The Lost Reaper

Chapter Twenty-two

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa nakita ko. Ibang lugar ata napuntahan ko. Hindi ito yung isla na pinuntahan namin ni Lucca. The Grounds is a place with dangerous ambiance and people keeping their serious face. Ang Grounds na nasa harap ko ay ibang-iba.

Party lights were the only source of light of the night, maliban sa buwan. Nakakabingi din yung music sa speakers na nagpapatugtog ng Party Rock. The reapers are not the reapers I knew. They're transforming into party animals. Napa-headbang ako sa nakita. Deep inside of me, I wanted to dance.

"Enjoying the party?!"

Napalingon ako sa likuran at nakita ko si Via. Napangiti ako ng malawak nang makita siya. I was the one who provoked her and yet here she is. Siya pa yung unang lumapit sa akin

"I didn't know about this party!" sigaw ko pabalik sa kanya kasi ang lakas ng music.

"It's a surprise! Do you like it?!"

I nodded.

"A lot! I thought it's a kind of party where people wear formal wear and have dinner!"

"What are we, the mafia?!" Umiling siya. "This is your kind of party!"

"What do you mean?!"

"You used to party all night! Hindi mo lang maalala!"

I emotionally smiled. She recalled what I was before. Maliit lang na bagay pero nagapapalambot ng puso ko. It means that she knows a lot about me. Paniguradong marami kaming pinagdaanan for her to know me too well.

I pulled her in a hug which she didn't expect.

"Thank you." I whispered to her ear.

She stiffened but then relaxed and hugged me back. Mas lalo kong hinigpitan yung yakap ko sa kanya. This is somehow nostalgic.

Kumalas ako sa yakap pero bago niya makita mukha ko ay pinahiran ko muna yung luha ko. For the first time since last night, she smiled at me. Her eyes were also teary.

"Huwag kang umiyak!" turo ko sa mukha niya at tumawa.

"Ikaw yung unang lumuha!"

Nagtawanan kaming dalawa. A genuine one. It's as if we were back to how we were before. The overwhelming feeling inside of me sparks.

"Enjoy the party!"

"Saan ka?!"

"Pupuntahan ko lang si Noah! Mukhang naparami yung nainom!"

She waved goodbye and turned around to find Noah in the crowd. Napailing nalang ako. Siguro minsan lang sila nakaranas ng ganito dito.

May lumapit sa aking babae at inabutan ako ng inumin. Tinanggap ko naman ito at nilagok. Maanghang siya sa lalamunan but it's tolerable. Inabutan niya ako ng isang bote na tinanggap ko naman. These actions of mine started to get familiar.

"Thank you!"

Tumango yung babae at binigyan yung iba pang nag-party. I drank the liquor from the bottle at nagsimulang sumabay sa mga reapers na nasa gitna.

Everyone's dancing at hindi ko mapigilang mapaindak sa musika. Itinaas ko ang aking mga kamay sa ere at nagsimulang sumayaw.

"Woahhhh!!" tili ko at tumalon pa.

Inubos ko yung alak sa bote at sumayaw ulit. This is the perfect time to get wasted. Hindi mawala yung ngiti ko sa labi. Pinalilibutan ako ng mga reapers at gaya ko ay sumasayaw din sila. Puno ng ngiti yung gabi at hindi ko inakala na dadating ang pagkakataong ito— seeing all the reapers smiling.