AGS 3: The Stag Party (PUBLISHED)

5. Lost

We received a death threat from Elton.

Babalikan niya kami kapag nagsumbong kami. Iisa-isahin kami ng grupo niya kapag isa sa amin ang nagsalita. And what was worse than that? The reason I was there was because of Debby, my close friend. Plus, I knew what was going on in there, and that made me a valid accomplice. Another bad news story was that the boys knew what was going on in there as well.

We were all guilty kaya kapag nagsumbong kami . . . damay kami.

A death threat wasn't new to me. Siguro kasi nakakabasa ako ng ganoon before kay Mommy? I even saw someone warn her and me when I was a little girl. And that was when she decided to call off the marriage between her and my dad. It was . . . it just brought back those memories I was supposed to forget.

In the middle of the night, from Parañaque, nilakad namin ang kalsada papuntang Baclaran para kumuha ng taxi.

"Buti hindi ko dala ang kotse ni Daddy," sabi ni Ronie nang makita na namin ang terminal sa Baclaran.

"Okay lang sa 'yong dumaan doon, Ky?" mahinahong tanong ni Calvin sa akin kasi ang daming tao sa terminal kahit hatinggabi na. Siya ang nakayakap sa akin habang balot ako ng sweater niya. Naka-sweater siya kanina pero wala namang ibang pang-ilalim. Wala na tuloy siyang ibang suot maliban sa jeans niya. "O gusto mo, hintay ka na lang dito. Papuntahin namin ang taxi rito?"

"Dito na lang," sabi ko kahit sobrang malat na ng boses ko.

"Rico, dito na lang muna kami ni Kyline. Papuntahin mo na lang ang taxi rito."

"Dito na lang din kami," sabay na sabi nina Clark at Will. Sumulyap ako kay Leo, tulala lang siya sa malayo, walang sinabi.

"Ako na ang magtatawag, dito na lang kayong lahat," seryosong utos ni Ronie saka kami huminto sa kanto ng dinaanan namin. Medyo madilim dahil likod ng pader pero nadaraanan pa rin naman ng liwanag.

"Vin, okay ka lang ba?" tanong ko kay Calvin kasi naglalakad kami, wala siyang pang-itaas.

"Ky, huwag ako ang tanungin mo niyan."

Calvin was brushing my hair as he hugged me tightly. He sounded mad. I could feel his rage, and he was just keeping it inside him. I felt like a doll that everyone wanted to take away from him.

I was expecting some of them to blame Leo for what happened inside that club, but none of them attempted it. Because Leo got what he deserved and I got what I didn't.

Ang lamig ng hangin. Lalo lang akong nilalamig habang nararamdaman ang kirot sa pagitan ng hita ko.

It was my first time—Leo and I's first time—and we had it bad . . . worst.

My eyes were droopy as I stared at him. He was quiet, as always. But this time, his silence meant a million words that would remain unspoken.

I wanted to know what was inside his mind right now.

I was that girl who saw him as someone who deserved to be adored. I was that obsessed girl who enrolled in the same school as him. I was that pesky girl who wanted to get noticed by him.

And here we are, ending up in the worst situation any of us hadn't expected.

A few minutes later, two taxis stopped in front of us.

Ronie, Patrick, Calvin, and I were in one taxi. Clark, Will, and Leo were in the other car.

"Deretso ba tayo sa Pembo?" tanong ni Calvin kay Ronie.

"Wala tayong magandang option ngayon," sagot ni Ronie.

I see no better option either. Wala akong mai-suggest na pupuntahan.