The Warrior 1: Primo

Chapter 1

5 years ago

"Ayah... Alliyah Karizza!"

Halos mapaungol ako sa frustration nang marinig ang sunod sunod na katok sa pinto. Alam na alam ko kung kaninong boses galing 'yon. Pati na din ang paraan ng marahas na pagkatok niya ng pinto ay memoryadong memoryado ko na.

"You can't pretend to be asleep everytime I will invite you! It's super lame and annoying," ani Julia.

Sinara ko ang aklat na binabasa ko at pabagsak na binaba 'yon sa side table. It doesn't matter, my room is soundproof so she can't hear me from the outside. Pinalsak ko ang earphones sa tenga at nilagay 'yon sa full volume. Halos mabingi ako mula sa music ng cellphone ko. Mas gugustuhin ko pa na mabingi dahil sa music kesa sa sigaw ng kaibigan ko sa labas.

Sinandig ko ang likod sa headrest. Hindi ko pa man naipipikit ang mata ko ay bumungad na sa pinto ng kwarto ko si Julia. She's smiling triumphantly habang iwinawagayway ang kumpol ng mga susing nahiram niya siguro sa mayordoma ng bahay namin.

Agad na napasimangot ako nang makita siya.

Look at her beaming like it was the brightest idea she had ever think in her entire life.

Julia is my bestfriend. They own the lot next to ours kaya sila ang pinakamalapit naming kapitbahay. We literally grew up next to each othe. Like any typical best of friends – we wore the matching and coordinated outfits, foolishly pretended we were twins and practically almost live at each others house. I still remember the first time na nagkita kami. We're about 8 years old by then, she told everyone that she didn't like me and how she didn't want to be friends with me. But contrary to what she announced, she constantly looked for me everywhere. Hanggang isang gabi na uuwi na dapat kami dahil uma-tend lang kami ng welcome party para sa kanila – she cried like crazy and swore she will be a good girl kapag pinayagan siya na mag sleepover sa bahay. That night we've officially decided to be bestfriends. Our house is hers, her house is mine. Heto nga siya ngayon at nasa kwarto ko, acting like she owns everything here.

"Ang hirap talaga gisingin ng mga taong hindi naman tulog," parinig niya sa'kin.

"C'mon, Julia... You know I say yes to everything except this. Hindi ko trip ang karera ng mga sasakyan. I often see car accidents on the road kahit normal ang pagpapatakbo, 'yan pa kayang halos maiwan ang kaluluwa mo sa bilis? No! Never!" Nagsimula na agad akong magprotesta gamit ang rasong binibigay ko sa kanya lagi pagkatanggal ko ng earphones sa tenga.

Pinandilatan niya ako ng mata at tumabi sa pag upo dito sa kama ko. She looked frustrated and annoyed at the same time. Nasasayangan siguro sa effort ng pagpunta rito.

"Ayah, it's my birthday today so kahit anong pagtanggi ang gawin mo ay hindi valid! No buts! No excuses!" She said it with full of conviction. I can sense that any of my reasons will not do this time.

"Hindi mo birthday ngayon," I tried to argue.

"You know I have two birthdays. The one in my birth certificate and the real one, I celebrate both."

"That's true but I still don't like the idea of going to a race track. Pwede naman tayong kumain sa labas kung gusto mo, anything but not that," mariing tanggi ko sa paanyaya niya.

"Goodness gracious, Ayah. You're missing the whole point!"

"Yes, alam ko na ang punto mo. I know why you want to go there so badly. It's not the race you wanna watch, it's the hot guys." Natatawa kong bigkas.

She rolled her eyes at binagsak ang sarili sa kama. Pagkatapos ay biglang bumangon para umupo at harapin ako. She landed her hands in both of my cheeks, ready to explain things thoroughly.