Chapter 3
I can’t help it, I let out a mocking laugh. “Imposible!” I said while shaking my head then laughed again.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero I find it very funny, what he just said. “Wag mo nga akong paasahin, Felix!” sabi ko. I may be laughing now, pero biglang pumasok sa isip ko na they’re very close friends at may 25% chance na hindi niya ako niloloko at nagsasabi siya ng totoo.
Pero bakit niya ilalaglag ang kaibigan niya in the first place? He’ll receive a punch if Gabriel finds out about this.
“Hindi ka naniniwala? Fine. I can’t understand girls anyway,” sabi nito at hindi na ipinagpilitan. Napanguso ako. I was expecting him to give it a little push dahil nasabi niya na, pero bakit sumuko na siya agad? Baka hindi nga kasi totoo.
“Are you better? Ihahatid na kita sa inyo,” alok niya.
“No thanks. I have no plans na makipagclose sa mga gangsters.” Pumikit ako at tinalikuran siya.
“How ironic, given na yung mga kaibigan mo ay gangsters.” Pagdilat ko ay nakatingin siya sa akin at para bang inaaya akong magkwento tungkol sa mga kaibigan ko.
“Wala na akong magagawa do’n. Hindi ko naman alam na gangsters pala sila. Besides, they’re different. Mas friendly at outgoing sila kaysa sa mga iba na ang angas at nagkukunwaring masaya silang mag-isa at nagsusungit,” I replied.
Hindi siya nagsalita. “Say, is becoming one of you dangerous or is it safe?” I asked. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko ‘yon natanong. Pero my curiosity is killing me.
“Depends. Maraming kinds ang gangsters. Yung mga kaibigan mo? They’re the normal types. Not exactly harmless and not dangerous as well.”
“Eh kayo?”
Natahimik siya. Pagtingin ko ay nagulat ako dahil sa seryoso niyang mukha. “We’re different. We’re not your ordinary gangster. Mas delikado ang ginagawa namin, that even death is a price for our deeds.”
Napakunot ako ng noo. Nawala ang aura niyang makulit kanina, his aura was now screaming ‘deadly!’. And I can feel it. Hindi nga siya isang ordinaryong gangster. May ginagawa siyang mas delikado pa roon. And I didn’t know if I’m going to dig deep for that information.
***
“Mga walanghiya kayo! Hindi ko alam kung kaibigan ko ba kayo o ano!” sigaw ko.
“Welcome back, Heaven,” bati ni Jeymi.
“Mauuna na ako, Heaven,” sabi ni Felix. After nung drama niya kanina, nawala ng isang iglap yung nakakatakot niyang aura at bumalik na siya sa dati.
“Uh, ayaw mo munang pumasok? Salamat sa paghatid sa’kin.”
“It’s nothing. Si Gab naman ang nagrequest no’n,” nakangisi niyang sabi.
“Matthew, wag kang manggulo!” Napatingin ako sa loob ng apartment and automatically, my eyes rolled heavenwards.
“Why the hell is this guy here?!” I shouted.
“Wait, you mean—“ Nanlalaki ang mata ni Felix nang sumilip siya sa loob. And true enough, nando’n nga si Matthew.
“Hey there, babe,” bati ni Matthew at kinindatan ako. I made a face and then flipped him off.
“Anong ginagawa mo dito?” gulat na tanong ni Felix.
“Is it wrong to hang out with pretty ladies?” pa-cool naman na sagot ni Matthew. Inis akong pumasok ng bahay at iniwanan na roon sa pintuan si Felix. Dire-diretso ako sa kwarto and closed it loudly for him to know that he is disturbing me with his presence.
“Come in, Felix! You wanna watch a movie with us?” rinig kong tanong ni Jam.
Oh god, seriously? Bakit ko ba naging kaibigan ang mga ‘to?
“Why the hell is that guy here? Alam naman nila Jeymi how I freakin’ hate his guts! Why did they bring him over again?! Nang-aasar na naman siguro sila! Ugh!” I kept muttering to myself hanggang sa naramdaman kong may iba pang tao sa kwarto ko.
I was surprised when I glanced at my bed. Someone was sitting on it, and he’s reading a freaking book like a boss!
“Sino ka?!” sigaw ko.
He slowly turned to look at me, only to glare at me with his icy stare. “Would you shut the hell up? I can’t focus.”
Nang makita ko na fully yung mukha niya, doon ko natandaan. He’s that Andriel dude. Why is he here?! Did the 3Js bring the whole gang? Kung gano’n, nandito siguro si Gab?
“He’s not here.”
I snapped out of my thoughts at napatingin sa kan’ya. “If you’re looking for Gabriel, he’s not here.”
Napasimangot ako. “Sino namang nagsabing hinahanap ko siya?” pasigaw kong tanong. Kaso hindi niya naman ako sinagot. Why am I even wasting my time talking to this guy?
“Will you please get the hell out of my room?” inis kong sabi. He did not move.
Lumapit ako sa kan’ya at kinuha ang libro mula sa kamay niya while closing the book in the process. This way, hindi niya alam kung anong page siya tumigil. Okay, call me evil or what, but he forced me to do this!
“Ano ba, makinig ka nga sa’kin!” sabi ko.
The moment na magtama ang paningin namin, nagulat ako dahil sobrang seryoso ng titig niya that it send chills down my back. Bigla akong natakot. Nagbago ‘yung aura niya.
Fear enveloped me pero wala akong magawa kundi ang magpanggap na hindi ako takot sa kan’ya.
Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang ngumisi. “I can sense your fear. No use hiding it,” he said in a low and dangerous tone. Napapikit ako ng ilang beses at tsaka tumakbo papunta sa pintuan.
I was surprised because no matter how much I shake the doorknob, the door won’t open. “Guys! Eff you! Get me out of here! Bakit niyo ko inilock dito! I’m with the freaking devil, open the door!” I caused a commotion and I was really planning to break the door down dahil desperado na akong makalabas.
“Sorry Heaven! Kinuha ni Ezekiel ‘yung susi ng door mo! Ayaw niyang ibalik!” sigaw ni Joy.
“Fuck!” I muttered.
“Don’t worry, you’re Heaven, he’s the Devil. You’ll survive. Just don’t get killed.” Halos mainis ako sa halakhak ni Matthew.
“Hindi nakakatuwa! Buksan niya ang pinto!”
Pero wala na akong narinig na ingay after that.
I cannot believe this! I cannot, freaking believe this! “I told you to shut up, right?” I froze on the spot, “or would you like me to shut you up for good?”
I’m dead. I’m freaking dead.
***
With my laptop, nagtungo ako sa kabilang sulok ng kwarto ko. There’s no way in hell am I going near him. I sat on one of my small couches na inuupuan lang ng bisita. But I have no choice this time.
When I opened my laptop, nagulat ako nang naka-receive ako agad ng call. I took my earphones at isinaksak ito sa laptop then accepted the call.
“Heaven Fajardo,” nakangiting bati ng babae sa kabilang computer screen.
“Ate,” nakangiti ko ring bati.
Evangeline Fajardo, that’s my sister’s name. She’s been working in a company now that was passed down to us from our grandmother. Hindi ko lang maintindihan kung bakit sabi nila ay inako daw ni ate ang buong kompanya and that I have nothing to do with it.
Hindi ko alam kung magpapasalamat ba ako or what since siya na daw ang bahala sa company. Nag-start siya just last month, kung saan siya na ang officially na namamahala nito. I heard na namatay daw kasi yung last na namamahala dito.
“Ano bang ginagawa ng company na yan, ate?”
“It’s a secret that you need not to know, Heaven. It’ll be safer that way.”
I don’t why she’s hiding it from me. Pero sa huli ay nagpasalamat na lang ako. I don’t want to manage a business when I grow up, much more a company. Mas gusto kong gawin ang gusto kong gawin.
“So, how’s your day, Heaven?”
“So far, so good. Ikaw ate? How’s your work? Are they treating you right? Are you treating them right?” pang-aasar ko.
“Anong akala mo sa’kin? Of course I am!”
Sabay kaming napatawa. Biglang napadako yung tingin ko kay Andriel. I don’t know but if feels like I need to check up on him. Nagulat na lang ako nang nakatingin na pala siya sa’kin and I immediately felt afraid again. Umiwas ako ng tingin.
“Ano ‘yun, Heaven?” tanong ni ate.
“What do you mean?” I forced a smile.
“Why do I sense your fear? May kasama ka ba d’yan? May magnanakaw ba? Tell me, you can trust me.” Nagulat ako nang nagbago ang ekspresyon niya sa mukha. And how the hell did she knew I was afraid?
“W-wala, ate.” Napatingin ulit ako ay Andriel pero nakatingin pa rin siya sa akin.
“You’re lying.”
Bumalik ang tingin ko sa kan’ya at tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. “How would you know?” I challenged.
“You keep looking at that person. What, is he dangerous? Call for the police, Heaven.”
“He’s harmless, ate. No need to be worried,” sabi ko. And then I remembered. “We’re different. We’re not your ordinary gangster. Mas delikado ang ginagawa namin, that even death is a price for our deeds.”
“Sabi na at may kasama ka eh. Boyfriend? Naku, isusumbong kita kay tito! Nag-uuwi ka na ng lalaki ah,” umiiling na sabi niya.
“Ate naman! Sa tingin mo ba may papatol sa akin?”
“O siya, I need to go. I’ll call you next time. See you!” I only nodded as an answer at natapos na rin ang call. Pinatay ko na yung laptop at tinanggal ang earphones dito.
“Why the hell were you eavesdropping?” tanong ko.
“Who are you talking to?” balik-tanong naman niya. He was still serious as ever.
“Who cares?”
“Tell me,” I was surprised when his voice was low and deadly, again, “Or I’ll have to force it out of you.”
Nanlaki ang mata ko. Gahd, this guy is a demon! Puro pananakot ang gagawin niya para lang makuha ang gusto niya, he’s unbelievable.
“It’s my sister. She had nothing to do with you,” I spat.
Bigla siyang natahimik at bumalik sa pagbabasa. And I was wondering what the hell happened.
Teka, may isa pa akong problema. How do I get out of here? Wait, I think nanonood ‘yung anim sa PC. I guess I’ll just have to hack it.
I opened my laptop at pumunta sa isang app na ginawa ko para lang mas successful ang pangha-hack ko. This was not a special skill. I think sa pamilya namin, kailangan marunong ka talagang mang-hack. I don’t know why tho but it’s useful at times. Si mama at papa pa ang nagturo sa’min ni ate noon.
I typed in some code first bago ‘yung command na kailangan ko. Na-locate ko yung ginagamit nilang laptop and then after a few minutes of typing, I was able to control the computer. I close down all the apps. Then I opened the webcam of my laptop and typed in a code para mag-appear ako doon sa kabilang laptop.
“Jam, Jeymi, Joy. . .”
Nag-type pa ako until I was finally able to see them from my laptop. Nakasiksik silang anim at nakatingin sila sa akin.
“I completely forgot to take your laptop, Heaven,” nakasimangot na sabi ni Jeymi.
“Nasa kissing-scene na kami! How dare you! Bitin!” angal naman ni Joy.
“Uh-oh,” umiiling na sabi ni Jam.
“Open the damn door or you’ll have to sleep outside if I broke it down myself.” Galit akong nakatingin sa kanila and finally, they were able to see that I’m damn serious.
“Sorry, Heaven, this is all Jeymi’s plan!” sabi ni Joy.
“What?! No, it’s this guy’s plan!” sabi ni Jeymi at tinuro si Matthew.
“Hey babe, having fun in there?” nakangising sabi ni Matthew at kinindatan pa ako.
“I’m gonna fucking kill you, Matthew,” I gritted my teeth.
Magsasalita pa sana ako nang may nang-agaw ng laptop ko. “H-hey!” Aabutin ko sana pero nang nakita ko ang reaksyon nila nang nakita ang mukha ni Andriel, I was somehow thankful.
“Open the fucking door or I’m gonna break your bones, Ramos.”
“Y-yes boss.”
I cannot believe this. Napatawa ako ng malakas nang narinig ko yun mula kay Matthew. Si Andriel dude lang pala ang katapat nito eh!
“You’re dead, Heaven!” rinig kong pahabol nito.
Andriel glared at the computer screen at pagkatapos no’n, wala na. I heard the door unlocking at ang mga nag-aalisang paa nila palayo dito.
“Oh god, wag na nating ikulong ang dalawang yan. When they combine, it’s like hell. And I mean literally.” Napasimangot na lang ako nang narinig ko yun mula sa computer screen where Jam, Joy and Jeymi were talking.
***
A/N:
This seems to be my favorite story so far XD