The Weird Existence of Henry

ch. 07

r u n a w a y

"I like your friends," yan ang pinakauna kong sinabi sa kaniya once we got inside the car.

"Oh yeah? Para may kakampi kang asarin ako," ang sabi niya habang nilalagay ang seatbelts niya. I just chuckled. "But...I like them too."

Then he started the engine. Papunta kami ngayon sa pinag-uusapan ng lahat na party, the celebration party of the Basketball Varsity Team. Everybody's going to that party. I just remembered, gusto nga pala ng mga friends kong makipaghang out with Henry. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. The mere thought of us getting caught made my knees tremble. Napailing agad ako. I shrugged he thought off at nilibang ang sarili sa mga nadadaanan naming lights.

I remembered what happened earlier. Napangiti agad ako sa mga biruan nila. Kahit ilang minuto lang kami nagkasama, I think they're very fun to hang out with. Lalo na when they try to buly one another. But I think why I find them very fun is because when I was with them, I never felt like I was not an outsider. I never felt like I was just someone's girlfriend. It felt like I've known them for years. It felt so peaceful...like home.

Kilala ko ang mga friends ni Henry. They are very popular, not just in school, but also in the whole country. Gabriel Sandoval is a well-known musician. He writes his own songs. He's kind of the Ed Sheeran of Williamson. He had millions of downloads of his songs in spotify over a week. Mila Cortez is also in the music industry. She was well known with her covers on Youtube with thousands of views and subscription. Sumikat siya hindi lang dahil sa mala anghel niyang tinig kundi rin sa kaniyang own style and versions of every song she sings.

Luca Fuentabella is a famous fashion designer. Sikat na sikat siya sa industriya. Actually, he is addressed as a genius. He had worked with very prominents celebrities here in the Philippines, such as Anne Curtis, Georgina Wilson and many more. Kaya kahit na nag-aaral pa siya, he is already making his own brand and couture.

Rian Danielle Villafuente is a very famous fashion icon. She's a content creator on youtube with vlogs about lifestye, make up and fashion. Embassador rin siya sa iba't-ibang brands. She has millions of views and subscribers. Rian and Ebonie Carter have a lot in common. Both are content creators on youtube, but Ebonie's more into film and storytelling. She uses her art as a platform for activism.

Si Timothy Dela Vega naman, he's also a musician. Siya ang pinakasikat na Dj ngayon. Sandamakmak ang gigs niya sa iba't ibang clubs in the Philippines. Galing rin siya sa pamilya ng mga sikat na musikero kaya naman, hindi na nakakapagtaka na nahumaling din siya sa musika.

Hindi ko maiwasang hindi magtaka. Bakit kilala ko ang mga kaibigan ni Henry pero...hindi ko man lang siya kilala. Maybe because he stayed in States? Now that, I'm thinking about it, I don't know a thing about this guy. All I know is, he used to run the school, but then he went to states. Ano kayang nangyari? Bakit lumipat siya sa states? Why did he leave his life here?

My train of thoughts got interrupted with the booming sound of EDM inside. Nandito na pala kami. Nauna akong lumabas, 'cause Henry got to park his car.

"Tara," ang sabi ni Henry, na pinatunog ang car alarm niya. Nagsimula na siyang maglakad, habang ako ay naistatwa pa rin sa kinatatayuan ko. Napansin niyang hindi ako sumunod.

"Is there something wrong?" tanong niya.

"Pa-paano kung malaman nila?" tanong ko, doubts filled in my voice.

He rested both his palms on my shoulders and looked at me in the eye. "Gwen, everything's gonna be fine. Kasama mo naman ako. You're not alone okay? We're in this together."

Napabuntong hininga naman agad ako.

We're in this together.

And just like that, bigla nalang akong kumalma.