Twenty-Two

"Mavulis Island?" My eyes lit up in excitement.

"Yeah," Harry smiled a little then he soothened the creases on the map that was laid before us. "It kinda excites me, going to the extreme points of the archipelago."

"So you've been to Palawan too?"

I grab the cup of latte sitting on the table and took a sip on it. Napagkasunduan naming dalawa ni Harry na magkita sa Karlo's. To my surprise, one of Karlo's son, Ronald, was taking over the cafe. Wala daw ang papa niya dahil may sakit. Medyo nalungkot ako sa narinig because it had been a while since I last visited this cafe due to unexpected circumstances that seems to be messing up with my life.

"Yep," He said, popping the 'p'. "It's my goal. Visit all these places."

Tiningnan ko ulit ang mapa. May mga red marks ang mga extreme points ng Pilipinas. Ito siguro ang mga napuntahan na niya. It includes the Northernmost point that is Mavulis Island in Batanes, Southernmost point to Frances Reef, Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi, Easternmost point that is in Pusan Point, Caraga, Davao Oriental and the Westernmost point in Ligas Point, Balabac, Palawan.

"Cool," I muttered. "How about the cities? Have you been there?"

"Yeah, I was there actually. I've been to Laoag in Ilocos Norte, Bislig in Surigao Del Sur, and Puerto Princesa. Ang General Santos City nalang ang hindi ko nabibisita." He trailed off and caught my eyes. "So," He leaned back into his chair and wiggled both of his eyebrows. "Are you in?"

I think for a while. Wala namang mawawala sa akin kung sasama ako kay Harry. I've always been a sucker for adventures and road trips. Isa din sa pinagkakaabalahan naming dalawa ni Jeremy ang pagro-roadtrip but these past couple of weeks, halos hindi na nga ako makasakay sa sasakyan niya.

My fault, I know.

But the excitement that is running throughout my veins are threatening to burst. How would it be like to be on the extreme points of this archipelago. I expect to see the Pacific Ocean and endless horizons and quiet villages if I go with him.

A small smile curled in my lips. "Sure."

"Great." He smiled back and start discussing on our plan. Naabutan na naman kami ng gabi sa Karlo's. He even offered me a ride dahil dala niya ang kotse ng ate niya but I refused to. I feel like walking that night. Jeremy had been texting me non-stop but I couldn't find the words to say. Hindi ko pa alam ang sasabihin ko sa kanya so I didn't texted him back as of the moment.

"Are you sure?" He pressed one last time. He was headed to his car right now.

"Sure." I nodded my head and tightened my grip on the straps of my backpack. "Atsaka, malapit lang naman ang bahay namin dito eh. I can manage, Harry. Thanks."

"Okay. See you." I waved his hands before he started walking lazily towards the vehicle waiting for him. Hinintay ko na makaalis ang sasakyan niya bago ako magsimulang maglakad. I was lost in my thoughts when someone grabbed my arms. I yelped in surprise.

"Mary Grace." Jeremy hissed.

"J-Jeremy..." I stammered. His grip tightened, his nails were digging on my skin. He also reeked of alcohol. Iniwas ko ang mukha ko sa kanya.

"You've been avoiding me for days..." Then he glanced at the direction where Harry's car had just left. "I need we need to fucking talk."

Wala kaming imik dalawa ni Jeremy hanggang sa makarating kami sa apartment niya. I was surprised when I opened the door and a guy who was only wearing his boxers was sitting comfortably on the sofa. It was John Will. I shoot Jeremy a questioning look.

"Nag-away sila ng papa niya." Jeremy said briefly. "Wala siyang ibang mapuntahan."

"Okay." I nodded my head and followed him upstairs. John Will smiled slightly at me. I waved at him slightly and proceeded upstairs. He and I never really talked a lot. He was Jeremy's closest friend. I know he had been suffering from family conflicts but it didn't showed on his face because he's always smiling around like an idiot.

When we were alone in the room, Jeremy sat down on his bed and lowered his gaze on the floor. "So, Mary Grace, tell me," His voice was low and dangerous. Bigla akong kinabahan. "What were you doing with your dead sister's boyfriend?"

"I..." I trailed off. I couldn't say to him that we were planning on a road trip because he'll definitely get mad at me. "We were just seeing each other."

"Seeing each other?!" Napatalon ako sa gulat nang bigla niyang ibinato ang phone niya sa sahig. The shattering on the floor sounded too painful in my ears. "Ako ba ginagago mo?! For fuck's sake Mary Grace, are you fucking flirting with that guy?!"

"What?" My eyes widen. "No!" I shouted back. "What are you talking about?"

"Akala mo hindi ko alam..." Tumayo siya kaya kaagad akong napa-atras. He was walking fast towards me that made my heart skip a beat. It was pounding wildly inside of my chest. Tears are threatening to fall from my eyes. "You've been with that guy all along. You are ignoring my texts, my calls, and my attempts to see you. You're fucking ignoring me all along!" I lean on the wall when I've got nothing to step back into.

"Jeremy... huwag mo namang bigyan ng malisya ang pagkakaibigan namin ni Harry. Dinadamayan ko lang siya dahil masakit para sa kanya ang pagkawala ni ate."

"Ako ba ginagawa mong tanga?" Nagulat ako nang dumapo ang mabibigat niyang kamay sa pisngi ko. My cheeks began throbbing in pain. "Wag mo kong gawing tanga!" He shouted on my face. My knees began trembling. "Tell me, are you fucking with that guy?!" Another slap came and another and another until I began sobbing. "Are you fucking with that guy behind my back?!"

"Jeremy, tama na!" I cried but the sobs swallowed it all. It went down in my throat. He was yelling something I could not understand as his hits became harder and harder.

"Ano, sagot!" Singhal niya.

"Jeremy!" Biglang bumukas ang pintuan at pumasok si John Will. Pilit niyang inawat ang kaibigan niya pero hindi nagpapa-awat si Jeremy. He keep on attacking me. I keep on crying. In pain. In humilation. In the hollow that started forming inside of my chest.

"Are you fucking cheating with me, you bitch!" He shouted.

Hindi na nakatiis si John Will. His fists pounded on Jeremy's face hard that he collapsed into the floor. Without saying a word, he grabbed my hands and we both ran out of the room. I heard Jeremy cussing and shouting something, but the blood on my ears are louder.

Iyak ako nang iyak hanggang sa makalabas kaming dalawa ni John Will sa apartment ni Jeremy. He began walking fastly, palinga-linga siya dahil baka habulin kami ni Jeremy. Hindi niya binitawan ang nanginginig kong kamay.

"Nakainom si Jeremy." He stated the obvious. He glanced at me. "I can see that you're not okay. Is this the first time he hurt you?"

I sobbed harder. I can't believe it. Pinagbuhatan niya ako ng kamay. This was the first time he did it to me. I nodded my head. The old woman from a porch glared at us. Naka-boxers pa rin kasi si John Will at hawak-hawak niya pa rin ang kamay ko. But it seem like he didn't care dahil patuloy pa rin siya sa paglalakad.

"Saan ang bahay mo?" He asked gently. "Ihahatid na kita."

The tears won't just stop falling. He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, trying to find the right words to say. I just keep on crying. Nagpumigalas ako mula sa pagkakahawak niya at naglakad nang mabilis. Sinundan niya ako. I sat down under an old tree on the intersection and continued crying. John Will sat down across me.

I kept on crying for hours until I finally calmed down.

"Ready to go home?" Alok ni John Will. I looked at him and saw the dark circles under his eyes. The sadness were dancing on his eyes as well. I'm sure he's going through something right now and yet, he has to escort a damsel in distress.

"Yeah," I answered with my broken voice.

Nagsimula na kaming maglakad papunta sa bahay namin. Mag-aalas dose na ng hatinggabi. I'm sure my parents are going crazy right now about my whereabouts. When we reached the house few blocks from mine, I stopped walking.

"I'm fine here." I said. "Sorry for dragging you all along." I muttered.

"Walang problema," He smiled at me. "Ako na ang bahalang kumausap sa tropa ko. Pagpasensiyahan mo na siya."

I nodded my head.

"Get some sleep."

I nodded my head again.

"I'm off." He turned his back at me so I grabbed his arms. Nilingon niya ako nang may nagtatakang ekspresiyon sa mukha.

"Thank you." I whispered, almost inaudible.