Totally Screwed

Rion's POV

"Y-You're bleeding!"

Nagising ako sa sigaw ni Shamari, minulat ko ang mata ko at nasilaw sa sikat ng araw. Nakita ko ang kapatid ko na nasa malapit sa bintana at nakapameywang.

"Get out, Rhia!" I commanded. Pinatong ko ang braso ko sa mga mata ko.

"A-Anong nangyari sa'yo?! That's a gun wound!"

Naiinis akong bumangon at nagdiretso sa banyo. Ni-lock ko ang pinto para hindi siya sumunod sa'kin. At dahil sa ginawa ko, kumirot ang sugat ko sa balikat. Bullsh*t!

Dahan-dahan kong inalis ang gasa na punong-puno ng dugo at tinapon sa bin. I groaned in pain. Double sh*t!

"Kuya! Buksan mo 'tong pinto! I'll call Lolo kapag hindi mo ginawa."

I sighed in frustration. Shamari's always calm but not in a situation like this. She could get hysterical like a woman in labor. Mabilis kong nilinis ang sugat ko at nilagyan ng panibagong bandage. Patamad kong binuksan ang pinto ng banyo.

The last thing I want is to let Don Marionello know that I've been shot.

"Don't breathe a single word to Lolo about this, sister or you'll be very sorry."

"Tinatakot mo ba 'ko?"

"Natatakot ka ba?"

"Hindi." She raised her chin in emphasis. Napasulyap na naman siya sa balikat ko at bumalik ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya.

We may not have a normal relationship as siblings but I know she cares for me. At ganon din naman ako sa kanya. Pero hindi ko kailangan ng pangungulit niya ngayon. Not when I want to kill Vaughn for this. And not when I have a serious trouble to deal with Dollar...

"Hindi ko sasabihin kahit kanino. Just tell me what happened."

"Obviously, I've been shot."

"By whom? At bakit?"

Hindi ako sumagot. I clenched my teeth when I remembered last last night. I was on my way to the party when Vaughn got on my way. Humarang ang kotse niya sa daraanan ko at naghamon ng away. Sinabi niya sa'kin na kung sino ang mananalo, siya ang magiging escort ni Dollar.

That bastard!

Wala sana 'kong balak na patulan siya pero nasugod na niya agad ako. At hindi ako duwag para hindi gumanti kapag kinakanti. We fought for an hour.

But Vaughn is always Vaughn. A damn good cheater! Bago ko pa siya masuntok, binaril na agad niya 'ko. Muntikan na 'kong mawalan ng malay, but years of being involved in many fights enable me to continue knocking the hell out of him.

Yes, he had the balls to shoot me but I'm not the one lying unconscious in the hospital right now.

I was bleeding profusely but I really tried to make it to the party. Pero ala-una y medya na 'ko nakadating sa school. And Dollar's gone.

But of course, sino ba naman ang maghihintay mula alas-otso ng gabi hanggang madaling araw? I'm such a bastard! Literally and figuratively.

Gusto ko siyang tawagan o i-text. Pero hindi ko gagawin iyon. I have to face her personally.

"I'm asking you why, kuya. At sinong gumawa niyan?"

"Don't ask, Rhia. I'm not going to tell you."

She sighed and crossed her arms as if she resigned.

"Alam mo bang limang oras na naghintay si Dollar sa 'yo? She was alone in the dark, freezing herself to death and with mosquitoes and crickets as her company."

I silently cursed. Yeah, I'm such a complete bastard! Pero hindi lang sarili ko ang sisisihin ko. Pagbabayarin ko ulit si Vaughn kapag lumabas siya sa hospital.

"Get out, Rhia."

"Okay." sabi niya pero tumigil sa pintuan. " Ngayon tumitibay ang hinala ko na may ginagawa kang kalokohan, kuya. This is not the first time I saw you bleeding. Akala mo ba hindi ko alam na kaya ka minsan hindi umuuwi ay dahil may mga pasa at sugat kang tinatago? Madalas wala sa bansa si Lolo kaya hindi niya siguro napapansin. But spare me. I'm going to learn all about your secrets, and that will be soon." and she left.

Damn! Hindi lang si Dollar ang dapat kong paglihiman tungkol sa grupo. Now, there is Shamari. And thinking about Dollar....I really have to make amends. I'm screwed. Totally!

Inayos ko ang bedsheet at pumasok na ulit sa banyo...