2 months later

        "Damn! I had no idea you'd grow up into an emo freak!" Haji laughed while pointing my face, a cup of beer resting on his hand. 

        Jeez, I can't believe I'm hanging out with these idiots again. 

       "Damn! 10 years later and you're still ugly!" I shot back with a smirk up my face.

       "Whoaaaa!" Magno, Sawyer, Cohen, and Apollo yelled in unison while clapping their hands like a fool. 

        "That hurts." Haji pouted. I don't know if it's because of the neon lights but Haji's face is looking red already. Lasing na ang bumbay.

         "Not as bad as it hurt when your Mom saw your face after giving birth." I chuckled as I leaned my back on the couch.

          "Burn bumbay burn!" Cohen gloated while pointing Haji mercilessly with both of his hands.

           "And how about you?" A playful snorted came out of me as I rolled my eyes. "A predator in his own bar,  sleeping with chicks and ditching them by morning. Damn, Lorenzo! Didn't know you'd grow up into a manslut!"

         The smile in Cohen's face immediately vanished. He grimaced when the guys started laughing at him.

         "She got you good there buddy." Sawyer patted Cohen's back while chuckling.

         "Isa ka pa!" I laughed in pure sarcastic amusement. "Didn't you know that fake band-aids are so 2000?" Ngumiwi ako sabay turo sa band-aid na nasa pisngi ni Sawyer. If I know wala naman siyang sugat diyan. Pa-cool lang ang hayop.

         "May pimple ako!" Sigaw ni Sawyer, nanlalaki ang mga mata at hindi na tumatawa.

         "Too much information bro!" Apollo laughed and patted sawyer's back; but the smile on Apollo's face disappeared when he realized that I was already looking at him with my sharp eyes. Apollo gulped, probably sensing the roasting he'll get from me.

         But instead of roasting Apollo, I ended up with a sigh. Apollo is a pretty nice guy. He's not worthy for my roasting.

        "My cousin is on a roll tonight!" Magno cheered and clapped hard for me. He was just sitting right beside me so I turned to look at him with my eyes that are sharp as knives.

         "You ugly booger! Grandpa told you to help me register for the dormitory but instead of doing so, you dragged me into this bar! Pag ako naubusan ng kwarto sa FHU, I'm so going to grab an ice pick and shove it up your ass!" Hindi na ako nakapagpigil sa inis. These guys aren't even my friends! They are Magno's friends! except Sawyer, we've been kinda best friends from playing GTA through the years.

         "Filimon Heights University?" Nakunot ang noo ni Cohen binubuksan ang bote ng brandy at sinasalin ito sa maliit na baso. "Why would you go to FHU? Dun ka nalang sa Rosepike University. We need a wing-girl to help us get more ladies," he added like he was disgusted with my decision.

          "That's what I want. You got a problem with that?" I glared at Cohen which made him shut up immediately. 

        Ilang beses narin akong tinanong ni Lolo kung bakit sa Filimon Heights University ko gustong mag-aral at hindi sa Rosepike University kung saan nag-aaral si Magno  pero sa huli wala siyang ibang ginawa kundi pumayag. Ever since I could remember, Lolo always told me to follow my heart and do whatever my heart desires so he supported my every decision too. Meanwhile my Mom... she's just glad I got into college.

           Well not for long... Gusto ko lang naman gumanti kay Riley kaya ako nandito. Pagkatapos kong makaganti sa baklang iyon, aalis agad ako sa lugar na'to. There's no point staying in the city that gave me the worst memories.

         "Rei, I hate to be the bringer of bad news but the Filimon University's dorm is full," sabi ni Apollo kaya sa isang iglap, napatingin sa kanya ang lahat ng mga kaibigan niya.

        "Ano?" kunot-noong bulalas ni Apollo nang mapansing nakatingin ang lahat sa kanya.

        "Bakit mo nalaman na puno na ang mga dorm nila?" kunot-noong tanong ni Cohen.

         Nakita ko kung paano biglang napalunok si Apollo. Para siyang nagulat, para bang nabisto ang kanyang sikreto. I wonder what this guy is up to? I guess it's nothing bad since Apollo's has always been the sanest in their group... well, second sanest since Jethro still holds the throne. Wait, where's Jethro and Denver? Sila yung magkakaibigan mula noon eh.

         "M-may nagsuhol lang sa akin na i-check," Sagot ni Apollo at mabilis na tinungga ang hawak na shot. I wonder what this guy is hiding though...

          "Wait so where will I freaking live?!" I blurted out when I suddenly realized my dilemma.

          "Problema ba 'yan? Edi kay Magno o sa lolo mo!" Haji retorted kaya agad ko siyang inirapan.

          "Eww no way!" Sagot ko nalang.

          "Ba't ba ayaw mong tumira sa amin?" Magno asked for the nth time kaya tumayo nalang ako mula sa kinauupuan. I don't want to continue this conversation anymore.

          "For sure there's still so many boarding house left outside the school premises." I just shrugged instead of answering. "Anyway, where's the restroom?"

          "Reika, school starts in two days. Everyone's already settled, baka wala nang vacant ngayon sa mga boarding house." Apollo said so I rolled my eyes and walked away. Ako na nga lang bahalang maghanap ng restroom.

****

         I sighed upon finding the restrooms empty. I like being alone but not in the restrooms. For some reason, the silence along the empty cubicles creep me out. But instead of getting consumed by my own fears, I decided to just enter the first cubicle.

          As I was busy doing my business,  I suddenly heard the bathroom door open and close. I began to hear footsteps, but then it suddenly stopped, I didn't even get to hear the cubicle door open or close.

         For some reason, I suddenly felt chill run down my skin as my hair stood from the back of my neck.

         "Reika you idiot." Napabuntong-hininga nalang ako dahil sa nararamdaman. Malamang nananalamin yung tao kaya di ko narinig na gumalaw. May malaking salamin naman eh.

        Upon finishing up, I opened the door only to find a girl in a white dress standing right in front of the door... right in front of me. Her hair was straight and long as it reached her waist. Her face looked so pale and her lips were a shade of purple.   She looked at me with her deep lifeless eyes and all I could do was scream for my life.

        I screamed at the top of my lungs but for some reason I couldn't run. I was frozen on the spot, out of fear while looking at her eyes.

        All of a sudden, I choked on my own screaming and ended up coughing. My throat stung so bad that I coughed over and over again.

       "You okay?" The ghost suddenly asked with her emotionless voice.

         And just like that... I felt like the dumbest person in Filimon Heights.

         "H-hindi ka multo?" I said in between coughing.

          "What?" Walang kabuhay-buhay nitong sambit. Walang kaemo-emosyon ang mukha at parang nababagot.

          "Nevermind." Bawi ko agad kahit pa humahangos ako at sobrang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko. Holy fck! I'm even cold and trembling! Good thing none of the fckboys saw that otherwise I'd be a laughing stock for sure.

           "My name is Silver," pakilala ng babaeng multo sa sarili niya.

            Umiling ako. "Nah, I'll just call you Girly Phantom... Ya know, girl version ni Danny Phantom?" Hindi ko napigilang matawa sa sarili kong joke.

            "Okay." Tumango lang siya na wala bang kaproble-problema. Nice! Madaling kausap 'tong taong-multo na 'to. 

            "Bye Girly Phantom." Aalis na sana ako pero bigla niya akong hinarang. Natakot ako sa ginawa niya kaya mabilis akong napabalikwas at napaatras. Damn it! This girl looks scary af! 

            "I don't want to seem creepy--"

            "Girl, you're creepy." I couldn't help but cut her off.

             "My bad," she said nonchalantly and I could tell she was serious and not sarcastic. "Continuing...  I overheard your conversation about looking for a place to stay and I'm in need of a roommate. It's just a small two-story house with 1 bedroom and 1 guest room for any visitors. Don't worry, the room has bunk-beds. You get to choose if you want bottom or top."

            I kept staring at her face as she talked. Silver was like an apparition, I mean she's not transparent and all but her presence just feels like a cold wind. Damn it, pinaglihi ba sa multo ang isang 'to?

          "You don't even know who I am and I don't even know you," paalala ko. "What if I'm a serial killer? or what if you're a serial killer?"

          "I'm not a serial killer and you don't look like a serial killer to me. You look like if depression was a person though." Walang kaemo-emosyon niyang sambit kaya hindi ko napigilang matawa. Okay, I'm really starting to like this girly phantom.

          "Also, my brother knows the boys you were hanging out with earlier so I guess I'm safe with you," aniya pa kaya natawa nalang ako. What an innocent ghost!

           "I got a question to ask you though..." Napabuntong-hininga nalang ako.

           "Go." Malamya at walang kabuhay-buhay nitong sagot.

            "What's your favorite band?" I asked as my eyes turned into slits.

            "Papa Roach." She answered quickly, without even hesitating or thinking.

             Impressed was an understatement of how I felt. Agad akong napangiti nang sobrang lapad sabay lahad ng kamay ko. "Hello Roommate!"

       ***

           Kinabukasan, nagtungo agad ako sa address na ibinigay ni Silver dala ang dalawa kong maleta. Buti nalang talaga at napapayag ko si Gramps na wag na akong samahan pang maglipat bahay. Alam ko naman kasing may golfing tournament siya kaya kailangan niyang umalis ng Filimon Heights. 

           Hindi man kalakihan ang bahay, sobrang cute naman nito at mukha pang secured dahil sa mataas ng pader. Ayos! Ang sarap nitong akyatin! 

          "Shit!" Hindi ko napigilang sumigaw nang biglang bumukas ang gate bago pa man ako makapag-doorbell. Bumungad agad sa harapan ko ang walang kabuhay-buhay at kulay na mukha ni Silver. Purple na naman ang kulay ng labi niya. May sakit ba siya?

          "Do you really have to look like a ghost every time I see you?!" Hindi ko napigilang bumulalas.

           "Do you really have to flinch and scream every time you see me?" Bulalas din niya na para bang nababagot.

           Fair point.

***

          Pinapili ako ni Silver kung saang parte ng bunk bed ng gusto ko. Siyempre, mas pinili ko sa baba. Nakakapagod kayang umakyat at bumaba and besides, mas gusto ko sa ilalim. Madilim gaya ng kaluluwa ko. Medyo mainit din kapag hindi umaandar ang aircon kaya instant training sa impyerno.

         "Magkano nga ulit yung rent?" tanong ko kay Silver habang isa-isa kong nilalabas ang laman ng isa sa dalawa kong maleta; bluetooth speakers, laptop, chichirya at kung ano-ano pa. Gusto ko sanang dalhin ang maliit kong ref kaso sabi ni Silver fully furnished na ang bahay.

        "5k a month. Okay lang?" tanong niya.

         "Yeah!" Mabilis akong tumango. "Mommy ko naman ang magbabayad. Pampalubag loob sa pang-iiwan niya," biro ko sabay halakhak.

         "You're weird..." mahinang sambit ni Silver kaya mabilis akong napatingin sa kanya at napangiwi.

         "Hiyang-hiya ako sa'yo," sarcastic kong sambit at ginaya ang walang kabuhay-buhay niyang pananalita.

         "Ano pala ang course mo? Saan ka nag-aaral?" tanong ko sa kanya.

         "FHU. Nursing, freshman." 

          Hindi ko napigilang mapahalakhak sa sagot ni Silver. 'Tong babaeng 'to? Magiging Nurse? Eh magmumukha lang siyang multong nurse sa ospital! Kung ako ang pasyente niya, heart attack ang ikakamatay ko!

         "Ikaw?" tanong niya.

          "FHU. Freshman... nakalimutan ko yung course ko basta wildlife yun," napakamot ako sa ulo ko habang pilit iyong inaalala.

          "Hindi mo alam anong course mo?" Tanong ni Silver, matamlay at wala paring kabuhay-buhay.

           I shrugged. "Ginaya ko lang yung nakasabay ko sa enrollment."

           "Y-yun lang ang rason mo kung bakit mo pinili ang kurso mo?" tanong niya, halatang bothered sa sagot ko.

             Umiling ako at tumawa. "Syempre hindi! Nakakarelate din kasi ako! Wildlife nga diba? Eh may pagka wild ang life ko eh!" giit ko.

           Napangiwi si Silver. Hindi ko napigilang mamangha. Unang beses kong nakakita ng emosyon sa kanya! 

          "Nakakagutom kang kausap, tara sa cafe," aniya pa ngunit balik sa pagiging parang bato ang boses niya.

*****

        Malapit lang ang bahay ni Silver sa Filimon University. May mga boarding house din na malapit sa amin kaya nang marating ang pinakamalapit na coffee shop, pansin ko agad na mga kaedad lang namin ang mga ito.

       Naupo na kami ni Silver sa mesa. Naghintay kami ng waiter na lalapit pero ilang minuto na ang lumipas at wala parin. Lumingon ako at nakita ko ang waiter na nakatayo malapit sa cashier bar. 

        "Apollo?" Nakunot ang noo ko nang mapagtantong si Apollo ito. Teka, balita ko kay Magno na nagta-trabaho raw kay Denver ang isang 'to, ba't nagwe-waiter parin siya rito?

         Pansin kong nakatulala si Apollo at nakatingin siya sa kung saan. Sinundan ko ang tingin niya at hindi ko napigilang mapangisi nang makitang nakatitig pala siya sa isang babaeng nakaupo sa dulo ng silid. A girl in a red dress, quietly reading her book while sipping some purple smoothie.

        "Damn, is Apollo Apolonio in love?" Napahalakhak ako. In fairness, may taste siya. Gandang babae eh. 

        Tumayo ako. Akmang lalapitan ko si Apollo para asarin nang bigla nalang may taong bumangga sa akin.

       "Sor--Reika?!" Umalingawngaw ang malakas na sigaw ng taong bumangga  sa akin at kahit ako ay napasinghap din nang makita siya ulit.

        2 months narin pala ang huli kaming nagkita at miss na miss ko na siya... kaso siya, mukhang hindi.

        "Anong ginagawa mo rito?!" Bulalas ni Riley at agad na napamewang habang nakataas ang isang kilay na kulay brown na. Di gaya noon, nakasuot narin siya ng lipgloss ngayon at pansin kong gumamit siya ng natural-looking make-up. Malayong-malayo sa Riley noong high school na napakaputla at ang tanging kolorete lang sa mukha ay ang sugat at pasa sa mukha.

        Parang kinurot ang puso ko nang muli ko siyang makita. Lagi kong tinatanggi sa sarili ko, pero ngayong nakikita ko na siya, inaamin ko nang miss na miss ko na talaga siya. Sa isang iglap, parang naglaho ang lahat ng galit at kagustuhan kong gumanti sa kanya.

        Sa isang iglap, gustong-gusto ko siyang yakapin. Gustong-gusto ko siyang ngitian... pero bago pa man iyon magawa, pansin ko ang matinding pandidiri at inis sa kanyang mga mata.

        "Stalker ka! Sinundan mo pa talaga ako hanggang dito?!" Buong lakas niyang sigaw sa akin dahilan para mapatingin sa amin ang lahat.

        Parang sumiklab bigla ang galit ko. Pero imbes na murahin siya, natawa ako at nanatiling taas-noo. Hindi basta-bastang nagpapaapi ang isang Reika De Juan! 

       If you fight fire with fire... make sure to burn the enemy smartly!

       "Yabang mo ah?! Eh halikan kaya kita?!" Taas-noo kong banta dahilan para mamutla si Riley at agad na mapangiwi.

       Diring-diri siya sa sinabi ko. Apektadong-apektado siya. Dapat masaya ako kasi halatang hindi niya iyon nagustuhan... pero hindi ko maiwasang masaktan.

        Riley finds me disgusting and it hurts like hell.

END OF CHAPTER 4!

THANKS FOR READING!

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