Chapter 31: Just So You Know

I let Triangle punch Pentagon as much as he can. Hello? Hindi naman pwedeng kami lang ang makatikim sa galit niya o sa kung ano man ang epekto ng impeksyon sa utak ni Tatsulok. Pentagon rolled on the other side of the bed trying to avoid Triangle’s punches at nang makita niya ako ay tumakbo siya sa likuran ko at nagtago. Bruises began to appear on his face at bahagya pang dumudugo ang gilid ng kanyang labi.

“Kitten, help!”

Halos manginig na sa galit si Tatsulok habang nakaharap siya sa amin. His forehead was full of sweat as he looked at Gon behind me. Akala ko ay mapipigilan ko siya sa muling pagsugod kay Gon ngunit bigla na lamang niya akong hinablot at tinulak sa gilid. If I haven’t been alert, I would have hit my head hard on the table. Pusangina, balak na yata akong patayin ni Tatsulok.

He grabbed Pentagon on his artificial arm and in a swift movement, he turned Gon backward and pulled his pants down.

Pusangina.

I shouted and covered my eyes to prevent myself from seeing something. Pentagon groaned in disapproval at hindi ko na alam kung ano ang tinitingnan ni Tatsulok sa loob ng pants ni Gon. Puto, I have a wild guess pero pusangina, that’s something weird. I only uncovered my eyes when I heard Triangle cussed few times.

“Damn you, Gon, where were you all these times?” Kasunod niyon ay ang kanyang palahaw na iyak. I was there and I witnessed it again. Triangle in his miserable crying state.

Gon pulled his pants up, his face was a little red. “Damn you, too, Twin Bro, Kitten might saw something.”

“I didn’t,” tanggi ko.

Triangle was now hugging his brother at patuloy pa rin siya sa pag-iyak. Bahagya akong tumango kay Gon, and he got my message that I’ll leave them alone. Tahimik na lumabas na lamang ako ng kwarto at nanatili sa sala kung nasaan ang iba.

Napansin kong tila mabigat ang ambiance sa sala. Nakapatay na ang TV ngunit tila nagpapakiramdaman silang lahat na naroon-- except for KL who looks clueless.

“What happened?” tanong ko.

“Mylabs!” bulalas niya at tumayo upang salubungin ko. He rested his head on my shoulders. “Anong ginawa sa ’yo ng robot na ‘yon?”

I rolled my eyes at him at ibinaling ang paningin kina Coco at Megan. “What’s up with that two?”

“The Royal list is up,” sagot ni KL. “Bad news and good news, which one do you want to hear, Mylabs?”

“Whichever.”

KL smiled at me widely. “Good news is I made it to the list! Top 10, Mylabs, top 10!

KL made it on the list even without a face-off match. I am not surprised. KL is undoubtedly smart, it’s just that he prefers fast money than investing in education. Kaya na rin mas gusto niyng mabugbog sa mga underground MMA fights na sinasalihan niya. At least, doon ay tiyak niya na may pera kaysa sa pag-aaral. Knowing how shitty the Capital is, finding job would be tough kahit pa may natapos ka.

“Congratulations, and the bad news?”

He made a face. “They said you were on the 10th spot and that means I tossed you out.”

I frowned but I neither feel bad nor angry to KL. I know I am not the type who can always make it to the Royals but I still want to try. Sa katunayan ay inaasahan ko na iyon. Matapos ba naman akong lampasuhin ni Tatsulok sa face-off iisipan ko pa na makakapasok ako sa Royals? Nah, impossible.

“And what happens to these two?” tanong ko, pointing my lips to Megan and Coco.

“Megan is on top 4,” sagot ni KL. What the! Top 4!? okay, alam kong matalino talaga si Megan pero puo, ang lapit na niya sa 1st Spot! And 1st Spot is something that I want to experience!

“How about Coco?”

“6th.”

I gasped some air. 6th?! Coco’s that close, too? Wait, ako lang ba ang hindi masyadong matalino sa building na ito?! And seriously, they made it that far pero bakit tila hindi nila nagustuhan iyon?

“But they look like they lost.”

KL shrugged his shoulders. “Hindi ko rin sila maintindihan. Maybe they’re sad that you didn’t make it when everyone else in Bldg. 1485 did.”

Hindi makapaniwalang napatingin ako kay KL. “Even Nikon?”

He nodded with a frown and raised two fingers. “2nd.”

Puto, ibig sabihin si Tatsulok na nga ang nasa unang pwesto? Not surprising since he didn’t only beat me but also Trench. And speaking of Trench...

“How about Trench?”

Napakunot ang noo ni KL. “Trench? Ano nga apelyido niya?”

“Trench Grande Mariano.”

He sighed. “Nope, he’s totally out. Pwede ba ‘yon? Hindi ba pwedeng bumaba lang siya ng ilang pwesto? He used to be on the top right? Isn’t that a bit off, Mylabs?”

Hindi ko pinansin ang ibang sinabi ni KL at agad na tumakbo palabas ng Bldg. 1485. I found myself running towards District 9 dormitory. Papalubog na ang araw at medyo madilim na ang daan patungo sa District 9 Dormitory.

Hindi na ako kumatok nang makarating ako roon and I found Drix and Jeff at the living room.

“Sunny,” tawag ni Drix. “Nakita mo na rin ba ang listahan ng Royals?”

I shook my head. “Where’s Trench?”

Jeff pointed at the stairs heading to the rooms. “Hindi siya lumalabas sa silid niya kanina pa.”

I ran towards the stairs at nang marating ko ang tapat ng kwarto ni Trench ay pinihit ko ang siradura ngunit naka-lock iyon. I knocked in a rushed manner at hindi nagtagal ay binuksan ni Trench ang pinto. He was wearing his headset at tinanggal niya iyon nang makita ko.

“Gallego?”

Kahit hindi niya ako pinapasok ay pumasok ako sa loob. Iginala ko ang paningin sa silid pero mukhang wala namag kahit ano. Puto, napapraning lang siguro ako nang iniisip ko na baka umiiyak siya ngayon o ‘di kaya ay naglalaslas. Ilang beses kong sinapak ang ulo ko upang alisin iyon sa isipan ko.

“The Royal list is out,” wika ko.

Tumango siya at naupo sa kanyang upuan. “I see.”

“W-we’re out.” I wasn’t worried about my spot. Hello? Expected na iyon, pero si Trench? No way. Tama si KL. Bakit kailangan niyang alisin, eh, pwede naman na bumaba lang siya ng ilang pwesto? Kahit pa itapat si Trench sa ibang bumubuo sa Royals, tiyak kong mananalo siya!

“I’m not surprised,” he replied. “You came here running because of that?”

Natigilan ako. Oo nga, tumakbo ako para lang sabihin iyon? Puto, I was just worried. But it seems like Trench isn’t the suicidal type. “I was worried you’ll be sad.”

Napangiti siya. Okay, seeing Trench smile is a rare sight and for a while, I wished I had captured that moment. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa paa ko. “You even ran here barefooted.”

Nanlalaki ang mga matang napatingin ako sa paa ko and he was right. Nakayapak ako. What the hell?! ang dumi na ng paa ko! To my surprise, Trench stood up and he gently grabbed my hand. Nalilitong nagpatangay lamang ako. He guided me to sit on his bed.

“Stay there for a while,” he said and I nodded like a robot. I watched him walked towards the door and disappeared. Hindi nagtagal ay bumalik siya na may dalang maliit na palanggana na may lamang tubig.

Halos lumuwa ang mata ko sa gulat nang lumuhod siya sa harapan ko at inilapag ang palanggana sa tabi. I bit my lower lip as I watched him held my foot at hinugasan iyon.

“T-teka--”

He cut me off. “Just stay still, Gallego.”

He sounded serious kaya nanatili akong hindi gumagalaw habang nililinis niya ang paa ko. Pero pusangina, nakikiliti ako! Kinagat ko na lamang ang pang-ibabang labi ko at hinayaan siya pero pusangina talaga, kailangan kong magpigil dahil baka masipa ko siya.

I let out a gasp when he finally dried my foot with a towel ngunit muling nanigas ulit nang ang kabilang paa ko naman ang hinugasan niya. Puto, puto, puto, puto talaga! Bakit ba kasi nakakakiliti sa talampakan?!

I felt my butt lifting off the bed sa bawat hilod niya. Pusangina talaga. Mula sa pagkakayuko niya sa paa ko ay napatingin siya sa akin. “You okay?”

I bit my lip and shook my head. “That’s ticklish.”

He laughed before he wiped my other foot at saka siya tumayo. That’s another precious moment. Hello? Trench? Laughing? That seldom happens. Hinila niya ang kanyang upuan at umupo sa harap ko.

“Thank you,” sinserong sabi niya.

“Sa?” He’s thanking me for what?

“You thought of me when you should have thought of yourself. You’re out of the list, too.”

Napalabi ako. Me and him are different story. Pero tama siya, I thought of him than myself. Pero mukha namang okay siya. Mukha lang. As far as I know, Trench Grade Mariano hide all his pain in that emotionless face. I don’t know how heavy he feels right now ngunit kung pagbabasehan ang kanyang mukha, he seems fine at all.

Matiim na tiningnan ko siya at muling tinanong. “You okay?”

He smiled bitterly and shook his head. “No.”

That’s it. Trench removed his mask and admitted he’s not fine. “I’m okay with the thought that Triangle made it on top. He deserves every best thing in this cruel world but I’m not okay with the thought that he becomes someone I don’t know anymore.”

I sat still and looked at him tell a very sad story about Triangle. Pero ngayong nandito na si Pentagon, everything will be back to normal. He can have the old Triangle back.

Or so I thought.

***

“Kainan na!” masiglang sabi ni Gon at pinagbunggo ang kanyang kubyertos.

I scanned my gaze to everyone at the table at napansin kong wala roon si Tatsulok. Wala rin si Nikon pero hindi na iyon nakapagtataka dahil madalas na wala naman talaga siya roon. “Nasaan si Triangle?”

Megan started eating as she replied to my question. “He’s eating dinner with Moran. I think they’ll be closing the deal for his Solar Water.”

Nagsimula na ring kumain si Pentagon at hindi pinansin ang pinag-uusapan namin. He probably missed the ration meat so much o sadyang masiba lang talaga siya. AndE spoiled him by giving him an extra slice.

“Outright sale?” tanong ni KL. “Iyong pinakita niya sa Face-off? Sayang naman na outright sale ang ginawa niya.”

Coco agreed. “Oo nga, I see potential sa research niyang iyon. He should just let the Capital license the right to make or use.”

“Twin Bro is smart kaya sa tingin ko ay alam niya ang ginagawa niya,” singit ni Pentagon kahit puno ng pagkain ang kanyang bibig. Puto, hindi ba niya alam ang ‘do not talk when your mouth is full’?

“Pentagon, I don’t think your brother knows what he’s been doing lately.”

Megan agreed at maging si Coco ay nag-second the motion sa sinabi ko.

“Sana ay binenta niya iyon sa Black Market,” KL suggested at pareho kaming tiningnan siya nang masama. Itinaas niya ang dalawang kamay at ngumisi. “Sorry, sanay lang ako na mas mabilis at mas malaki ang kikitain doon.”

“Twin bro is not after the money,” sagot ni Pentagon.

May point si Gon pero sa tingin ba niya, gagamitin talaga iyon ni Moran sa tama? “But you know Moran, paano kung pagkakakitaan lang niya iyon? You know he acquired wealth through the Black Market.”

“Kumain na nga lang kayo,” sabi ni Pentagon. “I repeat Twin Bro knows his thing kaya just focus on your food.”

***

I didn’t believe Pentagon when he said Triangle knows his thing. Puto, oo matalino si Tatsulok pero paano kung kumalat na talaga ang impeksyon sa utak niya? I hugged my knees as I waited for him in front of the building. Pasado ala una na ngunit hindi pa rin siya umuuwi. Nakauwi na si Nikon but Triangle is still nowhere out of sight.

Kanina pa ako inaantok ngunit hindi ko magawang matulog. Tila nagising ang diwa ko nang makarinig ako ng mga papalapit na hakbang kaya agad akong napatayo.

“Holy cow-- what are you doing there?” iritableng tanong niya.

“Bakit ngayon ka lang?” tanong ko. I don’t want to sound like I’m nagging pero puto, parang ganoon na nga. He stayed out late kahit bumalik na ang kapatid niya.

“What is that to you? Nanay ba kita?”

Bahagya akong natigilan. Pusangina, ako na nga ‘tong nagmamalasakit! Oo hindi niya ako nanay pero puto, nag-aalala lang ako. Paano kung siya pala ang ginawang dinner ni Moran? Tsk, hayok pa naman sa karne ng tao ang hayop na iyon.

Uh, I’m thinking so advance, I know.

“Look, Triangle. If you’re doing this because you’re hurt before...” I sighed heavily. “Bumalik ka na sa dating ikaw. Pentagon’s back now at--”

“You mean the weak Triangle?”

“No, the--”

“Look, Sunny. If you think this is about you, I’m telling you no. It’s not about you anymore.”

Shit. Puto puto puto alam ko! “I know, hindi ko naman sinasabing--”

He cut me off again. “Ginagawa ko lang ang sa tingin ko’y tama.”

Hindi ko maiwasang mapakuyom ang kamao sa sinabi niya. “Sa pagpanig kay Moran?! Are you under some drug or simulation?!”

He shook his head at tiningnan ako nang diretso. “Hindi ako pumapanig kay Moran. I just sold an invention and ate dinner with him. Hell, why am I even explaining this to you?”

Mapait na ngumiti ako at napatango. He has a point. “J-just so you know y-you’re hurting T-trench. You’re hurting m-me, too.”

“Then you comfort each other,” sagot niya at malamig ang tinging nilampasan niya lang ako at pumasok sa pinto.

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