KILLING ME

Chapter 2

Min's POV.

Nag-alala ako sa katangahan ko dahil baka kung ano na ang maisip ni Fiona sa akin. 

I can't lose her trust that easily. I reminded myself many times to compose myself so that I won't lose a friend. 

Ngunit pagtingala ko pa lang ay nag-aalalang mga mata niya kaagad ang sumalubong sa akin at unti-unting may umukit na linya sa kaniyang mga labi. Nahuli ko pa ang mga mata ng kaklase ko na puno ng kuryusidad at may iba ring hindi umiiwas ng tingin at naiilang tuloy ako dahil dito.

Pero sa hindi malamang dahilan ay nawala ang bumabagabag sa puso ko nang makitang may nag-iisang tao pala ang totoong nag-aalala sa akin. It moved my heart and the next time that I remember was I was at a closed room with Fiona and her friends.

There is a wide screened TV in front of us, three song books on the table with two microphones are provided. The moving blue, yellow, and red lights are also illuminating the dark room we are in, acting as a spotlight for us four. The L-shaped sofa facing the TV is also soft and comfy. 

The room is also air-conditioned and I am concerned for these two friends of mine who were both wearing mini skirt that perfectly covered their pear-shaped butts.

As I scan myself inside the room, Fiona caught my attention as she smiled at me. I forced a thin smile and doesn't know what to say. Should I thank her for bringing me here? I should say that at the end, right? That won't keep my cool.

"Min, are you hungry? Should we order food now?" Fiona asked with her sweet voice. She looks really stunning with her french-braided hair resting on her left shoulder and a purple bodycon dress that wrapped her hour-glass body shamelessly. Her lips are also pink and plump.

I can't help but to stare at her back that only a few strap covers it, revealing how sexy and open it is. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa suot kong dress na katulad sa kaniya pero nakasuot din ako ng black leather jacket dahil alam kong mamayang gabi na kami makakauwi at isa pa hindi ko papayagan ni ate na umalis ng bahay na mukhang magpa-party.

Ang bilin ko pa naman sa kaniya ay magkakaroon kami ng group study, hindi pa nga naniwala na ang isang iyon na mga babae ang kasama ko kaya pinakita ko sa kaniya ang picture ni Fiona. Alam ko namang kapani-paniwala yung ginawa ko dahil pinayagan niya ako.

On the other hand, the door swung open revealing a boy in his 30's holding a tray of beers on his both hands. He's wearing a uniform for the pub, I guess with its red apron and black long sleeves complimenting the black pants. It was seconds for me to realize that he's one of the waiter when another gentleman followed him serving us foods like nachos, and a bucket of ice.

Amelia in her high-pitched voice mused when she saw the waiter. I thought she will help to carry the tray but she only grabbed the beer and drank it straight to her throat, leaving a half empty glass. 

Fiona laugh at her side and I found myself laughing as well. WhileOlivia, crossing her legs while sitting on the sofa exclaimed to wait for the birthday celebrant.

"How dare you order first!" Olivia's eyebrows knitted in anger. She has a red luscious lips and she wasn't contented yet because she held the lip gloss out of her pouch and apply more on her lips.

Amelia let out a burp and covered her mouth immediately. I caught her glanced at one of the waiters before joining me at my seat, bouncing off in the soft sofa and when our shoulders touched, she looked at me and smiled with her eyes.

"You look so pretty with your red dress," Amelia complimented me. 

With her glistening eyes, she scanned me from head to toe and I almost crumbled on my seat the way she lovingly stare at me. Para bang hindi ko siya nakita kanina kung paano ininom ang baso ng beer na parang ginawa niya lang na tubig. I admit hindi pa ako nakakainom ng ganoon pero alam ko namang masakit ito sa lalamunan dahil alcoholic drink ito.

"Saan mo nabili? You know may paparating din akong parcel from Italy and I might shop on yours too." Kinuha niya mula sa black na pouch niya ang iPhone. Akala ko ipapakita niya sa akin ang product na binili niya pero nag-posing lang siya doon at kinunan ng litrato ang sarili niya bago nag-video at inimbitahan ako sa vlog niya.

Amelia grabbed my shoulder and her warm and soft arms came in contact with my neck. Naamoy ko rin ang vanilla niyang perfume na bagay na bagay sa kaniya dahil feminine naman ang awra niya sa suot niyang mini skirt at corset na hapit na hapit sa bewang niya at malulusog na dibdib.

Ngayong nakaupo nga siya katabi ko ay sumisilay ang cleavage niya. 

"Guys, we have a new friend, Wilhelmina. She's our classmate too. Say hi to the camera!" ani Amelia sa akin at inilapit din niya ito sa mukha ko.

Napasulyap ako kay Fiona na kausap si Olivia habang kumakain ang isa ng nachos. Nakatayo lamang siya sa nakasaradong pinto, habang inaaliw naman siya ng kaibigan niya.

Maya-maya ay kinuha niya sa table na nasa harapan ko lang ang iPhone niya at nagtipa rito.

"Oh, c'mon, girl don't be shy. This is how I welcome my besties." Nalipat ang atensyon ko sa malambing na tinig ni Amelia nang ipatong niya ang ulo niya sa balikat ko.

Halos hindi ako makagalaw ngayong makitang naka-live pala siya sa Instagram niya. Nais ko tuloy takpan ang mukha ko dahil nakakahiya kapag isa sa kanila ang katabi ko. Ni wala man lang kulay ang aking mga labi, hindi katulad sa kanila na puno ng kolorete ang mukha.

Nag polbo lamang ako at lip tint pero nabura na kaagad ito, at para lamang akong basahan kung ikukumpara sa kaniya.

"Hi?" Nagawa kong kumaway mula sa camera at nagpinta ng ngiti sa aking mga labi. Nakita ko rin sa screen ang paglawak ng ngiti ni Amelia at kung paano nagkomento ang mga tao tungkol sa kaniya, at nagpasalamat naman siya sa pagpupuri ng mga ito. Sunod-sunod rin ang reactions sa gilid ng camera ang mapupulang hearts, na mula sa kaniyang mga followers.

Naisip ko rin na maging social influencer pero hindi iyon madali para sa aking walang face card. Wala rin akong talento sa pakikipagkwentuhan, kung kainan pa siguro ay magta-top 1 ako pero ang pangit naman, para pa naman akong baboy kung kumain. Hindi kaparehas sa mga ASMR, at mukbang na vlogger na malinis kung kumain.

Maya-maya pa lamang ay dumating na ang pinakahihintay ng lahat, ang celebrant. 

Hindi ko alam ang gagawin; kung umupo ba, tumayo, o kumuha ng maiinom, o lumapit at magpakilala rito. Hindi ko kilala ang lalaking nasa harapan ko. Pero kung pagbabasehan sa tindig, at pananamit niya ay siguradong malayo ang socioeconomic status naming dalawa. 

Pinagmamasdan ko lamang silang tatlo, lalong-lalo na ang magiliw na lintaya ni Amelia sa iPhone niya, habang kinukumusta ng dalawa ang lalaki. Pagdating nito ay sinalubong kaagad siya ni Fiona na para bang close na close silang dalawa. Sumunod din si Olivia, at nasa may pintuan pa rin sila. 

I saw how the guy embraced Fiona before wrapping his arms to my friend's waist, whilst still talking to the two girls in front of him. Panakanaka rin siyang napatingin sa cellphone ni Amelia, na gayong kinukulit silang mag-hi sa camera niya. 

"Pansinin niyo naman ako!" She yelled out for attention once again, while the three just minded their own business. 

Tahimik lamang akong nakatayo malapit sa sofa nang padabog na ihagis ni Amelia ang iPhone niya rito. Nagtataka akong napalingon sa kaniya nang sinugod niya ang lalaki nang mahigpit na yakap. Akala ko pa nga sasapakin niya ito, pero mukhang hindi naman siya ganoon ka maldita. 

"Happy Birthday, Damien," she mused. Nakipagbeso siya rito at nagpalitan sila ng ngiti. 

At doon naman ako naasiwa nang magtama ang mga mata namin ng lalaki. Kaagad akong nagbaba ng tingin at pinaglaruan ang mga kamay ko sa aking likuran. 

Ano ba ang dapat kong sabihin?

"That's enough greetings for now. Nangangalay na ang mga paa ko, can we sit now?" Fiona cracked a joke the three laugh. I don't know but I even noticed how the man laugh with his deep and husky voice, and agreed with my friend.

I also plastered a smile when Fiona came into my direction and grabbed my waist, just like how the man held her earlier. "Damien, this is Min, our new bestie. Min meet our childhood friend, Damien." 

Nang itaas ko ang aking paningin sa kanila ay kami na lang pala tatlo ang nakatayo, habang sila Amelia at Olivia naman ay nagsimula ng mag-inuman. 

Nasa harapan ko lamang siya and I noticed first his charming smile, and that could melt me anytime. He looks like a prince that just came back from his castle, and now he is looking for his princess. I wonder who will be the lucky one that could enchant this prince in front of me. His midnight eyes locked into mine, and his pink luscious slightly parted lips moved slowly, that's when I realized, he was talking to me.

"Nice to meet you, Min. I bet the stars get jealous... they shine so brightly, yet no one's lucky enough to claim them, huh."

I was left in a trance when he spoken those words and how his dimples emerged from his cheeks when he giggled, when Fiona on my side slapped his bulked arms. 

The night went so smoothly and we enjoyed ourselves with drinks on the table, free drinks on top of that. I am the luckiest human being in the world because I could get to meet the guy from my dreams. No other than Damien. When I set my eyes on him, I could not get my eyes off him anymore. 

He looks so unreal. So mesmerizing.

"Another glass?" I heard Olivia on the background, while staring at Fiona at Damien dancing on the dance floor and singing with their hearts, while there is a wide screened tv on their back. The music was blasting in the air, and I could also feel light-headed. 

I grabbed Olivia's offered and drank it straight. Just like how Damien taught me earlier. I loved it. And to impress the guy, I am still drinking lots of booze they are offering. 

The taste are sweet but most of them are bitter after-taste. I didn't complain because I wouldn't know when will the opportunity like this will come again. I still would love to cherish the moment but there is something on my throat that wanted to come out. 

Although, bewildered, I looked over to the glass Olivia is offering me for the nth time. She gazed at me lovingly and her eyes sparkled amidst the neon lights. This is the first time, someone giving me their so much attention, without saying bad things to me. I saw how they treated me earlier and I am so thankful of that.

I grabbed and drank it but before I knew it, my vision blurred at the edges, darkness creeping in like ink spreading in water. Sounds grew distant, muffled, as if I were sinking into nothingness. Then, in an instant, everything went black.