Chapter 07
"Bestie, papasok ka ba bukas?"
Nakahiga kaming dalawa ngayon sa kama ko, nakauwi na kami at pansamantalang umalis sina Mama at Papa upang asikasuhin ang ibang papeles. Nakita rin namin kanina na maraming kasambahay ang naririto.
They're cleaning the house, I've heard that my grandfather sent them here.
He must've knew the news about me but still he didn't even visit me once or call me.
"Hindi ko rin alam e, siguro next week na lang, nanginginig pa ang mga binti ko sa panghihina."
Umupo siya at tumingin sa akin, "Puwede mo akong samahan? Magkuha lang tayo ng gamit ko."
"Right now?" I asked. She nodded.
I got up and went to my closet. Naghanap ako ng pajama dahil naka maikling shorts lamang ako.
"Malapit lang naman yung apartment mo sa school diba?"
Tumango siya at pumunta ng guestroom.
She'll be staying there for a while. Since my parents are getting busier for the upcoming election.
Tinutulungan nila si Tita.
My mother is the secretary of the previous Senator Dela Cruz.
Balita ko ay may balak siyang mag takbo bilang isang mayor sa aming bayan. Bumaba na ako, I even checked the guestroom if Elle is still there but she's not. So I went outside only to find her inside the car.
"You can drive?!" I asked midway.
She shrugged herself and motion me to het inside already.
"Kailan ka pa natuto?" I asked.
Mayabang niya akong binigyan ng tingin kaya pinaikutan ko lang siya ng mata, obviously she's starting to look at herself highly again. Nagmamayabang na porket kaya niya ng mag drive at ako hindi.
She knew about the fact that my father won't let me despite of several attempts I've made, it always ended up as a failure.
"Hindi lang 'to ang kaya ko."
"Alam ko namang–" pinutol niya ang sasabihin ko.
"Pareho lang tayong pokpok, nagmana ka lang sa akin." Aniya.
Wow, a self-proclaimed. But deep inside I know it's just a joke so no need to take it seriously.
Inayos ko ang aking seatbelt at pinausad niya na ang sasakyan pagkatapos nitong buhayin ang makina. Lumabas na kami sa subdivision.
"Shall we go to Jollibee afterwards?" I asked.
While her eyes on the road, she gave me an answer.
"We just ate a while ago, ah. Gutom ka na ulit?" Nagtatakang sabi niya.
I watched her overtake the tricycle in front of us. Wow, she drive smoothly! I wonder where did she learn it tho? At saka bakit hindi niya sa akin sinabi?!
Gusto kong magtampo pero huwag na lang dahil nangyari na, ano pa bang magagawa ko?
"Nag c-crave kasi ako sa Jollibee e. Lalo na't bitin pa yung mga kinain ko kanina."
Kumunot ang noo niya, tinapunan niya ako ng isang mabilis na tingin bago binalik ulit sa harapan. I think there's an idea speculating in her mind.
"Paano kung ibang cravings na 'yan?" Makahulugan niyang sabi.
My eyes widened and smacked her hand. "Tanga, huwag mo 'kong pakabahin bago itapon kita sa mars."
Pabiro kong sabi kahit na alam kong dinatnan ako ng aking pulang araw ngayong buwan.
"Akala ko marites," natatawang aniya.
Napasimangot ako at tinuon na ulit sa harapan ang atensyon. Where the hell did she get that name? Ang layo ng mars sa marites ha.
I wonder who came into her mind. Oh siguro, she's pertaining to herself. Marites ang datingan niya. Kauna-unahang babae na aking nakilala na malakas sumagap ng tsismis.
It's like, nanghihina siya kapag walang tsismis na nasasagap.
"Alam mo, Elle. Minsan mag linis ka rin ng tainga mo, ang dami na sigurong tililing diyan."
"Eww, that's gross."
Minabela niya ang manibela upang lumiko, wala pa namang mga estudyanteng nag sisipag labasan sa school, when I checked the time it's still too early for the end of afternoon schedules.
We stopped at the café she worked on, she didn't spend much time inside because she immediately leave. I didn't know what she did.
Hindi ko napansing nakarating na kami malapit sa school. Nagdrive pa siya palampas dito at tumigil sa nga apartment na pinag rerentahan ng mga teacher at estudyante.
I thought it's the building where we gonna go, but I was wrong. Beside the apartment's building there's a small house, I think it's a house good for two? There's also a car parked at the side if the road.
I followed her and she's mumbling about something continuously. It's hard to even recognize the words she blurted out.
"Nandiyan kaya siya?" Mahinang bulong niya.
"Sino?"
Her eyes widened, "wala ah!"
She put the keys and went inside. Elle looks nervous for unknown reason, I don't even feel anything suspicious but the house interior design is majestic, the furniture's look expensive.
Kaninong bahay naman ito?
It was the combination of dark gray, white and white.
For sure it wasn't Elle's house but maybe she rented here. Base on the equipments and interior design, I know it was a man living here.
"May ka-live in ka?!"
"Shh!" Aniya at tinakpan pa ang mga bibig ko.
Dahan dahan lamang ang kaniyang ginagawang paghakbang.
Pumasok siya sa isang kwarto. Umupo ako sa sala at naghintay sa kaniya. Hindi na rin inabot ito ng sampung minuto at kaagad na siyang lumabas dala ang isang malaking maleta at bag.
"Pang malakas na yang maleta ah."
"Ah, maghahanap kasi ako ulit ng bagong marerentahan, kapag medyo okay ka na." Aniya.
Sinarado niya ang kwarto sabay ng pagbukas ng isang pintuan. Natigilan kaming dalawa.
Namutla si Elle at kabadong tinignan kung sino ang lalabas sa mismong kwarto na 'yon. She's expecting someone. We waited until the door is open halfway, but no one came out instead it gave us the full view inside the room.
My eyes widened when I saw who's inside, sleeping in the bed.
"Your boss?!" I whispered.
"T-tara na.. u-umalis na t-tayo rito." Hirap niyang sabi.
"Tangina, sugudin na ba natin?"
Umiling siya. Hindi rin nakatakas sa akin ang pagdaan ng sakit sa kaniyang mga mata. Mas lalo lamang itong nadagdagan ng ma-realize na mayroon itong katabing babae.
I can't say they're naked but their clothes is still on.
"We already broke up." Mahina niyang sabi.
Feeling ko ay nanliit ang aking mga mata, ibig sabihin may relasyon pala sila ng boss niya?! Kailan pa? Bakit hindi niya sinasabi sa akin? We were alone for how many time pero kahit isa patungkol sa bagay na 'to, wala siyang sinabi.
"Mamaya ko na lang e-explain."
I nodded.
Kinuna ko ang isa sa mga dala niya upang maibsan ang bigat nito at hindi na siya mahirapan ngunit marahan niya lamang akong tinanggihan.
"Hindi ka pa magaling."
Iba't ibang pilit ang ginawa ko pero nanatili pa ring ganun ang sagot niya.
I observed her in my peripheral vision when I advanced towards the door. She painfully take a glance before Elle closed the door where her boss is.
She even left a note and a medium box beside it.
Kawawa naman kami, parehong sawi.
Nasa loob na ako ng sasakyan at kasalukuyang pinapasok ni Elle ang kaniyang gamit sa compartment nito ng may narinig kaming dumagundong na boses. Tinatawag ang pangalan ng kaibigan.
Lumabas roon ang boss niyang magulo ang buhok at galit na tinatawag siya.
"Elle, fuck that!" He exclaimed, habang malalaki at mabilis ang mga hakbang niya papunta sa amin. "What are you doing, woman? We're going to talk!"
I saw how she flinched. She immediately put the remaining two bags but it can no longer fit. Dali niyang sinara ang compartment at binuksan ang pinto ng backseat at pinasok ang natitirang bag.
Pumasok siya kaagad sa loob ng sasakyan. Naghahabol ng hininga at nanlalaki ang mga mata dahil.
Mabilis niyang pinaandar ang sasakyan but her boss manage to close the distance in an instant, he opened the cars door.
"Labas, Elle."
Hindi nakinig ang kaibigan ko.
"Hey–"
Kaagad akong sinenyasan ni Elle na huwag ng makisali. Tahimik akong tumungo kahit may nagsasabi sa aking mangisali rito.
"Elle, please?" Hindi pa rin siya pinakinggan ng kaibigan kaya huminga ito ng malalim. "Labas, Maven Elle."
Pero guys, yung abs kasi ang nakatutok sa akin kay hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako o hindi. Busog na busog na ang mata ko sa magandang tanawin sa aking harapan!
Iniwas ko na lamang ang mga mata dahil naramdaman ko ang masamang tingin na pinupukol ng kaibigan ko! Now I know why she said, this car is not the only one she can drive..
Kasi putangina, active pala ang sex life nito.
Sa mismong boss niya pa ha.
Lumabas siya ng sasakyan ganun din ako. Nagpaalam akong pupunta muna sa kanto, kung saan ang direksyon ng school.
I went to the café where my friend worked. I ordered one chocolate roll cake and 2 strawberry flavor shake for take out. I found a vacant table to seat. I was waiting for my order to be fixed and served when a back of a familiar man caught my attention.
Alam ko na kaagad kung sino ito. Si Shaun.
May kasama itong mga babae at sa tingin ko ay ibang barkada niya.
Nawala ang ngiti ko at mas lalong sumama ang aking pakiramdam. Nakikipag tawanan pa ito at lalo namang nai-enjoy niya ang presensya nila.
His instincts my ass!
He told me before that whenever I am, his instincts says that I'm close to him.
Pero sa nakikita ko ngayon ay parang binobola lang ako nito noon. I see, maybe he's tired already? I don't know.
Tahimik lang ako at tamang nagmamasid lang sa kanila ngunit biglang nagparamdam si kalikasan. Mahina akong tumayo at pasimpleng naglakad sa comfort room ng shop, yung tipong hindi niya ako mapapansin.
I washed my hands after I'm done. I didn't spend that long inside.
I went back to the table only to see that someone was seating in front of the chair I occupied earlier.
He was familiar.
Ah, I remember, he's the one I've seen getting bullied yesterday.
Umupo ako sa harapan niya at kahit na awkward, isina-walang bahala ko ito. Halos mairita ako ng husto ng marinig ang tawa ni Shaun na sumakop sa buong lugar.
Tuwang tuwa ang gago.
"Hi," he said.
"Hello." I replied.
"Naaalala mo pa ako? Ako yung nagkabanggaan tayo nakaraan sa building niyo."
"Uhmn, can't remember. Name?" I said with an apologetic face.
Inayos niya ang kaniyang salamin at pagkakaupo, "Isaias Emmanuel, Miss Jaralve." Pormal niyang sinabi.
Ah, the name sounds familiar too.
Tumango ako sa kaniya at uminom sa tubig na dala ko. Hindi na ako nagsalita at minsa'y patingin tingin sa direksyon nila Shaun. Until now, he didn't even notice me. And I felt that too, the atmosphere inside this café were is not normal as it should be. It is covered by an unknown aura that makes people faintly recognize each other.
I wonder kung saan ito nanggagaling.
The person behind must be hiding something.
"Uhmn, are you okay? Para ka kasing mananakal as of the moment." Pukaw niya sa atensyon ko.
Tumikhim ako at matamis siyang nginitian.
"Hindi..." I said, "Hindi ka nagkakamali."
Tumawa siya. Natigilan ako ng kaunti dahil pamilyar ang tawa niya. He even look someone I know, from an acquaintance before?
Hindi naman siguro siya 'yong batang binibigyan ako lagi ng baon dati no? Or the boy who I always accompanying before, right?
"Miss Jaralve, please take your order at the counter."
I stood up.
Sinulyapan ko ang binata sa hindi kalayuan, alam kong natigilan siya at ang kaniyang ulo ay pabaling baling ngunit hindi niya ako mahanap. Pumunta ako sa counter at kinuha ang aking order, may narinig akong commotion sa mesang kinabibilangan niya.
Right there, the atmosphere change to normal. Nakakapanibago ang pangyayaring ito at hindi ko mawari kung ano ang intensyon ng kung sino man ito.
When I turned to look at him, he's looking at me with those damn eyes!
Putangina nito, basted na ang abot mo sa akin!
I immediately leave the shop and I'm grateful when Elle came at the exact time! Mabilis akong pumasok sa loob at kaagad niya 'yong pinaandar paalis.
Parehas kaming hinihingal at paminsan minsa'y tumitingin sa rear view at side mirror kung sakali mang may makita kaming pamilyar na kotseng sumusunod sa amin.
"W-what happened?" She asked.
"Ah, bahala siya sa tangina niya."
Tumawa kaming dalawa sa sagot ko.
Nakauwi kami ng ligtas.
Kinagabihan, pagkatapos naming kumain kaagad kaming nag ligpit. Elle is already done in her work. It was an easy task kaya I can't complain anymore and also I volunteer to do the rest.
Naghugas ako ng pinggan, dahil ito lang naman ang kaya kong iambag.
"Anong flavor?" Tanong niya.
She's picking flavors for fries.
"Barbeque."
Tumango kaagad siya.
Honestly, we don't talk about what happened earlier because we both know that were out of it. It's not on each other's radar anymore. Hindi ko ugaling makialam sa problema ng iba dahil alam kong sa huli ay madadamay lamang ako.
Dinala ko ang box ng gatas.
We decided to do a movie marathon tonight.
Nakahiga na ako sa kama at nakita kong pumipili ng palabas si Elle sa Netflix.
I got bored a little so I decided to open my Facebook account. There's so many notifications especially to Shaun and some gc's. Alam ko namang nabigyan na nila Mama at Papa ng notice ang adviser ko sa nangyari sa akin.
I don't have to worry anymore.
I opened Shaun's messages.
Shaun Adam Galicia:
Hey baby, where are you?
Usap tayo..
Walang malisya 'yong nakita mo kanina.
Reply to me po.
Sorry na.
Ikaw lang naman laman ng puso ko.
Usap tayo bukas? Pupuntahan kita diyan sa inyo, ang tagal kitang hindi nakita.
That was his recent messages sent a few hours ago, I didn't go any further nor reply to each one of his messages. Online siya.
Alam kong magmamarkang 'seen' ito pero wala akong pakialam.
Nanliit ang mga mata ko ng makitang typing siya.
Shaun Adam Galicia:
Hey baby, Zilla.
Replyan mo 'ko.
Huwag mo 'kong iseen please.
I miss you.
Bebe, mag reply ka. Usap tayo, ipapaliwanag ko lang 'yong side ko.
Ah, tangina sakit. Seen lang.
He deleted the last message kahit na nabasa ko na.
He bombarded me with a lot of sweet messages, obviousness cajoling me so I won't give any criticism to what I've witnessed earlier.
Typical deeds of boys.
Mag l-log out na sana ako ng mayroong bagong notification ang bumungad sa akin.
“Isaias Emmanuel sent you a friend request.”
I stalked the profile only to see an empty handed account. No other post and only one picture in it. Stolen picture iyon at naka-side view siya, maangas siyang tignan pero hanggang doon lang. It has over 3k follower's. I accepted it.
He commented on my recent profile picture.
Isaias Emmanuel:
Salamat sa pag accept, Miss Jaralve.
I replied that it was not a problem and later on he deleted his comment immediately. Kumunot ang noo ko.
I went to my messages again.
Shaun Adam Galicia:
Who's Isaias Emmanuel?
Babi, bakit ka nag aaccept ng friend request ng mga strangers?
Kung mag chat huwag mong replyan, dapat ako lang.
Sweetheart, nagseselos ako, tangina. You're mine okay? Only mine, kaya
Neknek mo!
Hindi ko na ito pinansin at isinara ang cellphone ko.
Mayroon pa rin akong sama ng loob sa kaniya!
I don't even know what should I do about him. Basta ang naisip ko lamang ay patigilin na siya sa panliligaw sa akin. I don't even feel like he's serious about me!
At ang aking motto simula ngayon, “passed sa mga lalaking nagbibigay ng mixed signals!”
—
Comment po kayo, huhu. Wanna read your thoughts.
Unedited and not proof read.
Updated. March 08, 2022
— ZLYTHEEE