The Girl on Gray | Soshiki Series 1

Chapter 12

MARGARITA’S POV

“What happened kahapon?” I asked Melody dahil siya lang naman yung hindi uminom kagabi. Gosh! My head hurts so bad talaga. It’s been a long time since nung last kong inom kaya I forgot yung experience nun.

“You just kissed some random guy e,” aniya.
Nanlaki ang mata ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

“What?! Pogi ba yung guy?” singit ni Janella na kakagising palang sa tabi ko.

“I’m just kidding haha” bawi ni Janella.

Tumayo ako at humarap sa full length mirror just around the corner nang room. I looked at myself kahit hilong hilo ako. I’m still wearing the same outfit na sinuot ko kahapon. Pero, my face feels fresh and there’s no trace of make-up.

“Sit down Eli, eto take some meds” she gave me some medicine and water. I took them and drank. Tiningnan ko naman si Janella na nakaupo sa higaan. Melody also gave her some medicine too.

“So, you washed our faces kagabi?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

“Yeah…”she shyly said and nodded.

“Wait. You carried us both? Are you superman ba or something?” I asked again.

Kinamot niya ang likod niya at nahihiyang tumango.

“Nope! You’re lying! There’s this guy!” ani ni Janella.

Pinilit kong alalahanin ang nangyari kagabi. Then, narealize ko na Janelle’s words are true! May guy nga last night. Yung guy na akala ko sa akin nakatingin pero kay Melody pala. How ironic na kung sino pa yung hindi kasali sa bet, siya pa yung nanalo. Hmp!

I looked at Melody and smirked. “Ikaw ha! Does he smell good ba?” I teased her.

“How about his body? He looks sexy right? From my blurry sight, he looks like some hot meal” ani ni Janella.

Marka sa mukha ni Melody ang hiya. So, me as a person whose really masaya kung may kaibigan akong mapikon.

“He asked for your digits diba?” I teased her more.

“Ilang inches ba siya girl?” Janella added up to the fire. Ngayon, para ng kamatis si Melody.

Tumayo siya “I hate you!” ani atsaka umalis.

Nagkatitigin kami ni Janella, high-fived at tumawa.

“Masarap pala asarin si Melody” kumento ko.

“You know naman pala straight tagalog e, why so conyo?” asar sa akin ni Janella habang ginagaya ang pagsasalita ko.

I glared at her and left her on the bed. “Hmp nakakainis, ” pikon kong sabi.

“Mga pikon!” painsultong sigaw ni Janella.

Ugh! Super lakas makapikon sa akin talaga siya. What wrong sa pagiging slight conyo diba? It’s not like magiging end na nang world if ever ganto ako magsalita.

I just went downstairs, still being dizzy and pissed. Naglakad ako papuntang kitchen, kung saan si Melody. Naiwan niya ang cellphone niya sa table. Habang lumapalit, something caught up my attention.

It was Charles’ name?. Maybe it isn’t. I need to make sure baka namamalikmata lang ako. Melody’s currently cooking something kaya hindi niya ako mapapansin.

Lumapit ako ng lumapit until the phone was just some inches away. Tiningnan ko ng mabuti. Two notifications. One from a guy named Jonathan while the other one was from Charles.

“M-melody” kinakabahan kong pagtawag sa kaniya.

She turned around and saw me, looking at her with a confused look. I was waiting for an explanation. I need an explanation.

“W-what’s this?” nagtataka kong tanong sa kaniya.

“It’s my cellphone,” sagot niya habang nakatingin sa akin ng diretso.

“Why do you have Charles number?” I asked her straightforwardly.

“I’m not in the position to say anything,” aniya.

“I don’t care kung sino ang may posisyon para magsabi. I just need an explanation,” I said.

“I’m sorry pero I really can’t say anything. I came to your life as a shield and protection,” sabi niya.

“Proteksiyon? Para saan?!”, nalilito kong tanong.

Bago pa ako makareact ay hinawakan na ni Melody ang ulo ko at dumapa sa sahig kasabay ang putok ng baril.

“From them,” bigkas ni Melody sa isang kalmadong tono.

“Pumasok ka diyan sa cabinet may daanan diyan papunta sa isang kuwarto. Susunod nalang ako,” utos ni Melody.

“Pero pano si Janella?!” natataranta kong tanong.

“She’s ruthless. Don’t worry” Melody assured me.

I just followed her orders. I went inside the cabinet at meron ngang underground door na puno ng supplies, computers and even guns! I just sat on a monoblock, still having my heart pumping crazy.

Matapos ang kaunting minuto, I heard voices upstairs. Voices of Janella and Melody having a conversation.

“Sayang may gwapo dun sa mga umatake sa’tin,” Janella said.

“Hays, yun talaga inaalala mo ano? Nagkasugat nga pinsan mo,” Melody sarcastically said.

“As if hindi ka sanay sa ganong mga laban,” sabi ni Janella.

Patuloy pa rin silang nag-uusap habang naglalakad papalapit dito sa underground room. Here I am, my hands covering my face and still crying and still trembling with fear.

“Hey Eli?” malumanay na sabi ni Melody while caressing my head.

I faced her at pinunasan ang mga luha. “Am I in danger?”, tanong ko.

“Obvious ba?” pabalang na sagot ni Janella.

Melody glared at her. “No… you’re not in danger,” sagot ni Melody.

“Oh please, huwag ka na maglie sa’kin,” pagmamakaawa ko.

Janella looks irritated. “ Ano ba yan! Umiiyak na nga conyo pa rin!” sabi niya.

“What’s your problem ba Janella?!”, hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko.

Hinawakan ako ni Melody, signing me to chill. “Ganyan yan kasi nakapatay siya ng gwapo”, paliwanag ni Melody.

“P-patay?! You killed someone?! Is’nt that illegal?”, natataranta kong tanong.

“They’re targeting you. They left us no choice”, dagdag pa ni Melody.

“So, I’m in danger?” tanong ko ulit.

“Yes you are, for now”, Melody said.

“But don’t worry, they’re taking care of it?” Melody assured me that’s everything’s fine.

“Who?”, I asked.

“The person who will explain kung bakit kami dumating sa buhay mo”, Melody said.

She stood up and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge at binigay sa akin.

“Drink up some water and sleep. Just act na hindi to nangyari”, she said.

I drank some at nilagay sa mesa.

Nag-isip isip ako. I just can’t make someone protect me forever. Kailangan kong matuto protektahan ang sarili ko. I need to be like them. To be a part of the organization na kabilang sila and to know how to make myself feel safe to this world full of cruelty