FIFTEEN.

LOST LIVES (PART TWO)

FROM WHAT HE SEES, humans are only here to experience the difficulties and never-ending trials that they appear to encounter on a daily basis. Their lives are sometimes full of aspirations and goals, but other times they may make mistakes they were unaware of and experience sorrows that drag them to the brink of desperation.

And what makes these people stronger is their pursuit of a purpose as they explore the strands of life. But humanity can also have its limits, and that's when your death is soon to come. 

That's why he never wants to deal with them.

Paulit-ulit na tinuro ni Saku ang noo niya, "You should use your brain, Andri. Kung meron ka pa." 

Kinuha naman niya ang bag niya and he hissed at him. Hindi niya maalala kung kailan niya sila naging kaibigan and however, this most likely began when college started.

Ang tanging naalala lang niya noon, nag-rereview siya no'n sa and Lyrica made an unexpected request for him in the library. She also wants him to join their circle.

"Hindi pa kasi nag-mechanical engineering, ginusto mo 'yan."Saku rolled his eyes at her. 

Pumalakpak naman si Nanako at nagbubunganga, "Wow! Ang ganda ng advice mo Saku. Life changing!"

"Syempre," Ngiti naman ni Saku sa kanya. 

"Salbahe ka talaga!" Sigaw ni Nanako

"Mr. Allard, Ms. Suginami, would you mind!?" The librarian hissed. 

Umirap si Saku do'n sa librarian na sumita sa kanila, at si Nanako ay nagbigay ng peace sign. Ang babae naman ay agad na bumalik sa pagbabasa, at nahuli ni Nanako na ninakawan nito ng tingin ang kaibigan. 

The girl always encircled the tips of her hair because she feels shy when Saku is present. Hindi tuloy nakapagpigil si Nanako at hinampas niya si Saku. 

"Tangina, pogi mo ah!" Irap nito. "Lahat na lang, talaga. Bilangin ko ba? Sige, una syempre ang bebe mong si Minami. Pangalawa, nabagok si Yoshino ngayon. Pangatlo, si Tsukino at Kotori napopogian sa 'yo. Si Aria kinilig no'ng sinayaw mo. Grabe naman ang kamandag mo master!"

"Hindi ko 'to kaibigan..." Saku holds his face, "Utang ng loob, ilayo niyo'ko kay Nanako!"

"Tarantado ka talaga," Hampas nito. "Buti na lang talaga iba preferences ko. Tsaka 'tol, sa lahat ng lalaki isa kayong magkakapatid ang never kong papatulan!"

" 'Yong bunganga oh! Nanako, babae ka please, 'di lalaki." 

Napapikit na lang si Saku dahil sa inis niya kay Nanako. Sa tuwing kasama niya 'to sa library ay 'di niya maiwasang mapagalitan dahil alam niyang damay talaga siya 'to dahil sa ingay nito.

'Pambihirang babae 'to! Magagawa mo na lang magmakaawa talaga dahil parang armalite ang bibig parati! Pati ako na gusto lang ng tahimik na lugar sa library, nadadamay! Punyeta!' These are the words that came from Saku's mind.

Mas maganda kung kasama niya si Minami, gaganahan pa siya na mag-aral, pero itong babaeng 'to? Ha! H'wag na! The girls from a distance appear to be staring at Nanako. Of course, she could feel how upset the females were at her right now. They were obviously rude to her. But Nanako simply chose not to pay attention to them.

Inakbayan naman ni Saku ang kanyang tropa, "Gusto mong sampolan ko 'yon?" Tanong ni Saku and he tightened his jaw and glared at the girls.

Nanako swallowed hard; she knew how twisted her friend was, so he best not cause any commotion in here because she hates that type of attention. It was quite the scandal, you see.

"H'wag na! Magtigil ka nga!"

"Well, you'll see..."

Kinuha ni Nanako ang braso ni Saku at umiling 'to. Gosh, this guy likes attention! And she hates that. Inilagay na lamang niya ang mga kamay niya sa bulsa at sinamaan ng tingin ang mga babae. Throwing those sarcastic looks he had.

"What—"

"May nagsabi na ba sa inyo na pwede na kayong pumunta sa Foundation Day? Puti na ang pulbos ninyo, miss."Diretsahang sinabi ni Saku at nginisian niya ang mga babae, ngunit 'di nila nagustuhan ang tono ng lalaki sa kanila.

"Ano'ng sabi mo!?"

"Yes. And please, ayusin niyo nga mga ayos niyo, nobody is even interested sa tulad niyong mga retokada."

"Pucha, tol!" sa dulo ng library, naghahampas si Rino at tawang-tawa sa sinabi ng kanyang kapatid.

He's definitely twisted. Hmm. Nanako closed her eyes and shook her head, feeling frozen from her position and unable to process her words. She could only facepalm right now because of that. That guy seems to lack patience, doesn't he? He basically says whatever he wants.

However, she was aware. That this could be the first time he showed his true colors. Of what a trickster he could be.

"See this as a warning." Saku moved closer and smiled, "Mess with Nanako again, and I'll show everyone how bitchy you girls are in the bar."Pananakot nito sa kanila.

Agad naman silang iniwasan ni Saku ang mga nakasagot niyang mga babae. Hinabol naman ni Nanako ang kanyang tropa at binatukan 'to.

"Masyado kang harsh, 'no!?" Sigaw ni Nanako.

"What? They fucking deserve it."

Inayos naman ni Nanako ang kanyang bag at huminga 'to ng malalim, "Saku, I appreciate you being my best friend. I really do. Thank you for always protecting us. But you understand that you don't have to do it."

"And then, what? Kung ano-ano na namang ipagkalalat ng mga babaeng 'yon! H'wag ang mga kaibigan ko, kasi papatulan ko ang kahit na sino if they started making insults about you and Minami."

"Wala naman tayong magagawa kung may masasabi ang ibang tao; talagang may masasabi sila and it's beyond our control. Just because I choose not to join in their silly fights doesn't mean that I am weak or that I agree with them every time they backstab me. I also dislike it. But there are arguments that don't deserve my attention at all."

"So you're just gonna let them?"

"No. It's just that they're the problem, and it's not your duty to fix them to the point na mauubos ka na. You know you've done your best, and if they can't accept it, just let go. You must let go to be free."

☫✠_____♆_____✡♆

HE PLACED HIS his hands on his waist and closed his eyes, explaining why he can't leave her alone. Nanako could be much more vulnerable than this, which scares him greatly. Ginulo na lang niya ang buhok nito.

"Alam kong kaya mo naman ipagtanggol sarili mo, Nanako. However, asking for help is not a show of weakness. Asking for help is the most courageous act you can do in your life."

"How can I—"

Saku smiled at him as he stood by her. "Pray, Nanako. Pray and believe."

"Thanks,"Ngumiti naman ng bahagya si Nanako sa kanya.

"I need to go."

When he arrived at the café, he quickly stepped inside, where he found both of his friends, Anubis and Ticia, dressed in white medical uniforms. The girl with the gothic look smiled warmly at him. Saku didn't remember having many friends like this.

He was sure to regret his decision later on.
"So, you're the hottie from BS Pharmacy?" The girl had a lot of cigarettes with her, which Saku definitely didn't enjoy.

"Hindi ka talaga nagpaawat noh, Amethyst?"

That violet-haired female was clearly laughing. But Saku paid not much attention to it. Hindi niya alam, pero may kakaiba siyang nararamdaman dito na 'di niya maipaliwanag kung ano. And staring at the other nerdy girl makes him even more suspicious. It was a gut feeling he couldn't shake.

"And why did you call me here?" Tanong na lang ni Saku and he went beside Ticia at 'tsaka naman 'to umupo ng Dahan-dahan. Saku turned his head to their direction, slightly glaring at them.

Nilahad naman ng babaeng may lila ang buhok ang kamay niya at napangisi na lamang 'to sa kanya. "I heard you were struggling to afford your college tuition."

"I can. H'wag mo'ko maliitin;  'di mo' ko mabibili ng pera."

That girl appeared to be really interested in them. So, why? She seemed to have everything; why would she aid him? He's only an orphan living under the priest's care.

At nakatira lamang siya sa bahay ampunan. In addition, he is poor. He's just a working student who was trying to continue his studies. Nothing was really interesting to him.

"You know who I am, Lyrica."

"Kailangan bang makilala pa kita?"He scoffed. Lyrica's brow furrowed at the way he spoke. Well, he normally speaks without hesitation, and it is no longer his concern if she is unable to deal with such situations.

"Don't tense up. We want you to be part of our circle. Matalino ka 'di' ba?"

"What is it that you want?"

Halos pumutok ang ilong ni Lyrica dahil sa tanang buhay niya ay wala pa siyang nakitang kasing bastos katulad nitong lalaking sumagot sa kanya! Ano ba talagang nangyayari sa lalaking 'to!? Halos madurog niya ang tissue sa kanyang mga kamay.

"I thought na madali ka mapapasunod if I played kind to you, yet it appears that you are more of a jerk than I expected. Nakikinig ka ba!? We want you to complete our assignments! Kaya ka namin pinapunta rito!"Sigaw ni Lyrica

"Ano ako, bobo? May kamay ka, may utak ka, 'di ka rin naman baldado kaya gawin mong mag-isa. Hindi mo' ko utusan para gawin 'yon."Saku complained to her.

"Oh, you don't want to!? Sige! Edi lagot sa 'kin 'yang babaeng gusto mo. What about the girl who doesn't wear a white medical uniform? We're going to make her life miserable 'pag 'di mo kami sinunod!"

"Shut the fuck up!"

Only for him to learn that it had become true. Saku stood up from his chair, but his lip and brow furrowed, and tears began to pour from his eyes. He knew they were a bunch of assholes, but he didn't know they were this bad.

He always told himself that he needed to protect Minami, yet no matter what he did, she always got into problems because of him. He couldn't help but think that he was continually causing misery to others without knowing it.

That was the only painful moment he had with his friends. That's why he never wanted to be friends afterwards.

Now, while going, he noticed a door suddenly open and a sparkle of golden aura and vivid red hair moving. "What is that?"

He did not remove his sight as he followed the woman. Only to reveal to him that there is a woman standing in front of him, with a lot of roses in her hair and green eyes, and her name is Persephone.

She was able to teleport herself in front of the door, which was covered in chains and fire. It must be Chaos' doing.

"Henry. It's you, right?"