(District Series Two) The Deceiver [COMPLETED - NOT EDITED YET]

[14]

CHUZELLE

"Tadashi?" The one and only word that came out from my mouth once I removed the all cap and masks. Ngumiti siya sa akin kapagkuwan ay nagsalita.

"A-ang t-agal na h-a." Nauutal na ani niya habang nakatingin sa aking mga mata ng deretso. And I don't know what to say. It's been a very long time since we met. Tadashi Korio. The man who made me feel special and then left me afterwards. Apart from Darc who's been also my friend since kids, Tadashi is different from him. Tadashi's been a very good friend they say and he left me without saying goodbye.

"Tadashi?" Darc followed who just arrived from the underground. Kumunot ng todo ang kaniyang noo nang makita si Tadashi dito sa aming harapan. He smiled at Darc and Darc didn't bite it. Hindi siya ngumiti o bumati kay Tadashi. He quickly went near him and almost shoved me away from the spot.

So, ako na ba ang third wheel ngayon?

"Do you have doctors in here? Let's heal him." Hindi ko na pinigilan pa si Darc na dalhin si Tadashi sa pinakamalapit na mahihigaan and the others followed, leaving me and the twins. Tumingin sa akin ang dalawa.

"Your life is full of surprises." Alesia started. And yes indeed, my life is full of surprises. Hindi ko alam kung mangyayari ba ito ngayon kung hindi ako pumasok dito sa grupo at sumama sa kanila. But why? Why did he come and attack me? Nakita niya ang mukha ko kanina. He even boasted his skills and even threaten me. Why Tadashi? Ikaw ang nang iwan, bakit parang ako pa ata ang pinagbubuntungan mo ng galit? Why do you seem so mad attacking me and making that face after Darc came?

"Hindi ko alam kung anong irereact ko. Ang daming nangyari ngayong araw. I mean, the last day you arrived. Things has been escalating since then. Parang sinusundan ka ata ng interes, Chuzelle." Lumingon ako sa dalawa, kunot noo at parang wala sa sarili.

"You don't look good, Chuzelle. It looks like you need some rest or a vacation. You look so wasted." Ang sama naman ng pagkakasabi nun ni Daech. Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin pero hindi niya iyon napansin. He kept smiling at me. Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata at naglakad palabas doon. "Hey where are you going?" Daech called me but I didn't listen. Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad hanggang sa makarating na nga ako ng tuluyan sa labas ng kuta nila.

Sumandal ako sa pinakamalapit na dingding at doon naglabas ng sama ng loob. I pulled out a cigarette I stole from Anrey earlier and pulled out a lighter also. Inilagay ko ang sigarilyo sa aking bibig kapagkuwan ay sinindihan ito. Fuck.

"You're worn out. Sigurado ka ba na, nakakaya mo lahat ng mga ganitong eksena sa buhay mo ng mag isa?" I don't know why Alesia followed me outside, and I thought it would be just her. But Daech also followed.

"I'm used to it. Hindi nga ako sanay na may kasama akong harapin lahat ng mga dinadanas ko ngayon." I said. But, it was not on my mind to say that. Oh fuck. Why am I even sharing them this? Nagpatuloy ako sa pagsisigarilyo at napatigil lang nang biglang hablutin ni Alesia ang natitirang sigarilyo sa aking kamay at inilagay ito sa kaniyang bibig kapagkuwan ay sinindihan gamit ang lighter na nasa kamay ko rin.

She let out the smoke and put the cigarette at her mouth again and I couldn't help but to raise my brows upon seeing how she acts now. I smiled.

"Hindi ko alam na gumagamit ka din pala." I said to her.

"Hindi ba pwede? Ikaw nga gumagamit din." I chucked upon hearing her answer. I didn't say she cannot use it. I only said I didn't know she also use cigarette.

"I only said I didn't know you use it too." A smile appeared on her lips which is a rare sight of me since I arrived and saw the two of them. I never saw her smile or even a hint of it. Kaya naman, nakakapanibago.