Death Trap Pandemonium (COMPLETED)

Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN
Bulletproof Heart

October 23, 2015; Friday
Elysium University Open Grounds

The program should've started at around 6 o'clock in the evening. Pero dahil na-traffic ang ibang performers at nagkaproblema pa sa lightings, alas-siyete na sila nakapagsimula. Mabuti na lang at hindi nabagot ang mga estudyante dahil bukod sa mga table ng pagkain at inumin na nagkalat sa school grounds, magaling din ang DJ na nakuha ng student council.

JC could see some of the student council officers-Leo was one of them-roaming around the quadrangle to ensure order. Mayroong nahuling mga high school students na sumubok mang-gate crash ngunit agad rin silang napaalis.

"Ano ba?! Second year college na ako! Ayan, lamunin mo 'yang ID ko! Kailangan niyo talagang ipangalandakan na maliit ako?!" Umalingawngaw ang sigaw ni Denise nang subukan siyang paalisin.

The officer still looked doubtful but one look from Ashanti sent him scurrying away.

"P're, kunin mo na 'to," sabi ni Clyde sabay abot ng kulay pulang baso. "Kumuha na ako mula roon sa stand bago pa ubusin ni Aron."

JC's eyes wandered to where Clyde was pointing at to see Aron beginning to hoard the refreshments on one of the tables near them. Beside him, Reigne, Nika, and Natalia were talking to one of the band members who had already performed.

"Himala ata hindi ka nakabuntot ngayon kay Natalia," sabi ni JC sa kaibigan.

Tila narinig ng dalaga ang kanyang pangalan sa kabila ng napakalakas na musika sapagkat tumingin sa direksyon nila si Natalia. If looks could kill, the two of them would've been six feet underground due to the intensity of her glare.

Clyde's grin almost looked sinister when the pulsing neon lights hit his face. "Quota na ako sa pang-aasar sa kanya ngayong linggo. She said she'll, ehem, and I quote, cut my manly parts off if I was within a 5-meter radius near her."

Hindi napigilan ni JC na matawa sa sinabi ng kaibigan. Leave it to Clyde to irritate the person who saved his life so much she'd contemplate physical violence. JC could almost forgive his friend for having such a loose tongue that usually brings trouble because of Clyde's tendency to bring humor to every situation. Almost.

"May next week pa naman," pagpapatuloy ni Clyde.

Lalong natawa si JC. It was probably the first time he laughed since that confrontation with Shem. Hindi pa rin siya kinakausap nito at hindi niya ito makita sa quadrangle. Masiyahin at malokong tao si Shem ngunit kapag nagalit ito, alam ni JC na may katagalan bago muling lumamig ang ulo ng kaibigan.

"Ano pala plano mo?" pag-iiba ni Clyde ng usapan nang mamataan nilang naglalakad papunta sa kanila sina Anthony at Jerald. "Itutuloy mo pa rin sabihin kay Ailee?"

JC's smile vanished as he nodded. "Nangako ako sa kanya na ipapaliwanag ko ang lahat. Ayokong sirain na naman ang isang pangako ko sa kanya," sagot niya. "She. . .she deserves to know the truth. Dati ko pa dapat sinabi ang totoo noong nag-break kami ni Ash pero-alam mo naman yung tungkol sa usapan namin ni Shem."

He respected Shem's wish to protect Ailee. And he also understood that he had been such a jerk that he lost Shem's trust regarding her. Pero mas makakahinga siya nang maluwag kapag nailahad niya ang side niya. Not that he had too much hope that anything would change between them. If not, then they will finally have the closure that they need.

"F'reeeh nakita niyo ba shi Chloe?" tanong ni Anthony na halos kasing pula na ng suot niyang hoody ang kanyang mukha.

"Lasing ka ba?" bulalas ni Clyde. He glanced at Jerald who looked slightly better but was also wobbling.