VLS 3: ZARRICK'S POSSESSION

TWENTY THREE

SOMEONE PATTED HER SHOULDER, telling her everything will be find. She's a little bit nervous. A little bit? Fuck, she's fucking nervous to the core. Ilang beses bang sumagi sa kaniyang isipan kagabi na uuwi nga sila ng Pilipinas?

Nakabalik na sila sa Seoul at nasa isang high end club nanaman sila. Naroon sila upang tumugtog kasama naman ang ibang banda, naroon din si Ryde na sumama lang sa kaniya. She was with him a while ago, sa isang photoshoot na pinagbigyan niya lang talaga. Ang sabi rin kasi ng kaniyang manager ay kailangan niya rin ng publicity para sa kaniyang magiging solo album na pinaghahandaan palang nila. Pagkatapos kasi ng kanilang album na Poison ay doon na siya dadako. Ang kaniyang malapit na kaibigan naman na si Kianna ay may upcoming drama. She's an antagonist there.

"You can survive" natatawang sabi sa kaniya ni Mica. She is the jolly one, ang laging masayahin sa grupo but despite of her pretentious smiles and joyful face, there's a hiding pain. Alam na alam nilang pito ang mga pinagdaanan nito sa buhay. She was raped at a young age, caged by a unknown man. Maging ang babae ay hindi alam kung sino ang nagkulong rito for almost two years.

She's a daughter of a politician, nasa pamilya na nito ang pagiging leader kaya siguro nangyari sa babae ang mga ganoong bagay. Naging natural na dito ang mapahamak dahil sa ama. Sa mga kalaban ng ama nito. Pero ni minsan ay hindi inasahan ni Mica ang ganoong kadelikadong bagay.

"Sayo pa talaga nanggaling 'yan" ismid niya. Tumawa lang si Mica saka siya inakbayan, mas matangkad kasi sa kaniya ang babae. "Hindi mo ba siya namimiss?"

"Who?"

"You fell in-love with him"

Tumawa lalo ito pero siya ay nanatili lamang na walang reaksyon. She feels tired all of a sudden. She just wants to rest and keep her mouth shut but she needed comfort too and Mica is one of the best option, they have the same experience in life.

"Hindi ka pa nakakamove on" ani'ya.

"Alam ko" tumatawa parin ito. "But I wanted to enjoy my life now, ayoko na munang isipin ang mga masamang nangyari sa akin"

"How about Enzo? Are you really going to say yes to him?" Kuryoso siya. Nalaman kasi niyang nanliligaw dito ang lalaki.

"Yes" Mica smiled. "I accepted the fact that I can't see him anymore, I accepted the fact that we're not destined to each other so why keep myself from the past? Hindi ko na siya hahayaang hilain ako pababa. He had his chance, but he trifled it away"

"Mica?" She sighed. "Do you really want to go the Philippines?"

She nodded. "I miss my family too. Mommy thinks I already forgot them"

"I don't wanna go back there" she said, matter of fact. "I just—I just-" she sighed and looked at the glass of liquor.

"Hindi masamang matakot" Mica smiled at her. "Alam mo bang natatakot din ako?"

"I know. Maybe you can fool other people, but not us. You are transparent to us" Erriah swallowed the bitter taste of liquor, she then asked for the bartender for another shot. "Alam na natin lahat ang kwento ng bawat isa, si Cheska nalang talaga ang madamot sa ating lahat. Hye Kyo learns to open up somehow. Atleast, hindi na siya kill joy"

"I am curious too" ngumuso ito. Ang manipis na labi nito ay mas lalong naging marikit. "Hindi talaga marunong magshare ang babaeng 'yon" tukoy nito sa kanilang manager.

Tapos nang magperform ang buong banda at ang kaniyang grupo nang magrequest ang owner ng club na kumanta siya. She willingly said yes, with smile.

Hinawakan niya ang mikropono at pumikit. She bit her lower lip first and started singing.