It Started Last Summer: A One-Shot Contest

Entry 26

Taste of Summer

MAS LALONG NAGING MAPUSOK ang dagat ng tao. Ang pinaghalong sigawan at ingay ng musika ay nakabibingi. Salubong ang kilay ko na lumayo roon at naupo na lamang sa isa sa mga lounge. Tiningala ko ang pulang payong na nasa tabi ng mesa na nasa harapan ko. It's no used now dahil papalubog na ang araw. But it's enough because, somehow, I don't feel too exposed. Malalim akong bumuntong hininga at bored na pinagmasdan ang papalubog na araw sa malayo.

It's the start of summer so I can't really blame everyone if they get too excited dancing around. It was my thing before. Ngunit nagbabago nga yata ang lahat ng bagay dahil iyong mga bagay na nakasanayan at nagustuhan kong gawin noon ay hindi ko na ginagawa ngayon. It's not that it's not funny anymore. It's just not thrilling enough for me now. I was once a rebel teenager, always looking for the thrill to enjoy myself. Hanggang sa nagsawa na nga.

I easily get irritated with the dancing crowd, their loud music, their sweating bodies grinding with one another. Hindi ko rin naman sila masisisi kung nag-e-enjoy sila sa bagay na iyan. Siguro tulad ko ay darating din ang araw na magsasawa sila. That's how life works anyway. You enjoy the moments now as if it's the last day, and when it turns out that this day is not the last, you just enjoy reminiscing about those old good days.

I used to love mingling with everyone I barely knew. It makes me feel hot and beautiful especially when guys talk blatantly how good I look. Nakatutuwa ang paghahabol na ginagawa nila. I feel like I'm the most beautiful and blessed girl in the world that every guy wouldn't think twice of flocking down on my knees.

That was before. Ngayon ay hindi na ako na-e-entertain sa mga ganoong bagay. I want to be faithful now. Kaya naman ganoon na lamang ang ginawa kong pag-iwas nang malaking ngumiti sa akin ang isang lalaki. Hindi siguro niya napansin ang ginawa kong pag-iwas at naupo pa sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi ko. He's with his printed polo shirt, the first two buttons on top are missing. Or maybe it's part of the design.

Ngumuso ako at pinagmasdan ang mga kuko ko. I painted them and my toenails with different colors yesterday. Just out of boredom.

"Hi!" the unwelcome guy whispered. Mabilis akong naalerto sa ginawa niyang paglapit. One of his arms is resting behind my chair, the other one is on the table in front of us.

"Excuse me?" Namilog ang mga mata ko sa kanya. I don't want to be rude but he is obviously, and without a warning invading my privacy.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, too." He playfully shrugged his shoulders. Napakurap-kurap ako sa hubad niyang katawan, tanging swim trunks na lang ang suot. Nang mahina siyang tumawa ay muli akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kanyang mga mata. "I'm Everett."

I cleared my throat and looked away. I glanced around the bar's counter just near me. Hindi ko nakita ang hinahanap. Sighing, I again turned back to the stranger, but instantly looked away when I noticed how our proximity gets a little closer.

"Samantha," I breathe.

Muli ay marahan siyang tumawa. Hindi na ako natutuwa sa ginagawa niya kaya bahagya na akong umatras. It's either he's numb or that stupid not to notice my reluctance to talk to him. Imbis na lumayo at tahimik na lamang na umalis ay mas lalo lamang siyang lumalapit.

"You know what? You better go." I stared directly in his brown eyes. Namumungay na iyon at base na rin sa amoy ng kanyang hininga, alam kong marami na rin ang nainom na alak. That's one of the reasons everyone gets so much confidence to do absurd things like this.

The old me would surely entertain him. Matutuwa akong alamin kung ano ang kakaiba sa lalaking ito. Ang kahinaan niya. But that's the old me. Ito na ako ngayon and I'm not entertain anymore. In fact, naiinis na ako sa coolness niya.