Dangerous Gentlemen II: The Damned

BETTER DAYS 1

"Hey, Nerd!" naudlot ang pagbabasa ni Paige ng medical book na anatomy and physiology nang bigla na lamang may humablot ng libro niya mula sa kaniya. She fixed her glasses at nagtaas ng tingin and saw her bully Thea with her minions. Sa dami ng palagi nilang binu-bully ay paborito talaga nila si Paige.

"Hey! Give it back!" Paige tried to snatch her book from Thea pero tinaas nito tinaas nito ang kamay na may hawak sa libro niya. Paige is short so even though she tried to jump ay hindi niya iyon maabot.

"Aww! Shorty. Buti na lang talaga at bumawi naman si god sa height mo," mapang-asar na sabi ni Thea na pinagtawanan ng mga kaibigan nila at kaklase. They were busy laughing when someone snatched Paige's book from Thea's hand.

"Hey!" Hindi na naka-react si Thea nang makita nito kung sino ang kumuha ng libro ni Paige sa kamay niya. Everyone's attention turned to the man who stole Paige's book.

"Interesting," Tyler said, amused while reading Paige's book. Ramdam ni Paige ang biglang pagbilis ng t***k ng puso niya habang nakatingin kay Tyler na binabasa ang libro niya. Other's would think that it's stupid and she's a nerd but Tyler is the first one who appreciated the book that she likes.

Paige's heart started to pound fast while looking at young Tyler who finally closed the book and look at her. Paige immediately looked down after their eyes locked. "Here," Tyler said at inabot ang libro ni Paige sa kaniya.

"T-Thanks," nahihiyang sabi ni Paige at kinuha ang libro niya nang hindi manlang tinitignan si Tyler.

"Sure," tipid na sagot ni Tyler at tuluyan nang tumalikod at lumabas ng classroom nila.

Halos lahat ng mga babae niyang kaklase ay agad na sumunod sa likod ni Tyler at nangangarap na sinundan ito ng tingin. They all have the dreamy look on their eyes while watching the mysterious man walk away habang si Paige naman ay parang tuod na nakatayo pa rin habang yakap ang libro na binalik ng lalaking iyon.

"Oh my god! Who si that man?!" Thea blurted out habang pinapaypayan ang sarili. Napunta ang atensyon nila kay Paige na pasimpleng bumalik sa sarili niyang upuan.

"Hey nerd!" Thea called Paige. Malalim na napabuntong hininga si Paige at humarap without looking directly at Thea. She would always say that they are not on the same level and that Paige's shouldn't meet her eyes to Thea.

"B-Bakit?"

"Who was that guy?" kunot-noong tanong nito kay Paige.

Paige shook her head. "I don't know him," she said honestly na ikinakunot ng noo ni Thea.

"What do you mean you don't know him? he just helped you! Nobody here would do that unless they know you!" Thea pointed it.

Right then and there, Paige realized just how lonely her life is. That she is a miserable loner who have no friend nor company in this school. That no one would protect her even when she is being bullied on a daily basis. Even her teacher who have seen it multiple times already chose to close her eyes and pretend that she knew nothing.

Paige swallowed that truth. Her breathing started to feel difficult habang pinipigilan niya ang sarili niya na huwag umiyak. "Hindi ko siya kilala." She finally voiced. Nakahinga siya nang maluwag when her voice didn't sound shaky. Kung maririnig nila Thea na naiiyak siya ay mas lalo lang siyang kukutyain ng mga ito.

"Fine! Nerd!" mataray na sabi ni Thea na ikinatawa ng mga kaklase niya.

They are on their third year in high school. Nag-mature na ang iba at nag-glow up pero si Paige ay nanatili pa ring binu-bully. She tried everything that she thought of. Sinubukan niyang umiwas sa mga ito at huwag pansinin pero mas lalo lang siyang inaway ng mga ito.

Paige went back to her seat and wiped the tear that fell from her eyes. She wanted to die right at that moment. Maliban sa problema niya sa paaralan ay meron rin siyang problema sa pamilya. Her parents are splitting up and even though she wanted to cry ay kailangan niyang maging matatag para sa nakababata niyang kapatid.

'I just want everything to end.' She thought at walang emosyon na tumingin sa labas ng bintana ng classroom nila.

Their teacher entered the room and their class started. Habang ang iba ay busy sa pakikinig sa teacher nila, si Paige naman ay nakatulala lang. Her eyes are fixated on a certain spot in their school and a decision finally formed inside her mind.

"If there is no more questions and concerns then that's it. Class dismissed. See you tomorrow, everyone!" Nakahinga ng maluwag si Paige nang sa wakas ay makakaalis na rin siya sa lugar na ito. The only thing that she is looking forward at the end of the day is for the class to finish. Wala na siyang pakealam kung wala na siyang natutunan.

Paige started to fix her things. She was about to put her books inside her bag nang bigla na lang may tumampal niyon dahilan para mahulog ang mga gamit niya. "Bye, Nerd! See you in your dreams!" nakangising sabi ni Thea nang dumaan ito sa mesa niya. Tumawa pa ito kasabay sa mga kaklase nila na tila aliw na aliw sa pang-trip nito sa kaniya.

Everyone started to went out from the room, leaving Paige alone picking up her books. "Bye nerd!" one of her classmates said and closed the door pagkatapos nitong patayin ang ilaw.

Paige screamed in horror the place started to get darker. "Please open the door!" she cried and tried to run to the door pero palagi siyang nababangga sa mga upuan na nakaharang. She could only see a little dahil madilim na rin sa labas kaya kakaunti na lang ang ilaw.

Paige sobbed. "Huy buksan mo na!" narinig niyang sabi ng isang kaklase niya sa labas.

"Mamaya na! Hindi ko pa nga naririnig na umiiyak eh!"

"Bro! Okay na iyan. Buksan mo na!"

She heard them trying to open pero hindi iyon bumukas. "f**k bro! It's locked!"

"WHAT?!"

"Let's go!"

"What? she's in there! Wh-"

Hindi na narinig ni Paige ang kadugtong na sinabi ng kaklase niya dahil tuluyan nang tumakbo ang mga ito palayo. Paige cried helplessly in the floor. 'I'm so fuckin miserable and pathetic!' She thought.

She cried in silent. Hindi niya alam kung ilang minuto rin siyang umiiyak hanggang sa wala nang luha ang lumalabas sa mga mata niya. Paige's eyes finally adjusted to the darkness. Wala na ang takot na nararamdaman niya at natakpan na ng sakit na nararamdaman niya sa pagkatao niya.

Her soul is wounded due to everything that is happening in her life that she just wanted to end her suffering right there. Wala sa sariling tumayo si Paige at bumalik sa upuan niya. She took out her pencil case at nilabas ang gunting niya. Buo ang loob na tinapat iyon ni Paige sa palapulsuhan niya but she couldn't do it.

"Ugh!" Paige groaned at pinagtatampal ang noo niya. "Get yourself up and just do it!" paulit-ulit na sabi niya sa sarili niya. She is pushing herself to just end her life but deep inside her, there is still a hope for a better day. When all things will finally fall to their right places. When Paige can finally live every day of her life without a fear of being bullied. Where she could come home and find her parents still with them.

Paige just wanted peace. But the world is too cruel to just give her what she wants. So she'll just attain that peace that she's been dreaming of by getting it her way. And that is through her death.

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Paige at muling tinutok ang gunting sa palapulsuhan niya. This time, she sure to do it.

Walang emosyon na hiniwa ni Paige ang sarili niyang balat. Pero dahil mapurol ang gunting niya ay mababaw na sugat lamang ang nagawa niyon. She was about to cut herself once more when she heard the door opened.

Napasinghap si Paige nang marinig ang biglang pagbukas ng pinto. She looked back pero agad rin na napapikit nang masilaw siya sa ilaw na tinutok sa mismong mukha niya. "Oh thank god! I knew it was really a person!" she heard the familiar voice of a man. Paige tried to see kung sino iyon pero hindi niya makita ang pagmumukha nito. She just knew na kilala niya iyon dahil narinig na niya ang boses nito.

"Oh god! What happened to you hand?!" nagpa-panic na sabi nito at inilang hakbang lang ang distansya mula sa pinto papunta sa kaniya. Napasinghap si Paige nang bigla na lamang nitong kunin ang kamay niya at pinailawan iyon.

Paige finally was able to see the man who came to save her. It was the man she saw earlier who snatched her book from Thea. Paige was expecting the man to be disgusted of her for what she did. Akala niya ay susumbatan siya nito dahil sa katangahan na ginawa niya. Bakit nga naman niya susubukang patayin ang sarili niya na gamit ang gunting tapos hindi naman pala iyon matalim.

Paige started to shake while thinking of all the things that the man would say, pero laking gulat ni Paige nang bigla na lamang siyang yakapin ng lalaki. "It's alright. You don't have to be afraid any more. You are now safe," the man said in a soothing voice.

Paige was too stunned to speak. The man's voice not only calmed her down but it soothed the pain that she is feeling inside. For the first time in her life she heard someone tell her that. For the first time in her life, Paige felt saved. Paige's eyes started to get blurry from the tears that formed in her eyes. Huli niya lang napagtanto na umiiyak na pala siya.

The man didn't say anything. He just let her cry in his shoulder while still hugging her. Hindi alam ni Paige kung ilang minuto rin siyang umiiyak habang yakap ito, she just found herself stopped crying. "Feeling better now?" the man asked and finally pulled away from her.

Nagulat si Paige nang tinutok ng lalaki ang flashlight sa ilalim ng mukha nito. Now he looked like a ghost. "Pfft!" Paige laughed pero agad niya rin na tinakpan ang bibig niya at pinigilan ang sarili niya na matawa.

The man smiled and turned off the flashlight. "You look good smiling," the man commented which made Paige blush. It is the first complement that she heard for quite a while now.

"I'm Tyler," pakilala ng lalaki and offered his hand to Paige.

"P-Paige," tipid na sagot ni Paige at nahihiyang inabot ang kamay niya sa lalaki. Paige flinched when she felt a spark when their hand touched pero mukhang siya lang yata ang nakaramdam niyon.

"Nice name," kumento ng lalaki who's name is Tyler. Umiwas ng tingin si Paige when she blushed one more time from his compliment.

"T-Thanks," nahihiyang sabi niya at binawi ang kamay niya mula sa pagkakahawak nito.

"Let's go?" yaya ng lalaki sa kaniya. Paige was about to pick up her stuff pero ito na ang kumuha. "Let me carry it for you." Sabi nito at nauna nang maglakad. Nakasunod lang si Paige kay Tyler.

"Thank you po, Kuya! Sabi sa inyo may narinig akong umiiyak eh!" nagulat si Paige nang makita si Manong guard na hindi niya napansin na nakatayo pala sa labas.

'Nakita ba nito?!' Paige couldn't look the guard's eyes.

"Mabuti na lang. Akala ko talaga multo na narinig mo," natatawang sabi ng Manong guard at nag-aalalang tinignan si Paige. "Okay ka lang ba, Ineng?"

"O-Opo," nahihiyang sabi ni Paige habang nakayuko.

"Mabuti naman kung ganoon."

Paige flinched one more time nang marahang hinawakan ni Tyler ang balikat niya. "Mauuna na po kami, Manong. Salamat ulit!" sabi nito at hinila na si Paige palabas ng gate ng school nila kung saan niya nakita ang isang sasakyan na nakaabang para dito.

"Where is your home? ihahatid na kita," sabi ni Tyler and opened the door for Paige.

"H-Ha? huwag na! I can go home by myself!"

"Nope. You will not go home by yourself. Not this time. Madilim na oh! Plus you are bleeding! I need to treat your wound first!" wala nang nagawa si Paige nang tinulak na siya ni Tyler papasok sa sasakyan nito. That was the night Paige experienced goodness from someone. And she received it from the man she loved first.

Tyler even went out of his way just to buy medications to treat Paige's wound bago siya nito hinatid pauwi sa bahay niya.

"Don't do this again, okay? You can talk to me next time," sabi ni Tyler kay Paige while he is treating her wound. Paige looked at his face and felt her heart beating fast. Never did she imagine she would meet someone like him during the darkest moment of her life.