A S H Y

I held a glass of wine. Seeing them down, Sky sees me on the top. That eyes. He wanted to say something I wouldn't want to. Tumango ako sa kanya. I walked and sat back. Rain rather told me to stay on top, to avoid that Pen.

"Where is he?"
Nilingon ko ang pinagmulan ng boses.

"Lumabas saglit."

"Did he told you to stay here?"

"Exactly."

"That's a better idea. Better to watch out."
He leaned on me.

"Don't trust, Pen." Tumayo ako.

"I will."

"Maddy." He held my arm.

"Did someone follow you?"
Our eyes met. He knows. This couldn't be.

"What do you mean?"

"I followed you."

"Did you?"

"Tell me, did anyone?"

"None." Tinanggal ko ang aking braso.

"Sabihin mo sa akin ang totoo."
Nagsimula akong maglakad.

"What should I tell?" Sumunod s'ya sa akin.

"The man that follows you."
Humarap ako sa kanya.

"Are you crazy?"

"Alam ko ang totoo."
Iniwasan ko s'ya ng tingin.

"Better to stay quiet, Ash. Don't tell anyone about this." I couldn't even act better. I'm started to scatter the mess.

"I'm sorry."
He suddenly gave me a warm hug. I feel him. Gustuhin ko man pero hindi ko kaya. Instead, I leaned on his chest.

"I didn't mean to hurt him. I really loved Rain, so much."

"Bakit, Ash?" Mas hinigpitan pa n'ya ang kanyang pagkakayakap sa akin.

"I was forced."

"By who?" Inangat ko ang aking tingin sa kanya.

"By them."
Nakita ko s'yang nilingon ang gate. I turned my head, too.

"Fix yourself, Maddy. He's here."
Bumalik na rin ako sa pagkakaupo. Sandali pa ay  nagsidatingan ang mga mokong kasama ang mga babae.

***

"Sky." Rain walked towards him.

"Thank you." He tapped his shoulder.

"She's fine."
Rain walked back to her. Sky saw them quietly. Jack nodded his head. Tinungo naman nito ang kanyang direksyon.

"I found someone, a friend of mine. Matutulungan n'ya tayo regarding with your mails."

"I need that one, Jack."

He nodded. "Bukas natin s'ya kakausapin."

"Sure."

"About her." Huminto s'ya at pasimpleng lumingon kay Ash. "I saw the two of you, together."

"Did you hear us?"
Ibinalik n'ya ang kanyang tingin sa kanya.

"I did."

"Then?"
Hinintay n'ya itong mag-react mula sa kanyang ginawa.

"Don't ya worry, I wouldn't tell anyone." He tapped his shoulder. "No one."

"Thanks, Jack."

Tahimik silang bumalik sa kumpulan. They pulled a chair as they composed together. Katabi ni Ash si Rain. This was a zone of danger. Hazard.

They were all busy and enjoyed. Nakadalawang shots pa lang si Sky nang maisipan n'yang bumaba. He turned the living area, sitting down the couch and exhaling toxic feelings. As he opened his phone, he read those previous messages from anonymous sender. He was expecting her to send him a new message, but there's none. He tried to call her but she can't be reachable. So, he decided to send her a voice clip.

"Who are you?"
Five minutes after, he received a clip from the sender.

"The taker."

"What do you want?"

"I want the both of you to pay."

"What for?"

"An obligation."
He said nothing. Nagtaka s'ya rito.

"I'm watching the both of you."

"No need to scare me."

"I know you weren't."

"Tell me your name."

She smiled and said, "61139121."

"Do you know me?"

"Sky Tyler Mendez, S.G's right hand."
Sa isip n'ya, talagang kilala n'ya ito.

"Meet you soon."

"We already did."
She make him froze a little.

"Better to keep everything than to lose all of the above."

Para s'yang tinamaan ng isang ligaw na bala. Tagos hanggang buto ang paninigas sa kanyang buong katawan. Para bang lumalaban s'ya sa buhay na walang buhay.

"Kanina ka pa ba rito?"

Hawak ang kanyang phone, "Briefly."

"Ang bilis mong nawala sa gameshot."

"I'm tired."

"May kausap ka ba?"
Pasimple itong umupo sa kanyang tabi.

"It's an anonymous talk with someone."

"Anong sabi n'ya?"
He extended his phone and Jack listened to the voice conversation.

"Frivolous." He leaned the phone to his ear.

"I knew her."

He paused, "We do."

As early as they agreed, Jack and Sky meeting a friend from old school. They met him at Bonjour Restaurant. Wala s'yang ideya kung bakit ito ang naging pangalan ng Restau. But one thing is for sure, he needs to clear and firm his stand against sh*tty things. Jack ordered food and drinks for them.

"Sky Tyler Mendez."
Tiningnan n'ya s'ya saglit.

"Please, be seated."

"I'm Diego Reba." He presented himself.

"Jack's old friend," Sky added.

"He told me about your problem."
Agad ipinakita sa kanya ni Jack ang isang conversation with the anonymous chatter. He played the voices they had.

"I guess well, not bad."
Opening his laptop, he reviewed some file connecting to the chatter.

"There's no new information about her. Let me check some more."
He was dumped by unfamiliar site wherein a group of people selling and buying illegal assumptions.

"You asked her about her name, but she gaved you nine numbers?"

"Right."
He turned the digits into letters.

"It showed FML. Any idea about this?"

"Any word?" Jack looking to them, vice-versa.

"61139121-FAACIABI, not a better word."

Sky's phone buzzed. He received a new message from her but not on the mail.

"I'm watching you. Don't you dare."

He finally rose.

"I'm sorry Diego, but we need to go."

"But---"

"It's okay, here's your payment."Jack placed it on as he was tapping his shoulder. "We have to go."
Agad na rin silang umalis.

"SH*T!"

"What!"

"Someone is here."

"Did she?"

"Get inside."

They both get in and started the engine, they moved fast.

**
A S H Y

"That's it." Rain gave a half-smile. Meanwhile, the men were very excited for upcoming vacation. And maybe they will celebrate kasi kumpleto na ulit sila. Frank and Red completed them.
Gano'n nga siguro.

He walked upstairs while Jack seated besides me.

"Sky!" tawag ni Red sa kanya.

"I need to change my clothes," sagot nito ng hindi lumilingon. "I will be right back."

"Where have you been, Jack?" Rain's eyes burnt with wonder.

"We met someone at the club," he simply answered.

"So, how's the final decision?" Sky finally insisted as he goes down.

"A road trip," Red added.

He smiled, "Sounds better."

I met Sky's eyes. He looked unfinished. Something was bothering me, inside of my chest. Pareho kami ng iniisip. Umupo s'ya sa hindi kalayuan mula sa amin.

"Just save the date, para na rin mas mapaaga ang pag-book natin sa resort."

"That means, pwede na ba tayo ulit bumalik doon?" pagtatanong ni Lex.

"Why not?" Sky concluded. "Basta ba wala kayong gagawin na hindi maganda."

"That's cool," Jack formally said.

•••
S K Y

Habang tinitingnan ko s'ya, she kept on ignoring me. I'm trying to read her mind. She knows something that she doesn't want to say it, nor telling us.

"Dismissed." Rain closed the meeting and make a stand.

I saw Lex and Ford na tumayo at bumalik sa computer area. They're watching porn. Si Red naman, naglalaro sa kanyang phone. Si Frank, bumalik sa kanyang kwarto. Si Jack, nagkukunwaring nagbabasa ng newspaper pero pasimple naman kung tumingin sa akin. Habang si Rain, obviously kasama si Ash heading to the pool na nasa back side lang ng bahay.

"Gusto mo ba s'yang kausapin?" Nakangiti s'ya habang nakatingin sa newspaper.

"Can't talk."

"You should."

"I will try." Hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangan ko s'yang kausapin through text.
Baliw din ang isang ito.

"Guys, aalis muna ako." Frank ran down the stairs at lumapit sa kanila.

"I ain't finish that one. Save it, okay?" Tinapik n'ya ang likod ni Lex. "I will be right back."

"What are you waitin' for, Sky?" pamimilit ni Jack. "Do it now."

"Lumabas silang dalawa."

"So? Besides, aalis din naman si Ulan later."

"Red, we need to go." Rain went back.

"Where?" tanong nito ng hindi umaangat ang tingin. Seryoso ito sa kanyang nilalaro.

"At the grocery store. We need new food."
Tumayo s'ya at agad nilang tinungo ang pinto.

"Boys, we will return before an hour." Pagkasabi ni Rain ay umalis din sila.

Muli kong idinako ang tingin sa aking phone. "Pa'no mo nalaman na aalis si Rain?"

"Simple, the vacation trip is coming. Know what I mean? He will store for food and drinks. Look at me, then go."

I looked at him. He gave me a sign na 'umalis agad at huwag magtagal.' I stood without looking them. Tinungo ko ang likod ng bahay.

"Malamig dito sa labas," panimula ko nang makalapit sa kanya.

"Okay lang naman."

"May upuan naman, bakit kailangan mong umupo sa damuhan?"

"I like being on the ground." Tumayo s'ya.

"Ikaw, anong ginagawa mo rito?"
Bakas sa kanyang mukha ang lungkot at takot.

"Okay ka lang ba?" tanong ko ng may pag-aalala.

She nodded, "I'm fine."

"Yung totoo."

Nilingon n'ya ako. "Sobrang hindi."

"Kahit ako rin."

"I'm sorry about being weak last time."

"May sasabihin ako sa'yo. Makikinig ka ba?"

"I'm following."

Tiningnan ko ang tubig mula sa pool. "I had my caller and it was a girl, but I don't have her name. I had a chatter, too."

"That chatter, wala rin bang pangalan?"

"Meron."

"Then?"

"I asked what they wanted."

"What for?"

"They wanted us to pay, something for an obligation."

Nilingon n'ya ang tubig. Sadyang nakakaakit ang ganda nito dahil sa rainbow lights mula sa gilid ng pool.

"Tell me, do you have a taker?"

"I told you everything. It was done."

"Don't you trust me?"
She turned back her head. I saw her nothingness.

"I was paid by them."

Muli n'ya akong iniwasan. "I need money. Know what I'm saying? I need a better job while studying. Tinanggap ko ang pera nila para makapasok sa English University."

"Wait." I raised my hand, leveled to my shoulder. "Alam mo ba ang ginagawa mo?"

Humarap s'ya sa akin. "No choice. I badly need money to save my future."

"But how it comes? Pa'no ka umabot sa ganito, Ash?"

"I don't have anything. I'm already empty-handed, Sky."

"Sana noon pa ay sinabi mo na sa akin ang naging kalagayan mo. Sana hindi ka umabot sa ganito ngayon."

"I'm really sorry." She removed her eyes from mine and lowered her head.

I held her arm. "Listen, umalis ka na habang maaga pa. Ako na ang gagawa ng paraan para magpaliwanag kay Rain. Ipapaintindi ko sa kanya ang tunay mong dahilan."

Hinawakan n'ya ang kamay kong nakahawak sa kanyang braso. "I want to stay."

I saw the tears from her eyes. Damn it! Umiiyak na naman s'ya. "No need to stay. You should leave."

Gusto ko s'yang yakapin pero wala akong pagkakataon para gawin iyon. I don't want to maka a false move.

"I want to stay for a while. I promise, aalis ako pagkatapos." She was fighting back her tears.

Thinking about the vacation, ayokong sirain ang magandang plano ng S.G para lang sa katotohanang meron sa kanya. She began to walk, but I suddenly grabbed her arm. She stopped.

"61139121."

Turning her head, "Don't forget nine after twelve."
Sandali pa ay umalis s'ya.

I called Diego for an update.

"Yes, Sky?"

"The number wasn't fixed," I said, looking her go away. "Add nine after twelve."

"Hold on. Don't hang the phone." I waited.

"It was FAMILIA."

Tama nga talaga ang aking naiisip. "Okay, copy. Thank you." I'm about to end our call.

"Wait."

"What?"

"I saw someone followed you a while."

"Then?"

"I had his car number. I will send it to you." He hung the phone.

Nagsimula akong magtanong. Babae ang kausap ko, pero lalaki ang nakasunod sa amin ni Jack sa Restau. No doubt, iisang account lang ang kanilang ginamit.