Kapitel 20: Epilogue

Ruben's Point of View

"Sir, hindi po pupwede na kumuha basta-basta ng warrant without evidence or any proof that can be held against your suspected person."

"Damn it! There's no need for fucking evidence sir, the guy i'm pinpointing just harassed that missing girl a month ago! He's definitely the guy who kidnapped her as well." I told them.

The lazy fucking police gave me a disrespectful look. "Alright sir, we might take note of that. But it'll take time to find and interrogate the guy you're suspecting. Ina-assure ko din po na ginagawa namin ang lahat ng makakaya namin para hanapin ang kaibigan mo."

And there I was dismissed. I looked at Allan with disbelief. "I guess we should get home now, sir."

"No fucking way! Why are the police fucking useless, Allan!? Why!?" This made me feel desperate, knowing the people I thought I can count on be this awful.

Allan sighed. "Sir, I think we should leave first. Other people here can hear you." Napatingin naman ako sa paligid ko and I can see that other police officers are shotting glares at me. I just grinned from annoyance. "Fine."

Dumiretcho na din kami pabalik sa bahay dahil gusto ko munang ayusin ang sarili ko. Searching for her feels so impossible. I've already called my parents about the guy, but they just said I should rest first.

I think they're too busy with other things than giving any shit to what I said because i'm just a kid. Then those fucking police are the worst! I think I just wasted my time there complaining.

Nang mapaghainan na ko ni Allan ng pagkain ko, I sighed looking at my food. Parang wala akong ganang kumain. "Sir, I know you're tired and you don't feel like eating. Pero kailangan nyo po yan. You need to replenish your energy."

"What's the fucking point Allan? Everything I do seems like it doesn't matter to anyone."

"I know how it feels. Like everyone doesn't believes you. Pero ang magagawa mo lang talaga sa ngayon ay ang makipagkoopera sa mas nakakatanda sayo, sir." Even Allan's words are saying that I should give up on whatever i'm trying to do.

"Fuck you, Allan. Get out of my sight." Irita kong utos sa kaniya. Napangiwi na lamang sya at sinunod na lang ang utos ko. And as he left, I began to gather all my thoughts and think of a way to save her from all this.

If no one can be my ally on this one, then I might do everything myself. I'm capable of doing anything after all. After a few bites on my food, inumpisahan ko nang gawin ang lahat ng kailangan kong gawin para mailigtas ko si Jade.

I've brought my phone, flashlights, some first aid kit, then a knife and a hammer just in case the worst scenarios happens. Then I searched up things about this fucking Austin Marques to know where he freaking lives and some of the possible location where he's hiding her.

Naghintay din ako na makatulog si Allan bago ako umalis ng bahay. I don't want him ruining my plans by telling this about mom and dad.

And when I was already good to leave, I quickly started my car and got on my way to the Marques residence. It took about an hour to get to his subdivision, and now my problem is getting to his exact place right now.

"Good evening sir, ano po kailangan nyo?" Bati nung guard ng subdivision na 'to.

"Yeah, good evening. Uhm, i'm here to talk to a schoolmate about an emergency. Uh, sa Marques residence po." I felt quite nervous doing this shit. And i'm doing my best not to look suspicious infront of this person. "Ah okay po. Sa block 7, lot 2 po. Would like me to call them to inform you're visiting? They're probably asleep at this late hour."

"N-No, it's fine."

"Okay, and before that, pa-iwan po ng I.D. nyo dito." Pagkatapos kong ibigay ang I.D. ko ay dumiretcho na 'ko sa residence nya. And as i'm already infront of his house, I can already see Jade crying for help in my head.

Then as I rang the door bell, may katulong na lumabas. Mukhang naiinis pa ito sa akin, dahil siguro na-istorbo ko tulog nya. "Ano po kailangan mo?" Tanong nito.

"I'm here for Austin Marquess." Sagot ko.

"Ay, wala po sya rito sir!" Aniya.

Napakunoot noo ko. "Where is he? I need to talk to him asap."

"Naku sir, di ko din alam kung nasaan sya ngayon eh. Kung may ipapasabi ka po sa kaniya, ako na lang po maghahatid."

"No, this is something I need to hear for myself from him. Can you tell me where he can possibly be? This is really important, so please!" Pagmamakaawa ko.

Mukhang epektibo naman because she looked at me with pity. "Okay, pero di ko sure kung nandun talaga sya eh. It's either nasa condo sya ng kuya nya, or sa apartment ng kaibigan nya. Baka nga nasa kabilang bahay sya ngayon. Yun lang alam ko sir."

"Please give me the specific addresses of those places." I begged again. Napabuntong hininga na lang sa akin yung katulong at ginawa naman ang utos ko.

Somehow, I feel like I can be with Jade anytime soon. I just gotta find the right place first. At nang makuha ko na ang mga address, I wasted no time and quickly went to the nearest address I got.

It took quite long to get there, at nang makarating ako sa condo niya ay kaagad akong kumatok doon. No one was answering. But that didn't stopped me from getting inside the place. I destroyed the knob with the hammer I got and eventually got inside.

My hopes was up, pero I was also expecting this. No one was here. I searched thoroughly in this place, but really, there's no one. Pagkalabas ko, I thought that i'll just fucking pay for all the damages later.

Then the next place I went to was the apartment. And i'm hoping na nandoon sila.

I'm really gonna beat the crap out of that piece of shit when I get my hands on him.

"Shit." I muttered as my phone started ringing. Mom's calling. They probably found out that i'm out searching for Jade right now. Pinatay ko muna ito at itinabi sa bag ko.

A few moments later, I was already parked outside the apartment where he might be right now. Then I saw a familiar face outside and infront of my car. Mabilis sya dahil nagmamadali syang bumalik sa loob ng apartment.

I had no doubt that was him. I quickly got out of my car and quickly went inside the place. I searched for door 107, at pagkarating ko doon ay nakatok ako kaagad. And no one was answering it.

It got me furious so I yelled. "Open up mother fucker!!"

Still no response.

Ginamit ko muli ang martilyo na dala ko, and as i kicked it open. He was a bit far but he was fucking there the whole time and had a gun pointing at me. "You son of a bitch!" Sigaw ko.

He smirked at me like a devil. "Raise those fucking hands and get the fuck in here." I had no choice but to follow him. Tinaas ko ang mga kamay ko at pumasok sa loob ng apartment nya.

Lumapit sya para kapain ang mga bulsa ko at kinuha nya lahat ng gamit ko na nakalagay doon. Kinuha nya rin ang bag ko at itinapon sa pinakamalapit na basurahan. Isinara nya rin ang pintuan sa likod namin.

"Move dumbass." Utos niya at tinulak-tulak ako papunta sa isang kwarto habang nakatutok ang baril nya sa ulo ko. Pagkabukas nung pinto ng kwarto pinapasok nya ko roon at sinipa. I fell on the floor and I glared at him. "You fucking bastard, where is she?" I asked.

"That shouldn't matter to you right now, you should worry about your own life."

"Just fucking tell me where she is!--AAH!" Bigla nya naman akong nabaril sa kaliwang braso. This kind of pain was new to me, so it was unbearable. My arm kept bleeding and it's so much in pain. "I told you, you should fucking worry about your own life. If you piss me off, you're fucking dead." Then he shut the door close.

I never expected this to happen. That psychotic devil locked me up in this room for three whole days, I think he'll let me rot here until I die. He'd only give me food once a day then leave me. As for my wound, it still freaking hurts. Ginawa ko ang lahat para ayusin ang kinalalagyan ko.

I used my own shirt as a bandage for my wound, and I was glad that it stopped bleeding. Still, the circumstances i'm in isn't great. And it's killing everytime that I hear their voices.

Yes, I can fucking hear them.

That bastard was really the guy who kidnapped her. Everynight, I would hear him talking to her like he's trying to brainwash her into accepting him into her life. But Jade would just resist everytime he does it, and in the end, he would abuse her and do fucking things that makes me scream and beg for him to stop.

Her cries were always ringing in my head and I was just pathetic. Di ko man lang sya matulungan at ma-ipagtanggol sa mga pinaggagawa sa kanya ng demonyo na 'yon.

"NO! PLEASE DON'T TOUCH ME--AHH!"

"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST FUCKING LOVE ME JADE!? WHY!?"

And there they go again. Jade kept begging him to stop, but he started to do things she doesn't like again. Sigaw lang sya ng sigaw para humingi ng tulong. At mukhang di naman nila ako naririnig dahil mas malalakas ang boses nila kaysa sa'kin.

Sa galit ko, kinuha ko ang platong nakatabi dito at binato sa pintuan. Austin's screaming stopped, but Jade's screaming haven't. Then her screams turned to whimpers, I think they stopped when I caught their attention.

Nagulat ako ng biglang bumukas ang pinto ko, and I can see Austin fuming with anger. He looked at me as if he could kill me. I can also see his torso full of scratches and bruises, maybe because of Jade trying to resist him.

Kagad naman akong napatingin sa likod nya, and I can see Jade behind him. And she was shocked that she saw me. I was also surprised seeing her in such a hard situation. She looked like she was tortured too much by this bastard, and it made me even more furious when I saw that she was wearing nothing but a large t-shirt.

"Is it because of him Jade? Huh? Is it because of him that you can't FUCKING LOVE ME!?" Austin dragged me out of the room with holding me at my bruised arm. Di ako makapalag dahil muli nanamang sumakit ang braso ko. "NO! DON'T HURT RUBEN!!" sigaw ni Jade.

Then hinugot ni Austin ang baril na nasa bulsa nya. "You f-fucking--AAAH!" Diniinan nya ang pagkakahawak sa braso ko.

Tinutok nya muli ang baril sa ulo ko at pinagbantaan si Jade. "Ano Jade? If I get rid of him, then will you see me? Would you finally accept me?"

I saw her cried and shook her head. "No, no, no... please... please let him go. D-Don't do anything to him, please..."

"S-Stop this bull--AAH" Nilakasan nya ang pagdiin ng hinlalaki nya sa sugat ko.

"SHUT THE HELL UP, I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU." Sigaw nya sa'kin ng magsalita ako.

Nagtitigan naman ang dalawa, and I can see in Jade's eyes that she's begging to let me go. Wala naman akong magawa dahil halos kinukutkot na ni Austin ang sugat ko, at napakagat na lang ako sa labi ko while bearing the pain. "So, what now Jade? Are you gonna fucking love me? Or I blow up his brains right infront of you?"

"Austin!! Please don't do this to me!!"

"Give me an answer!" He yelled.

Then all of a sudden, Jade looked at me. All the emotions on her face faded, and I suddenly had a bad feeling. "Ruben... i'm sorry." She said.

"Jade, what--NO!!!" bigla syang tumakbo palapit sa amin at pinilit nyang agawin yung baril kay Austin. "YOU FUCKING!!--" Itinulak naman ako ni Austin palayo sa kanila at pilit na inaagaw din ang baril kay Jade.

"YOU'LL FUCKING REGRET THIS, YOU FUCKING BITCH! I'M GONNA FUCK YOU SO HARD THAT YOU--FUCK!!!"

"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Sigaw sa kaniya ni Jade at natapon sa kabilang sulok ang baril na pinag-aagawan nila.

Minadali kong makatayo muli para kunin yung baril, at nang mahawakan ko ito. Kaagad ko itong itinutok kay Austin, but as I looked at them again, he was already using her as a shield. He was holding her hands and has her body infront of him "Go fucking shoot me, if you can!" Banta nya.

"You fucking coward!!" Gigil kong sigaw.

Jade began to cry again, but she tried to encourage me. "Shoot this bastard! Fucking shoot him Ruben!!"

"But Jade!! You're--"

"You fucking stupid bitch! Gusto mo magpakamatay?!"

Jade shot a glare at him and said, "I'd rather die right now than to live with the awful memories you've done to me."

Natahimik kaming tatlo. Austin looked like he's going through mixed emotions, then I tried my best to aim at his shoulder so he could let go of Jade. Then I shot without telling.

But that was the worst mistake that i've done.

"AAAH!!" Instead of Austin, balikat ni Jade ang natamaan ko. All of us were shocked, at nabitawan ni Austin si Jade. "Fucking--you fucking asshole!!" Sigaw nya sa'kin.

I was shocked, but that wasn't enough to distract me from my real goal. Ngayong nabitawan nya si Jade, muli kong kinalabit ang baril at natamaan ko sya sa dibdib. He fell down and I quickly ran towards Jade. "Fuck!! I'm so sorry Jade! I'm so sorry!!" I said.

Then I held her in my arms, and hugged her.

"R-Ruben..." she whispered while her eyes were closed. I cried hugging her. "...I got you... I finally got you back, Jade."

Third Person's Point of View

They were all sitting accordingly, and one man was standing right infront of them. He kept grinning, knowing that he won the bet. "I win, I always win." Sabi nya sa mga kasama.

"How can you even say that, Zach? A member just died. August freaking died!" Sabi ni February, ang natatangi na myembro ng C.C., sya lang ang makikitang babae rito. Pagkatanggal nya ng kaniyang maskara, nakita na ng lahat ang mukha ng president ng theatre club.

Napahalakhak naman si April, which is Leroi, sa mga nangyayari. "Damn, this is crazy. Di ko ineexpect na may mamamatay sa mga nangyayari sa club na 'to." Nakigaya na rin ito kay February at ibinababa na ang maskara nya.

"The gamble required big effort. February did a lot of things on this one, and had to make arrangements with the art teacher to separate Ruben from Jade. Then making Ruben busy as hell by making the accident happen to the guy who was supposed to be the leading role. I thought things were going smooth for August, and we were all so excited to see you lose Zachary. But here you are, rubbing it on our face that you fucking won again." Sabi naman ni December.

Napangisi naman si Zachary. "Well, luck is always on my side. Always remember that guys."

"There's also this thing between Leroi and Caiden. Didn't we all agreed not to make other bets when we're gambling on one?" Paalala ni July.

"Psh. That was just for fun, it's nothing serious!" Sabi ng totoong October, which is Caiden. He was on zoom since nasa abroad sya ngayon.

"HAHAHAHA!" Napatingin ang lahat kay April ng bigla syang tumawa ng napakalakas. Natawa lang din si Zachary sa pagtawa nito ng histerikal. "Dude, what's funny?" Tanong sa kaniya ni October.

"Pfft... I just really find it hilarious how we fooled Ruben in this club. I mean, wala syang ideya na sya pala ang biktima ng C.C. HAHAHAHA!"

"Yeah, that was part of the plan too. It was really epic." Natatawang sambit ni Zachary.

Then all just laughed along. "Okay so now that we know Zach won, isn't it time to tell us what you want from winning on this ridiculous bet?"

Napangisi si Zach sa nasabi ni July. "Yeah, let's get done with that. Listen up."

Nagsi-ayos silang lahat, wanting to hear what Zachary wants from this bet. And when all was silent, Zach spoke. "You guys really wanna know what I want? Clandestine Club is officially over. You're all dismissed."

Halatang labag sa loob ng lahat ang sinabi ni Zachary, but they know that's it. It's all over with the C.C. since ang mismong founder nito ang nagdisband. Since they were all dismissed, nagsi-alisan na sila. All except October who was still connected.

Napatanong naman sya sa desisyon ni Zachary. "Why disband the C.C. dude? Sayang naman." Aniya.

Napa-iling naman si Zachary. "You know, i'm actually getting bored as fuck with all the gamble we're doing in this club. Nakaka-umay kaya yung palagi kang nananalo sa lahat ng bagay. I made this club for myself after all, I wanted to see if there's anyone that can beat me but sadly there's no one. That's probably it." Sagot nya.

October sighed and took off his mask. "Well, it was fun being in your club. See you whenever i see you." Then he disconnected.

After non, itinabi na ni Zachary ang laptop at umalis na sa classroom na pinanggalingan nilang lahat.

Ruben's Point of View

As soon as everything was fixed, both people that I shot were brought to the hospital. I knew Jade's shot wasn't as fatal as Austin so I was quite confident that she's alright. Austin on the other hand was dead on arrival.

"...okay na ba yang braso mo, Ruben?" Eliza asked and brought me a plate of peeled apples.

She volunteered to my parents to take care of me as soon as she heard the news that I was retrieved, dun din nalaman nina mom and dad na may girlfriend ako. They seem to like Eliza since she was actually nice and caring.

"Yeah, uhm. So did you heard anything new about Jade though?" I asked.

She bitterly smiled. "No, they said it's been already settled. She'll be living with her mother in abroad now. So doon na din nila ipagpapatuloy ang pagpapagaling sa kaniya."

"Damn... I actually want to see her one last time." Sabi ko.

"I'm sorry, pero bukas na daw sila lilipad eh." Napabuntong hininga na lang ako. Then I just stared outside of my room's window, sinusubuan lang ako ni Eliza ng maliliit na slice ng mansanas.

"Hey, I know i'm not in place to say this but just cheer up. Look forward for your bestfriend's recovery, then maybe when she recover, we can visit her. How does that sound?" Aniya.

I smiled faintly. "Yeah, I hope she recovers soon."

Then after my recovery, everything went back to normal. Bumalik ako sa school and I continued to be the studious student I was. I also tried to be the best boyfriend for Eliza, and i'm happy that I can say that she's been the best person to be with.

But even though i'm happy, whenever I see the vacant seat where Jade used to sit, I would feel sad knowing she's far away. But I also tried my best to be positive about that. Iniisip ko na lang na sana makarecover na sya as soon as possible.

Then years passed, I've already graduated highschool and I was at the top of all the students in the academy. That was nothing special to me though, this achievement was nothing but an easy goal. What excites me was the summer after school.

Nakareceive ako ng message kay tito Felix. He asked if I wanted come along with him to visit his daughter. Agad akong um-oo, pinagsabihan ko din sina Eliza, at pati sina mom and dad. It was quite unfortunate that Eliza was busy doing tests for colleges, and dad was busy handling the business. Kaya kami lang ni mom ang pwede makasama kay tito Felix.

At pagkarating namin sa abroad, we first visited tita Jen's home. Then after that, we went straight to the rehabilitation center where Jade was. "Would you like to see her first, Ruben?" Tanong sa'kin ni tita.

"Y-Yeah, i'd love that." Sagot ko.

"Go ahead, her room's at door 305." Aniya.

Nagmadali naman akong pumunta doon. And when I was right infront of her door, I can feel my heart racing rapidly. It's been a year and a half since I saw her.

Napahinga muna ako ng malalim bago buksan ang pintuan nya. At pagkabukas ko nito, bumungad sa'kin ang babaeng nakaupo sa kaniyang higaan habang nakatingin sa labas ng bintana. Then she sensed my presence when I closed the door behind me and went in.

Our eyes were locked on each other, and I can't tell what she's exactly feeling while she's looking at me. I tried to smile and greet her. "Uhm, hey..."

"Uh... hey." She replied. Then we both were speechless. Di ko alam kung anong dapat kong sabihin sa kaniya. I was filled with such emotions that makes me feel so messed up right now. Then she suddenly talked. "I'm sorry, but... who are you?"

My eyes widened from the surprise. But what else should I expect? Sinabi na din ni tita sa akin na nagkaron sya ng post-traumatic amnesia, everything bad that happened back then never really registered in her memories and that she already disregards the people who were included from that traumatic event she's been through.

A tear escaped my eye, but I quickly wiped it and tried to smile at her. It breaks my heart that she chose to forget about me. It felt like hell when the person you love forgot all about you.

Lumapit ako sa kaniya at naupo sa dulo ng kaniyang higaan. "I'm... i'm just your childhood friend. So it is true that you can't remember me."

Nagtaka naman sya. "Who are you anyway? What's you're name?"

I smiled bitterly. "It's Alois Ruben Chevalier... just call me Ruben."

The End