Chapter 6: The Truth About Living

Saylor's P.O.V

Ting! Ting! Ting! The sound of my alarm clock suddenly woke me up, "Mmm," i stretched and rolled my eye mask as i checked the time. Seven thirty, just in time. I immediately went to my bathroom and did my morning routine, i washed and blowdry my natural curly hair after i put on my light make-up just enough to match my uniform.

"All done," i said enthusiastically. I was about touch the door knob when i immediately went back to my dresser when i felt something is missing. 'How could i ever forgot that thing. As i open my drawer the diamond pendant of it shines along with its gold chain.

"There you are," i whispered as i touch the necklace. "Im sorry i forgot you for a minute," I apoligize to the necklace like it was a human being. 

"Please guide me always," I went to my human size mirror as i keep on talking with the necklace. Slowly when i already put on the necklace i breathe heavily. 'Im good to go.

I walk towards my door and did a silent steps to our house, it feels like it is forbidden to make some noise to your own house. I continue to walk silently keeping my sandals to not make a noise, until i reached the end of our stairs. 'Finally, even though i used to walk silently with my sandals im still can't take the atmosphere in this house. Not even once when i know im breathing the same air with a monster, ugh! How i hate it.

I was already at the main door, about to exit this house when someones voice immediately stopped me. "Darling, why are you leaving so fast. It's still early i just cooked some breakfast for you," the voice of my father suddenly echo in our house. I closed my eyes and bite my inside cheek, fuck me! I remain myself standing on the main door keeping my attention on the door knob.

"Im on a hurry papa," I answered patiently, "But i just cooked for you Darling, the school can wait." My father answered with his convincing voice. "I have some projects to do papa," i said directly. Please leave me alone, "Darling i know your school works can wait." I can feel he's loosing his patience my hands are starting to tremble.

"Papa it is almost our finals, please do understand." Leave me alone papa, "Darling your schoolworks can't spare just twenty minutes of your time? I did all of those breakfast." Tug-dug! His voice are starting to rise. My heartbeat is racing rapidly, "But papa-" my voice were trembling but my attention remain on the door scared to see the face of my father. 

"Mija just spare me with your time-" His voice rises. My heartbeat is so loud, i could feel the shaking of my body. "Papa-" I was about to decline him again when someone interrupt us. "Sire, someone called from the house of Spain." Said by our butler, my father immediately caught his attention and release a long sigh before he flash his anger towards the our butler. "How could they call this late! They are so irresponsible Spaniards!" He walk towards our butler and answered the telephone.

When i felt his footsteps slowly went to the other side of our house, i release a long breath. I feel like i've run out of air, when i look back and confirmed my father was already gone i immediately took the chance and run going to our garage. When i saw the car already ready to leave i did a long run and was about to open the door when i was suddenly shocked by someones hand opening the door, "Huuk!" I reacted.

I was about to shout when i saw the man who opened the door. Thank shit! Its just our Butler, when i was still recovering from the sudden surprise he moved his hand initiating to enter the car, it took me a minute to finally understand and hop on to our car. When he saw me unbother and secured he did a genuine smile, "Stay safe Ms. Saylor." He said, "Thanks a lot Mr. Swan." And by that he slowly shut the door.

He remain standing outside the car until the engine started. When the car moved indicating to finally leave the house i rested myself on the seat, "Fucking shit." I feel like i was suffocated for a damn hour. That old man he really scares the shit of me, ting! The sound of my phone suddenly vibrate from my pocket. I took a deep breath before opening my phone.

As i checked i saw a text message, i smiled as i expect it from him.

From: 09*****

You must keep it after giving it to someone. Sincerely Mr. Swan

"A word Mr. Swan," i whispered. As i read his message i immediately touch the diamond pendant as i ease myself while watching the beauty of the sunrise. "He keep his promise mama, your trusted butler really did his job." The light of the sunrise gives peace to me, as i keep on watching outside my window reminiscing the memory of my mother. 

The warm touch of my mother, her angelic voice that always reminding me to be good, and her kindness towards everyone. 'She's an angel indeed, how i wish Veronica met you mama. I've always imagine what would be her reaction if she saw you mama, she would really be happy seeing two faces of Saylor. I smiled.

But all of that vanished immediately when the tragedy came up into my memory. Pain crept me, how cruel mama. Seeing you in that state while enduring the pain of that monster. How i wish i could turn back the time, how i wish i was older at that time, maybe i could save you from the monster mama. 

But you're selfless, you choose to stay in order to protect me... Without a second i felt a liquid running to my cheek, i laugh. 'Im still not healed mama. Everytime i remember you im still in pain, the monster who destroy you is so powerful. 

"I couldn't keep my mask anymore mama, i've been wearing it since you've been gone. It feels like no one could ever protect me like you do." I cried as i touch the diamond pendant of my necklace. 'I'll give you justice mama, even though you've always taught me to be good with my father.

But i guess my father died after that tragedy, he's not my father anymore. "He's a monster using the flesh of my father."

I wipe my cheek as i saw the road 'we are almost there. When i felt the car stopped i immediately open the car and went to the convenience store like nothing happened, i checked the time as i enter the door. I still have thirty minutes before class, i directly went to their frozen goods and it took me a minute to pick the sandwhich. 'Their sandwhich is the safest choice.

I was about to go to the counter when unexpectedly someone bump into me, "Ahh!" I was scared for a second, the man is holding a coffee and i scream expecting the coffee to flash into my unfiorm. But minute passed i didn't feel any heat, it took me a second to finally recover and only to see the man in his uniform filled with his coffee, wtf! His face was shock and couldn't move, what should i do? Oh shit his uniform! 

"I-- Uh." I couldn't talk properly the man was still looking at the floor and his shirt. I kinda feel scared and sorry for his state, when i felt that he's not moving i initiate the move. I called help to the cashier to clean up the mess, when the man slowly move but still holding his unifrom scared to feel the heat more i immediately hand him my handkerchief. "Take it, i didn't mean my actions," I said directly. 

He look at me longer like he's still analyzing my face, i was about to lash him when he get something to his pocket. 'An eyeglass, he wore it and slowly his face darkened as he recognize me.

Annoyed smile can be seen into his face, "You're from Malayan, prestigious school huh." He said with full of himself, "You messed my uniform and my time, now i feel like i had a burn in my chest. Should i call the school about the actions of their stu-" I cut him off before he could finish, i get my calling card and handed it to him.

"You don't need to, call that number and state your amount." After that i leave my sandwhich and handed a bill to the counter, that's for causing a mess. What a nice day indeed, im going to school with empty stomach. 'Curse that old man, this is all his fault.

As i reach the exit and was about to open our car when someone stopped me, "Ms. Saylor Liu." Fuck that man, i closed my eyes because of frustration. I look at his direction and look at him boredly, "I already handed you a calling card, just state your-" 

"Is your mother Fernandez Liu?" Out of nowhere he asked, i look at him in puzzled. "What do you want," coldness can be feel to my voice. "There is something i have to tell you. About the case of your mother." Beat, it feels like my world stopped for a minute. My attention was still in him looking at him directly, "Anong alam mo?" I asked bravely. 

"Kaiden Ty is your school mate right? The heirs of the Ty Family." I gulp, my hands are starting to shake while keeping my sanity towards him. 'Anong alam mo? "How can you take it seeing the son of one of the reasons for your mothers death-" Tug-Dug! A big snap on my chest. And with that i already knew their is something wrong that i must know. 

Veronica's P.O.V

The heat of the sun touches my skin, the cold breeze of the wind filled me. 'Dejavu, just like what happened yesterday. Beep! Ang ingay ng aming sasakyan na nagpapahiwatig ng pamamaalam , i wave my hand in response. I sigh as i saw the signage of our school, kung gaano kalamig ang simoy ng hangin ay siya namang sing lamig ng mukha at sigla ng mga estudyante.

Ting! Ang ingay ng aming security entrance ang siyang nakapagpapukaw sa akin, masyadong nakakatakot ang nangyari kahapon. Hindi ko inaasahang sa unang pagbabalik ko ay 'yun ang madadatnan ko.

"Hindi pumasok si Ella, na trauma ata kahapon." 

"I thought suspended? Bakit may pasok naman?"

"Said by the head, hindi naman daw lahat ay nakakita at naapektohan sa pangyayari." 

"Its all about money after all."

Rinig ko ang bulungan ng ibang mga estudyante, pilit na binalewala ko ito at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad patungo sa aking first class. 'May mas importante pa akong kailangang gawin. Akmang liliko na ako sa huling palapag ng may biglang hindi sinasadyang nakasagi sa akin, "Careful." Dahil sa bilis ng aking aksyon ay agad kong nabalanse ang kaniyang pagkakatumba.

"Oh- thank you," nahihiyang tugon nito. Tipid na ngiti ang ginanti ko at akmang aalis na ito ng biglang pinigilan ko ito, "You're part of the student head officers right?" Kunot noo niya akong tinitigan at nang matauhan ay agad itong namula sa aking hindi inaasahang tanong, "Ah- hindi, si France 'yun.. Pero dahil sa nangyari ako ang ipinalit nila." Nauutal na tugon nito, mababakas ang pagkalungkot niya sa kamiyang boses. Then i remembered the man who jumped off the building was France, 'the school specialty.

"Oh- right. Im sorry to hear that, you must be close with him." I asked unintentionally, agad naman itong napayuko, "Sort of." She answered, i bite my lips as i saw her holding tightly the school papers. "Im sorry for asking, uh- you must be busy. You can go now, im really sorry." I apologize, she immediately look into my eyes and flash her soft smile. "Its okay, i gonna go now." Agad naman itong tumalikod nang may biglang tumawag sa kaniyang pangalan.

The image of her walking and enjoying the company of the head students, 'bakit hindi kita napansin noon. Tik! I snap using my tounge, akmang aalis na ako nang biglang umingay ang malakas na speaker ng aming building, "All students shall go to the auditorium for some anouncement. Again, all students shall go to the auditorium-" 

"Saylor!" I called saylor as i saw her silently walking, "Saylor!" Hindi niya ako narinig. "Hey Saylor-" Hindi na ako nag atubiling tawagin siyang muli nang biglang dumating si Steven at biglang siniko ito, nakakapagtatakang hindi ito nagalit. Kunot noong sumulyap si Saylor at nang ituro ako ni Steven ay agad namang natauhan si Saylor.

'What happened to her? "I didn't hear you." She answered as she reached my direction, i just smiled as response. 'She's cold as ice yesterday, what happened today?  "Sabay na tayong tatlo pa Auditorium," said by Steven. Agad namang napunta sa kaniya ang aking atensyon at nang mahuli nito ang aking paningin ay agad itong umiwas. 'Hindi ko pa siya nakakausap mula kahapon, alam kong apektado siya sa bangayan namin kahapon. Pero mas pinili niyang maging kaswal, i sigh. 

Agad akong pumagitna sa kanila at parehong hinawakan ang kanilang braso, "Let's go." Agad ko silang hinila papuntang auditorium, nung una ramdam ko pa ang bigat ni Steven ngunit nung sinaway ko ito ay agad naman siyang tumawa at tuluyang nagpahila. 'I know im at fault, im keeping a secret to them. But i know someday they'll understand, i must face my problem first.

Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay tuluyan na naming naabot ang auditorium, makikitang unti-unti nang napupuno ito. 'Saan kami uupo? Siksikan na sa loob nagtutulakan na at amoy ko na ang mga pawis ng bawat estudyante. 'Ang aga-aga pa ba't may amoy pawis. Agad ko namang hinawakan ang kamay ni Saylor, patuloy parin ako sa paghahanap ng mauupuan ng biglang sa gitnang bahagi ng mga upuan makikitang may tatlong bakanteng upuan. 'Kasya para sa amin, hindi ako nag atubiling sumingit at tinutulak nang bahagya ang mga estudyante, nang maabot ko ang upuan at dali-daling umupo dito.

"Dali na Saylor, Steven." Tawag ko, parang tuta namang sumunod ang dalawa. Ahh! Sa wakas, unti-unti ko nang nararamdaman ang lamig ng aircon. Nang maramdaman kong maayos na ang aming pwesto ay agad akong nabaling sa kaliwang bahagi ng aming upuan, at sa aking gulat ay napahawak ako sa aking bibig.

S***a! Bakas sa mukha ng estudyanteng nakaupo sa aking kaliwa ang walang pagkabahala. Lumalakas ang kabog ng d****b ko, pilit kong nilalabanan ang aking kaba ngunit ramdam ko na ang pawis na namumuo sa aking noo. Hindi ata tumalab ang lamig ng auditorium, "You didn't call." Pabulong na sabi nito, agad akong napaayos ng upo sa kaniyang sinabi.

'Naduduwag ako, "It's okay, i understand." He says with his husky voice. I couldn't move, i feel like i was stiff for a minute. I keep my attention on the stage, pilit binabalewala ang sinabi ng lalake.

Para akong estatwang hindi gumagalaw sa aking upuan, but I could see in my peripheral vision Saylor is so quite. While Steven is talking with other students in his side, i wanted to asked Saylor but i know she wouldn't want us to meddle with her problem. 

She might lash us if we asked about herself. Saylor's really good in keeping someones secret specially her own secret, but she's not good in hidding her feelings. 'I know that, because it pains in me when im seeing the masked Saylor. It's been a year since i've seen her acting like this again, but funny how she keep on acting towards us like nothings bothering to her. 'I know Steven also felt her changes. 

When i saw Saylor's attention was on the stage i slowly hold her left hand and squeez it gently, when she felt it she slowly response to me by squeezing my hand gently. "Please always remember im always here Saylor," i whispered. Only the lights from the stage are giving us from the darkness of the auditorium, am i hallucinating or i really saw Saylor's eyes sparkled.

"Good Morning Students," nabaling ang atensyon ko sa entablado nang biglang may nagsalita. "Its a pleasure to have you all today." Said by our school principal. "But unfortunately the reason of our gathering is because of our former scholar passed away." Malungkot na tugon nito, biglang nag iba ang timpla ng mga estudyante makikitang samot-saring komento ang kanilang sinabi.

"Gosh! Its so traumatic, i even can't imagine."

"Absent ako kahapon, wala bang video 'yun?"

"Masyadong karumaldumal para kunan ng litrato, tsaka kung meron man possibleng binura na 'yun. Alam mo naman ang head."

Pilit na binalewala ko ito at patuloy na nakinig sa sinasabi ng school principal. "Because of that we have a three days prayer ceremony every three in the afternoon," agad namang umingay ang auditorium. May ibang sumangayon ngunit karamihan ang umangal. 

Naririndi ako sa pag angal ng karamihan, akmang mag kokomento na rin ako ng biglang nagsalita ang lalaking nasa kaliwa ko, "You know living is like a movie, you may be the main character or the side character." Out of nowhere the man in my left side spoke, "And in his case, he's the side victim main-character." Seryosong tugon nito, pilit kong binabalewala ang nakakalitong sinasabi nito at patuloy na nakikinig sa anunsyo ng principal. 

"He's the main character of his own movie but sadly he's the side character of someones story." Natatawang dagdag nito, napakunot ang aking noo sa kaniyang sinabi. 'Anong pinagsasabi nito? 

"Bullshit right? But that's the truth about living, people would always do anything just to get what they want and the pleasure that they've been aiming. Even though it might end someones life." Nakakakilabot na tugon nito, agad namang tumindig ang aking balahibo sa kaniyang sinabi. At para bang may sariling isip ang aking mga mata at biglang dumapo ang aking atensyon sa head students na nasa entablado. 

Napalunok ako, para bang ang kaniyang mga sinasabi ay sagot sa mga hinala ko. Napabuntong hininga ako at napaayos ng upo. At pabulong na tinanong ang lalaking katabi ko, "Then what are you?" Out of curiousity i asked, "What am i? I guess im an audience." A what?

Agad akong napabaling sa kaniya pilit iniintindi ang kaniyang sinabi. "Because i already stopped living long time ago..." He said as he look into my eyes, "But i guess because of someone my porpose of living might continue." 

Beat! I can feel the loud bang of my chest, i couldn't feel the cold of the auditorium anymore. I feel like was hypnotize by his eyes, it took me a minute before i taken back my sanity. "Who really are you?" I asked bravely, before he can answer the lights of the auditorium slowly filled us. I could see in my peripheral vision some students are already standing up, i was too preoccupied to notice that it was already done.   

He was about to leave and ignore my question when suddenly he stopped and remain sitting in my front, "Have you ever think on putting yourself in France's shoes." He coldly said, "Well you must be very brave. Hindi ka ata natatakot na baka ikaw na ang susunod." He said with his husky voice, Ting! A long running sound filled my ears, his precautions made me goosebumps.

"I know you have a lots of questions, but i'll answer all of that if you'll cooperate with me... I've noticed you've been so carefree lately." He jokingly said, but his mischivous smile vanished immediately.

"But remember you're still in trouble." As he said those words i couldn't help but to feel scared, my mind went blank. I could feel Saylor's voice calling my name, but my attention was still on the mans back walking to the door.

'He's right i've been so carefree, but sadly he's partly wrong. It took me a minute before i look at Saylor's direction, i immediately stand up and walk to the door of auditorium. As we reach the end the light of the sun dazzled my eyes, i smiled as i remember our conversation.

I didn't forget my situation, its just that im scared to face my situation. 'But i guess universe still wanted me to live. When i opened my eyes i saw him walking with his friends, i whispered in a sing-song tone. 

"Hunter. Hunter. Hunter. What would be your role in my own story."  

   -Sa susunod na kabanata-