Habang kumakain kami ni Silver, hindi ko mapigilang mapalingon sa mesa kung saan naroroon si Riley kasama ang dalawang babae; isa sa kanila yung babaeng tinititigan ni Apollo, tapos yung isa naman mukhang tanga na tawa lang ng tawa.

         Malakas ang tibok ng puso ko at nangangatog ang mga kamay ko dahil sa galit. Galit ako kasi sobrang bilis akong ipinagpalit ni Riley. May mga kaibigan agad siya. Pinagpalit na niya agad ako. Ang sakit lang.

        "You okay?" Silver asked as she ate her slice of ube cake.

        "Why wouldn't I be?" I raised an eyebrow and laughed to fake my anger.

         Ba't ba ako galit? Dapat sanay na ako! I should be used to people abandoning me. It happens all the time to me! I should stop feeling hurt!

       "Kaaway mo ba yung pogi?" tanong ni Silver kaya mas lalo akong natawa. Kaaway? I didn't even do anything to him! Bigla nalang siyang nang-abandona.

        "If kaaway kayo, you're doing a great job at annoying him so don't feel so bad." Walang kaemo-emosyong sambit ni Silver sabay thumbs-up.

****

         Nagising ako na parang may kumakalabit sa braso ko. Antok na antok pa ako kaya impit akong napaungol at hinayaan ang sarili kong madala muli sa kalaliman ng tulog.

         "Psst..."

        Naririnig kong may sumusutsot at mas lumalakas pa ang kalabit sa braso ko.

       I got so annoyed that I opened my eyes, ready to slap the person who's disturbing my sleep. I was more than ready to throw hands but what I saw scared the punk rock out of me and instantly made me scream at the top of my lungs.

        It was a pale face hanging up side down and her hair was flowing down; her deep emotionless eyes, looking at me with intensity.

          Napabalikwas ako at napabangon pero nakalimutan kong nasa ilalim nga pala ako ng isang double deck na kamang gawa sa makapal na uri ng kahoy.

        "Aray!" Napasigaw ako nang malakas at napahiga nalang ulit dahil sa sobrang sakit.

       "Okay ka lang?" The upside-down floating face asked and in that moment I remembered that I was staying in a room with Silver. Damn it! I should've taken the top bunk! Nakalimutan kong may sa elemento pala 'tong kasama ko!

       "Na alimpungatan ako!" Sarcastic kong sagot habang sapo ang noo kong sobrang sakit.

        "Ah... You should prepare now though. May 7am class ka pa." Kaswal nitong sambit. Mukhang hindi ata na-gets ang sarcasm ko.

***

         "Bwisit na Silver..." Napabuntong hininga ako habang nakaupo sa dulo ng classroom habang sapo ang noo ko. Ayoko sanang pumasok kaso mas mabuti nalang sigurong andito ako kesa sa bahay, nakakatakot kasama si Silver. Baka mamaya zombie pala talaga ang babaeng iyon.

        "Hi! Is this seat taken?"

        I looked up to see a girl in sky blue sweatshirt and yellow high waisted skirt, smiling at me from ear to ear. I recognize her as the girl Riley was with yesterday. So ito ang ipinalit niya sa akin?

          The girl looks so cheerful and bright that it actually made me wince. It's 7am, why is this girl so cheerful already? Damn, she's worse than Silver. I wonder what Riley saw in her that made him want to be friends with her?

        "Knock yourself out." I shrugged and looked out the window right beside me instead.

        For what it's worth, Filimon Heights is still as beautiful as ever. It may not be as modern as other cities but the fact that it's still in touch with nature, surrounded with trees and all that shit, makes it breathtaking.

        I heard the girl giggle as she sat next to me. Ba't ba ang hyper nito?!

       "I like your color," I heard her say.

        "Okay." I nodded nonchalantly, still looking out the window. Bwisit! Nahahawa na ako ni Silver!

        "Gusto mo?" she said again, this time napatingin na ako sa kanya. Sounds like she's giving away something for free and who doesn't like anything that's free?!

         She looked like a little kid, giggle and shit as she offered me her bag of chips. She didn't have to offer twice, I took it from her hand and opened it myself.

       "Thanks, Bubbles." Kaswal kong sambit.

       "Bubbles?" She mused, her smile never leaving her face.

       I shrugged and pointed her clothes and face. "You look like Bubbles Powerpuff to me."

       "Thank you!" She beamed, her eyes seemed to glimmer with shit and stuff. God! Her energy and happiness is disgusting! Good thing she's cute though.

       "What's your name?" she asked.

        "Whatzitooya." I said coldly.

          Instead of getting pissed, she beamed more to my response. "You watch Spongebob too?!"

          Hindi ko napigilang matawa. I can't believe she understood my reference.

          "If you like punk rock, we're friends." I jokingly rolled my eyes.

          "I'm more into cartoon original songs like in Adventure and Spongebob but I gotta admit, I really like Blink-182!" she giggled, and in that moment I knew, I like her.

          "So..." She dragged her chair closer to mine. "What's your name?"

         "Reika." I shrugged.

          "Hi Reika! I'm Braylee, your strong and independent cutie!" she beamed for the nth time. God! Does this girl ever run out of energy? Is this why Riley is friends with her? Because she's more positive and shit?

         "You look dumb..." I grimaced.

          "Thank you!" she giggled. "Friends na tayo ha?" aniya kaya napangiwi nalang ako. 

           Yeah right... Friends. But sooner or later, she'll just abandon me like most of my so-called friends. Ganun naman lagi eh. Bilang ko lang sa daliri ko ang mga taong hindi nang-abandona sa akin.

          Nasa punto ako ng buhay ko kung saan hindi na ako nagugulat pa kapag may nang-iiwan sa akin... mas nakakagulat na may nananatili pa.

         Pagod na pagod ako pagdating ng lunch time. Wala naman kaming masyadong ginawa sa classes, sadyang napagod lang talaga ako sa kakulitan at kadaldalan ni Braylee. Magkaklase kami halos sa lahat ng mga subjects kaya siya ang lagi kong kasama. And unfortunately, she doesn't run out of words to say or things to do. She was like a firecracker on drugs!

       Sayang at hindi sabay ang lunch break namin, magpapalibre sana ako sa kanya.

      Biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko, tinatamad man, tiningnan ko parin ang message habang naglalakad patungo sa cafeteria.

Silver:

Sabay tayo mag lunch. Wala akong kasabay

You:

How about your ghost and demon friends?

Silver:

You are my demon friend.

         Hindi ko napigilang matawa dahil sa reply ni Silver. The girl may be creepy as hell but she's got the spirit I like. 

***

     Naging mabilis ang pagdaan ng ilang araw. Mabilis kasi chill lang ang mga araw ko. Unlike all the suckers here, may system akong sinusunod; alternate ako kung umabsent at kapag pumapasok naman, pasimple akong tumatakas sa klase. Hindi rin naman ako pinapagalitan ng prof ko kaya walang problema.

      "Andito ka na naman?" Tanong ni Silver nang maabutan ako sa kwarto. Tumayo pa ang elemento sa harap ng TV kaya kinailangan kong i-pause ang nilalaro kong video game. 

      If a Stone and a ghost would reproduce, Silver is surely the product with how stone cold she looks like. 

       "I live here too?" Sarcastic kong tugon sabay lahad ng palad kong hawak pa ang game controller.

       "You're supposed to have a class pero lagi ka lang nandito at naglalaro ng video games." aniya. "Naghihirap ang mga magulang mo na pag-aralin ka tapos-"

       "Mom is filthy rich already and she doesn't have to work to support me. I'm basically a trust fund baby already," giit ko bago pa man siya matapos ang sinasabi. 

        Silver looked at me intensely as she folded her arms. "Then you should be grateful for your damn privilege. Andaming mga batang gustong makapag-aral pero sa sobrang hirap ng mga buhay nila--"

       "Okay fine!" I yelled and stood up. Bwisit na Silver, gini-guilt trip pa ako.

       Silver suddenly smile and in that moment I felt like time stopped. Did I just really see her smile?

       "Y-you know how to smile?" hindi ko napigilang magtanong.

       "Hindi ako bato," walang kaemo-emosyon niyang sambit, parang isang bato. Ewan ko talaga sa babaeng 'to!

        Pagkatapos naming mag-dinner, biglang nagpaalam si Silver na aalis kasi kailangan pa niyang magtrabaho sa club ni Cohen. She works there as a waitress.

        Alam na alam ko ang mga kagaguhang nangyayari sa bar na iyon kaya hindi ko mapigilang mag-aalala kay Silver. Okay sana kung matino yung employer at masisigurado ang safety ni Silver kaso si Cohen ang nagpapatakbo nito ngayon. Si Cohen!

        Ilang oras matapos makaalis si Silver sa bahay, hindi parin ako mapalagay. Hindi ko na talaga maiwasang mag-alala kaya napagdesisyunan kong sumunod narin sa bar.

****

         The moment I entered the bar, an enchanting guitar solo suddenly caught my attention. It was a version of AC/DC's Highway to Hell to be exact! 

         I felt goosebumps run down my skin and adrenaline rush over me. The melody is just so intoxicating and it feels so good! Gosh! This is why I love this genre!

        "Fuck yeah!" I couldn't help but scream as I ran towards the crowd, rocking out to the song with my fellow punk rock lovers around.

         Nakakabingi. Nakakalunod. Ang sarap sarap sa pakiramdam. Parang gumagaan ang puso ko sa bawat paglusob ng musika sa kamalayan ko. This is catharsis!

        "I'm on the highway to hell! On the highway to hell! Highway to hell! I'm on the highway to hell!" I screamed so loud just like the rest of the people around me, singing along to the sharp vocals of the band up the stage. 

         I was surrounded by strangers but in that moment, it felt like all of us were good friends that are rocking along the beauty of Rock and Roll. We all jumped up and down, waving our hands and drinks to the beat of the song, even banging our heads to the beat. Most of the crowd had their own glow stick around their necks and hands so it felt like I was in a crazy wave of a neon lit ocean. 

        I was sweating and gasping as the song ended but it felt so refreshing! 

       "Who's that band?" Hindi ko mapigilang mapatanong sa katabi kong lalake. Gaya ko, pawisan din siya at humahangos. Halos sumigaw pa ako para lang magkarinigan kami. Sobrang ingay kasi talaga ng paligid.

        "Wave Syndicate!" Pasigaw niyang sambit habang may ngiti sa kanyang mukha. He looks proud and happy. Siguro paborito niyang banda 'tong Wave Syndicate kaya parang proud siyang ipakilala ito, I mean ganyan din kasi ako sa tuwing iniintroduce ko ang paborito kong banda sa mga kakilala ko.

         Bigla kong napansin ang cast sa kamay ng lalake. Grabe, injured na siya't lahat-lahat pero grabe siya kung makatalon at maka-headbang kanina. 

        "This ain't a song for the broken-hearted!"

         Habang nakatingin parin sa lalake, namilog ang mga mata ko nang biglang kumanta ang vocalist at kasunod nito ang makapanindig balahibong beat ng drums at marahas na kumpas ng gitara. 

         "Oh shit," I gasped as I felt a chill run down my spine.

         "This is the shit," ngumisi ang lalake at tumango-tango.

           Next thing I know I was jumping up and down, screaming, laughing,  singing along to "It's my life" with the guy in the cast. He was so fun to hang out with because he was just rocking along too. He wasn't flirting unlike any of the guys I met at concerts.

           But before the song could end, someone suddenly dragged me away.

          "Ano ba?!" tinangka kong magpumiglas pero nang makitang si Apollo ito, sumama nalang ako. I'm pretty sure Apollo has a sane reason for dragging me away from a really good time. 

          "Bakit?" tanong ko kay Apollo nang nasa parte na kami ng bar na malayo sa naglalakihang speaker at napakaingay na mga tao. 

          "Sino si Riley Bognacia?" tanong ni Apollo na para bang galit, bagay na labis kong ikinagulat. Si Apollo? Galit? Marunong palang magalit ang isang 'to? Teka, bakit siya interesado kay Riley?! 

          "Bakit?! 'Wag mong sabihing may gusto sa bakla ko?!" hindi ko mapigilang bumulalas sabay taas ng kilay at kuyom ng kamao ko. Pwedeng-pwedeng magkagusto si Riley kay Apollo!

           "Ano?" Nakunot ang noo ni Apollo. "Sumama ka na nga lang sakin!" He hissed and dragged me away again so I had no choice but to follow his lead.

         Nang makarating kami sa second floor, hinila ako ni Apollo patungo sa railings and pasimpleng ngumuso sa isang mesa kung saan naroroon si Riley kasama si Braylee at yung babaeng gusto ni Apollo. 

         Nahigit ko ang hininga ko nang makitang nakasandal ang babae kay Riley habang umiinom ng wine. 

         "That ugly moron with Piper, you know him right?! I did my research and--"

         Napalingon agad ako kay Apollo at marahas na hinigit ang kwelyo niya. "Call my boy an ugly moron again and I will skin you alive!"

          "What?" Naguguluhang bulalas ni Apollo at nakita ko siyang lumunok dahil sa takot sa akin.

          Binitiwan ko si Apollo at bahagyang tinulak palayo. Humarap akong muli sa direksyon nina Riley at marahas akong napahawak sa railings. Hindi ko mapigilang mapabuntong-hininga muli.

          "I know he's gay but I'm still so damn jealous!" I groaned in so much anger while looking at them from a far. 

           "Bakla siya?" Bulalas ni Apollo kaya tumango ako. Narinig ko siyang bumuntong-hininga kaya agad ko siyang sinamaan ng tingin. Para siyang nabunutan ng malaking tinik.

            "Bakla ko siya." Bulalas ko.

             Mariin akong napapikit nang mapagtanto ang mga salitang lumabas mula sa sarili kong bibig. Ang sabi ko maghihiganti ako pero heto ako at selos na selos at inaangkin siya kahit wala namang kami!

            "Damn! Is he the reason why you're here?" Nakangiwing bulalas ni Apollo kaya muli akong napabuntong-hininga. Knowing Apollo, I guess my secret is safe with him.

           "I'm pathetic right?" Natawa nalang ako. "I just want to get back at him for abandoning me!" Bulalas ko.

            "You want to get back at him for abandoning you?" 

           Kapwa kami napalingon ni Apollo nang marinig ang pamilyar na walang kaemo-emosyong boses.

         Napabuntong-hininga ako nang makita si Silver suot ang blue shirt at black pants habang bitbit ang isang tray na may lamang maliliit na baso na may lamang alak. Gustong-gusto kong kutusan ang sarili ko. Dahil sa bibig ko, dalawa na tuloy ang nakakaalam sa sikreto ko!

         "He looked so pissed when you flirted with him. Just keep it up and he'll blow a fuse in no time." Silver said and left, just like that.

END OF CHAPTER 5!

THANKS FOR READING!

VOTE AND COMMENT <3

.