"Woah, kayo ni Ian? 'Di ba may kumalat siyang scandal? Adik 'yan, eh." Siniko ako ng classmate kong nakasilip sa text ng boyfriend ko.
Pareho kaming Grade 10, kaso lang, he's a repeater at nasa last section pa. Umuwi na 'ko no'n para hindi na mausisa pa ng kaklase. I don't wanna hear any ill judgements about my boyfriend.
Months after kong sagutin si Ian, I found packets in his bag at inamin niyang mga drugs nga 'yon na pinapabenta sa kan'ya. He needed the money, I know, kaya hinayaan ko na lang.
And the said scandal that went viral? Hindi ko pa napanood 'yon but I trust its not him. Matagal naman na 'yon and he assured me na wala nga siyang kinalaman do'n.
Most nights, he would sneak me out and takes me home before dawn.
"Patatabain kita, Sandra." Ian chuckled as he scooped me from the ground. Inupo niya ako sa railings at ikinulong sa pagitan ng mga braso niya.
Nasa tulay kami malapit sa Baranggay nila, mahangin, at bilang lang ang mga taong dumaraan.
"Can't wait to spoil you with everything you ask for." He brushed the tip of his nose against mine.
"Aral ka muna, loko. And stop selling drugs, sabihan mo boss mo. I don't want you ending up in jail."
"Last na lang, Sandra. I'll get my share after the deal. At titigil na 'ko sa pagbebenta. Aayusin ko buhay ko para sa'yo. Just trust me, okay?"
And that's why I embraced even his darkest sides. Not anyone can tell but I know he's a good man inside.
One morning, narinig kong naghihimutok si Tito kay Mama. He's a policeman.
"Mga malala na talaga kabataan ngayon. Sa school mismo ni Sandra, aba, may natanggap kaming lead tungkol sa mga estudyanteng gumagamit at nagtutulak ng droga. Karamihan ay lalaki, Elena. Kaya bantayan mo 'yang anak mo ha, baka kung sino-sinong makarelasyon n'yan!"
Binalingan ako ni Tito kaya nagpanggap akong nagbabasa ng notes. They don't have any idea about me having a relationship with Ian.
Around 10pm, tinakas ako ni Ian habang tulog sina Mama. Sinama niya 'ko sa apartment kung sa'n nando'n din ang iba pang kaibigan niya.
Two girls dressed in a slutty low-cut line fabrics greeted us when we settled inside. May kasama pa silang tatlong lalaking magkakatabi sa sofa.
"Babe, that's Stacy and Lianne. Si Jeric at Hans naman 'yon. And that pierced guy over there is Bruce, anak siya ng boss ko." Nginitian ko ang mga pinakilala niya. They're all in Senior High at halos ka-edad lang nila si Ian.
Jeric smirked at me and leaned in to whisper something to Hans beside him.
"Bruce, kakalas na 'ko sa grupo. Tell your father na hindi na rin ako tutuloy sa deal. And maybe this would be the last time I'll be around to hang out with you guys. Malapit na ang quarterly exam so I have to catch up." Biglang sabi ni Ian sa friends niya.
Pati ako ay nagulat din. They all shared a meaningful look. I felt Ian's lips on my head before he took my hand and stood up.
Aalis na kami? Pero kararating lang namin ah.
"Oops, uwi na agad kayo? Come on, Ian. Since last mo na 'to, let's all have a drink! Sayang naman ang pagpunta n'yo rito."
"No drinks for my girl, Stacy."
"Dude, it's just vodka." Hans tilts his head. "Give her a shot."
May nilapag na shotglass na may lamang likido yung Lianne sa harapan ko. Meron din silang tig-iisa.
"Cheers!"
"Here, mas konti ang laman n'yan," bulong ni Ian at mabilis na pinagpalit ang mga baso namin. He drank it in one gulp, gano'n din ang ginawa ko.
Pinagpipilitan nilang 'wag muna raw kaming umalis. But Ian insisted, pinaghintay niya 'ko ng masasakyan pauwi.
"You okay? Ang init mo, namumula ka." Umiling siya at ibinaba ang kamay kong nakadampi sa leeg niya.
"I'm fine. Sumakay ka na, uuwi na rin ako."
"Bilisan mong umuwi ah."
At hindi ko inakalang 'yon na pala ang huling gabing makikita ko siya.
Early morning, I received a video sent by an unknown number. At pinagsisisihan kong binuksan ko 'yon, because the video contains a record of my boyfriend, with Stacy on top kissing him, and Lianne sucking him down.
At kagabi lang 'yon nangyari! Akala ko nakauwi na siya. T-that liar! Pinaglaban ko siya sa mga accusations sa kan'ya, na may scandal siya at kung ano-ano pa. But now I'm done with him!
"Tito? About nga pala sa students sa school na sangkot sa droga-- kilala ko at alam ko kung nasa'n po sila." And with a heavy heart, hindi ako nag-atubiling magsumbong kay Tito.
Hindi ko na siya muling nakita pa pagkatapos no'n, not even his friends. Ang alam ko lang ay na-raid sila sa apartment nung araw na 'yon.
Years passed, and I knew I made the right decision. But fate seems to be playing with us because I crossed paths with him in the mall.
"Hey, Sandra. It's you." He looks more decent right now. He grew up and I can't believe he's here in front of me!
"Ian? Paanong--" He cut me off with an awkward smile.
"Years ago, alam kong ikaw ang nagsumbong sa mga pulis, Sandra. Pero inako kong ako ang gumawa para hindi ka galawin ng boss ko. He tried to kill me after he bailed us out. Pero nakatakas ako at pinuntahan kita pero lumipat na pala kayo. I tried to searched you for years, I was hopeless but look, I'm happy. I eventually found myself a new life."
"But you lied to me. It would've been happened if you just went home that night."
"I didn't make it, Sandra. They put something in the drinks and that time, I was already intoxicated by drugs. Bumalik ako sa apartment at sinugod sila. But minutes later I don't know what I'm doing anymore, at nangyari na nga ang hindi dapat mangyari. I didn't know they filmed and delivered it to you. I'm so sorry."
It hurts, throughout the years.
"Daddy! Mom said we'll go home na." Small hands clutched around Ian's knee.
"Who is she?" The young girl dressed in a bright yellow blinks as her eyes drifted to me.
"Ah, just a former schoolmate." He carries his daughter in his arm. He has a better life now with a family.
Samantalang ako... parang-- nanghihinayang.
My heart sank into pieces as he dropped the last words.
"Remember that night, Sandra? They actually planned to drug you. I saw it. Hinaluan nila ang iinumin mo. That's why I switched our glasses, I drank it for you. At alam mo kung sa'n ako nagkamali? Yun ay ang umasa akong may tiwala ka sa'kin."
To be continued....
