Chapter eighteen: Report

I woke up at my bed, and my head really hurts. Nakita ko wala na si Hailey at Kaede sa mga kama nila. Ano nangyari kagabi?

Tumayo ako at muntikan na ako matumba kasi umiikot pa rin ang buong paningin ko. Fuck alcohol. Paglabas ko ng kwarto kumpleto sila, hindi ba umuwi yung tatlo? At bakit nandito pa si Avalon?

Sinalubong ako ni Cassian at dinakot ako sa bewang. "Good morning." Bati niya, at ngumiti lang ako.

Inabutan ako ni Kaede ng kape. "Sakit ng ulo mo noh?" Sabi ni Hailey at tumango lang ako.

Nilingon ko ulit si Avalon, "Is she dead or?" Tanong ko.

"She's the weakest drinker among the four of us, of course she's still down." Sabi ni Kaaede at nilingon din si Avalon.

'I killed my father to save your fucking company'

Unti unti kong naalala ang mga sinabi niya. "What the hell are we going to do with her now?" Tanong ko at inubos ang kape ko.

"Are we going to turn her in?" Tanong ni Hailey.

"Even if you turn her in, you guys still don't have enough evidence." Gulat kaming napalingon sa boses ni Avalon. "Kahit nakipaginuman ako sa inyo, that doesn't mean that I'm back at your company." Mataray niyang dagdag.

"Even if you helped our company, don't assume that you are qualified back." I fired back. "Remember you betrayed the three of us, and our decision will not be different. You are out of the group, and will never be in again." Sabi ko, at tumayo.

"Bakit ka nga pala nandito?" Tanong ko.

"Hindi ko alam, I just woke up right?" Nangagagong sagot niya.

Kinuha ko sa ilalim ng desk yung pistol ni Kaede at kinasa. "Hindi ka ba magseseryoso? Tandaan mo nasa dorm ka namin, teritoryo namin to. So kung gusto mo mag stay mag ayos ayos ka!" Banta ko.

Kinuha ni Cassian yung baril sa kamay ko at inilagay sa lamesa tsaka hinawakan ang balikat ko. "Calm down, woman. Wag ka magpaapekto muna sakanya, all you have to do right now is to make a decision." Sabi ni Cassian at iginaya ako pabalik sa pwesto ko.

"Cassian's right, Ravenna." Sabat ni Ryota, lakas ng pandinig ah.

"Avalon, you may leave." Sabi ni Calyx.

For once in my life I never thought that boys would be helpful.

"Ayoko nga," sabi niya at inupo ang sarili sa couch.

"Out, or we'll drag you." Malamig kong sambit, at nakita kong nagbago ang expression niya. Natakot.

Kinuha niya yung bag niya at lumabas. Nilock ni Ryota ang pinto at umupo sa round table. Kaming anim ay ngayon nasa table.

"What are the options?" Tanong ko at minasahe ang ulo.

"One, kahit alam natin siya ang pumatay kay Alferez, ipagtatakpan natin siya. And frame another person." Sabi ni Calyx,

"Two, tell Ravenna's dad that you guys can't finish the mission. But you will lose everything." Sabi naman ni Ryota. Personally gusto ko na ilaglag ang task na ito.

"Three, kill Avalon; Leave this university and reap all the benefits." Sabi ni Cassian.

"Let's make a decision, doon na sa kumpanya. I'll take the options down." Sabi ni Kaede at kinuha ang notebook niya.

"Ravenna, set up a meeting. Pero luluwas tayo at dawn." Sabi ni Hailey.

"Let's bring the boys, yeah?" Sabi ko at tumango silang lahat.

Lumabas ako sa balcony at dinial ang numero ni daddy. [Yes, you are supposed to be at class right now? Why are you calling?]

I sighed. "We were drunk last night." Pagiging totoo ko.

[Tss.] singhal niya. [What do you need?]

"Luluwas kami diyan mamayang madaling araw, and we'll bring the boys."

[Boys? Hindi ba't si Mr. Priam lang ang 'boy'] Diin niya.

"Oh yeah, remember the leads you gave us, they're now our suitors." Sabi ko.

[..... as I planned.] Sabi ni daddy pero di ko narinig yung unang sinabi niya. Tsk di sigurado sa mga inilalabas ng kanyang bibig. [12 am meeting, set. Stay safe honey, and please wag kayo ulit magpapa-disgrasya papunta dito.]

Binaba niya ang tawag. Bumalik ako sa loob at tumabi kay Cassian at isinandal ang ulo ko sa balikat niya. Nainggit ako kasi ganun din ang ginagawa ni Ryota at Kaede. Labanan ng PDA hehe.

"12 am. For now, we think of life." Sabi ko.

"What do you mean?" Tanong ni Hailey, at kumalas sa pagkayakap kay Calyx. Nakita kong na disappoint si Calyx.

"Yeah, Ravenna. What do you mean?" Singit ni Kaede at umalis sa pagkakaupo sa lap ni Ryota. Haharot.

"This. Us. Sooner or later we're going to say yes to these handsome guys—"

"Thank you." Singit ni Cassian, Ryota, at Calyx. At tatlo kaming natawa.

"Magpapakasal tayo, and we'll have our own life. Own children, magkakalimutan na tayo after that." Sabi ko, at alanganing ngumiti.

"Sa kasal niyo bago kayo magsabihan ng vows isisgaw ko, 'ITIGIL ANG KASAL!'" sabi ni Kaede. At Kumunot noo namin ni Hailey.

"Why the fuck would you do that?" Inis na tanong ni Cassian.

"I won't invite you to our wedding." Asar na sabi ni Calyx. At natawa lang kami ni Hailey.

"Bakit?" Natatawa pang sabi ni Hailey.

"Wala lang, yun kasi nakikita ko noon sa mga teleserye. Pagkasigaw ko nun sasabihin ko. 'Sorry, gusto ko lang ma try. Sige please continue.'" Nagtawanan kaming lahat.

"You would ruin the moment, love." Sabi ni Ryota. At nanlaki ang mata namin ni Hailey.

"L-love?" Parehas naming sinabi.

"Oo nga pala, we're official." Sabi ni Kaede.

Calyx formed an o with his hands and put it close to his mouth "Uwi niyo na sa kasalan!"

Tinapik ni Cassian si Ryota, "Best wishes dude."

"Tarantado!" Nagtawanan yung boys. I'm happy because nadagdagan kami, and we're all a group of friends.

"Oh, and Ryota, Calyx. Di niyo pa namemeet yung boss namin. Kaya maghanda kayo." Sabi ko, balak ko pagtripan yung dalawa kaya isinenyas ko kala Kaede at Hailey yung gagawin.

"Tss, should we be scared?" Mayabang na sabi ni Ryota.

"Dude, you should be. Sinapak kaya ako nun nung una kong nameet." Sabat ni Cassian, nice sinasakyan niya. Nagiba ang ihip ng hangin at naging seryoson yung dalawa. Tss, nakakatawa kayo.

"Good evening, Ma'am Ravenna." Salubong samin nung guards. Pinapasok kaming tatlo pero hinarang yung boys.

Aish.

"I need your I.D." Sabi ng guard.

"They're with us, and we have an appointment" Agad naman sila pinatuloy. Nang makarating kami sa labas ng office ni daddy narinig naming may tatlong boses. At kilala ko agad kung sino.

Sumenyas muna ako sa kanila na makinig. "What the hell are you doing here?!" Sigaw ni ate.

"I'll ask you the same question." Ngayon ko lang ulit narinig ang boses ni mommy.

"I'm here to get back my position." Sabi ni ate.

"Which you can't have," Ma-autoridad na sabi ni daddy. Tumaas balahibo ko, nakakatakot.

"Tie them both up bago pa makarating yung bagong grupo ni Ravenna." Sabi ni daddy.

"S-she's here?" Nauutal na sabi ni mommy. Tsk, I hate you woman.

"Let's go in." Sabi ni Kaede.

I opened the door, and I saw her. Beautiful eyes, waist length silver hair. She looked at me from head to toe, amazed as I saw her reaction.

"Priam, Montero, and Raichu." Sabi ni dad at ngumiti sa kanila. Napansin kong naguluhan sila sa iniuusal ni daddy. Mabait naman kasi talaga si daddy pero kapag may ginawa ka sakin boom patay. hehe.

Nakita ko si ate na nakatali na sa upuan. Nandoon din ang dalawang body guards ni daddy at yung company lawyer namin.

"Anak can we talk—" Hindi ko pinatapos si mommy at nagsalita nalang ako.

"Can we start, hindi kami pwede matulog dito." Malamig kong sambit.

Tumango si daddy. "Calyx, and Cassian. Fucking traitors." Sabi ni ate habang nakatingin sa kanila.

"So the three of you, what is your relation to the heiress and the soon to be co-owners of my dad's company?" Mataray na tanong ni ate.

"Ryota is my boyfriend. Cassian and Calyx are their suitors." Kaede. Yes girl! Proud akong boyfriend mo na siya.

"About earlier at our call, ano yung sinabi mo na mahina dad?" Tanong ko.

"Just what I planned." Sabi niya. "I knew that you three would fall for these guys. And these guys are powerful and could be a great help for our company." Dagdag niya.

"So I made a decision to give them a position in the company. As high as your three's position." Sabi ni dad at natuwa naman ako. Yes! "Let's start." Sabi ni daddy at naupo sa upuan niya.

"So, Amity died and Avalon's alive? How did that happen? And I'll give her credit, she saved our company. And you, Riley. Kinampihan mo si Alferez. You gave me another reason not to let you back at my company." Sabi ni dad.

I was quiet all the time, sila Kaede at Hailey ang kumausap. Minsan may dinadagdag din sila Calyx. "Tsk." Singhal ni ate.

Mom was only observing from the back. "You guys should let-"

"No." pigil ko agad.

"Why?"

"Kasama namin siya uminom, at kinabukasan sinabi niya na kahit sinalba niya yung kumpanya hindi pa din daw siya babalik. At kahit willing pa din siya bumalik, it's a fucking no. She betrayed us, she helped our enemies two years ago." Inis na sabi ko.

"I agree." Sabi ni Kaede.

"Me too." Sabi ni Hailey.

"Us also." Sabi ni Ryota.

"I need evidence." Sabat ni Attorney. "If you prove that she did kill her own father for the sake of this company. Terminate her, kapag hindi. Let her loose, but we'll drop the investigation or your mission." sabi pa ni Attorney habang scinascan ang background ni Avalon.

"If we let her loose, will we still get our benefits? Magiisang buwan nadin naman kami sa Halton." Tanong ni Kaede.

"Babawasan namin ang maibibigay sainyo. Pero we guarantee you that you will get a big benefit." Sagot ni daddy.

"Before you go, we have something." Sabi ni daddy habang naghahalungkat ng folder doon sa drawer niya.

"Wait." Singit ni mommy.

I didn't answer, instead I gave her a death glare.

"Yes tita, what do you need?" Tanong ni Hailey. I turned my glare to her direction at natakot naman si Hailey sa akin. Lalabas ko na sana yung baril ko nang hawakan ni Kaede ang kamay ko.

I sighed.

"Anak, can we talk?"