Trigger Warning:
Child Abuse, Psychological Impact

I saw Amanda woke up feeling light-headed inside the hospital room while I sit between Leni and Olivia and nudged them.

"Bakla!" Leni and Olivia exclaimed at the same time and they rushed to her side.

Kristina, who was at the door of the room, went up to her as well. I sighed and followed them.

"Anong ginagawa nyo dito? Asan ako?" Amanda asked, her voice still strained as she tried to sit up.

"Obvious ba na nasa ospital ka, bakla?" I asked, sarcasm present in my voice.

"Baks!" Leni said, slapping my arm.

"We found you on the streets. Nagmessage ka ng location mo kahapon. We all thought it was an emergency so we all rushed there." Olivia said and touched her hand to squeeze it.

"Sabi ko kasi sayo, mamsh, na wag ka na pumunta pa dun eh!" I exclaimed, my eyes getting teary and worried.

"I'm glad you all found me. Si Alan?" Amanda realized she got out with Alan yesterday. "Asan si Alan? Nakatakas ba sya? Tell me, he's okay!" She panicked and looked in their eyes, fear creeping out of her system once again.

She was talking about her tutee whose father was abusing him and has been planning to do something bad to her.

"Alan's in another room beside yours. Don't worry." Leni said and rubbed her hand on her arms to hush her.

"Thank God. Thank God." Amanda exhaled in relief and lied down her back again. She closed her eyes when she probably remembered how scary it was.

Leni grabbed both my and Olivia's hands as we went out leaving Kristina and Amanda alone.

We arrived in her room with Kristina hugging our friend to comfort her.

"You're safe now. It's okay. You're okay." Kristina said, reassuring her and wiped Amanda's tears.

"We have food!" I squealed with  cheery voice booming inside the room as Olivia and Leni placed the stack of foods from their favorite fastfood.

"Ano gusto mo, Amanda? " Olivia asked as she sorted the foods from the plastic. "Shanghai Lauriat or Chicken Lauriat or Chao Fan? May Siopao and Siomai din kaming binili."

"Ikaw, mamsh? Mga Baks, siya pala si Kristina. Kaopisina at kaibigan ko." Amanda introduced Kristina to her friends. "Sila Jessica, Olivia and Leni nga pala, mamsh. Mga besties ko."

Me and Kristina pretended to have met only now and I think, she got the idea.

"We met already earlier, baks." Leni answered and opened her siopao to eat.

"Get your own food, lady." I said sarcastically and started eating the chicken lauriat on the couch. But it looked like, she wanted to show off herself to Kristina so she grabbed a chair and placed it on Amanda's right side of the bed. She was now sitting across Kristina.

"I know you love siomai just as much as I do." Kristina said and gave her the dumpling.

Olivia handed Amanda her Shanghai lauriat before munching on her chao fan and went to Leni's place on the couch.

"Thanks." Kristina said shyly and sat back on the chair and started eating.

Awkward silence fills the air.
Leni must have felt it too so she opened her cellphone and their favorite song from. Taylor Swift filled the then dead air.

Soon, they found themselves humming and singing the song of Taylor.

Amanda could only smile seeing that her friends are trying their best to get along with Kristina.

So it's gonna be forever
Or it's gonna go down in flames
You can tell me when it's over, mm
If the high was worth the pain
Got a long list of ex lovers
They'll tell you I'm insane

I didn't realize that we ar3 having so much fun as I even banged my head as I was so engrossed with the music. Olivia and Leni continued eating while humming along.

Got a long list of ex lovers
They'll tell you I'm insane
But I've got a blank space, baby
And I'll write your name

Kristina and me sang out loud hitting the mark. And I even winked at her discretely.

Amanda chomped on her food. She can't wipe off her grin, seeing our reactions.

Both Amanda and Leni raised knowing eyebrows with Olivia expecting me to scream, slap and wrestle her friend and comment how Kristina hit a wrong tone which she actually didn't.

Five minute silence filled the air. Amanda could actually feel the tension in the air. It was like watching a suspense movie.

"You sang well, lady." I smirked, my syrupy sweet voice gone. It was like a momentary disappearance.

My deep baritone male voice emerged for a moment and Olivia's and Leni's eyes widened. Leni, who was about to chew on her food, coughed and grabbed the softdrink that was between her and Olivia.

Olivia, who was sitting comfortably beside Leni, almost dropped from her seat when she slid sideways. Olivia was able to pull her back.

"Uh, salamat." Kristina said, smiling at me.

I stared at Kristina's face and felt my  face blushed as well.

Did I really said it out loud?

"Shit. Restroom lang ako, girls." I said and stood up. I got my empty food and quickly drank my coke. I threw them on the trash can on my way out Amanda's room.

"May cr dito, baks!" Leni called out but I was already out the door.