Kiss and Kill [SEASON 1 & 2]

Chapter 6

If only this scene were a cartoon, Red's face would be bloody red. Malamang tumaas din ng bahagya ang pulse rate niya. Hindi niya alam kung ano'ng dapat niyang i-react lalo na't pakiramdam niya ay may dumaang anghel sa paligid.

Red gulps, trying to compose herself in this awkward situation she's in.

"Uhm," bulong niya, "Good to see you alive."

Napabaling si Dianna sa kanya at tinignan siya nang masama. Kahit si Red ay napakagat na lang sa labi nang marealize ang sinabi niya. Lalo siyang kinabahan at humiling siyang sana ay magising na siya sa masamang panaginip.

Habang nakatingin pa rin si Adam sa kaniya, na malamang ay nabigla rin sa sinabi niya, dali-dali niyang binawi lahat.

"Uh, don't get me wrong!" Malakas na sabi niya. "I mean... I'm..."—sumulyap siya sa pinsan—"We're glad na healthy ka. Kasi nung natagpuan ka namin akala talaga namin..."

"...patay na 'ko?" tinapos ni Adam ang sinasabi ni Red.

Hindi siya nakaimik. Gayundin si Dianna.

Napayuko lang si Adam habang nakapatong ang dalawang kamay nito sa counter at maya-maya ay ngumiti. Hindi maiwasan ni Red na magsalubong ang kilay niya nang makita ang ngiting 'yon. Parang nakakalokong ewan.

Bumuntong hininga si Adam. "Alam niyo, mas matutuwa sana ako kung hinayaan niyo na lang ako doon." Namilog lang ang mga mata ni Red sa bigla. "Things would have been much better... if you let me die."

After what he has said, Dianna can only open her mouth in slight shock but Red cannot stand this kind of ridiculousness. A string has snapped.

"What the hell are you saying?" she asks with annoyance in her tone.

The atmosphere quickly falls cold and quiet. Adam is wearing his serious face and Red is just as earnest as him. She doesn't expect to end this day like this neither does she want to personally meet this guy this way. Not by an argument. But she can't help herself. It hurts her downright--her pride, her belief.

"What I'm saying is, sana hindi ka nakialam," mariing sagot ni Adam.

Hinawakan ni Dianna ang kamay ni Red na halatang nagtitimpi. "Uhm, guys, teka—"

"Kaya ka ba pumunta sa office para sabihin yan?" bulalas ni Red matapos ang ilang segundo. "Alam mo wala namang masama kung magte-thank you ka, eh. Gaano ba ka-big deal 'yang ego mo at hirap na hirap kang magpasalamat sa nagligtas sa'yo?"

"Red, don't make a scene!" malakas na bulong ni Dianna sa pinsan.

Red continues despite her cousin. "Had I known that you're this ungrateful, we shouldn't have wasted our time sending you to the hospital." She's now looking at him straight in the eye. "You might have died there but, lucky you, we were there. A lot of people wants to live, Adrian, and you're such an ass to be saying na sana namatay ka na lang—"

"Red!" awat ng pinsan niya.

Iniwas ni Adam ang mga mata niya kay Red at nagkunwari itong naghahalo ng alak.

"You know what?" may halong inis na sabi ni Red. "Wala akong paki kung may problema ka... o kung anuman ang pinagdadaanan mo kaya gusto mong mamatay. But if God gave you a chance to live the second time, don't live the way you were before."

Adam abrutly stops whatever he's doing as soon as Red says those words to him.

"Alam mo kung bakit?" sarkastikong tanong ni Red at tumingin si Adam nang matalim sa kanya. "Dahil mamamatay at mamamatay ka lang ulit sa parehong paraan."

After her sudden eruption, Red drinks her margarita one shot which leaves Dianna astounded.

"Alam mo kung bakit? Dahil mamamatay at mamamatay ka lang ulit sa parehong paraan."

Parang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig si Adam sa mga huling sinabi ni Red sa kanya.

Inubos ni Red ang inumin niya at nagmadali siyang suotin ang hinubad na jacket. Pagkatapos ay kumaripas ito palabas ng bar nang walang ano-ano. Ilang saglit pa ay nagsalita si Dianna matapos ang pangyayari.

"Wooh," bulong nito. "I didn't expect you, guys, to argue the first time you meet."

Adam cannot find any words to reply, much less focus on his work. He suddenly feels guilty but he thinks that it's not his fault. That girl who came out of nowhere just made a fool out of him. She is to be blamed.

Dianna fidgets on her seat and talks. "Ako na ang magso-sorry sa pinsan ko. Sometimes, she can't get ahold of herself especially when it comes to things like this."

"Alin, ang pagiging hero?" sarcastic na tugon ni Adam habang pinagpapatuloy ang pag-mix ng alak.

"No," Dianna murmurs, sighing, "about people's lives. I know I shouldn't be saying this but for the sake of my cousin, I have to let you know na she gets extra sensitive when it comes to death and life. Her sister committed a suicide five years ago kaya hindi na ako nabigla kung bakit ganoon na lang siya maka-react sa sinabi mo."

"Hindi ka ba galit sakin?" he mindlessly asks. "Your cousin must be dying to kill me earlier."

Dianna only giggles as if his question is too ridiculous. "Well, I respect your beliefs. But Red's right. You're given the chance to live so live it the nice way, if not better."  

Adam remains silent amid the noisy place. He keeps thinking of those words—of dying the same way twice. He may not die by a gunshot and being drowned like it should have been, but he will die with agony like before. He will die again without anything but regrets to look back.

He wants to live a new life but it has barely been a month since he is betrayed by the only person he gave his trust into. It's not like a person can forget in a matter of days or weeks.

As for him, it may take him years to go on. Or maybe death is the only way for him to do so.

Adam is lost in thoughts until he hears Dianna calling his name.

"Huh?" tanong ni Adam.

"Sabi ko, ano 'yong sinabi ni Red na nagpunta ka sa office niya. When was it? Did you, guys, talk?"

Hindi na lang kumibo si Adam at sinabing, "Pasensya na; kailangan ko pang magtrabaho."

Umalis siya sa harap ni Dianna at sinerve ang ginawang alak sa isang costumer na nasa counter.