entrance. I sighed. My life is a joke. Noon, ayaw na ayaw ko ng mga siraulo. Ngayon? Mahal ko na ang mismong lider nila.

And we don't know how

How we got into this mess is it a God's test

Someone help us cause we're doing our best

Trying to make it work but man these times are hard

"I love you.."

Biglang gumuhit ang isang makahulugang ngiti kay labi ni Nightmare. His right hand lifted my left one and caressed the bracelet he gave me years ago. Hinalikan niya ang kamay ko at sinabing,

"I've been waiting for those words all my life, Jasmine. But I don't think you could love me as much as I love you."

But we're gonna start by

Drinking old cheap bottles of wine

Sit talking up all night

Saying things we haven't for a while

A while, yeah

Binitawan niya ang kamay ko at naglakad na papalayo. Each step he took, my heart ached. Napansin kong nakababa na sina Lee at mayroong malawak na space silang tinira para sa dalawang maglalaban. Nakita ko si Clexion, several feet away. Nawalan siya nang malay. Hahakbang na sana ako paabante nang bigla akong pigilan ni Neptune. Without looking at me, he smiled.

"Not all gangsters are bad."

Tinitigan ko si Nightmare mula sa malayo. He seemed confident and smug. Maybe paranoid lang talaga ako?

"It's funny how I never considered him my boyfriend before.. Noong nakatali pa ako sa kontrata naming tatlo."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Mars staring at me. There's something in the way he stares that makes me feel a little nostalgic.

We're smiling but we're close to tears

Even after all these years

We just now got the feeling that we're meeting

For the first time, ooh

"Jasmine," napalingon ako kay Chase na nakatayo sa kabilang gilid ko. He had a cut on his eyebrow. "Alam mo naman siguro ang kahalagahan ng kahihinatnan ng laban na ito.. This isn't just about Lee's personal issues and Nightmare's need to protect you. Ito ang magtatapos sa matagal nang initan ng dalawang grupo."

We both watched as Lee prepared his gun and spat taunts at Nightmare. Napahingang malalim si Chase.

"This is a gangster's duel. The first one to fall dead, loses.. But whatever happens Jasmine, don't do anything reckless."

At pagkasabi niya nun, sunod na umalingawngaw ang malakas na pagputok ng baril. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. My eyes searched Nightmare and I saw him gracefully land on the ground, a few feet away from the bullet's way. That was close..

She's in line at the dole with her head held high

While I just lost my job I didn't lose my pride

And we both know how, how we're going make it work when it hurts

When you pick yourself up you get kicked to the dirt

Trying to make it work but man these times are hard

BANG!

Another gunshot, and another. Pigil hininga naming pinanood ang paglalaban ng dalawa. Pareho silang maliliksi. Every time Nightmare would shoot at Lee, naiilagan niya ito. May mga pagkakataong kamuntikan nang matamaan sa braso si Nightmare pero mabuti na lang at nadadaplisan lang siya. They're both sharp shooters pero alam naming lahat na hindi na magtatagal ang laban nila. They're only allowed one gun at kung tama ang hinala ko, paubos na sila ng bala.

But we're gonna start by

Drinking old cheap bottles of wine

Sit talking up all night

Saying things we haven't for a while

A while, yeah

BANG!

BANG!

Diyos ko po.. Please don't let my Nightmare die. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko kung----no, Jasmine. Wag kang mag-iisip ng ganyan.

"Jaz.."

Nagulat ako nang lapitan ako ni Mars. His face was disheveled. Mukha siyang problemado. Iniharap niya ako sa kanya.

"Jaz, ayokong maging negatibo pero.. When.. When Nightmare is gone, tatandaan mo na nandito lang ako. You would never be alone. You can run to me. You can treat me as your bestfriend again. W-We'll be back to the way we were."

Smiling but we're close to tears

Even after all these years

We just now got the feeling that we're meeting

For the first time ooh

What the fuck..?

Pakiramdam ko nag-init ang ulo ko. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at marahas ko siyang tinulak palayo sa akin kasabay ang malutong na pagsampal ko sa kanya.

The Dark Roses' members were staring at us. Baka ang pagtataka sa mga mukha nila.

Mars looked at me with disbelief.

"Mars, hindi ko alam kung paano ka naging ganyan kababa. Are you out of your mind? Nalalagay sa panganib si Nightmare! Hindi ba tinuturing mo siyang parang kapatid noon?! Tapos, ano? Sa lahat ng nangyayari, ito lang pala ang iniisip mo?! Nakakagago lang! YOU'RE SO FUCKIN' SELFISH!"

BANG!

Drinking old cheap bottles of wine

Sit talking up all night

Saying things we haven't for a while

We're smiling but we're close to tears

Naagaw ang atensyon namin nang may marinig kaming daing matapos ang makabibinging putok na iyon. We were shocked to see Lee clutching his side, blood oozing out of it. Nakagulo ang lahat. Nightmare got him. Napangiti ako nang malawak. Para akong nabunutan ng tinik sa dibdib.

We all watched silently as Nightmare walked towards him. Nakatitig ito kay Ryder. He kicked Ryder's gun father away on the floor at tinutukan ng baril niya sa ulo ang lider ng Black Empire.

This will all be over soon.

Nanginginig at malakas ang boses ni Lee.

"Ano pang hinihintay mo? Patayin mo na 'ko!"

But Nightmare frowned and said, "I'm not as heartless as you are, Lee. Huwag mo nang gagambalain ang Dark Roses. I-dissemble mo ang Black Empire at wag mo nang tangkain pang bumalik. Sa oras na magpangahas ka, sisiguraduhin kong hindi na ako magdadalawang-isip sa gagawin ko sa'yo." Malamig at walang kaemo-emosyong sabi niya. Tumango-tango si Lee.

I sighed. He really has a good heart.

Ibinaba na ni Nightmare ang baril niya at naglakad papabalik sa amin.

Pero bago pa man siya makalapit, I saw Lee got up and pulled something from his sleeves. I gasped nang makita kong isa itong baril. Teka, akala ko ba isang baril lang ang pwede nilang gamitin?! Mabilis ang mga sumunod na pangyayari. Nakita ko kung paano itinutok ni Lee ang baril sa likod ng ulo ni Nightmare at ngumisi.

"Wrong move, Nightmare!" Sigaw nito bago umalingawngaw ang malakas na pagputok nito.

But a split second before that, I found myself running between them.

"JASMINE!"

Huli na nang mapansin ako ni Nightmare.

Even after all these years

We just now got the feeling that we're meeting

For the first time, ooh..

***