Chapter 21

Nagkatitigan kaming dalawa ni Jasmine. After a while, she smiled tightly at me and stuck out her hand.

"I'm Jasmine. I've heard so much about you, Mallory." Kaswal niyang wika. Kumislap ang mata niya sa panghapong liwanag na tumama sa kaniyang mukha. Sobrang kinis din ng kaniyang balat. I couldn't help feeling ugly when placed next to her. She looks like a model who stepped right out of a magazine.

"M-Mallory..." I choked and accepted her hands even though mine is shaky. Bumitaw kaagad ako pagkatapos ng ilang segundo at iniwas ang aking tingin. Sage must've sensed my discomfort because he cleared his throat. Iminuwestra niya ang loob ng mansiyon.

"Let's go? My parents are already waiting..."

Biglang nawala ang excitement ko na makita si Sage dahil sa nangyari. Matamlay akong sumunod sa kanila. Even the way Jasmine walks is so graceful. Everything about her screams perfection. Bagay na bagay talaga silang dalawa ni Sage...

Dahil mabagal akong maglakad ay sina Jasmine at Sage ang nagsabay. Nasa likuran ko naman si Aaric. We stepped inside the grand parlor of the mansion. Sage slowed down his steps para masabayan ako. He peered at me through his lashes.

"Are you okay?" he murmured.

"Yeah..." iniwas ko ulit ang aking tingin. "I'm fine." Labas sa ilong kong sagot.

His gaze lingered at me for a while. Alam kong hindi siya naniniwala sa aking isinagot pero wala naman siyang sinabi. Tahimik lang kaming dalawa hanggang sa makarating na kami sa malaking dining hall. Mrs. Monterio is already seated at her usual seat, looking gorgeous in a turquoise turtle neck dress and expensive pearls. A satisfied smile appeared on her lips when Jasmine stepped inside carrying Zahra.

Nilapitan niya ang ina ni Sage at hinalikan ang kaniyang pisngi bago iniabot ang bata sa kaniya.

"She had been crying non-stop earlier, Tita..." malambot ang boses ni Jasmine at nakangiti. "So I tried to coo her."

"Thank you, Jas. You're really good with kids." Natutuwang wika ng kaniyang ina. Then her eyes landed on me as if she noticed my presence for the first time. "Mallory Rose, yes?"

Tumango ako ng isang beses. "Yes, Ma'am."

"Wow. It's been a while since I last saw you." wika niya. "Tumangkad ka nang kaunti, hija."

I smiled at her. "Salamat po."

Sage pulled a chair for me. Tinabihan niya ako samantalang si Aaric ay nasa tapat namin. Jasmine was about to take the seat next to him when Mrs. Monterio spoke up again.

"Please, Jasmine. Take your usual seat." wika nito at iminuwestra ang bakanteng upuan sa tabi ni Sage. "Nothing's really changed, hija." Pero ang kaniyang mata'y dumako na sa akin. Hindi ko mabasa ang ekspresiyon niya pero sa hindi malamang dahilan ay sumikip bigla ang dibdib ko. It's as if she's implying that I do not have a right to be here.

Jasmine stared at her for a while before she nodded her head and circled the table. Saktong pag-upo naman niya ay ang pagpasok ng tatlong maids na isa-isang nilagay ang mga pagkain sa aming harapan. Don Monterio isn't here yet. Si Zahra ay pilit na kinuha ang mga kubyertos sa lamesa.

"Ayos ka lang ba dito, hija?" tanong ni Mrs. Monterio kay Jasmine. "Are you comfortable in your room?"

"I'm fine, Tita." Nginitian niya ng tipid ang ina ni Sage tapos ay nagnakaw ng sulyap sa akin bago patuloy na nagsalita. "This place is great."

"You haven't been to anywhere." Aaric pointed out. "Nagkukulong ka lang sa kwarto mo."

Mrs. Monterio's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Exactly! You haven't been anywhere so why don't you guys escort her to the best places here in the village? I've heard of a falls and a beach. Baka puwede ninyong ipasyal si Jasmine?'

I fidgeted with my own fingers. I can't contribute to their conversation dahil nawawalan talaga ako ng gana kahit na alam ko naman kung saan dapat ipasyal si Jasmine dito sa Governor Generoso.

Binalingan ng kaniyang ina si Sage. "Christian, darling, why don't you two go on a date?" nanlaki ang mga mata ni Sage sa sinabi ng ina. But before he could protest, she continued as if I'm not here. "It's been awhile since you and Jasmine talked properly. You guys need to settle things down..."

Si Jasmine ay bahagyang yumuko na para bang nahihiya siya sa sinabi ni Mrs. Monterio. Sage's jaw clenched. "We're not going anywhere, Mommy. Besides I'm already courting—"

"Yes, yes. I know, dear. You're courting Mallory..." dumako ulit ang tingin niya sa akin. "But there's a reason why I invited Jasmine here in our house. You guys need a closure para makamove-on na kayong dalawa. What happened is really... tragic. Ayokong masira ang magandang pagsasama ninyo."

Naramdaman ko ang mainit na kamay ni Sage na bigla nalang gumapang sa akin sa ilalim ng lamesa. Napaigtad ako. I stole a glance from him but he's still glaring at his mother. I gently pulled out my hand from him and shot his mother an apologetic look.

"Magsi-CR lang po ako." wika ko. I didn't bother to wait for her confirmation. Kaagad akong tumayo at naglakad nang mabilis palabas ng dining hall. I could hear Don Monterio's voice inside the dining hall as if he just stepped in.

Dire-diretso ang lakad ko papunta sa CR. I closed the door and sat on the toilet bowl, hands in my hair. I tried to slow down my heavy breathing. Ayaw ko nang bumalik sa hapag kung sina Jasmine at Sage lang naman ang pag-uusapan. I feel too uncomfortable here.

My lips trembled. Nakakainis! I got up and splash some cold water on my face to help me calm down a bit. Habang nagpupunas ako ng mukha ay nakarinig ako ng mabibigat na yapak sa labas. Then there were muffled voices.

"—act as if I really wanted to be here."

I opened the door slightly and saw Jasmine at the end of the corner. Nakapameywang siya at magkasalubong ang kilay. Kung sino man ang kaniyang kasagutan ay hindi ko makita dahil sa pader.

"Oh really?" she laughed sarcastically. "That's good news, Christian! Because I don't want to be in the same house with a murderer!"

I couldn't help the soft gasp that escaped my lips. Jasmine harshly wiped a tear that escaped from her eyes. Sage stepped out with his lips pursed.

"I'm not telling you to change your perspective about me, Jas. But you can at least respect Mallory." Mahina niyang wika.

"I don't care about your newfound love, Christian!" she half-yelled, half-whispered. "I just want to get out of here as soon as possible. I couldn't look at you without having to remember how you... how you..." she trailed off as more tears sprung to her eyes.

Dahil pakiramdam ko'y hindi dapat ako nakikinig sa ganitong usapan ay isinarado ko ulit ang pintuan. Sumandal ako at humigit ng isang malalim na hininga.

So she's still mad at Sage for killing someone, huh?

Ilang minuto din akong tulala bago may biglang kumatok sa pintuan. Napatalon ako sa gulat. I quickly opened the door and saw Jasmine. Her eyes are red-rimmed because of her recent crying. Wala siyang sinabi sa akin. I hurriedly stepped out of the comfort room to let her in.

Tinitigan ko ang saradong pintuan bago ako nagsimulang maglakad palabas.

"Mal..."

Napatalon ulit ako sa gulat. Sage is leaning casually at the wall as if he didn't have a fight with Jasmine earlier. He lazily tear himself from the wall he's leaning against and pulled my wrist. Before I could protest, he already enveloped me in a hug.

"I'm sorry, Mal..." he murmured against my hair. Tapos ay bahagyang humigpit ang kaniyang yakap sa akin. "I'm really sorry..."

I closed my eyes and swallowed. That was enough to help me push through the dinner at the Monterio's.

---

Hindi ako nakipagkita kay Sage kinabukasan. I wanted to be alone for myself. Sierra must've noticed my gloomy mood because she keeps on bugging me to join one of the beach parties later on that night even though she's the only one invited.

"Tayo lang naman ang nandoon, eh." wika pa niya habang naglalakad kami palabas ng faculty room. She even joined me and my mother for lunch. "Pumayag naman ang mama mo, eh. Puro mga ka-batch lang natin ang nandoon. Do not worry, Serenity is not invited. Especially Lysander." Biglang sumama ang kaniyang mukha pagkabanggit sa kaniyang pangalan. "I can't believe I was friends with that maniac."

"Okay." Tumango ako. Her face brightened up instantly. "I'll go." Dugtong ko pa. Maybe this is what I need? Masyado akong maraming narinig kina Jasmine at Sage. Gusto ko muna silang kalimutan kahit ngayon lang. I know both of them are still hurting but I couldn't help feeling the pain too. 'Twas too much.

"Great! Susunduin kita mamayang alas sais sa inyo, ha?" masigla niyang wika. Napailing nalang ako sa aking kaibigan as she bounced up and down because of excitement.

---

"Hindi ba masyadong maikli ito?" reklamo ko habang pinagmamasdan ang aking sarili sa salamin. Sierra frowned and examined my skimpy outfit a little closer.

"Bagay naman sa iyo ah? You've got long legs, Mallory. Gotta show it off!" wika pa niya. She grabbed her make-up kit and started doing my eyebrows.

"Ang akala ko ba'y simpleng party lang?" patuloy ko pa. "Bakit naman ganito?"

Sierra rolled her eyes at me. "You are such a kid, Mallory. Of course you're going to dress up for the party. Hot guys are staring!" humagikhik pa siya.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at hinayaan na lamang ang aking kaibigan. When she was done, she let me examine myself in the mirror once again. I don't usually wear make-ups but I really like what she did to my face tonight. Tipid ko siyang nginitian at nagtanong kung puwede pa ba akong magbihis na lamang ng ibang damit pero hindi naman siya pumayag. She just let me throw a denim jacket over the black and white dress that stops mid-thigh and dragged me out of my room.

Buti nalang at wala pa si mama kung hindi ay mapapagalitan talaga ako noon sa suot ko. A car is already waiting outside of our house. Nagulat ako nang biglang lumabas ang lalaking hindi pamilyar sa akin at ipinulupot ang kaniyang braso sa beywang ni Sierra. I shot her a questioning look but she just grinned at me.

The guy placed a kiss on her cheeks before guiding her into the passenger's seat. Binuksan niya din ang pintuan ng backseat para sa akin at polite na nagtanong kung ayos lang ba daw ako. I nodded my head and smiled tightly at him.

Nang makapasok na ako ay saka niya lang pinaandar ang kaniyang ford. Kung tutuusin ay malapit lang ang dagat sa amin at maaaring lakarin. But I bet this guy wouldn't be caught dead walking on the way to the party. Panay ang kuwentuhan nila ni Sierra sa mga taong hindi ko naman kilala kaya tumahimik lamang ako.

When we arrived at the beach, teenagers holding a red cup of liquor are milling around. May ilang napapalingon sa tuwing dumadaan kaming tatlo. Their eyes lingered at me for a while before they go back to their conversations. Maybe because it's their first time seeing me in a party and acting like a decent human being.

Iniwan ako saglit ni Sierra. Pagbalik niya'y may dala na siyang dalawang cups. Iniabot niya sa akin ang isa.

"Are you sure—"

"Go on, Mallory. Enjoy!" itinaas pa nito ang dalawang kamay at sumabay sa indayog ng musika. Napailing nalang ako sa inakto ng aking kaibigan sabay simsim mula sa cup.

At first, it tasted like a weird fruit juice but it immediately burned my throat the moment the liquid hit it. Muntik ko nang maisuka ang nainom kung hindi lamang kay Sierra na hinatak ako papunta sa dance floor at nagsimulang sumayaw.

"Mallory, babe, you need to loosen up a little!" sigaw niya dahil sa malakas na tugtog ng musika.

I awkwardly joined her in dancing. Inabutan niya pa ako ng isang inumin. Ayaw ko na sana pero pinilit ako ni Sierra. I took a gulp and surprisingly at my second shot, it tasted good. Even better. Nagsimula na akong sumayaw at nakitawa kay Sierra. I could feel the alcohol taking over my system kaya naman hindi na ako umayaw pa ng bigyan niya ako ng panibagong cup.

Soon, we were dancing like crazy at the dance floor. Sierra glared at the guys who tried flirting with me. Umaalis din naman sila kaagad at naghahanap ng panibagong babae na mabibiktima.

I grinned like an idiot. For the past years of my life, I didn't have any idea that parties can be so much fun like this! Patuloy ang inuman at sayawan namin ni Sierra until she got tired and dragged me out of the dance floor again. Inabutan niya ako ng tubig para mahimashimasan daw ako.

After resting a little, we went back to our usual routine of taking other people's cup and dancing until my feet hurts.

I've never been so tired that day. I even passed out at the backseat on our way home. Naririnig ko ang mahinang usapan ni Sierra at ng lalaking kaniyang kasama ngayong gabi pero wala akong maintindihan sa kanilang sinasabi. She gently tapped my shoulders when we reached our house. I murmured thanks and climbed out of the car, almost losing my balance in the process.

Kumayaw ako sa kanilang dalawa bago ako pumasok sa loob ng bahay. My mother is already sleeping in her room dahil patay na ang lahat ng ilaw. I opened my room and switch on the lights. Muntik na akong atakihin sa puso nang makita ko si Sage na kaswal na nakasandal sa pader malapit sa aking bintana. His intense eyes bore into me and his lips are pursed in a thin line.

"W-What are you doing here?"

"Nakainom ka?" galit niyang untag sa akin.

I lowered my gaze to the floor. He's the reason why I decided to get drunk tonight and now he's here. Great.