#BHOCAMP #BlaRis #BHOCAMP10TWC
CHAPTER 8: RAINBOW
ERIS' POV
A few years ago...
"If you ask me, it's better to have more housing available than vacant lands that are wasting away. Mas mabuti ngang maraming bahay na naipapatayo para may standard ang mga straktura rito sa Pilipinas."
Kung hindi lang ako naturuan ng mga magulang ko ng kagandahang asal ay baka kanina ko pa nilayasan ang lalaking nasa harapan ko. Siya na lang kaya ang palayasin ko? Alangan naman ako pa ang mag-adjust?
Not only that nothing about him interests me, his ideals are also shallow and ignorant. He looks attractive but I can't say the same to his personality. Sa tagal nga niyang nagsasalita ay hindi man lang niya napansin na nananatili akong walang imik. I grew tired of even nodding or giving him conversational fillers half an hour ago.
"Hindi iyong kung saan-saan lang nagsusulputan ang mga tao at nagtatayo ng mga bahay nila. Lalo tuloy tayong nagmumukha na mahirap na bansa. With more houses, there will be less homeless people."
Kung bakit naman kasi sa lahat ng gabi na naka-duty ako sa Paige's ay siyang gabi rin na dumayo ang taong ito rito. Si Enyo dapat ang sisihin ko. This is her shift.
Nasa kung saan lupalop na naman kasi panigurado ang isang iyon. I don't think she's out because of BHO CAMP's mission. Walang kahit na sinong nakakaalam kung saan siya nagpupunta o anong ginagawa niya. Iyong boyfriend niya baka alam.
Since Enyo came back from that mission... a lot has change with her. It was that mission where she got into an accident with Stone, her now boyfriend's brother. Ewan ko ba pero pakiramdam ko ay ang daming nagbago sa kaniya mula nang mangyari ang aksidente na iyon. O baka paranoid lang ako.
"It's so simple right? We can eliminate poverty by just a housing plan."
Nyx that approached the bar to get the drinks I prepared, rolled her eyes before scuffling away. She clearly heard the man talking.
"And what will happen to the homeless people?"
The man gave me a condescending look. "There won't be anyone that will be homeless if we have a lot of houses, sweetheart."
Sweetheart my ass. "That's not possible. Unless you'll give them the houses for free."
"Alam kong mahirap siyang maintindihan. I mean, you work here, but business is different. There's no such thing as free-"
"You're probably right. I don't know business." Ngumiti ang lalaki at tumango-tango pero nagpatuloy ako. "But I do know that you can't resolve poverty that way. In the first place, kaya nga walang matirahan ang ibang mga tao ay dahil wala silang kakayahan para makabili ng bahay. Kung gagawin mong subdivision lahat ng makita mo na lupa, they will just relocate. Because no matter how many houses you build, if people can't afford them then it's meaningless."
"Sweetheart-"
"People need education or jobs. What we don't need are houses that are depreciating while being left unused because there's no demand or it's not meeting the said demand because what offered are too expensive. We don't need more land development that are just destroying the ecosystem."
"Are you an environmentalist?"
"No, but considering the status of our planet right now we all should start to be one, don't you think?"
He's back to giving me a condescending look again. Pamilyar na ako sa mga taong katulad niya. Everyone came across to someone like him once in their life. Iyong mamaliitin ka base sa kasarian mo, trabaho, narating na edukasyon, o estado sa buhay. People that think so highly of themselves as if they own the world and all those that they think are below them are less than they will ever be.
"Wala namang masama maging idealistic, but if you keep thinking that way sweetheart, you'll never be more than what you are now. Gusto mo bang magtrabaho bilang bartender buong buhay mo?"
Bumuka ang bibig ko para sana isampal sa kaniya ang laman ng bank account ko pero hindi ko nagawang ituloy iyon nang maramdaman kong may mga labi na dumampi sa pisngi ko kasabay nang pagpulupot ng isang matigas na braso sa bewang ko.
"Akala ko wala ka ngayon-" Napatitig sa akin si Blaze. Bumaba ang mga mata niya sa nameplate na nakakabit sa uniporme na suot ko at bahagyang lumuwag ang pagkakahawak niya sa akin. "Eris."
"Yep. Eris." Tinuro ko ang sarili ko. "That's me."
Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa akin at sa lalaking ngayon ay mukhang hindi na komportable sa kinauupuan. Kanina wala siyang ginawa kundi bigyan ako ng mga opinyon niya na hindi ko naman hinihingi. Just because I'm a woman, I should just adjust with his arrogance. Now that there's another man in the picture, he has the face to get uncomfortable.
"Who's this?" Blaze asked.
"Pare-"
"Just a man who thought that I care about what he thinks. Akala niya ata trabaho ko rin na pakinggan lahat ng problema niya sa buhay. Normally, I wouldn't care. Except his opinions are stupid and he's so pushy about it. For starters, gusto niyang i-angat ang pagiging real estate agent niya dahil isa lang akong walang mararating na bartender."
Blaze turned to the man that are now more than uncomfortable. I can't blame him. The way Blaze is looking at him feels like it could burn a person alive.
"Do you own the properties that you are selling?"
Napalunok ang lalaki sa naging tanong ng binata. "N-No."
Umangat ang kamay ni Blaze na nasa bewang ko at ipinatong niya iyon sa balikat ko. "You're talking to one of the daughters of Paige Lawrence Wright. The owner of this bar. Pamilya niya rin ang may-ari ng buong lugar na ito. I suggest you buy a couple of the houses you are selling first before you trot your ass here spouting nonsense." Namutla ang lalaki at animo tinulos sa kinauupuan na nakatingin lang siya sa kasintahan ng kapatid ko. The knot on Blaze's forehead deepened, making the man gulp in return. "If you don't have anything to say, fuck off."
Naiiling na sinundan ko ng tingin ang lalaking kalahating oras ng pinadudugo ang tenga ko at ngayon ay mabilis pa sa alas-kuwatro na naglalakad paalis.
"Sorry about that."
I turned to Blaze. "Saan? Iyong inagawan mo ako ng chance na supalpalin ang taong 'yon o sa halik na binigay mo sa akin?" It was his turn to look uncomfortable. Pinaikot ko ang mga mata ko sa kaniya. "It's fine. Kahit naman ako nalilito rin sa unang tingin sa inyo ng kapatid mo."
"But you know how to differentiate us?" I saw his eyes sparkled despite the bar's dim light. "May hindi ba ako alam na gusto mong sabihin sa akin? You know... like what they say about getting to know one twin."
For a moment I thought he was talking about himself. Pero kaagad din napalis sa isipan ko iyon dahil alam ko na hindi niya ikokonsidera ang sarili niya para sa bagay na iyon. "I know the same thing that the others do so that we could identify you. And I know what you're insinuating at sasabihin ko sa'yo ang lagi kong sinasabi sa iba. Hindi porke kayo na ng kapatid ko ay automatiko na magkakagusto ako sa kapatid mo."
"What's wrong with my brother? He's good looking, rich, he came from a great family-"
Natatawang pinunasan ko ang counter ng mini bar. "Para mo na ring dinescribe ang sarili mo."
"I'm out of the choices since I'm taken."
"So kung hindi ka pa taken, kasama ka sa option?" Naumid ang dila ng binata dahilan para lumawak ang ngiti sa mga labi ko. "Chill out. Baka magalit pa sa akin si Enyo kapag nalamang tineterorize kita." Napatingin ako sa isang bahagi ng Paige's nang makarinig ako ng kantiyawan sa lamesa na kinaroroonan ng mga pinsan ni Blaze. They were teasing Fiere that is currently holding a bouquet of lollipop. Hindi ko na kailangan hanapin pa ang pinsan ko na si Athena para malaman na sa kaniya nanggaling iyon. Siya lang naman ang hindi nauubusan ng hiya na harutin ang isa sa Roqas Twins. "Hindi ka ba sasali sa kanila?"
Blaze looked at them and he shrugged. "Fiere has enough people teasing him. He won't miss me."
"Eh di maging tagapagtanggol ka rin niya."
"Naubos ko na ang energy ko sa'yo."
I scoffed at that. "Hindi naman ako humihingi ng tulong. I was already gearing up to put that man in place."
"I saved you from Dawn. Mukha kasing malapit mo ng ibigti ang lalaki na iyon sa paraan ng pagkakatingin mo sa kaniya." Umikot siya sa kabilang bahagi ng counter at umupo siya sa bar stool na binakante ng taong kausap ko kanina. "Seriously though, do you mind if I stay here?"
"I do."
"Why?"
"Mainit ang ulo ko ngayon."
Ngumisi siya. "I'll just stay for ten minutes... or five."
Tumingin ako sa suot ko na relos bago ko siya tinanguhan. "Fine. Sapat na oras bago mo mapainit lalo ang ulo ko."
He chuckled, "I could do that in a minute."
"Probably. But my patience could last for ten to five minutes."
"You looked like you've been listening to that man's pompous ass for more than that and I only got ten to five minutes?"
Nagkibit-balikat ako. "I'm on duty so it's my job to have patience to people like that. Pero ikaw hindi kita kailangan pagpasensyahan. Trabaho iyon ng kapatid ko na patay na patay ka."
He gave out a huge laugh that for a moment I could just only stare at him. Isa iyon sa mga dahilan kung paano ko sila napag-iiba na magkapatid. Blaze has always been the one to let out his emotions easily. Or at least the shallow ones. Minsan iyong iba ay nananatiling naglalaro lang sa likod ng mga mata niya. You'll see a glimpse, enough to know their existence, but not enough to know what they are. Stone on the other hand looks like a blank canvas. You'll never really know what to get from him, unless he let you, which is not frequent. Iilan lang na tao ang nagagawang makatibag sa pader na ipinapakita niya.
And yet Stone has this gentleness in him, while Blaze is a bit rough around the edges. People often thought that Stone is more of a snob than Blaze dahil lang mas seryoso siya. Doon sila nagkakamali. Stone would have rattled about law and harassment to the asshole earlier, while Blaze will do what he did. He'll just tell the man to fuck off.
"I don't believe that twin thing, just so you know," I blurted out.
"Hmm?"
"They said that if you want to differentiate twins, then you should get to know one of them. May paniniwala ang ilan na kapag nahanap ng isang kambal ang taong makakakilala sa kaniya kahit pa nasa tabi niya ang taong katulad na katulad niya, it would be the one that he or she will eventually fall in love with."
"You don't agree?"
"No, I don't. We all grew up together even though we don't always hang out. But we do know things about each other. Ibig bang sabihin kapag may alam ang mga agent tungkol sa isa sa inyong magkapatid ay automatic ng may gusto sila sa'yo? Hindi ba pwedeng nakilala lang nila kayo? I know things about you and your brother. I could sometimes make mistakes pero nagagawa ko rin kayong makilala kapag kaharap ko ang isa sa inyo. Does that mean I'm in love with one of you?"
"Well..."
I rolled my eyes again when his gaze turned teasing, clearly pairing me up with his twin again. "The answer is no. Iba iyong kinilala lang kayo sa minahal kayo sa bagay na nalaman tungkol sa inyo. I could know million things about you and it wouldn't mean anything if I don't fall in love with those that make you you."
Nangalumbaba siya. "You put a lot of thoughts into this."
"I'm a twin aren't I? Feeling ng ibang tao challenge na magawa akong ihiwalay sa kakambal ko. Like it somehow make them special just to differentiate us. Do you know how many people I dated tried so hard to put us apart just so they can prove to me that they like me? And yet they neglect the most important part." Nagbaba ako ng baso sa harapan niya. He pointed to the rack of whiskey and I grabbed one of them. "Love is a complex thing. Kahit buong buhay mong kilala ang isang tao, kahit alam mo lahat ng tungkol sa kaniya, at kahit gaano pa kayo katagal magkasama, if your heart don't see those things then you can't fall in love. It's not about the capacity of your brain to store memories that your eyes have seen and those that your mind processed. It's about the things that your heart felt. Those will always have more impact than anything else and it will be harder to forget."
"You mean to say that you can witness how amazing I am over and over and yet it won't be enough to fall in love with me unless your heart tells you to?"
"That and because you're my sister's boyfriend. I will never like you that way."
"Pero kung hindi ako boyfriend ng kapatid mo?" Ngumisi lang siya ng pinaningkitan ko siya ng mga mata. "Humor me. Just out of curiosity."
Pinagkrus ko ang mga braso ko bago ko siya sandali pinakatitigan. "I wouldn't know. I told you. It's the heart's job to know not my brain. Hanggang wala ako sa sitwasyon na 'yon hindi ko malalaman." I scrunched up my nose. "Nah. Kahit maging pink pa ang ibon-"
"Uwak."
"Ha?"
"Hindi ibon, uwak."
"Ibon din ang uwak," kunot ang noo na sabi ko. What is he? Some kind of a bird expert?
"But they usually say uwak since it's more specific. Kapag sinabi mong ibon, ang daming klase ng ibon, at merong pink na ibon. It's like you basically telling me that you'll fall in love with me someday-"
Itinaas ko ang kamay ko at nginiwian ko siya. "Don't say bad words. Isusumbong kita sa kapatid ko." Tumawa lang siya na para bang balewala lang sa kaniya ang banta ko. "Fine. Kapag naging pink na ang penguin."
"Hmm. Good one." He raised his glass on my direction and I poured him another shot. "You'll probably fall for my brother faster than finding a pink penguin."
"Huwag kang mag-alala. Wala akong balak maghanap." I looked at the ceiling of the bar as if thinking. "I should find a blue one as well para mas lalong maging imposible. Pink at blue na mga penguin."
"May blue-"
Hindi niya na natapos ang sasabihin nang may tumawag sa pangalan niya. One of his cousin is calling him. He sighed and looked at me with beleaguered eyes. "Women are flocking on their table again. Their women, not mine. Ikaw ang witness ko kapag may nagsumbong sa kapatid mo."
"Basta ba hindi ka gagawa ng kasumbong-sumbong na bagay. I won't just tell my sister, I will also break your face for her tonight."
He squinted his eyes at me. "You know when people tell me that you're the sweet twin, I never believed them. For some reason, nararamdaman ko na mas suplada ka kesa sa kapatid mo."
"Katulad na hindi rin ako naniniwala kapag sinasabi nilang ikaw ang mas mabait sa inyong magkapatid dahil lang mas madali kang pangitiin kesa kay Stone." Tumingin ako sa relos na suot ko. "Your ten minutes are up."
His lips went up as he stood up from his chair, still holding his glass. Imbis na lumapit na sa mga pinsan niya ay nanatili siyang nakatayo sa harapan ko. "It would be interesting to see the day that you finally fall in love. Maybe if you meet the right person."
Pinaikot ko ang mga mata ko. "Rainbow na penguin na ang kailangan kong hanapin no'n."
"Malay mo naman."
"Bakit? May mairereto ka ba sa akin?"
Nilingon niya ang kinaroroonan ng pamilya niya at sa pagkakataon na ito ay ilong niya naman ang nalukot. "Unless willing kang tumanggap ng kailangan na 24/7 na pang-unawa?"
"You mean Thunder?"
"Yep."
Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Bakit hindi si Fiere?"
"Willing ka bang maging karibal si Athena?"
"Mukha bang may balak akong lagyan ng taning ang buhay ko?" Napangiwi ako nang may maalala ako. "I had a crush on him before."
Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Blaze. "Kay Fiere?"
"Kay Thunder."
"Wow," he muttered, clearly in awe. "Bakit hindi na ngayon?"
Sabay na napatingin kami sa kinaroroonan nila Thunder. Kasalukuyang nasa ibabaw ng lamesa ang mukhang marami ng nainom na lalaki. He's even making an air guitar gesture as if he's holding an imaginary instrument and strumming the strings. Nang hindi pa nakuntento ay gumiling-giling ang lalaki na kahit ang pinakabaguhan na macho dancer ay ikahihiya.
"You don't need to say more," he said in understanding. "Taong kasing sakit niya rin sa ulo lang ang makakaintindi sa kaniya."
"I agree." I grabbed a glass and poured my own drink from the same bottle of whiskey I gave him. Itinaas ko iyon sa direksyon niya. "To meeting the people we deserve."
"I already met mine." Itinaas niya ang kopita ng sarili niyang alak. "But may you find the person you deserve."
"I wonder what kind of person that is."
I asked that question more to myself than to him. But with a smile on his lips, Blaze answered it before finally joining his family.
"Siguro iyong kayang gawing rainbow ang penguin para sa'yo."
______________________End of Chapter 8.