SYDNEY's POV
One of the scariest things in life is to taste death. I almost died. There's a huge chance that I must've been dead right now.
"Meg, si Haven?" Bigla kong naalala si Haven. "Meg, she was with me. Did she brought me here?"
Biglang nagbago ang itsura ni Megan. Aliyah and Kiara were at the table, slicing fruits.
"Uhm, Sydney. Hindi ka nya dinala dito." Sagot ni Kiara. "Huwag mo muna siyang isipin."
Napatingin si Megan saknya na may halong curiousity sa kanyang mukha. "Who brought her here then?" Megan asked
Aliyah and Kiara glanced at each other for a moment. "Megan, gusto mo ba ng strawberries? May nutella din dito. Hindi ba ito yung favorite natin noong rookies palang tayo?"
MEGAN's POV
I would be so mad pag may nagkakagusto kay Sydney na iba o pumoporma. Syempre, I want to be the only person to admire. Sometimes, I am proud... sometimes, possessive. Of course, it can be a competition between Haven and I. I know there's a huge chance that Sydney was almost in love or couldve been in love with her in the past.
Haven is attractive. And even if I hate her, I know she has a beautiful heart. I started to feel bad for hating her right now. Partly, I feel thankful that she was looking after Sydney when I was not around. She had the right to flirt at her anyway, iniwan ko si Sydney noon.
Partly, I feel thankful and guilty that it was her who had the critical shot from the gunman. It could've been me if I was there and I am wishing that it should've been me kasi in the first place.. ako ang dahilan ng mga pangyayaring ito.
I sat near Haven's hospital bed. I wasn't looking at her for a few minutes. Napahilamos ako ng mukha sa kaba, guilt at galit.
"Is she okay, Meg?" Haven asked
I feel bad... I feel bad that she can still be nice to me. After all the bullshit I've had.
"She is okay, Haven. How are you?"
"I'm grand." She answered.
Awkward silence.
"Delafuente, I was mad at you for leaving her almost a year ago. But if I were you? I could've done the same thing." She said
"Thank you. Thank you at naiintindihan mo." I nodded
"Come what may, Megan. I know you're dangerous for her but come what may... dont leave her again. I am willing to participate with you. I am willing to get rid of Janine in the picture." She mumbled
"I really appreciate that, Haven. Pero this is more than enough. You saved her. This is too much."
"Come on, Meg. Baka iniisip mo, I am still trying to win her heart. Just so you know, I am dating your dear friend Chloe. Come on, ibaba mo naman pride mo and have me as a friend." She chuckled
I wasnt that suprised. "That's... amazing. That explains why i've been seeing her car at the parking lot."
"Yea. She was here awhile ago. Umalis na sya, ayaw ka yata makita. Bitter pa din eh."
I just chuckled. "I am very thankful. Thankful that you have catched the bullet for her. I couldve done the same thing if I was there. I am sorry, I wasn't there. I am sorry, it has to be you. If I were there, I would save your ass too."
"You're welcome. I am sure, pag si Sydney ang nakasalo... mas delikado na ang location ng shot. I know, you will do the same thing Meg. The thing is, you could end up dead. I know, hndi mo hahayaan na makuha ni Sydney ang lahat ng bullets. I know you won't share the chance. You love her that much, alam ko yun."
I nodded. "You're a good person, Haven. I am glad you've been part of her life... and I know you always will."
SYDNEY's POV
One week na akong nakauwi...
One week na din na andito si mommy. Walang nakaka alam na nabaril kami ni Haven. Patuloy nilang hinahanap ang gunman at ang utak ng lahat ng 'to. I am sure alam ni Megan kung sino. Nagkaroon ako ng kutob na may kinalaman pa kay Janine to kaso hndi naman sguro maganda kung mag aakusa agad ako.
And when I got back to school, Megan was there to pick me up and walk me to my classes. Mas lalong naging protective si Megan, kulang nalang at magsuot ako ng bullet proof vest.
"Pag may problema, message mo ako." Bilin nya. "Your instructor is my friend, she will keep an eye on you. Madaldal ka daw sa class. Umayos ka and be alert, Sydney."
"Kaloka ka ha! Pati yung behavior ko, chinecheck? Alis ka na! Chu! Chu!" Pag tutulak ko sakniya.
After my last class, binilin ni Megan sa akin na hintayin ko ulit siya dahil ihahatid nya ako pauwi. 10 minutes ng tapos ang class ko at wala pa siya.
"San na kaya yun? Ay naku, puntahan ko na nga!" Ako nalang ang natitira dito kaya nag decide akong lumabas na. Hinanap ko sya sa faculty room ng department nya. Pinapasok naman ako ng isang instructor. Nakita ko sya sa corner, katabi yung isang accountancy teacher na si Miss Lopez. Taliah Lopez. Sobrang dikit ang seats nila at parang may iniinstruct si Megan sa isang papel sa table nya. Maya maya ay tumayo si Miss Lopez at hinalikan si Meg sa cheek. Syempre, selos naman ako ng konti pero okay lang. Katrabaho nya. Baka may pinagtutulungan lang silang gawin.
Kinalabit ni Sir Bobby si Meg at napalingon sa akin si Megan. Nasurprise ang idol nyo, mga beks! Surprised hindi dahil sa masaya sya!
"Sydney! I told you! I told you to wait for me."
"Megan, ang tagal mo eh!" Pagmamaktol ko
"Syd, ang aga pa oh. Maaga ba kayo nadismissed? Bakit di ka nagmessage?"
"Dami mong tanong. Iuwi mo nalang ako sa pad mo. Kain tayo. Sige naaaa!"
Napakamot ng ulo si Megan. Bumalik sya sa table nya para kunin ang mga gamit nya saka nya ako dinala sa parking lot. She was holding me like a prescious gem. Dati, kamay ko lang ang hawak nya. Hila ng hila eh! Ngayon mga beks, arm ko na! Haha kaloka!!
"Sydney, this will be the last time na gagawin mo 'to ha? Kinausap ka na ba ng mommy mo---"
"Meeeeg! Pati ba naman ikaw?! Ayoko! Ayoko matransfer sa ibang school!!!"
"Sydney, love... Listen." Megan held my face between her hands. "You need... to leave the school. For security reasons. Okay? Kung gusto mo, babalik ka dito once na maayos ang kaso laban kay Janine."
"Meg, malayo kay Ian at Nika? Malayo sayo... malayo don sa cafeteria na may pepsi. Malayo sa pepsi serye natin! Malayo kila Aliyah."
"Siraulong bata, mga isang kilometro lang layo mo." She rolled her eyes
"Noooo!! Megan! I said NOOO!"
"Fine!! Damn it!!" Megan groaned
Pumasok kami sa kotse nya at bago pa ako magsimula sa pagdadaldal ay inabutan nya ako ng bags ng chichirya para makanguya nalang ang girlfriend nya. Haha!
"Meg, bakit... bakit parang bago tong windshield mo."
"Uh, pinapalitan ko. Bullet proof." She mumbled habang busy sa phone
"Taraaayyy. Try kong basagin?"
She just glanced at me and gave me that sarcastic look.
"Hello, Holland? Paki contact naman yung president ng security department. Gusto ko ng meeting. I need you to be there too. Leave a message, ok? Babye. Regards to your wife."
"Tarayyyyy. Meeting. Meeting. Sama ako? Don lang ako sa corner. Sge na, Meg. Gusto kita panuorin mag set ng meeting." Sabi ko
"Nakaka... nakaka baliw ka, Sydney. Pwede bang... manahimik ka? Sobrang daldal mo today! I mean, EVERYDAY!"
So nanahimik ako. 17 minutes later...
"Oh? Bakit ang tahimik mo?"
"Akala ko ba, madaldal ako? Yung totoo, Meg?! Sinong siraulo?"
Tinatamad ko ng ikwento kung paano nanaman kami nag away. Kalurkey, bes. Osha, ayon. Isinama nya ako sa meeting niya. Andoon kami sa conference room pero nasa labas ako, sumisilip silip lang.
May maliit na office dito, room ni Holland na ibinigay ng daddy nila. Nakalapag lang sa may lamesa ang mga gamit ni Megan. Nacucurious ako kung paano sya gumagawa ng mga lesson plans kaya may binuklat akong isa. Aba, may stick note mga beks!!
"Dinner tomorrow? -Taliah"
Bigla akong napahawak sa bewang ko. Nakow! Megan, nag papa landi ka nanaman ba?! Nakow, etong babaeng to! Tatanggalan ko to ng mukha!!!
Sabi na eh! Sobrang dikit kanina yung bruhang yon eh!
"Ano tong sticky note na 'to?!" Agaran kong tanong pagkarating nya
"Para kang ewan, pagod yung tao... nanggugulat pa eh." She rolled her eyes. "Come, we're going home."
Sinundan ko si Megan at sumusunod naman sakin ay isang lalaking naka black button up shirt.
Sinundan kami nung lalaki. Hindi ako mapakali kaya tumigil ako sa paglalakad. "Ah, kuya? May... may kailangan ka ba? Pansin ko kasi kanina ka pa nakasunod. He he he."
"Sydney, this is Aris. He is your personal body guard. Tara na."
"Hindi kita tinatanong! Babaeng, may date date pukinginang dinner date dyan sa Taliah na yan!" Inirapan ko sya sabay dabog.
"Watch your foul mouth, Laurel!"
Hindi ako nagparamdam sakaniya nong gabi. Buset! Nagpapalandi nanaman yun eh! Kinaumagahan ay sinundo ako nung Aris. Nakakaloka! Hummer pa sasakyan nitong body guard na to?! Tarayyy!
"Aris, ilang taon ka na?" Tanong ko habang kumakain ng pandesal sa passenger seat niya.
"Uhm, 25."
"I see. Tanda mo na pala. Friends kayo ni Megan?"
"Ah, oo. Mac and I are good friends. Niligawan ko dati yun."
Dahan dahan akong tumingin sakaniya. "Eh ngayon, may balak ka pang manligaw?"
Aris laughed. "Wala na. Relax ka lang. Kahit pa, napa oo lang ako dun. For a month lang naman ako dito habang di pa ayos ang kaso mo."
"Ganern? San ka nagwowork dati?"
"Whitehouse." He glanced at me. Tarayyyy.
"Wow! Ano, nag leave ka?"
"Nag resign ako. Lilipat ako sa UK. Naka assign ako ngayon doon."
"Taray, sa royal family noh?"
Naputol ang chikahan namin ni Aris dahil dumating na ako sa school. Ihinatid nya ako sa class ko. "Aris, san pala yung boss mong liligawan mo sana?"
"Ah, kasama nya si Liah. May pinuntahan sila saglit. Mag memessage daw siya sayo. See you later. Msg ka pag maaga ang dismissal nyo ha? Wag kang lalabas bigla bigla" then he took my phone and registered his number.
Hindi ako makapag focus sa classes. Nabubulabog ako! Hindi ba sya mag papaalam sa akin?! Putek lang ha!
Nagpakita si Megan kinabukasan. Nagpakita sya na may dalang isang box ng ferrero.
"Hindi mo ako madadaan sa ganiyan!" Inirapan ko sya. Nilagpasan ko sya tsaka ako pumasok sa kotse nya. Sumunod sya.
"Sorry na. May importante lang na ginawa."
"Importanteng ginawa?! Hoy, Delafuente. Inistalk ko yang profile ng Liah mo! Nakita ko recent post niya! Nasa Crawfordsville pa pala kayo noh? 3 hours away! Nakakaloka! Umakyat pa kayo ng bundok! Ganern?!"
Megan sighed.
"Megan, wag mong subukan mag sungit sa akin today! Una, may period ako! Pangalawa, masakit ang tiyan ko! Pangatlo, ikaw na nga tong nakakabwiset tapos ikaw pa tong magsusunget?! Don't me!"
"I am sorry. May importante lang kaming ginawa. Nagseselos ka ba? Sydney, may boyfriend si Liah. May girlfriend ako. She's straight and I dont intend to cheat. Kailan ba ako nag cheat?"
"Ewan ko sayo! Amina nga yang ferrero na yan at mainit ang ulo ko!"
"Tsk. Ewan ko sa'yo." I tried to ignore her.
May duty ako mamaya sa panibagong hospital. Ineexpect ko na ihahatid ako ni Megan. Bakit ko ba ni-raise ang hopes ko? Naalala ko, may dinner date pala sila nung Liah. Ha. Ha. Ha.
Break time ko, masyadong stressful. Buti nalang at sa children's ward ako naka assigned. Magkasama kami ni Jom, isa sa mga kaklase kong nakasama so duty.
"Di ka ba kakain, Sid? May sandwich pa ako dito." Sabi niya
"Ah, okay lang ako." I smiled
May babaeng naupo sa tabi namin. "Grabe, sakit ng ulo ko sa delivery room." Someone mumbled next to me
"Haha! Ikain mo nalang yan, Beatrice! Oh, sandwich." Sabi ni Jom.
"Sure ka, ate Jom?" The girl smiled habang naglalagay ng gamit sa backpack niya. Ang ganda niya, huh? She's not that tall. She's not a supermodel kind of beautiful pero mapapatingin ka sa sobrang pagka simple. No make up, simple hair and perfect smile. Not a Megan face... simpleng ordinaryong taong mukha lang pero maganda.
"Oo, sige na. Take it." Jom nodded
Tahimik kami for a few minutes. "Uy, ate Jom. Thank you dito."
Pagkatapos nyang ubusin. "Oh, Ate Jom. Ubos ko na, bawi ako bukas. Haha!"
"Wag na. Kaloka ka ha! Actually, kay Sydney sana yan kaso di sya gutom eh." Sabi ni Jom
"Naku, okay lang. Ito talaga si Jom eh." Sabi ko.
"Hi, Sydney. Bakit di ka kumain?" She's talking to me right now
"Ah, eh... wala kasi akong gana."
"Okay lang ba, nakain ko yung sandwich eh." Mukhang laging masaya tong taong to ah.
"Okay lang." I smiled.
After my shift... asa naman akong susunduin ako ni Megan noh? Ha. Ha. Ha.