Chapter Twenty-eight
"So where are you going to spend Christmas Vacation?" Bommie asked while we're walking out of the AVR.
"I dunno. Maybe we'll spend it here, depende sa schedule ng parents ko. How 'bout you? Going home to Korea?"
"Maybe. Kung gusto ni Lance." She shrugged. "One week nalang naman e. Two days nalang christmas party na. Ang bilis ng araw 'no?"
"Oo nga e." I smiled nang makita ko na kung sino ang nag aabang sa akin sa locker. I signalled him to wait for a few minutes dahil may itatanong pa ako kay Bommie.
"What about College? Any plans?"
"Lance wants me to study abroad. Siya naman kasi ang magpapa aral sa akin."
"Really? Ayos yan ah. So you'll take it? Saan naman?"
"Berkeley. If I get accepted that is. But my options are still open para dito sa Philippines. SAU is one of them."
"Mag t-take ako ng exam ngayong January. Gusto mo sumabay?"
"Okay, I'd like that."
"Sige, I gotta go na. I'll see you around Bommie!" Kinawayan ko na siya at naglakad palayo.
Vini was waiting for me by my locker, he's got his bored look on while casually leaning on my locker door so I shooed him away.
"So when's your flight?" I asked habang nilalagay ang mga libro ko.
"Friday night." He groaned. Alam kong ayaw niyang umalis pero wala naman siyang magagawa. They're going to spend Christmas in Brazil with the whole Delevinge Clan.
He really never cared kung saan naman sila pupunta but a a week or a few days before the flight, magsisimula na siyang mag reklamo. Ganyan 'yan e.
He's got the 'I don't care but I really do' attitude.
"So wala ka pala sa Christmas Party sa bar nina Rix sa Saturday?" I smirked.
"Don't remind me, please."
"What? Sinabi ko lang naman!" Tinawanan ko siya pero ang sama ng tingin sa akin. "Oh don't be such a sour puss. Brazil is awesome! Have you seen Brazilian Models?!"
"No hot guys for you while I'm away."
"Luh. KJ mo." I said with a pout. Yung mahaba talaga yung labi. I'm enjoying the conversation!
"And I wasn't referring to male models. Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima, dude. Brazilian bombshells!" I rolled my eyes at him.
He just banged his head on my locker door instead of answering.
The past few weeks went...suprisingly well than I expect it to be. Syempre babae parin naman ako, eventhough he promised no mushy words and stuff, nag expect parin ako but instead ang mga simple gestures niya ang mas lalo kong napansin. Iyong mga dati niyang ginagawa ay pinapagpatuloy niya lang and that really told me kung gaano niya ito sineseryoso.
Oh and I now know how possessive he can be, kahit yung words lang.
As I closed my locker, nahagip ko ang tingin ng isa kong classmate sa kabilang dulo kaya agad akong umirap.
"Alam mo ba kung gaano kalaking tulong sa akin yung pagiging mataray mo sa ibang tao?"
I chuckled at his randomness. "Bakit naman?"
He raised his brow at me. "Do you know how many guys I have to threaten para lang lubayan ka? Rix is with me on this. But to my surprise takot talaga sila sayo."
"And here I am thinking that everyone was scared of you guys kaya ayaw nilang lumapit."
"Some are but the others are actually intimidated by you. Ganda mo kasi e."
"Ay thank you! Compliment of tha day na naman!"
He never failed to tell me that. Everyday talaga. Yung spur of the moment na sasabihin niyang 'Ang ganda mo baby, bye.' tapos tatakbo na paalis. Akala niya naman hindi ko yon napapansin.
"Hola lovebirds!"
"Die, Jace." Vini immediately replied.
"Bring home a hot girl for me okay Master?" Jace winked at him instead.
"We're going home na, kayo?" Josh asked slapping his twin at the back of his head.
"Rix will be taking her home."
"Huh? Why?" Siya ang driver ko pag uwian. Si Rix naman ang pag pasok.
"May pupuntahan ako, but I'll see you later." Vini said before kissing my forehead.
Tinalikuran na niya ako so I just shrugged. Akala ko pa naman siya ang nag uuwi sa akin, mag papaalam lang pala kaya naghintay dito sa locker.
"You really grew dependent on him these past few weeks." Josh said smiling.
Napa 'tsk' naman si Jace at umiling. "That is not going to end well."
"Hindi naman e!"
Hindi naman talaga!
"Whatever you say Calliope Rain..." Jace sing-songed. "Tara na, hanapin na natin yung walang kwenta mong pinsan."
Someone bursted through my door at 9 in the evening, breaking my comfortable silence while listening to Ariana Grande's Yours Truly album while doing my homework.
"Wala akong pagkain dito, lumayas ka sa kwarto ko." I said without even glancing at him.
"Is that how you greet your dear cousin in this fine evening?"
"Whatever Rixon, I'm doing my homework kaya shooo!" I waved my hands before grabbing my pen again and continued writing my reflection for our English class.
"Who does homework at Wednesday night?" I heard him snort.
"Me?"
"C'mon baby! It's Wednesday! Two days nalang wala na tayong pasok kaya don't stress yourself over that! Pwede mo yang gawin bukas!"
"Hindi mo kasi alam ang hirap naming mga star section kaya wag kang ano dyan!"
Kahit na malapit na ang Christmas vacation ay may mga pinapagawa parin sa amin. Kung hindi ko gawin ang reflection na ito ay baka matambakan ako. I need to compile this by the end of the year as a project and requirement na rin to graduate. I know Logan is suffering the same dahil halos isang linggo iyon hindi gumawa ng reflection dahil may mga pinagkakaabalahan silang lima, now he's cramming to catch up.
"Can't you hear the festivities? Vacation is in the airrrrr!"
"I don't hear anything." I rolled my eyes, still writing. Nawawala ako sa focus dahil sa kumag na 'to.
A shadow suddenly loomed over me at pinatay ang lampshade ko.
"What the f---"
"I'm actually here dahil napag utusan ako, and you, my dear cousin, are coming with me." He snatched my pen away at and grabbed my shoulder para tumayo ako.
He pushed me to my walk in closet and yelled, "Wear something decent!"
Binuksan ko muli ang pinto at binato siya ng object na una kong nahawakan, and it happens to be a shoe.
"Ayoko umalis! Marami akong gagawin!"
Hinarangan niya ang pintuan ng walk in closet para hindi ako makalabas, damn stupid head.
"Ano ba kasiiii!" Pagmamaktol ko. Para kasi kaming nagpapatintero dito.
"Marami nga akong gagawin! Rix naman e! Sumbong kita kay Mommy!"
"May pupuntahan lang tayo, dali na!"
"Ayaw."
"Malalagot ako. Dali na kasi!"
"Mas malalagot ka sakin pag hindi ko natapos yung mga homework ko sinasabi ko sayo!" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Pakainin ko kaya 'to ng lahat ng gagamitin kong bond paper ngayon para matapos ang reflection?!
"And it's freakin 9 pm. Ano pa ba ang pupuntahan sa ganitong oras?!"
"Akala ko ba matalino ka? Ano pa ba ang pwedeng puntahan ng ganitong oras? With loud music and booze..."
Nakatikim siya ng sapak galing sa akin. "Walangya ka! Hindi ako sasama sa'yo! Ayoko mag bar!"
Napakamot naman siya ng ulo. "Inutusan nga kasi ako!"
"Sumunod ka naman? Langya ka."
"Dali na kasi!"
"Ayoko nga kasi!"
"Wala kamong patutunguhan tong usapan natin."
"Buti alam mo." Inirapan ko siya. "Alis dyan! May gagawin pa ako."
He sighed before making way. Dumiretso na ako sa study table at inayos ang nagulo kong gamit dahil sa kanya. Mas gugustuhin ko na kasing tapusin lahat ngayon, pwede naman e, kaysa habulin ko pa ang lahat ng 'to pag malapit na ulit ang pasuka.
I want a smooth sailing vacation without any worries, and what I am doing right now is going to be 'worry' kapag hindi ko pa ginawa.
Nagsimula na ulit akong mag sulat. Rix hasn't left the room, wala akong pakialam sa kanya basta wag niya akong pakialaman at maayos ang magiging ending ng gabi namin.
"She won't budge. Sabi ko kasi sa'yo dapat apat tayong nandito e." I heard him say. Probably talking to someone on the phone.
Yung umutos sa kanya? Kilala ko. Sino pa ba ang mahilig mang utos sa apat na alagad niya?
"Gago! Anong tali? Kidnappin ko?! Nabato na nga ako ng sapatos kanina gusto mo pang isako ko? Eh hindi nga ako makalapit ng hindi nasasaktan!"
I chuckled at that. Itali pa daw ang gusto. Tusukin ko sila ng ballpen.
I decided not to focus on him at nagpatuloy sa pagsusulat.
Moments later, I heard the door close. Nilayasan rin ako. Hallelujah.
Halos isang oras na ang naka lipas, I'm almost done at pagkatapos nito ay matutulog na ako. I'm already beat at ayoko munang mag puyat. Pwede ko namang gawin yon pag bakasyon na. Hello eye bags na naman.
Naisipan kong bumaba muna to get some water or food to munch on. Ang sakit na kamay ko, puro hand written kasi e. Iilang paragraph nalang naman e matatapos na yung pangatlong reflection ko.
"Ate! Asan na si Kuya Rix?" Tanong ni Megan following me in the kitchen.
"Kanina pa umalis." I opened the fridge to scan the food.
"Ibibigay ko nga yung pizza ko sa kanya e." She said bago tumalikod. Napa random talaga minsan nong kapatid ko.
Yogurt nalang ang pinili ko dahil ayoko namang mag heavy meal dahil pagkatapos ay matutulog rin ako. I grabbed a spoon and a bottle of water before heading back to my room but nang nasa staircase na ako, narinig ko ang mga boses ng mga taong ayaw kong makita ngayon.
"I'm not done with whatever I'm doing, bumalik nalang kayo pag tulog na ako." I rolled my eyes at nag lakad na muli.
"I'll do it for you." Logan offered, walking beside me.
"Nuh uh. I can do it on my own." Naka sunod silang apat sa akin hanggang sa makarating akong kwarto.
"Aren't you a bit tempted?" Tanong naman ni Josh, leaning on my study table.
"Tempted?"
"To party in..." his lips quirks up in a sadistic smirk. "Olympus."
"We're taking you to Olympus tonight, aren't you a wee bit interested?" Jace said grabbing onto my swivel chair.
Sinamaan ko naman ng tingin si Rix na naka upo sa kama, a safe distance away from me. Nakangiti ang loko dahil sa nagdala siya ng back up.
"I gave you time, siguro naman ay matatapos ka na dyan at pwede ka nang sumama." He said shrugging.
"Looks like you're a few paragraphs away from being done, kaya mo na 'yang gawin bukas." Logan said, scanning my paper.
"C'mon baby, go get your cute little butt in your closet and change clothes. Decent ones please." Josh slowly pulls me up and pushes me to my closet.
Tinignan ko naman ang sarili ko. I'm in my comfy clothes!
"Go change, Calliope. You'll be in your comfy clothes later." Logan rolled his eyes before closing my closet door.
I sighed before scanning the whole room. We're going to a party so I need party clothes but hell, I am not going to wear a dress.
"Walang nag rereklamo sa suot and everything will be fine." I pointed at the four of them bago ako tumungo sa vanity mirror to apply some powder and lip tint. I'm not in the mood to apply make up, besides it'll be dark sayang lang ang effort ko.
"All set?" Rix asked.
"Not yet," I narrowed my eyes at them. "It's either you take me home in 2 am or hindi talaga ako sasama."
"Yes Ma'am!" Jace gave me a mock salute before ushering me to the door.
"Don't worry baby, you'll be in our turf. Walang mangyayaring masama sa'yo." Logan winked before opening the car door for me.
The ride was silent and fast, wala kasing traffic at mabilis pang magpa takbo si Jace. I glanced at my phone to check the time, mag e-eleven na pala.
Sunod-sunod na silang nag labasan, we were in front of a famous and familiar building. I'm wondering why we're here, hindi namin kasi ito mukhang bar.
I yawned. Nararamdaman ko na ang antok, may pasok kanin at maaga pa akong gumising kaya natural lang na antukin na ako ng ganitong oras. It's my bedtime na tuwing weekdays. But their night escapade ruined it.
Pag ako talaga hindi natuwa dito, tutulugan ko sila.
But then, Olympus means they're letting me enter their world. The world that was off limits until tonight.
"Are you guys sure about this?" I found myself asking.
"Of course we are," Josh gaveme a weird look. "We wouldn't take you here if it wasn't safe."
"Am I going to meet ganster wannabes? Pag oo uuwi na ako."
Rix burst out laughing. "Gangster wannabes? Where'd you get that?"
"There will be no wannabes here, baby C. Trust me." Jace assured.
I stared at the tall building. I know this is one of the Delevinge family's business. Nagtataka lang ako kung bakit dito at kung saang lupalop na yung Olympus na tinutukoy nila. All I see is high class people entering the establishment.
Ihinagis ni Jace ang susi sa isang valet at pumasok na kami sa loob.
I trailed my eyes all over the place, trying to find something unusual pero wala naman. We fit in and that's good.
We piled in the elevator, kaming lima lang ang nasa loob. I checked myself in the glass walls, halata na sa mata ko ang antok.
"Where are we--"
Natigilan rin ako sa pagsasalita when Logan opened a secret compartment, behind that was a glowing button with a lightning symbol on it. Pinindot niya iyon and the elevator went down.
"A lightning bolt? Seriously?" I raised my brow at them.
"Only Black Blade members can use this elevator." Josh informed with a smirk.
"And Olympus' door has a password. Only a true gang member will know kung ano. Each gang has a different password to enter Olympus." Dagdag pa ni Logan.
"Wait. There are other gangs here?" I asked in shock. "I thought you guys get involve in that so called 'gang wars'" Nilagyan ko talaga ng air quotation yung 'gang wars'.
"Yep, we're acquianted with others naman. There are resident gangs in big Universities and High Schools that hang out here."
"So Bridgeway's resident gang is Black Blade?" I guessed. I can't believe we're talking about gang stuff.
Josh nodded. "Each gang has a differrent password to enter the pub."
"And Black Blade's password is..."
"You'll know when we get there." He winked at me at sakto namang bumukas ang elevator doors. I expected to be greeter by loud music and the smell of booze but instead naka harap kami sa isang malaking pinto na mukhang high tech dahil techy keypad roon sa gilid.
"Here in Olympus, we address everyone in code names. It's a gang rule, ganon rin sa gang house and fights but in the outside we go by our names." Rix informed as we walk to the door.
Si Logan ang lumapit roon sa keypad thingy and he presses his thumb on a blank pad sabay nag light naman yung screen na nasa wall. It said 'password'.
Logan typed the letters H-E-R-A.
"Hera?" I snorted. "Black Blade's password is Hera? You guys really took greek mythology seriously."
Logan just smirked at my comment as the door slowly opens.
I heald my breath.
Ito na yung inasahan ko. Strobe lights, loud music, loud chatter, people dancing and dry humping each other, and booze. Lots and lots of booze.
Natulala ako. This place is awfully big.
"Once you step beyond that line, you'll have a different name. A codename." Josh nudged me and points at the neon line na iilang dipa lang ang layo sa kinatatayuan namin ngayon.
"A codename? Do I get to pick my codename?"
Rix laughed. "You already have a codename. You're a Black Blade remember?"
"I do? Ano naman? Please tell me it's not something stupid."
"It's not." Jace chuckled.
"Then what is it?"
A hand suddenly snaked through my waist and pulled me close to a warm body. I immediately smelled the comforting smell na nakasanayan ko nang amuyin at nakabisado na rin.
Nahagip ko pa ang ngisi ni Logan bago sila maglakad palayo.
I felt his breath on my ear while his fingers drew invisible circles on my hips, dahil sa manipis lang ang suot ko ramdam na ramdam ko iyon.
It gave me chills.
I bit my lip as his lips moved against my ear.
"Welcome to Olympus," he whispered. "Welcome to my world, Hera."
L;U