Chapter Theme : Teenagers - My Chemical Romance

TotoySipag

12:03 AM

Reika: 

Apollo?

TotoySipag:

Need some midnight delivery?

Reika:

i'm sorry

I fucked up again

TotoySipag:

Anong nangyari?

Reika:

Cohen asked for Piper's number 

I had no choice

he has something to use against me

TotoySipag:

Ok lang

Salamat sa pagsabi

Reika:

I'm on your side pol

Piper's my friend too at ayoko siyang mapahamak 

but i had no other choice

TotoySipag:

Anong hawak niya laban sa'yo?

Baka matulungan kita?

Reika:

Family stuff

TotoySipag:

Tungkol ba sa papa mo?

Reika:

Bakit mo alam?

TotoySipag:

Last Month nakita ko siya rito

I knew he looked familiar

Galit pa rin ba lolo mo sa kanya?

Reika:

Dad will always be a loser in Gramp's eyes

Alam nyo na

TotoySipag:

I'll talk to Cohen

sumusobra na siya

Reika:

No

ako na bahala

this is my problem

please don't tell anyone about this

esp magno

please

I was about to compose more messages for Apollo when all of a sudden, I received a message from Slade.

Reika's Guy:

your light still on

can't sleep?

Tumayo ako mula sa kama ko at nagsuot ng jacket bago hinawi ang kurtina ng bintana. Gaya ng inaasahan, nakita ko si Slade habang hawak ang cellphone. He smiled the moment our eyes met. I saw him tap on his phone so I looked down, waiting for his message.

Reika's Guy:

What's keeping you up?

Reika:

I think it's time to tell Gramps the truth

it's better if the truth comes from me

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at ganun din siya. He had a confused look on his face as he continued composing a message.

Reika's Guy:

About us?

Reika:

About Dad

Reika's Guy:

Whatever your decision will be

i'll be by your side

I looked up at him once again and smiled as I closed the curtains.

Morning came and I woke up feeling so tired. Putol-putol ang tulog ko at hindi maalis sa isip ko ang takot sa maaring gawin ni Cohen. I knew him since we were kids, how unreasonable and ruthless he can be just so he can get whatever and whoever he wants. He never gave a damn about anyone other than himself.

Pagkatapos kong makapagbihis para pumasok sa University, bumaba ako at nadatnan si Daddy na nagluluto na ng agahan namin.

"Reika, pakitawag ang kambal. Sabihin mo dito na mag-agahan," sabi niya kaya lumabas agad ako at nagtungo sa katabing bahay.

Dahil may susi pa naman ako sa bahay nila, ginamit ko ito para makapasok. Una kong tinungo ang kwarto ni  Silver at nadatnan ko siyang naka-uniform na.

"Hey, have breakfast at the house." 

"Ikaw nagluto?" Ngumiwi siya.

"Si Jethro." Biro ko at sa puntong iyon agad niya akong sinamaan ng tingin. Dire-diretso siyang lumabas ng silid, matalim pa rin ng tingin sa akin. Natawa na lang ako

"Pikon!" Pahabol kong sigaw sa kanya.

Nagtaas lang siya ng middle finger habang paalis.

Kumatok naman ako sa pinto ng kwarto ni Slade at nang hindi siya sumagot, dire-diretso akong pumasok. Narinig ko ang lagaslas ng tubig mula sa CR niya kaya naman naupo na lang muna ako sa kama niya at pinagmasdan ang mga librong nagkalat. 

Napabuntong-hininga ako nang mapagtantong mga libro pala ito tungkol sa business. 

Ilang sandali lang, bumukas ang pinto ng banyo at lumabas si Slade naka jogging pants lang at walang damit pang-itaas. Bagong ligo ito at nababalot pa ng plastic ang braso na may cast, tagaktak ang tubig mula sa kanyang buhok pababa sa kanyang katawan. Gamit ang kaliwang kamay, pinupunasan niya ang buhok gamit ang tuwalya.

"Good Morning." He smiled as he dipped his head towards mine for a kiss.

"You stink." Biro ko sabay ngiwi kahit ang totoo ay sobrang bango niya.

Gaya ng nakagawian, kumuha ulit ako ng t-shirt mula sa kanyang aparador at tinulungan siyang maisuot ito. Agad akong napangiwi nang mapagtantong MCR t-shirt ko pala ito.

"Hey! That's my MCR shirt!" Reklamo ko.

Humalakhak siya. "Namali ko ata ng kuha. Ba't kasi panlalake ang iba mong t-shirt?"

"It's comfortable!" Giit ko naman. 

"Kuha ka na lang din ng t-shirt ko diyan." Panlalambing niya at yumakap pa sa bewang ko.

I rolled my eyes. "Tara na nga, baka magtaka na si Daddy ba't wala pa tayo."

Habang nasa kalagitnaan ng klase, hindi pa rin maalis ang takot ko. Siguradong hindi magugustuhan ni Lolo na magkakilala pala sina Daddy at Slade mula sa umpisa at siguradong mas hindi magugustuhan ni Lolo na nakatira na ulit ako kay Daddy. Once the truth comes out, I may end up losing one of them.

It felt like I was playing Magno's sick old game called the Choosing Goose. Only this time, Cohen calls the shots.

Naikuyom ko ang kamao nang maalala si Cohen. 

I already knew that he was an asshole but I never thought he'd reach rock bottom.

Pinilit kong kontrolin ang galit ko pero sa huli, hindi ko na nakayanan. Nang muling tumunog ang bell, hudyat nang pagtatapos ng 6pm class ko, dali-dali akong lumabas ng classroom. Bago tuluyang umalis mula sa university, kinuha ko ang cellphone ko.

Lorenzo

Reika:

Let's meet

Lorenzo:

Bakit? miss mo na agad ako? hahahaha

Reika:

I have a business proposition for you

Lorenzo:

Talk to my Dad

Reika:

It's about Piper

Lorenzo:

Interesting

8pm at the bar

wear something hot

Reika:

No

7:30 pm

expression lane

***

I smiled when Cohen's motorcycle parked right in front of me. His parents got him a new ducati after Denver crashed his old one. Too bad for him no one messes with Reika De Juan and gets away with it, unscathed.

He stepped off his motorcycle and stood with his head held high. Wearing his usual leather jacket and doc martens, his lips formed into a smirk as he ran his fingers on his lower lip. "Talk."

"Oh I'll do more than talk..." I nodded as my smile turned into a wicked grin.

Inilabas ko mula sa likuran ang hawak na baseball bat na gawa sa metal. Kating-kati na ang kamay kong gamitin ito.

"The hell, Reika?" Cohen asked as his eyebrows furrowed.

I summoned every bit of anger and strength in me as I bashed his motorcycle. I screamed as I went for another strike. Lahat ng galit at sama ng loob na meron ako sa loob ng napakaraming taon, doon ko ibinuhos ang lahat. 

"Reika!" Cohen's horrified voice echoed as he grabbed my hand. 

I screamed right into his face and threw a punch, sending him down to the pavement. His eyes were filled with terror as his mouth gaped speechless. He froze.

I screamed as I continued bashing his motorcycle senselessly. My heart was beating so loud. My insides felt like burning from the rush. I struck it over and over and over again. I screamed again as I kicked his motorcycle, sending it slamming down the pavement next to him. 

The Motorcycle and the baseball bat were dented severely. Good thing I stole two baseball bats from the school.

I grabbed the second bat from behind me and walked up to him. Pointing it at his face even if my hands were still trembling cold. He flinched when it's cold tip brushed against his cheek.

"R-rei, come on. I w-was just kidding. H-hindi ko naman talaga ise-send." He was trembling as he tried to smile, acting all chummy and innocent.

"Hindi mo talaga ise-send." I bowed down a little to meet his eyes. I grinned wickedly. "Kasi oras na may gawin kang ikakasira ng pamilya ko, hindi lang ikaw ang sasaktan ko. I will make sure that your family falls down to the ground with you. I will make your parents' and Joe's life a living hell. I will ruin your family so bad that you won't just end up broke but broken as well. "

I tapped the bat lightly on his cheek as I chuckled. "Gets mo o gusto mong mag free trial?"

"Oo!" He quickly nodded as he closed his eyes shut. "Binibiro lang naman kasi kita!" Giit pa niya habang nakaupo pa rin sa maruming daan. He looked so scared and pale! 

"Sorry Cohen, I don't joke about my family." I sat straight and sighed. "Cross me again and you'll end up losing everything you have. Don't you ever forget that."

And with that, I turned around and started walking away.

"Psycho!" He hissed. I guess that was his way to assert his pride kahit papaano.

"Thank you!" I laughed as I waved him goodbye. 

****

"Hey." Napangiti ako nang si Slade mismo ang nagbukas ng gate para sa akin. Hindi na ako nagtaka pa na nasa bahay siya ni Daddy, lagi naman kasi silang tumatambay ni Silver sa amin. Kulang na lang sa bahay na mismo sila matulog.

"Your Mom's here." Napatingin siya sa kamay kong may hawak na baseball bat at kunot-noong napangiti. "What's with the bat?"

"Wala lang." I shrugged as I jokingly punched him in the stomach.

Slade chuckled while shaking his head. "Gusto kitang yakapin pero baka makita nila tayo." Pasimple niyang sambit kaya nakunot ang noo ko.

"Nila?" I asked.

"Your Mom's inside. Pasok na muna tayo." 

Dahil sa sinabing iyon ni Slade, dali-dali akong pumasok. Sinabi na sa akin ni Slade na nasa loob si Mommy pero nagulat pa rin ako lalo na nang makita ko siya sa sala kasama sina Daddy at Silver.

The three of them were watching TV and poor Silver looked so awkward in the middle of them. 

Dali-daling tumayo ang elemento nang makita ako. Para bang nakahinga na nang maluwag. "Akyat na ako."

"No, Silver. You're already part of the family. You're included." Mom insisted with an awkward smile.

I swallowed hard when I found myself sitting between the twins, and across Mom and Dad in the dinner table. Mom looked so uncomfortable, she couldn't even look at me in the eye while Dad looked so chill.

I looked at both Slade and Silver, they looked as uncomfortable as I was. I felt bad that they had to be dragged into our crazy family sitch.

"Okay, ano ba talagang pag-uusapan natin?!" I broke the awkward silence. "Ano? Nagkabalikan ba kayo?" I didn't care anymore if I sounded rude or bitter.

Mom quickly shook her head much to Dad's chagrin. 

She closed her eyes tightly. "R-Reika, I'm pregnant."

"What the fuck?!" I gasped so loud as I stood up. The news left me numb. It felt like my world stopped spinning all of a sudden. 

I raised my trembling hands and pointed Dad. "I-ikaw ba ang..."

Hindi ko man natapos ang sinasabi ko, tumango naman si Daddy at ngumiti na parang proud na proud sa kanyang sarili.

My chest tightened in so much anger. I felt like all of my blood rushed up to my head. I wanted to scream my head off. I wanted to berate and curse them over and over again but Slade's hand snapped me back to reality.

"Rei..." He held my hand as if he was trying to keep me calm. 

And it that moment, I knew it was the right time.

"Kami na ni Slade!" I yelled in fury and from my periphery, I saw Slade froze.

"Ano?!" Mom and Dad both gasped in Shock. Dad even stood up, slamming his palms on the table. He looked so angry while Mom looked so shocked.

"Fuck this shit I'm out." Nakita ko namang nagtatakbo si Silver.

▬ end of 55// thank u ▬