Totally Hooked

Chapter 30: BLUE SKIES (FINALE)

Being in a position where you hold another person's life in your hands has to be one of the hardest positions to be in and that's exactly where me and my friends stand. Right now, all of us stand for a different opinion, some of us, mainly the guys, they don't want to let Vodka go, and I understand them, pero naiintindihan ko din ang mga magulang ni Vodka. Ayaw na nilang mawalan nang isa pang anak.

Mommy's anger when I told her and Dad everything that happened from start to finish was off the roof. She was half screaming and half crying throughout the conversation. Daddy, on the other hand was keeping a straight face and was just comforting Mommy as I tell them my story.

As we waited for our parents decision, after hearing what all of us had to say about the matter, I couldn't stay put. I honestly don't know kung ano ang gusto kong maging desisyon nila. I stood up immediately after hearing the doors of my dad's study open.

My dad greeted us with a smile and invited us to come inside. They were all seated inside having a conference call with Denise's, Miggy's and Angel's parents. We all stood in line staring at them, waiting for someone to speak up.

"Kids, we know this pass few months were hard on you and we've taken into consideration all your opinions about sa punishment ni Vodka." Umpisa ni Daddy we all just stood there quietly.

"Remember that the decision we made is what we think is the best for everybody." Dagdag naman nang Mommy ni Vin. A few moments of silence, our parents eyes going back and forth at each other then Vin's dad took a deep breath.

"We already talked to her parents about the matter and we decided not to press charges against Vodka. Nakipagkasundo na lang kami sa parents niya making sure that they meet our demands na ilalayo na muna nila si Vodka." Diretsong sabi ng Daddy ni Vin na ikinagulat namin. Miggy and Shin was about to protest but Shin's mom beat them to it.

"We know what she did. Alam namin kung pano niya kayo nasaktan at naiintindihan namin kung bakit gusto niyong ituloy ang kaso, but we're also parents and we also understand how painful it must have been for them."

"Walang magulang na gustong mawalan nang anak, and we all know that we would do the same if we were in their shoes." Sabi ni Mommy as she walked towards me and opened her arms. I smiled at her and accepted her embrace. She hugged me tight then I felt another pair of arms wrapped around us and it was Dad.

As I stepped out of my car saying goodbye to Manong Andy and thanking him for driving me, I suddenly felt scared. Scared of how people would react to what happened after the end-of-semester party. I stopped opening my social medias after that day so wala akong balita sa campus until last night.

Last night, Angel messaged our group chat and linked an article from the University website about that night. It was said in the website that they were false accusations by some unnamed stalker. Nothing of it mentioned Vodka and I guess it was for the best. Ayaw din naman namin madumihan ang pangalan niya in the minds of other people dahil kahit papano ay naging kaibigan pa rin siya ni Denise.

Our parents also blocked all the media coverage of the happenings the night that Vin got shot. Vodka was sentenced to be hospitalized in a mental institution to get her treated. Our parents tried to retract our charges against her but because of Vin being shot, the judge and the police still deemed her as a danger to the public. Vodka still has a police record but the judge approved our parents' request to let Vodka's parents decide in which institution Vodka will be admitted to in the condition that they would provide test results to both the government and the family of the victims saying that she is indeed harmless in the situation that they would come back to the country. Vodka and her parents flew to the US the day after the sentence to her had been finalized.