MUTCS 26: Fraizer

I closed my eyes hoping that I could sleep in peace kaso mukhang malabo with the noice that's happening in the background? I think not.

"Hey dude! Hintayin mo 'ko. Asan ba kayo?" Tanong nang naglalarong Lanz sa tabi ko.

"Gago, back-up niyo 'ko."

"Liam, hintayyyyyy."

"HOY PASAKAY!"

Ang gatong pa nung tatlo. Napahawak na lang ako sa tulay ng ilong ko at minasahe yun. Wala pa akong maayos na tulog simula kagabi.

I almost slipped my tongue. I was not in the right mind. Tangina, Fraizer Hanz. Get a grip of yourself. But me, casually slouching on the couch doesn't do me any good.

"Frei, you okay?" Alalang tanong sakin ni Zakira nung pagkatayo ko.

"Yeah." I coldly answered and went outside of the company to get some fresh air. If you're asking me kung anong meron, sinama lang naman ako ng parents ko sa 'company meeting' nila when in fact it's just my parents and their friends talking.

Habang kaming mga anak ay nandito sa labas naghihintay para sa kanila. We can go out but not too far from them. It's dangerous, they said. I shook my head removing those thoughts.

While I was silently walking out of the company, may nahahip naman ang mata kong hindi ko dapat nahagip. It was a girl talking to CEO Alfred Ilion Montegrial. They are making quite the ruckus.

Sa paglapit kong iyon ay nahagip ko nang mas maayos ang mukha nung babae. This crazy wench. Why is she here? "Michelle?!" I said out loud and holy shit, it is her.

Sa paglingon niyang iyon ay mas lalo akong lumapit sa pwesto nila. "What are you doing here?" I asked her confusingly pero inirapan lang ako. Wow.

My brows furrowed when she suddenly talked once again. "Uh, kuya? Ano po yung sinasabi niyo?" My eyes widened with what I have heard. Did she just call the CEO kuya? Is she dumb? At bakit ba 'to nandito? Mismo yung guard nagulat sa sinabi niya.

We then heard him laugh, "Sorry, sorry. I just can't help but laugh. That was a good one." He tried calming himself at doon na ako sumingit. "Good afternoon, Sir Montegrial. I'm sorry for the rudeness of this girl—"

"This girl? Rudeness?" Ulit nito sa tabi ko na pinisil ko ang kamay signalling her to shut the fuck up. "Aray." She said softly making me guilty.

"No, it's fine. Fraizer, right? The first born son of Harris and Freya Zackermore?" He asked me making me nod. Shit, kapag nakarating 'to kay mama, may sapok ako dun.

"Yes, sir." I straight to the point answered.

He hummed to my answer and looked at Michelle once again. "I'm sorry, Michelle. Pero I don't know anyone with the name Mitch Cruz." Sabi nito dito na tunay na ikinahulog ng balikat niya sa balitang narinig.

"Sabi sayo bata, eh." Singit pa ni guard na nasa gilid naman. "Oh alis na." Taboy pa dito nung guard na mas lalo niyang ikinalungkot.

"Hi, Michelle. If you need anything just call me, okay? Here's my business card." The CEO said before walking away towards his luxurious car.

Pagkaalis nito ay naramdam ko din ang pilit na pagkawala ni Michelle sa kamay ko. "Saan ka pupunta?" I asked her.

Bumuntong hinginga ito at hindi na tumingin pa sakin. "Edi saan pa? Uuwi na." She answered without an ounce of liveliness.

Pinakawalan naman niya ito at sinundan ng tingin habang dahan-dahang papalayo sa kaniya. He knows for a fact that he doesn't wanna go back inside that boring shit and mas lalong alam niya sa sarili niya na he wants to spend time with Michelle.

He groaned. It was frustrating him so much to the point where he took Michelle's right hand and pulled her away. Shock was evident on her face. "Saan mo 'ko dadalhin? Ba't mo ba ako kinakaladkad?" Maktol ng babae na hindi naman niya pinansin.

Until his pace got slower and slower and stopped. "Wala lang, trip ko lang." Fraizer shrugged at her making her forehead crease in so much confusion.

I smiled. "Tara." Anyaya ko sa kaniya habang nakangiti.

"Ha? Saan?"

"Kahit saan." I bluntly told her. "Ano? Tara?" Yaya ko ulit dito na ikinatango na lamang niya. She doesn't have any choice, does she? I giggled at my own thought.

"So," I started off. "Bakit ka nandun? Trip mo lang?" I jokingly asked her that caused her to groan at me.

"Of course not." Medyo may pagkagalit niyang sabi sakin. "Di ka naman galit?" Pangaasar ko dito na hindi na lang niya pinansin.

Kay lawak ng ngiti ko ngayon. Gosh. I was just thinking about on what if we were to be on a date and damn, kasama ko na siya. Hindi ko alam kung napapansin niya pero I'm still holding onto her hand. It's warm. I like it.

"Kumain ka na ba?" I didn't wait for her to answer at kinaladkad na lang sa kung saan. "Don't worry, my treat."

Para-paraan na lang yan kung paano mo siya makakasama. Today's weather had a perfect timing. It's cloudy yet sunny. Tamang panahon para mamasyal.

I took her into one of my favorite restaurants. It was the one near the company. Yung may spot sa labas. It was a good place. Pati pagkain dun masarap, I reccommend it actually.

I didn't even bother to take a glance on the menu. I'll be probably getting the usual. As she placed down the menu in front of us, she gave me a very confused look. "Wala akong pera." Ang kaagad niyang bungad sakin na ikinatawa ko.

I don't know, it's just way too cute for me. "And so?" I retorded at her making her frown more. It's cute pero attitude, hay. "I told you before, didn't I?" I crossed my arms over my chest and continued what I was saying, "It's my treat."

She groaned once again and it shocked me to hear what she had said later on, "Estás molesto y al mismo tiempo, raro." You're annoying and at the same time, weird.

Napaayos naman ako ng upo at tinaasan siya ng kilay. "You know how to speak Spanish?" Cause boy, I do. And naintindihan ko yung sinabi niya kanina lang tss. Annoying pala ha. Sa gwapo kong 'to? Mabubuiset ka? How dare this girl say that to me. I'm hurt.

"Ewan." Saad niya at nagkibit balikat.

"Ewan? Pero sinalita mo lang kanina, estupido." Stupid. Nanlaki naman yung mata niya sa sinabi ko. Hah.

"Hoy, hindi ako tanga, nanintidahan ko yung huli mong sinabi." Bigla niyang sabi sakin habang nanlalaki ang mata.

I smirked. "So, naiintindahan mo nga? Wow." Pero paano naman 'to nakakaintindi ng fucking Spanish? Self taught? That would be hard, not unless may kilala siyang nag-e-espanyol. "And I never said that you can't understand Spanish. I just called you stupid, stupid." I said once again and smirked triumphantly.

My win, her lose and it's cute. Dumating na yung waitress para kunin yung order namin. While waiting for the food, instead of using my phone, I talked to her.

"Eh bakit ka nga nasa kompanya kanina?" Kulit kong tanong dito na mukhang ilang minuto na lang ay sasabog na sa sobrang inis.

Kaso sa bawat tanong kong iyon ay ang tanging sinasagot lamang niya ay, "Basta."

I pouted at her answer. "Basta ka nang basta. Paanong hindi kita kukulitin, ayaw mong sabihin? You mentioned your mom before, so bakit? Does your mom worked there?" I saw her how she flinched at drank the juice in front of us.

"I don't know." Ang tanging naging sagot nito sakin.

I hummed and placed my chin on my right hand. "You don't know?" I repeated what she said and nodded. "What's her name? I can look it up for you."

She cocked an eyebrow at me and asked, "Kaya mong gawin yun?" Instead of giving her a clear answer, I shrugged and said, "Basta."

Michelle snorted at how I gave the answer but before she can even say her mom's name, our orders had already arrived.

After placing the foods on our table, we didn't even bother to hesitate on eating it. After taking two bites, I looked up to see her and damn, was she usually like this? Glowing like she's the only human being in the world, fucking bull. (I'm whipped fuck.)

Continuing our discussion, "Name?"

"You're still on that?" Ah, she's irritated. "It's Mitch Leian Cruz." But she still answered my question. This girl psh.

"Mitch Leian Cruz?" I asked once again. "Are you sure about your mom's name?"

She was shocked at my question, even I was shocked. "I've been with my mom ever since she gave birth to me, duh." Kaya nga, sabi ko nga.

But Mitch Leian rings a bell. Kaso her last name isn't Cruz, its—

Three loud gunshots suddenly fired at our direction. Everyone was panicking, even us. "What the fuck?!" I couldn't help but to curse.

What in the fuck is happening? Everyone from the outside, ran back to the first floor and some went in to stay cover.

I took Michelle's hand to hide but I was too late to that. A bullet suddenly made a hole onto her back. "Michelle!" I called her name out loud. No. Fucking no!

She stumbled on her own two feet, making ne carry her on a bridal style. Putting her down inside the restaurant, I didn't know what to do. I was frustrated, confused, angered and panicking.

"Ouch." The groaning Michelle said. "Baby, don't move. Mas lalo ka lang masasaktan." I told her.

I can't bring her outside, baka umatake pa sila lalo but it would also be dangerous if we would stay here. She would be in much more critical situation if we won't bring her to the hospital immediately. Hindi ko din dala yung sasakyan ko, fuck.

What's the use of having a fucking BMW if I can't save a person? Putangina. "Hold on, Michelle." I adviced.

I tried calling for help pero no one was responding. I called for 911 pero baka matagalan pa daw sila nang kaunti. They told us to wait and to stay calmed as much as possible.

I glanced at Michelle once again and fuck, she's bleeding much more worse than before. Fuck it. "Does anyone know how to perform first aid?" I asked them pero they didn't respond. Shit. Shit.

May dumating naman saming staff with a medkit in hand. "Hi, I'm Isabella and I'm a first aider. Do you mind?" She asked me and showed an ID that proves that she is a first aider and I immediately nodded. She looked at Michelle who was losing consciousness any moment now. Isabella asked for permission once again and Michelle nodded as an answer.

Letting aside Isabella and Michelle. An ambulance came rushing to our place after a few minutes along with some police. They took me and Michelle into the nearest hospital leaving the case scene behind.

As soon as we set foot on the hospital they rushed her into the emergency room. And there, I was all left alone outside waiting for her. Fuck. This is all my fault if I haven't took her out and I stopped being playful and selfish this might gotten into a different route. Fuck.

After breaking down, I tried calming for a few seconds and decided that I need to call someone from her family. But damn it, her phone is locked. I don't know the password.

I tried thinking of another way then I remembered my brother. I called him to give me Aljon's number and to my luck he was with him.

"Kuya, yeah, we're coming. Malapit lang kami."

"Ansabe ng kuya mo? You're scaring me, Eli." Ang rinig kong tinig ni Aljon mula sa kabilang linya.

"Just come, faster." I said and ended the call.

Waiting for them for a few more minutes felt like years to me. Hanggang sa lumabas yung doctor na nagpatayo kaagad sakin. "Doc, how's the patient? What happened?" Taranta kong tanong dito na biglang dating nung dalawa na hingal na hingal.

"Kuya Fraizer, asan si ate?" Aljon asked me looking mortified. He then looked at the doctor beside me and gave back the glance. "Can I know who's the family member—"

"Ako po. I'm her little brother. Please, tell us, how's her condition?" Sunod-sunod nitong sabi na halatang natataranta.

The doctor sighed giving us a much more heavier atmosphere but smiled later on. "The operation was a success. Natanggal namin yung bala sa katawan niya, if you haven't brought her here immediately, her condition might get critical or worse, the poison might have already spread." The doctor explained to us.

Madami pa itong sinabi at binilin hanggang sa nalaman na lang namin na inilipat na daw ito sa ibang kwarto and then, Monday came.

I visited her, no, binabantayan ko siya nang bigla kong mahalata na binuksan na niya yung mata niya. I went to her side as quick as possible. "M-Michelle?" I called out for her and then she looked at me.

Bigla din namang nagbukas ang pinto kung asaan si Aljon at ang mga kaibigan niya para dalawin si Michelle. "She's awake." Ang balita ko kaagad sa kapatid na tinakbo ang ate niya para yakapin ito who soon after cried on her sister's arms.

A little time after ay dumating na din ang isang babae who looked like in her late 30's. It was her mom. She came in crying saying sorry and how she missed her so much.

Sumapit naman bigla ang gabi kung saan naguusap ang mag-ina, I was about to go out to get some fresh air pero bigla akong tinawag ni Tita Mitch who was beside Michelle.

"Shelle, 'nak." She called her attention twisting her neck at us. "Si Fraizer nga pala, siya yung nagligtas sayo." Tita Mitch informed her with a very warm smile. "Hindi pa yan nauwi ng bahay nila simula nung na-ospital ka." Ang tuloy niya pang saad sa kaniyang anak na nakahiga.

Bigla namang tumunog ang cellphone ng ina at nagpaumanhin na bantayan ko muna si Michelle at kakausapin niyanlang yung tumatawag.

An awkward silence surrounded the whole room not until Michelle decided to break it. "Bakit ka nakatayo?" She asked me. Tapping the chair beside her. "Upo ka."

I did what she said and sat beside her. Now this is weird. Ako yung dahilan kung bakit siya nasa ospital ngayon and her mom is thanking me. Kung nalaman niya lang ang totoong nangyari, baka hindi na niya ako palapitan dito or worse—

"Thanks." Bigla niyang sabi sakin na nagpaangat sa mukha ko.

"Ha?" Hindi ko makapaniwalang tugon. "Why are you thanking me? Shouldn't you be slapping me? It's my fault, Michelle. If it wasn't with my boldness edi sana—!" I lashed out her pero ngiti lamang ang ginanti nito sakin. Bakit?

"No one's at fault here, Frei. We were just unfortunate that time and I'm thanking you kasi inalagaan mo ko for 3 days. Thank you. Siguro dedo na ako kun—"

"Hey, don't say that." I stopped her making her giggle like a little kid. God knows how much I missed hearing those giggles and smiles of her.

"Alin? Yung tinawag kita sa nickname mong Frei or yung dedo?"

"That. The latter." I reacted on her question. Silence once again fell on us after that. Talks aren't my thing. I was always the master at quickly ending conversations but now, I hate it. Ugh. Pero, "I still don't like it when you call me Frei." I told her.

"Okay. Sorry." Ang sabi nito habang nakangiti parin. And there is it, the silence.

"'Cause I prefer you calling me babe." Shet. Cheesy, corny. Ugh. Panira yang salitaan mo Fraizer. Paano ba kasi lumandi? Kingina. "Sorry. Don't mind tha—Ugh. Fuck. Corny."

"Yeah." She agreed. Of course she'll agree, tunay naman kasi. Annoying. "Ngayon na nga lang ulit maguusap, ganyan pa bungad mo sakin." Litanya pa nito habang nailing-iling.

"But I actually don't mind if you'd call me that." I defensed. I'd love to hear you call me that. Jokes on you. As if sasabihin ko sa kaniya yun. Jokes on me rather pft.

Iniling-iling naman nito ang ulo habang nandidiri sa sinabi ko. How can she be so disgusted when in fact she should be honoured? Hay.

I looked at her face who was looking at her fingers that she's currently playing with. God. How I much I miss her. I was stressed and frustrated for two damn nights. "I," Huffing it all off. "I was worried about you." Then continuing it.

"You were?" Ang hindi niya makapaniwalang tanong sakin.

Tumango naman ako sa kaniya. "Yeah." And now it was my time to look down at my fingers. "I mean, you were sleeping for 53 hours now and I was panicking, overthinking of the things that could hap—" Bigla naman akong napatigil nung hinawakan niya yung kamay ko.

"Gising na ako. Malakas ako, Fraizer. And stop blaming yourself for what happened. It's okay. Despite the fact that I'm still thinking twice kung tunay ka nga ba talagang nagaalala."

"It's the truth, stupid."

"Weh? Di mo sure." Gatong pa muli nito.

"Ugh. I even sacrificed my exams just for you." I defended, my brows furrowing at our little arguement.

"Right. Monday ngayon. Sucks on us then. Nagaral pa naman tayo." She said and laughed. "Paano yan? Dapat dinely ko muna pagrereview, grabe." Sabi pa nito at tumawa muli.

Those laughs. Damn. Tatlong araw ko pa lang hindi nakikita at naririnig yun, namiss ko na agad. What more sa holidays? Vacations? I'll probably miss it, alot. And most importantly, "I missed you." I said leaning in to kiss her on her lips.