A/N: It's been a while since I last updated this story, but I've finally decided to edit and post the banked chapters that I wrote a few months ago.  If you're still interested in this story, read on. If you need to re-read, go ahead as well. Enjoy!

TONY

I WAS prepared for almost everything—blackout, earthquake, fire, police raid, etc.— but never for this one. Hindi agad sumagi sa isip na pwede palang mangyari 'to. If I had known beforehand, I could have done something about it. I could have prevented blood from being spilt in the apartment. No, I wasn't being metaphorical here.

Mag-aala-sais na ng gabi. Nakatambay ako sa couch at walang tigil sa pagta-type sa aking laptop. Octavio sat on the opposite end, playing with his tablet, maybe? But I didn't mind his presence. Focused ako sa ginagawa ko. Parang lumilipad na nga ang mga daliri ko sa bawat pindot. The noise must be distracting Octavio because I could hear him clicking his tongue every ten seconds.

The only time I took a pause was when I heard a scream from my room—which was Cleo's room for now.

I was so worried that I quickly threw my laptop to my side, sprang from my seat, and rushed in front of my room door. Medyo exaggerated ba? Maybe she saw a cockroach kaya siya napatili. But I wanted to be sure. Kumatok agad ako sa pinto at hinintay ang kanyang response. For a second, I thought of slamming the door open, especially if it's an emergency, but I contained myself.

"Okay ka lang ba Cleo?"

I leaned my left ear to the door's gap, trying to listen to what was happening inside. But I couldn't hear anything. Napalabas tuloy sa kanyang kuwarto si Emil na bumato sa akin ng nagtatanong na tingin. I shrugged as I had no idea why Cleo screamed.

Hindi ko namalayang gumalaw ang doorknob at biglang bumukas ang pinto. Dahil naka-lean na ang halos buong katawan ko, muntik na akong tumama sa harapan ni Cleo. Mabuti't mabilis ang reflexes ko at agad kong na-regain ang aking balanse. Tumayo ako na kunwari'y walang nangyari.

"May problema ba?"

Cleo couldn't look at me straight in the eye. Nasa sahig ang kanyang tingin na parang nahihiya pa. Her cheeks were almost as red as tomatoes. She's cute when she's blushing.

"Uhm..."

My eyes shot a sideward glance at Emil who came closer.

"May nag-iwan ba ng threatening letter sa kuwarto mo?" tanong niya. Halos magdikit ang kilay ko sa kanya. What kind of question was that? It's impossible for anyone to sneak into our unit without anyone noticing. Unless if the perpetrator was invisible.

Umiling si Cleo, ni hindi rin niya magawang tumingin sa kasama ko.

"Nakaidlip ka ba tapos masama ang panaginip mo?" At least, my question was more plausible than Emil's. We haven't seen her around since the three of us boys held a talk. Mas posible ngang nakatulog siya.

Muling umiling si Cleo, ni hindi pa rin makatingin sa akin.

"Bakit ka napatili?"

"Uh-oh." Emilio clicked his tongue as he craned his neck to see inside my room.

"Tinagusan ako," nahihiyang sabi ni Cleo. Doon pa lang niya naiangat ang kanyang mga mata sa akin.

Napanganga ako at ilang ulit na kumurap ang mga mata.

"T-Tinagusan ka?" Ginaya ko na rin si Emilio at nag-ala-giraffe para makita kung ano ang nasa loob ng kuwarto ko na kuwarto ngayon ni Cleo. I saw a red spot on my bedsheet.

"Sa kamamadali ko, naiwan ko 'yong iba kong napkin sa dorm kaya..." Hindi na tinuloy ni Cleo ang gusto niyang sabihin. We already got it.

"Don't worry about it," I assured her. That was my most favorite bedsheet, but why would that matter now? "Madali namang palabhan ang bedsheet ko. Papalitan ko na lang 'yan mamaya, okay?"

"What?!"

I shut my eyes for a second as Octavio's voice echoed in the room. Hindi maganda ang kutob ko sa sasabihin niya. Whenever he opens his mouth, he'd say either something condescending or outright insulting. Lumapit pa siya sa harap ng kuwarto ko.

"Oh, sh—" He reacted when he saw the pool of blood on my bed.

"Don't overreact," I told him. "Wala naman siyang sinaksak diyan sa kama at hindi 'yan dugo ng tao—I mean, ng ibang tao."

"Saan mo balak ipa-laundry 'yan?" Octavio's glare was intimidating, but I didn't back down.

"Diyan sa tapat." Ngumuso ako sa may pintuan. "'Yan ang pinakamalapit ergo pinaka-convenient sa atin. Alangan namang ipalaba ko pa 'yan sa kabilang kanto."

"Did you know that the ladies in the laundry shop across the street are gossipmongers?" he talked as fast as he could na parang kailangan niyang matapos ang sentence within four seconds. "Ano sa tingin mo ang iisipin nila kapag ipinalaba mo 'yan at nakita ang dugo?"

"Surely, they won't think na may pinatay akong tao," I jested. He should take a chill pill! Why was he getting worked up by this simple mess?

"Given the nature of their hobby, pwedeng itsismis nila 'yan sa landlady natin. At kapag natunugan ng landlady na may kahina-hinala dahil sa dugong 'yan, she might inspect our unit and she'd find out that we're cuddling a person of interest."

Oh. I didn't think of that. Kapag nangyari 'yon, magiging malaking problema nga.

"E 'di itapon natin ang bedsheet para hindi mapansin ng mga tsismosa," I may have said these words in a light tone, pero may kirot sa puso ko na mamaalam sa paborito kong kobre-kama.

"Won't it raise any suspicions that we disposed of a bedsheet?" Octavio asked. Journalist na journalist talaga itong si apat na mata. Walang pinapalampas na tanong. "The garbage collector can check our trash. Hell, the landlady can also check what we're throwing away."

"Ako nang bahala," nahihiya pa ring sabi ni Cleo. "I can clean it later or tomorrow morning. Sanay na rin naman ako sa ganito."

"There! Problem solved!" Emilio exclaimed, motioning to our fourth housemate. "Pero kailangan mo ng matapang na sabon at bleach para tuluyang mawala ang mantsa. Ang concern na lang ngayon ay ang pagpapatuyo niyan. Wala tayong dryer dito sa unit."

"Isampay na lang natin sa harapan pagkaalis natin bukas ng umaga," sagot ko. Wasn't the solution that obvious to them? "Wala naman sigurong kahina-hinala na magsasampay ako ng bedsheet, 'no?"

"If the landlady asks, you can tell her that you peed while asleep," Octavio said in a deadpan tone. "I believe she won't doubt your word."

"Ha-ha-ha," I mockingly laughed at him. "Very funny."

"Uhm..." Muling nagawi ang tingin ko kay Cleo na mukhang nahihiya na naman. "Pwede ba akong humingi ng favor?"

"Sure," agad kong sagot. She wouldn't ask me to do something embarrasing, I supposed.

"Kung pwede sana akong lumabas, ako na ang gagawa nito. Pero... pwede n'yo ba akong bilhan ng napkin? Para sana hindi na maulit 'yan sa susunod na bedsheet."

Oh.

"That's your job, right?" Tinapik ako sa balikat ni Octavio bago siya bumalik sa couch habang nang-aasar akong tiningnan ni Emilio.

"S-Saan ako pwedeng bumili no'n?" I was honestly clueless about these napkins. I never bought one in my entire life!

"Para hindi ka masyadong ma-judge, doon ka na lang sa may convenience store sa may kanto," sagot ni Emilio sabay turo sa kung saan. "Mahirap na, baka may makakita sa 'yong tsismosa sa mga tindahan sa malapit. Baka kung ano pang outlandish na story ang ipakalat nila."

"Sorry kung nakakaabala ako sa inyo," nahihiyang sabi ni Cleo.

"That's okay." I forced a smile at her. Ano pa ba'ng magagawa ko kundi tanggapin ang kapalaran ko na maging tagabili niya ng napkin?

"Samahan na kita," alok ni Emilio. "May kailangan din akong bilhin na gamit sa convenience store. At saka para hindi ka masyadong awkward sa harap ng cashier. Baka pagpawisan ka habang pina-punch niya 'yong napkin."

Was he trying to help me or make fun of me? Either way, I appreciated his company.

"Lalabas muna kami, ha?"

THE CONVENIENCE store was jampacked with students who just had their classes dismissed. And this made the mission a lot more difficult. Many customers meant many pairs of prying eyes. In short, mga tsismoso't tsismosa.

Lumapit ako sa may women's section at pasilip-silip sa mga napkin na nandoon. Cleo told me the specific brand that she preferred. Basta 'yong kulay blue na with wings. Thank God boys don't have to go through that mess every month. 'Yong pagpapatuli lang talaga ang masakit sa aming mga lalaki. Pagkatapos no'n, wala na.

Sa tuwing daraan ako sa women's section at akmang dadakma ng tatlong pack ng napkin, may mga daraan na babaeng estudyante na magtitingin din doon. Hindi tuloy ako makaporma nang maayos. Could they just please be done with buying whatever they needed and leave this freaking convenience store?

"Hindi mo pa rin ba mahanap kung saan ang napkins?" tanong ni Emilio na may iniligay sa bitbit kong basket. "Ano kasing brand ang sinabi niya sa atin?"

I quickly shushed him because I didn't want the students, whose attention he caught, to look at me and remember my face as the man who bought napkins. I wished I wore a hoodie para at least matakpan ang mukha ko. Lumapit si Emilio sa women's section, dumampot ng tatlong pack at inilagay sa basket namin. Within just five seconds, he was done with the job that I couldn't accomplish within five minutes.

"Ano pa'ng tinatayo-tayo mo riyan? Pila na tayo," sabi ni Emilio na nanguna sa akin.

At least the problem was already solved.

May kahabaan ang pila sa convenience store dahil isa lang ang nagmamando sa counter. Pampito kami sa mga nakapila. Hindi pa yata marunong gumamit ng barcode reader 'yong staff kasi paulit-ulit niyang ini-scan ang item pero ayaw ma-read ng system.

Well, I shouldn't feel uncomfortable anymore. No one would look into our basket, see the three packs of napkin, and ask why we bought them. Masyadong weird ang sinumang gagawa no'n.

"Did you know that you can tell a bit about a person based on the items in their basket?"

My eyes widened as I slowly turned around. That familiar and overconfident voice! Saan ko na nga ba narinig 'yon?

That side-swept fringe. That corduroy blazer.

"Julius Claud? JC?" I swallowed the lump in my throat as my eyes met his.

His smiling face flashed a hint of recognition. He must have remembered my face. May hawak-hawak siyang energy drink. "Teka, 'di ba ikaw 'yong na-interview ko kaninang umaga? You're a classmate of the runaway person of interest!"

"Ako nga po," may pagtango kong sagot. Relax, Tony. Kapag nagpakita ka ng kahit anong hint, mahahalata niyang may tinatago ka. Kaya huwag kang titingin sa mga napkin sa basket.

Don't look! Don't look!

"What's your name again? Ah, Stark!" Sir JC clapped his hands once as his face brightened. "You live nearby, don't you?"

I was about to be surprised, but then I looked down at my clothes and slippers. Alam ko na kung paano niya nasabi. I didn't bother to dress up dahil bibili lang ako sa convenience store. Also I didn't want to stand out too much so I didn't change my pambahay clothes. The more plain I looked, the more invisible I'd seem to people around me. Walang basta-basta makatatanda sa akin bilang ang lalaking bumili ng napkin.

"Diyan ako nag-i-stay sa dorm ilang streets mula rito." My thumb jerked to the direction where we came from. "Mukhang katatapos pa lang ng class n'yo, ah?"

"Yeah, quite a tiring day!" Sir JC exclaimed. "Hindi lang ako basta nagtuturo ngayon. Nag-a-assist na rin ako sa police para sa isang case."

"Hey, Tony. Abante na," bulong sa akin ni Emilio na kanina pa nakapokus sa harapan. Ngayon pa lang niya naisipang tumalikod at makita ang kausap ko. Tiningnan niya ito mula ulo hanggang paa. He should have recognized that JC's a college instructor, judging by the latter's uniform.

"Is he your friend?" nakangiting tanong ni JC sabay turo kay Emilio. "He obviously isn't your classmate since I didn't see him during the interview. Full attendance din ang klase n'yo noon kaya imposibleng may absent."

"Pwedeng magkakilala lang kami at hindi magkaibigan," sagot ko, dahilan para mapakunot ang noo ni Emilio sa akin. Hindi naman talaga kami friends.

"Yeah, but you two are sharing the same basket." Ngumuso si JC sa hawak ko. "If you two aren't that close, you'd be using two separate baskets. Tinawag ka rin niya sa preferred nickname mo. I doubt that a mere acquaintance will call you by that name. Tama ba ako?"

This was what exactly made him more terrifying. Some details may be obvious, but not everyone would catch on the tiny details right in front of them. Kaya nga kung makikita niya ang mga binili kong napkin...

"Tama po kayo, sir...?" Kumunot ang noo ni Emilio sa kanya. His tone begged the question, "what's your name?"

"Julius Claud, but you can call me JC," the instructor said, offering his hand to the guy beside me. "I'm a faculty member of the social sciences department. Pleased to make your acquaintance!"

"Oh!" There was a hint of recognition in my companion's face. Surely that did not escape the instructor's notice. Oo nga pala. Nabanggit na namin sa kanya ni Octavio ang tungkol kay JC kanina. "Emilio Letran. Emil na lang ho. Masyado kasing lumang pakinggan ang full name ko."

The two shook hands, exchanging wide smiles as if they were meant to be friends forever.

Sir JC squinted his eyes just a little as he didn't let go of Emilio's right hand. "You knew or heard of me?"

Uh-oh. Baka maging suspicious kung sasabihin niyang naikwento na namin siya. Quick! I needed to save not only me, but everyone in the apartment from being—

"Of course, sir!" Emilio replied, still smiling. "I'm a photojournalist for the Clarion. Isa sa mga nasagap naming balita ay ang involvement ng isang faculty member sa investigation ng Damon case."

Sir JC's lips shaped like the letter "o." "Hindi ko in-expect na umabot na pala sa campus publication ang tsismis tungkol sa akin. You guys must have good sources!"

"Basta kahit anong tsismis, imposibleng magpahuli kami riyan," sagot ni Emilio. He was acting cool in front of a person who's after the girl we're cuddling in our apartment. Kahit na gawa-gawa ang mga sagot niya, hindi halata sa itsura at pananalita niya na kasinungalingan ang mga 'yon. He must be pretty good at lying.

"Medyo mahaba pa ang pila, ah?" pansin ni Sir JC na tumanaw sa counter. May apat pang nasa harapan namin. "Would you mind telling me why two boys are buying napkins?"

Oh, crap. Heto na nga ang pinangangambahan ko. He must be so bored that he took notice of our basket's contents. Could I simply tell him that it's none of his business? Kung hindi lang magiging suspicious, gano'n na gano'n ang isasagot ko sa kanya.

"Tinagusan ho kasi 'yong girlfriend ko." Napakamot sa ulo si Emilio. I was glad that he offered an explanation, but I had doubts whether anyone would be sold by it or not. I mean, I never saw him date anyone. Wala nga siyang dinadala na kahit sino sa apartment. Kung ako ang magsasabi no'n, hindi siguro masyadong kataka-taka. No one would doubt if I told them that I had a girlfriend.

Dahil siya ang naunang sumagot at ayaw kong bigyan ng hint si Sir JC na may something sa sinabi niya, I tried to keep a straight face. That's the best thing I could do. Less talk, less mistake, ika nga nila.

"But why three packs?" Sir JC asked. Bakit ba ang dami niyang tanong? "One pack is already too much. Paano pa kaya ang tatlo, 'di ba? Parang ilang linggong supply na 'yan." He then lowered his voice. "Or are you living in with your girlfriend already? It's not against the rules, but..."

Emilio should have weighed his answer before blurting it out. Parang mako-corner na tuloy kami. Oo nga naman. Kung may girlfriend siya—hypothetically—at tinagusan ito habang bumibisita ng apartment, bakit tatlong pack ang kailangang bilhin? Pwedeng isa lang.

Pwede bang sabihin na "walang basagan ng trip, sir"? Para matapos na 'tong encounter namin?

"Bumisita kasi ako sa dorm niya kanina tapos na-realize niyang wala na siyang napkin," kalmadong sagot ni Emilio. Pinagpapawisan na ako sa loob kahit na malamig sa convenience store, pero siya, chill pa rin hanggang ngayon. "Nagpabili na siya ng stock niya para sa mga susunod na linggo."

Sir JC narrowed his eyes slightly. Sa itsura pa lang niya, mukhang may follow-up question na naman siya. "You two came out of her dorm?"

"No, sir. Nagkasalubong kami ni Tony sa may kanto. Saktong bibili rin siya rito kaya sumabay na ako sa kanya."

"And you two decided to share the same basket kahit na magkaiba ang bibilhin n'yo?"

Napakamot ng ulo si Emilio. Was this the end of his palusot? "Medyo nahihiya kasi ako, sir. Judgmental pa naman ang mga tao ngayon. Mabuti nga't pumayag si Tony na sumabay sa akin. 'Di naman kasi lalaki ang usually bumibili ng napkin."

Sir JC smirked. "Exactly."

"Exactly...?"

"What might be the reason why your girlfriend can't buy the napkins herself?" Sir JC asked, a smirk still plastered across his lips. That didn't seem to mean well for us.

"Natagusan nga ho siya—"

"If she really cares for her boyfriend, she wouldn't have asked you to do something that might embarrass you. Kilala ka naman siguro niya nang husto kaya nga mag-jowa kayo ngayon. Alam niyang mahiyain ka pagdating sa mga ganitong bagay. And yet, she asked you to run errands for her. Or maybe... there's a reason why she couldn't leave her dorm and buy those napkins herself?"

Hindi niya talaga kami titigilan hangga't hindi niya kami nako-corner. I couldn't say if he's just messing with us or he's passing the time by asking questions. Parang siya 'yong prof kong ayaw akong paupuin matapos tawagin sa recitation.

"Na-sprain ang ankle niya kaya hindi muna siya in-advise na lumabas at maglakad-lakad. She's a member of the cheerleading squad. Nag-practice kasi sila kanina tapos nagkamali siya sa routine," mabilis na sagot ni Emilio. May naisip na naman siyang palusot. I knew he's a photojournalist, but he could be a good writer too. Sana hindi kami mabaon nito. "As her concerned boyfriend, binisita ko siya sa dorm niya para i-check kung kumusta na siya."

"That makes sense." Sir JC slowly nodded. "I wish your girlfriend a speedy recovery. Baka na-meet ko na siya before. I don't easily forget the people that I meet in my life."

"Baka nga ho, sir."

Finally our turn came. Pagkasabi ng "next customer, please!" ng taong nasa counter, umabante na ako at mabilisang inilagay sa countertop ang mga bibilhin namin. As expected, napatingin sa akin ang cashier habang pina-punch ang napkins. My eyes averted their gaze, kunwari'y binabasa ang ingredients ng chocolate bar na naka-display.

Once we're done with the errand, we told Sir JC that we're gonna go ahead.

"See you around," he said, smiling at us.

"SO SIYA pala ang JC na sinasabi n'yo ni Vio!" bulalas ni Emilio nang makalayo na kami sa convenience store. I was kinda wary so I was looking behind me every five seconds, checking if that busybody was secretly following us back to our apartment. Mahirap na, baka bigla siyang nanghinala at gustong i-check kung totoo ba ang mga sinabi ni Emilio.

"Ano'ng masasabi mo about sa kanya?" tanong ko bago muling lumingon sa likuran. The street was clear so we're not being followed... unless he had an invisibility cloak or something could make him unseen.

"He's an interesting and terrifying man," sagot ni Emilio na pangiti-ngiti. He didn't seem bothered by that fact. "Isa siya sa iilang tao na mabilis at matalas ang insights. Para akong nagre-recite sa prof ko kanina!"

"Mukhang masaya ka pa, ah? Baka nanghinala na 'yon sa mga pinagsasabi mo. And what's with the girlfriend story? He might check it out. Malalaman niyang nagsinungaling ka sa kanya. He can dig deeper as to why you needed to lie to him."

"Don't worry! My story will check out!"

"May girlfriend ka na talaga?"

"Wala pa!" masiglang sagot niya. "Pero pwede kong pakiusapan 'yong cheerleading squad member na na-sprain na magpanggap na girlfriend ko. One of the perks of being a photojournalist is you get to make friends with your subjects. Kaya confident akong wala siyang mahahanap na butas."

"Make sure na hindi tayo mapapahamak diyan, ah? Kapag nalaman ni Octavio 'yang mga palusot mo, lagot ka."

"I'm not scared of Vio, you know," Emilio said as he looked at me. "Mas takot pa ako kay JC. Nakangiti man ako habang kausap siya, hindi ko made-deny na intimidating ang presence niya. He seems like a good guy though, but he might the one we have to carefully deal with while hiding Cleo. We need to be extra careful around him."

He didn't need to remind me. Ngayo'y mas naiintindihan ko na ang threat na dala ni JC.

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