"Bad day at school?" tanong ni Krista nang sabay kaming dumating sa club at nag time-in.

I shrugged. It's not like I could tell anyone what's going on in my mind, on what kind of trouble I'm facing thanks to my twin brother. 

"You?" tanong ko na lang pabalik.

"Surviving." She smiled. 

Tutungo na sana kami sa locker room namin nang biglang maagaw ang atensyon ko ng bandang nagre-rehearse sa stage. Natigilan ako lalo na nang marinig ang boses ng vocalist na may kahabaan ang buhok. 

My heart dropped as fear overcame every fiber of my being. Hindi ko na kailangang magtanong pa kung sino sila dahil kahit nasaan ako, makikilala ko pa rin ang tunog nila. 

"Looks like we have a new band for tonight?" komento ni Krista. "Hey, where are you--"

I walked towards the band's direction, burning with rage. But before I could even reach them, Slade appeared right in front of me with a cast on his arm. Normally I'd worry about him but this time I didn't. My anger of his presence in Filimon Heights blurred my compassion.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, seething and trembling.

"Sil, I know you're mad but please let me explain," Slade pleaded, looking distraught.

I looked around. It was only 6 in the evening and the club was still in its opening preparations. Still, I didn't want to risk being seen with Slade. I didn't want to risk anyone connecting me to Reika's father. 

I lead Slade to the rooftop where no one else could see us.

"Now, what the hell are you doing here?" I said, crossing my arms.

"You weren't answering my calls and messages kaya dito na ako pumunta. When the guys learned I was coming here, sumama sila dahil gusto nilang tumugtog dito. Pangako, wala akong ibang plano kundi kausapin ka," he explained. More like begged me to believe him.

"Kung nandito ka para kumbinsihin akong tulungan 'yang Daddy--"

"Hindi. Silver, pangako hindi." Mabilis siyang umiling-iling at humawak sa braso ako.

"Then what the hell are you doing here?!" I couldn't help but yell.

He looked at me with an expression filled with so much hurt and sadness. "I came here to apologize. I thought a lot about what you said and you were right... Maling pinakiusapan kita na gawing roommate si Reika. Hindi ko inisip na maiipit ka sa gulo. Ang nasa isip ko lang noon, matutulungan ko si Uncle dahil siguradong hindi ka makakatanggi sa akin. I'm sorry, Silver. I'm really sorry."

I took a deep breath and sighed. It had been a while since Slade and I opened up to each other so I tried to keep a straight face.

"You don't have to apologize because honestly, I love having her as my roommate and I have to thank you for it. Ang ayaw ko lang, malaman niyang kinuha ko lang siya na maging roommate dahil pinakiusapan ako ng kapatid kong konektado sa amang nang abandona sa kanya. She'll hate me when she finds out. She'll see it as betrayal," paliwanag ko habang pilit na pinapatatag ang boses kong bumibigay na.

"Kaya hindi ko sasabihin kay Uncle," Slade said, surprising me.

"Y-you promise?" I asked, stuttering in disbelief.

He nodded. "I promise you, I won't tell uncle."

"Break it I will never forgive you," I warned him.

He nodded again, making me sigh in relief. This time my anger has completely washed away and I was reminded of his injury.

"And your arm?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Crowdsurfing gone wrong. Nothing serious kaya tatanggalin din ang cast after two weeks." He smiled as he looked at it.

"So you can't play the bass for two weeks. Bummer." I sighed.

"It's okay. Chill lang muna ako sa crowd." He shrugged like it wasn't a big deal. Liar. Ako pa ang niloloko niya. Alam kong big deal sa kanya ang two weeks na hindi pagtugtog kahit ilang linggo o ilang araw lang 'yan.

"Bahala ka na, basta 'wag kang magpapakita sa bahay. Mamaya may makakonekta pa sa'yo sa Daddy ni Reika." It was my way of saying goodbye to him. Tinalikuran ko siya at nagsimula akong maglakad patungo sa pinto nang muli siyang magsalita.

"Sil, I'm sorry."

I turned around to look at him again.

"You promised me already. Okay na," I assured him.

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to protect you from the pressure of our parents. I just left and saved myself. Hindi ko inisip ang magiging epekto nun sa'yo. Hindi ko inisip na ikaw ang sasalo ng lahat ng responsibilidad na para sa akin. Ako 'yung Kuya pero pinahamak kita. I know words aren't enough but I'm sorry," he said with a serious look on his face.

All of a sudden I felt like crying but I continued to keep a straight face.

"Buti at na-realize na mo na 'yan. My freedom was already limited while growing up but when you left, I was caged. But then again, okay na. At least ngayon heto na, nakawala na ako," sabi ko na lang.

"Sil, Mom and Dad wouldn't just let you live here on your own. Does this freedom come at a price?" he asked, this time there was worry in his face.

"Wala," I lied and walked away. 

****

Slade's apology made my heart a little lighter kaya naman kahit papaano ay naglaho ang takot kong mawalan na naman ng kaibigan. Masarap din sa pakiramdam na sa wakas, naisip niya na rin ako.

"Oh? Ba't ikaw ang nandito sa bar?" tanong ni Cohen nang bigla itong sumulpot sa harapan ko. "1 scotch on the rocks."

"Sumakit ang tiyan ni Maru," tipid kong sagot at nag-abot ng isang baso ng scotch.

"Tatlong yelo, ano 'to I love you?" he smirked, trying to give me a flirty look. I guess this is it, ang simula ng kalandian ng boss ko.

"No. It means Umayos ka po," I said flatly, making him laugh.

"Ilang araw na akong nagpapa-cute sa'yo? 'Di mo ba napapansin?" tanong niya, hindi tinatanggal ang titig sa mga mata ko. He's trying to look seductive and it's disgusting.

"I have bullshit filter." I shrugged.

"I think that was an insult but why doesn't it sound insulting coming from you?" He asked, still with a flirty smirk up his face.

"Malay ko," sabi ko na lang at nagpanggap na may inaayos sa cabinet kahit wala naman. Kung kailan bilang lang ang customer sa bar stool, saka pa sumulpot ang malandi.

"Alis na nga ako, wala akong mapapala sa'yo. Keep up the good work though," aniya kaya naman napabuntong-hininga agad ako. Malamang maghahanap ng ibang target ang malandi.

"Kadarating ko lang, aalis ka agad?" 

Natigilan ako nang marinig ang boses ni Tres. Malakas man ang musika ng Wave Syndicate mula sa speakers, parang nagre-resonate pa rin talaga ang boses niya sa isip ko.

"'Di ako pinapansin ni Silver eh, hanap muna ako ng iba," natatawang sambit ni Cohen.

"Gago ka talaga," biro naman ni Tres.

Huminga na lamang ako nang malalim at saka humarap kay Tres na ngayo'y nakaupo na sa isa sa mga bar stool. Sana mas sumakit pa ang tiyan ni Maru at mas matagalan siya sa CR.

"Order?" tanong ko, pilit na binabalewala ang epekto niya sa akin.

"Hindi ka ba talaga marunong ngumiti?" Tres joked.

"Marunong kung may dahilan. Order mo?" sabi ko na lang ulit.

"Chivas," aniya saka nagpamalas ulit ng ngiting delikado. 

Habang hinahanda ko ang inumin niya, panay ang pagdaldal niya. Akala mo close kami.

"Heard that you're a nursing student?" he asked.

"Freshman," I supplied.

"Musta naman?" aniya.

"The school year just began last week. Lessons lang pero okay naman." I shrugged.

"Whoa!" Bigla siyang pumalakpak. He chuckled like he was so amused.

"Mukhang 'yan yata ang pinakamahaba mong nasabi sa akin!" aniya. 

I rolled my eyes and just placed the drink right in front of him. Tumawa naman siya. Bwisit, mukhang hindi rin pala matino ang isang 'to.

May dumating nang mga customer sa counter kaya naman sila na muna ang inasikaso ko. Matapos maibigay ang mga order nila, bigla akong tinawag ng nakangising si Tres.

"Bakit?" Nakunot ang noo ko.

I could hear Wave Syndicate playing a cover of Bon Jovi's "It's my life" as I approached Tres.

He chuckled and pointed the crowd. "Tingnan mo! Mukhang magkaka-boyfriend na si Reika!"

Sinundan ko ng tingin kung saan siya nakaturo at napangiwi na lamang ako nang makita si Reika na tumatalon-talon at pakanta-kanta katabi si Slade na ganoon din ang ginagawa. They looked like they were having the time of their lives while Jamming along to Wave Syndicate. Hindi naman ako takot na mabubulgar ang sikreto dahil pinanghahawakan ko na ang pangako ni Slade.

Damn, Slade and Reika look cute together. I doubt that they'll work out though considering Slade's connection to her Dad. 

|End of 7 - Thank you! |