Uno's Point of View:
I was about to call Gabriella that I am home when I realized that I don't have my phone with me. Maybe, I left it accidentally in the condo. I retrieved my path, calmly taking the staircase. Mas mabuti naring naiwan ko 'yon. That only means, I can see my angel again. That woman's driving me crazy. A minute without seeing her makes me miss her like hell.
"Hoy kuya Tres, kanina pa maingay ang phone mo." Six shouted at Tres who's playing video game in the sala with Dos. Nasa sulok lang si Six nakadapa sa floor cushion habang ginagamit ang nagcha-charge niyang phone.
"Sagutin mo, Six!"
"Wala na. Hindi na tumawag ulit!"
"Uno? Want to join?" Yaya ni Dos nang makita niya akong bumaba.
"I need to go back to the condo. I think I left my phone—"
"Ah. Kaya siguro tumawag si ate Gab." Six muttered, making my heartbeats pound than normal.
"Si Gabriella ang tumatawag kay Tres?"
They all stopped their game as I walked towards Six. I grabbed the phone on the table and opened it quickly. Damn it.
"Tres, password?"
"818570, last digits ng number ni Maddy."
My heart paced so fast when I saw that Gabriella left Tres a message.
From: Sister-Dear
Tres, I'm so sorry kung inaabala kita. I just really need your help. Papunta ako ngayon sa bahay ni Carter. Nando'n kasi si Sydney baka kung ano ang mangyari sa kanya. Your brother left his phone kaya hindi niya ako nasamahan. Please, pumunta ka as soon as you read this.
Because of panic, I realized late that my brothers came in the car with me. All I have in mind earlier is to be at the jerk's place as soon as I can. Hindi ko maintindihan ang takot na nararamdaman ko.
"Kuya Uno, slow down. We're going too fast!" Seven complained.
"Bro, Seven's right." Sang-ayon naman ni Tres.
"Relax Kuya. Nothing will happen to ate Gabbi. I will kill Andrews myself if he dares to touch her." Six interjected.
I ignored them and just focused on driving as fast as we can. Dos came out from his car with Four and Five just as we alighted from mine.
"I will find Madellaine." Tres said before we got in. "Dos, keep an eye on Seven and Six. Baka mapaaway pa 'yan dito."
Even though I kept telling myself that Gabriella is fine, I still cannot control myself feeling this trepidity. Kapag may nangyari sa kanya, hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko. While my brothers tried to get information from the people in the party, I decided to just find her myself. I cannot stand there for another second doing nothing. I checked all the rooms. There was one that's locked. My heart beat triple times faster because my gut-feeling says she's in that room. I kicked the door as hard as I can.
"Stop banging the door, morons!" That's Carter's voice! Dahil do'n, paulit-ulit ko pang sinipa at sinuntok ang pinto. Eventually, Carter just opened it. As soon as I saw his face, I lost all control. All I want to do was break his face. Gusto niyang magsalita pero hindi ko siya binigyan ng pagkakataon.
"Ate Gabbi!"
If I didn't hear Seven's voice, I would have killed the jerk. I stood up to see my precious angel. She's lying on the bed... unconscious.
"What did you do to her, Andrews? I swear, I will kill you if I find out that you touch her! I warned you, Andrews. I warned you not to touch her!"
I carried Gabriella out of the room while my brothers followed me.
"Kuya, let's just take her to the hospital." Seven panicked. I did as he suggested. Mabilis na nakarating kami ng hospital. We were about to get her out of the car when Gabriella called out my name. Nang marinig ko ang malambing niyang boses, napaiyak akong niyayakap siya.
"Baby, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I swear, I will kill that jerk."
"Shh... Love, I'm okay." She whispered as she reached for my cheek to wipe my tears. "I'm okay, Uno. Si Sydney? Kailangan natin siyang kunin sa bahay na 'yon—"
"Ate Gab, nando'n parin sina kuya Tres. They're looking for her." Six answered.
"Gabriella, what did he do? Did he hurt you? Baby, tell me."
She shook her head. She even tried to smile but I have a feeling that she just did it to stop me from worrying. How can I? I know I am a jerk but she shouldn't even be a part of this! Hindi siya ang dapat na magbayad sa kagaguhan ko noon!
"Gab, please... Baby, tell me. Did he hurt you? What did he do, Gabriella?"
"Stop crying, love. Wala... wala siyang ginawa."
My heart stopped beating for a moment. I can feel a million daggers piercing it. It hurt so bad. Why is she defending that jerk?
"How are you feeling?" I asked instead. "Are you really sure you're okay? We can get you in. We're at the hospital."
"I'm okay." Pag-uulit niya. "Umuwi nalang tayo please?" Umupo siya ng maayos. Niluwagan pa nga niya ang seatbelt. I can't stop worrying while I watched her. Her eyes still looked dozy like as if she was drugged. Isn't that why she's unconscious?
I gave Six my car keys when we arrived at the condo. Pinauwi ko na silang dalawa ni Seven.
"Gabriella, are you sure you're okay? Baka may nararamdaman ka. Okay lang na mag-alala ako Gab. Please just tell me."
"Uno, okay nga lang ako." She insisted with the same old line. "Maniwala ka, walang ginawa si Carter sa'kin."
I can feel the warm liquid spurting from my eyes. Galit na galit ako nang marinig na pinagtatanggol niya ang gago pero ayokong ibunton ang galit sa kanya. Kaya sinuntok ko nalang ang pader ng kwarto. I was hoping that maybe if I can feel the pain on my hand, I will no longer feel my heart breaking.
"Uno, ano'ng ginagawa mo?! Tama na, ano ba?" Gabriella tried to stop me by pulling me away from the wall. But her strength's just not enough to move me. However, I stopped throwing punches on the wall and faced her.
"Gabriella, why? Why!!!?" I cried out. I screamed out in anger and punched the wall for one last time before facing her again. "Why Gab? Bakit mo pinagtatakpan ang gago na 'yon? Gabriella, nasasaktan ako! Nasasaktan ako na ginagago ka nila pero hindi mo ako hinahayaang protektahan kita!"
"Hindi ka naniniwala sa'kin?" Tanong niyang lumuluha na rin. "Sa tingin mo talaga lahat ng lalaki kasing gago mo noon? Hindi mo ba naisip that maybe Carter turned out to be not a monster as you once were! Uno, okay nga lang ako! Okay ako! Bakit ayaw mong maniwala?"
"I just don't..." I shook my head as I stared at her. Her face is really so angelic. It breaks me every time I see it stained with tears. "You know what. You're right. Gabriella, you don't deserve this kind of life. You don't deserve a jerk like me." I just retreated and headed towards the doorway.
"Ano 'yon Uno? Ano 'yon? Gano'n lang? Iiwan mo 'ko?" Her voice trailed off. When I looked back, she's already crying on her knees. "Tapos na? So tama nga ako? All of this is part of that game! You still won! You got the last virgin, so it's time to leave her. Gano'n naman 'yong laro na 'yon diba? Iiwan mo pagkatapos mong makuha ang gusto mo?"
"Gab, hindi..."
"Layuan mo 'ko! 'Wag mo akong hawakan!" I can hear her tiny sobs while she packed her things. When I can no longer watch her crying, I ran to her. She protested when I wrapped my arms around her. "Bitiwan mo 'ko Uno! Bitiwan mo 'ko!"
"Gabriella, stop your false assumptions okay? It's all a coincidence. That night has nothing to do with this stupid game! But maybe... maybe you came and that night happened because this game has to end. Gab, I've changed myself years ago. Tanungin mo si mommy! Sina tita! Ang mga kapatid ko! Ask them if they've seen me with anyone after I left the academy! I isolated myself from women Gab. I did... I tried the best that I can. It was just... that night... when I saw you again, I just can't help it."
The room was filled with our sniffs and sobs, with our hearts silently breaking like glass falling on the surface. Gusto kong marinig ang boses ng babaeng mahal ko, ang pagtawa niya. But here she is, inside my own arms, crying like it's the end of the world.
"Gabriella, I have made a mistake. I know that. But I'm trying... I'm trying to be the kind of man that you deserve because Gab... I am in love with you. I love you."
"Pero bakit mo 'ko iiwan kung mahal mo 'ko? Hindi ba sapat 'yon Uno?"
"I was just scared. Nang makita kasi kitang nasasaktan, pakiramdam ko ako ang dahilan. When you said that Carter wasn't as jerk as me, it hit me Gabriella. Napaisip akong tama ka. Hindi gago na gaya ko ang lalaking para sa'yo. I just want you to stop feeling the pain so—"
"So you decided to just leave? Sabi ko naman sa'yo Uno diba? Okay lang na masaktan ako. Okay lang ba basta nandiyan ka. Mahal na mahal kita, Uno." She uttered, melting my heart inside my chest. God. It felt so good to hear it from her. Gabriella turned around to face me. "Wag mo 'kong iwan. Uno, don't leave me. So what if you're a jerk? Hindi naman nagbago ang pagmamahal ko sa'yo."
"Gabriella, you are so precious to me. Ayaw ko lang masaktan ka." I wiped her tears with my hands. "These tears were not supposed to stain the most beautiful face among all the angels. Kaya kong titiisin ang sakit Gab, 'wag ka lang masaktan. Kaya kung ako ang dahilan kung bakit ka umiiyak, kung ako ang dahilan na nasisira ang buhay mo, kahit masakit, lalayo ako."
"But I need you. Kailangan kita. Kasi Uno, kapag nawala ka, matatapos na din lahat. Kasi nga diba?" She smiled a sad smile. "You're my only one. Wala ng susunod. Ikaw ang una at huli. Ikaw at ikaw lang ang gugustohin ko, Uno. Ikaw lang ang pipiliin ko. Kaya kahit na masaktan ako, kahit ikaw pa ang dahilan, 'wag na 'wag mo akong iiwan."
Tumango ako saka siya niyakap ng mahigpit.
"Mahal na mahal kita Gabriella. Mahal na mahal kita. I'm sorry if I am jerk."
In the next hour, Gabriella and I are on the bed. Nakahiga siya sa dibdib ko habang yakap namin ang isa't isa.
"What happened, Gab? Bakit ka nawalan ng malay?"
"Claustrophobia... at panic attack." Sagot niyang nagpatango sa'kin. "Takot na takot Uno. Akala ko talaga, katapusan na ng lahat. And when he saw me catching my breath, he knelt down and whispered his sorry's. Iyon lang ang natatandaan ko dahil nawalan na ako ng malay."
Kumirot ang puso ko sa kwento niya. She's right. Kung may gago man dito, ako lang 'yon. Ako lang...
"Did you hurt him, Uno?" Tanong ni Gab na nagpatahimik sa'kin. Lumungkot ang mga mata niya nang tingnan niya ako. She saw the answers in my eyes probably.
"I am a jerk. I am a demon, Gabriella." Humigpit ang pagyakap niya sa'kin. "Are demons and angels allowed to be together, Gab?"
"You are not a demon, Uno. You're just like everyone else. We all do stupid things. Lahat tayo nagkakamali kaya 'wag mo ulit itanong sa'kin 'yan... na para bang bibitiwan mo na ako."
"Gab—"
"Shh. Kung talagang darating ang araw na aalis ka, sabihin mo lang sa'kin." Tumawa siya ng pagak. Tears welled on the corner of her eyes. "Sabihin mo lang sa'kin kasi pipigilan naman kita. Yayakapin kita at hinding-hindi kita bibitiwan."
I was about to answer her but she pressed her finger on my lips.
"Pero sana, hindi darating 'yon. Dahil kapag umalis ka Uno, baka wala ka ng babalikan kung sakaling magbago ang isip mo. Break my heart in all ways that you know, just don't break it by leaving me."