Chapter 13

Chapter 13

"D-Do you..." napapapikit pikit pa si Sam habang kinakausap kami. We silently waiting for her to finish what she's saying. Kanina pa kami natutuwa sa kanya. We know that she's undeniably smart kaya nakakatuwang ganito siya ngayon.

"Do you ever... wonder, what do space smells like?" She asked in slured tone. May bitbit pa din itong baso ng shot glass hindi nagpapatalo sa ibang may matataas na alcohol tolearance.

"Why? I never knew. Hindi pa ako nakakarating sa space Sam, well, except heaven," one of my classmates remark kaya napatawa kaming lahat. Sam also giggled then continue to her lessons 101.

"Well, a-according to some astronauts... that space... has a distinct odor," sabay tungga ng shot glass. Napailing na lang ako ng nilagyan na naman ang shot glass ni Sam.

"Is this why are you laughing earlier?" Tanong ko kay Blue na nasa aking tabi at nakikinig din kay Sam. May bitbit din akong shot glass at panakaw-nakaw lang ang pag-inom ko dito specially when I still felt Max's eyes on me.

"Yeah, she's really funny when drunk. Who would have thought a lady like her who is prim and proper, the very good example in our department is drunk right now?" Natatawa ding wika ni Blue.

"I think itigil na sana yan nila. Baka tumba na yan mayamaya. Sinong maghahatid?"

"Oh no worries, hindi naman tayo papabayaan ng mga lalaki. Patay lang sila pag may nangyaring masama sa atin."

Napailing na lang ako at ininom ang alak na nasa baso.

Even in her state, Sam continue to talk in daze. At ang mga walang hiyang kaklase ko ay pinupuno lang ang shot glass ni Sam kapag nauubos ito. Naguguilty tuloy ako sa president namin. Patay talaga tong mga to pagnahimasmasan.

"By the way, nakita ko ang crush mo kanina," napabaling ako kay Blue dahil sa kanyang sinabi at tinaasan siya ng kilay.

"His with friends and some girls," she shrugged her shoulder as she said it. Girls? Sinong babae? Si Evee? My forehead creased because of it. Wala naman kasi akong nakitang babae habang umiinom siya kanina.

"Sinong babae?" Takang tanong ko kay Blue but she just smirk at me.

"Bakit? Selos ka?" She asked me teasingly. The evil grin still plastered in her lips. Napasimangot tuloy ako sa inasta ng aking kaibigan.

Agad kung inubos ang laman ng alak na nasa loob ng akibg baso at walang pagdadalawang-isip ko itong nilagyan ulit. Blue chuckled because of my reaction.

"No worries, mukhang di naman niya girlfriend eh," pambulabog loob pero di ko pinansin. I scan the place, searching for Stan ngunit dahil medyo madilim at ang iba't ibang klase lang ng ilaw ang mas umaninag sa dance floor mahirap hanapin iyon lalo na't maraming tao ang nasa paligid.

Alam kung kasama ni Stan ang kanyang mga kaibigan, pero di ko alam na may kasama silang babae. I bite my lips because of my sudden reaction. What's wrong with me? I'm not even his girlfriend. Why feeling this way?

Hours passed, its fun having this kind of night out though. Aftrr dancing babalik sa sofa tas magtatawanan at magkukuwentuhan. Tas sayaw ulit, minsan inaasar ko pa si Blue na magboy hunting. She just scowled at me.

My friend is pretty. Dahil may nakikita akung ibag lalaking nakatitig sa kanya. Eyeing my friend like she's a precious water in the vast of dessert. Ngunit walang pakialam ang kaibigan at nagtutuloy lang sa pagsasaya.

The laugh of my classmates made me turned to them. Nakita ko kung paano na halos humiga si Sam sa sofa habang ang iba ay tumatawa na kahit walang dahilan. Gosh this is disaster. Kailangan na naming umuwi, may pasok pa bukas.

"Di pa ba tayo uuwi? May pasok pa bukas," bulong ko kay Blue. I saw how Blue's eyes widen when she realized that its not friday night. May pasok pa kami bukas at tingin ko'y maraming matutulog sa classroom bukas.

"Guys! Let's go home! May pasok pa tayo bukas!" My classmates didn't bother, they continue their fun. I just shake ny head, walang plano ata tong pumasok bukas. Lagot, mukhang may oral pa naman kami bukas.

"Oh, shush Blue. Minsan nga lang to... w-wag kang mag-alala... di malalaman ni Prof," then Chelsea giggled. Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Blue habang tinitigan si Sam na nasa tabi ni Chelsea na tumba na.

A light pat in my back made me turned. Nakita ko ang mukha ni Max na nakatitig sa akin.

"Uwi na tayo," he commanded. Napanguso tuloy ako. Well, I think I really want to go home. Ayokong magalit sina Dad sa akin, though nagpaalam naman ako. Pero di ko gustong abusuhin 'yon.

I nod at him then get my bag. I turned to his friends, nakita kung nagkanya-kanyang tayo na din ang iba na tingin ko ay uuwi na din. It's almost midnight. Some of them, I think they'll stay. Mukhang walang balak pa umuwi ang iba.

"Asul? Uuwi ka na?" Tanong ni Max kay Blue na tumayo na din. I eyed my friend as she tap something on her phone.

"Ah, Oo. Uuwi na ako." Bumaling siya sa ibang mga kaklase ko. "Guys, uwi na tayo. Baka may mapano pa sa inyo. Si Sam?" She asked in no particular.

"Ako na, isasama ko na si President." Sagot ng isa sa kasamahan ni Max na varsity din kasama ng team namin. His one of my classmates. Nagkanya-kanya na sila ng pag-uusap para sa kung sino ang magpahatid.

"Let's go?" Tanong ni Max sa akin.

"How about Blue?" I whispered. Ayokong iwanan ang kaibigan. I'm not sure kung may susundo ba sa kanya. Bumaling si Max kay Blue na nakikipag-usap pa sa ibang kaklase ko.

"Asul? May susundo sayo?" Tanong ni Max. Blue turned to us then smiled.

"No need captain, may maghahatid na sa akin." Napataas ang aking kilay. Max nod, before I can ask her kung sino ay nagpaalam na si Max.

"Mauna na kami,"

"Ingat kayo Captain!" Sigaw ng ibang co-players ni Max.

"Uwi agad ah!" Pagkatapos ay nagtawanan sila.

"Ingat Prim," Blue waved at me kaya nagpaalam na din ako sa ibang nga kaklase. Hawak ni Max ang aking kamay habang naglalakad kami paalis sa club. I scanned the place hoping to see Stan for the last time ngunit hindi ko man lang nakita ang ni-anino nito. Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako lalo na't naalala ko na naman ang sinabi ni Blue kanina.

Sinong babae ang kasama niya? Are they enjoying right now? Perhaps--? I shake my head because of bad thoughts. Ano namang magagawa ko? If 'yon ang gusto ni Stan then whatever. His not my boyfriend anyway. Pero sa tuwing naiisip ko na may kasama siyang ibang babae, napapasimangot talaga ako.

"Wait here, kukunin ko lang ang kotse," tumango ako kay Max at naglakad na siya paalis. The cold breeze gently touch my face as I stared at the sky where the stars shining brightly. Naririnig ko pa ang music na galing sa loob ng club. I even saw some couples doing something in the dark places pero di ko na lang pinuna iyon.

"Alone?" I jolted when someone asked me from behind. Agad akong napabaling dito at nakita ko ang isang hindi pamilyar na lalaki. In his state I assumed his drunk.

His hair is in a mess. Medyo hindi na din maayos ang paglalakad niya. The guy smirk at me. Agad akong nakaramdam ng kaba dahil sa inasta niya. Agad kung pinalibot ang tingin ngunit mas lalo akong kinabahan nag nakitang wala akong taong nakita sa paligid. The loud music was still there.

"Are you available Miss?" His grin made my feelings worst. He approach me and held my wrist. I glared at the unknown man in front of me. Where's Max? Fuck! Ang tagal niya!

"Fuck off dude," I hissed at him. Pilit na binabawi ang kanang kamay na mahigpit niyang hinawakan. I saw how his expression suddenly changen. There is something vicious glinting in his eyes that makes my heart pound faster.

"Why? I'm sure you will like my bed," his evil grin widen. At hinawakan na niya ang dalawa kung kamay. I heaved a deep breath as I process what was happening. My mind is in chaos, tila hindi alam ang gagawin.

"Pakawalan mo ako!" Galit na sigaw ko sa lalaki ngunit mas lalo ata niyang nagustuhan ang inasal ko.

"Playing hard to get? I like that," he leaned in me and I saw how he sniffed my neck as I stilled, immobile. My brain went black for a sudden. Bumilis ang paghinga ko dahil sa ginawa niya.

"I might tie you in my bed," he whispered viciously kaya di na ako nagdalawang isip pa. I kick his crotch  and his grip in my hands loosened. Agad ko siyang tinulak habang dumadaing siya sa sakit. Hindi na ako nag dalawang isip pang tumakbo paalis doon hindi alam kung saan papunta.

But the sudden pull in my hair made me stop. Agad akong napahawak sa aking ulo kung saan nandoon ang kamay ng lalaki habang mahigpit niya itong hinawakan.

"Bitawan mo ako!" I slapped his shoulders and his hands in my hair. Its excrutiating as he pulled harder and grip my hands harder.

"You bitch! I will teach you a lesson!"

"I said bitawan mo ako! How dare you! Fuck off!" Nagsisigaw na ako habang pinipilit na kunin ang kamay niya sa akin ulo ngunit kinaladkad ako ng lalaki sa kung saan. Hindi ko masyadong nakikita ang dinaanan dahil mas natuon ang pansin ko sa kamay na nasa aking buhok na mahigpit niyang hawak.

"Shut up!" He said angrily. Mas lalong lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko dahil sa kaba. Unknowingly, my tears falling down from my eyes. I can't even control my emotions right now!

"Tulong! Tulongan niyo ako!" I shout desperately but the guy covered my mouth and my words came out a mumble. Mas lalong tumulo ang aking luha dahil sa nangyari. I feel so helpless because of the sudden event.

I hope Max will fine me soon. I hope he realized that I went missing.

"What are you doing?" Napahinto ang lalaki sa paglalakad ng may nagsalita sa likuran. The voice sounds familiar but I can't pinpoint who it is. His grip tighten around my mouth and hair that it made me flinch because of too much pain.

"Sino ka? Wag kang makialam dito!" Inis na sigaw ng lalaki. I silently uttered a prayer that he will realized that I'm a victim here.

"What are you doing to her?" The man ask viciously. Ramdam ko ang galit sa kanyang tono that I felt the man whose holding me wavered a bit.

"Ang sabi ko wag kang makialam sa away namin ng girlfriend ko!" Sigaw ng lalaki na nakahawak sa akin.

Silence passed by for a seconds when the man answered.

"Dude, you're touching the wrong girl," then I felt the grip of the man in my hair loosened at his hand in my mouth. He grunted in pain habang nabitawan niya ako. Ngunit umamba siyang sumuntok sa lalaking tumulong sa akin bgunit naunahan siya nito.

My tears won't stop as my heart beat so fast because of fear. Habang nag-aaway ang dalawang lalaki sa aking harapan. I don't know what happened but the man who touch me grunting in pain at the ground. My vision was blur. Napaatras ako ng isang hakbang ng lumapit ang lalaking bumugbog sa humawak sa akin. Natatakot na baka saktan niya ako.

I think he saw my reaction kaya huminto siya.

"P-Please... don't touch me..." I plead him even though my vision was blurred hindi naaninag ang kanyang pagmumukha. I know that he helped me pero natatakot akong baka may balak din ito.

"Prim?" I blink twice when I heard his familiar voice.

"S-Stan?" Ngunit hindi na niya ako sinagot dahil agad na niya akung nilapitan. He gently hold my wrist as he scaned my face. I stilled then watch his face.

"May sugat ka ba? Saan ang masakit?" Seryosong tanong niya habang sinusuri ang kamay ko at ang mukha ko. But then my emotions went up, my tears falling down like a river. I cried so hard hindi na napigilan ang klase-klaseng emosyon na naramdaman sa mga oras na iyon.

Napatigil si Stan habang tinitigan ako. He heaved a deep breath as he gently pulled me towarss him and wrapped his one arm aroubd my shoulder.

"Stop crying. Your safe now," he whispered gently as he pat my head. Mas lalo ata akung napaiyak dahil sa kanyang sinabi. Ngunit hinayaan niya akong umiyak sa kanyang balikat.

The warmth from his body comforted me. Even in the cold breeze in the middle of the night. Someone's with me. In a second I thought that something bad will going to happened. But it turned out good.

Stan comforted me. He saved me, and it filled my mind with the thought and that makes me calm.

"I'm here, your safe..." he whispered as I closed my eyes. Feeling the moment that I know will never happen again.