Bachelor's Night

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

"Friend?"

Kahit medyo nahihilo pinilit ko pa ring ibuka ang mga mata ko. They seemed to be locked up for a very long time.

I thought I was still on the beach until I saw Bubbles' worried face.

I looked around hoping to find traces of what happened, pero bukod sa kulay peach na dingding, ilang kagamitan at ang presensya ni Bubbles, wala na akong ibang makita.

There was a sudden hit of memory. Bigla kong natutop ang bibig ko when I figured something. Did he really? No! He better not!

"Helloo? Are you even listening? Alam mo bang pinag-alala mo kaming lahat? Buti na lang at nakita ka ni Zach na bigla na lang hinimatay matapos mo kaming iwan kagabi."

Wait. Hinimatay? Kagabi? Are you kidding me!? Pakiramdam ko lalong bumigat ang ulo ko.

"Ang tigas kasi ng ulo mo. I told you to eat before we left pero umiral na naman ang katamaran mong gaga ka tapos isang subo lang yata ang kinain mo kagabi. Nako! Pag nalaman 'to ng ate mo sigaradong sa sementeryo ang bagsak ko."

"Can you just shut up for awhile? What time is it? At paanong nahimatay? E hinalik--I mean nagkausap pa nga kami ng unggoy na 'yon bago naging blanko ang lahat."

"Alas singko na po ng umaga, mahal na prinsesa. Kinailangan ko pang gumising ng maaga to check on you. Tungkol sa tanong mo, ba't di si papa Zach ang usisain mo. He was the one who brought you here."

Baffled is an understatement of how I really feel. Can someone tell me what the fuck is going on? Was it all just a dream? Talaga bang hinimatay ako and that kiss did not occur--at all? I'm not saying I would love to be kiss by him pero sobrang labo!

"O, gising ka na pala, Alex. How are you feeling?"

The door suddenly opened. It was Miss Samantha, the assistant. She looked wary, mukhang pinagalitan na naman ito ni kalbo.

"I understand that you probably need some more time to rest but Mr. Katakutan wants everyone to have an early breakfast dahil mahaba-haba ang magiging byahe mamaya."

"It's all right. I can manage. Are we going to the first Museum?" I asked.

"Yes. We'll give you 20 minutes to freshen up. Ikaw din Bubbles. See you in the dining area."

Nag-iwan muna ito ng gamot bago tuluyang umalis.

"Hindi ko rin ma gets tong si Miss Sam. Sa dami ng trabaho bakit mas pinili niyang magpa-alila sa kalbong yun? It doesn't make sense, right? O sya, freshen up daw. Nandito na lahat ng gamit mo. And please, you need to eat like a king today. One trouble is enough, Alex. Bye."

He gave me one last warning look, and then I was left alone.

Everything was still vague, but I remember the last time I passed out I could also not recall how I ended up in my bed.

Siguro nga masyado akong pabaya sa sarili ko. I take food for granted when in fact, a lot of people struggle to have a descent meal everyday. It's time to get your shit right, Alex.

Pinilit kong bumangon para ayusin ang sarili ko.

°°°

"Hey. Alex, right?"

I was about to go down stairs when some of the elite students approached me. Namumukhaan ko silang tatlo. Sila yung grupo ng mga lalaki na pinagtitilian ng mga kaklase ko.

"Ako nga. Anong kailangan niyo?"

I didn't mean to sound rude pero wala lang talaga akong tiwala sa mga pagmumukha nila. Their wicked grins means trouble to me.

"Woaah. Easy, babe," nakangising sagot nung nasa gitna. "Well, do you really have to go to that boring museum? Why don't you join us? Sisiguraduhin naming mag-eenjoy ka."
A solid no came out of my mouth.

I decided to ignore them pero biglang may humawak sa braso ko.

"Not so fast. Huwag mo akong pahiyain sa mga kasama ko."

Naging malikot ang mga mata ko. I was hoping I could find Bubbles or any of my colleagues pero lahat yata sila nasa labas na while I'm still in the second floor.

"Get off me!"

"Not until I get a taste of you."

Kinilabutan ako sa huling sinabi niya. Pilit nitong inaabot ang isang kamay ko pero nagpumiglas ako.

"Tama nga sila. Palaban kang babae. But I'm always up for a challenge."

If only I have the energy to punch him, I would!

Hindi ko alam kung anong sunod na nangyari. Namalayan ko na lang na nasa sahig na ang walang hiya.

"Z-Zach! We didn't k-know na kilala mo--"

"Leave or I'll fucking wring your necks!"

That's when I saw him. Bigla akong nanghina. Growing up my father always taught me the basics of self defense, pero iba pa rin kapag nasa harap mo na ang kalaban.

I felt dizzy. My body failed to communicate with my brain. Before darkness took over me for the second time, naramdaman ko ang marahang pag-angat ng katawan ko.

I don't know where I'm heading, but for whatever weird reason, I feel safe.