41 Into the Midnight Hour

CHAPTER 13

PART ONE

Weeks had passed. Patuloy na gumagaling si Chaos. Hindi nga lang siya pwedeng gumalaw-galaw dahil sumasakit ang dibdib niya. Pero buti nalang ay maayos na ang lagay niya ngayon. Bukas ay pwede na siyang umalis ng ospital.

"Wait, so X was here?" Gulat na tanong ni Chaos.

Tinago namin kay Chaos ang pagpunta ni X dito. He's in the hospital. Ayokong dagdagan ng stress si Chaos. Kailangan kasi niyang magpagaling.

"X was here and no one bothered to tell me?!" He snapped.

Sa halip na matakot, tumawa sina Midnight kasama sina Slate at Rebel. Si Effie naman ay nagpipigil ng tawa.

Lumapit ako kay Twilight. "How did the testifying go?"

Nagthumbs up si Twilight. "The investigation about who killed Mr. Albert is still ongoing. We testified that he will never be innocent and of course, that we are not the suspects of his death. Your names are cleared."

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag. "How about X? Did you mention about X?"

"It's no use. They wouldn't believe us anyway. We need to follow X's orders for now. Then we move." Ani Twilight.

"Mukhang may plano ka." Puna ko.

Twilight nodded earnestly. "Yup and we have a suspect."

"Who?"

"Seven Velasquez." She answered.

"Anong plano naman ang gagawin mo? We want to help." Sambit ko.

"Senior's ball is next week. Of course, Seven will be there. We will plan to bait him to see if he's truly X or not." Twilight explained.

She continued, "I don't want to explain any details for now. Basta, we have a suspect and it's Seven."

Tumango ako. "Iyan din ang iniisip namin."

"We're still doing some investigation. To see any possible suspect on who is X. Hindi pwedeng si Seven lang ang paghinalaan natin. We need to dig deeper." Twilight crossed her arms.

"May date na ba kayo sa senior's ball?" Biglang tanong ni Slate.

Halos lahat ay sumagot ng "wala".

Senior's ball, huh? Iyan ang pinakainaabangan ng mga estudyante.

Sino naman ang magiging date ko doon?

I unconsciously looked at Chaos who's irritated as Midnight is teasingly feeding him cake.

Si Chaos? Siya kaya magiging date ko?

• • •

I'm on my way to the cafeteria with Effie and Twilight. Siyempre, we still need to go to school. Chaos's grandmother is with him guarding him from time to time.

Bukas naman ay pwede na siyang lumabas ng ospital. Ilang linggo rin ang tinagal niya sa ospital.

"Friday!"

Napatigil kami sa paglalakad nang may tumawag sa pangalan ko.

It was Seven.

Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak sa akin ni Effie habang tumatakbo palapit sa akin si Seven.

"Seven.." I called.

He was catching his breath when he stopped in front of me. "Ayos ka lang ba?" I asked.

Tumango ito, still catching his breath. "I-I just want to ask you something."

"Ano?" He probably doesn't know that we are suspecting him to be X.

Nang maayos na ang paghinga niya, he stood up straight and faced me. "C-Can you be my d-date for the senior's ball next week?"

I stilled. "Ha? Uhm....ano..."

Seven has this glint on his eyes. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung ano ang isasagot. From the looks on his eyes, he looked hopeful. Hopeful that I'll say yes, maybe?

"Will you say yes?" Seven asked, hoping.

Nagiwas ako ng tingin. I don't know what I'll say. Even Effie and Twilight is quiet.

"Um, I d-don't know..."

Seven's shoulders fell down. "No?"

I breathed heavily. "Give me some time to think." I winced. "Binigla mo ako eh."

Napakamot sa batok si Seven. "I'm sorry. Nang malaman kong may senior's ball tayo, ikaw agad ang pumasok sa isip ko."

"Bakit ba kasi ako?" I asked.

Seven shrugged. "I like you. I knew that I liked you since I first met you."

Napatanga ako. Anong isasagot ko? Ang awkward! Katulad nalang nang nagconfess si Chaos sa akin.

Natigilan lang ako nang hinawakan ni Effie ang braso ko. "Hey, let's go? Gutom na ako." She said.

"Oh, sure!" Tumingin ako kay Seven. "I'll give it some thought." I smiled.

Tumango si Seven at may binigay na papel. "Just call me. That's my number."

Nang makalayo kay Seven, Twilight softly squealed. "Ang haba ng hair mo, ah! Una si Chaos, ngayon si Seven naman." She joked.

Umingos ako. "It's not like that, okay? Chaos is my friend. While Seven...I don't even know. Hindi ba pinaghihinalaan natin siya bilang si X?"

With what I said, Twilight's eyes glinted. I looked at her questioningly. "Twilight, what are you thinking? Alam ko ang mga ganiyang mukha mo. You are thinking something."

Twilight smirked. "I have a plan."

"What?"

"Say yes to Seven's proposal. Kung ikaw ang magiging kadate niya, you can find something about his identity. Be a spy for our team!" She exclaimed.

"Pero..."

"Why? You're thinking of Chaos?"

"What? No! Hindi kaya." I defended kahit ang totoo, I was thinking of Chaos.

I somehow expect that Chaos will be my date for the senior's ball.

Effie just shrugged. "Okay, sabi mo eh."

Twilight spoke, "so, the plan is all set? You have to lure him outside the ball then we trap him. Force him to reveal his true identity."

Kinuha ni Twilight ang phone ko. "Call him. Tell him to meet you at the back of the school."

Huminga lang ako nang malalim at sumunod kay Twilight. Wala namang masama sa plano niya.

Sa halip na tawagin, I texted him.

"Let's meet at the back of the school after lunch. I have my answer." I pressed send.

Saktong pagkasend ko ng message, tumunog ang phone ko. Matix is calling.

Agad ko iyon sinagot. "Matix?" I called.

"Friday! Goodnthing you picked up. Nasa ospital ako ngayon at binabantayan ang gagong Chaos na 'to. Lumabas saglit ang lola ni Chaos so I had to guard him."

"And?" Friday asked.

"Chaos had a seizure. His condition just got worst."

Napatayo ako. "Ano?! A-Ayos na ba siya ngayon? Pupunta na kami diyan!"

"Faster, Friday." Tanging sagot ni Matix at pinatay ang tawag.

"Anong nangyayari?" Kinakabahang tanong ni Effie.

"Chaos had a seizure. Malala daw ang kalagayan niya." I said with almost tears forming in my eyes.

Walang ibang nasa isip ko kung hindi si Chaos, thinking of his safety.

• • •

Nang makarating sa ospital, agad kong tinawagan si Matix. "Matix, nandito na kami. Nasaan kayo? Bakit wala sa kwarto si Chaos?" I asked. Kasama ko pa rin si Effie at Twilight.

"Shit, nandito na kayo? Wait lang!" Matix exclaimed and I heard different cuss in the other line.

"Matix! Nasaan kayo?!" Galit na sambit ko. I just want to see if Chaos is okay. Bakit wala sila dito?

"I'll call the nurse." Ani Twilight at akmang lalabas ng kwarto nang humahangos na pumasok sa loob si Matix.

Tagaktak ang pawis nito at pawang hinihingal. "Matix! Nasaan ba si Chaos?" Effie asked.

Matix showed us his palm, signalling us to wait. "Nasaan si Chaos?" I asked.

Nang mahabol na nito ang hininga, Matix cleared his throat. "Follow me."

Sinundan namin siya at pumasok sa elevator. He pressed the rooftop button. "Teka, bakit tayo papunta ng rooftop? Matix! Seryoso kasi. Anong nangyayari?"

"Stop asking. He'll kill me." He murmured but I still can hear him.

When we reached the rooftop, lumabas kami ng elevator at sinalubong ng isang tarpaulin. It says "Will You Be My Date?" There are red petals everywhere at mga balloons.

Nasa likod at Agati Siblings na may hawak na tig-dalawang cake. Midnight was holding letters S and A. Slate was holding two Ys while Rebel was holding an E and S.

It all spell out, "SAY YES."

Si Chaos ay naglakad papunta sa harap ko, holding a bouqet of flowers. Hindi ko nga siya napansin dahil abala ako sa paghanga sa kapaligiran.

"Chaos! Bakit tumatayo ka? Gusto mo bang mabinat? Ayos na ba ang lagay mo? Ang dibdib mo, sumasakit pa ba?" I asked worriedly.

Napangiwi si Chaos. "I know you are worried but, can you answer my question first? Can you be my senior's ball date? I know you don't like me and all but I really want you to be my date. I like you and.."

I hugged him. Hindi ko na siya pinatapos dahil niyakap ko siya at bumulong. "You're in a hospital. Dalat nagpapahinga ka."

Natatawang bumaklas siya sa yakap. "I just want to ask you early. So? Will you be my date at the senior's ball?"

I smiled. Without hesitation, sasagot sana ako ng "yes" nang tumunog ang phone ko.

Seven is calling.

I gasped. Right! Naalala ko ang plano namin nila Twilight at Effie. I have to say yes to Seven's proposal.

Nagiwas ako ng tingin nang matamang nakatingin sa akin si Chaos at nagtatanong ang mukha.

"Why aren't you answering the call?" He asked.

Patuloy akong umiiwas ng tingin. "Uhm.." I looked at Effie and Twilight. They were shrugging their shoulders. It means, they also don't know what to do.

Ibig sabihin, nasa akin ang desisyon. I can ruin the plan by saying yes to Chaos and the chance of meeting X will be gone or I can decline and leave to accept Seven's proposal.

Anong gagawin ko?

Patuloy na nagriring ang phone ko.

"Friday?" Chaos called.

Dahan-dahan akong humakbang palayo. "Friday..." Chaos uttered.

Umiling ako. "I-I'm sorry, Chaos." Sambit ko.

Pain seared through Chaos's face. He looked hopeless with sad glints in his eyes. "Oh." was all he could say.

I glanced at Effie and Twilight. Mabilis akong tumakbo papunta ng elevator kasama sina Effie at Twilight at umalis.

Before the elevators closed, I catched a glimpse of Chaos. He has tears in his left eye while staring at me. Hanggang sa magsara ang elevator, siya ang iniisip ko.

Effie was patting my shoulder and kept telling me that I did the right thing.

But is it really the right thing to do?

Hurting the person you like?

I stilled.

The person I like, huh?

Yes, I like Chaos...

CHAOS POV

"You okay, bud?" Matix asked.

Nakatulala ako sa kawalan. Damn, this hurts more than Friday rejecting my confession weeks ago.

Matix was here so does the weird siblings. Even Effie and Twilight. Friday really had the guts to reject me the second time even when all of our friends are here.

Umiling ako. "No. I'm not okay." I wiped my tears.

"Friday really doesn't like me, huh? I wonder why I keep trying?" My voice broked.

"Dude, don't cry. You gay?" Rebel asked.

I just looked at Rebel madly.

"You got it hard for her, huh?" Midnight spoke.

"What do you do now?" Slate asked.

I looked at the elevator. "I don't know. I just got rejected twice. I can't even get at mad at her. Maybe something's wrong with me. Maybe he hates me because I'm not handsome? Or I'm not rich like her. Or maybe because I only bring disasters." My tears are forming again.

Matix tsked. "I'm sure she likes you. Alam mo bang sobra ang pagaalala niya sayo nang sabihin kong nagkaseizure ka?" Matix laughed. "It was funny."

"I don't know. She acts like she likes me but says the different."

"Titigil ka na?"

My face hardened. "No way! I will find out where she's headed. I will find out who her date at the ball is and I will take her back."

PART TWO SOON!