Chapter 14: you k*lled your friends

Samuela's POV.

Habang nakasakay sa jeepney papuntang coffee shop na dinadalasan ko ay nag-open ako ng news app mula sa cellphone ko at tumambad kaagad sa akin ang trending na balita ngayon. Walang iba kundi ang na-leak na recordings ng isang police investigations sa aming local police station. Kilalang-kilala ko ang boses ni tatay at yung sir Anthony dito.

Kaya siguro nila sinugod ang pinapasukan ko dahil na-mention dito ni sir Andresio sa recordings at sigurado punong-puno din ng journalist ang police station ni tatay ngayon. Magiging busy rin siya ngayong gabi buti naman sa kaniya.

And looking back from that phone call, made me realize that am I going into a trap right now? Hindi ko pa gaanong kilala ang taong iyon and what if mali pala ako nanghinala? At ano naman kaya ang sangkot niya rito?

Napailing-iling na lang muna ako sa naisip at napapikit. Wala naman sigurong masamang mangyayari sa akin gayong kay tindi ng sikat ng araw. Kaya ko rin ang sarili kong protektahan like, hello? What I did to Chen is just a mere self defense!

Bakit pa kasi siya nangialam. Yun tuloy.

Flashback

Matapos akong maihatid ng mga kaibigan ko sa bus stop ay hindi pa talaga sila umalis hanggang hindi ako nakakasakay. Puro kwentuhan at pag-aasaran tuloy ang namamayani sa bus stop.

Pinagtitignan tuloy kami ng iilang mga pasahero dahil tawanan nila Picolo at Chen ang mas nangingibabaw sa lahat. Kala mo mga kalabaw e at malalim pa yung boses.

Napatingin ako kay Karen na nasa gilid ko lamang nang hawakan niya ang bewang ko. Ngumiti siya sa akin at isinandalnang ulo niya sa balikat ko. Napahawak ako sa malambot niyang kamay na nakapulupot sa bewang ko ngayon.

"Samuela, I forced them to do this little adventure. I hope you don't mind at all," bulong niya sa akin.

Wala akong nagawa kundi ang tumango kahit na alam naman niyang tutol ako rito. "Just make sure to go home early and don't cross the line," sagot ko sa kaniya. May kung anong kumikiliti sa akin na nais kong mapatawa sa harapan niya.

Alam ko namang hindi na siya makakauwi. Maganda pala siya pakiramdam ang magpanggap na isa kang mabait na kaibigan, bakit hindi ko pa it ginawa noon.

Tumango siya sa akin at naamoy ko ang mabango niyang buhok na nasa ibaba ng ilong ko lang.

"Sissy, when we prove that sir Andresio is not a drug addict then we'll go hangout in the beach, okay?" malambing ang boses ni Karen na tinanguan ko na lang.

Tumingala siya at nagtama ang mga mata namin. Mabuti pa siya dahil kahit matagal siyang natutulog ay wala pa rin siyang eyes bags at baby face pa rin siya tignan. May malulusog din siyang hinaharap at malalambot ang balat niya.

Napangiti kami pareho nang sumigaw si Picolo na nasa harapan lang pala namin at nang lingunin ko ito ay tinuturo niya pa kami na parang may ginagawa kaming masama.

"Tignan niyo nga yung mga sarili niyo. Pagkakamalan tuloy kayong mag-love birds niyan!" bulalas niya.

Uminit yung ulo ko pero nang balingan ko si Karen ay nakangiti lang siya sa akin at napatawatawa pa. Hindi ko na lang napigilan ang sarili kund nakitawa na rin.

Sumingkit ang mga mata ni Karen nang sinugod niya si Picolo at piningot ang tainga nito.

Inasar-asar naman ako ni Chen na pumuslit bigla sa gilid ko. Mga walang kwenta talaga silang kaibigan.

Maya-maya rin ay sa wakas dumating na ang sakay ko at nagpaalam na ako sa kanila. Umupo lang ako sa pinakaunahang bahagi para makita ko sila agad na papaalis na ng bus stop.

Nang mawala sila nang tuluyan ay maingat akong bumaba saka tinakbo ang sa likurang bahagi ng paaralan namin.

End of Flashback

Napamulat ako nang mga mata nang pumasok na naman iyon sa isip ko. Konsensya? Pero hindi ko pinagsisihan ang ginawa ko sa kanila. Nararapat lang iyon dahil salot sila sa lipunan.

Naalala ko pa ang mga kaklase ko noon sa pribado kong paaralan na kung saan ginagawa nila ang lahat upang pagtakpan ang kanilang masasamang gawain. Halos ang lahat ay may perang pangbayad just to get away a crime.

Amelia was my best friend and she's the only girl who was upright and who supports me from everything that I do. That's why I was very much motivated to do good at school. She's one of my role model, aside from my mother.

There was even a friend of mine, I was once close to him, he's a Chinese guy and he invited me once to a club, that his family owned. I was only 15 years old that time, and my father agreed so I thought it was a step for me to make connections and friends.

But I regretted that decision because that guy was a pervert. He forced me to drink which I didn't obligated because we were minors. He said, he already paid the place and I don't have to worry a thing.

I saw how he stormed out of the room when he realized he cannot force me to drink and got manipulated by his schemes. Instead, he slapped one of those girls, a batchmate of mine, who's very drunk as well and they went into a room and only God knows what they did there.

Days later, that girl reported the guy to the police for raping her. He was my friend, though but I was also disgusted by him. We stopped talking that time and he was the talk of the town.

Students avoided stepping out as witnesses and the boy's parents talked to us one by one, what may happen if we are going to tell the truth. We are also minors and drinking at a club is not a good thing for us students, we will also have a bad record.

I shrugged off the thought of helping the girl. I don't know her too so why would I?

Days later, she went missing and was never found until now.

PINARA ko ang jeep na sinasakyan ko nang makarating na ako sa destinasyon na sinasabi ng babaeng caller kanina. Pagbaba ko ay sinalubong ako nang pamilyar na ambiance nang coffee shop. Napapadalas ako rito dahil paboritong-paborito ko ang cafe latte nila.

As I stepped into the coffee shop, the first thing that greeted me was the rich and inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. The familiar scent enveloped me, instantly awakening my senses and drawing me further into the cozy ambiance of the cafe. My eyes were met with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with soft lighting casting a gentle glow over the rustic decor and bustling activity around me.

Tumingin-tingin ako sa paligid, nag-aasam na may tumawag sa pangalan ko o makilala ko ang taong iyon. Ngunit sa hindi kalayuan lamang para sa mga pang-dalawahang mesa ay nagkatinginan kami ng lalaking pamilyar sa akin.

Nangingkit ang mga mata ko at pilit na inaalala ang pamilyar niyang postura. It's not long for me to remember who he was, because from his black rimmed eye glasses, I can say he was that guy I met from the past few days.

The one who told me a quote from the internet and advised me to do the right thing which I did. He is quiet peculiar to me, from the first time we met he oozes this charisma that only few people has the nerve to get. The one who is laid back and free-spirited.

A smirk playing on his lips and avoided my eye contact after that.

When I reached his table he already ordered his Iced Americano and a plate of strawberry shortcake.

My eyes darted on his outfit and black raven hair that perfectly framed his face, adding a touch of mystery in his appearance. He looks kind of different with his black and red stripped loose shirt, revealing his pair of collar bones and baggy black jeans. The last time I saw him he looks so formal like a professor but now, he looks like a rebellious high school student.

Kidding aside. He still looks charming.

"Who are you for you to call me in this place?" I asked not minding how arrogant I may sound to him. If this is a blind date then he would definitely ditch me without having a second look.

He hummed and took a sip of his drink before lifting his gaze to me. He smiled at me, "You are not going to ask what if I am the person who called you out here?" he asked surprised. I was taken aback by his husky voice.

He laugh at me and there is something to it. His smile seemed familiar to me. He sounds somewhat sarcastic, though, as if mocking me.

Hindi ko pinansin ang lintaya niya at hinila na lamang ang upuan sa harapan niya bago umupo rito. I called out for a waiter and ordered myself a drink, which is my favorite, cafe latte.

I smiled to the waiter when he excused himself when I am done ordering.

"You're quiet feisty, huh. I like it," the mysterious boy in front of me murmured to himself.

"Hey, could you please go straight to the point? I hate people beating around the bush." I played with my nails to make him get the idea of "i am busy".

It was as if an old man was laughing at me, his laughter resonated with a husky timbre. When I looked at him, my mouth literally gaped when I saw him face turned into red and he looks like his choking with his own laughter.

I don't know what's going on with him but I am already uncomfortable as it is.

When our eyes met and he realized that I was watching him the whole time, he regained his composure and heaved a sigh.

"Am I a joke to you, mister?" I unbelievably said.

He shook his head and reached for the iced coffee and drank it empty, only leaving the ice. He hummed again, appreciating how tasty the drink.

"You don't remember me, right?" he mused. Using his fingers he wipped of the tears lingering in his eyes.

My brows furrowed when he throw me a question. "Do I have to know you? You should have texted me your name, if that so." I teased.

He shook his head again. "Nevermind," he defeated.

My drink just arrived and the waiter said my partner already paid for it and I should be comfortable to call them if there is anything I would like.

I eyed the boy in front of me but he's oblivious of my stares.

Who the fuck is he, seriously?

"You must be startled to see bunch of journalist in your school, I suppose? Words do fly really fast in this generation, but don't worry they can't harm you." he sounds like an adult teaching me good manners and right conduct.

What a joke, this guy.

I raised him an eyebrow. "So what? Just who are you, mister?" My patience is getting thin.

"Samuela Hoylar, do you really not remember me?" once again he asked me.

I bit my lower lip when his eyes locked in a penetrating stare, they seemed to see to the core of my being, unraveling my thoughts and emotions. In that moment I felt unsettled and disturbed.

Gone with the cheeky and high school student that mocked me earlier, but this guy's aura has something dark surrounding him.

I was the one who broke the eye contact first and drank and cafe latte staight on my lips. When the hot drink came in contact with my skin, I immediately spit it out and spilled it on the table.

The soft thud alerting the nearby customers and the guy infront of me acted in a bolt of lightning, he reached for the tissue paper on the side of the table and cleaned the mess I made. He even made sure if I was not hurt and handed me the tissue to clean my hands.

The staff even refill the drink for me and apologizes for the inconvenience when I was the one who was at fault.

"So, what made you forget your knight in shining armour, Samuela? Really huh, am I that ugly for your taste?"

My resolve just came back when his voice became friendly and resounding. But when he watched my confused look he goes on again.

"Ah, I know I told you that we will never meet again because of my schedule but that doesn't mean you will forever—"

My mouth gaped when I just realized something and eyed him with widened eyes. I pointed at him unbelievably and nodded multiple of times. It was as if I won the lotto or something like that.

He laugh with my reaction and rested his back on the chair.

"Now, Samuela should we go back to the time where you killed your friends?" Just like the first time I saw him earlier, a  playful smirk is playing on his lips once again.

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