Chapter 12: Bring it On

Let's face it. Kahit nagtatampo ako sa kanya noong nagdaang araw, hindi ko pa rin naman maatim na hayaan na lamang ito na makuha ng kung sino mang may dalang baril. When my classmate handed me the letter and the moment that I know that Je's in grave danger, lumambot ang puso ko. That's too gay to hear but I really cannot attempt to let it slide. Nawalan na ako ng mahal sa buhay and I cannot bear to lose another. Not my Jeremy.

Kahit araw-arawin pa niya ako sa kanyang kalokohan, ayos lang iyon sa akin as long as he's fine. At bakit ba suki si Jeremy sa mga kapahamakan? Kapag malaman ko kung sino man ang may pakana ng pagdukot kay Jeremy, I'm sure as hell na magsisisi ito sa ginawa niya! Why him? Isa lang naman siyang inosenting estudyante!?

It took me fifteen minutes before I was able to decode the message that was sent to me. Hindi ako humingi ng tulong kay Math at Gray. Math's still busy with school activities- her duties as the class president while Gray is nowhere to be found. Pagkatapos ng nangyari sa AVR ay hindi ko na siya nakita pa. Right now, Jeremy is my concern. Only few of my classmates had seen Jeremy abducted by the armed girl at wala akong ibang mahingan ng tulong. As much as I want to report to the authority, hindi ko iyon magawa dahil nga binalaan na umano kami ng babae na wag magsumbong.

After decoding the message, I immediately run towards the place that was indicated on the message. My heart was beating fast and I am so dead worry about Jeremy ngunit nang makita ko siya na prenteng nakaupo sa cafeteria, katabi ni Gray at nakaupo naman sa harap nila ang isang babaeng nakasuot ng itim, I almost cursed to death. Jeremy doesn't look helpless but he wasn't smiling too, bagkus ay tila bored na bored ang mukha nito. He doesn't look like a captive dahil wala namang nakatutok na baril sa kanya. He wasn't tied either. Nakahalukipkip lamang ito habang pinapanuod si Gray na nakikipag-usap sa babae.

Uh, I've been tricked for the second time. If he devised this code, hindi siya magsisisi sa magiging direct contact nila ng kamao ko!

The cafeteria door made a sound on my entrance kaya napatingin sila sa direksyon ko. The girl in black rose from her seat at sinalubong ako.

"Oh dear, you're late but that's fine", she said at hinawakan ako sa braso. "Hi Amber!"

Itinaas ko ang isang kilay ko at pilit na inaalala kung kaanu-ano ko ang babaeng ito but nothing really comes to my mind. I tried recalling where I met her pero wala talaga. She kissed my cheeks at iginiya ako sa upuan kung nasaan si Gray at Je. She pulled the chair on her side and guided me to sit there.

"W-what's going on?", I asked in confusion. "I thought Jeremy's abducted."

Mas lalo lamang naging bored ang ekspresyon ng mukha ni Je. He sighed bago sinamaan ng tingin ang babaeng katabi ko. "That's right Bestie. I was abducted by some crazy woman", he said and it only made me more confuse.

"Pia said you were abducted by some sort of armed woman in black."

"Oh, that's me." The woman beside me giggled na tila ba proud pa ito na sabihing siya ang dumukot kay Jeremy and she got a gun. I looked at her and searched for the gun but there was nothing on her. Naintindihan naman niya ang tingin kong iyon kaya inilabas niya ang isang baril mula sa kanyang bag at inilapag iyon sa harap namin. At first glance, I already know that the gun wasn't real. Even though guns are not the most lovable thing for me, I know how to distinguish fake from real one.

"This is a pellet gun that Calvin used to play when he was younger", sagot ng babae. Again, I told myself that Calvin is Jeremy. And who's this woman?! Kasamahan ba ito nung magnanakaw na si Victoria? I looked at Gray as if I'm asking who is this girl beside me but he just shrugged his shoulders and and bit his lower lip. When I turned my gaze at Je, he was massaging his head. He looks so annoyed with the girl's presence.

"Uh, do you mind if I ask what's going on here? I thought- I thought Je's in danger."

"I am really in danger Bestie. Grave danger." Pinaglaruan niya ang naka-serve na pasta na nasa pinggan niya. He threw a glare at the girl but the latter laugh it off.

"Sorry, that's kind of rude. Hindi ko man lamang ipinakilala ang sarili ko after I gave you a code. It was supposed to be for the three of Calvin's friends but Math isn't there and Gray already saw me kaya ikaw na lamang ang natitira so you have all the burden to decode it all by yourself."

So she's the one who made the code and plotted a drama na nasa panganib si Jeremy. Anong trip niya sa buhay? Nag-alala ako kanina and it all come to waste dahil gawa-gawa lamang nila iyon. Can anyone tell them not to do practical jokes like this one because it's not really fun.

"Oh, I'm Christine Jewel Martinez. Ate ako ni Calvin, hi!", she smiled and flashed a sweet smile habang nagwe-wave ng kanyang kamay na para bang isa itong beauty queen. "Saan ka nga pala galing?"

Oh, Jeremy's sister? I know na may mga kapatid si Je but I didn't expect them to be coming here and introduce themselves to us. Sa ilang taong pagiging magkaklase namin ni Je, ngayon lang yata nangyari na binisita siya ng kapatid niya. And Jeremy doesn't seem to be happy to see her.

"I went to chase the thief", sagot ko sa kanya. She looks kind and sweet so I feel oblige to answer her question of my whereabouts. "Someone stole my schoolmate's phone."

"Really? That's bad."

Yeah, it really is. Victoria returned the phone and stole mine instead. Ngayon ay nais ko tuloy pagsisihan kung bakit nagpaka-hero pa ako kanina. As much as possible, I don't want to spend more lalo na ngayong ulila na ako. I have trust fund and others left by Dad pero hindi ko pa nakakausap ang family lawyer namin. Ayaw ko rin namang humingi kay Mommy. Baka singilin pa ako ni Ryu kapag nagkataon!

"And you coming here is bad too. Pwede ba Jewel, umuwi ka na", Je said pero hindi siya pinansin ng kanyang kapatid.

"Don't mind my baby brother. Nagtatampo kasi yan kase hindi ko nirereplyan sa chat. Mga iPhone ba ang ninakaw?" I nodded my head as reply. She shook her head at tila frustrated sa nangyari. "Tsk. No wonder kung bakit ninakaw. Pero may ikinapagtataka nga pala ako. I think you and Gray can answer this question that keeps on bothering me for so long."

Gray focused her attention on Ate Jewel samantalang tinakpan naman ni Je ang tenga niya. Looks like he doesn't want to hear what his sister is about to say.

"Ano po iyon?", Gray asked politely.

"I'm wondering, kilala niyo ba ang kumagat sa logo ng Apple at bakit hindi niya ito inubos? Hahahahahahahahaha!" Ate Jewel's laughter lingered on the corners of the cafeteria just like Jeremy's. Jeez, confirmed. They really are siblings. At tila alam na ni Jeremy na may paparating na pun that's why he covered his ears.

"Just as I thought", he said. "Jewel, umuwi ka na."

"Call me Ate."

"Jewel."

"Ate!"

"Jewel!"

"Ate!"

"Jewel! Jewel! Jewel!"

"Ate! Ate! Ate!"

They began teasing each other samantalang nagkatinginan naman kami ni Gray. I guess we share the same sentiment. How do we make these two quiet?

"Ewan ko sa'yo! Sasabihin ko kay Mommy na wag kang bigyan ng allowance!", Ate Jewel said at naghalukipkip ito.

Jeremy sighed. "Fine!"

"Fine what?"

"Fine Ate!", he said, stressing on the Ate. Oh well, Ate Jewel just won. She laughed victoriously bago tumingin sa akin.

"Oh, Amber. How were you able to decode my message?"

Ah, her message. Kung titingnan ay parang napakahirap niyon but then it was actually pretty basic. She just used the Polybius square and inserted the numerical substitution of the letters in the middle at ginamit ang Romam numerals.

"Just Polybius square."

By arranging the letters in the square and using its numeric substitution, madali lamang iyon. I was just a bit confused on the roman numerals first.

1 2 3 4 5
1 A B C D E
2 F G H I/J K
3 L M N O P
4 Q R S T U
5 V W X Y Z

Then substituting the letters with numbers, A will be 1, B is 2, C is 3 and so on. Then it was expressed in Roman numerals which means that 4XVIII3 is S since it is on the fourth row and third column, XVIII is 18 which represents the letter S. 1V5 is E since it is on the first row and fifth column and V is the roman numeral for 5. When I deciphered it, I got the message "See you at the Cafeteria".

"Ahh! I'm impressed!", she said after I explained. "Alam niyo bang nababaliw na yan si Calvin? Minsan nilo-lock niya ang ref at nag-iiwan ng cipher- and that's how I learned all about codes. I'm not as good as the two of you though."

Tumayo si Jeremy at hinila ang kapatid niya. "That's enough. Umuwi ka na ATE. Gray, take care of Bestie while I take care of this old woman."

"But I still didn't meet Math-"

"Saka na." Jeremy continued pulling her sister out of the cafeteria. Naging awkward tuloy ang paligid ng kami na lamang ni Gray ang naiwan sa mesa.

Napayuko lamang ako at tinitigan ang pagkain na nasa mesa. I know he is staring at me right now and I don't have the guts to meet his gaze. I don't know why I cannot meet his eyes. Maybe I am afraid that he might see how vulnerable I am. Kahit hindi ko man aminin, alam kong nakikita na niya iyon. But I am still afraid. I fear that he might read everything through me at maaring makita niya ang mga paghihirap ko. Well the worst disease is fear and I am afraid of it. I fear everything that he might able to see in me.

I am making myself strong dahil wala akong aasahan kundi ang sarili ko lamang. I thought Gray's about to say anything but he only scowled. Akala ko ay dahil iyon sa akin but when I looked at him, he was looking on my back. Sumulyap ako sa likuran ko and saw a devil approaching.

What's with Ryu? Napapadalas yata ang pagdalaw niya sa Bridle?! Okay sana kung pinayagan na niya ang gusto ko but then he only come to pester me and destroy my day. Bago pa man tuluyang makalapit si Ryu ay tumayo na si Gray. For a second, I thought he will meet Ryu but he only sat beside me. He pulled his chair and made it very close to me. Err, anong problema niya?

When Ryu cleared his throat, Gray turned on his back and acted like he was surprised to see him. "Ryu. Nandito ka pala."

"Fool yourself little cousin." He looked at me and let out his famous smirk.

I gave him a glare. "Labas-pasok ka yata sa Bridle?"

"Well, the gates were open. I was looking for a mascot but was surprised to see that it was a kind reindeer this time unlike yesterday", he said. Yeah, natapos din ang shift ko bilang tao sa loob ng mascot. And why would he bother to see me? Baka nag-eenjoy siyang makita na nahihirapan ako! Tsk! This sadist devil! That's the most plausible reason why he come to see me.

"I don't know why you are tailing Amber lately", Gray said. What the hell? Where did he get the idea that Ryu is tailing me? False information. Tss!

"May kailangan ka ba sa kanya?" Gray's voice is loud and firm but it wasn't enough to make Ryu shake. Hindi iyon sapat upang takutin ang devil na si Ryu. Takutin mo man ito ng multo, mas matatakot pa ang multo sa kanya.

"It's the other way round. Si Amber ang may kailangan sa akin", he said. Gray turned his look on me at dali-daling umiling naman ako. Meh! There's no way that I will tell him about my favor with Ryu.

"W-wala no."

"Wala. See? Amber needs nothing from you. You may now leave." Wow Gray, that sounds so authoritative. Like Ryu will follow. ~

"Meron."

"Ryu!", I gave him a warning look. Hindi pwedeng sabihin niya kay Gray ang tungkol doon. And why did he come here? Okay sana kung papayag na siya sa hinihingi ko but then I know that he just went here to bring out the beast in me. Diyan siya magaling eh. Ang mabwesit.

"Umalis ka na."

Ryu smirked at Gray. "The last time I checked, Bridle High School is owned by someone named Arman Bridle and not by the Vanders. So basically, you have no right to send me out."

Hindi sumagot si Gray at sa halip ay nagsukatan sila ng tingin and it seems that none of them is giving up. Tumikhim ako upang agawin ang atensyon nilang dalawa. Si Gray ang unang nagbawi ng tingin at nagsalita.

"You don't have business here Ryu kaya wala kang pagkakaabalahan dito."

"Don't order me around Little couz because the last time I checked, I am older than you by three years so maybe I have the right to order you around", he said clicking his tongue. Eh? Ano na namang problema niya? Puro siya 'the last time I checked.'

"Ah, you should know that I don't believe in seniority. Not from you", sagot ni Gray na para bang wala lang sa kanya ang sinabi ni Ryu. Ryu's older and a bit taller ngunit wala lamang iyon kay Gray. Hindi naman sa inaasahan kong magsuntukan sila but looking at it, Ryu's a devil. Well, Gray got his devil side too so I guess they match pretty well.

"Pwede bang magpatayan na lang kayo doon sa labas- ah no. Do it in your mansion. Makisali kayo doon sa trip ng dalawang reaper niyo. Go Ryu, take Gray to the Vander mansion at doon niyo ipagpatuloy yan", wika ko sa kanila with matching chinky eyes. Mukhang ano mang oras ay magsasaksakan na sila.

"How about let's do it with a game little couz", Ryu said. Meh, what's up with the two of them?

"Fine with me, ano namang laro?"

I sighed in frustration. These two are hopeless case. Mukhang wala na nga akong magagawa upang mapatigil sila sa kahibangan nila. Fine then!

"Pare tayo na sa gym! Dalhin mo yung basketball!", one student shouted on the door. Tinatawag nito ang isang lalaki mula sa kabilang mesa.

Ryu looked at the guy with a smirk. Pagkatapos niyon ay tumingin siya kay Gray na tila na naisip niya ang pinakamagandang ideya sa buong mundo.

"I guess we have the same thing in mind", Gray said. "Let's make it clear, the loser will leave Amber alone. For good."

"Bring it on."

Wait.

Are they going to play basketball?!

Oh.

Basketball?

Really.

Uh.

Oh.

My.

God.

Ang lakas naman yata ng mga loob nila. Let me remind them that they suck in playing basketball. Like Hello boys, You're not Khael and Cooler. Nag-uumapaw naman yata ang hangin niyo sa katawan para maglaro ng hindi niyo alam.

But wait.

Playing something that they both suck is actually challenging and fair. Pero bakit kailangan pa nilang maglaro para lamang lumayo sa akin ang isa sa kanila? I'm the one to decide kung may lalayuan man ako. Geez! Matatalino ba talaga sila? Tsk!

NO ONE'S PLAYING!

NO ONE'S PLAYING.

I've been saying it mula pa kanina pero nag-aaksaya lamang ako ng laway at effort sa pagsasalita ngunit wala sa kanila ang nakikinig. One of the common things among Vanders? They're all hardheaded.

I just found them playing in the massive gym of Bridle with lots of students watching. Daig pa yata ang championship ng Varsity ng Bridle laban sa ibang paaralan sa dami ng tao ngayon. It's just a one on one game pero excited ang lahat.

"Waaaah. Nasaan na yung kasama niyong naglaro dati?", I heard one student shouted.

"Ilabas niyo yung kalaro niyong taga- Athena!"

"Kahit wala yung dalawang magagaling maglaro ayos lang!"

"Gray! I love you!"

"Kuyang pogi, iuuwi na kita!"

Meh! What's wrong with the students of Bridle? Akala ko ba tag-ulan ang Disyembre, tag-landi din pala. Pfft. I don't know how many minutes had passed but the two are already sweating and their breaths are ragged.

"Bestie, i-braid na natin tong buhok mo. Hayaan mo mamaya, may sisigaw sa bintana ng dorm mo ng 'Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair", Jeremy teased at bahagyang siniko ako. Inirapan ko siya pero patuloy lamang siya sa pagtawa.

He ignored my glare and focused on the game. The two are already topless na siyang nagpalakas sa sigawan sa gym. The students were cheering loudly at hati ang crowd. Half cheered for Gray and half cheered for Ryu. Nag-eenjoy silang panoorin ang katawan nilang dalawa. Ryu's scarred back was displayed and it only made the girls more crazy.

Kahit halos mawalan na sila ng hininga, none of them has ever scored even once. Ano pa bang aasahan? None of them is a basketball pro kaya hindi na iyon nakapagtataka.

"Bestie, mukhang determinado talaga silang manalo. I'm worried with Gray though", Jeremy said worriedly. "He's sick pero nakikipaglaro pa."

"Let them. Kagustuhan nila iyan. Pinigilan ko na sila kanina but none of them listened to me." Inutusan ko ba silang maglaro? Hindi naman diba? They looked so determined while playing . Gray was holding the ball at kasalukuyan iyong dini-dribble samantalang nakatayo naman sa harap niya si Ryu na handang agawin ang bola ano mang oras. Nang makakita ng daan si Gray ay nilagpasan niya si Ryu at akmang isho-shoot ang bola, but everyone shouted when the ball went out of bounds kasabay ng pagbagsak ni Gray sa sahig.

"Gray!"

Sabay kami ni Jeremy na tumakbo papalapit sa kanya nang bumagsak ito sa sahig. On their previous game, it was Khael who passed out samantalang ngayon naman ay si Gray.

"Let's bring him to the clinic", mungkahi ni Ryu at agad naman itong inalalayan ni Jeremy sa pagbuhat kay Gray patungo sa infirmary.

Uh, they shouldn't play this game anymore.

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs