War in Katipunan

Kabanata 6

KABANATA 6.

GUSTO KONG ipagtanggol ang sarili ko. Pero dahil may ebidensiya siya, ‘di nalang ako nag-reply. I just left him on read, hoping that it would bring back my lost ego. Kung andito lang sina Rafa ay humagalpak na siguro sila sa tawa. Tuwang-tuwa ang mga ‘yon kapag may katangahan akong ginawa eh.

Aba malay ko naman ba kasing mal-like ko ‘yon? Naiwasan ko ngang ma-like ‘yong latest post niya, na-like ko naman ‘yong oldest post niya. Kung minamalas ka nga naman oh. In-off ko nalang ang phone ko dahil baka may katangahan nanaman akong magawa. Once is enough. Twice is a girlgroup. Charot!

“Tae, ang corny ko.”

Kumain nalang ako dahil tanghali na pala at masyado kong dinamdam ang pagiging tanga ko kanina kaya ‘di ko namalayang ala-una na pala.

Nang gumabi na ay saka ko in-open ang phone ko. Medyo naka-move on na kasi ako sa katangahan ko. Pero ‘di ko muna io-open ang instagram ko. Mahirap na ‘no! Ang lesson ng story ay ‘wag mang-stalk kung ayaw mapahiya. Ego crashed, baby.

Agad na nagsidatingan ang mga text nina Rafa at Adi. Hindi ko nakita kanina kasi nga naka-off ang phone ko. Inaaya nila akong sumama sa party na pupuntahan nila. sunduin daw nila ako in thirty minutes. Alas-otso ng gabi dumating ang text at eight-thirty na. Kung Filipino time ang susundin ay alas-nuwebe pa sila darating. Kaya naman naligo muna ako. Sasama ako, baka sakaling ma-regain ko ‘yong nawala kong ego. Huhu.


TAMA nga ako. Lampas nang alas-nuwebe nang mag-doorbell sina Rafa. Mabuti nalang ay nakabihis na ako, mag-aayos nalang. Rafa volunteered to put some light make up on my face. Sumunod nalang ako kasi wala naman akong magagawa.

Nang nasa sasakyan na kami ay ikinuwento ko sakanila ‘yong katangahan na ginawa ko kanina. At ang dalawang traydor na ‘to ay tumawa nang tumawa habang nasa gitna kami ng traffic. Grabe naman talaga ang ka-Maynilaan ano po. Alas nuwebe na, traffic parin!

“’Wag nga kayong tumawa! Sirang-sira na nga ‘yong ego ko eh!” Tawa lang ang isinukli saakin ng dalawang ‘to. Inirapan ko nalang sila. Mga bully! Bully!

“Spica-babe, baka naman kasi nabighani ng ka-gwapuhan ni Luthor ang daliri mo kaya kusang nag-like.” Natatawang komento ni Adi. Sinuklian ko lang ito ng irap.

“Hello? Family picture kaya ‘yong na-like ko!”

“Baka naman kasi gusto mo maging part of the family? Rawr!”  Banat naman ni Rafa na tinawanan naman ni Adi. Ano bang nasa utak ng mga babaeng ‘to? Jusko, kung ano ano ang naiisip. Naiistress ako!

At mas nai-stress pa ‘ko nang makarating na kami sa house party ng kaibigan ni Rafa. Yes naman mas lumalaki na ang circle of friends ni Rafa a.k.a. Miss Eco-friendly. Charot!

Nang makapasok kami ay agad kong na-realize ang pagkakaiba ng house party na ‘to sa house party ni Ethan—‘yong dinaluhan namin dati. This party is obviously wilder than Ethan’s party. Puro mga college students ang nakikita ko. May ilan-ilan din akong athletes na nakitang naglalaro ng beer pong.

Nang mapadaan kami sa kabilang corner ng bahay ay may nakita na akong nagm-make out. Napangiwi ako sa tanawin na ‘yon. My gosh, ‘di ba sila nahihiyang makipag-make out in public? Pero naisip ko rin na twenty-first century na nga pala at nasa sentro kami ng siyudad. People here are liberated.

After a while, Rafa and Adi introduced me to the host of the party. He was a graduating archi student from La Salle. Medyo mahaba ang buhok niya but he looked nice. Nagpaalam sina Adi at Rafa na makikipag-usap sa mga friends nila, I just nodded. Gusto sana nila akong isama dahil ayaw nila akong maiwang mag-isa but I refused. I’m not a baby anymore ‘no. I can take care of myself. At saka nalilibang ako makipag-kwentuhan kay Lindon—the archi student from La Salle and the host of the party.

“You’re in your third year, right?” Lindon asked as he sipped from his cup.

“Yep. Konting gapang nalang, g-graduate na.” He chuckled. He looks hot and nice at the same time. But I can’t help but to compare him to Luthor. Lindon’s features is softer than Luthor’s. Masyadong magaspang ang features ni Luthor, it makes him more attractive though.

“What are your plans after college?” he asked again. He seems like guy with plans. While other guys are busy with playing, here is a guy who have plans. I smiled at that thought. I want to be friends with him.

“Pass the board exam, work.” I answered shortly. Come to think of it, ‘yan lang talaga ang plano ko after college. I just want to work and provide for myself. That’s… all.

“How ‘bout traveling? Many girls include travels on their plans after college.”

“Maybe I’m not like any other girls?” He just chuckled. We continued talking about our future plans. Talking about it with him—a guy whim I just met—left a realization inside my head. What are really my plans after college? What are my goals? All of my life, my only goals is to graduate, find work and provide for my self.

While him, listening to his plans, it seems that he has a bright future ahead of him. I envy those people who knows what they’ll do in their life. Maybe because they are well-guided by their parents and I am not. I smiled bitterly at that thought.

Nag-kwentuhan pa kami ng matagal-tagal. About architecture and engineering and about life. I considered him as my friend now. Ilang sandali pa ay nagpaalam siyang nagi-entertain ng ibang bisita. Bahagya pa akong nahiya dahil halos isang oras din kaming nag-kwentuhan. He said it’s okay though. Nang umalis siya ay pumunta ako sa labas ng bahay, sa may pool area.

May ilang tao roon but unlike the people inside, the guys here are more tamed. Since I am wearing a denim skirt, I decided to sit in the corner of the pool. Hinubad ko ang ankle boots ko at hinayaang malublob sa tubig ang paa ko.

Ingat na ingat rin ako sa pag-upo dahil baka masilipan ako. Maikli ang skirt ko ‘no! Si Rafa kasi ang namili ng susuotin ko dahil wala daw siyang tiwala sa wardrobe ko! She made me wear a rose colored long sleeve tucked in a short denim skirt paired with an ankle boots. It looks good on me because I’m tall but I’m not comfortable with it.

Nang makaupo ako gilid ng pool ay kinuha ko ang phone ko. I opened my instagram account and prayed that I will not see any post from Luthor. Nakaka-trauma kaya!

I take a snap of my feet underwater. The light was reflecting to the water that gave the photo an aesthetic feel. I edited the photo and posted it on my story. Ilang segundo pa ay may nag-pop out na reply sa story ko. It was from Luthor! Ano nanaman kayang katarantaduhan ang sasabihin nito huhu.

I wish you’re not stalking me again.

“Kapal!” I blurted out loud! Kasi naman eh. Hindi ko naman kasi siya iniistalk. Napaka-assuming niya!

“I was just checking if you’re stalking me again.” Agad akong napalingon sa gilid ko nang may nagsalita doon. At parang gusto ko nang tumalon sa pool nang makita ko kung sino iyon! It was Luthor wearing a funny grin on his face! Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin. I feel my cheeks burning up. I am pretty sure that I looked like a tomato now.

Hindi pa man ako tuluyang nakaka-move on sa kahihiyang nagawa ko kanina ay nagpakita agad ang lalaking ‘to sa’kin. I can’t even look at him for goodness’ sake!

“I’m not stalking you.” I managed to say in a small voice. Halatang kulang sa conviction ang boses ko. Nanghihina ako. His mere presence is enough to make me feel this weak. Idagdag pa ang katangahan na nagawa ko kanina. Too much embarrassment for today.

I heard him chuckle. “Okay, you’re not stalking me.”  Halata ang panunudyo sa boses niya. It’s obvious that he’s teasing me! And I’m not happy about it.

“I said I’m not stalking you!” Now, I shouted those words in his face! Nakakapikon naman kasi siya eh! Pero imbes na matakot sa pagsigaw ko ay tinawanan lang ako ng magaling na lalaking ‘to. And I hate to admit it but he’s really more handsome when he’s laughing. Nakakainis, iniinis na niya ‘ko pero pinupuri ko parin siya. Huhu.

“Chill, okay? Oo na, you’re not stalking me na.” He said but playfulness is still obvious in his voice. Lalong sumama ang timpla ng mukha ko. He’s obviously mocking me!

“’Di nga kasi kita iniistalk, okay?” I said helplessly.

“Oo na, hindi na. Nagkamali lang ako ng tingin.” Luthor was trying hard to hide the grin on his face pero hindi ‘yon nakaligtas sa mata ko! Halos sabunutan ko na ang sarili ko sa sobrang pagka-stress ko sakaniya. Paano ko ba siya mapapaniwala ni hindi ko siya ini-stalk? Eh kasi totoo naman na ini-stalk ko siya. Pero kanina ‘yon! Hindi na ngayon!

“Hey, don’t be upset. Nagkamali lang siguro ako ng tingin kanina.” Inirapan ko nalang siya. Halatang nang-aasar lang ‘to eh. Ibinaba ko nalang nag tingin ko sa paa kong nakalublob parin sa pool. I remembered when he called me in the middle of the night. Masyado akong assuming no’n. At masyado rin akong assuming ngayon dahil parang naramdaman kong lumapit siya sa’kin.

I looked at him when he sat beside me, closer to me, and let his legs fell down on the pool. It was okay, he was wearing shorts.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, eyes on my feet.

“I just want to smell some fresh air.” I rolled my eyes at his answer.

“I mean, anong ginagawa mo rito? Sa party na ‘to?” I heard him chuckle.

“This is my friend’s party.” Nagtaas ako ng kilay. He’s also friends with Lindon?

“Are you friends with everyone?” he laughed at what I said. Lumingon ako sakaniya. He’s really handsome when he laugh like that. Lakas maka pa-fall. If I were any other girl, I’m probably crushing on him now, but I am not any other girl so…

“Not really. Some are my friends way back college.” Tumango na lamang ako. He has a huge circle of friends, good for him. I can’t help but to stare at his face. His thick eyebrows and long eyelashes complimented his brown eyes. I never knew that brown eyes can be this beautiful until I saw his eyes. Party lights were reflecting on his eyes and it looked pretty.

If we’re on a different situation and different time, I would probably like him, for real. But I know that it will eventually fade. Feelings fade easily. I witnessed people around me fell out of love. There are people who are just perfect for each other. But when the time has come that they fell out of love, they just lost it. Everything changes. And I know, this attraction that I feel for him will soon fade too.

“’Wag mo naman ako masyadong tignan, Spica. Baka matunaw ako niyan.” Naningkit ang mata ko nang dahil sa sinabi niya. He have this grin on his face na lalong nagpainis sa’kin! Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. Malakas ko siya itinulak hanggang sa mahulog siya sa pool!

Gumawa iyon ng malakas na impact dahil nga malaki siyang lalaki. Napasa pa nga ng konti ang damit ko dahil sa impact ng tubig. Napatingin saamin ang ibang taong andito sa pool. I just smiled apologetically at them and turned to the who was now soaking wet in the pool. Napahilamos siya sa mukha niya at iniluwa ang tubig na nainom niya sa pool.

I laughed really hard when I saw his face! Mukha siyang basing sisiw! Hahahahahah buti nga sakanya!