CHAPTER 20. What binds them together
JAEMIN‘S POV
Inayos ko ang mga papel na kakapasa lang ng mga nasa detention room. Then lumakad na ako pabalik sa SSC Office.
Nakita ko si Lili na nilapag ‘yung pinapakuha kong folder sa kaniya.
“Thanks, Lili!” sabi ko sabay yakap sa kaniya ng marahan. Hinagod niya saglit ang likod ko.
Umalis na rin agad ito dahil may klase pa raw sila.
“How long have you known Khali Vernon?” biglang tanong ni Kenneth.
“Since elementary!” masigla kong tugon. Tumango ito.
“So you‘ve always been with her throughout these years?” he asked.
Bigla akong napaisip sa tanong niya.
Naisip ko at narealize na... Hindi.
Hindi kami laging magkasama noon. Hindi pala kami laging nagkikita noon. Kasi lagi siyang nawawala, tapos babalik. Lulubog-lilitaw.
Minsan bigla bigla nalang siyang mawawala, bigla-bigla nalang rin babalik. Malalaman ko nalang na wala na siya kapag tinawagan niya na ako na umalis na siya.
Kahit ganon, we are still friends.
Hindi naman sa dalas niyong magkasama nasusukat ang pagkakaibigan eh. Pero na-realize ko rin na, wala nga pala kaming gaanong bonding ni Lili?
Kasi everytime na uuwi siya dito sa Philippines, parang ang lamig-lamig niya at ang hirap kausapin.
Nag aalangan rin ako noon na ayain siya, kasi everytime na uuwi lagi siyang pagod. Para bang pinilit niya lang ‘yung sarili niya na puntahan ako kahit hindi niya na kaya. Kaya ang ending, nasa bahay lang kami at nanonood. Mag-uusap ng konti.
Hindi ko naman siya matanong kung bakit lagi nalang siyang may sugat. Ang malala hindi pa normal na sugat. She was always covered in bandages.
She was... always broken.
She visits me when it‘s my birthday. Sometimes she also come in Christmas Day and gives me some gifts.
She visits randomly, actually.
And everytime I meet her... she is always getting colder and colder...
Her eyes are always dead.
Even so, she remained nice to me. She takes care of me a lot. She was still a friend to me. So I didn‘t mind even if she‘s always a different person whenever we meet. Because she is still my bestfriend, Khali Vernon...
Then one day she decided to stay in Tenebrés to study in the same school with me for High School. That was in Westwood High. And I will never forget our first quarrel that time...
I knocked on the door as much as I can as I call out Lili‘s name full of desperation.
“Lili! Please open the door! Stop it!” I screamed.
I know she could hear me! The window is open and I could also hear the guy across her pleading to stop.
Kung kasya lang ako sa bintana kanina pa siguro ako sumiksik doon para lang makapasok!
May taga-bantay rin sa pintuan sa loob at may mga pumipigil rin sa akin dito sa labas. Actually, halos lahat ng classmates ni Lili nandito sa labas, habang nakadungaw sila sa bintana.
“If you let go of the rope... You‘re dead.” Lili said in her usual cold tone—pertaining to the rope that she and Carl, the guy across her, are holding.
Nakahawak sila pareho sa dulo ng tali. Habang si Lili ay sinisikmuraan niya ang lalaki sa tuwing hinihila niya palapit ang tali.
I closed my eyes as I see Carl bleeds through his nose and lips after Lili slapped him for three consecutive times.
Hindi pa dito nagtapos at tinuhod niya ulit ito sa sikmura. Carl is obviously looking dizzy and he was just trying his best not to let go of the rope. Kahit gumegewang-gewang na ito at halos mapaluhod na siya sa sakit, hindi niya pa rin binibitawan ang tali sa takot na mas malala ang abutin niya.
I was scared for a moment seeing Lili doing that cruel thing without even a hint of remorse in her face. Her expression was blank; I could feel the coldness throughout the classroom.
I tried not to cry, because if I do I won‘t be able to call out her name.
Even her classmates were afraid of her that no one wants to help me open the door. The class has already ended kaya wala nang dadaan pang teachers dito. Ayoko namang magsumbong kasi sigurado akong mapapahamak lang si Lili.
Lili naman kasi eh!
I feel so frustrated dahil hindi ko manlang siya magawang pigilan.
“Please, Lili! Wala siyang ginawang masama sa akin! It was all me!” I shouted. Pero parang hindi niya ako naririnig.
“Tie him up.” utos nito sa mga kasama niya na mabilis naman sumunod.
“If I found out that you released him, I will tie you up together. Do you understand me?” she coldly said.
All of them answered in chorus.
“You didn‘t have to do that!” I said as soon as makalabas si Lili.
“I don‘t want you hanging out with people I‘m not familiar with.” Lili said, impassively.
“He‘s my friend!” rason ko.
She just stared at me coldly.
“If that‘s what you call a friend, then... you‘re really not suited to have friends, Jaemin.” she said.
This time hindi ko na talaga kinaya, tumulo na ‘yung luha ko.
Tumingin ako sa kinaroroonan ni Carl. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang tapunan niya ako ng masamang tingin nang magtama ang mga mata namin. I wanted to help him, but it seems like he doesn‘t want me anywhere near him.
Sinundan ko nalang si Lili na nasa labas na ng building. Tumakbo ako kahit na nanlalabo ‘yung paningin ko dahil sa luha. I stumbled on a pebble and tripped on the ground.
This time wala na akong lakas tumayo. Ang sakit kaya, nasugat na naman ‘yung tuhod ko! Ang tanga-tanga ko talaga kahit kailan!
“He needed help so I helped him because I know I can! I don‘t care if they take me for granted! Gusto ko lang naman maramdaman na may nangangailangan sa‘kin!” sunud-sunod kong sigaw habang si Lili ay patuloy lang sa paglalakad habang nakapamulsa.
Humangin ng malakas at pati alikabok nakakain ko na sa kangangawa ko dito sa sahig. Pero hindi pa rin ako nililingon ni Lili...
“Hindi mo kasi alam ‘yung pakiramdam na parang wala kang kwenta, Lili!” I cried. “Even you, don‘t need me, right?! You‘re only here because of your careless promise!”
Totoo naman eh! She is strong, she is smart, she can do a lot of things on her own. She‘s capable of maybe everything. I can‘t do anything for her, at all...
She is only hanging out with me because she has a promise to fulfill!
At isa pa, masyadong magkaiba ‘yung mundo namin. Even I, wasn‘t sure how did I became friends with a great person like her.
Bigla nalang siyang tumigil at tumingin sa akin. Humangin ulit ng malakas at malamig, sumabay sa ihip nito ang mahabang buhok ni Lili at halos natatakpan na ng ilang hibla ng buhok nito ang kaniyang mukha. Pero tumatagos pa rin ‘yung malamig na titig niya.
Why? Why did you have to become like this Shiro?
Even so, I don‘t want to lose her...
Hindi ko na kinaya at napahagulgol na ako sa iyak.
Oo na, ako na ang iyakin! Wala na akong ibang maisip kundi ang umiyak.
Pano ka magiging useful niyan kay Lili?
Then suddenly, I felt a warm hand on top of my head. Tumingala ako kahit parang mukha akong tanga na iyak nang iyak. She kneeled one of her leg to level me.
Lili stared at me for a few seconds before she spoke. “Stop crying... I won‘t touch them again... your so-called friends.” she said using her usual expressionless tone.
I don‘t know what she was thinking with that blank expression. I don‘t know if she understands me. But strangely, it calmed me down. Because I thought, I‘d lose her after saying all those things, but she still came back to me...
I thought she did it again—to Zonia that time. I thought she turned back on her words. It was my fault for doubting her because I was afraid na bumalik ‘yung dating Khali na halos walang emosyon.
I think she is better today, because there a lot of people around her that makes her world more colorful and warm, especially him.
I hope this time... she‘d be no longer the emotionless Khali.
And I think I‘ve found my little purpose in Khali Vernon‘s life... Something that I can give her, something that I can help her with...
*♡♤*
KEVIN‘S POV
Nagising ako dahil sa ingay na narinig ko. Ang weird parang may umiiyak.
Nanlaki ‘yung mga mata ko nang biglang pumasok sa isip ko na baka may multo?! Sabi nina Khali walang multo dito ah?!
Are they making fun of me again?
Are they pulling a prank on me again?! Ginawa na nila ‘yun at talagang muntik ko na silang sakalin sa inis.
Mag-disguise ba naman na Sadako tapos pasukin ka sa loob ng kwarto, gabing-gabi?!
I told them not to do it again ‘coz I‘m really gonna die of heart attack!
Aish!!
Habang tumatagal na-realize ko na parang galing sa kabilang kwarto. Jaemin‘s room. I went out of the room and went in front of Jaemin‘s door.
May umiiyak nga? Si Jaemin?
Nag-sleepover si Jaemin dito kasi dapat maaga raw siya bukas.
Kinatok ko ito pero hindi ako pinagbuksan. Kaya ako na ang nagbukas. I saw her bawling in tears. Nilapitan ko siya at niyakap, kasi baka binabangungot lang, pero hindi ko alam kung pano patatahanin.
“It‘s okay now, Jaemin. I‘m here! Huy!” mahinahong pagsasalita ko.
She was calling her Mom. Which I believe has already passed away few years ago.
Napakamot ako sa batok dahil sa pagkataranta. So, I called Khali using Jaemin‘s phone and she immediately picked up. I told her she was crying.
Wala pang isang minuto nandito na kaagad siya. She went straight to Jaemin and hugged her kaya ako naman ay kumalas na at tumayo na.
“I‘ll go back now...” paalam ko. Khali nodded.
Pero bago ko sila iwan, nilingon ko ulit sila. Khali is hugging her while lying down. She wasn‘t doing any particular thing to comfort her but Jaemin is starting to calm down.
I smiled as I closed the door. It‘s really satisfying to see Khali drops her guard down whenever she‘s with Jaemin.
I went back to bed, but I couldn‘t sleep anymore. Maya-maya biglang kumatok kaya pinagbuksan ko kaagad at halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang tumambad ang isang babaeng nakasuot ng puting damit at natatakpan ang mukha nito ng mahabang buhok.
“AAAAAAAaaaAaaaaHHHH!—”
“—Tngina ka!” gigil kong sambit nang ma-realize kong si Khali lang pala.
Ang lakas ng trip nitong yelo na ‘to!
“Movie marathon.” aniya. At sabay na kaming bumaba.
*♡♤*
KHALI‘S POV
Umaga na nung natapos kami manood. Hindi namin namalayan ‘yung oras. Si Kevs nagsisi, bakit daw horror pala ‘yung panonoorin, blah blah.
That Hominid is always so loud.
Dahil wala kaming tulog, medyo inaantok ako na pumasok sa school. Nasanay na yata akong laging kumpleto ang tulog kaya parang hindi ako kumportable ngayon na kulang ang tulog ko.
I checked my phone. There were no trace of Kangaroo. Kahit dito sa school. And somehow... making me feel so weird...
Maybe I was too preoccupied or sleepy that I didn‘t feel the threat coming towards me.
I was grabbed by the hair from behind that I almost dropped flat on my back when he tried to drag me.
“You bitch, how dare you fcking run away from me?” gigil na wika nito.
Nilingon ko ito at nakilala agad. Leader ng Crazy Monkeyz.
I gave him a poker face.
Kinuha ko ang ballpen sa aking bulsa at clinick ito, pero bago iyon ay kinausap ko muna siya.
“I‘m not in the mood for a fight. Let go while I‘m still being nice.” I said with my usual impassive tone.
He smirked at me. So, I stabbed his arm three consecutive times.
Tumakbo na ako agad nung mabitawan niya ako.
“You‘re going to pay for this, bitch!” sigaw nito na puno ng galit.
Ramdam ko na hinahabol ako ng dalawang member.
I almost stopped running because I was quite surprised when I reached the Tanzanite.
Nakasalubong ko si Kenneth Clione.
Sinundan ako ng tingin ng mga mata niyang blanko ngunit patuloy lang rin siya sa paglalakad kagaya ko.
“Don‘t run in the hallway.” he said in monotone.
Natigilan ako saglit at nilingon siya. Akala ko ako ang sinasabihan niya ngunit ang dalawang gangster pala na humahabol sa akin.
Tinapunan ako ng masamang tingin nung isa saka siya yamot na napahawak sa batok niya.
Whoa.
I guess those lunatics are still afraid of someone in this school.
They‘re pretty hostile towards the Four Dragons but I guess they‘re still scared of the Shadow of Death, huh.
“Lucky...” I muttered as I walk freely.
Until now, I‘m still glad that I got them on the Shadow of Death easily.
Those Clione Brothers... are truly special.
Even though, they‘re quite the handful apes! -__-
Bumalik ako sa classroom at hinintay ang lunch break. Kasabay ko sina Erin kumain.
I checked my phone‘s clock... I still have 30 more minutes before the next class...
Nagpunta muna ako sa pinakadulong gazebo para magpahangin. Para umidlip na rin. Kaso di ako makatulog kahit na inaantok na talaga ako.
Aish.
“What are you doing here?” I heard a familiar voice said. Para akong nabuhayan? Pero inaantok pa rin ako.
Lumingon ako sa kabilang side, habang nakapatong pa rin ang pisngi sa table.
“Bakit ngayon ka lang?” I asked in a low voice.
Hinubad niya ‘yung coat niya tapos tinupi, saka pinaunan sa‘kin. Humalumbaba siya at tumingin sa akin. Bakit ang seryoso niyang tingnan ngayon?
“You should sleep in Dia...” he said.
“We still have one more class...” mabagal kong pagsasalita dahil sa antok.
Naramdaman kong binangon niya ako kaya napamulat ako sandali, tapos pinatong niya ang ulo ko sa balikat niya.
“You‘ll hurt your neck if you sleep in that position...” aniya.
Bigla akong napatayo nang magising ako. Pagtingin ko sa paligid, palubog na ‘yung araw. I checked the time and it‘s already past five o‘clock. More than 1 hour akong nakatulog?!
Hindi ko man lang namalayan na nakatulog ako?
“I missed my class?”
“It‘s fine. I already excused you.” Kangaroo said.
“You‘re still here?” I muttered. Higit isang oras rin siyang naghintay diyan?
“How can I leave you here alone?” he said while still on his phone.
“You should‘ve wake me up then.” I replied.
“You look so sleepy...”
My point as well. Bakit ang sarap ng tulog ko dito sa labas? I‘ve never slept so sound like this kahit nasa bahay ako. I‘ve always been on my guard, but I slept beside this homo sapien?
“Let‘s go?” mahinahon niyang tanong, this time nakatingin na siya sa akin. “Everyone‘s in your house right now...”
“Why are they gathering in my house again... Tsk.” I muttered. “Tara...”
Dun kami sa parking lot ng Marvel pumunta dahil nandun ‘yung kotse niya.
“Take care.” sabi niya. Sasakay na sana ako kaso natigilan ako. Nilingon ko siya.
“You‘re not coming?” tanong ko.
“Nope. I need to go back to District I. We have a dinner with a family friend... I‘ll just take a taxi.”
He‘s so busy...
“Why?” He stared at me directly. “Should I stay?” he asked.
I stared back at him. Would he stay if I told him so? But he has an important thing to do right now...
“No.”
He nodded.
“Can I hug you?” he asked.
Why is he asking me again a permission to do that? He used to do it anytime he wanted...
“No...” sagot ko at nag-iwas ng tingin.
“I‘ll be back tomorrow.” he said.
I stared at him. I nodded and hop in.
Ang bigat ng dibdib ko. Bakit ganon?
What‘s wrong? He‘s acting nice as usual but something feels off. Is he still sulky about what happened yesterday? Is he perhaps mad?
I never heard him call my name today...
Pagdating ko sa bahay, diretso ako sa kwarto at dinaanan lang sina Kianna na nagtatawanan sa living room. They called me but I didn‘t respond.
I‘m not even in the mood to eat even if I saw those foods they brought.
“Huy, Lili! Bili ni Trev ‘tong pizza, baba ka after mo mag-bihis ah!” I heard Jaemin said.
I lied down and closed my eyes.
My phone suddenly rang. It was Kangaroo. Nagdalawang isip ako kung sasagutin ko ba o hindi. Baka kasi kung ano pang masabi ko...
“Why?” bungad ko.
“Nakauwi ka na?” he asked.
“Mmm...” I answered. I unconsciously nodded my head.
“Good to hear.” sabi niya. Tapos natahimik na kami, for at least 10 minutes, walang may gustong patayin ‘yung call?
Then he spoke again.
“Good night, Lili. I love you...” malumanay niyang sambit.
×××