No Escape Series #2: No Resolve

Chapter 03: The Statement

THE STATEMENT

“Finally!” they all shouted when they finished their project. They already have the clips of the videos they shot; Kristen and Gerald will arrange and edit them. “Kami na ang bahala, huwag kayong mag-alala; just give us our time to edit this.” Theyʼre not tired because, for the last time, they have done it properly and flawlessly.

Thatʼs why, even with that, they still have to celebrate that they finished the shoot. They went to the nearest restaurant to eat. “Hmm! Favorite ko ʼto! Lalo na kapag nandito tayo sa Korean restaurant!” sabi ni Nikki nang makapasok sila sa loob.

They sat in the empty seats; thatʼs fit for them, so the space and the table are just right and all serve. “Hindi ako sure kung okay na ba ʼyong huling part na kinuhanan natin. Baka kasi mabitin ang manonood lalo na kapag i-prinesenta na natin iyon,” sabi ni Terrence. “Wala bang maidadagdag doon, Rhian? Sa palagay ko kasi, dapat mayroon ding spoiler.”

Jennifer rolled her eyes saka hinampas ang binata. “Eh marunong ka pa sa scriptwriter!” Rhian immediately shook her head and thought that Terrence might be right too. She should have put in at least a minute of spoilers about how the friends died and didnʼt survive inside the building.

The only thing that was shown was the gun, the knife, and the whole area full of blood, which means they didnʼt spread red liquid fake blood on the road itself kasi baka mapagalitan sila. The only way to do that is to lay a green cloth for the background on the floor, at doon nila isinaboy ang fake blood. You know, they arenʼt yet professional film makers, so whatever they can think of, go lang nang go.

“Yeah, makuntento na lang tayo sa kung ano ang na-shoot natin, at least may maipapasa na natin iyon bukas,” sabi ni Lance, pero agad siyang natigilan nang maalala niyang mayroon na silang pasok bukas. “Wait, I just remembered.” He looked at Gerald and Kristen. “Are you sure you can edit the whole clip bago matapos itong araw na ito? Doesnʼt that seem complicated?” pagtataka niya.

Even Vernon and the others wondered how they were going to edit it so quickly. “Donʼt worry, our professor said, we donʼt need professional work; at least na mayroon lang tayong maipasa na project mai-presenta sa kanila,” sabi ni Kristen. “Tulad ng sinabi ni Gerald, just give us a time para makapagfocus kami sa editings. Kayang-kaya na namin iyon, huwag kayong mag-alala.”

“Hmm, yeah, sure. May mga na-ambag naman na kami, so hindi na namin kayo talaga aabalahin,” sabi ni Jennifer na naka-smirk.

“Wow, huh?” All of them are cooking what they ordered in hotpot: samgyeopsal, jajangmyeon, kimchi, bibimbap, tteokbokki, bulgogi, and other Korean foods spread out on their long table. When they finished cooking them, they immediately ate as if the friends were very hungry and hadn't eaten for a day.

“Bihira lang tayong magsama-sama, kaya naman, kahit sa sandaling panahon, ganito tayo ka-close, kahit ang iba sa atin ay... hindi pa rin komportable sa isaʼt-isa,” sabi ni Nikki. “What if, after our graduation, letʼs celebrate at your house, Jenn?”

“Hmm, sige, sige,” tugon ni Jennifer na sumasang-ayon sa mga ito na after graduation nila this year, magiging ganito pa rin silang magkakaibigan.

It all started when they were grouped into groups. Even if they have friends from other sections or classmates who are in other groups, for them, they are more perfect than others; hindi nila alam kung bakit, but they are happy when they get together in the same place, especially when they vibe with each other.

Aside from Vernon, who is a quiet man, he and Rhian arenʼt far apart because they are both foreigners in the circle of this group, and the rest of them are pure Filipinos. Unexpectedly, Vernon and Rhian had a chance to get to know each other, especially since they were placed far from each other in the seating arrangement in their room, and besides, pareho silang introvert.