A Rose Hidden in The Thorns.

Chapter 6: who are you?

Me: got home.

Layvance: that's good to hear. Take a rest, napagod ata kita.

Napairip na lang ako sa hangin dahil tila may ibang meaning ang mesahe niya.

I just got home from the restaurant. It's only 12:40 pero nakatunganga lang ako rito sa sofa.

Moments like this makes me realize my life is dull as fuck. I have nothing to do besides studying. I have no friends, no social media accounts, no one to talk to. Ayoko rin namang kausapin si Layvance. Wala namang reason, ayoko lang talaga.

Mom and Dad aren't home. May pinuntahan silang binyag kaya mag-isa lang ako rito sa bahay maliban sa mga kasambahay.

I eventually got bored and decided to have a walk. I took summer with me, our dog. I was walking while listening to music in my ear pods. When I saw a crowd across the street.

Crowd? Not so sure. More like teenagers gathering. But they somehow look oddly familiar... BOOM!

"Aidan?!"

I panicked. He has blood in his polo uniform. I can't confirm who's that is but I can't risk it. I impulsively run to his direction. Fuck pedestrian lane, my brother's bleeding.

Some people panic by the way I crossed the road, meron pang nagtilian kaya nakuha non ang attention nang mga kasama ni Aidan. Nakita ko pa kung paano siya kinalabit nang katabing lalaki. Pero bago pa siya makalingon ay nakalapit na 'ko.

"H-hey, bakit m-may dugo ka?!" I asked panicking.

Halatang natigilan siya at ang mga kasam sa pagdating ko't bahagya pang lumalaki ang mga mata.

"Hey! Answer me! May masakit ba sayo?! Fuck! I'm calling an ambulance!" I was about to take my phone when I heard people screaming.

"Habulin nyo!"

"Mga putang ina!"

"Mga duwag!"

"Hala, takbo! Last nyo na yan!"

When I glanced on our left I saw another bunch of High schoolers running to our direction. They even have a baseball bat, woods, and metals.

Hindi ako tanga para hindi ma realize ang nangyayare, kaya... "Takbo!" Pakikisigaw ko kasama ang mga kasamahan ni Aidan.

I was holding his hands the whole running time. Halatang pagod na siya't hinihingal. Pinapatay naman ako nang pag-aalala, dahil alam kong hindi na sila tatagal.

Pero putang ina. Hindi ko naman kaya patumbahin lahat nang to!

"Sa era de subdivision tayo! We have guards there!" Pasigaw kong pagtukoy sa subdivision na tinitirhan namin ngayon na pagmamayari rin ni Daddy.

Mukang maayos naman ang pagkakarinig nang mga kasama ko at kanya-kanya sila nang pagtango.

We were close to the subdivision gate when someone held my hand.

Lawrence.

He's with other two friends na kasalimuha ko nong first day ko. My eyes widden when I saw one of them stabbed. He's already having trouble running dahil dumadaloy na ang dugo galing sa tagiliran niya.

"Putang ina! May sugat yung kasama mo!" Pagkausap ko kay Lawrence.

Napatingin rin siya sa kasama niya't mahinang tumawa. "Wag kang mag-alala. Masamang damo yan, hindi niya ikamamatay yan."

"Tanga! Dugoan na nga! Shit! Are you ok?!" Tanong ko sa lalaking may green ang buhok.

Napatingin rin siya sakin bago sumulyap kay Lawrence tsaka alanganing muling tumango sakin.