BECKETT'S ALIVE?

WHEN the lunatics heard that Beckett died, the grief they felt could be compared to losing a brother, it was painful and suffocating, but when they found out that Beckett was alive and well and that the bastard was just hiding, their grief doubled, accompanied by anger and resentment remembering the eulogy they did for him.

They should have known that the bastard would not leave his beloved Ruth, but Furrer got them good. Really good that they ended up in Eva's store, drinking their heart's out.

Mas masakit pa ang nararamdaman nila ngayon keysa nuong nalaman nilang patay na si Beckett.

Now, they actually wanted him dead as one after another voice out their complaints.

"Is it bad of me to think that Beckett should've stayed dead?" Lath asked while everyone was drinking beer and eating barbecue in a heartbreaking manner.

Tumango si Iuhence. "I feel the same way. Sa tsismoso kong 'to, wala man lang akong nasagap na balita na buhay pa ang gago na 'yon?!"

Tumango din si Calyx. "Hindi sapat na nabugbog natin siya. Tayo nalang kaya ang pumatay sa kaniya ng matuluyan na talaga ang tangina na 'yon?"

Andrius sighed. "Para akong brokenhearted sa pagkamatay niya tapos buhay pala siya? Pakiramdam ko nasayang yong pagda-drama ko doon sa eulogy niya."

Tyron leaned on the back of his seat and sighed while eating BBQ. "Magpasalamat nalang tayo na buhay siya."

"Sana namatay nalang siya!" Halos sigaw ng lahat maliban kay Shun at Knight na abala sa pagtutuhog ng BBQ.

"Velasquez, no comment?" Tanong ni Cali. "Wala ka man lang sama ng loob sa hayop na 'yon?"

Nag-angat ng tingin si Knight habang abala sa pagtutuhog ng iihawing BBQ. "Additional to my book of life experience."

Lahat masama ang tingin kay Knight na pinagkibit-balikat lang nito at nag-umpisa nang mag-ihaw.

Si Shun naman ay napailing at pabulong na kinausap si Knight. "Buti nalang 'di nila alam na may alam tayo."

"Ssh!" Saway ni Knight kay Shun. "Baka tayo ang mabugbog. Let's shut up."

Shun chuckled. "Gago ka talagang espanyol ka, bigay na bigay ka pa doon sa eulogy."

"Of course. Kailangan may moral support si Val na nag-rap."

Valerian really had a good hearing when he's being picked on. "I heard that, Espanyol!"

Knight flinched before he continued grilling the meat and decided to shut up since his friends will roast his ass if they ever found out that he knew something.

"I pity Sanford though," wika ni Titus na umiinom din ng beer sa tabi ni Phoenix. "He was really blaming himself for what happened."

Sumabad si Phoenix. "Kung ako si Sandord, inilibing ko na nang buhay si Furrer."

"He was really beating himself up because of what happened." Ani Andrius saka napabuntong-hininga. "Damn that Furrer. Wala bang puwedeng i-kaso sa kaniya ng makulong ang hayop na 'yon?"

Nginuso ni Evren ang mga labi kay Khairro na lasing na lasing na at kumakanta sa karaoke na nasa loob ng tindahan nila Eva.

Khairro was singing an OPM song titled 'Sinungaling'. It's about being lied to in love, but they all think the song was for Beckett. Wala lang nahanap si Sanford na kanta na may kaparehong title na para sa kaibigan.

Napailing nalang silang lahat, kapagkuwan ay nagsalita si Ymar.

"I can poison him," Ymar suggested. "I can make something lethal. Just give me twenty-four hours."

Nagkaniya-kaniya ng sangayon ang mga naroon at si Eva na kanina pa nakikinig at naaalibadbaran dahil sa ingay ng mga ito ay nagsalita na rin.

"Ang iingay niyo! Nagbabasa ako rito!"

Lahat natigilan sa pagsigaw ni Eva saka lahat napatingin sa anak ng may-ari ng tindahan na may hawak na makapal na libro patungkol sa International Law.

"Studying?" Evren asked when he spotted the book in Eva's hand.

"Nagbabasa lang kasi may nakalimutan." Sagot ni Eva saka bumalik sa kinauupuan. "Huwag kayong maingay. May parang aso na nga na umuungol sa karaokehan, dadagdag pa kayo."

Lahat napatingin kay Khairro na siyang nasa karaoke.

"Umuungol na aso," bulong ni Ream saka tumingin kay Khairro. "So that's what it sounds like?"

"I guess," sagot ni Hunt, "kapag si Eva ang nagsabi, totoo 'yon."

Terron nodded and looking impress as he says, "Eva has wide knowledge in things."

Napa-tsk naman si Eva dahil maiingay pa rin ang mga baliw nilang customers.

"Uy, si Dashwood, may crush kay Eva." Parang mga batang tudyo ni Calyx at Iuhence kay Terron.

And Terron just shrugged as if not affected, "what's wrong with that? Can't I appreciate a smart woman?"

Kaagad na naging tampulan ng tukso si Terron at Eva na ipinagkibit-balikat lang ni Terron habang si Eva naman ay walang emosyong tinitigan ang mga magugulo sa tindahan.

"Masaya na kayo? Tawa pa. Nakakahiya naman sa inyong lahat." Puno ng sarkasmo ang boses ni Eva na kaagad ikinatigil ng magkakaibigan.

Eva rolled her eyes before she went back to her seat and continued reading. While Terron just smiled at how Eva handled his friends. Flawless. Terron thought as he drank his beer.

"Sanford!" Biglang tawag ni Phoenix kay Khairro. "Tantanan mo na 'yang karaoke, maawa ka samin. We get it. Broken hearted ka kasi buhay pala si Beckett. Patayin nalang natin ulit para maging masaya ka na."

But Khairro was too focused on the karaoke to care, so Titus did what was necessary and that was to unplug the karaoke machine.

Nang sa wakas ay nawalan na ng buhay ang karaoke, doon lang sila nilingon ni Khairro.

"Huh? What happened?"

"You happened!" Sabay-sabay na sigaw ng lahat.

"Oh," umupo si Khairro sa bakanteng upuan sa inuukupang mesa nila Terron at Thorn. "Bored ako. Mag clubbing tayo."

"Pagkatapos mong managhoy," tinuro pa ni Lander ang karaoke, "bored ka pa sa lagay na 'yan?"

"Anong clubbing? Siraulo ka ba?" Kaagad na unayaw si Ream. "Lahat tayo rito nakainom. DUI ang kahihinatnan nating lahat kapag nahuli tayo."

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Khairro was really drunk because he was becoming unreasonable.

Good thing Eva came to the rescue and placed a 'Wheel of Shots Drinking Game' device on their table. "Maglaro nalang kayo. Mga isip bata naman kayo halos lahat. Pindutin niyo lang 'to tapos iikot yan."

Kaagad na sinuri ng lahat ang laruan, kahit si Knight na abala lang kanina sa pag-iihaw.

It only had eight slots— bottoms up, truth, dare, confession, booty dance, get naked, pass the drink and spin again.

"Oh, interesting..." Knight commented and it was enough for everyone to try the game. If Knight found it interesting, then it is really interesting.

"Pero sino ang magdi-dare?" Tanong ni Tyron. "I don't trust any of you, so Eva?"

"Yep. Eva." Everyone agreed.

Eva who was busy reading just raised her middle finger.

"Eva it is." Everyone decided.

"Okay...!" Si Evren ang tumayo saka nanghingi ng papel at ballpen kay Eva para gumawa ng kasulatan saka pinili ang Ginebra Frasco na isa sa mga bini-benta sa tindahan nila Eva. "Put it on the tab, Eva. Kung sino ang gagapang pauwi, siya ang magbabayad."

Eva just rolled her eyes and add it to the 'general debt' tab. Ang listahan ng utang na parang walang katapusan dahil hindi pa nga nababayaran lahat, may dagdag na naman.

"Sign here and here," wika ni Evren na siyang gumawa ng kasulatan na puno ng reklamo na pinirmahan ng lahat. "And done."

Habang si Dark naman ay nagsalin ng ginebra sa baso ang punong-puno 'yon.

"Montero, ano 'yang gin, soda?" Kaagad na alma ni Cali.

Ngumisi lang si Dark saka nilagyan ng straw ang baso. "You have to drink it from the straw, people."

Everyone sighed and groaned, but they will still do it anyway. At kung sino ang malapit sa wheel of shots, doon nag-umpisa.

It was Terron— he started the game. Nang paikutin ni Terron ang wheel, tumigil iyon sa 'dare' at napalatak ito. "Oh, come on!"

"Eva! Dare kay Terron bebe mo." Hindi pa rin sumusuko si Iuhence sa pagtudyo sa dalawa.

Eva answered while her eyes were glued in the book she was reading. "Mag-hubad ka."

Everyone shouted while Terron frowned at Eva. "Hubad? Which part?"

"Kahit saan." Walang pakialam si Eva, gusto lang siyang tantanan na ng mga ito.

"Oh, okay..." Terron was smart so he took off his wrist watch. "Hayan. Hinubad ko na."

"Booo!"

"Booo!"

"Cheater...!"

"What?" Terron smirked. "Eva didn't specify what to take off."

"Pass." Evren gave his approval and everyone groaned.

Cali followed and spin the wheel. A loud groan of complaint escaped his mouth when it stopped at bottom's up. "Seriously?!"

Nagtawanan ang lahat.

"Inumin naman ang pangalan mo. Bagay sayo."

Cali showed his middle finger at Lath and drink the gin using straw. Cali's face couldn't be explained, nor painted. That's how awful he looked as he sipped the gin. Not to mention his body, it was flinching and twitching in bitterness.

"Fuck!" Cali shouted and immediately drank water to wash his mouth. "That was bitter as fuck."

Tumawa lang si Dark saka sinalinan ulit ng alak ang baso na para na kay Tyron.

"Spin it, Mr. President." It was their nickname for Tyron since he was the first one who got married.

Tyron rolled his eyes before spinning the wheel.

'Booty dance'.

"Hell, no!" Tyron hissed, but everyone just laughed because Evren waved the paper they signed before the game.

"Dance or drink and pay five million?" Evren asked with a smirk.

Malakas na napabuntong-hininga si Tyron saka napipilitang tumayo. Wala pa ngang ginagawa si Tyron, nagtatawanan na ang mga loko-loko, mas lalo naman ng bahagyang iniusli ni Tyron ang pag-upo at inalog-aloh ang pang-upo.

"Man, why does it look disturbing?" Komento ni Iuhence na nakangiwi.

"Yeah," Train agreed while filming Tyron on his phone. "I'll show it to his wife—"

Before Train could finish, Tyron flew, yes, he literally flew towards Train to steal his phone and delete the video, but Train was faster.

"Wolkzbin! Come back here!" Galit na sigaw ni Tyron. "Don't send that to my wife. I will kill you—"

Train, who was running away from Tyron replied, "too late, bud! Already sent it."

"Train Wolkzbin!"

Train just laughed and kept running while Tyron was running after Train with an intent to kill.

Hinayaan nalang ng lahat ang dalawa saka nagpatuloy ang inuman. It was Valerian's turn. And when he spins the wheel, it stopped at 'dare'.

"Eva, dare kay Valerian!" Sigaw ni Knight na busy pa rin sa pag-iihaw at panay sipa nito kay Phoenix na panay ang kuha sa lahat na BBQ na naluluto ni Knight. "You tangina, Phoenix. So tangina."

Phoenix just laughed and they all gave their attention to Eva, who finally gave Valerian his dare.

"Maghintay ka ng dadaan sa labas ng tindahan tapos pagdaan nila, bigla kang kumanta ng 'Di ko kayang tanggapin'."

Naningkit ang mata ni Valerian kay Eva na nagbabasa pa rin bago ginawa ang 'dare' niya.

Habang naghihintay si Valerian, pinagtatawanan na ito ng mga baliw na may nakahandang cellphone para i-video ang ginagawa ni Valerian.

Muntik nang mabitawan ni Shun ang cellphone ng may dumaan at biglang kumanta si Valerian dahilan para mapaigtad palayo ang dalawang ginang saka nagmamadaling naglakad na para bang may gagawing masama si Valerian.

Halos lahat gumugulong sa tawa pero hindi si Valerian na nanlilisik ang mata sa mga kaibigang ayaw yatang tumigil sa pagtawa.

"Mga tanginang hayop," umupo si Valerian sa inuukupang upuan nito kanina at tinulak ang wheel of shot kay Khairro. "Hayan, lasing ka na nga hayop ka pa rin."

In the middle of laughing and being drunk, Khairro spin the wheel and it stopped at 'pass the drink'.

"Lucky motherfucker!" Sigaw ng lahat na ikinangisi ni Khairro saka ibinigay nito ang baso na may alak kay Cali.

"I'm passing it to Cali the drink."

"Fuck you, Sanford."

Khairro grinned. "I'm a lucky motherfucker."

Cali groaned and complained, but at the end of the groaning and complaining, he drank the gin and Cali's body twisted with bitterness. "Fuck this drink!"

"My turn!" Without warning, Knight just spins the wheel of shots. "Oh! Nice!"

Hindi na nagulat ang lahat ng makitang tumigil ang spin the wheel sa 'get naked' at nasiyahan pa si Knight.

Hindi katulad sa iba na tinulak ng lahat na gawin ang pinapagawa ng wheel of shot, ginawa nila lahat hindi lang maghubad si Knight na ready na ready mag 'borles' sa harapan nila.

"No! Nope! Mag-ihaw ka nalang." Pakiusap ng lahat habang pigil nila si Knight na maghubad. "Sige na, balik ka na doon sa ihawan. Ihaw na."

Knight frowned. "But it's an experience for my book of life—"

"Experience din ang pag-iihaw." Kaagad na sabi ni Valerian.

"Oh, yeah." Knight agreed and went back to grilling.

Nakahinga naman ng maluwang ang lahat at itinuloy ang laro.

Ymar spun the wheel and it stopped at confession.

Now everyone was looking at Ymar with expectation.

Ymar shook his head. "Wala naman akong sekreto na kailangang ibunyag."

"Ows?" No one believed Ymar.

Ymar shrugged, then spoke. "Hmm... I don't know if this counts, but sometimes, I wonder why I married my wife. Then I remember, I love her and her craziness, but sometimes she's over the top and I'll question myself again and I'll also answer myself again, so it's a cycle."

Then it was Lander's turn. And the wheel stopped at 'truth'.

And the honor to ask for the truth was given to Eva again.

"Ang pinakabastos na ginawa mo sa sasakyan mo."

Lander was quick to answer. "Someone give me a head. A very unforgettable one."

"She's a keeper," kaagad na sabad ni Pierce na tahimik lang sa tabi.

Lander smiled. "I did keep her."

Cali groaned. "Oh, fuck, please, my ears!"

Everyone knew that Lander was talking about his wife, which was related to Cali and they all laughed at Cali's twisted face. But their laughter was interrupted when a car pulled over outside Eva's store.

Sasakyan iyon ng namatay pero buhay pala na si Beckett.

"Hi, guys!"

Everyone glared at Beckett except for Knight and Shun who was busy grilling. Even Train and Tyron who were fighting over the video stop to glare at Beckett.

"What?" Beckett asked so innocently that it set off everyone's anger.

Sinugod ng nga ito si Beckett, sama-samang binuhat saka sa gitna ng daan. Panay ang pagpupumiglas ni Beckett pero wala siyang laban sa dalawang dozenang kaibigan na naroon.

"Hey! Get off! Let go!"

"No, you deserve this you asshole!" Khairro shouted. "Masagasaan ka sana ng truck!"

Lahat tumango at iniwan si Beckett sa gitna ng daan. At sa tuwing bumabalik si Beckett sa tindahan, bubuhatin ulit ng mga baliw at dadalhin sa gitna ng daan para masagasaan.

"Panindigan mo ang pagra-rap kong tangina ka!" Sigaw ni Valerian.

"Panindigan mo ang pagluluksa namin!" Sigaw ng lahat.

"Panindigan mo ang makabagbagdamdamin naming mensahe sa eulogy mo!" Sigaw ulit ng lahat.

"You're very hayop, Furrer!"

"Ihawin natin si Furrer!"

Lahat galit hanggang sa nagsalita si Beckett habang nasa gitna pa rin ito ng kalsada.

"Babayaran ko lahat ng utang niyo rito kina Eva!" Pasigaw nitong sabi. "Puwede rin kayong mag-take out! Libre ko ngayong gabi!"

Sa narinig, kaagad na sinugod ng lahat si Beckett, hindi para pagalitan kundi para buhatin si Beckett papunta sa tindahan.

"Madali kaming kausap." Ani Calyx. "Libre, guys! Libre daw."

"Kami? Galit?" Iuhence clicked his tongue. "What's that? Is that tasty?"

Nagkaniya-kaniya ng order ang lahat, may take out pa na nalalaman, at sa gabing 'yon, naipangako ni Beckett sa sarili na hindi na siya magpapanggap na patay. Nakakabutas kasi ng bulsa.

Nang gabing 'yon, unuwi si Beckett na walang laman ang wallet at may kasama pang sam ang loob. In short, his motherfucking friends broke his wallet and he wanted revenge.

Beckett did get his revenge— but that's another story.

CECELIB | C.C.