THE GAME OF CARDS

CHAPTER 5: STEPHEN

Freslie's POV

"Where is she?!" Galit kong sigaw sa kanila. Di nila nadala sa akin yung babae gaya ng plano.

"Umalis siya kanina at di na bumalik." Sagot naman ni Wane.

"What?! Why did you let her?!"

"The slave who's with her told us that Rudeus got him."

"Wait. What? Rudeus?" Gulat kong tanong.

"You might not remember, Queen. But Rudeus drag her earlier when he saw you got attacked by that slave." Sabi naman ni Kate.

Tumaas naman ang kilay ko. Rudeus did that? He helped me? No one can mess Rudeus. No one even approached him but I didn't know that he likes me to the point of saving me.

Napangiti ako. "Roe is basically dead with him."

Sam's POV

"Hey, where's Roe? I never seen her since she left." Tanong ko kay Dielan nang makalabas na kami ng school.

"Relax. She's just with her friend and don't touch me." Winaksi niya ang kamay kong nasa braso niya. Binaba ko naman ito.

"I'm sorry."

Di niya na ako pinansin at nauna ng umalis. Is that guy really Roe's brother? He doesn't even care.

"Sam, I need to talk to you." Bigla namang lumitaw si Justin at hinala ako. Sa huli ay naglalakad na kami.

"Justin! Where is Roe? You're the last person I saw with her." Ngunit di niya ako sinagot.

Nagsalita lang siya nang wala ng tao.

"Roe is safe. Safer than we could imagine."

"That's good then."

"Listen, Freslis is planning to abduct Roe after school."

"What?! Why didn't tell me-"

"Hey, listen. I was with her earlier because I want her to know but I was shocked when I saw her with Rudeus. Rudeus is her friend. She's with Rudeus right now after I told them about Freslie's plan."

Di ako makapagsalita. To think that I even warned her about Rudeus. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised. He knocked Cortez at the CR without a sweat.

But who is she really?

"She must be safe right?" Paninigurado ko.

"Of course."

Roe's POV

Umalis kami ni Rudy sa school para puntahan ang lugar kung saan sila nagkikita ng gang niya. This John guy wants to be part of his gang. Dahil kilala ko si Rudy alam kong may pinapagawa siya kay John para mapatunayan na loyal ito sa kanya.

"Malayo pa ba?" Tanong ko dahil kanina pa kami naglalakad.

"Malapit na." Saad niya lamang. Nandito na kami sa isang tulay. "What do you want with him exactly?"

"I just want to see what's going on and report it to his parents. I need this to be done ASAP. I need the money." Mahinang sabi ko sa huli.

Rudy looked at me. I don't know exactly what's his thinking and that's terrifies me. I'm good at reading people with the way they talk, look, act and mannerism but ever since I met Rudy, he's been a mystery to me.

"Pia doesn't like Stephen because his weak and now you're paying for his expenses." Saad niya.

"I'm sorry. This will be the last time. I promise."

"Right. Always remember the reason why you cast away from being a captain."

"Yes, captain." Mahinang saad ko habang nakayuko. Bigla naman siyang pumunta sa harapan ko kaya napahinto ako sa paglalakad.

Matangkad si Rudy at kaylangan ko pang tumingala para makita mukha niya.

He was silent. He didn't spoke and the only thing I heard is the wind blowing against us.

"Captain-"

"Stay here." Sabay buntong hininga niya. Bago siya umalis. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin. Bumaba siya sa tulay patungo sa ilalim nito at doon ko na nga napansin. Maraming nga tao na nasa ilalim ng tulay.

Rudy is a gang leader but I never thought he has a lot of followers. Rudy talked to someone and pointed me. The person walk towards me.

Nang nakalapit na ito ay napansin ko na si John pala ito.

"John Madrigal. I'm Roe Salvador. You're parents hired me to know what's happening to you and why did you ended up having bruises everytime you come home."

Nagulat siya sa sinabi ko, nakita kong bumuka ang bibig niya ngunit agad din itong tinikom.

Kinuha ko namang ang cellphone at nagtext diretso sa mga magulang niya.

"Don't tell them please."

"I'm sorry. This is just a job. Nothing personal." Saad ko bago ako tumingin ulit sa ilalim ng tulay kung saan si Rudy at kumaway. "If you want to be part of his gang. Bring him a cat. He likes it." Saad ko bago ako tumalikod at umalis.

Agad kong nakuha ang text galing sa mga Madrigal at napangiti nang makita ang numero na nilagay nila sa account ko. Di na ako nagpaligoy ligoy pa at pumunta na agad ako sa Jersen Hospital. Agad akong dumiretso sa cashier para makapagbayad.

"Roe?" Napatingin ako sa tumawag si tita Beth.

"Tita Beth." Bati ko sabay ngiti. Tumingin siya sa cashier pabalik sa akin. Nawala ang ngiti niya nang napagtanto anong ginagawa ko rito. "Alis na po ako." Aalis na sana ako ngunit hinawakan niya ang braso ko at ngumiti.

"Magugustuhan ni Stephen kung bibisitahin mo siya."

Natigilan ako at nag isip muna. I can't go to him. I'm not yet ready.

"Please..." napatingin ako sa mata ni tita Beth, nandoon ang kagustuhan niya na pumunta ako.

Pilit na lamang akong ngumiti at tumango. Sumunod ako sa kanya hanggang sa kwarto ni Stephen. Sinuot pa namin ang hospital gown at mask bago makapasok.

"Stephen anak. Nandito si Roe." Sinilip ko muna sila sa kwarto bago ako dahan dahang pumasok. Parang sinasaksak ang puso ko nang makita si Stephen sa kama ng walang malay. Ang raming tubo na nakakabit sa kanya.

Ito ang unang kita ko sa kanya simula nang mangyari ito sa kanya. Nanginginig ang kamay ko habang inaabot ang kamay niya.

I quietly sat beside him while watching him sleeping. I can't cry. It hurts seeing him like this but there's no tears coming from my eyes. My hearts beating so fast as it yearn for his embrace. I want his warm, I needed his warm, his smile, his sweet talk but I can't seem to get it now. It's all my fault. This is because I never give him the love he deserve.

Did you feel alone?

"Masaya akong makita kayong magkasama." Sabi ni tita Beth. "Saan nga kayo unang nagkita?"

"Sa... cafeteria ng school nila." Sagot ko sabay ngiti.

"Oo nga. Naikwento nga niya." Sabay tawa ni tita Beth. "Sabi niya love at-"

"-First sight" pagpapatuloy ko. "But for me it was love at first fight." Mahina kong tawa.

"Ha? Bakit?"

"Nakipag away siya sa akin bakit candy ang binigay ko sa kanyang sukli." Tumawa naman si tita Beth. Natahimik naman kami.

"Roe."

"Po?"

"Napagdesyunan namin ng papa niya na alisin na ang machine na bumubuhay sa kanya." Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa kamay ni Stephen.

"B-bakit?"

"Kahit ayaw naman namin, wala kaming magagawa, wala na kaming pera-"

"I can pay for it! I can pay for everything, tita." Desperada kong sabi.

They can't do that and I can pay. I'll have part time jobs while receiving a mission from the organization. I can ask them for money. I'm sure I can pay everything. It won't be a big deal.

"At ayukong gawin mo iyon. Walang kasiguraduha na magigising si Stephen." Napatingin ako kay Stephen.

Stephen...

"Sabi ng doctor dapat lang na alisin ang machine dahil sa una palang gusto na ni Stephen, kaya nga nandito siya sa sitwasyon na ito diba?"

"Those students who are to blame. They did this to Stephen!" Mahigpit ang hawak ko kay Stephen na para bang kapag mawawala siya sa hawak ko ay mawawala siya ng tuluyan sa buhay ko. Nilagay ko ang mukha ko sa kamay niya.

"Gusto kong makita mo siya sa huling pagkakataon man lang."

"Stephen... if you wan't to wake up, please do it now. Please... I beg you."

I felt angry. Angry at myself because I can't do anything.