Lucius is currently in his car, waiting for Emmanuela to finish preparing. The rain just stopped and they still have time to prepare for school. While waiting, he stares on the steering wheel, remembering some events from the past. He remembers not so vividly how he often saw his father with women. Women that are definitely not in his age.
Back then, every weekend, his sister would leave and attend a kid's photoshoot mainly about her, his older brother would take special classes in business in a young age, and by that time his mother— Adela, was managing the new branch of agency in Japan, made her a thousand kilometers away from her family for more than a year while his father— Maximo, barely showing up in his own company. Only him and his father would always be left in the mansion every weekend. The thought excites Lucius but as it went on, he's starting to hear footsteps of stilettos in the middle of the night, feminine giggles and slobbery noises through the walls.
It went on for more than a month. It was all the same. Stilettos, giggles, slobbery noises... moans, if he was not mistaken, for he himself knew nothing about it ever since as well. It became usual to him not until a sharp scream woke his soul up in the middle of the night. He remembers how he heard a slobbery sound through the walls but it was combined with a sharp and metallic slash. Lucius also heard a new sound that night, it was a screech on the floor. A skin of person was screeched on the floor, it almost sounded like his father was dragging some... thing.
Curiosity hit him that day, he couldn't helped it. Lucius went out from his room when he heard his father open his room on the other side.
He froze when he saw what his father was dragging. It will forever haunt his mind—
"Shit!" Lucius flinched when somebody suddenly knocked on his car's window. Agad napatingin si Lucius sa bintana, he felt relieved when he saw Emmanuela's face, smiling at him.
Lucius wiped his face with his palm, as if washing off the worry on his face before he unlocks the car's door for her.
Agad naman binuksan ni Emmanuela ang pintuan sa front seat at saka pumasok. "You okay?" ang unang lumabas sa bibig ni Emmanuela nang pumasok ito sa sasakyan.
"Mukhang ang lalim ng iniisip mo eh," dagdag pa niya.
Bahagyang napangiti si Lucius. "It's nothing." He said.
"You sure?" she asked. Napatingin si Lucius sa kanya at saka napatitig. Parang nagkakarera ang isipan ni Lucius habang tinititigan si Emmanuela.
In this very moment, he wants to just give up and screw everything but he can't just let go the feeling of approval that he'll get from his father if he'll accompish this. He's been craving for his approval ever since he's young, he can't let it go to waste just for a girl.
"Are you sure about this?" Lucius asked.
Biglang kumunot ang noo ni Emmanuela. "Sure about what?"
"IME'nBN." Diretsong sagot ni Lucius. Mas lalong nagtaka si Emmanuela nang tanungin ito ni Lucius.
Bakit naman hindi ako magiging sure dito?
"Oo naman, baki—"
"Did you searched for this agency if they are safe and clean?" tanong ni Lucius, 'di man lang niya pinatapos si Emmanuela magtanong.
Mas kumunot ang noo ni Emmanuela. "Is it required to do that? Why are you suddenly bringing this up?" tanong niya.
Bahagyang natigilan si Lucius sa tinanong ng dalaga. He pursed his lips into thin line before he looks away from her then leans his back on car's seat. He pondered while Emmanuela is staring at him, utterly confused with his questions.
"Ang alam kong may kinalaman ang agency na 'yan sa mga illegal na bagay," paninimula ni Lucius, habang 'di tumitingin kay Emmanuela. Nanatili ang mga mata niya nakatutok sa manibela.
Emmanuela just stares at him, debating whether or not she should believe him. But ano bang alam ni Lucius sa mga agency na 'yan?
"Di naman siguro, IME'nBN is one of the best media company here in the Philippines and it wouldn't be one of the best if they are involved in whatever illegal things you're talking about." Depensa ni Emmanuela sa kompanyang nag-scout sa kanya. Kung totoo man, sana hindi nalang, inihahanda na ng kompanya ang kontrata niya. 'Di pwedeng may mamamagitan pang problema.
He abruptly turns his head at her. "You'll never know, it's a big company, it's impossible that they're not involved with anything like that." Dagdag pa ni Lucius.
"What do you mean it's impossible? Kailan pa naging imposible para sa isang kompanya na maging malinis?" tanong ni Emmanuela pero mas nangingibabaw ang pagdududa sa tono ng boses niya.
'Di nakasagot agad si Lucius at napatitig nalang ito sa kanya. Sa mga sagot palang ni Emmanuela, nararamdaman na niya na mahirap siyang kumbinsihin. Sariling katangahan din naman ito ni Lucius, ang tagal niyang nakakilos, tama nga si Papa, wala na akong tamang nagawa.
He looks at her again. "I'm just worried about you." Malumanay niyang saad.
Emmanuela paused for a moment before she decided to cup Lucius' cheek with one hand then pecks his lips for reassurance.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine." Nakangiting tugon ni Emmanuela.
Napangit nalang din si Lucius at saka hinawakan ang kamay ng dalaga. "You trust me, right?" he asked.
Emmanuela, not even aback with his question, "Of course." She answered.
Lucius kissed the back of her hand. "Come with me after class, alright? I have something to show you," he lifts his gaze up to her. "I just hope you'll make considerations." He ended with a smile.
With an unsure smile, Emmanuela let out a soft humorless chuckle. "What do you mean?"
"Well—"
Both of them flinched when a car honk right infront of them. Kapwa silang napatingin sa harapan at napalaki ang mga mata ni Emmanuela nang napagtanto niyang pamilyar ang kotseng nasa harapan niya.
Porkchop!
"What the hell? Nasa gilid lang tayo ah, ba't binubusinahan pa—" akmang bababa galing sa sasakyan si Lucius pero agad itong hinila pabalik ni Emmanuela bago paman makita sa driver ng kotse si Lucius.
"No! Stay!" she exclaimed. Lucius looked at her, extremely confused.
"Bu— why?"
"Emmanuela?!"
They both froze on their spot. Kahit na hindi masyadong kilala ni Lucius, alam niya kung sino 'yon. He's that person's professor afterall and worst case scenario, he's also alone in his own car with his another student.
"Sino 'yan?!" they heard Kyline raising her voice once again with her head popped out from the rolled down window of her own car.
Right, Kyline don't always fetch me in school. Bakit ngayon pa?!
"Hurry, drive." Emmanuela said as she restlessly taps Lucius' shoulder. Hurriedly, with his head slightly down, he sits properly then started the engine of his car.
Both of their heart jumped when Kyline hops out from her own car. Lucius' eyes widened in nervousness that it made him drive their way pass by Kyline and her car with a rapid speed, as if a lightning.
"Putangin—" Kyline shrieked as she hurriedly stayed on the side when Lucius' car passed by her rapidly. She then sighed in relief and followd his car with her gaze as she hurriedly hops back in her own.
"Sino kaya kasama ng gagang 'yon? Puta." She murmured under her breath as she starts her engine as well and drives off.
Kyline is unsure if Emmanuela will directly go to school after catching her alone with a man on a car and what is odd for her is that the figure of the man seems familiar and it feeds her curiousity even more. Deep inside, Kyline is hoping to meet Emmanuela in school, she'll know if she would or not anyways since she is currently tailing on Lucius' car.
Anong kalokohan ba 'to, Emmanuela?
—
Tristan restlessly taps his shoe on the ground as he keeps on glancing on his wristwatch. Anong oras na ba?
7:43 am
Class starts at eight and every normal student will start going to their respected classroom at this time of the morning, but not Tristan. He needs to talk to someone. Someone who acted like a deaf person when they talked. Ayaw magpasabi, itinatanggi ang lahat. Pati ba naman sa simpleng pagsasabi ng totoo, kailangan pa ng ebidensya? Napabuntong hininga si Tristan, he crossed his arms over his chest as he leans on the concrete wall close to the gate of their school.
Biglang nabuhayan ang diwa ni Tristan nang nasagap niya ang isang pamilyar na mukha. Hindi man ito ang mukha na hinahanap niya ay konektado naman sila neto.
"Kyline!" tawag niya nang naglakad ito papasok sa school, halatang galing parking lot. Natigilan naman si Kyline sa paglalakas at kumunot ang noo nito. Bakit ba naman kasi siya tatawagin ni Tristan Delijino?
Nakataas ang kilay ni Kyline habang pinapanood kung paano naglakad si Tristan palapit sa kanya. Halata naman ang pagsusungit sa mukha ng dalaga.
"O ano?" Masungit nga.
"Ah kasi, nakita mo ba si Emmanuela?" diretsong tanong ni Tristan. Mas lalo naman kumunot ang noo ng dalaga dahil sa tanong niya.
"Oo," sagot nito.
"Saan?" tanong ulit ni Tristan, halatang gustong malaman ang sagot.
"Sa bahay niya." Mataray pa din ang tono ng boses ni Kyline sa pagsagot niya at biglang lumaylay ang balikat ni Tristan dahil sa sagot niya.
"Kyline naman eh.." Tristan mumbled, almost whining.
Napanguso si Kyline at saka nagpameywang. "Eh bakit ba kasi?" halata ang inis sa boses ni Kyline nang tanungin si Tristan. "Nakakainis yung bruha na 'yon." She mumbled but it seems like she's not even trying her best to lower the volume of it.
Tristan looked at her confused upon hearing her statement. "Bakit? May nangyari ba?" tanong nito. Bigla naman itong sinamaan ng tingin ni Kyline at saka bahagyang inirapan ito.
"Chismoso ka din 'no?" she sarcastically replied.
Gagang bata na 'to. Tristan secretly gritted his teeth.
"Mukhang inis na inis ka kasi at narinig ko mismo galing sayo na parang si Emmanuela ang dahilan. Bakit ba? Anong nagawa non? Hindi naman siya yung tipong babae na kakainisa—" 'di na natapos ni Tristan ang sinasabi niya nang magsalita si Kyline.
"May gusto ka ba kay Emmanuela, Tristan?"
Bigla naman napalaki ang mga mata ni Tristan sa diretsong tanong ni Kyline. Kung kumakain lang sila ngayon, malamang naluwa na niya yung kinakain niya kay Kyline mismo.
"Ano?" tila bang nasira ang pagmumukha ni Tristan dahil na din sa purong pagtatakang nakaguhit sa mukha niya.
Umangat ang gilid sa labi ni Kyline. "Meron 'no?" tanong ulit nito na may tonong nakakaloko.
"Anong klaseng tanong 'yan?"
"Sagutin mo nalang. Mas lalo kang napaghalataang may gusto kay Ems eh." Pagtutukso ulit ni Kyline habang nakangisi parin ito ng malaki.
"Wala, sira." Pagtatanggi nito. Mas napalaki naman ang kurba ng ngiti sa labi ni Kyline.
"Ay susss, eh bakit mo siya hinahanap?" tanong ulit niya.
Biglang natigilan si Tristan sa tanong ni Kyline. 'Di naman pwede sabihin niya sa kanya ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit niya hinahanap si Emmanuela. Lalo na kasi madaldal 'to, mapapahamak lang siya at yung plano niya.
"May itatanong lang." Simpleng sagot ni Tristan kasi baka 'pag sinubukan pa niyang magpaliwanag ay baka masabit lang siya.
"Tungkol saan?" tanong ulit ng dalaga. At this point, parang ini-interrogate na ni Kyline si Tristan.
He scoffed, "Chismosa ka din 'no?" pabirong saad naman ni Tristan. Bahagyang napatawa nalang din si Kyline. He's not that bad naman pala.
"Edi 'di na magtatanong," she paused to chuckled once again. "Kanina mo pa ba siya hinahanap?" tanong ni Kyline. This time, her voice is lacing with genuine tone.
Napatango si Tristan. "Oo, kanina pa din ako naghintay sa kanyang pumasok ng campus." Dagdag pa niya.
Bigla naman kumunot ang noo ni Kyline. "Ha? 'Di mo pa siya nakitang pumasok ng school? Eh magaalas-otso na ah," Kyline glances on her wrist watch before lifting her gaze back at Tristan.
"Tsaka mas nauna pa yun sakin eh." Dagdag ni Kyline. Naguluhan naman si Tristan sa nalaman niya.
Si Emmanuela nauna pa ni Kyline? Eh kanina ko pa binabantayan ang gate, as well as the back gate, may nakabantay din doon.
"Mas nauna siya sayo?" tanong nito.
"Oo, nakasakay na yun ng sasakyan eh tsaka may kasama and I tried to follow them immediately pero nawala agad so I assumed na hinatid na siya dito..." dahan dahang natigilan si Kyline sa pagsasalita nang masilayan niya ang ekspresyon ng mukha ni Tristan na para bang may inaabangan siya na sasabihin ni Kyline. May inaabangan naman talaga siya. Isang salita lang at alam na niyang nasa panganib na si Emmanuela.
"Uh... Tristan, are you okay?" tanong ni Kyline. Tristan seems tensed right now.
"Lalake ba ang kasama ni Emmanuela?" tanong nito, bakas sa tono ng boses niya ang pagkaseryoso. Para namang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig ang katawan ni Kyline habang tinititigan ang seryosong mukha ni Trsitan. Hindi siya mukhang estyudante lamang sa puntong ito.
"Hoy, gusto mo ba talaga si Emmanuela? Kung oo, 'wag kang magselos—"
"Answer my question, Ms. Sarawat." Malumanay pero bakas sa boses niya ang lamig ng mga salitang iyon.
"Your answer will depend on Emmanuela's safety."
Napalunok si Kyline sa sarili niyang laway.
"What do you mean..?"
"I said, answer the question. Lalake ba ang kasama ni Emmanuela?" pag-uulit ni Tristan.
Ngunit mas lalong naguguluhan lang si Kyline sa tanong niya at mas gusto niyang malaman kung bakit nakasalalay ang magiging sagot niya sa kaligtasan ng kaibigan niya.
"Tristan, what's happening?"
"Answer me." Mas lalong nandilim ang mukha ni Tristan.
Napalunok ulit si Kyline at saka dahan dahang napatango.
"Oo..."
Tristan became more tensed upon hearing her answer. His heart starts to beat fast due to nervousness and his thoughts starts to wonder about possible things that might happen to Emmanuela while in that man's radar.
He held Kyline's arm as he plastered a soft smile. "Stay here and message me once Emmanuela arrives, okay?" he asked, with his voice full of reassurance.
Napakurap nalang si Kyline, tulala, walang alam. "O-Okay.."
Nahalataan ni Tristan na hindi komportable si Kyline. He patted her shoulder. "Don't worry ayos lang si Emmanuela," Tristan then slides his hand in his pocket and grabbed a calling card, stating his private informations. "Trust me," he added.
"Keep this as our secret, alright? Don't tell anyone." Ani Tristan at saka binigay kay Kyline ang card niya. Napalaki ang mga mata ni Kyline nang basahin ang card ni Tristan.
"Okay, Kyline?" agad inangat ng dalaga ang mga tingin niya kay Tristan at saka napatango agad.
"Y-Yes.." upon hearing that, Tristan flashes a smile before he walks passed by Kyline, leaving the school at the exact time that the bell rang indicating that the classes has started.