Paper Stars (Self-Published)

Kabanata 30

"Malaki-laki ang ipapadala ng Papa niyo ngayong buwan kaya hindi na po problema ang pagkain."

Pero hindi ba nabanggit nina Nonoy na iyong may malalaking boobs ang type ng taong iyon? I unconsciously felt my flat chest. Sa patag nito, pwede ng pagtaniman ng mga palay!

"U-uh, L-lady Aya?"

But I felt him kiss my forehead last night... and then said 'ayoko na'. What on earth did he mean by that? Was he only playing? Iyon ba iyon?

"Lady Aya? Iyong oats niyo po nasa ilong niyo na naman—"

"Ugh!!! I can't take this anymore! I need to have answers!" Walang pasabi akong tumayo at mabilis na tinungo ang labasan.

"Lady Aya!"

Kinuha ko iyong mountain bike na binili ni Gene para sa akin bago siya umalis. Pagkabukas ko sa gate ay agad akong sumakay doon at saka pinausad.

"Lady Aya, saan po kayo pupunta?"

Nilingon ko ang sumigaw at nakita ang nag-aalalang bulto ni Kuya Milo na suot pa ang dating apron ni Mimi.

"Sa dagat! Maliligo lang saglit!" Sagot kong pasigaw bago pinasibad ang bisekleta.

"Pero Lady Aya, low—" Nilunod lang nang malakas na ihip ng hangin ang huli nitong sinabi.

Ilang sandali lang ay nasa dalampasigan na agad ako. Habol ko pa ang hininga habang tinatanaw ang malayong linya ng dagat.

Damn, low tide pala ngayon!

Ibinaling ko sa direksyon ng lumang pabrika ang aking paningin. Hindi ako sigurado kung gising na ba ang taong iyon. My plan was to take a quick dip in the ocean. Pray that it could give me some courage to go over there and ask him about last night.

Muli kong binalingan iyong dagat. Paano na ito ngayon?

Ayoko na...

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I opened them again, my decision was  made. I grabbed my bike again and drove towards that rusty footbridge.

Tahimik ang buong pabrika kapag ganitong oras ng umaga. Nasa manggahan iyong karamihan at marahil ay inuumpisan na ang kani-kanilang trabaho. I heard some of the boys here had jobs at some shops in town. They might not be high paying but still were decent jobs. And this was all because their leader boosted their skills and knowledge about these things which, in time, boosted their morale and self-confidence.

Their King was truly admirable how he managed to keep them under his influence. No cigarettes. No drugs. Just some occasional beers. And lots of fun! Kaya hindi na ako nagtataka kung bakit ganoon na lang ang respeto nila para sa taong iyon. Nakakaasar ang pagiging bossy kung minsan but he's generally a good guy.

Sure kang good lang?

I paused at my tracks as I let that last thought hung for a moment. Alright! He's a great guy! Sheesh!

Naaasar na ako sa pag-aaway ng sarili kong isipan nang pinihit ko ang knob ng silid nito.

"Ohayou!!! Oh shit!" Kaagad akong napaatras nang makita ko si Reign na nakadapa sa kama at may katabing babaeng hubo't hubad.

My eyes lingered at the girl's humongous chest before they went to the man's unclothed back. Doon ko lang napansin iyong faded dragon tattoo na nakaguhit sa halos buo nitong likuran. I thought I saw some weird marks where the tattoo was drawn over. Lalapitan ko na sana para alamin kung ano iyon nang bigla itong humarap.

"Ian?" He called me, his eyes were still half-closed until he noticed the naked girl beside him, "Fuck!" His eyes widened as he quickly grabbed some sheets to cover her. Nang muli niya akong lingunin, magkahalong takot at pag-aalala ang naroon sa kanyang mga berdeng mata.