Chained Memories

Chapter 9

Darkness

"Oh, nasaan na 'yung bodyguard mong parang linta kung makadikit sayo?"

Nakangising mukha niya agad ang bumungad sa akin pagkababa ko pa lamang sa may living room.

It was Saturday morning and Xamiera's sitting pretty on the couch with a cookie on her hand and on the table was a glass of orange juice.

Ano't maaga pa lang ay nandito na agad ang isang 'to?

"May gusto ka ba sa bodyguard ko?" I asked as I took a step closer to her.

"Kadiri, kilabutan ka nga sa tanong mo!" Singhal niya at umakto pang nasusuka kunwari.

Time passed so fast when you're doing fine.

It's been two weeks since Rence introduced them to me. So far, maayos naman ang mga pangyayari. No harm done. Masarap pala sa pakiramdam iyong may mga taong nandiyan para magpasaya sayo. Hindi ko lang alam kung bakit ganoon na lang ang takot ko noon.

Nakilala ko na rin iyong isa pa nilang kaibigan, Si Keen. Unlike them, mukhang mahiyain ang isang iyon at parang kulang sa pagkain dahil payat ang katawan. Iyong tipo na kapag humangin ng malakas ay tatangayin siya.

Nalaman ko rin na matagal na pa lang magkakilala si Xam at ang kapatid ko. Turns out they met each other long ago because of their hobby. Kung ano man iyon, I don't really care.

As for Xamiera and Jerem, I didn't know how they met but base on my observation, I think they knew each other good enough dahil madalas na asarin niya ang lalaki.

Napansin ko lang iyon noong unang beses na sumabay sila ng dinner sa amin, kung saan nagsimula ang lahat.

"Anyway, what are you doing here early in the morning?" Tanong ko.

I tried opening myself to them just what Rence asked me at si Xam ang madalas kong kausap kahit puro kagaguhan lang ang lumalabas sa bibig niya. I guess that's her nature.

"Alas diyes na, for your information." Umirap siya, "Nag-aaya ng inuman 'yang magaling mong kapatid, siguro sawi eh alam mo naman ako, always on the go! Masamang tumanggi sa grasya," she said and wiggled her brows.

Mula sa kusina ay lumabas si Rence habang kausap ang lalaking ngayon ay halos hindi maipinta ang mukha.

They were talking about something but when Rence saw me, he stopped abruptly and glanced at Jerem who's now looking at me grimly.

He sighed and eventually walk towards our direction and sat beside me.

Tinignan kami ni Xamiera sa nanunuyang paraan. She was about to speak but then Rence shut her up. Itinakip niya ang kamay sa ngayon ay nagpupumiglas ng babae and then he whispered something at her. That made her stop.

Her eyes widened while Rence' face was all serious. Matapos niyon ay hinampas niya ang kamay ng lalaki na nasa bibig niya pa rin and she muttered bunch of curses.

Actually, si Xam lang ang talagang 'tropa' niya sa kanila, as per what he said to me before. First year college siya nang makilala niya si Xam na noon ay Senior High graduating student. They became close na naging tulay para makilala ang tatlo pang lalaki at doon unexpectedly nabuo ang pagkakaibigan nila. With Xamiera being the only flower among the thorns.

Biarence was laughing so hard while looking at the girl's reaction.

I assumed he had moved on already from what happened to him before. Hindi naman siya ganito noon mula nang mangyari iyon. Well, we all have a stories to tell and his was actually a painful one.

"I'll just go upstairs. Call me if you need something," Jerem said.

Ipinagkibit balikat ko na lamang kung ano man ang deal niya. He seems bothered with something.