Update update pa rin kahit malungkot. hohoho! My submitted manuscript was rejected. Hindi ito, ha? Pero sabi nga, move on. Aja lang! 21 Guns by Greenday for this chapter's soundtrack.
***Dawn's POV***
The weekend passed by slowly. News about Mr. Julio and Vargas' deaths spread like virus. The entire Monte Carlo High mourned for a lost teacher and student. The details of their deaths were not given out dahil hawak pa rin ng mga pulis ang kaso. Pero para sa amin, para sa mga nakaka-alam ng mga nangyari, it was one night in our lives na hindi namin malilimutan. Lalo na ako. It was the night when my life was extended. Andito pa ako ngayon dahil sa kanya, dahil kay Sebastian Vargas.
A day after Prom, Inspector Gia Chan came back to check on every detail of the case. She gathered everyone who were involved and got the statements that she needed. She came back to check on me. Rachel and the others freaked out nang malaman nilang nawawala ako. She said they tried to look for me, but I was nowhere to be found.
We learned that it was Vargas who only knew where I was. Nakita niya yung clutch bag ko sa tapat ng SC Room at dun niya biglang pinasok ang kwarto at nangyari na ang hindi dapat nangyari. Kung naging maayos lang ang plano namin, wala sanang ganun, wala sanang namatay. At ang ikinagalit ko pa, eh si Pineda pala ang tumawag sa kanya para humingi ng tulong sa paghanap sa akin!
"Dawn! Oh, my God!! Napasigaw si Rachel nang bigla kong sapakin si Pineda. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko. Bakit ko ba sinisisi ang sarili ko, eh ito pala ang may kasalanan?!
"Tandaan mo 'to, Pineda! Sagad sa buto ang sama ng loob ko sa 'yo! Andito pa sana siya kung hindi dahil sa 'yo, hayop ka!" Nakayakap na sa akin si Rachel and Miss SC President stood between me and Pineda.
"Dawn, Dawn, please, tama na." Pag-awat sa akin ni Rachel. Muling tumulo ang mga luha ko, hindi dahil sa nalulungkot ako, kundi dahil sa matinding galit. Things could've changed.
"Dawn, I'm really sorry... Hindi ko gustong mapahamak si Baste, believe me! I just asked him for help and--"
Itinaas ko ang kamay ko to cut him off. "Save your bullshit, Pineda! Kahit ano pa'ng sabihin mo, hindi mo na maibabalik si Vargas!" He was trying to regain composure at hawak-hawak niya ang kaliwang pisngi niya.
"Ayoko munang makita ang pagmumukha mo, baka ano pa magawa ko sa 'yo." Kumawala ako kay Rachel at mabilis na lumabas ng bakanteng Admin Office kung saan kami tinipon ni Inspector Chan. I saw concern on all their faces, pero siyempre, I assured them that I was okay. Bumaba ako ng Admin Building at agad tumungo sa Cafeteria para kumain.
Dumaan muna ako sa SC Room bago mag-start ang klase, isinara muna ito matapos ang imbestigasyon at pagkalinis nito. Outside the room, leaning against the wall, were two framed photos and they were a meter apart. Mabuti, kasi ayokong makita ang mukha ng demonyong iyon tuwing pupunta ako dito. Maraming bulaklak sa paligid at may tag-isang kandila din na nakasindi sa tapat ng mga larawan. Ginawa nila itong parang memorial nilang dalawa since we're not allowed to go out at pumunta sa totoong lamay.
A mass was held here yesterday at nagpalipad kami ng white balloons for the departed. During the eulogy, a couple of teachers spoke in memory of Mr. Julio, na hindi ko binigyan ng pansin kasi wala siyang kwenta para sa akin kahit na anong mgagandang bagay pa ang sinabi nila about him. Castillo was the first one to speak for Vargas, and he somehow made the mood light because he shared some of their funny moments bilang mga school bullies, but in the end, he told us that Vargas was the best person he's ever known at isa siyang tunay na kaibigan.
I stood at the podium for a few seconds bago ako nakapagsalita. Hindi ko talaga alam kung anong sasabihin ko, dahil hindi naman kami ganun ka-close nung nabubuhay pa siya. "Vargas and I, we shared nothing but punches and kicks. I can't share anything good or funny to you kasi wala talaga. The only day that we were able to talk, eh nung tinulungan niya akong maglinis ng Gym nung nabigyan ako ng sanction. At yung sumunod na dun eh nung JS Prom. I never thought na yun na pala yung huli." I inhaled deeply and tried to fight the tears that formed in my eyes. "He saved me. Nakatayo ako dito sa harapan niyo ng dahil sa kanya. He's the bravest, boldest and the most stupid person that I've known." Tumahimik ang lahat sa sinabi ko. "Why save someone like me? We're not even close. But he still did. And for that, I would like to tell all of you that Sebastian Vargas is a hero." Tears fell and I couldn't help it. "He's my hero."
I knelt in front of Vargas' photo and offered a silent prayer. Baste, salamat. Andito ako ngayon, humihinga pa rin dahil sa 'yo. Galit ako sa sarili ko, galit ako kay Sir Julio, galit ako kay Pineda, pero alam kong walang kahit sino ang may gusto ng nangyari. I'm so sorry... Sorry kung wala akong nagawa para iligtas ka. Sana... Sana mapatawad mo ako, Baste. I had my eyes closed and I suddenly felt cold wind blew at pagdilat ko, namatay ang sindi ng kandila. What's strange was, paglingon ko sa kabilang kandila, nakasindi pa rin ito at patuloy ang pag-liwanag. I picked up the matchbox beside the candle holder at sinindihan muli ang kandila. "Salamat, Baste."
I ordered something light from the Cafeteria para madali akong matapos. I only had less than thirty minutes to spare bago ang sunod na klase. I ate alone at iniinom ko na lang ang tubig ko nang marinig ko ang isang estudyante na kakapasok lang ang nagsabi sa isang kaibigan nito sa katabing table ko, "Pare, naka-post na yung Top of Class Rankings!" They got up excitingly at lumabas ng Cafeteria. Kaya pala konti lang ang tao dito, siguro nasa labas na sila lahat at tumitingin na sa Bulletin Board. I decided to go there and check the results.
Manipis na lang ang bilang ng mga estudyante na nakatayo sa tapat ng Bulletin Board sa entrance ng Main Building dahil malapit na mag-bell. I was able to squeeze in easily at agad kong tinignan ang isang mahabang papel na may nakasulat na 'Top Of Class 2014' sa heading. Hindi ko alam kung anong magiging reaksyon ko sa nakita kong pangalan sa rank number 1.
***Red's POV***
Athena Villanueva. Napapikit ako at napayuko na lang. Malas!
"Uy, number 3!" Dumilat ako at nilingon ang babaeng nagsalita sa tabi ko. It was Minerva Villanueva, ang kakambal ni Athena. I looked up the list and indeed, she's on number 3, right under my name on rank number 2. Number 2 lang ako. Bumuntong-hininga ako at akmang aalis na nang marinig ko muli siyang magsalita. "Ikaw si Raphael Eduardo Domingo, di ba?"
"Oo, ako nga."
"Congrats!" She was genuinely happy for me that I couldn't hate her in behalf of her sister.
"Thank you. Congrats din." I bid her goodbye at umakyat na ako ng Main Building kasabay ng pagtunog ng second bell. Pumasok na ako sa Science Class namin at agad natuon ang tingin ko sa kaklase kong nakaupo sa dulong upuan sa likod. Naka-palumbaba na naman siya habang nakatingin sa labas ng bintana. Ano na naman kayang iniisip niya?
We never spoke after that JS Prom night. Umulan nun at agad kaming tumakbo palabas ng Restricted Garden at pumunta sa Gym. She decided to go back to the Dorm dahil masama na daw ang pakiramdam niya at kailangan niya nang uminom ng gamot para sa sakit ng ulo niya. Sinubukan ko siyang pigilan dahil sa sama ng panahon, pero dahil sa matigas ang ulo niya, wala din akong nagawa. And things got awkward after that.
Hindi ko din alam kung anong nangyari nung gabing iyon. She was so sad, so depressed about what happened. She needed comfort and I guess I got carried away with her drama. Hindi ako naging malambot sa kahit na sino. I cared for people, pero hindi ako mahilig mag-express through words. I've been labelled 'serious' and 'nerdy' by many, pero okay lang. I wanted a peaceful life and all I cared about was studying. Pero hindi yun ang nangyari nung gabing iyon.
I danced with Dawn Dominguez-- the fierce, tough and strong Dawn. It was my first dance and I never, ever imagined that I would share it with someone that I didn't have any romantic feelings with. Ang totoo niyan, we loathe each other. We had small talks pero bilang hindi nga ako pala-salita, we never had real and normal conversations. Ewan ko, pero madalas akong mapadpad sa lugar kung saan andun din siya and most of the time, nakikita ko siya at her weakest. Just like that night.
We never fought or argued about something that night. It was weird, actually. Naramdaman ko lang na kailangan niya ng karamay at sadyang andun lang ako. She looked beautiful, even though her clothes had blood and her make up's smudged dahil sa walang-tigil niyang pag-iyak. At nung niyakap ko siya, I could smell her sweet scent mixed with blood. Parang Damon Salvatore lang. And before the night ended, after we danced, I did the most unexpected thing. I kissed her.
Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko at napahawak pa ako sa dibdib ko para siguraduhing hindi ito tatalon palabas. Laging ganito. Eversince that night, my heart always did this thing tuwing masasagi sa isip ko yung nangyari nung JS Prom. What the hell, Red.
"Ahem! Mr. Domingo, magsisimula na po ang klase. What are you staring at, huh?" Halos mapatalon ako nang marinig ko si Ms. Feria sa likuran ko. Natawa ang ilang kaklase ko at agad akong umupo sa pwesto ko sa unahang row ng klase. Nakakahiya! For a second there, I swore I saw her smiled. Ewan. I must already be imagining things.
Natapos na ang araw at nasa hagdan na ako pababa ng first floor nang makita kong tumatakbo pababa si Dawn. I suddenly remembered how she bumped on me nung unang araw niya dito sa Monte Carlo. At gaya din noon, hindi na naman siya nag-sorry. I smiled at the thought at umiling-iling na lang. Ganun na siguro talaga siya.
"Dawn, sandali lang naman!" Coming from behind was Vince. Hindi pa rin kami nagkakausap ng mabuti simula nung JS Prom kasi masyado siyang naging busy sa pag-habol at pag-hingi ng tawad kay Dawn. She blamed him for Baste's death and she hated her so much now. Vince hated himself, too, dahil hinayaan niyang mawala si Dawn. Kaya todo ang ginagawa niyang panunuyo dito, which I think would take a long time. Itinuloy ko na lang ang pagbaba ng hagdan at nagulat ako na andun si Vince.
"Red, pare." Hingal niyang sabi sa akin.
"She's fast." I stood beside him and patted his shoulder.
"I know. Pero hindi pa rin ako titigil, Red. Mas kailangan ko pa siyang suyuin ngayon dahil sa nangyari kay Baste. Hindi ko naman ginusto yung nangyari, eh. Hindi ko naman akalain na bigla siyang susugod pag nakita niya si Dawn. I didn't tell him to do that, never will I tell him that. I wanted to save Dawn myself, that was the plan, pero si Baste... Ewan ko, nagpaka-bayani siya para kay Dawn. Ano sa tingin mo, bakit niya ginawa yun?" He looked at me and I just looked at the Dorm's direction habang lumulubog ang araw.
"I think he liked her."
"Talaga? Sa tingin mo, ganun nga? Pero ni hindi sila nag-uusap, lagi pa silang nag-bu-bugbugan. He never talked to her in class o kahit saan dito sa campus."
I shrugged and stared at the setting sun. Hindi naman porke hindi niya kinakausap si Dawn, imposible na siyang magkagusto dito. One could get attracted to someone kahit sa malayo. Ikaw ba, Red, anong nararamdaman mo para kay Dawn?
---END OF CHAPTER 09.10.14
*Damon Salvatore-- a fictional character in The Vampire Diaries series of novels created by L. J. Smith and is being shown on The CW.