RIELLA'S P.O.V

We intently watched the surveillance camera na nasa lugar kung saan kami nahulog. After I called Margo and told our situation, she already prepared the things we needed. Thanks to Andy ay na-hacked nya ang camera sa mga lugar na dinaanan namin bago kami ma-aksidente.

"Teka, sino-sino 'tong mga kasama mo, Riella?" Anne asked and pointed at the screen. It is the part kung saan sabay-sabay kaming naglakad nila Xander at Julie.

I just gave her a sheepish smile, "Oh, they we're--"

"It's her NEW FRIENDS." Damion cut me off na may diin sa huling dalawang salita.

Napasinghap naman si Anne. Her mouth agape, then she frowned at me. "Ipinagpapalit mo na ba kami?" She said and sniffle. She wipe her nose and look away from me while crossing her arms. I simply glared at Damion before hugging Anne in the neck.

"Of course not, don't believe in Damion's lies. They we're.. They we're just--my classmates!" Palusot ko at ngumiti, then I crossed my two fingers at my back. She smiled and hugged me back.

"Aww, tha--"

"Sorry to interrupt your little drama but Rachel's calling you." Damion said, waving my phone at my face.

"Paano mo 'to nakuha? I thought it sank at the water." I said as I snatched it from his hands, opening it to see if its still alive.

Napangiti naman ako ng malamang gumagana pa ito. I study its condition to check if it is broken or something, but I sighed in relief when its still good to use.

Damion just shrugged at my question before leaving. I was about to call him ng bigla na lang may tumawag sa cellphone ko.

It's Rachel.

I pressed the answer button and greeted her. "What?" I asked in a blunt voice. I simply wave at Anne and use the teleportation card. I successfully got in my room in my condo. Humiga ako sa kama and spread my arm.

"Where the hell we're you? Didn't you know that I'm waiting for you to call awhile ago?" She said in annoyance.

Natahimik naman ako ng maalala ang nangyari kanina. I got an injured arm, patches to my waist and band aids in my feet. I have to endure this shit thanks to those assholes who attacked us.

"Rachel, I agree."

"Huh? Agree to what?" She asked in confusion. I just rolled my eyes, "In the plan, of course." I said in a 'duh' tone.

"Oh... Okay--"

"But I need your help first." I said in a serious voice.

"My help?"

"Yes, we're attacked from earlier and we're still trying to tracked them." I said while touching the patched in my waist.

"Attacked?" She asked. I sighed before telling her all the things that happened. She listened carefully as I tell her the things that happened this day.

"Seriously? You got an enemy? I thought you guys we're invincible?" She said in a teasing voice but I ignored her.

"We never cooperated in any other organization that's why its a big mystery why someone is targeting us." Napatigil naman ako sa pagsasalita. "Except for the MaSters of course." I finished.

Natahimik naman sya sa kabilang linya. I keep silent and waited for her to speak. Minutes pass and she finally spoke.

"Don't you think it was the MaSters who attacked you?" Napabangon ako bigla sa sinabi nya.

"What? Are you out of your mind?"

"Well, you said that they we're the only one whose organization you joined." She explained.

"Well that's true, but I'm the princess of the MaSters. They know they'll die kapag kinalaban nila ako."

"I'm not saying that they did it. But maybe some of them did?"

"Huh?"

"Maybe there are members in MaSters that hates you."

"I... Never thought that."

"You need my help right? Let's see each other tomorrow." She said and hang up. Unti-unti namang bumaba ang cellphone sa tainga ko.

Maybe... Maybe it was really one of the Masters.

*****

"MISS BEAUTIFUL!!!" Xander sang and hugged me from the back. Napangiwi naman ako ng masanggi nya ang mga sugat ko sa katawan but I hid it with a frown.

"Ano na naman?" I asked in a 'I-don't-care-voice' and add a sighed.

Bumitaw naman sya sa pagkakayakap, hinawakan naman nya ang magkabilang balikat ko at iniharap ako sa kanya. He looked at me seriously as if he was trying to read me.

"Saan ka nya dinala?" He finally said and watched my expression.

Napataas naman ang kilay ko sa tanong nya, pero bumaba ito ng mapagtanto ang tinutukoy nya.

"Sa apartment, duh." I said and headed towards my table where my food is waiting for me. Sumunod naman sya sa akin at umupo sa tapat ko.

"I don't believe you. Sinabi sa 'kin ni Julie na kinatok nya raw ang unit mo, only to find out that you're not yet home." He said and eyed me, raising both of his eyebrows twice. I just ignored him again and bit my sandwich.

"And speaking of Julie... Parang hindi ko pa sya nakikita." He added then began to ate his food.

He completely caught my attention. I looked at him confusingly, napansin naman nyang tumingin ako sa kanya kaya tumigil sya sa pagnguya ng burger nya.

"What do you mean na hindi mo pa sya nakikita?"

"Huh? diba classmates tayo? Huwag mong sabihing ngayon mo lang napansing absent sya."

Duh, I was sleeping!

"Absent sya? Oh, kaya naman pala wala sya dito." I shrugged at sumipsip sa juice ko.

"Pero bakit nga sya absent?"

"Malay ko, manghuhula ba 'ko?" Tinapos ko na ang pagkain ko at inilabas ang cellphone ko.

"Teka, akala ko ba-- Hey, what are you doing?" He asked and pointed my phone.

I just rolled eyes.

"Duh, texting her why is she fucking absent." I said and viewed my contacts, searching for Julie's name.

"DO NOT CURSE!" Xander glared at me as if I did something inappropriate. "At bakit ka nga pala may number ni Julie?"

"BAKIT BA ANG DAMI MONG TANONG?"

Meron akong number ni Julie since she insist. Nahanap ko na rin ang pangalan nya kaya naman pinindot ko ito at nagsimula ng gumawa ng text message para sa kanya.

Napa-atras naman si Xander sa paglakas ng boses ko. Natahimik naman ako at pinagmasdan ang naging reaksyon nya. Kumunoot naman ang noo nya, pero bigla na kang ngumisi na para bang may naisip na nakakalokong bagay.

"Whoah! Easy ka lang cause you're ovary-acting." He said and burst in laughing while banging the table.

"Period jokes ends now!" I said as I finally composed a text for Julie.

To: Julie
Hey, bakit ka absent? You do know na may quiz tayo ngayon.. Right?

I hit the send button at ibinalik ito sa bulsa ko.

"Okay, okay. You can chill now cause you're looking a little red..." Sabi nya at humagalpak uli ng tawa.

"Hey, she doesn't look like me!" Red butted in my mind, completely confused.

It's period jokes. Now, shut up.

"Easy ka lang kase, Siguro meron ka talaga...." He said and smirked teasingly.

Yumuko naman ako, "Oo, meron ako eh.." I said and twisted my hair using my finger. "Now we can't do the thing that a man and a woman can do when they're alone." Tinignan ko naman ang reaction ni Xander, only to find out that he's speechless.

This time, it's my time to smirked. "Kidding...." I added, tinignan naman nya ko ng masama bago tumawa. I joined him and our laughs filled this almost-empty-canteen.

Napawi naman ang tawa ko nang maramdamang nagvibrate and cellphone ko. Kinuha ko naman ito muka sa bulsa ko at napangiti ng malamang nakatanggap ako ng text kay Julie.

"Hoy, bakit ka ngumingiti?"

"Nagtext na si Julie at ang sabi nya..." I opened my phone and viewed her text.

From: Julie
Help

Napawi ang ngiti ko at natulala sa text nya. My hands shake a little at nagsimula na ring mamawis ang kamay ko. Anong nangyayari? Is this a fucking prank? Hindi nakakatawa!

Napatingin uli ako sa cellphone ko ng magtext uli si Julie. My fingers quickly moved by itself and viewed the text she sent.

From: Julie
Seems like we found your weak spot, R.

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko ng marealize kung anong nangyayari. Julie is in danger!

"Hoy, anong sinabi nya?" Natauhan ako ng marinig ang boses ni Xander. I looked at him nervously and fake a smile.

"A-Ah, Sabi nya may lagnat daw sya eh....." I lied and crossed my fingers at my back.

"Ahh..." He said, looking convinced bago ubusin amg burger nya. While me? I'm just wishing na matapos na ang klase ko so that I can make a move now.

******

Pagka-ring ng aming school bell ay mabilis kong iniligpit ang gamit, grabbing my books and quickly make my way towards the door until someone called me.

"Ms. Faye, where do you think you're going?" Tanong ng aming adviser.

Other students already left the room and only a few we're here. Kumunoot naman ang noo ko sa tinanong nya.

"Uuwi?" I don't know if I'm answering or asking but it made her crossed her arms.

"It's Friday." God I'm not asking for the date!

"And?" I asked impatiently.

"Cleaners ka, CLEANERS!" She finally said. Napa "Oh." Naman ako, that's when I noticed some of the students left we're starting to clean and tidy the room.

I started to help the others clean the room. God why do we still need to clean? May janitor naman ah!

I heard my teacher clicked her tongue, "Ms. Faye, it doesn't mean that you don't need to do things like this porket binili ni Mr. Faye ang school na ito. We equally treat students here and don't treat them nice dahil lang sa mayaman sila.." She said in an insulting voice na nagpatigil sa akin sa pag a-arrange ng upuan.

"Tsk, what a spoiled brat.."

I heard my classmates whispered and laughed, nagsimula ng mangilid ang luha ko. Nakita ko naman sa peripheral vission ko si Damion at Xander. I held back my tears and face my fucking advisor.

"Is that so? Well I'm sorry cause I'm not a 'good' student, you know why?" Napataas naman ang kilay nya sa sinabi nya.

Wrong move, bitch.

"You're fired."

"Wa-Wait, you can't be serious. You can't do that!"

"Yes I can bitch, I'm the school owner's daughter, right?" I said with a smirk. Lalo namang lumakas amg bulungan nila, Damion was chuckling while Xander was frowning at me.

What's his problem?

"You're bluffing, you're bluffing!" Nagsimula nang mamawis ang noo nya. I laughed and turned my back at her, saluting her with a mocking wave.

Mabilis na along lumabas ng silid at tumakbo papunta sa parking lot ng school. I quickly hop in my car and started the engine but I was interrupted by angry knocks on my car's window.

Napatingin naman ako doon only to find an angry bastard that lives in the Earth called Xander. I irritatingly sighed at ibinaba ang window shield at ang bumungad sa akin at ang pasigaw nyang tanong.

"WHY DID YOU FIRE HER?" That's it? 'Yon lang ang itatanong nya? Won't he asked how I feel?

"Ano naman?" I asked trying to calm my nerves.

"Is that how cruel you are? Sinesante mo na 'yong tao dahil lang sa napagsabihan ka?" He asked unbelievingly. Bigla naman akong nakaramdam ng inis sa inaasal nya.

"You just confirmed to her that you're really a spoiled brat, don't you?" I clenched my jaw in frustration and stared at him coldly.

"You just proved her that you're using you're using your--"

"You." I pointed at him. "Don't come disturbing my life because of some shits I did. Mind you're own business and STAY AWAY FROM ME!" I shouted at his face bago pa-harutin ang kotse, living him taken aback what I just said.

Bakit... Why is he acting like that?

I felt a slight pang in my chest ng maalala ang mga salitang sinabi nya. Binilisan ko ang pagpapatakbo ng kotse without noticing. Natauhan naman ako bigla ng maalala ang pakay ko. I turned the car and went on Rachel's meeting place.

Pagdating ko sa park na pagkikitaan namin ay naabutan ko syang tinataboy ang mga batang pulubing nanghihingi ng limos sa kanya.

"Alis! GUSTO NYO NA BANG MAMATAY?" She threatened at dahil doon ay kumaripas ng takbo ang mga bata.

Palihim naman akong napa-ikot ng mata before sneaking in her back. I tapped her shoulder that cause her to jumped and looked at me. She smiled to me, a smile of agreement, the she took my hand and said.

"Good to know that you're really serious about making that place into a dorm school. Now, about you're problem--"

"I need you're help, Rachel." I cut her off and looked at her pleadingly. Napataas naman ang kilay nya sa sinabi nya. "Yes, I know that you need my help that's wh--"

"NO, I need you're help again." I cut her again na nagpakunoot sa noo nya.

"Again? And what did you fucking do this time bitch?!" Tumalikod sya at umupo sa pinakamalapit na bench. Sinundan ko naman sya at umupo sa tabi nya.

"I think my friend was kidnapped." O started and played with my fingers. Napataas uli ang kanyang kilay.

"Seriously? I thought you're friends we're strong? But you're telling me that some of them was kidnapped? Eh mga mahihina naman pala kayo eh." She said and shook her head in disappointed. Naiirita naman ako sa pagkomento nya.

"Not them, not Karmas..." I corrected her that made her confused.

"What? But I thought--"

"It's a special friend of mine na nag-aaral din sa R.A." I finished and look up to see her reaction.

Nakatingin lamang sya sa akin with a blank face. Ilang minuto nya rin akong tinitigan bago tumayo at nagsimulang maglakad palayo. Napatayo naman ako at hinabol sya.

"Wait!" I quickly grabbed her hand pero mabilisan nya itong binawi. Napatigil naman ako sa ginawa nya, hinarap nya ko with disappointed eyes.

"Stop wasting my time, Faye." She said with a frown but I shook head. "I'm not wasting your time, I'm---"

"--Trying to save you're fucking friend." She finished with a curse.

"Wait! Just let me show you something..." I said and quickly lend her my phone and showed the messages I received, shoving my phone at her face. She stared at it seriously and observed every words in my phone. She then moved back so my hands dropped.

"Don't save her." She simply said that made my blood boiled. I was about to complain when she raised her three fingers. "I have three things to tell you..." She said as she wiggle her fingers before hiding them at her pockets.

"First, kapag pinuntahan mo sya ay makukumpirma lang nila ang gusto nilang malaman. And that's your weakness!" Kahit na galit ako sa kanya at hindi ko maiwasang mapatango sa sinabi nya.

"But Julie's not my weakness!" I corrected her but she shook her head.

"But it'll make them think that she is! That's why hindi lang sya mapapahamak once, but twice, or thrice.. Or even fries!"

"Fries is a food, not a number."

"I know, I'm just hungry kakahintay sa'yo." She retorted and continued.

"Second, WHY THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO SAVE HER?!"

"Wha.....t?"

"Do you even realize na madadamay naman din sya sa paghihiganti mo? So why not let her be killed by those kidnappers?" She suggested smoothly.

That's when I realize something. She's right, madadamay din sya... But she's a transferee. I'll just kick her out of my school with Xander.

Wait, what's wrong with me? Why am I helping her? We just met and bonded for a month, not like Kate na matagal ko nang kilala in years. Tumingin naman ako may Rachel, with clear mind and a smirked.

"Y-Your'e right, she mean nothing to me... I'm sorry I wasn't thinking straight." I apologize with a fake laugh. She nodded but smiled.

"Third, why the hell are you asking for my help if your friends got your back?" She said and started to leave.

"Huh? I thought..."

"Hey, it's not my fucking problem anymore. It's your life, bitch." She said and wave goodbye.

I ran towards my car and hopped in, I turned my car at nagmaneho sa HQ namin. Nang makarating ako sa gubat ay itinago ko muna ang aking kotse sa mga puno bago tumakbo sa gitna ng Haynes Forest. I entered the code to our HQ and came running around like a mad woman searching for her friends.

"Andy! Margo! Anne? Kai?!!" I called but nothingness filled the room. Nagpatuloy pa ako sa paghahanap and that's when I saw something.

Blood.

Kinabahan naman ako sa aking nakita. Why is there a blood on the floor? Nagsimula nang mamuo ng mga conclusions sa utak ko. Binilisan ko ang paghahanap sa kanila. No ones in the kitchen, wala sa training room, wala sa mini clinic, sa mga kwarto nila, sa banyo, sa sala, wala rin sa theater room!

Nanlumo akong napa-upo sa hagdanan. I've searched everywhere! Nasaan na sila? Are they kidnapped to? What am I going to do? Is it our enemy who took them? What about Julie? Okay lang ba sila? Anong nangyayari?

"Fuck, stop thinking to much Riella!"

"Shut up Red!"

"Uh... Sino si Red?" Napatigil naman ako sa pag-iyak nang marinig ko ang boses nya. Unti-unti kong nilingon ang nakasimangot na si Damion. He saw my tears that makes his brow creased.

"Why the hell are you crying? Sinong nagpa-iyak sa'yo?" He bent down, facing me, he then gently wiped my tears using his thumb.

Napahagulgol naman ako ng maalala ang aking sitwasyon, napayakap naman ako sa kanya without thinking straight. He stiffened in my hug, but he hugged my back after a while.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He gently pushed me by the shoulders and stared at me.

"E-Eh ka-si... Nawawala s-sila." I mumbled while wiping my tears using the back of my hands.

"Are you referring to your friends?" He asked and I couldn't say a word so I just nodded. He sighed in relief then chuckled, "Umalis sila kanina, bibili lang daw sila ng pagkain."

"ANO?" Natawa naman sya sa reaksyon ko.

"Yup, they left a minute before you came screaming. So stop being a cry baby and stop pouting." He said caressed my back.

Napangiti naman ako at tumayo, he did the same and we both went downstairs, but I stop midway when I remembered something.

"Pero bakit may dugo sa kusina?" I asked, half panicking and half calm. Napakunoot naman sya sinabi ko kaya naman kinaladkad ko sya papunta sa kusina, and there we spot a handful of blood. Nakita ko naman syang napakamot sa kanyang batok.

"Well... I forgot to clean it. Nasanggi ko kasi yung bote ng ketsup kanina." He laughed nervously. I just glared at him.

"Seriously? Una, Bakit ka nandito? Pangalawa, ano namang gagawin mo sa ketsup??!" Napamewang naman ako sa kanya.

He groaned, "Shut it, I should be the one asking you why are you going rampage around. What's the matter?" Nanlaki naman ang aking mata sa sinabi nya. "Damion, J--" Napatigil naman ako sa pagsasalita. Magagalit sya sa akin, he would be mad because I'm caring for the person I'll betray soon. Magagalit sya dahil iisipin nyang wala lang sa akin ang pinagsamahan namin ni Kate. He would think that I was being a fool for trying to help. He would think that I am betraying him and ditching the plan.

"Huh? What? you we're saying?" He asked but I kept my mouth shut and shook my head. Kumuha naman sya ng basahan sa lababo at pinunasan ang ketsup sa sahig.

Bigla naman akong napatingin sa Cellphone ko, I looked at the message that Julie-- someone recently texted.

From: Julie
Your friends going to die if you're not here until 7:00. I'm waiting >:)

"Seriously? What's with the emoji?" I heard Red laughed but I just ignored him. I sighed and bowed my head. In the end, I couldn't do anything to help her. What a friend I am! A bitter smile crept on my face before I placed my phone on my pants.

"Oh, by the way. Do you remember the girl you're always with? What's her name again? Jelly? Jolly?" Napatingin naman ako kay Damion.

"Julie." I corrected him, completely focused at him. "What about her?"

"She talked to me earlier, pinapasabi nya na absent sya dahil nanood daw sya sa sinehan at nawawala daw 'yong cellphone nya mula kahapon. Maybe she thought you're worried about her." Damion teased with a smirk. I scowled at him and rolled my eyes before saying, "I'm not worried, and I don't give a damn." Before leaving him cleaning the bloody mess he did.

Naramdaman ko namang nag vibrate ang cellphone ko. I looked at it only to find a text message from Julie's number.

From: Julie
One of her fingers is now gone. What should I do next?

To: Julie
Fuck you, Suck it if you want to.

*********