Wrong Name, Wave

Chapter 5

The poise that I have been stretching across the hall deserves an autograph more than the books do. An appreciative "thank you" and a smile, delivering fortune to each of the guests, were reliable to my innocent social contact.

That note got me ashen-faced. It took me a slow moment to choke on its object of desire. Why now? May nagmamasid ba sa akin ngayon? At anong kailangan niya?

"Ang galing mo magsulat, Ms. Ruth."

"Nakakagalit po mga stories niyo pero sobrang ganda."

"Sana may endgame na."

"You owe me a therapy after reading your stories."

Those comments are instrumental to my ears, perfectly tuned for cutting off rebel thoughts in my head. My focus should be here. I shouldn't be affected with that message dahil hindi naman ako si Zelda.

Hindi maaaring ako ang buhusan nila ng kamalasan dahil matatapon lang iyon sa sobrang dami nang naipon sa 'kin. Pero sa isang parte ng isipan ko, there's this ill-will that I am casting for her. She's stealing my spotlight.

"Ididiretso ko na po ba ang mga regalo ng mga fans sa kotse mo?" I heard Roxy asked. The event ended with beaten fingers and back pain. Hindi ko kakayaning buhatin lahat ng 'yon kaya tumango ako sa kanya at sumunod. Tumulong din ang iba pang staff.

There's an afterparty at a lavishly appointed bar later in the evening. "Si Mr. Feur na raw po ang susundo sa inyo mamayang gabi para sabay daw kayong darating." I showed agreement, but the truth is, I'll go there with Evelyn.

He has the highest position, but I got the highest standards.

"Ilapag mo na lang diyan sa living room. Thank you."

Nang makauwi sa condo ay ping-isipan ko muna kung bubuksan ko na ang mga regalo o kakain muna. May biniling takeout foods kasi sina Roxy kanina para sa 'kin. I chose to do the latter one. I don't like the main dish, so I settled on the carrot cake and coffee.

My stomach has a small-scale of storage kaya mabilis lang din akong nabusog. After that, I opened my gifts. Inuna ko muna ang mga nasa maliliit na wrapper bago 'yong mga malalaki.

Stuff toys, bags, hair accessories, crochet keychains, scrapbooks, at handwritten letters. Meron ding nagbigay ng instax film na halatang nasa latest model and Hermes sandals. I took snaps of them until I was satisfied and posted it on my Instagram story. Lagi nila akong nireremind na maging active sa socmed accounts ko dahil malaking tulong 'yon for promotion.

I have this tossing and turning feeling that doesn't simmer down until I got home. Bakit ba hindi ako mapakali? Alam ko ring hindi ito dahil sa bouquet na natanggap ko kanina.

Kinuha ko ulit ang phone ko at napabuntong-hininga nang makitang walang bagong text. Nakakapanibago. May sira ba 'to?

I tried composing a message for Evelyn.

To Eve:

???

Agad akong nakakuha ng reply sa kanya. Gumagana naman pala.

From Eve:

Wow ha. Okay lang ako, Ruth. Oo, kumain na ako. Miss na rin kita:)

To Eve:

Sa condo mo ako mag-aayos mamaya.

She only reacted with a thumbs up kaya in-off ko na ito. Nasa kalagitnaan din saguro ito ng trabaho.

I scrolled through my contacts, and my conversations with Evelyn and work-related people are the only ones active here. Well, what do I expect?

Siguro pagod lang ito kaya lang ay hindi ko pa rin magawang makatulog. Maybe a facial mask would help while I watch a Netflix movie.