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Chapter theme: here (in your arms) - j edward

What the fuck?!

Nagulat ako nang makita ang post sa facebook page ng Filimon Heights. It was a list of fuckboys to avoid, and it included Jethro and Magno. Naiintindihan ko kung bakit nasa listahan sina Cohen, Haji, at Sawyer kasi malalandi naman talaga and deserve nila ma-expose, pero si Jethro at Magno? Puchangama. Biru-biruan lang naman ang kalandian ni Magno, at si Jethro ni hindi nga iyon namamansin ng mga babae kahit halos humandusay na sa harap niya.

"What happened?"

Reika's voice snapped me out of my reverie at napansin kong nabitin pala sa ere ang isusubo ko sanang noodles dahil sa nabasa.

"Someone just posted a list of fuckboys to avoid." I tried not to sound worried. 

"Buti nga sa kanila, exposed!" Humalakhak si Reika. Tuwang-tuwa pa.

"Kasali sina Magno, Jethro, at Sawyer sa litahan," dagdag ko dahilan para agad maglaho ang ngiti sa mukha niya.

Pagdating sa University compound, wala akong sinayang na oras at nagtungo agad ako sa sorority hall na nagsisilbing dorm ng members ng Akila Theta Sorority. It serves as their headquarters as well.

Kahit saan ako nakatingin, wala akong ibang nakikita kundi kulay pink. Mula sa mga dingding, paintings, carpet, at kurtina - lahat kulay pink. Kung nandito lang si Reika ay baka nagtatakbo na iyon palabas.

Colette lives here kaya naman ilang beses na akong nakakapunta rito — I know my way around the building and their house mother trusts me enough to let me in. 

I learned from Colette that the President of the Sorority gets to have the so-called "Penthouse" situated at the top and biggest room of the building kaya naman doon agad ako dumiretso. Naglalakad pa lang ako sa pasilyo ay amoy na amoy ko na ang magkahalong bango ng mamahaling perfume at shampoo ng mga nakatira rito. This entire place reeks of privilege. 

"Stacy?" I knocked on her door right away.  

"Come in!" I heard her yell in a sing-song voice.

I opened the door and stumbled upon a cesspool of all things pink and sparkling. I expected her room to be pink, but I didn't expect it to be like this — her room has a pink carpet, with all the golden poles by the side, that leads to a lit up stage where her huge bed is. And don't even get me started on how grand her bed looks like. Hiyang-hiya ang double-deck namin ni Reika na parang guguho na.

"Silver?" Lumingon sa akin si Stacy may hindi makapaniwalang ngiti sa kanyang mukha. Nakaupo siya sa harap ng kanyang vanity mirror na kulay pink din at tadtad ng mga ilaw, abala sa pagme-make up. She looks so pretty and expensive in her pink plaid skirt and white cami.

"Hey, can I come in?" As much as it disgusts me, I have to get inside. You better fucking thank me, Filimon.

"Sure! I'm just finishing up." She giggled and faced her mirror once again, looking at me through the reflection. "This is unexpected, Silver. What brings you here?"

I smiled, entered and closed the door. May pink na sofa sa gilid kaya naman naupo na ako. Muntik pa akong mapamura dahil sa sobrang lambot nito. My ass almost sank. 

"Are you here to join our sisterhood?" she asked kaya naman muli akong napatingin sa kanya.

Ipinilig ko ang ulo sabay kurap-kurap. "Ah, no. Actually, I came here for the fuckboy list."

Napansin kong natigilan si Stacy dahil sa sinabi ko. For a second there, she stilled until she smiled and continued putting make-up on her eyelids. "Oh yeah. Siraulo ang gumawa no'n, but then again, isn't it good--"

"Save your lies, Stacy." I sighed. "I know you're the only person I know with the brains and flames to hack the city facebook page just to post that list."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Silverianne," she insisted while still putting on her make-up. She's trying to look unbothered and innocent, trying to deny any involvement but I know better. Instincts, I guess.

"Is this about your brother's bandmates being part of the list? Because girl, Heath is a total fuckboy and that Jao guy as well," she said all of a sudden.

I blinked twice at her words. "Wait, they're included in the list too?" Natawa ako pero nahinto agad nang maalala si Slade. "Wait again, did you include my brother? How did you know I have a brother in that band?"

Stacy sighed and turned her pink fluffy swivel chair to face me. "Don't worry, your brother isn't part of the list — not that I had something to do with creating that list, of course. And to answer your last question, I met him through Heath."

Naalala ko bigla ang gabing tinanong ako ni Heath kung sino si Stacy. He seemed really interested in her.

I stood up and moistened my lips with my tongue. "Heath is a broken guy. He just got over a long-term relationship and maybe he's having a hard time getting back in the saddle. All bias aside, Heath is the sweetest and most rational member in the band. Maybe misunderstanding lang kaya nasabi mong fuckboy siya. Jao, on the other hand, is a total fuckboy so yeah."

Stacy rolled her eyes, seemingly annoyed. Looks like my words got to her and she's just trying to act strong and unaffected. Understandable. Common defense mechanism.

"But Stacy, I'm not here for them," giit ko. 

"Why are you here then?" Stacy looked at me with a confused look on her face. 

"I'm here about Jethro Filimon," pag-amin ko.

Stacy's lips twitched. A look of mischief flashed in her eyes. "My my... The stone-cold girl of Filimon Heights University and The stone-cold dude of the Rosepike Basketball Team. Who knew..."

It was my turn to roll eyes. "We're friends so I can vouch for the fact that Jethro is not a fuckboy. In fact, he is the sanest and most honorable friend that I have. Whoever told you to include Jethro in the list must have a personal grudge against him, because the Jethro I know doesn't even acknowledge any hottie near his vicinity. Let alone throw them a second glance. Siya ang nilalandi at hindi ang nanlalandi. May sariling mundo 'yon."

"And it orbits around you?" Stacy grinned.

"Don't talk about heavenly bodies. I don't understand that shit," I retorted.

"Why are you here again?" she asked, still with a grin.

"Take down Jethro from the list. You can take down Magno and Heath too," I ordered.

She clasped her hands together and chuckled. "Again, Silverianne. Hindi ako ang may gawa no'n. Besides, earlier when I checked, the admins of the city page already took down the post. The problem is already over."

I fetched out my phone just to find out that she's right. Wala na nga ang post. Unfortunately, I'm sure may mga screenshots na. Puchangama.

"I'll take this as my cue to leave." I returned my phone on my pocket and started walking towards her door.

"Silver, are you sure ayaw mo talagang sumali sa amin? We'd love to have you onboard," she offered for the nth time. 

"Not interested." I raised my hand and subtly waved goodbye.

I reached for the door and opened it, but before I could I take another step, Stacy spoke once again. 

"Take care of your heart, Silverianne. I actually like you, so you better be careful with who you love."

***

10:21 AM

Silver:

filimon, everything okay?

Jethro:

is this about the list?

you don't believe that right?

Silver:

you're a weirdo not a fuckboy

you deserve magno's name more than him

Jethro:

is that a compliment or?

Silver:

depends on how you perceive it

btw, the list is down

people will forget in no time

Jethro:

its okay

only the stupid believe in rumors

Silver:

idk, it was right about haji and cohen being fuckboys 

Jethro:

except that

10:25 AM

Jethro:

busy na?

Silver:

hindi naman

lectures lang

Jethro:

sawyer's soccer game will be tonight

manonood kayo ni reika?

Silver:

can't

i have some qualifiying exams to prepare for

daan ka sa bahay, tulungan mo ako sa pagre-review

i'd like to ask for reika and slade's help but they'll only distract me

Jethro:

what's in it for me?

Silver:

wag na lang pala

la ka ring kwenta bye

Jethro:

pikon

Silver:

bato

Jethro:

elemento

Silver:

Magsuot ka muna ng black clothes at eyeliner kung tatawagin mo akong elemento

Jethro:

why would i do that?

Silver:

u didn't even get the joke

bye bato

3:32 PM

Jethro:

i get it now

only reika calls you elemento and she always wears black clothes and eyeliner

Silver:

galing

***

9:56 PM

Reika:

Kakatapos lang ng game

hang-out muna kami haha

mainggit ka!!!

Silver:

ok

ingat

pasalubong

Ibinaba ko ang cellphone ko at bumalik sa pagbabasa. Tutal wala ang mga maiingay na sina Reika at Slade, sa sala ulit ako nagkampo para mag-aral. Siyempre, nakaandar ulit ang TV bilang background noise.

Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagsusulat sa review sheets ko nang bigla akong makarinig ng door bell.

"You better have food, Filimon." I scoffed, knowing for sure it's him. Ganoon naman kasi lagi. Ginawa na nilang tambayan 'tong bahay.

Lumabas agad ako ng bahay para pagbuksan siya ng gate. I already expected him to show up kaya nakasuot na ako ng bra ang maayos na rin ang suot kong t-shirt at sweatpants.

"What the hell?! Sinong may gawa niyan sa'yo?" Ito agad ang lumabas sa bibig ko dahil sa gulat at galit na sumakop sa sistema ko. I expected Jethro alright, but I didn't expect to see him with a cut on the side of his lip. God, he even has bloodstains on his plain white shirt! 

Jethro didn't answer, instead, he just looked at me with red tired eyes. He looked so worn out and I could tell the heavy load he's under. 

"Let's go patch you up," sabi ko na lamang sabay hila sa kanya papasok ng bahay.

Bato si Jethro, that's a common knowledge, pero iba ang hitsura niya ngayon. Kung mukha siyang multo noon, ngayon ay mas malala. Para na talaga siyang walang kabuhay-buhay. How did he even manage to get here in this horrid state?

Pinaupo ko si Jethro sa sofa at kinuha ko ang first aid kit na nasa kusina. Pagbalik ko sa sala, naupo agad ako sa tabi niya at pinaharap siya sa akin. Nagulat ako nang gumalaw siya papalapit sa akin at unti-unting sinandal ang noo sa balikat ko.

Napakurap-kurap ako. Naguguluhan man, itinaas ko na lamang ang kamay ko at dahan-dahang tinapik ang ibabaw ng ulo niya. "Are you going to tell me what happened?"

Hindi siya kumibo o gumalaw. Nanatili lang siyang nakasandal sa balikat ko. Medyo mabigat siya pero alam kong mas mabigat ang nararamdaman ng kalooban niya ngayon, kaya naman hinayaan ko lang siya. 

"D-did your Dad do this to you?" Pumasok agad sa isipan ko ang tungkol sa listahan. I mean his Dad has a reputation to uphold as the city chief of police, he must've been angry that Jethro got into his mess. It all adds up. Nakakalungkot dahil wala namang kasalanan si Jethro. Nadamay lang siya.

Muli, hindi kumibo o gumalaw si Jethro. Nanatili lang siyang nakasandal sa akin. I sighed and started caressing the back of his head. Kawawa naman si Gori.

 "Ano? Gantihan ba natin ang gumawa niyan sa'yo? Sabihin mo lang sino, tapos sasabihin ko kay Reika para siya na ang bahala. Forte niya 'yon eh. Moral support lang ako."

I heard and felt him chuckle. Nagtaas baba pa ang mga balikat niya. Hindi ko napigilang ngumiti. Mabuti naman at napatawa ko kahit papaano ang bato ng Filimon Heights.

I caressed the back of his head again and ultimately let my hand rest on his nape. "You'll be okay, Jethro."

He kept on flinching as I tended to his wounds. Parang batang panay ang reklamo, akala mo hindi bato o multo ng isang striktong principal. Medyo nanibago rin ako dahil wala siyang suot na eyeglasses. Nakikita ko lang kasi siyang walang ganito sa tuwing naglalaro ng basketball.

"What?" tanong ko nang mapansing nakatingin lang pala siya sa akin.

"Thanks..." he said huskily without looking away from me.

"This comes at a price, Filimon," I joked.

"Name it," taas-noo niyang sambit. Dapat siguro tumawa o ngumiti ako para naintindihan niyang nagbibiro lang ako.

Niligpit ko ang kit at tumayo na lamang saka lumapit sa telephone. "I'm going to order food. Is Pizza okay?"

Tumango-tango siya. "Sorry, I forgot to bring--"

"Hawaiian?" I cut him off since there's nothing to be sorry about. 

Jethro nodded and moistened his lips. "Yeah."

Pagkatapos kong tumawag, pumunta ako sa kusina at ibinalik ang kit sa cabinet. Pagdating sa sala, naabutan ko si Jethro na tinitingnan ang isa sa mga notebook kong nakabuyangyang sa mesa.

"Nag-dinner ka na?" tanong ko. I should've asked him this before I called to order food. Tanga.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin at umiling.

"Okay lang ba na buffalo wings ang ulam mo? We still have rice but if you want, you can cook whatever's possible from the ingredients we have," I suggested.

"Pizza's good. Thank you, Silver," aniya. "Sina Reika at Slade pala?"

Naupo ako sa tabi niya at sumandal sa backrest ng sofa, saka hinilig ang ulo ko sa direksyon niya. "Reika's watching Sawyer's game while Slade's out of town."

"Akala ko magkasama ulit sila," he mused. Sumandal din siya sa backrest at tumingin sa direksyon ko. Pasimple akong umatras nang kaunti, medyo malapit na kasi ang mga mukha namin.

"Naninibago nga ako. They've been like partners-in-crime ever since Slade started living here, so it's weird not to see them hanging out with each other," I commented.

"Anong gagawin mo kung magiging sila?" he asked all of a sudden.

"As if that would happen." I scoffed. Reika would hate Slade and I once she finds out about our connection to her dad. We'd basically turn into her enemies by that time.

"I think it would." He shrugged. 

"What makes you think that would happen?" Nakunot ang noo ko.

"I don't know. Gut feeling, I guess?" he said.

"Ano? Pustahan?" I joked and chuckled.

Nagulat ako ng bigla siyang naglahad ng kamay. "We have a bet then."

"Nagbibiro lang ako," giit ko.

"A bet won't hurt." He grinned.

"What are the terms?" Na-challenge ako bigla. This is Jethro I'm having a bet with, hindi naman siguro ako nito ipapahamak.

"Wala pa akong maisip, saka na lang," aniya. "May naisip ka na?"

I shook my head. "To follow na lang ang terms."

"Silver, nangangalay na ako," aniya sabay sulyap sa kamay niyang nasa ere pa rin pala. Sorry naman Gori.

"We have a bet then." I held his hand and shook it. 

***

January 27

3:23 PM

Jethro:

I have spare courtside tickets for tonight's game

are you going to watch?

Silver:

Sorry, I can't watch

May duty ako sa hospital

Jethro:

Still at St. Anne's hospital?

Silver:

Yup. Next month pa ako lilipat ulit

Jethro:

what time will your shift end?

Silver:

Around 12am yata?

Jethro:

Tapsihan tayo?

Silver:

Aren't you going to rest? baka pagod ka after game

Jethro:

I don't like sleeping after games

Silver:

okay

daan din tayo sa club

i'll just greet someone  happy birthday

Jethro:

coleen?

Silver:

it's colette not coleen

birthday celebrant is braylee

'yung nasapak ni thorn

Jethro:

oh

Pagkatapos ng lectures, dumiretso na agad ako sa club upang tumulong sa preparations. Wala pang isang oras at kinailangan ko nang pumunta sa hospital para sa duty ko.

More on observations lang ang pinagawa sa amin kaya naman hindi pa masyadong nakakapagod. Habang papalabas ng hospital, sinilip ko ang cellphone ko at nakita ang isang message mula kay Jethro na nagsasabing nasa parking lot lang siya.

"How's the game?" I asked the moment he sat on the driver's seat.

"We lost." He smiled. Despite losing mukhang hindi naman siya malungkot. Lalo tuloy akong bumilib sa kanya. Sport lang si Gori. Tama 'yon.

"Oh... Well, may next game pa naman 'di ba?" I didn't know what else to say. I'm just not good at comforting people.

"I thought you were neutral?" He chuckled.

I shrugged. "Nah, mas marami kayong friends ko sa Rosepike Team. Not counting bumbay of course."

Nauna kaming dumaan sa club para batiin si Braylee. Pagkatapos, dumiretso na kami ni Jethro sa tapsihan. Habang naghihintay ng order namin, panay ang pagtawag ko kay Reika pero ayaw nitong sumagot.

Jethro told me that Magno injured himself during the game kaya naman sinugod ito sa Filimon General Hospital, at sumama si Reika. Jethro assured me that everything's okay, that it's not a bad injury and they're already surrounded by family. Still, gusto ko pa ring makausap si Reika. 

"She's still not answering?" he asked.

Tumango ako. "Baka deadbat or masyadong busy."

"Gusto mo, puntahan natin?" he asked.

I sighed and shook my head. "You said it yourself, she's with her family. I'll just wait for her when she comes home."

Matagal-tagal din kaming nag-kwentuhan ni Jethro ng kung ano-ano, kagaya ng dati. Nang maubos namin ang mga kinakain, naisipan na naming umuwi na.

Pagdating sa bahay, wala pa si Reika kaya naman binaba ko ang mga libro ko sa sala. Nag-aaral ako habang hinihintay siya nang bigla akong makarinig ng doorbell. Paglabas ko ay laking gulat ko nang makita sina Sawyer at Reika dala ang walang malay na si Piper.

Piper blacked out from too much drinking which was weird kaya naisip ko agad na baka spiked ang nainom niya. Pinatuloy na lamang namin siya sa guest room tutal ilang araw namang wala si Slade.

Reika and Sawyer left to check on Braylee back at the club kaya naman ako na muna ang umasikaso kay Piper. Pagkatapos, bumalik ulit ako sa sala. I kept reading my books, still waiting for Reika to return, when I felt the strong urge to sleep.

I woke up to a strange sound. Parang may mga kalabog mula sa itaas kaya naman agad akong bumangon. Pag-akyat ko, napansin kong nanggagaling ang ingay sa kwarto namin ni Reika. 

"Rei..." Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan at parang pinunit ang puso ko nang makitang marahas niyang inilalagay ang mga gamit niya sa loob ng isang bag. Umiiyak siya.

Nag-angat si Reika ng tingin sa akin at nanlamig ang buo kong katawan nang makita ang matinding galit sa kanyang mga mata. Galit para sa akin.

| End of 33 - Thank you |