CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

JP'S POV

"So, ano nang plano?"

Nandito kami sa basketball court. Walang mga tao, at napilitan kaming hindi muna magbukas ng booth.

Nalaman namin sa tita ni Kristine na hindi siya umuwi kagabi. Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring balita.

"Kagagawan pa rin ba 'to nila Kent?" tanong ni Sean.

"That can't be... I already dealt with him," sagot naman ni Bryle.

"More reason to do revenge." Napatingin naman ang lahat kay Nathan. "Unless, of course, eh hindi pa siya nakakalabas ng kulungan."

"So, sino?" Nag-isip na naman kami ng pwedeng salarin.

Ilang segundo lang kaming nanahimik, nang biglang tumayo si Jairo.

"You know where she is." Natigilan kaming lahat, lalo na si Jai, sa sinabi ni Bryle, pero lumabas pa rin si Jai ng room nang walang sinasabi.

"Susundan ba natin si Jairo?" Pareho lang kami ng tanong ni Sean kay Bryle.

Pero 'di niya kami sinagot, hence, he stood up and went out of the room.

"Tara na nga lang," pagyayaya ni Nathan.

"Ako na lang sasama kela Jai at Bryle. Dito na lang kayong tatlo. Open the booth, sayang din yung kikitain." Bigla namang tumayo si Cyril at lumabas ng room.

"Tumakas lang talaga yung isang 'yun eh. Palibhasa nagsawa na sa kahahalik." Natawa kaming tatlo sa sinabi ni Sean.

"Tara na nga. Kaya na naman ng tatlong 'yun. Para namang 'di natin sila nakitang lumaban."

"Ang sabihin mo, sa ating anim, sila ang power trio sa labanan." Tumawa na naman kami. Totoo naman yung sinabi ko. Maliban kasi sa practice fights namin sa ibang gangs, naglalaban din kaming anim. At nung minsan na matyempohan silang tatlo ang magkakakampi, halos wala kaming mabatbat.

"Pero yung totoo, sino kaya yung dumukot na naman kay Kristine?" Napaisip na naman kami sa tanong ni Nathan.

"Pangalawang beses na siyang nakidnap. At panigurado, sa akto ni Jairo kanina, siya na naman ang dahilan," nasabi ko na lang.

~•~

BRYLE'S POV

I blocked his path. "You're the reason why she's caught in this situation again, am I right?"

"Just move, Bryle."

"For the second time, she might get hurt."

"It's none of your godd*mn business, Bryle."

I know... but I still care for her. "Just make sure that this time, you'll be the one to save her." 'Coz I can still remember the look in her eyes when she saw that I was her savior and not you.

Hindi na ako tiningnan ni Jairo at nilampasan na niya ako para makasakay siya sa kotse niya.

I'll deal with the other potential threats, just save her.

"So, ano? Tutulala ka ba riyan o susundan na natin siya?" Medyo nabigla naman ako nang may magsalita sa may gilid ko.

"You'll come too?" Naglakad na ako papunta sa kotse ko kung saan nakasandal si Cy.

"Obviously. You might need back-up." Binuksan ni Cy yung pinto sa passenger side. "And I'm the backup." He even pointed to himself before going inside my car.

Napailing na lang ako saka tuluyang sumakay para sundan yung kotse ni Jai. We were both silents during the ride. All I can think of was Kristine's safety.

I don't want her harmed again. Siguraduhin lang ng kumidnap sa kanya na hindi siya nito ginalaw o sinaktan, or they will face hell.

~•~

CYRIL'S POV

Ang lakas ng energy na nagmumula kay Bryle. His energy was shouting pure love. He must've really loved Kristine. His thoughts even say so. He's willing to sacrifice everything for her and her happiness.

Sa tagal ko rito sa mundong ito. Ang grupo nila Jairo ang pinaka-masayang mga tao at kaibigan. Kung hindi lang si Nathan ang pinili ni Psyche edi sana hanggang ngayon, totoong kaibigan pa rin ang turing ko sa kanya.

Psyche... Wait for me, love... Malapit na ang panahong magkakasama tayong muli... But that'll mean losing a friend...

Well, not just Nathan... Having Psyche back means going back to my godly life.

"We're here." I felt the car stop. Nakita rin naming bumaba na si Jairo sa kotse niya, kaya naman bumaba na rin kami.

Hindi pumapasok si Jairo, pero bigla siyang lumingon sa direksyon namin at nakita ko namang naglakad si Bryle papalapit kay Jai, kaya gumaya na rin ako. Walang salitaan, sabay-sabay kaming pumasok sa lumang building sa harap namin.

Unlike Bryle's strong energy, may kakaiba sa energy na nire-release si Jairo.

"Took you long enough." Napatingin kami sa paligid para hanapin yung boses, but instead of a person, we saw speakers. "What were you? Scared?" Natawa pa yung nagsasalita.

I tried detecting the person's energy at nang may mapansin ako mahinang fade ng energy mula sa taas, agad ko dapat yung lalapitan pero nagsalita na naman yung nasa speaker.

"Oh! Ba't may alalay? Hindi ka ba talaga matapang nang mag-isa, Jairo? You really need someone to protect you?" May biglang bumukas na ilaw at nakita naming may nakataling upuan sa may ceiling. "Say hello to Miss Kristine Abella." Lalapitan na rin sana ni Jairo ang posisyon ni Kristine pero ayaw magpaawat nung nagsasalita. "Don't move unless I say so. One unnecessary move and those ropes connected to her chair will get cut and she will fall. Now, you wouldn't want her to die, do you?"

"What do you want me to do?"

"Simple lang, Jairo. Hayaan mong bugbugin ka ng mga tao ko. I assume that's fair for what you've done to me."

"Who are you?" tanong ni Bryle habang tuloy pa rin sa paghahanap.

"Oh, you know me." May bumukas ulit na ilaw, this time sa isang glass booth naman. "Cha-Chad at your service, assh*les." He even showed us his middle finger.

"Why are you doing this?" 'Di ko napigilang tanungin.

"Crystal, my little sister, is in a mental facility because of your group. Because of your f*cking leader."

And then I remembered a scenario. Inside my car, a woman released unpleasant energy. I made her talk to me honestly using my powers. And when I knew that she was part of the kidnapping plan for Kristine, I felt angry. Kristine is a puzzle I wanna solve, no one can harm her. And then that woman, Crystal, mentioned that she did it out of love, I lost control and put a spell on her.

She'll be able to communicate properly again if the reason for her mean, selfless act of love rescues her.

And now, this happens. Didn't see that one coming. So, technically, ako yung rason ng paghihiganti niya. Jairo and Kristine should not get involved.

Also, I just wanna get this over with since I'm still trying to figure out Kristine and why can't I see her love energy.

I froze the time, though it only worked for only thirty seconds, I swiftly moved to check every room and bad guys and knock them all out. I also cut the ropes connecting Kristine's chair, and also removed the chair she was sitting on. Iniisip ko pa kung si Jairo o si Bryle ang pasasaluhin ko.

~•~

KRISTINE'S POV

Wha-what the! I can feel myself falling.

I screamed at the top of my lungs and when I thought that I'd die, I felt someone catch me and embrace me.

"Kristine..."

Inangat ko ang ulo ko para makita kung sino.

I felt my heart beating rapidly nang makita kong si Jairo ang may hawak sa akin.

Finally...

"Woah! What the hell happened‽" Narinig namin yung pagkagulat ni... Cyril?

Tulala kaming lahat sa nangyari. Bumalik lang ako sa reyalidad nang may magsalita.

"What the f*ck‽" sigaw ni—Chad‽ Ba't nandito si Chad—Siya yung... kumidnap sa akin‽

"Looks like we're done here." Nandito rin si Bryle. "Jai, umalis na kayo ni Kristine, kami nang bahala ni Cy dito."

Tumango lang Jai saka niya ako binuhat palabas. Hindi ko alam ang nangyayari, parang ambilis. Ano bang meron?

"Jai—"

"I'll get you home." Hindi na ako pinatapos ni Jai. Hindi pa rin bumabalik ang buong lakas ko kaya hindi rin ako makapag-react.

Ang alam ko lang, na-kidnap na naman ako. Pero hindi ko alam kung bakit? Bakit si Chad? Anong nagawa ko sa kanyang masama?

But... this time... si Jairo... si Jairo ang nagligtas sa akin.

Siya na yung nandito para sa akin. Niligtas niya ako. Bahala na... Selfish as it is... I'm keeping Jairo.

He's mine. Sana hindi na niya mahanap yung para sa kanya. Akin na siya.

After a silent ride with Jairo, he stopped and went out of the car to open the door for me. Without saying a word, he carried me. Narinig ko ang boses ni Tita, but my mind was focused on Jairo who wasn't talking to me at all.

Hanggang sa ihiga niya ako sa kama, wala siyang imik. Aalis na sana siya nang hawakan ko ang kamay niya.

"Jairo..."

"Magpahinga ka na, Kristine. You need to regain your strength." Lumapit pa siya para halikan ako sa noo. "I want you safe." And with that, tuluyan na siyang umalis ng bahay namin.

Jai... anong nangyari?