Carpe Diem

Prologue

Getaway Car.

"Pads, seryoso," Niyaz groaned before tossing a soaked hand towel right onto my face.

I wiped the sweat dripping off my chin. Humiga ako sa malamig na tiles ng dance studio. I stared up at the high ceiling, listening to the music track we had just finished looping.

"Pakidala nalang ng bulaklak sa libing ko," I muffled out from underneath the towel, before pulling it down. "My mom is coming back from the States next week."

"And?"

"Gusto niyang doon nalang ako sa province mag-aral. Lahat kami ng mga kapatid ko pinapa-uwi niya."

He paused mid-sip from his tumbler. "Wait. Province? As in, iiwan mo 'tong studio? 'Yong hip-hop crew? Manila life?"

"No, as in iiwan ko 'yong sanity ko," I scoffed, sitting up and crossing my legs. "Guess I'm getting banished to live with farm animals. I'm thinking of faking my own kidnapping, what do you think?"

"Gago," He laughed, shaking his head. "Seryoso nga, anong gagawin mo? Payag ka nang ganun-ganon lang?"

"Well," I grinned, "option A is bribing the immigration officer to cancel her flight and option B is hiding inside the aircon vents of this studio until I graduate. Mapapansin ba ng admin kung magpapatayo ako ng tent sa sulok?"

"Ewan ko sa'yo, Chicago," He snorted, kicking my converse sneaker lightly. "Basta pag pinapakain ka na doon ng damo, tumawag ka nalang."

"But I'm also thinking of adding option C."

Lumingon siya sa 'kin nang makahulugan. "Sus. Saan?"

"Got a call. Houseparty."

"Ano 'yan? Fuck and leave?"

"Puwede ring huling tikim bago magbago ng buhay?"

"Tarantado."

I figured the only logical response was to drown my worries in cheap tequila and beer-scented chaos here in Taft.

"Dude, tabi! Baka mabasag 'yong baso!"

I dodged out of the way just as a guy in a jersey aggressively missed a beer pong shot. Punong-puno 'yong buong townhouse ng mga estudyante. Smoke was thick in the air, speakers were vibrating at halos wala ka nang madadaanan nang hindi nakakatapak ng natapon na alcohol.

"Chicago! Finally," a girl from the Fine Arts department yelled before shoving a fresh cup into my hand. "Lalaro ka ba ng Flip Cup o tatayo ka lang diyan?"

Sa kabilang dulo ng sala, Niyaz was already deep into Rage Cage, mabilis na nakikipag-sigawan sa grupo ng Architecture majors na mukhang tatlong araw nang hindi natutulog.

Sumipsip ako sa inumin ko habang gumagalaw sa ritmo ng tugtog. If this was going to be one of my last wild Manila nights before my mom dragged me to live out some rural fantasy, sisiguraduhin kong dalawang beses kaming irereklamo sa barangay ngayong gabi.

I leaned my head back against the kitchen cabinet, scanning the room with a slow, unimpressed sigh. Unang tingin ko pa lang, disappointment agad.

Wala man lang bago. Almost everyone in the room was a familiar face from our university. And as much as I loved the thrill of a good night out, I had a strict personal rule, though. Don't drop where you dance.

Pinangako ko sa sarili kong ayoko nang mag-scramble sa hallway tuwing umaga para lang maiwasan ang mga ex-flings ko. Not again. Not after the fiasco last month.

Just as I was about to resign myself to playing babysitter for Niyaz, my eyes caught a sudden flash of movement near the staircase.

It was a girl with vibrant red hair. She wasn't holding a red cup, nor was she talking to some athlete. In fact, while everyone around her was holding cheap alcohol, she was holding a heavy, disposable Tupperware filled with a full meal.

Kanin ba 'yon?

Hah. Ginawang birthday-an.

She shifted her head at doon ko napansin 'yong maliit pero napakalinaw na taling sa pisngi niya habang mabilis na nginunguya 'yong pagkain.

May sale ata ang siopao sa 7/11?

"Well..." I whispered to myself, swirling the ice in my cup.

"Hoy, gago. Nakatitig ka diyan, matutunaw 'yan," Niyaz' voice suddenly cut through my thoughts. He followed my gaze before snorting. "Ah. Mapple."

"Mapple?"

"Oo. Third year."

"Wait. Senior natin 'yan?"

"Oo nga! Computer Science major 'yan, bro. Blockmate ni Ate Jaz," Niyaz shrugged, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Computer Science? 'Yan? E, mas papatok 'yan kung Culinary, e."

"Loko"

I looked back at her. She was currently adjusting her red hair with one hand while holding a plastic spoon in the other and completely focused on scooping up the remaining gravy on her plate.

"Bro, look at her," I whispered, shaking my head in genuine shock. "She looks like she spends her time customizing Pinterest boards. You're telling me she writes C++ code? She doesn't look like she knows how to fix a printer, let alone major in CompSci."

"May mga gano'n talaga na hindi halata sa kanila."

I took a slow sip from my cup, my eyes locked on her who had just finished her entire meal and was now looking around for a trashcan.

I pushed myself off the kitchen counter, my cup dangling loosely between two fingers as I stopped right in front of her just as she was scanning the room and holding her empty disposable container. Up close, that mole on her cheek was even more distinct, framed by the bright red strands falling across her face. Parang palatandaan kung bola-bola ba 'yong flavor ng siopao mo.

"You know, usually people bring booze to a house party, not a three-course meal," I said, leaning casually against the banister beside her "Pero respect. Carbo-loading before hitting the dance floor?"

Mapple slowly shifted her gaze up to me. There was zero curiosity in her eyes. She looked me up and down like I was an unwanted pop-up ad on her computer screen.

"Excuse me," she said. "Nakaharang ka sa basurahan."

Mabilis akong gumilid. "I'm Chicago. Anong ulam 'yan? Pa-hingi naman."

Her brows knitting tightly together. "Gutom ako, maingay 'to, at gusto ko lang itapon 'tong lalagyan ko nang hindi nakikipag-usap sa lalaking amoy tequila."

"Hey, tequila is a classic!" I protested smoothly, trailing right behind her as she finally brushed past my shoulder. "At tsaka, senior kita 'di ba? I was just trying to-"

She stopped dead in her tracks, turning around so fast her red hair whipped past her shoulder.

"Kung ayaw mong i-debug ko 'yang mukha mo gamit 'tong kutsara, lumayo-layo ka sa akin."

Well, sure enough, she still ended up in my bed.

Pero mabilis tumakbo ang oras, kaya bago pa sumikat ang araw, I hopped straight into my car and drove away, leaving her behind with nothing but my name.

And as the engine roared and the city blurred through the window, I knew the clock was ticking down on my Manila days, leaving us both bound to a story that had barely even begun.