Epitome of Gloom

Kabanata 2

Pumasok kami ni Ali sa isang boutique para tumingin ng mga dress. We spend almost 20 minutes para mahanap ang mga tipong dress ni Ali pero at the end, lumabas din kami dahil wala ni isa siyang napili.

Ali wants to take advantage of our suspension. Kaya naman inaya niya ko na pumunta sa mall.

Parang mas masaya pa siya na suspended kami.

There was nothing else for me to do at home, so I went even though I was still recovering from last night's hangover. Both of my parents work grueling shifts. To let them know that I've left, I just left a message. Mahirap na, baka magkaroon ng part two suspension.

Napangiti ako dahil nakabalik na naman ako ng bahay kagabi nang hindi nalalaman nila daddy na umalis ako but then my smile immediately disappeared when I remembered what happened last night.

Sana lang ay hindi ako namukhaan ng tatlong lalaki kagabi kahit impossible. Hindi ko gugustuhin na idamay pa si Rigo sa mga gulo ko.

"Let's eat na muna, Em."

Pumasok kami sa isang chinese restaurant which is okay for me dahil gusto ko ng something soup for my hangover. It's almost lunch time na rin kasi kaya gutom na gutom kami ni Ali.

We looked at the menu then called a waiter to order.

Ali glanced at me when the waiter went as if I had something to say. It's because I told her earlier that I'd tell her what happened last night.

That's why I was talking even after the food we ordered came.

"Vince? Vince Santiago!?"

"Yes! I also can't believe that I witnessed that!"

We were utterly startled because Vince is a bully, an arrogant, and a disrespectful thug in our school. He thinks he is in charge of and owns everything. The students naturally followed his instructions to avoid being bullied. What a jerk.

"Do you know them?" Umiling ako sa tanong ni Ali.

"Then paano kung mga frat pala sila at pinapahanap ka na ng mga 'yon ngayon?"

Agad akong kinabahan sa mga sinabi ni Ali.

"Hindi naman siguro..."

My body was overwhelmed with fear.

What if those men are part of a large organization? What if they're already looking for me? Should I hide na ba?

I lost my thoughts when I saw who entered the restaurant we were eating at. This time they have a girl with them.

Agad kong itinakip ang basong hawak ko sa mukha ko nang biglang umikot ang mata ng isa sa kanila.

Omg! Bakit sa dinami-dami ng kainan dito pa talaga?!

"Let's sit there, Z." Rinig kong sabi ng isa sa kanila.

I peeked a little in the glass I was holding and saw them going to the table next to us.

Wow! So great talaga!

"Bakit?" Si Ali pagkatapos makita ang kalagayan ko.

Nilabas ko ang cellphone ko at minessage siya.

To: Ali
they're here!

Tumunog ang notification niya kaya agad niyang binasa ang message ko at saka tumingin sa akin.

"Who?" Nakakunot ang noo niya, naguguluhan nanaman sa pinag-gagagawa ko.

To: Ali
t

he three men!

Gulat at malaki ang mata niyang tiningnan ako. Nginuso ko ang kabilang table na agad naman niyang binalingan kaya tumingin rin ako.