CHAPTER 26: PRETTY

                                    

                                          
Chapter 26: Pretty
                          
Malakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko habang hinihintay na bumukas ang elevator door. There was a clicking sound, tanda na narating ko ang ang palapag kung nasaan ang P:RUM team. Balak kong muling isara ang elevator at bumalik sa 69th floor dahil iba ang kutob ko ngunit mas lalo lamang akong natigilan nang makita ang nakatayo sa harap ng elevator. 
                          
It was Coco, KL, Nikon, Triangle and Megan. My eyes widen as I looked at Megan. If she’s here, then who the hell is the one that I saw at the 69th floor?! Puto, namamalikmata ba ako?! There’s no way she can be here that fast! Wala na akong pakialam kung ano ang reaksyon ng iba nang makita nila ako. I was too focused on Megan who was standing in front of me.
                          
“Sunny, ayos ka lang ba?” tanong ni Coco nang makita ang reaction ko. Megan also looked at me with confusion at kahit gulong-gulo ang isipan ko, unti-unting nabuo ang isang teyorya sa utak ko.
                          
I immediately grabbed Megan by her wrist at dinala siya sa loob ng elevator. I pressed the door closed at pinindot ang 69th floor. Nang tuluyang sumara ang pinto ay saka ko lamang siya binitiwan.
                          
“What do you think you’re doing? You’re scaring the hell out of me by staring at me with that swollen eyes!” naiinis na wika niya. “What’s up, Sunny? Ano na naman ‘tong naisip mo? You should have rested at the dorm--”
                          
“I think I know where your friend Thea is,” sabi ko sa kanya. I saw her surprised reaction from the mirror in front.
                          
Hindi makapaniwalang napatingin siya sa akin. “What are you talking about?”
                          
“And I also found Stella.”
                          
She looked so confused at maging ako, confused na confused na ako sa mga nangyayari. It only makes sense right? Thea who find Megan so pretty who disappeared at one point in their life and ended up getting a face like Megan. Kahit namamaga ang mga mata ko sa kaiiyak kagabi, siguradong-sigurado ako na kamukhang-kamukha ni Megan ang tumawag kay Stella kanina.
                          
Nakataas ang kilay na hinarap niya ako. “Are you high?” She leaned towards me and smelled my face. “You’re not drunk so you’re probably on drugs.”
                          
Puto, alam kong mukha akong sabog dahil sa kaiiyak ko kagabi pero seryoso ako. I’m not hallucinating or what. I really saw someone who looks exactly like her.

                          
“See for yourself then,” sagot ko.

                          
Nanatili kaming tahimik hanggang sa bumukas ang elevator. Stella and the girl wasn’t in the lobby anymore kaya dinala ko si Megan sa pintong nilabasan ng babae kanina. We passed through the set of posters on the wall, displaying pretty faces and perfect bodies.
                          
“Are you up for another trouble at ngayon ay dinadamay mo ako?” naiinis niyang tanong.
                          
“Believe me, Megan.”
                          
I pushed the glass door open at bumungad sa paningin namin ang isang clinic. The area was wide with lots of equipment na ngayon ko lamang nakita. Marami ring mga nakapaskil na posters at larawan sa dingding. The walls were made of mirrors kaya napangiwi na lamang ako nang makita ko ang namamaga ko pang mata. Puto, mukha akong pinag-trip-an ng sampung bubuyog sa mata.
                          
Pinasok namin ang clinic ngunit walang katao-tao roon. But I’m sure this is where the girl who looks like Megan came from! Megan walked to the side where there was a door. Lumapit ako sa kanya at nang buksan niya ang pinto ay sabang kaming napasinghap.
                          
The place was filled with naked girls inside a glass tube.
                          
“Shit!” mura ni Megan habang iginagala ang paningin sa loob. Kahit ako ay nanigas sa kinatatayuan ko. I didn’t expect this. Why are these girls inside the tubes?