"Bakit ba ang tagal niyo? Kairita ah" agad na reklamo ni Clarenet pagdating namin.
"Ito na nga, kalma" natatawang sagot ko bago inabot sa kanila ang mga baso, si Sketch naman ang naglapag ng pitcher na may lamang orange juice.
"Bad trip talaga, bakit kasi di tayo pagbigyan nila Sir. Kiel? Para minsan lang uminom eh" maktol ni Bruce.
"Teh magtigil ka muna sa alak, kung may buhay lang atay mo malamang nilayasan ka na niyan" sabi ni Clarenet sa kanya.
Sandali kami natahimik at napatitig sa kalangitan, tunog lang ng kuliglig ang dinig sa buong lugar and the stars never fail to make me feel happy, kapag nakatingin ako sa mga bituan it feels like I'm not alone, na like them in the darkest night I'm not the only one who shines, if I even shine tho. Natawa ako sa mga naiisip ko, para akong bata.
"This feels so nice" Chanel stated while looking the sky, then she move her gaze to the bonfire we made. "Having this moment with you guys is fun" inosenteng sabi niya habang malawig na nakangiti.
"Oo nga, nabugbog man tayo kamakailan lang pero sobrang solid nitong nangyari satin ngayong araw" pagsang-ayon ni Sum.
"I wish this would happen again" wala sa sariling banggit ko, "but of course minus the danger, ayaw ko na ulit sakalin sarili ko noh" agad kong dugtong. Natawa naman ang iba sa sinabi ko, ginawa pa akong clown ng mga mutant na 'to.
"Guys?" Biglang sabi ni Clyde, his tone is different from usual, he's more serious than before.
"What?" Pairap na tanong ni Summer.
"D-Do you think we're friends?" The guy asked, we covered by silence by his words. Are we?
"Of course, Clyde. I'm your friend" nakangiting sagot ni Chanel na nagawa pang tapikin sa likod ang lalaki.
"How do we say if someone is our friend?" Winter asked habang nakatingin sa kawalan.
"You don't consider us as your friends?" Tila nanlumo si Chanel sa tanong ni Winter, bigla namang natauhan ang huli.
"Hey, that's not what I meant. I'm seriously asking how can you say if someone is your friend" she said.
"Well, someone you eat with, someone you share fun with, someone you share struggles and challenges with-"
"Someone who look like this" Clarenet cut Clyde's words, "Look like us" she added. The ambiance of this place now is unreadable, I don't know what to feel, I feel weird, in my 18 years of existence I never felt this emotion. Tila hindi isa ni dalawa ang emosyong gustong lumakbay palabas sakin.
"So.........Magkakaibigan tayo?" Thorn said, asking in behalf.
"Huh! Angas, one day I entered a classroom with full of weirdos and now may mga kaibigan na ako? Tss, more impossible than me being not able to hook up with some random girls" he said, but he suddenly talk again "Pero........I can't deny the fact that.......maybe we are?" a smile form in his lips, kadalasang ngisi ang pinakakawalan ng mga labi nito but now it's different, it's a genuine smile.
"I don't know if I can consider that label for now, such things happened in the past. I don't know if I can make friends" nakatingin sa malayong sabi ni Summer, I saw Winter attempt to touch her sister but she suddenly take her hands back, what's stopping her and her sister to stick together? I asked myself. Chanel held Summer's hands, she gently smile.
"Let's try to be friends Summer, we don't know what you've been through for you to have a hard time making friends, but we're willing to be one for you" Chanel is always like that, being a light to us and make us feel lighter, kahit noong mga panahong kalaban namin si Anino, she's the one who gave us hope and will not to die.
"Yeah, having friends is fun. Trust me" Clyde is smiling but there's something in his eyes, I can't say what it is.
"How about you Jazz?" Biglang nabaling ang tanong sakin ng lahat ng tanungin ako ni Clarenet.
"What about me?" I replied.
"Do you consider us as your friends?" She continued, natuldukan ang dila ko, I don't know what to say, should I say yes? But I'm not sure if we are, don't get me wrong it's just I'm having a hard time trusting myself to someone, my parents are gone and didn't left anything for me to know them, the family left with never treat me one, and that makes me question the world if there are really people out there I can trust.
"I-I, I guess yes?" Napayuko ako, nahihiya ako specifically kay Chanel at Clyde. All these months the two of them really doing everything to make friends with me, with us. Naramdaman ko napahawak si Chanel sakin.
"It's okay, you can tell us honestly what-" tila may bumara sa lalamunan niya, I feel like she's about to cry "What you really feel" pagpapatuloy niya, I held her hands tight. I know what's true, I know that I can trust her, she's precious and one of the kind, I can't hurt a person like her.
"You're a friend for me, Chanel. I'm sorry if I held myself back it's just....it's just I can't say it out loud" I guarantee her.
"But why? Why not?" Tanong sakin ni Summer na naguguluhan.
"I can't say it now, but I'll let you know once I'm ready" I answered, Chanel hugged me, a warm hug.
"I understand you Jazzy, no need to rush everything" she said with a bright smile, I hugged her back. Thorn sighed and look at Sketch and Axis na walang imik as usual.
"Kayong dalawa, Axis? Sketch? Di kayo magsasalita?" Thorn asked them.
"You don't even answer the same question, are we your friends?" Axis turn the table and asked Thorn back. Thorn lean back and put his arm across his chest, his biceps flexed and look at Axis directly his eyes.
"Oo naman" his answer shocked me, he say that without any hesitation, "Di ko lang sinasabi pero kaibigan kayo para sa akin, kasi if you guys are not tingin ninyo anong pipigil sakin na gamitin ang kakayahan ko at iligtas si Axis at ang sarili ko? Tropa kayo para sa akin" he said sincerely, I wish I can be brave like him. Not afraid to say what I feel.
"Nakaka-touch naman yun, kiss kita eh" biro ni Sum, inambahan siya ng suntok ni Thorn kaya natawa kami "But on serious note, ako din. Kapag kailangan niyo ng tulong maliban nalang if it's something to deal with money, you can always count me in" dugtong nito.
"Ang seryoso naman nun Baks, sige na nga friends na tayo" natatawang sabi ni Clarenet, for the first time they both laugh at each other at nagawa pang mag-apir.
"Sumagot na kami, kayo naman" Bruce said and look at the two men who's stay in mute. Ilang segundong katahimikan ang muling bumalot samin, Sum cleared his throat and was about to stand when Sketch start talking.
"I never imagined that I'll be doing this" nangunot ang noo ko sa biglang tinuran ni Sketch, "I never thought of me sitting around a bonfire with you guys" he continued.
"Eh kasi naman wala ka namang paki samin kaya paano-" pinutol ng malakas na hampas ang sinasabi ni Sum, mula yun kay Clarenet. Natawa naman kami nang magbangayan nanaman ang dalawa. Maging si Sketch ay bahagyang natawa pero agad niyang pinigil ito.
"Tumawa ka? Did you just laughed?" Winter added as if it's really impossible for Sketch to laugh, well can't blame her tho, Sketch has a water like ability but he's an ice.
"To tell you honestly, I felt do relief nung nakita kong ayos kayo. It sounds cliché kasi, but I don't want that happen again, kahit na araw-araw maginarte ang kambal, magingay si Clyde, magbangayan yang sina Sum at Clarenet o kahit pa magmura ng nonstop si Bruce, mas okay na yun kesa makita ko kayong duguan" kusang pumorma ang ngiti sa labi ko sa mga tinuran niya. Sweet naman pala ang isa-. "Mga masama kayong damo, people like us don't and can't die easily" at binabawi ko na.
"Alam mo ikaw, hobby mo yan 'no?" I said that made his eyebrows met each other.
"What do you mean?" He asked with confusion.
"Che! What do you mean ka diyan, lagi mo ginagawa yan. You'll tell something sweet and caring to us tapos bigla kang hihirit ng ganyan? Mix signal ka 'te?!" Walang hingahang sabi ko.
"Wait, what? What do you mean lagi? As long as I don't want to cut the touch I felt pero kasi now ko lang siya narinig magsabi ng ganun samin" Summer said.
"Yeah, unfortunately I agree with her" Winter seconded.
"Teka, Jazz lagi ka bang nasasabihan ni Sketch ng ganun?!" Tila gulat na gulat na tanong ni Clarenet, agad akong umiling. Nagsimula silang tuksuhin ako at si Sketch pero parang wala lang sa kanya.
"Hindi ah! Adik ba kayo? Bat nagha-hallucinations kayo?!" I sound really defensive, shuta ka talaga Jazzmin Astral ipapahamak ka ng bibig at pagka-OA mo! Sermon ko sa aking sarili.
"Sus, nahuhuli ang isda sa sariling bunganga" natatawang sabi ni Bruce.
"Yeah, Jazz is a fish? She must be Lanturn then" natigilan ako sa sinabi ni Clyde.
"What on earth is a Lanturn?" Axis asked.
"Lanturn is a fish-like Pokemon, Bruce said Jazz is a fish and I think she's a Lanturn because Lanturn shine bright like her eyes when she's doing her abilities and-"
"A-Anong sinasabi mo?!" Medyo nanginginig sa inis kong tanong na pumutol kay Clyde.
"'Tol parang di yata maganda yung sinabi mo" natatawang sabi ni Bruce pero inosenteng kumonot lang ang noo ni Clyde.
"Byt why? Lanturn is cute and friendly she is-"
"Ikaw, tigilan mo ako kung hindi makakapanakit a-"
"Lanturn is quite cute tho" putol ni Sketch sa sasabihin ko sana, then he show me his phone, makikita dito ang isdang medyo asul ang kulay at may tila bumbilyang nakakonekta sa noo nito. "Nice one, Francisco. You look someone that's cute" nag pipigil nitong sabi kaya napatayo ako.
"Mga isinumpa kayo! Trip niyo ako? Ha? Trip niyo akong pagtripan?" Nagtawanan sila sa naging reaction ko at ako naman namumula ang pisngi habang inis na inis. Tumayo si Chanel tsaka yumakap sa gilid ko.
"Oww Jazzy......you're cute when you're annoyed" mahinhin itong tumatawa kaya umikot ang mata ko.
"Tse! Hoy, Puppeting ang Qbility ko, meaning I'm a puppeteer not a clown, mga hukluban kayo" I said that made them laugh harder. Tumayo naman si Sum tsaka inangat ang baso niya, seems like he's initiating a toss, all of us looks confuse and look at him.
"Guys, a toss. For a new start, maybe not now but I hope and think on some other angles and time all of us can be friends" a bright smile form on his lips while looking at us, tumayo naman si Thorn para iangat din ang baso niya. Di nagtagal ay tumayo na din ang lahat, bumuntong hininga pa si Sketch bago tumayo at dahan-dahang inangat din ang kanyang baso.
"For the new friendship" masiglang sabi ni Clyde.
"Yeah, fine. At least we should try" irap na sabi ni Summer tsaka inangat ang kanyang baso.
"For the new friendship!" We shouted on chorus, pinagbunggo namin ang baso namin sa isa't-isa, Sketch click his glass with me kaya nginitian ko ang huli, nang matapos yun ay kaming lahat naman ang gumawa, nagtagpo ang mga baso namin sa gitna pero mukhang nalakasan ata ni Sum ang pagbunggo ng kanya kaya ang nangyari nagkaroon ng domino effect at nabasag ang mga baso namin. Ang ending tumapon ang mga lamang juice sa bonfire.
"Sum, why you so clumsy. Oh my gosh!" Winter reacted as she wipes her palm na nabasa ng juice.
"Sorry, sometimes my super strength is hard to control" he apologized while laughing.
"May nasugatan ba?" I asked and they all shook their heads, itinapat naman ni Summer ang daliri niya sa mga kahoy at muling nagkaroon ito ng apoy, taray ni bakla human lighter ang eksena.
"Walang nasugatan pero makokuryente meron" sabi ni Clarenet na nakatingin sa may bandang likod ko, nangunot ang noo ko, nilingon ko kung saan siya nakatingin at nakita kong palapit samin si Ms. Gwen, ang human charger na may-ari ng mga basong nabasag. Tinago ko sa likod ko ang pwetan ng basong naiwan sa kamay ko, patay na.
"What happened? Bat ganyan ang mga mukha niyo?" She asked with a smile, all of us look at each other, seems like none of us wants to answer her. "Huy! Sabi ko ano nangyari? Para naman kayong nakabasag sa mga reaksyon niyo ngayon" natatawang sabi nito at bigla natigilan, nakatingin ito sa tabi ko at nawala ang ngiti sa labi, sinundan ko ng tingin kung saan siya nakatingin at nakita ko na ang dahilan kung bakit siya natigilan. It's Sketch, hawak niya ang pwetan din ng baso, nasa harap niya ang kamay niya habang ang isa ay prenteng nakalagay sa bulsa, pinandilatan ko siya ng mata at pilit na nginuso ang baso sa kamay niya. Nangunot ang noo niya at tila nandiri ang eksperesyon ng gwapong mukha.
"Ano nangyayari dito?" Nakangiting tanong ni Sir. Kiel na kakadating lang, we all look at us, yung tingin na 'save us, Sir'. Umangat ang hintuturo ni Ms. Gwen at tinuro ang hawak ni Sketch.
"S-Sketch, b-bakit" huminga ng malalim ito nang malalim bago nagsalita ulit "What happened to my glass? Why is it-"
"It's broken, nabasag po lahat" nasapo ko ang noo ko sa pagputol ni Axis sa sinasabi ni Ms. Gwen, bahagya namang tumili ang kambal tsaka nagtago sa likod ni Bruce at Thorn na kapwa napalunok, napatakip naman ng bibig si Chanel gamit ang dalawang kamay kaya nahulog ang pwetan ng basong hawak niya, lalo namang nanlaki ang mata ni Ms. Gwen, and now she's starting to make sounds na parang ginagawa ng galit na leon, Sir. Kiel gently put his hands to Ms. Gwen's shoulder.
"You little rascals!" Lalakad na sana palapit samin si Ms. Gwen nang yakapin siya nang mahigpit ni Sir. Kiel. Patay na!
"Run, run away now. Run faster and far" his tone is giving us a warning kaya naghilahan na kami, mabilis kaming tumakbo palayo sa bonfire pero bago yun nagsalita pa si Clyde kaya natigilan din si Sir. Kiel at Ms. Gwen
"It's number is higher than before, mas dumami po siya nung nabasag, isn't a good thing?" Inosenteng sabi nito na di ko alam kung tatawanan ko kung ano, hinatak siya nila Bruce at Thorn, Ms. Gwen really want to electrify us now kaya nagtilian nanaman ang kambal, tumakbo na kami nang mabilis
"Auruem!!!!" Malakas na sigaw ni Ms. Gwen na umalingawngaw sa buong lugar, nakasalubong pa namin ang tatlong nakakatanda na halatang nagtataka kung bakit, pero nagpatuloy kami sa pagtakbo hanggang sa narating namin ang cabin, sinarado namin ang pinto.
"Bakla ka, hinatid mo kami sa pintuan ng impyerno" sabi ni Clarenet.
"Ang OA ni Ms. Gwen, baso lang naman iyon, walang buhay iyon tayo meron" binatukan ni si Sum sa sinabi niya.
"Nakuha mo pang mang-gaslight hindut ka" sabi ko.
"We better go to our rooms and locked up" the twins said in chorus.
Ang daming naganap, jusmiyo! Di nga kami napatay ni Anino pero mapapatay naman kami ni Ms. Gwen na mukhang obsessed sa mga gamit niya.