Maginoong Medyo Bastos

Chapter Eight

Hindi niya alam kung ilang minuto ang hinintay niya bago nag-umpisa ang party. Nakita na lamang niya ang pinsan na naglalakad pababa ng hagdan habang hawak-hawak ng nobyo nito ang isa nitong kamay. Malaki ang ngiti ng babae habang kuma-kaway-kaway sa mga taong pumapalakpak.

Vannessa's eyes squinted upon seeing the gown that she was wearing. Just at first glance, she already knew that the gown was Fedora-made. She also knew that Stella probably asked for their Tito Ram's help for her gown that evening. Ram was the founding member and the CEO of Fedora.

Sa mukha pa lang ng pinsan ay kumukulo na ang dugo ni Vannessa. Stella was pretty good at annoying her without even trying. She wanted to wipe the smile off her face, and ruin her evening, but Vannessa decided not to stoop that low for the girl, even when she used Pops Renie as a bait which certainly Vannessa didn't condone.

To be fair, Stella wasn't ugly. In fact, she had an angelic visage, and her make-up that evening enhanced and highlighted her soft features. She looked pretty under the lights as well. If one didn't know her, they would immediately conclude that she didn't have the personality that she had. In fact, they'd even think that she was a wholesome human being which Vannessa would utterly disagree with. As angelic as the girl looked, her attitude was the total opposite.

Ang hobby ata nito'y gawing impyerno ang buhay niya sa tuwing napagbibigyan ng pagkakataon. They had always hated each other since they were kids to the point that Vannessa couldn't even remember the reason why they started to be like that in the first place.

Ayaw na ayaw ng babaeng nalalamangan, lalong-lalo na kung si Vannessa na ang pinag-uusapan. Whenever Vannessa sang, Stella would also sing. Whenever Vannessa danced, Stella would also dance. Stella wanted to have everything Vannessa had, right from her clothes down to her earrings. Kulang na lang ay gayahin na rin nito pati ang kanyang mukha.

The party continued by then, and things were a blur for Vannessa because she didn't care enough. Kumakain lang siya ng mga prutas sa mesa nila habang nagsasaya ang mga tao. There were some dancing, some performing, and some things that she couldn't remember.

She just stayed there, together with her dad. Wala rin naman siyang mga pinsang talagang malapit sa kanya.

Wala siyang pakialam. Gusto na niyang matapos ito nang makauwi na siya.

"Vannessa, dear, how are you?"

Kaagad napapikit si Vannessa sa yamot nang marinig ang boses na iyon. She fought the urge to roll her eyes when she saw her Tita Angie and Tita Millet with huge smiles in their faces that were, for sure, only a facade.

Hindi siya hinintay ng mga itong sumagot dahil nagsalita ang kanyang Auntie Millet, ang asawa ng kanyang Tito RK. "Buti naman ay naimbita ka rin dito. Pero ano ba namang suot 'yan, hija? Naturingan ka pa namang designer." Bumaba ang tingin nito sa suot niya habang nakangiwi.

Kaagad na napakunot ang noo ni Vannessa nang dahil doon. She knew that that would happen, but it really still sounded hilarious when finally said.

"Nako, Mil, I'm pretty sure she doesn't even know what she's doing. Hindi pa alam ng batang 'yan ang talagang gusto niya sa buhay," replied Angie as if she wasn't there.

Napakuyom si Vannessa sa mga kamao habang pinipigilan na lamang magsalita pabalik sa mga ito. Rinig niya ang kanyang daddy pero hindi niya maintindihan ang sinasabi nito.

If they would get into her nerves some more…

"Manang-mana sa Nanay--"

Vannessa snapped.

"Excuse me?" she asked, getting their attention. Nakataas naman ang kilay ng mga ito nang binalingan siya ng atensyon. Hindi nagpatinag si Vannessa at tinaasan din ang mga ito ng kilay habang palipat-lipat ang tingin sa dalawa. "You should be ashamed with yourselves. Ang tanda-tanda n'yo na pero kung makapag-usap kayo tungkol sa buhay ng iba, parang wala kayong sariling buhay, ha. Hindi pa nga kayo patay, para na kayong mga walang sariling buhay."