Chapter 27: A Risky Reunion (Pursuit Chapter)

"Cooler?"

Uh! What are these guys doing here? Una ay sina Math and Gray. Then Jeremy, and now Cooler? Uh.

"Zeus?", tawag ni Ryu dito at lumapit. "What on earth are you doing here?"

"I let Mnemosyne tracked you by your phone's GPS. Nagtataka kasi kami kung bakit gabi-gabi ka na kung umalis and you went home dusty and sweating all along", tiningnan ako ni Cooler na nakakunot ang noo. "Don't tell me you're tailing Amber?"

"Tsk. I have some business here. Does that mean that Mnemosyne is here too?", Ryu asked.

"Yup! I'm here babe!", nakangiting wika ni Mnemosyne. She sounded so childish and vulnerable. Walang mag-aakalang isa pala itong reaper. Ryu just scowled at her. Malamang ay nainis ito sa presence ni Mnemosyne.

Nang sulyapan ko si Zywon sa gilid ay naging stiff ang anyo nito. Maybe seeing four mafia people including Gray caused it ngunit hindi na lamang ito nag-react pa.

"Why did you say that we need you?", tanong ni Gray kay Cooler.

"You want to chase that car right? I'm the best person that you can rely on", nakangiting sagot nito.

"Paano?"

"He's a car racer. A particular one for that matter", wika ni Mnemosyne. "And we brought his fastest car."

"Good", bumaling si Gray kay Khael and he tossed something na agad namang nasalo ng huli. "Drive my car. Follow us. Jeremy, maiiwan kayo ni Math. Ryu and the other girl, it's up to them if they will help or not. Deltran can handle himself. Let's go then", wika ni Gray kay Cooler at sa gulat ko ay hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at hinila ako paalis doon. He's taking me with them?

Agad kaming lumabas ng Athena at sumakay sa itim na sports car ni Cooler na hindi ko na inalam kung ano ang modelo niyon.

Gray and I sat on the backseat samantalang nasa driver's seat naman si Cooler.

"I hate it. I need someone to sit on the shotgun ride. I don't want to look like a driver", wika ni Cooler. He didn't bother to start the engine.

"Stop lamenting Cooler. Pwede bang sundan mo na sila? Baka hindi natin sila maabutan", wika ko sa kanya.

"There's no intersection on this side so walang problema", wika niya bago binuhay ang makina. "Well, let's go!"

I almost screamed nang halos pinalipad na ni Cooler ang kotse. Ilang minuto lamang ay natanaw na namin ang kotse kung saan lulan si Phobie. Cooler didn't lie when he said we can rely on him in chasing the car. He maintained a few yards distance upang hindi masyadong mahalata na sinusundan namin ito.

Saan ba nila balak na dalhin si Phobie? What are they planning to do with her?

Biglang lumiko ang sasakyan sa kasukalan. The streets were dark at marami pang mga kahoy sa paligid. I was expecting that they will throw Phobie on the woods ngunit I figured out I was wrong when I saw a warehouse mula sa hindi kalayuan.

"Anong gagawin nila kay Phobie?", bulong ni Gray but it was enough for me to hear him.

"Kilala mo siya?", tanong ko sa kanya. He slowly nodded his head.

"I hate her at first. Kaming dalawa ni Zywon. We hate seeing someone dressed in gothic fashion dahil may naaalala kami. But Phobie helped me on a case and that's when I dropped my prejudice on gothic people. As of Zy, I don't know what's his story on how he became friends with her."

Inihinto ni Cooler ang sasakyan niya kaya nagtatakang tiningnan namin siya ni Gray.

"Why did you stop?"

"Mapapansin nila tayo kaya hintayin na muna natin na makababa sila. But what are you two planning to do?", tanong niya at tiningnan kami ng masama.

"We will get Phobie while you stay here as our getaway lookout", sagot ni Gray which made Cooler made a face.

"Oh, I see. A driver huh", he said sarcastically. Natanaw namin na bumaba ang lalaking nakasuot ng lab gown habang karga nito si Phobie. Nang makapasok ito ay inilapit ni Cooler ang kotse but he made sure na hindi kami matatanaw. Agad kaming bumaba ni Gray at dahan-dahang pumunta sa pinto ng warehouse.

"Amber", tawag niya sa akin. Nagtatakang tiningnan ko siya. "Please be careful. Let's return safe and unscathed. Please?"

I can see the tenderness in his eyes at paulit-paulit na naririnig ko sa aking tenga ang kanyang sinabi. I gave him an assuring smile at tumango sa kanya.

Dahan-dahan kaming pumasok and it was really a warehouse. A warehouse of cement to be exact. Nagtago kami sa isang tabi and nothing seemed suspicious inside. Kung titingnan ay isa lamang iyong simpleng warehouse but then we hear voices na mukhang papalapit sa amin.

"MG! We can't risk bringing her back to Athena", wika ng boses ng isang babae. Nag-echo iyon sa kabuoan ng warehouse.

MG? Aren't the names of the person's that we suspected as part of the organization had the same codenames?

Mg for Magnesium.

Mn for Manganese.

Pb for Plumbum or lead.

So they're named after the periodic table of elements? Mas lalo kong ikinubli ang sarili ko ng makarinig ako ng boses ng lalaki.

"That weirdo got a diary but Cyanide already got hold of that notebook. Mukhang wala pang nakakabasa niyon", sagot ng lalaki.

Cyanide? So they also include some poisonous chemical huh? If they're talking about the death notebook of Phobie, then that Cyanide really got the note from Khael!

"The organization will handle everything. We'll just make sure na walang nakabasa ng notebook na iyon or else we'll have our assassins silence him."

Napalunok ako ng marinig ang sinabi nito. My life is in line and this is really a suicide mission. Kung sakaling mailigtas ko man si Phobie, I'm killing myself in the process.

"Nasaan ang bata?", tanong ng babae.

"Upstairs. On the operating area", sagot ng lalaki.

"What's the plan?"

"Brain hasn't ordered anything yet so we have to detain that girl habang naghihintay ng utos. By the way, have you contacted Dr. Tricia Mendoza? We need her."

"That's not your concern. Pumunta na tayo sa Assembly room. Naghihintay na ang iba doon", wika ng isa at narinig namin ang mahinang yabag ng mga paa nito. We waited for a while bago kami umalis sa pinagtataguan namin.

"Gray, listen. You go and get Phobie while I will follow them", wika ko kay Gray which made him so surprise.

"What? Are you out of your mind Amber? No one will follow them—"

"No. Makinig ka sa akin Gray, we have to take risks!", wika ko sa kanya. He took a deep breath at may kinuha sa bulsa niya. He must be used to me, being a stubborn.

"That's the transmitter with a wireless tap that Math used on me. Itago mo yan", he said and he put the small button-like thing on my palm.

"This is a dangerous game Gray but we have to do something. Bilisan mo na at hanapin mo sa taas si Phobie", wika ko and I immediately ran towards the direction where I hear their footsteps.

Habang lumalayo ako ay nagiging kaunti na lamang ang nakaimbak na semento doon. I heard a door shut ahead of me kaya agad akong nagmadali doon.

I found the door at malamang doon pumasok ang dalawang tao na sinusundan ko. In my mind is a question what was this organization's name and their aim?

Inilapit ko ang tenga ko sa pinto ngunit wala akong marinig doon. Suddenly I heard footsteps coming closer! Nagpanic ako and I look for a place to hide ngunit walang ibang maaring pagtaguan doon maliban sa mga drum na nasa gilid ng pinto. I immediately jumped inside a drum at pinigilan ang sarili kong mabahing!

God! It has dry cement at masakit iyon sa ilong! Mas lumapit pa ang mga yabag hanggang sa bumukas ang pinto na nasa tabi ko. Then I heard voices of people chatting from the inside ngunit I can't do anything to see them.

I almost stopped breathing when I heard a voice beside me. Basing on the voice, nakatalikod ito sa akin so I slowly lift my head to take a peek from the inside. Madilim naman sa bahaging iyon kaya walang makakakita sa akin.

Fear creeped into my mind when I saw the people. Most of them are in lab gowns. May nakilala ako, an award-winning Phycisist and a known chemist. What the hell are they doing here? Ibig sabihin ay bahagi sila ng organisasyon?

Bigla na lamang akong napatago ulit nang marinig ko ang sinabi ng babaeng nakatalikod sa akin. "What noise? Paano naman nagkaroon ng bug dito? This place is safe."

Shit! The transmitter in me! Agad kong nilabas iyon mula sa bulsa at tinapon sa loob. The conference table was a distance from the door kaya walang makakapansin kapag may butones na itapon doon.

"Oh maybe the signal. Tago ang warehouse na ito kaya asahan mong mahina ang signal. Anyway, I'll call you later", wika ng babae at pinatay ang tawag. My heart almost stop beating. Kapag nahuli ako dito ay malamang hindi na ako sisikatan ng araw.

Mas dumoble pa ang kaba ko nang magsalita ang babae. "Hey! What are these drums doing here?", tanong niya. She must be referring to the drums where I am hiding! Naramdaman ko ang panlalamig ng mga palad ko.

"I don't know. Check them", sagot ng isang boses. It wasn't loud but I was able to hear it.

My heart almost leaped out of its cage. God! Ito na ba ang katapusan ko? I still have so many dreams in my life and I can't die yet but it seems that this will be the end of me.

"Oh. I'll have the workers take care of them", wika ng babae and then I heard a door shut. Saved!

I waited for a while bago ako lumabas sa loob ng drum. My black outfit became white due to the contents of the drum but I don't mind. I need to get out of here alive. The wireless tap is inside the assembly room so I need to see Math immediately at ng marinig ko ang pag-uusapan nila.

"Amber."

I heard a voice calling my name and I figured out na nagmula iyon sa miniature transceivers and it was Gray's voice.

"Gray? Where are you?", tanong ko sa kanya.

"At the car. Kasama ko na si Phobie. Bumalik ka na dito!"

Nagtago ako nang makarinig ako ng mga yabag. Damn! I have to get out of here as fast as I could!

Nang makalampas ang mga yabag sa akin ay nagmadaling umalis ako sa pinagtaguan ko.Nang makalabas ako sa warehouse ay agad kong tinakbo ang lugar kung saan nakapark ang kotse ni Cooler. I was covered in sweat when I reached the car. Humihingal pa ako nang makapasok ako sa loob ng kotse kung nasaan si Gray at si Phobie. She's already conscious but she's too weak to speak
.

"Phobie, okay ka lang ba?", tanong ko sa kanya.

Dahan-dahan siyang tumango sa akin. Cooler started the engine and we fled out of that area bago pa man may makakita sa amin.

"What did they do to you?", tanong ko sa kanya. She's pale and she can hardly breathe. Mukhang matindi ang pinagdaanan nito sa kamay ng mga taga organisasyon.

She raised her black shirt and she showed me an incision in her lower abdomen! No doubt! She's used as a human carrier of that drug! The lacerations her in tummy must really hurt a lot! I felt sorry for her.

"Listen Phobie. I have read your notebook but unfortunately, hindi ko nababasa lahat ngunit nakuha na iyon ng taga organisasyon. Please tell me more about the organization", wika ko sa kanya.

She gasped for some air and she tried to talk ngunit halos walang boses ang lumabas sa bibig nito kaya hindi ko na lamang ito pinilit.

"No. Don't force yourself. That can wait", wika ni Gray.

"Saan tayo papunta?", tanong ni Cooler. He took a look at us from the rear view mirror. "Are we heading back to Athena?"

"No!", tanggi ko. "It's not safe—"

Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko ng bigla na lamang may tumunog na cellphone. I reached for my jean's pocket at tiningnan ang cellphone ko. Weird, it wasn't my ringtone and as I have remembered, I have it in silent mode. Nang tingnan ko iyon ay hindi nga ang cellphone ko nag tumutunog.

I looked at Gray at parang naintindihan naman nito ang tinging iyon, he checked for his phone but just like mine, it wasn't the one which was ringing at the moment.

Parehas namin tiningnan ng masama si Cooler. "What?, he asked.

"Answer your phone", wika ko sa kanya. He reached for his phone on the dashboard but it still wasn't the phone which was ringing.

Tiningnan namin si Phobie. Kinapa ko ang bulsa niya and there I saw an expensive phone. And an unregistered number was calling. Agad kong sinagot iyon ngunit hindi ako nagsalita.

"It took you so long to picked up the phone huh? Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pakay mo at kinuha mo ang batang iyan", wika ng boses ng lalaki. It was a loud and scary voice and I suspect that the owner must be a big and muscled man. Pinindot ko ang loudspeaker button upang marinig din ng iba iyon.
"Boy, I admire your courage for coming here", wika ng boses. Bahagya itong tumawa. "There are installed CCTV's here and you're lucky that you have a hood. Hindi namin masyadong naaninag ang pagmumukha mo but I'm telling you boy, you can't escape us."

The man on the phone must be referring to Gray when he said 'boy'. Damn! This is really very dangerous! Kung ganoon ay nakita din ba ako sa CCTV na naroon? No, it's impossible. I hid on the dark places kaya marahil ay walang mga nakainstalled na CCTV cameras doon.

"You're tongue's cut boy? Oh by the way, I also had the blurry image of your female companion. Hanga ako sa tapang ninyo but like I've said you can't escape us."

I saw Gray's expression darkened. Huminga siya ng malalim bago kinuha sa kamay ko ang cellphone. Don't tell me he's going to talk with that guy?

"What does that mean?", tanong ni Gray. Just as I thought. This guy's fearless! Paano na lamang kung maidentify nila ang boses niya? The risks are high!

Muling tumawa ang lalaki mula sa kabilang linya. "The girl has served her purpose. We don't need her and what do you think we'll gonna do with her?"

"Hindi ko maintindihan ang ibig mong sabihin."

We can all hear the guy's evil laughter at naiinis ako sa paraan ng pagtawa nito. "We're hitting three birds with one stone. Have a safe departure my friends", wika ng lalaki and the line was cut off. The car's air conditioning system was activated yet we're both sweating.

"Anong ibig niyang sabihin?", tanong ko kay Gray but he shrugged his shoulders at napasabunot sa buhok habang nag-iisip.

He's hitting three birds with one stone? I checked if a car was tailing us but I saw nothing. Ano nga ba ang maaring naiplano nito na makakaapekto sa aming tatlo? Of course, he must be referring to me, Gray and Phobie. Cooler was excluded, hindi marahil nito alam ang tungkol sa driver ng getaway car namin. Sinulyapan ko si Phobie sa tabi namin. She can hardly talk. Does that mean that –

Agad kong kinapa ang katawan ni Phobie checking for something. Kinapa ko rin ang braso niya na natatabingan ng malaki at itim nito na jacket and there I saw something. A bump near her arm. Agad kong tinanggal ang suot niyang jacket and I gasped when I saw a bomb! It was a small and difficult design of a bomb.

"Let's trade seats", wika ni Gray at agad akong nakipagpalit ng upuan sa kanya. He examined the bomb for a while but it only had less than ten minutes in its timer. Minsan nang nakadis-arma ng bomba si Gray so maybe he can do this one.

"Four wires but I have never seen a bomb of this design. Small but I'm sure this is deadly. This bomb is specially made", wika niya habang tinitingnan ang maliit na bomba na nakastrap sa braso ni Phobie. It wasn't just strapped but it was locked using a small chain which was connected around her body.

"They're devils!", wika ko nang makita kung gaano sila katuso. They really locked the bomb on her! Matapos nilang gamitin si Phobie arrrgh! I hate them.

Huminga ng malalim si Gray. "Do you have something that can cut wires?", tanong ni Gray but I shook my head. I only have my cellphone with me.

"There's a small knife here, maybe it can help", wika ni Cooler at agad kong kinuha ang maliit na kutsilyo na nasa dashboard ng kotse niya and I handed it to Gray.

His breathes were heavy as he tried to decide which wire to cut first. Phobie had a horrified look nang malamang may nakakabit na bomba sa kanya. Maybe her body was too numb to feel anything kaya hindi niya naramdaman na may bomba pala na nakadikit sa kanya.

"H-help m-me", nahihirapang wika nito. Tears started to form on her eyes so I tried comforting her. I'm not good in these things ngunit sinubukan ko pa rin.

"Don't worry Phobie, we will help you", wika ko sa kanya ngunit hindi ko na alam kung ano pa ang pwede kong idugtong sa sinabi ko sa kanya. Tears keep falling from her eyes at gayundin ang pawis na tumutulo sa mukha ni Gray. He cut a yellow wire and nothing happened.

It's not easy disarming the bomb. Nasa kamay ni Gray ang kaligtasan namin. If he happened to cut the wrong wire, all four of us will be dead. Tumunog muli ang cellphone na nakuha naming sa bulsa ni Phobie at agad iyong sinagot ni Gray.

"I see. So you're trying to disarm the bomb? Listen boy, I'm amazed that you have the courage to disarm a bomb. You must be something. I'll be glad having you in our organization—"

"I will never be in your organization! Are you watching us? Paano mo nalamang sinusubukan kong idis-arma ang bomba?", tanong ni Gray.

Muling tumawa ang lalaki. "I wish I am at nang makita ko ang mga reaksyon sa mukha ninyo but unfortunately, I only have some information here via sensor in that bomb that a wire's being cut. I had bad news for all of you, you may be able to cut the wire that can stop the timer but once you did it, an automatic computer detonator will be activated. Ibig sabihin, kapag napahinto ninyo ang oras ay magiging computer-detonated ang bombing iyan and our physicist who made that thing only gave a five seconds allowance and after that allowance, the bomb will explode itself. Happy trip to hell my good little friends!", wika ng lalaki at agad na pinatay ang tawag.

Paulit-ulit na napamura si Gray. Muli niyang hinarap ang bomba na nasa braso ni Phobie who was now crying hard without a sound. Patuloy lamang sa pagtulo ang ng mga luha nito.

Maybe she can't make a sound since her throat must be sore. Ilang araw marahil itong umiyak dahil sa sinapit niya.

I felt the tension inside the car at maging si Cooler na nagmamaneho lamang ay ramdam ko ang kaba sa kanya. With one wrong move, we'll all be crisp to burn in just five seconds! When I stared at the time on the bomb, there's only less than six minutes left. Maingat na tinitigan ni Gray ang bawat bahagi ng bomba, as if he's trying to study every detail of it. If the guy on the phone's word is just to trick us, we'll be lucky then. But I don't think that he's joking. I saw chemist and known physicist inside the assembly room kaya marahil nagsasabi ito ng totoo. Gray cut the blue wire and still nothing happened. The timer was still moving.

"Gray...."

Pinahid niya ang pawis sa noo niya. "Amber. Please call Khael", wika niya sa akin at agad naman akong sumunod sa sinabi niya. After few rings ay agad iyong sinagot ng huli. I turned the speakers on.

"Special A—"

"Alonzo, help us. Please", wika ni Gray in a desperate voice. It's the first time that I have heard him sounds so helpless.

"Silvan, anong nangyayari? How can I help you?", wika ni Khael. Mukhang nabahala na rin ito.

"I'm facing a specially-made time-bomb that will explode if I had the timer stopped. I don't know what to do. I'm with  Amber and Phobie as well as Cooler. Help us", wika ni Gray.

"Gray alam mong ikaw ang mas magaling pagdating sa mga ganyang bagay but I'll try to do something. What does the bomb look like?"

"Small yet I sensed that it's really dangerous. May apat na wire, red, blue yellow and black. The blue and yellow are cut at hindi ko na alam kung anong isusunod. I have never seen a bomb of this design", wika ni Gray. Patuloy pa rin ang walang humpay na pagtulo ng luha ni Phobie which really pressured Gray.

"How about the time? How much was left?", tanong ni Khael.

"Less than three minutes", sagot ni Gray. "Mik..." He really sounded so desperate. Mukha itong bata na humihingi ng tulong sa kakampi nito.

Ang tanging maririnig sa loob ng kotse ay ang madalas na pagbuntong-hininga ni Gray at ang paghikbi ni Phobie. I felt so useless. Wala akong magawa upang makatulong. I don't have knowledge on such things and maybe I'll mess up everything if I will interfere. He remained still few moments upang makapag-isip and there was only a minute left.

Panay pa rin ang pag-eencourage ni Khael sa kanya mula sa tawag but it seems like he's losing his hope.

Sa gulat namin ay kinuha ni Phobie ang kutsilyo mula kay Gray and then she cut the red wire. Hindi ko alam kung iyon nga ba ang gusto niyang putulin o iyon lamang ang kaya niyang putulin gamit ang isang kamay.
I almost stopped breathing when she was able to cut the wire and the bomb's time is still moving.

Parehas kaming nagulat sa ginawa niya and no one dared to move until we realize that the time left is only ten seconds. Patuloy ito sa pagtakbo.

Ten.

Nine.

I felt a sudden fear in me. Ito na ba ang katapusan namin? Gray was still too shocked to move.

Eight.

Seven.

I tried getting the knife from Phobie upang pigilan ito kung ano man ang naisip nito but she was able to move the knife out of my reach. She's consuming her last stock of energy in her body.

Six.

Five.

Saka lamang nakagalaw si Gray at tinangkang agawin ang kutsilyo mula kay Phobie ngunit mas nauna itong putulin ang huling wire na natititra sa braso nito.

Four.

Three.

I closed my eyes and tried to say my silent prayers. This will really be the end of us at hindi ko inaasahang sa ganitong paraan ako mamamatay. I have survived Marion and the other threats in my life but this one's tough. Nang dahan-dahan kong buksan ang mga mata ko, the bomb stopped at two but then there was a blue blinking light and the time changed into a countdown of five seconds!

Shit!

Bago pa man ako nakaisip ng posibleng solusyon sa problema namin ay naramdaman kong bumukas ang pinto ng kotse na nasa tabi ko. Phobie opened that door!

"Genesis. The Genesis. That's the name of their organization. An organization which smuggles specially-made drugs", wika ni Phobie. She tried all her best to speak kahit pa mukhang nahihirapan ito. I screamed my heart out when I saw what happened next. She jumped of the car from the open door beside me!

Agad na pinahinto ni Cooler ang kotse at agad akong lumabas. Ilang saglit lamang ay narinig na namin ang malakas na pagsabog and I saw Phobie's body burned as she flew passed the guardrail at nahulog sa ibaba kung saan ito patuloy na nasunog.

"PHOBIEEEEEE!!!!!!"

I ran towards the near guardrail at tinanaw siya sa ibaba. It was a loud explosion and that area was not residential. The sides were cliffs that weren't that high. I felt the hot liquids ran down my face and then everything went black.

When I gained consciousness, I saw familiar faces na nakatunghay sa akin.

"Gray?" Nang lingunin ko ang paligid ay nakita ko ang seryosong mukha ni Khael at ni Gray. Ryu was on one side too, smirking all his way at nakapamulsa naman sa gilid si Khael. He also has a worried expression on his face. Nakaupo rin sa isang upuan si Mnemosyne while crossing her legs. I'm at the Vander Mansion, I'm sure. When I remembered everything ay naging hysterical na ako.

"G-gray... Phobie is..." I felt my tears starting to fall again and I leaped out of bed ngunit pinigilan ako ni Khael.

"Please remain calm Special A –"

"No! Phobie..."

"Amber, huminahon ka", pag-alo ni Gray sa akin but what happened kept on playing on my mind. We didn't save Phobie!

"Phobie....."

"We did our best Amber. You did your best and so as Gray but we can't do anything about it", wika ni Cooler. "Please remain yourself calm."

Naging hudyat iyon sa akin upang magwala. I'm a failure! Nasayang lamang ang lahat ng pinaghirapan namin to retrieve her yet in the end ay talo pa rin kami. We didn't save her!
I saw Mnemosyne got up from her seat at lumapit sa akin. She had a syringe in her hand.

"I've got no other choice. Sorry", wika niya at tinusok iyon sa braso ko and then I felt my body became weak bago ako nawalan ng malay.

******************************

It's been two days since we searched for Phobie. Two days since we followed the guy in a lab gown who got her. Two days since Gray and I went inside the warehouse that was actually a hideout of those mad scientists. Two days since we retrieved Phobie yet lost her. Two days since Gray tried to disarm a specially made bomb but wasn't successful. Two days since we witnessed Phobie explode. Two days after all those events and it keeps haunting me.

Napapanaginipan ko iyon tuwing gabi and I woke up sweaty in the middle of the night.

The saddest part is that no one in Athena knew about it. They didn't even wonder of her disappearance. Kasalukuyan akong nakikinig sa klase and Zywon was sitting on my side. Dalawang araw na din ng sinabi niya sa akin na hindi ko kasalanan ang nangyari kay Phobie. He tried talking to me but I was the one who avoided him. It's like the tables are turned now. Kung dati ay ito ang tila ayaw na makausap ako, ngayon ay ito naman ang gustong kausapin ako. Hindi lingid sa kaalaman niya ang nangyari and how depressed I was after that incident.

But last night I had made a good decision in my life. It's risky yet I'm determined to do it. Naisip kong walang patutunguhan ang ginagawa kong pagmumokmok and shutting myself from others so I have decided. I need to be thankful for what I have rather than frustrated about what I don't have. If I haven't saved Phobie, no need to get too frustrated. I can't have a better tomorrow if I keep on thinking about yesterday all the time. Iwawaksi ko na sa isip ang nangyari recently and bring back the old me ngunit sisiguraduhin ko na wala nang iba pang mabibiktima ang Genesis. Yes, that was the last words of Phobie before she died. She named the organization as Genesis.

"Hey Zywon, may naisip ka na bang isuot para sa black and white acquaintance party this Friday?", tanong ko kay Zywon nang tumunog ang bell, tanda na break time na. Nagulat ito saglit sa tanong ko. I was silent for the past two days at maging si Khael at Jeremy ay hindi ko kinausap and now I just asked him something about the acquaintance party.

"Ako ba ang kausap mo?", he asked and he pointed himself.

I rolled my syes at him. "Ikaw lang ang Zywon dito diba? Edi ikaw."

Nagtatakang tiningnan niya ako bago sumagot. "I'm not sure. Hindi pa ako sigurado ako kung dadalo ba ako."

I frowned at him. "Well I'm looking forward on seeing you", nakangiting wika ko sa kanya at iniwan siya. I went towards Khael and Jeremy na palabas na rin sana ng classroom. Hindi nila ako ginambala nitong mga nakaraang araw after I refused to everything they offer to me, even their company. They gave me space and time at hindi ako pinilt.

"Yow guys", wika ko sa kanila. Saglit na nagkatinginan silang dalawa bago ako nilapitan ni Jeremy at sinalat sa noo.

"Normal", wika niya kay Khael. "Hindi kaya nasa loob yung lagnat niya- ugh."

He stopped when I slapped his tummy. The same Jeremy Martinez, crazy and weird. To my surprise, he hugged me tightly.

"Welcome back Bestie! Oh my God! I'm starting to have teary eyes", wika niya at napasimangot si Khael sa kanya.

"Ayos ka lang ba Special A?", he asked and I nodded.

"Yup, don't worry about me Khael. Naisip kong walang patutunguhan ang ginagawa ko. It won't bring back Phobie so moving on is the best thing to do", nakangiting wika ko sa kanya.

"I'm glad you're back", he said and he smiled at me. A genuine smile.

"At dahil bumalik na si Bestie, manlilibre ako ng ice cream at pizza!", Jeremy said at hinila kaming dalawa ni Khael sa cafeteria.

Nang makarating kami doon ay nag-order nga ito at nang makabalik ito sa mesa ay agad kong kinausap sila tungkol sa paparating na acquaintance party.

"May naisip na ba kayong outfit for the acquaintance party?", tanong ko sa kanila.

"Hmmm, ayokong magsuot ng black suit tapos puti ang inner. Magmumukha akong waiter. Speaking of waiter, I have a question", wika ni Je.

"What?"

"If you're waiting for the waiter in a restaurant, aren't you a waiter yourself?", tanong nito which made me and Khael frowned. "What? Totoo naman diba?"

"Ewan ko sayo Jeremy."

"At dahil bumalik na si Bestie, babalik na ulit ang quiz ko!", masiglang wika nito.

"Hindi nawala ang puns mo Jeremy. Naumay ako sa loob ng dalawang araw", wika ni Khael.

"Hindi mo kasi gets ang quizzes ko kaya puns ang tawag mo. But today is different. We'll have a Japanese language lesson. Ano ang Japanese sa sasakyan?", he asked with a grin.

"Dunno. I'm not a Japanese", nakangiwing sagot ni Khael. When Je looked at me, I also shrugged my shoulders.

"Hay ang slow niyo! Akala ko pa naman genius kayo. Yung quizzes ko kasi, only genius can understand, ganoon. Edi Suzuki! AHAHAHAHA", he started laughing ngunit agad ding naputol nang magtanong siya muli. "Ano ang sabi ng Japanese kapag tinatanong ka niya ang tungkol sa mga gamit mo?"

"Hindi ko alam."

"Edi ARIMOTO? Pag may makita kang Japanese, tapos may dalang gamit tanungin mo. Uy, ARIMOTO? HAHAHHAHAHA", he laughed which made us scowled at him.Tumigil ito sa pagtawa at nagtanong ulit.  "Diba mahilig sila sa mga suffixes na –san? Anong Japanese term sa pangit?"

"Ewan."

"Edi IWASAN! Eh yung babaeng may dalaw?"

"Mas lalong ewan." Khael and I both shrugged our shoulders.

"Edi NATAGUSAN. Sa mabaho ang kili-kili?"

"Sagutin mo na Je", nakangiwing wika ko sa kanya.

"TAWASAN. HAHAHAHAHA."

"Jeremy you're a hopeless case. Ipapadampot na talaga kita sa City pound", Khael said. Bumaling siya sa akin. "Since you asked about the acquaintance party, are you planning to attend that?"

I nodded at him. Okay lang sa akin. I'm not really fond of socializing but it won't kill me to attend one lalo na at ito lamang ang pagkakataon kong makasali sa party ng Athena.

"Kung ganoon ay alam mo na ang tungkol sa Unfortunate Thirteen?", tanong niya.

"What's that?"

"It's a special acquaintance invitation for the unfortunate 13 people. May labing tatlong tao na makakatanggap ng invitation sa gabi ng acquaintance and they will be brought in a thirteenth room of an antique mansion in a 13th street. The night was of the party will be this Friday which happened to be on 13 also", wika ni Khael and it caught my attention.

"How do they choose the unfortunate 13?"

"I don't know maybe randomly", sagot ni Khael. Bigla na lamang tumunog ang cellphone nito kaya agad naman niya iyong sinagot.

He listened for a while at sumagot. "Maybe an accident." Nakinig ulit ito and it took a while before he answered again. "Call me if you think something is suspicious." After a while he hung up at ngumiti sa amin.

"Sino iyon?", tanong ni Jeremy.

"A friend way back in elementary. He told me about a fire at their school", sagot ni Khael.

Dumating na ang order namin kaya agad namin iyong nilantakan. My mind was now focused on one thing. I want to be a part of the unfortunate 13 on the acquaintance night.

#

-Shinichilaaaaabs♥