In The City Of Ruffians

XX: The Eve

CHAPTER TWENTY: THE EVE

Sa buong maghapon sa araw na iyon ay naroon lang si Hennessy sa kwarto nila. Nakahiga at nakatitig sa kisame. She can't forget the door at the back of the garage. Huminga nalang siya ng malalim. She shook her head and closed her eyes as she slowly breathes in and breathes out.

Malalaman niya rin kung ano ang nandoon.

Mabilis na lumipas ang oras sa pananatili niya sa kwarto. She didn't seem to notice the sun setting down. Napansin na lang niya na magga-gabi na noong pumasok ang tatlo niyang kasama at binuksan ang ilaw.

Kumunot ang noo niya noong parang tarantang taranta sila Chandria at Savannah, lalo na si Chandria. "Why are you two acting like that? May sunog ba?"

"It's The Eve." Sagot ni Astrid. Mas lalo kumunot ang noo ni Hennessy. "Oh, right. Hindi mo pa pala alam." She murmured.

"Get yourself ready. We're having fun tonight." Still confused, Hennessy took her way to the bathroom and fixed herself, kahit taking taka siya sa sinabi ni Astrid.

Fun? What fun? Drag racing? Na naman? How fun? Gaya ba ng nangyari kahapon? She doubts.

Ano kaya?

***

Hennessy's jaw dropped as her eyes tours the whole stadium. Nagsasayawang tao. May ilaw ngunit madilim pa rin. Amoy alak. Mainit.

What the fuck. Ano 'to?

"What's this?" Tanong ni Hennessy. "It's a celebration in the island since natapos na ang combat sa ranks. It will probably be announced tomorrow morning." Paliwanag ni Astrid. Tumango naman siya.

Savannah and Chandria immediately ran towards the stadium as soon as they heard the power of the music from inside. Astrid said the two of them are party goers. Gaya ng drag racing, iilan lang ang araw na mangyayari ang selebrasyong ito. They call it 'The Eve' for a certain reason she knows nothing about.

"Hennessy! Astrid!" She heard a scream along with the crowd. Nilingon lingon niya ang mga tao upang hanapin ang kung sino man iyon. Nahuli ng mga mata niya sina Chandria at Savannah na nakahawak nan g tig-iisang baso nila na may laman na.

"Dito!" Sigaw ng mga ito. Their table is on the right-most corner of the stadium kaya madilim at hindi masyadong kita.

Sumunod sila Hennessy at Astrid. And of course, they still needed to cross a river of people to get to their destination. "Excuse me!" Pasigaw na saad ni Hennessy dahil sa irita.

They're dancing like a wild animal that just got out from its cage! Nagulat siya noong biglang may nakatulak sa kanya at wala siyang paghahawakan kaya't natumba siya. She closed her eyes and waited for a pain but nothing came. Unti unti niyang minulat ang mga mata at nakita si Pierce.

Napasinghap siya at agad agad na tumayo at tinanggal ang mga kamay ni Pierce na nasa bewang niya. "Be careful, Alexus." Bulong nito at siguradong siya lang ang nakarinig noon. Kunot ang noo nito na sinundan ng tingin si Pierce hanggang sa mawala na ito sa kanyang paningin.

She just shrugged it off and went to the table. Nakaupo sina Trevin, Justice at Ishun sa couch habang umiinom. May pinag-uusapan ang mga ito. Astrid was silently drinking alone while Chandria and Savannah are very wild. Pasigaw-sigaw ang mga ito at pasayaw-sayaw na akala mo lasing na.