Chen

Don't go at the Hospital. Meet me at Serendra, use Dash's car, enter his unit. Don't let your bodyguards follow you, please. I'm with Ali. Ali hacked their system, but be careful with the people around. xx

I waited before the crowd was allowed to leave. I was already panicking! I didn't even want to think about it, pero pakiramdam ko nilalamon na talaga ako ng takot. Nanginginig ako habang nag-iisip ng paraan para matakasan ko silang lahat.

Nang gumalaw na ang mga tao, I immediately joined the crowd para hindi ako mahabol ng bodyguards ko. I also told Zachary and Kuya Kirk to leave the vicinity immediately para hindi maghinala 'yung mga tao na wala ang sasakyan ni Dash kaya sabay-sabay rin silang umalis, hinintay ko muna saglit si Dash bago kami nakaalis. I wanted to talk to Uno... but, it felt off. Pakiramdam ko nagkaro'n ako ng kasalanan sa kaniya kaya pinasabi ko na lang din kay Zach...

Damn it. Why am I worrying over petty things like these!?

In-off ko na rin ang cellphone ko para hindi nila ma-track kung saan kami pupunta. I know Zachary and the rest of them wouldn't screw this up...

God... please, no. Please... no.

"Nakita ba kayong umalis nila Gio?" Dash shook his head, checking his phone from time to time.

"They were focused on finding you that they didn't catch us leaving," he said. "What are you going to tell them, Brandi?"

Ngumiwi lang ako, "Bahala na," I said. "I'll tell them I was so worried I couldn't wait them already. They'd understand. They know how important Chen is to me..." Napatingin ulit ako nang bahagya sa kaniya, his eyes still glued on the screen of his phone.

If ever Gio would sense that I did try to escape them... I know he wouldn't screw this up...

I sighed.

"Chen' okay, Dash. You don't have to worry," I said at binilisan ang pagpapatakbo ng sasakyan. I was already at the verge of crying, pero kailangan ko ring maging matatag para kay Dash. The kid's going through a lot already, ayaw ko ng dagdagan pa 'yun.

Shit lang naman...

Bakit ba kasi ang daming nangyayari!?

"You sure no one followed, ha?"

He nodded his head. Napa-buntonghininga na lang ako nang mapatingin kay Dash, he looked pale and scared upon hearing what Gio said a while ago kaya tinulungan niya rin akong makaalis. I didn't really care anymore if they'll report what happened. Pakiramdam ko nga nawawala na'ko sa katinuan...

Hindi ko rin alam kung totoo o hindi, but I needed to risk it. If Chen needed my help, hell be damned, I'd help her as long as I can. Even if it would surpass my abilities to help her, I'd do anything...

Kasi pakiramdam ko 'yun na lang 'yung kaya kong gawin...

Pagkarating namin ng Serendra, pinauna ko munang lumabas si Dash para makapagayos nang kaunti. Their system may have been hacked, but I'm sure there are some people who'd spot me kaya kinapalan ko muna ang paglalagay ng make-up. I was even beyond glad that Dash brought an extra shirt, because I'm sure the media that covered the event had pictures of me.

And also, I can't risk Dash's life in here...

"You okay?" Nginitian ko nang bahagya si Dash at lumabas na ng kotse. Natawa naman siya habang tinitignan ang ayos ko. I'd probably pass as a prostitute with the way I dressed myself.

"Dash," I called him when he was about to walk towards the elevator. He turned around and looked at me bago lumapit nang bahagya. "How many girls have you brought here?"

Dash was taken aback with what I asked. I actually didn't know na may unit siya sa Serendra, ang alam ko lang talaga sa Proscenium lang siya may unit kasi do'n siya madalas umuwi pagkagaling niya sa SBA.

"Tell me."

Dash sighed, "I lost count..." he trailed. "But I stopped, okay? I stopped already," he added, raising both his hands up high.

Natawa naman ako, "Okay," I said, nodding my head. "Pretend like I'm one of your girls." Pinaningkitan naman ako ng mata ni Dash dahilan para mas matawa ako. I pulled him closer to me, tip-toeing para maabot ko siya.

"Do you want to see Chen or not?" He kept silent, but I felt him nod his head several times. Napangiti na lang ako nang bahagya. "Then do as I say. We don't want them to think otherwise, right? Let them think this is your way of rebellion, so nobody else would think that you're still seeing Chen. They can't catch you with me here in Serendra, too, because people would think that you are helping Chen and I. Protecting someone would always mean sacrificing, Dash. Ngayon lang... please."

He paused for a while before he nodded his head.

"Fine. You didn't have to conduct your speech here." I laughed.

I didn't really like the feeling of having someone close to me in a tight space, but I needed to act like I wanted it—even when I'm so close to having panic attacks, because it just felt suffocating.

"You okay?" Dash whispered against my ear, my arms encircled around his neck, his hands on my waist—holy shit, if people were to watch this CCTV Footage, we'd really look like we're kissing.

God. I'm sorry.

Pagkalabas namin ng elevator, hinayaan ko lang na nakaakbay sa akin si Dash. I knew the hallway had CCTV installed kaya tinago ko nang kaunti ang mukha ko sa may leeg ni Dash. Pagkapasok namin sa unit niya, mabilis akong bumitiw sa kaniya at napasandal na lang sa may dingding.

"Okay ka lang?" I was catching my breath for a while habang nakapikit, bago ako napatango kay Dash. I opened my eyes at napangiti na lang nang tapikin niya ang balikat ko.

"Unit's soundproofed so no one really knew that we broke the wall a little," he said, opening the curtains on the wall. Natawa ako nang makita 'yung butas.

"You're crazy," I said, laughing, bago kami pumasok doon. I looked at Dash, his eyes started to pool with tears when he saw Chen talking to Ali.

I couldn't help myself but to cry, too. Probably for the love they might never have...

For the freedom that we may never have, too.

"Chen," I called her. Agad siyang napalingon sa'min, mabilis na lumapit at niyakap ako nang mahigpit. I knew it would feel weird crying out loud, but for now... it felt like it somewhat eased the pain we were both feeling.

So, I did.

I cried hard to let it all out.

Kahit ngayon lang.

"What happened? What... happened?" I asked, repeating my words over and over again. Chen bit her lower lip, wiping her tear-stained face.

"Mukha kang sira," natatawa niyang sambit at inabutan ako ng wipes. I suddenly remembered how I looked kaya bigla akong tinablan ng hiya. Natawa na lang din ako at iniabot 'yung wipes.

"How's the preparation?"

Chen shrug her shoulders, "Our family had everything prepared, I didn't even have to say anything. It was as if they'd expect I'd say no to a church wedding."

"I thought you wanted it," I said.

She chuckled, "Full of media personnel? They just want the whole Philippines to know that I'll marry Alfonso. I can't even count on my hands anymore kung ilang beses kaming in-interview, it's getting absurd already." Natawa ako nang bahagya. I was about to speak pero biglang lumapit sa amin si Ali matapos nilang magusap ni Dash.

"Brandi? I think we should talk," Ali said, interrupting the both of us. Napasulyap ako sa kaniya, napansin na kanina pa nga pala namumula ang mga mata ni Ali. Napatango na lang ako at sumunod sa kaniya, ngitian si Dash nang makalapit siya kay Chen. Napaupo na lang din ako sa tabi ni Ali, hindi alam ang sasabihin.

Hanggang sa naalala ko si Alex.

"H-how's... how's Alex?" I trailed. Ali stayed silent, unti-unting napayuko, clasping both his hands together. I didn't want to think about it... but my eyes automatically watered kahit wala pa'kong naririnig na sagot kay Ali. "I trust you, Ali. I know, it's not good to trust a lot of people now, even you or your family, but I know Alex is a good person... kahit ngayon ko lang siya nakilala... I know she just wants to help you."

Ali nodded his head, hanggang sa narinig ko na lang ang sunod-sunod niyang pag-hikbi.

"Alex... Alex is declared brain dead," he trailed. Napapikit na lang ako, hinayaan ang sunod-sunod na pagtulo ng luha mula sa mga mata ko. "Alex... Alex loves staying at the rooftop of SBA, that's where we both met. You don't have to worry because she knows how to escape my mother's eyes..."

"She pulled me with her. My bodyguards followed..."

Ali looked at me, "You're blocmates," he said. "It's normal for blocmates to talk."

My lips parted. I didn't even know...

"Alex had a good reason. Of course, they would believe that you both need to talk on who's going to be the class monitor, since you were both assigned," he said. "You didn't know about it, didn't you?" I nodded my head.

"You didn't listen to the orientation?" he asked, laughing.

"It's boring," I said.

"I know," he added. Silence enveloped us for a few minutes. Nakatungo lang ako habang hinihintay na magsalita si Ali.

"What you have there are separate copies of my case... and the DNA test. If ever one of these would come out, my mom would not hesitate to kill people involved, with the help of the Juarez..." I looked at him and nodded. "They can't be use as a substantial evidence against them, anyway. I know my case wasn't broadcasted... but, once this comes out, mas lalo lang tayong malalayo sa kanila Brandi. It'd be too hard to get information about my brother... about their cases."

I kept silent. My head was spinning with all this information coming from them.

"Alex entrusted these all to you, so you would believe her," he said, chuckling a little. "She... she wanted... she wanted to help me when I couldn't even help her..." Ali's voice broke, hanggang sa unti-unti na siyang umiyak nang malakas. Tears were falling from my eyes, but the pain I was feeling was probably nothing compared to what he was feeling right now. It was inexplicably unexplainable, that even I, could feel how lost he was right now.

"A-after she met with our family lawyer, she was immediately stopped by someone, leaving everyone thinking it was a thief," he uttered, his fist shaking in anger. "She wasn't robbed, anyway... I knew they just had to disguise it as robbery... my family is so fucked up, I can't even stand being around them... but I just had to." He closed his eyes as he sheds tears. They were nonstop...

Ali was crying so hard... whispering Alex's name every second he could.

It was painful hearing someone cry... But it was even more painful hearing someone else cry and whisper someone else's name... It felt tormenting, na pakiramdam ko ramdam na ramdam ko 'yung sakit.

It was as if I could see myself on Ali.

Kasi pareho lang din kami.

Walang magawa.

Nakakulong.

Dinidiktahan.

"Please..." he trailed. "Please let me, Brandi. It's the only way I could see myself in peace... it was my promise to her—that one day, I'd be free from them. From these abusive people who endlessly manipulated me..."

I stared at him, weighing my decisions...

"You don't even have to trust me, Brandi," he said. "You just have to let me, we are both on the same page, Brianna. Let... me help you."

Napapikit na lang ako.

"Okay," I said.

I had to risk... I knew I had to risk.

For myself... for mom.

What do I have for in exchange, anyway? They've always wanted me dead.

***

The day for Chen and Ali's wedding came sooner. I wasn't even able to track the remaining days before the most dreadful day, because I was just too busy drowning myself in med school... Still, I was kind of glad with how Gio remained passive when I went home with my friends (and thank God since Anna wasn't around). He probably knew what might have happened, but I knew, one way or another, he'd understand why I had to do it.

But, Uno... oh god, that guy! He's been avoiding me for days, and I don't even know how to approach him! Hindi ko nga rin alam kung ano'ng kasalanan ko, o kung may kasalanan ba talaga ako. He was the one who shouted at me for Pete's sake!

I sighed as I stare at myself in front of the glass, smiling for a bit because it'd probably be too obvious that I was spending the rest of the days crying over my thoughts. I was still confused on why my mom was involved on this mess involving our families.

I mean... she died when I was still young.

I didn't really know anything back then.

"You'll know soon," I whispered to myself, tapping my chest as I heave a deep breath in. The past few days, pakiramdam ko sa sobrang sama ng loob ko sa lahat ng nangyayari, mas lalong lumalala 'yung panic attacks ko... everything just keeps on getting heavier and heavier.

It was still early, pero lumabas ako ng kuwarto ko rito sa nirentahan naming hotel. Chen' room was just next to mine... I knew she won't go anywhere, but I just felt the need to check on her.

"Chen?" I knocked on her door twice before she opened the door. Ngumiti ako at mabilis siyang niyakap. "You just have to wait until all of these subside... I promise you... we'll be free," I whispered, caressing her back.

Chen nodded, napasimangot ako nang bahagya no'ng magkahiwalay kami sa yakap kasi umiiyak na naman siya. I held her face, wiping every tear dropping from her eyes. "Huwag ka ng umiyak, okay? I'm... I'm sure Ali will take care of you in Seattle. We all just have to wait... for the meantime, finish your studies, okay?"

She smiled, "Pa'no kayo?"

I shook my head, "You don't have to worry about us. Worry about yourself. Don't trust anyone too much, Chen. You are still the President's daughter, whatever happens, you're still under their power. Be careful."

I calmed Chen down bago ako bumalik sa loob ng kuwarto ko. Nagpadala na rin ako ng pagkain na agad din namang dumating. I was reading and eating at the same time—I just didn't have enough time to do a lot of these. As much as I wanted to get myself busy, medschool was the different kind of busy—at some point, it would feel tiring to the point of giving up.

But I need this.

Stylists who were hired to fix us came a few minutes later kaya isinuot ko na rin 'yung gown ko. Photographers also came in to take photos as they put on makeup on my face, and fixing my hair into a bun. I even found the small tiara funny, but I remembered na royal nga pala ang theme—of course, they'd want the wedding of the century to be elegant and applauded—a to-die-for kind of wedding.

After everything was done, nagpasalamat na lang ako sa makeup artist at lumabas na ng kuwarto. Media personnel were along the area kaya humarang na rin sila Gio at ang mga bodyguards ni Chen.

"Tapos na?" I asked Chen's stylist when she went out of the room, she nodded and opened the door.

"Oh my god..." I trailed, controlling my eyes as I look at Chen—wearing an elegant white gown dawned with Swarovski gems, her bouquet of flowers was full of white roses and diamonds to-die-for.

"Do I look... okay?" she asked.

I chuckled, "Baliw ka ba? You look so beautiful..." I said. Napangiti naman siya at lumabas na ng kuwarto, I held Chen's hand as her stylists held her gown at dumaan sa VIP Exit papunta sa parking lot. Only the hired photographers were allowed to followed us kaya naging maayos din ang paglabas namin ng hotel.

"Nervous?"

Chen looked at me and smiled, "No," she said and squeezed my hand. "Hurt."

Pagkarating namin sa church, agad akong bumaba. I immediately saw Uno next to the door... I was hesitating at first na kausapin siya kasi ilang araw na rin kaming hindi nag-uusap.

But nevertheless... I needed to know where Dash is.

"Hi," I said. "Nasaan sila Dash?"

"Inside," he said.

"Nandito ka pa?"

Uno chuckled. Nagulat na lang din ako when he tucked the loose strands of hair behind my ear and fixing the small tiara that I was wearing... tapos pinitik ang noo ko.

Aba!

"Ang sadista mo!" I hissed, holding my forehead.

"I waited for you, tanga," he said. "Fallon's around, okay? I don't want you getting the wrong idea."

"Sorry... anyway," he said. "Nasigawan kita noon. I was just too tired. Nadamay kita sa galit ko."

"Hmp." Sinimangutan ko siya. Pero pinitik na naman niya 'yung noo ko.

"Ano ba?!" Instead of answering, he leaned over until I could feel his breath on my neck already, which made me shiver.

Ano ba...

"And that's for not telling me why you suddenly disappeared," he said, whispering. "Next time, wherever you will be, just tell me the place. You can't scare me like that Brandi, not again."