6ft Under

---> text message <---

(Ate Aye)

Ate Aye diba uuwi ka ng Cebu?

Aye: Yes bakla bakit?

Pwede sumama?

Aye: Ano naman gagawin mo sa Cebu?

Well, may pupuntahan kasi akong gig. D kasi ako maalam sa Cebu baka mawala akoo

Aye: Huh it's your first time watching someone else's gig, at sa Cebu pa, sino ba tong artist na to at need mo pa sya sundan sa Cebu?

Yung Millie Lim.

Aye: D ko kilala anyways I'll book na lang our plane tickets bayaran mo na lang ako.

Yeah sure ate Aye, send details na lang.

Thank you so much kaya favorite friend kita eh

Aye: Nambola ka pa alam ko naman na sinasabi mo rin yan sa iba.

Halaaa di kaya

Aye: Matanong nga si Matilda.

Joke lang! 😜 Kita kitss

Aye: Sabi na eh! Ikaw talaga Jules Robles ang mga galawan mo ha.

---> end of convo <---

A: Saan?

She asked while balancing the drink and looking for a seat. I glanced around, trying to see if Millie was already on stage.

J: Dito ayan na oh, sya na kakanta.

We settled at a table near the stage. I motioned for Sandra to take an empty seat beside me while Ayesha was halfway through her drink.

A: Who is this girl again?

J: Yung sikat daw na singer, saka kailangan ko sya makausap.

She signaled the waiter to come to our table to order another drink. Is she really that stressed out because of uni? She looked at me with one eyebrow arched as if questioning my life choices.

A: Fan ka ba nya?

J: Hindi may kailangan lang talaga akong itanong.  Kaya tingnan mo mamaya kung saan pupunta.

A: Paano kung may staff?

J: I have my way.

Millie finally entered the stage, and the crowd went wild. She smiled sweetly and began adjusting the microphone. Before starting her song, she glanced around the crowd and paused when she spotted us, shaking her head. Kilala nya ba kami?

S: She's looking at us do you think she could see me?

J: Asa

I blurted out as I sipped my drink, then rested my chin on my hands, staring at Millie with boredom.

A: Fan ka ba talaga? Bakit parang bored na bored ka na?

J: Wala iniisip ko lang pano ko sya iaapproach ang dami palang bodyguard.

S: Daan ka sa backstage, baka malingat yung bodyguards, alam mo na management?

M: I think I found the love of my life in the crowd—the girl wearing a white tank top and grey-ish jacket. You have the prettiest eyes I've ever seen.

I followed Millie's gaze, and it landed on Ayesha.

J: Luh? Ikaw ata yun ate Aye.

A: Huh ako? Bakit ako?

She asked in disbelief, pointing at herself.

J: Eh ikaw lang naman naka tank top tube na white saka grey-ish jacket, tapos dito pa nakatingin sa table natin.

A: Baka may kapareho lang ako uyy.

M: This song is for you.

She started singing 'Gorgeous' by Taylor Swift, and the crowd cheered her on, occasionally joining in. Meanwhile, Ayesha didn't even react—she just kept eating barbecue and drinking more wine. Sandra was quietly sitting beside me. After what happened at her penthouse, she stopped pestering me, though sometimes she still blurts out apologies for what happened. But honestly, it doesn't bother me anymore. I've just learned to accept the truth and stopped letting my feeling grow.

Waiter: Ma'am, the drinks are on us tonight. Galing po ki Ma'am Millie.

J: Wow libre to kuya ha?

A: Huy! Ito talaga basta libre.

J: Kunin mo na lang ate Aye, tonight lang naman tayo mage-enjoy saka diba sabi mo gusto mo magtanggal ng stress dahil sa midterms nyo, so ito na yun.

I raised my eyebrows and smiled at her while getting all the glasses from kuya.

A: Sabagay, basta don’t drink too much ha

J: Wow ako pa talaga? Eh kanina ka pa nga dyan umiinom di mo man lang pinansin si Millie.

J: Bakit nakabusangot ka na naman dyan?

S: I just miss drinking.

J: Kung sinasabi mo na kasi lahat sa akin agad edi natapos na pagiging multo mo diba.

S: Galit ka pa rin ba dahil ki Cyrus?

J: Hindi ako galit ki Cyrus, galit ako kasi tinago mo na may iba pa palang tao sa buhay mo except sa dalawa mong friend, sa manager, at sa company mo.

S: Okay sorry na-

A: Jules! bumaba na sya papunta na sya sa backstage.

I immediately stood up and followed Millie, pushing past people until I was stopped by two of her large bodyguards.

J: Shit!

I whispered. Tumingala ako para tingnan yung dalawang tao sa harap ko, ngumiti naman ako sa kanila.

: Miss off limits na dito.

J: Magpapa-authograph lang po sana ako bossing, mabilis lang to.

S: Di yan uubra Jules.

J: Mabilis lang po talaga bossing.

Luckily a commotion broke out at the bar entrance, I took the chance to sneak past the bodyguards and ran for my life, hoping they wouldn't realize I had gotten inside. After a few turns, I finally caught my breath and pretended to be one of the staff, even greeting a woman as she left her dressing room.

S: Wala sya sa dressing room nya.

J: Shit saan naman kaya yun nagpunta?

Naikot na namin yung backstage ng mapadaan ako sa fire exit I saw a red headed girl. Tiningnan ko si Sandra para bang nagtatanong kung si Millie talaga yung nakaupo sa gilid. She just nodded at me.

J: Kanina pa kita hinahanap.

She looked at me, a questioning expression evident on her face.

M: Do I know?

J: Nope, Anong ginagawa mo rito?

I sighed as I sat next to her, stretching my legs from the exhaustion of looking for her, while Sandra stood by, waiting for Millie's response.

M: The crowd was suffocating, why are you here? You don’t seem like a fan.

J: I was sent by Sandra.

M: By who?!

She angrily grabbed me by both shoulders and stared at my face, her eyebrows furrowed in anger.

J: Hey-hey sabi nga ni ed caluag di ako nagpunta rito para makipag-away.

M: Are you mocking me?

J: What? No!

I grabbed both of her arms to stop her from pulling me by my shoulders. Sandra, concerned, moved closer and signaled for me to step away from Millie.

J: Look, alam ko na hindi ikaw yung culprit sa pagkawala ni Sandra and I understand that you didn't tell the police the whole truth. That's why I'm here. I'm not here to blame you like the others. I'm here to find the real suspect and hopefully mahanap na kung nasaan na ba talaga si Sandra so, can you please let go of me?!

M: Ugh fine.

She removed her arms and sat back down. I straightened up and coughed to shake off the fear, thinking she was going to punch me.

ohemjii akala ko susuntukin na ako!

J: So you’ll tell me the truth?

M: What do I get in return though?

I checked both of my shoulders because they hurt so much and noticed how red they were. They'll probably bruise later.

J: Well you probably don’t need money...

Sorry ate Aye desperate times call for desperate measures.

J: I can give you the name and number of the girl you mentioned before you started singing.

M: How do I know na totoo yung number na ibibigay mo?

I groaned and stood up while Sandra just shrugged at me.

J: Fine ipapakilala kita mamaya, deal?

She smiled at me as if she had won the lottery. Then she stood up and offered her hand for a handshake.

M: Deal?

J: Deal 

Sandra was so happy to the point she was clapping beside me and was about to hug me when Millie pulled me out of the fire exit.

M: Sa may dressing room na lang tayo, baka may makarinig.

Millie's POV

Glydel, a few of Sandra’s close friends, and I were invited to a party organized by her fiancé, Cyrus. Only a few people knew about it. He mentioned it was because Sandra had a big announcement to make the next day, and he was excited because they could finally go public with their engagement. Additionally, a project in Paris was being celebrated. When we first arrived at the party, Sandra wasn’t there yet, but Cyrus was. He explained that Sandra was attending an important meeting and didn’t know about the surprise party—she only knew she would be attending a dinner arranged by him.

When Sandra finally arrived at the venue, only a few people were left since it was already past midnight, and Cyrus had graciously handled the guests. Glydel had left early to meet someone, so I was alone. I saw Cyrus and Sandra talking and laughing about something. The three of us had a few drinks before I suggested going home. However, about an hour later, Cyrus asked me to pick up Glydel because he needed to take care of the remaining guests and would be spending the night at his apartment in Quezon, as they had a shoot the next day. Sandra was drunk, so I agreed to pick her up. I made a U-turn and drove back to the bar.

Cyrus: Thank you, Millie, she’s drunk and di ko na sya maihahatid since medyo malayo yung penthouse nya. Saka I have to deal some project with the high tower.

M: Yeah sure, okay lang Cyrus friend ko naman to.

Sandra still insisted on walking to my car. When we reached her building, she had completely passed out. I helped her up and got her to her penthouse. I settled her on the couch, even removing her makeup and contact lenses to be sure she was comfortable. She kept talking about leaving her job for good and spending more time with Cyrus, but I didn't give it much thought—it was her life, her choice. I tucked her in, placed a blanket over her, and made sure the AC was on. I said goodbye to the sleeping Sandra and left the building. And that's it—the next thing I knew, she was missing, and the police were questioning the three of us.

Jules POV

J: Bakit kayong tatlo yung na interrogate ng police? Diba sabi mo umalis agad si Glydel?

I was settled on the couch, holding my chin and thinking deeply about how Sandra disappeared.

M: Well lahat naman ng tao sa party na question ng police, kaso kaming tatlo lang yung nakuhaan ng evidence ng police na may contact ki Sandra before she went missing.

J: Pero umalis na si Glydel diba? Bago pa mawala si Sandra.

M: Yes but that girl did that to herself, nag post sya ng picture that night na they were hanging out together.

J: Pero sabi mo may meeting si Sandra, how come na nakapaghang-out pa sila?

M: It was just a picture baka nagkita sila sa labas, or sa ibang bar kaya nagpicture sila together then pinost ni Glydel.

J: Ikaw?

M: A paparazzi saw us together na papunta sa car ko, and Cyrus, they have a text message about the dinner.

Napalingon ako ki Sandra, probably yung post ni Glydel is yung about sa pagkikita nila ni Sandra. Si Cyrus may alibi sya since nagpaiwan sya sa bar and may mga guests pang naiwan, Si Glydel?

J: Anong alibi ni Glydel?

M: May business meeting sya with her shareholders, and nagbigay din ng statement yung dalawang shareholders na kasama nila si Glydel sa meeting.

J: Ikaw?

M: Akala ko ba di mo ako aakusahan?

J: Just making sure.

M: Umuwi na ako sa condo and natulog since may show ako the next day.

J: So ikaw pinagbibintangan kasi walang makakapatunay na umuwi ka nga, pero may CCTV naman diba?

M: Di ko alam, the CCTV weren’t working that night, ugh pagminamalas ka nga naman.

Napahawak sya sa ulo nya at saka yumuko.

Strange... sa lahat ng araw that day pa talaga nasira yung CCTV camera sa building nya.

Strange...

J: Saang bar kayo nagcelebrate?

M: It was around Pasig, I could give you the details.

Kanina pa lakad ng lakad si Sandra, nag-iisip ata kung anong nangyari pakatapos syang iwanan ni Millie sa penthouse nya.

J: Well thank you, Millie and as promise papakilala kita ki Ate Aye.

J: Bakit ka natatawa dyan?

S: Wala... na alala ko lang kanina itsura mo ng bigla kang hablutin ni Millie.

Sumimangot lang ako saka ininom yung drink na binigay ni ate Aye sa akin bago sya nawala na naman.

S: Cute mo pag naiinis.

Tumawa na naman sya habang tinatakpan yung bibig nya sobrang saya na naman nito. Ugh her mannerisms, bakit nakakabisado ko na?

: You drunk already?

Nilingon ko yung nagsasalita pero di ko maaninag due to the lights and maybe I’m a bit lightheaded.

: Do I know you?

: Maybe, you kinda one of my type.

S: What the fuck?!

Napalingon ako ki Sandra na nakaupo sa tabi ko, ang OA ha akala mo naman jowa.

J: Sorry miss next time na lang ha.

S: Anong next time?! May balak ka pa talaga.

Kumunot yung noo ko sa sinabi nya, ano bang kinaiinisan nito?

: Well, you knew Sandra right?

J: Ahh yung maarte at masamang ugaling babae na yun? Oo bakit?

Sandra was pissed off, throwing both hands in the air with her brows furrowed. The girl and I both laugh.

: Base on your description sya nga yun, nasaan sya ngayon?

I gently grabbed her by the shoulder, at saka nilapit yung mukha ko sa kanya.

S: Jules what are you doing?! Si Glydel yan lintek ka!

Nagpapanic sya sa gilid pero di ko masyadong maintindihan sinasabi nya due to the loud music.

J: Si Sandra? ay ewan ko kung asan sya, nakakainis sya! sya na nga tinutulungan naglilihim pa sa akin ng mga bagay-bagay.

I returned to the way I was sitting before and raised my glass to her, gesturing for a cheer.

G: Gaya ng?

S: Jules snap out of it gago ka!

J: Wag mo nga ako murahin Sandra, naririnig pa rin kita.

G: Sandra?

Lumingon-lingon sya sa paligid like she was looking for someone.

J: Gaya ng mga connections nya.

Sagot ko sa tanong nya kanina.

G: Why do you need to know that?

She asked, moving closer to me and offering another glass.

J: Eh kasi nga diba, nagpapatulong sya sa akin, so kailangan kong alamin kung sino si ganto si ganyan.

Inis kong saad sa kanya. 

S: Hello nandito lang ako sa tabi mo. Asaan na ba si Aye?

G: Tell me more, na saan ba si Sandra ngayon?

J: Sino ka ba at ba’t mo nalaman na nandito ako?

S: Patay na wala ka ng pag-asa Jules mabubuking ka na!

Nagpapanic na si Sandra sa tabi ko.

G: Well someone else's dog said na nadito ka raw para kausapin si Millie.

J: May stalker na pala ako ngayon.

G: Hmm maybe?

She was smiling softly at me and always taking glances.

J: Ikaw ba'y kinukuha mo loob ko? Kung ganon di mo ako makukuha sa pacute mo, nagmomove on yung tao dito oh.

S: Move on from who!? Saka bakit ganyan ka makatingin ki Glydel don’t tell me na type mo rin sya?!

She stood up and walked out. Why is she in a bad mood?

A: Hey! Nandito ka lang pala I was looking for you—I thought you had already left. Oh, sorry, were you with her?

J: Hindi nakiupo lang sya, mauna na kami miss ingat ka pauwi.

A: You’re drunk na talaga, sabi ko unti lang inumin mo beh. My God, you have such low tolerance.

G: Well, see you around Jules.

J: Susuka ako ate Aye

A: Tangina naman Jules dyan ka lang at kukuha ako sa reception ng water.

Habang sumusuka ako may tumapik sa likod ko. 

: Hinay-hinay lang sa pag-inom, baka bukas makalawa mamatay ka dahil sa sakit, hmm? Ingat ka bata.

I saw a pair of black shoes walking toward a black car.

S: Hey okay ka lang? Galing kasi ako ki Millie I check if she’s okay.

J: Yep okay lang ako nahimas-masan na rin.

S: Jules...

J: Hmm?

S: Type mo ba si Glydel?

J: Anong klaseng tanong yan Sandra, of course hindi nakakatakot kaya yun si Miss Glydel, ba't mo ba natanong?

S: Wala naman muntik na kasi kayong magchukchakan kanina sa bar.

J: Huh pinagsasabi mo?

S: Yung babae kanina sa bar si Glydel yun!

J: Gago bakit di ko napansin?!

S: Sinisigawan na kita di mo naman ako naririnig.

Napahawak ako sa bibig ko, patay.

J: Wala naman akong nasabing ikakakulong ko diba?

S: Wala naman.

J: Ohshux 

S: type mo sya noh?

J: Hindi nga kulit naman nito.

S: Eh bakit parang hahalikan mo na?

J: Hindi ko naman sya hahalikan!

S: Muntik na nga

J: Teka nga Sandra, nagseselos ka ba?

S: Hindi ah! Ayaw ko lang na mapasama yung kaibigan ko.

J: Ang kapal ha pag sa akin mapapasama?

S: Joke lang tara na nga ayan na si Aye

Aye came back with a water bottle and face towel.

A: ito oh imumog mo muna saka ka uminom.

She handed me the water bottle. Lumingon naman ako kung saan nakapark kanina yung kotse, need ko na mag doble ingat ngayon.

Something's in the wind.