Chapter 17
I woke up this morning with my wounds aching badly. Ang sakit, my whole body felt like it was on fire, every muscle and every cut throbbing with pain. The ache was intense and relentless, making it hard to even move.
Yesterday was a nightmare.
Someone attacked me—out of nowhere—and I got slashed by a guy wielding a knife.
The sharp sting of the blade left a deep cut, and the memory of the attack still sent chills down my spine.
I could still feel the cold steel against my skin, the sudden rush of fear and adrenaline.
Thankfully, Miss Sanchez showed up just in time. The moment she appeared, the attackers scattered like scared cats. I don’t know how she managed to show up so fast, but her presence alone was enough to drive them away. I owe her my life, really.
As I lay there, trying to gather my strength, I was about to get up and take a shower, hoping the warm water might soothe the pain a little. But then I suddenly remembered—hindi ko pala nasagot yung messages tungkol sa karaoke plans namin last night.
I reached for my phone, but it was still lowbat. I hadn’t had the chance to charge it yet because I was too preoccupied with everything that happened. So I struggled to get up and plugged it in, waiting anxiously for it to turn on.
After about a minute, the screen finally lit up. My phone was flooded—tumatakbo ang notifications—multiple text messages and missed calls from my friends.
Just looking at all of them, parang ayoko na talaga basahin. The flood was overwhelming. What could I even say after disappearing like that without any explanation?
Bar Gang Gc
Kinsley Pambato ng Bayan:
Syl, asan kana? Nandito na kami, naghihintay sayo
I read their messages; gosh, they were really childish.
Natawa nalang ako habang binabasa ang mga messages nila. Grabe, sobrang dami—may mga tanong, may mga pakiusap, may mga reklamo rin.
Hindi ko naman kaya basahin lahat nang sabay-sabay dahil nakakatamad din, at saka, iba pa yung pakiramdam ko ngayon—pagod at masakit ang katawan. Kaya bumaba nalang ako ng hagdan, unti-unting nilalabanan ang sakit sa bawat hakbang.
Pagkababa ko, naabutan ko si Ate sa sala, abala sa pag-aayos ng mga papeles. Hawak niya sa isang kamay ang mga dokumento, habang sa kabilang kamay naman ay ang paborito niyang iced coffee.
Alam niyo, mahilig si Ate uminom ng iced-coffee kahit anong oras, kahit umaga, hapon, o gabi. Palagi na lang siyang may dalang malamig na kape, na siguro dahilan kaya madalas siyang pinapadoctor dahil sa acid reflux.
Lakas makasabi na itigil na niya ‘yung bisyo, pero kahit siya mismo ayaw tumigil sa pag-inom ng kape, parang matigas talaga ang ulo niya pagdating sa bagay na ‘yan.
“Via, what do you want? Stop staring and tell me na,” sabi niya habang abala pa rin sa pag-aayos ng mga hawak-hawak niyang papeles. Medyo irita pero concern din ang tono niya.
“Nothing. I miss you, Ate,” sagot ko habang umuupo sa tabi niya. Gusto ko lang maramdaman na nandiyan siya.
“You need something? What is it? I can get it for you, so stop acting like that,” hirit niya, parang naghahanap ng dahilan para alagaan ako kahit ayaw kong sabihin.
“Wala nga, miss ka lang eh,” tampong sabi ko, pilit na binabalot ng ngiti ang aking tono.
“Okay,” matipid niyang sagot na parang alam na niya ang totoo pero ayaw pa rin tumanggap ng drama.
“Are you mad?” tanong ko, gusto kong malaman kung may sama siya ng loob.
“For what?” sagot niya, pero hindi pa rin tumitingin sa akin.
Akala mo okay lang siya, pero ramdam ko may iniisip siya, at alam kong may kinalaman iyon sa nangyari kagabi. Hindi madali ang mga pangyayaring iyon, at alam kong nagpapanggap siya na matatag pero may takot din siya.
“About yesterday,” mahina kong saad habang tumitingin siya sa akin, sinusubukang basahin ang mga salitang nakatago sa kanyang mga mata.
“No,” matipid niyang sagot, bumalik ang tingin sa mga papeles at tila gusto nang matapos agad ang usapan.
“Okay po,” sabi ko, halos umalis na dahil pakiramdam ko para akong nakikipag-usap sa isang taong binabayaran para magbigay ng sagot—sobrang tipid sa salita, malamig, at mahirap basahin ang damdamin.
Pero bago pa ako tuluyang makaalis, narinig ko ang boses niya, seryoso pero may halong pag-aalala, “I’m not mad, just be careful, okay? Call me when you’re in danger, don’t fight on your own.”
Napangiti ako sa mga salita niya. Alam kong hindi siya galit, natatakot lang siya para sa akin. Iyon ang mga simpleng bagay na nagpapatibay ng aming relasyon, kahit pa mahirap kaming mag-open up sa isa’t isa.
“I will, Ate. But don’t worry, I can protect myself,” sagot ko naman, sabay ngiti.
“Okay, basta wala ka nang uuwian pagkatapos,” seryoso niyang paalala. Alam kong hindi siya basta-basta nagsasabi ng ganun. Iyon ang tunay na pag-aalala ng isang ate sa kapatid.
Napalunok ako sa sinabi niya, dahil alam kong totoo iyon—hindi lang basta biro.
“Mananahimik na nga,” sabi ko, pilit pinipigil ang kaba sa dibdib.
Hindi siya sumagot, kaya umakyat na ako sa taas ng bahay para maligo.
Pagpasok ko sa shower, ramdam ko agad ang malamig na tubig na tumatama sa mga sugat ko. Sumakit. Ang sakit ng mga hiwa, parang sumisigaw sa bawat patak ng tubig na dumadampi sa balat. Pero kahit ganoon, kinaya ko. Gusto kong malinis, gusto kong pakalmahin kahit papaano ang katawan ko.
Nag-shower ako halos isang oras—pinilit kong alisin ang mga dumi at ang pangamba sa loob ng katawan.
Nang matapos, nagbihis ako nang maayos.
Naalala ko na wala pa pala akong outfit para sa contest next week, kaya dali-dali akong kumuha ng cellphone at nag-text sa mga kaibigan ko para sabay kaming mamili.
Naisip ko, utang ko na rin sa kanila ‘yun, kasi hindi ako nakapunta kagabi. Kailangan kong bumawi.
I put down my phone down at natawa nalang ako sa kalokohan nila. They really like talking nonsense, gosh. Sometimes, I also feel like I'm talking with a child.
---
I'm already here at the mall, earlier than I expected. Si Eliana pa lang ang nandito, nakaupo sa isang bench sa may harap ng malaking Christmas tree display sa gitna ng atrium. The lights shimmered behind her, casting a soft glow on her worried face.
As soon as she saw me, she stood up.
"What happened last night? Are you okay?" she asked immediately, her brows slightly furrowed in concern.
I gave her a small smile, trying to keep my composure. "Yes, I'm okay," I lied, brushing off the tension from last night like it never happened. "How about you? Are you okay?"
"Of course," she answered, giving me a reassuring smile, but I knew her too well to be convinced.
Still, I didn’t ask about what happened on the beach that night. Ayokong ungkatin. Ayokong mapilitan siyang magkwento kung hindi pa siya ready.
"What's going on with you and—"
"SYLVIAAAAA! I MISS YOU!"
Bago pa niya matapos ang tanong, bigla akong sinalubong ni Kinsley ng isang nakakagulat at sobrang higpit na yakap. Napaatras ako sa gulat.
"Gosh, get off me," I said while pushing her away, pero hindi ko napigilang mapangiti kahit konti. As usual, she’s full of energy and zero personal space.
"Hindi mo ba kami na-miss? Hindi mo nga kami kinita kahapon kasi busy kang makipaglandian sa may boyfriend," she said, raising a brow at me with a playful smirk. I rolled my eyes.
"Makikipaglandi na nga lang, sa may boyfriend pa," dagdag pa niya, now laughing with Cecilia who just arrived.
"So what? Can we just go?" I snapped.
"Nagbibiro lang, gagalit naman ka agad ito," sagot ni Kinsley habang umiirap.
Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at naglakad na papasok sa mall proper. My heels clicked against the polished tiles, the sound echoing as we walked past window displays of luxury brands.
The cold aircon breeze hit me as we entered, but it didn’t cool down the irritation building up inside me.
I looked around, scanning the boutique-lined halls for something interesting. My eyes landed on the clean, glossy Louis Vuitton storefront, and without thinking twice, I walked toward it.
"Treat mo ba, Syl? Ikaw nag-aya eh," sabi ni Cecilia, her eyes already sparkling with mischief and excitement.
"Buy whatever you want," I said casually, flipping my hair over my shoulder before stepping into the store.
The store smelled like expensive leather and luxury. Maaliwalas at tahimik sa loob, soft jazz playing in the background. The lighting made the bags and shoes look even more expensive than they already were.
While my friends immediately started browsing like vultures spotting prey, I walked slowly, trailing my fingers across the edge of a glass shelf.
I checked out a few jackets, pero wala talaga akong gusto.
Nothing stood out to me.
Everything looked dull, uninspired—just like how I was feeling lately.
Meanwhile, Eliana approached me, holding a paper bag.
"Did you find anything yet?"
"No, wala akong gusto," sagot ko, still staring at a shelf full of overpriced sunglasses.
"Let's try another store,"*she said, and I nodded. But then I noticed her bag.
"Wait... you already bought something?"
She nodded sheepishly.
"It's my treat, why did you buy that yourself?" I asked, a bit confused. I invited them. I should be paying.
"I don't like people buying things for me," she answered simply, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
I sighed, feeling a strange warmth in my chest. I don’t meet a lot of people like her—independent, principled. No wonder I keep gravitating toward her.
My thoughts were interrupted when I saw Cecilia and Kinsley lining up at the counter, their arms overflowing with bags and accessories. Kung maka-shopping akala mo wala nang bukas.
"I'll pay," I said, handing my black Amex card to the cashier before either of them could argue.
"Seryoso ka pala?" tanong ni Kinsley, her eyes wide with shock, but laughter in her voice.
Napatawa nalang ako habang pinaproseso ng cashier ang transaction. I glanced at the monitor and my jaw almost dropped. 1 and a half million pesos. Seriously?
"Sana dinamihan ko pa 'yung kinuha ko!" biro ni Kinsley habang inaabot ang mga paper bag na may ribbon pa. Cecilia just laughed and nudged her.
I shook my head, amused and horrified at the same time.
After we left the store, Cecilia clapped her hands together. "Miniso tayo!" she suggested with a grin, clearly shifting to her cute and affordable*mode.
"Talaga? Sasama ka, Syl?" tanong nila sabay-sabay, halatang hindi makapaniwala. May expectation talaga silang hindi ako pumupunta sa mga ganung lugar.
And honestly, they’re not wrong. I never really saw the point of stores like Miniso. Everything seemed too... childish. Plastic organizers, pastel keychains, cat-ear headphones? Not really my thing. I didn’t grow up needing things like that. I didn’t even find them cute.
But still, something about the way they looked at me made me hesitate. Para bang gusto ko ring subukan—for once—to just go along with something simple, something normal.
"Wag nalang," I said, pulling back instinctively.
"Tara na! Walang bawian!" Cecilia laughed, grabbing my hand and pulling me gently toward the escalator. Kinsley followed behind, holding all her bags like a fashion warrior ready for another round.
I sighed, but a smile tugged at the corners of my lips. I let them drag me along.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
Naglakad na kami patungo sa miniso, hindi ko nga alam bakit ako pumayag na pumunta rito pero wala namang mawawala kung mag iikot-ikot ako.
"Hala, ang cute!" saad ni Kinsley pagkapasok pa lang namin at tinuro 'yung penguin na plushie.
Kakapasok pa lang nga namin at ang dami na nilang pinagkukuha. Kulang nalang bilhin 'tong store na 'to eh.
I looked around, and it was full of plushies and other cute things, none of which I'm particularly fond of. But I kept looking, searching for something I didn't even know what it was.
I wanted to buy something for Ms. Sanchez; that's why I agreed to come here. I don't even know why I'm thinking about her right now. I just want to get her something.
I planned to buy her a plushie, a dragon one to be exact, because dragons represent her—grumpy. I expected to find a dragon plushie here, but unfortunately, there weren't any.
I kept looking and saw a plushie that perfectly represented her personality.
Ice Bear.
She's like ice bear, nonchalant and cold. Akala mo nakatira sa artantica eh.
Lumapit ako sa plushie na ice bear at nagdadalawang-isip pa kung ano ang size na bibilhin. Pero kinuha ko 'yung tamang laki lang, baka kung malaki bibilhin ko, hindi niya tanggapin.
Pumunta na ako sa counter to pay for it, since wala naman na akong bibilhin pa.
"Omg, may binili ka?" saad ni Cecilia na nasa likod ko, nakapila.
"Hindi ba obvious?" I sarcastically answer.
"Himala naman kasi na may binili ka, you're suspicious ha," dagdag pa nito.
"Ba't ba? Hindi ba pwede?" seryosong sagot ko.
"Nagbibiro lang naman, ba't ang defensive mo, sus." sagot pa nito kaya hindi ko nalang ito pinansin pa.
After finishing paying lumabas na ako at umupo para maghintay sakanila. It took them 15 minutes bago lumabas.
"Let's eat," aya ni Eliana kaya sumang-ayon kami rito.
It was already 1 p.m., and we hadn't eaten yet. We decided to go to the steak restaurant nearby.
We started walking until we arrived and immediately sat down. We sat in silence, patiently waiting for our food, when Kinsley asked me a question.
"Btw, Syl. Ano ba talagang nangyari last night? Bakit nasa bahay ka ni Ms. Sanchez?" Kinsley's tone hinted at suspicion. I knew what she was thinking; iba nanaman nasa isip nito.
"Something happened, but it's not the way you think, gosh." sagot ko rito.
"Weh? Himala naman kasi napinapasok ka sa bahay nila since Ms. Sanchez is not approachable. Not unless if you are her friends or family." dagdag pa nito.
"Maybe you forget she is a younger sister of one of her friend which is Ms. Gomez," sagot ni Eliana.
"Eliana's right, kaya lang naman ako pinapansin nun dahil bunso ako ni Ate," I added.
"Ouch, pinapansin lang dahil bunso lang ng kaibigan niya," pang-aasar pa ni Cecilia kaya inirapan ko nalang ito.
At least pinansin.
"By the way, have you heard about what happened to the Guacho family?" Eliana asked, changing the subject.
"The Guachos? Who are they?" I asked.
"The Guacho family is powerful and well-known in business. Their daughter used to study at our university, pero ngayon hindi na," she replied.
"Ha? Wala na sa University si Guacho?" gulat na tanong ni Cecilia.
"Diba Guacho is the top 1 in our University simula noon pa? But not until Sylvia came?" dagdag pa ni Kinsley at tumango naman si Eliana.
Wait, don't tell me they were the ones who attacked me?
"Why isn't she at the university anymore?" I asked.
"The university expelled her after discovering her family was involved in illegal activities. Their business went bankrupt, and most of their family members are in prison," Eliana answered.
"What? I mean, why? Aren't the Guachos a powerful family? Shouldn't it be easy for them to cover up their illegal activities?" I asked again.
"Yes, but not if the person bringing them down is even more powerful. One thing's for sure—we shouldn't underestimate whoever did this to them," she replied.
She's right, and I have a feeling that it was my Ate. You can't underestimate my Ate. She's kind and nice, but don't push her to her limits if you don't want to face hell.
"Pwede bang kumain muna tayo? Nakakatakam na 'yung pagkain na nasa harapan natin eh," sabi ni Kinsley kaya sumang-ayon na kami rito.
Kanina pa nga nakarating order namin, pero chismis pa 'yung inuna. We started eating at himala, ang tahimik nilang kumakain. Gutom 'yarn?
Halos kalahating oras din kaming kumain at lumabas na kami pagkatapos. Naghahanap kami ng dessert dahil nakakaumay din 'yung kinain namin. Habang naglilibot kami ay nagsalita si Cecilia.
"Bili tayo ilaw-ilaw," sabi nito kaya napaisip ako kung anong ilaw-ilaw ang ibig sabihin nito.
"Ano 'yun? Yung laruan ba na nailaw?" seryosong tanong ni Kinsley.
"Hindi! Yung pagkain kasi," sagot ni Cecilia.
"May edible na bang laruan na nailaw?" tanong pa ulit ni Eliana.
"Yung ice cream kasi, hindi niyo ba alam 'yon? Ilaw-ilaw nga tawag dun," sagot pa ulit ni Cecilia.
May ice cream bang ilaw-ilaw 'yung tawag? Wait, gosh. Don't say she meant llao llao?
"Do you mean "llao llao?" " I asked her at tumango ito.
"Oo, llao llao pala tawag doon, akala ko ilaw-ilaw," sabi nito kaya natawa si Kinsley ng malakas.
"Ilaw-ilaw amputa BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHHAHAHAH," tawang-tawa na saad ni Kinsley.
"Tama na 'yan, bili na tayo ilaw-ilaw," sabi naman ni Eliana na nagpipigil na rin ng tawa.
"Wow, tawang-tawa. Sorry ha? Tao lang din kasi ako, nagkakamali," saad ni Cecilia pero hindi tumigil kakatawa si Kinsley. Halos ata mawalan na ito ng hangin sa katawan.
Naglakad na kami patungo sa llao llao at bumili nga ito. After buying it, nag-ikot pa kami ulit upang maghanap ng damit and finally, I found a clothes that I wanted to wear.
Inabot din kami ng 6 pm bago makauwi. It was pretty tiring but fun. I also bought a guitar for the contest and so I can practice with it also later. Nasa byahe na kami pauwi, and I can't still also forgot the ilaw-ilaw, gosh!