But I love this chapter. Ang ganda kasi ng pwesto ko kanina, tuloy tuloy ang ideya. Haha. Hihi.

****

"She's dead. She' dead. I lost her! Pero bakit?! Bakit! Bumawi naman ako, diba? Akala ko okay ang lahat? Pero bakit ganito, doc?" she hugged the baby tightly at paulit-ulit na hinalikan. "Breathe, angel. Come on. Momma's here... Breathe!"

"I'm sorry Ms. Ericka, ginawa namin ang lahat ng amin makakaya----"

"Don't you dare tell that to me. Wala ako sa teleserye para sabihan mo ako ng scripted lines na 'yan!" mas hinigpitan ulit ni Ericka ang yakap sa batang walang malay sa kamay n'ya. "Magising ka naman... I am here." kahit hindi s'ya madalas umiyak, for the first time in her life. May tumulo na luha sa mata n'ya.

Inilagok ni Ericka ang alak na hindi n'ya na mabilang kung pang ilan na ito sa nainom n'ya. Only she knew, kailangan n'ya maglasing ngayon gabi. Sa sobrang daming nangyaring ngayon araw, hindi n'ya alam kung saan s'ya mag-uumpisa kinabukasan. It's like freaking bomb that exploded, simultaneously.

First, Rake left her in that island at s'ya gumawa mismo ng trabaho nilang dalawa, at dahil dito hindi natuloy ang una n'yang plano. Everything wasn't happening according to her plan. Second, was Rake's daughter, not that she was jealous because they had one before, ngunit iba kasi ang nararamdaman n'ya rito. She felt sad for the child, she was blind and didn't deserve it. Now third, was Rake's mother offer, palaisipan padin kay Ericka kung ano talaga ang motibo ni Sonya sa kanya.

Ngayon, lumalabas na naman ang pagkemotional drinker n'ya. She was remembering her daughter, and how she lost her.

"Peping, okay ka pa?" tumigil si Damon sa paghalik nito sa kasamang babae at tumingin sa kanya.

"Do I look freaking drunk, idiot? Do I look like one?! I'm not, freaking not!" bulyaw n'ya rito.

"Okay, okay, sorry naman. Mas nakakatakot ka tuloy kapag ganito..."

"What?"

"Babe," singit ng babae. "H'wag mo na galitin 'yung ate mo--"

Nagpintig ang tenga ni Ericka at tumayo hawak-hawak ang bote. "Stand the freaking up." utos n'ya sa babae.

"Babe, 'yung ate mo nakakatakot, oh." sumbong nito kay Damon na mas mukhang naduduwag pa sa kasama.

Ericka lowered herself in the table at tiningnan ng mata sa mata ang babaeng kasama nito. "What's your freaking name, bitch?"

"Hindi ako bitch, ikaw ang mukhang bitch dyan!"

Kinuha ni Ericka ang hotsauce sa mesa nila at inilagay sa bibig ng babae. Nanlaki ang mata nito, dahil hinawakan n'ya agad ang babae sa buhok para hindi makagalaw.

"Peping!" suway ni Damon.

Ericka didn't move an inch. "Just my little advice, lovebirds." she said. "Pagkasama n'yo ko, learn to show some respect, and know your limits, and another one, three words. Fuck. Freaking. Off." sabi n'ya at tumalikod na sa dalawa.

Narinig n'ya ang iyak ng babae pero hindi n'ya ininda. Naglalakad padin s'ya habang tinutungga ang alak na hawak n'ya. She stopped, when she was seeing familiar body in the crowd.

"J-james?" the boy was few yards away from her. Napalunok si Ericka, eto na ba ang oras para magsorry s'ya? "James," lapit n'ya para hawakan ang balikat nito.

"I'm freaking sorry..." she said. Lumingon ang lalaki, only to her surprise, it wasn't him.

"Yes, Miss?" biglang ngumiti nitong tanong sa kanya nang makita s'ya.

"Nothing. I thought you're someone I know." tumalikod na s'ya ng biglang hawakan nito ang kamay n'ya.

"I can be that someone you know.." saad nito sa kanya.

"Hindi ka mayaman, wala sa mukha mo ang may pera. Now, fuck the freaking off." binitawan nito ang pagkakahawak sa kanya.

Dumeretso si Ericka sa labas ng bar nang bigla n'yang maramdaman ang pagvibrate ng cellphone n'ya sa bulsa. Pagkatingin n'ya, it's Rake. He's calling her in the middle of this night.

"Hello, freaking Rake." natatawang sabi n'ya.

"Ericka?" nagtatakang tanong nito. "Ericka, is this you?"

"One and only," sumandal si Ericka sa pader at kinalabit ang lalaking nasa gilid n'ya para hingin ang yosi nito. Binigay naman nito agad, pero nang lumalapit ito sa kanya para halikan s'ya. She points out her middle finger at him, at ibinuga ang usok ng sigarilyo sa mukha nito. "Whazzup, darling?"

"Are you drunk?" seryosong seryoso ang boses nito. "Where you at?"

"I'm freaking not. Bakit ba panay tanong ng mga tao ngayon kung lasing ako? Mukha ba akong lasing, ha?"

"Of course you are." narinig n'ya ang paghinga nito sa kabilang linya. "Kilala kita kapag nalalasing ka."

"Okay, let's stop the stupid statement, and tell me now what do you need by this late hour, huh? Tell me freaking Rake. I need your answer, don't make me wait."

Tumawa si Rake sa kabilang linya. "Commanding much, Quinn? Remember when I told you I'm your Alpha?"

Umirap si Ericka. "Remember when I reminded you, you're not? I am, Rake. Don't you freaking dare that you are. Not right now. Not tomorrow or not even in centuries."

"You're really funny when you're drunk, Ericka. I like this side, you're very entertaining." Ericka could hear Rake's playful tone which made her even more annoyed.

"Don't you freaking laugh at me, or I'll hit you with your freaking belt---"

"Hit me," Rake's voice was challenging but almost humoring her. "Can you do that? I guess you'll hit the lampshade instead of me."

"Fucking freaking fuck off!"

"Redundant much, Angel?" and now he's using her dialogue.

Ericka rolled her eyes. "You're not funny, Rake."

"I find you amusing. Ngayon lang, Ericka. The rest of your characters are plain annoying."

"Well, darling, that annoying character made you loved me."

"I did not." he said. "Back to our business, I need you to come to my office tomorrow. I won't be there. Kailangan ko muna tutukan si Rebekah, for the meantime ikaw muna ang humarap sa mga kliyente ko."

"Okay." Ericka said, at ibinaba na ang tawag ni Rake. She didn't bother asking anything. She didn't need him right now anyway.

Naglakad s'ya patungong sasakyan n'ya para umuwi na at iwan si Damon. Habang nagdadrive, gusto na n'ya banggain ang lahat ng sasakyan na humaharang sa kanya. She finds everything annoying tonight. Maya-maya nagulat s'ya nang may biglang may tumama sa windshield n'ya, then she saw blood, lots of it.

Pinikit ni Ericka ang mata n'ya, trying to get away from the blood she just saw but then when she opened her eyes, itinaas n'ya ang kamay n'ya at may nakita s'yang dugo rito. Which made her think she lost it again.

Ericka's hand was trembling when she dialed Martha's phone, walang sumagot. Nanginginig n'ya na dinial ang kay Damon, pero wala rin s'yang sagot mula rito. Ang huling pumasok sa isip n'ya ay 'yung kapatid n'ya at si Zach, pero hindi. Hindi n'ya pwedeng bulabugin ang mga ito. Ayaw n'yang nag-aalala sa kanya ang kapatid n'ya.

Shaking, she dialed Rake's number, agad naman itong sinagot ni Rake.

"Ericka."

"R-rake, h-help m-me..." natuutal na saad n'ya rito.

"Ericka, what's the problem?"

Lumingon si Ericka sa paligid n'ya at sa dugo mula sa bintana. "I think I lost it... I lost it again... Rake... Help me. I don't want to be here. Please... It'll freaking kill me... Puntahan mo ako, Rake..." Ericka begged, almost hallucinating.