Alexies POV
It's Saturday, my Mom's birthday. I wake up early to help them to prepare. Naalala ko nandito pala ang dalawng pinsan ko, hindi ko sila masyadong napapansin dahil lagi silang nasa work or minsan lagi kong kasama sa club ang mga kaibigan ko.
"Good morning" bati ko kay Mommy and kiss her cheeks.
"How are you?" She asks and I thumb up.
"Happy birthday my pretty lady" I say and she smiles.
"Anong kailangan?" She asks and I shake my head.
"Prepare yourself, your Auntie will go here" she says and I nodded.
"How about Lola?" I ask.
"Hindi sumama" she says and I pouted. I miss her already.
"Mom" I look at her while I'm eating the hotdog.
"Where's Cheska and Chris?" I ask.
"Sumama kay Daddy mo para bumili ng gagamitin mamaya. Ikaw wala ka bang pupuntahan ngayon?" She asks and I shake my head.
"Can I invite my friends?" I ask and she nodded.
"Oo naman" she says and I smile.
"Can I invite Crystal?" I ask and she looks at me.
"Is it okay with you?" Seryosong tanong n'ya and I nodded. It's been a week na rin pala noong nawalan s'ya ng malay, as usual lagi s'yang sinusundo nung Carlo.
"Why are you still being good to her?" She asks.
"I promised" maikling tugon ko.
"I promised that I will make her feel that she's part of our family. I don't want to dump her like what her family did" I say and my mom smiles.
"I don't care if I get hurt, I want her to feel the happiness that she wanted to feel. I'll sacrifice my happiness for her happiness" I say and my mom wiped my cheeks.
"Don't cry" she hugs me.
"Honey, don't normalize it. I don't want to see you being hurt" she says and I nodded.
"Ay, ano ganap?" I look at my cousins and I rolled my eyes.
"Wala" I say.
"About na naman ba ito sa teacher mo?" Cheska asks. They know about my problem, sometimes they're my rant buddies.
"Wag kang umiyak, sasabunutan ko yun" she says and I glared at her.
"Manahimik ka nga" I say and she rolled her eyes.
Taray.
I texted my friends to go here to our house, but they say na sunduin ko sila. Ginawa pa akong driver ng mga bakla. My Tita's and Tito's is already here, while my mom's relatives are in the other country kaya thru video call nalang.
"Where are you going?" Mom asks, they are cooking.
"Sunduin kolang po friends ko" I say, yung mga cousin ko naman ay nasa may sala, they're watching cartoons.
"Sama ako" sabi ni Chris.
"D'yan ka na" I rolled my eyes.
"Pupunta si Kelly?" he asks and I raised my left eyebrow.
"Bakit?" I ask and he shakes his head.
"Wala, di ka gusto nun. Si Marco pwede pa" I say and he glared at me. Sabi na may gusto ito kay Kelly, tuwing andito kasi sila ay laging nakasunod kay Kelly pag wala naman ay puro tanong ito saakin kung kailan pupunta, hindi n'ya alam binabakudan na ni Mrs. Dizon yun.
"Ikaw ah, kaya ka pala sumama rito para lumandi!" sabi ng isa kong pinsan at napailing nalang ako.
"Una na ako" agad kong kinuha yung susi ko at agad binuksan yung gate.
Una kong pinuntahan si Marco, kanina pa raw n'ya ako inaatay. Sino ba naman kasing nag sabi na mag bihis agad s'ya. Sunod kong sinundo si Xia and Zara, lagi naman silang magkasama eh. I texted Ali earlier pero ang sabi n'ya may importante daw s'yang gagawin.
"Paki-palitan nga ng kanta" utos ni Xia.
"Ang arte" inis kong sabi at agad n'yang pinalitan ang kanta, yung 'You've Got a Friend' in Me sa Toy Story and they started to jam.
Nakarating na kami sa labas ng building kung saan doon nakatira si Mrs. Dizon, nakita ko si Kelly na may kinukuha sa bag n'ya. Agad naman akong lumabas ng makita kong kasunod n'ya si Nanay.
"Nay!" tawag ko at agad naman akong nag mano.
"Kamusta ka na? Na-miss kitang bata ka" she says and I smile.
"Kami Nay?" tanong ni Marco and they pouted.
"Aba miss ko rin kayo" agad naman niyakap nung tatlo ang nanay ni Kelly.
"Ayos yang suot mo Alexies ah, shorts at t-shirt" natatawang sambit ni Kelly.
"Nagsasalita ka pa lang, nakulo na dugo ko sayo" I say and she rolled her eyes.
"Buti sinama ko si Nanay" sabi n'ya.
"Si Mommy nag invite kay Nanay, kaya wala kang karapatan na hindi s'ya isama" I say and she rolled her eyes.
"Kayo talaga, oh s'ya tara na" agad naman naming inalalayan ni Kelly si Nanay habang binuksan ni Marco ang pinto ng kotse. Umupo naman si Kelly sa tabi ko habang si Nanay ay kasama nung tatlo. Agad naman akong nag drive papunta sa isa pang condo. Ginawa nila akong driver. Nakarating na kami sa tapat ng building ng condo at tumambad saamin ang babaeng naka silk fitted dress while holding her purse and wearing her eye glasses.
"Sino yan?" tanong ni Kelly.
"Bagong babae mo?" dagdag n'ya pa.
"Gago" I chuckle at agad lumabas.
"Kylie" I say and she removes her glasses.
"Babe!" she hugs me.
"Kanina ka pa?" I ask and she nods.
"Almost 3 hours" I widened my eyes.
"Hala, sino ba nagsabing lumabas ka agad?" I ask and she pouted.
"I'm excited to meet your parents. Meeting the parents na ba?" she winks.
"Puno ba ng hangin yang utak mo?" I say and she rolled her eyes.
"Excuse d'yan ako" agad n'yang binuksan ang passenger seat.
"Lah, ako nauna" inis na sabi ni Kelly.
"Ayoko sa likod" sabi ni Kylie.
"Ang arte naman, sabit ka na nga lang" I just chuckle. They still fighting.
"Dali na" sabi ni Kylie.
"Ayoko" matigas na sabi ni Kelly. I was about to talk but someone bump on me. Agad naman akong lumingon at agad na kinuha yung mga nahulog na gamit n'ya.
"S-sorry" she says and I stare into her eyes. Those beautiful eyes, I'm still addicted to her eyes.
"What are you doing here?" I ask.
"I was about to go to your house, Auntie asks me to go there. I'm waiting for a cab" Crystal says, she can't look at me.
"Where's your car?" I ask.
"I left it at school" she says and I nodded. I forgot that Carlo fetch her.
"You can go with us" I say, and she shakes her head.
"Ako na nga" nag-aaway pa rin yung dalawa.
"Mom will get mad if I let you take a cab" I say, magkatabi lang pala ang condo building ni Kylie and Crystal ang problema lang ay walang cab na nadating sa building ng condo ni Crystal. I hold her arm at inaya s'yang lumapit sa kotse ko.
"Ma'am?" gulat na tanong ni Kelly.
"Ako na d'yan" sabi ni Kylie and Kelly shakes her head.
"Andyan yung original, namamato yan. Baka ihampas sa pagmumukha mo yung bitbit n'ya" natatawang sabi ni Kelly and Kylie rolled her eyes.
"May regalo ka ba?" tanong ni Kelly.
"Need ba?" tanong ni Kylie.
"Oh wala, sa likod ka" agad namang hinila ni Kelly papunta sa likod si Kylie.
"I can stay at the back" sabi ni Crystal.
"Hindi na Ma'am, dito na kami" sabi ni Kelly at agad ko namang inalalayan papasok si Crystal.
Naging tahimik ang byahe namin, kung kanina ay maingay kami ngayon ay hindi na. Ramdam ko ang tingin ng kaibigan ko sa salamin.
"Babe" narinig kong tawag ni Kylie, pinapatigil ko na s'yang tawagin akong babe pero ang kulit n'ya.
"Why?" I look in the mirror.
"Can we stop at the mall? I'll buy a gift for Tita" she says.
"Your presence is okay" I say and she shook her head.
"It's not okay" she says.
"Ang arte" sambit ni Kelly.
"Duh, ano nalang sasabihin ni Tita pag walang regalo ang daughter in law n'ya" she says and I look at Crystal who's silent beside me.
"What kind of gift ba ang gusto ni Tita?" Tanong ni Kylie.
"Flowers will do" I say, nakakatamad umikot kung sa mall pa kami. Nakarating na kami sa flower shop at agad kong tinigil sa tapat.
"Wait lang po" I say at agad na lumabas. Agad kong binuksan yung pinto sa likod at lumabas si Kylie.
Kylie holds my hand and intertwined our fingers. I was about to remove it but she just wink at me.
"She's staring" she says and I furrowed my brows.
"What's Tita's favorite ba?" She asks.
"Tulips" I say and she bought the pink tulip bouquet. Kylie started smelling the tulips and she asks me to smell them too. I leaned my head and she kiss my cheeks.
"Bitch" tumawa lang s'ya.
"Here, buy me 1 rose" she says and I furrowed my brows. I ask the seller to give me 1 rose.
"Here" I was about to give her a flower.
"Wait" she says, lumayo s'ya nang kaunti saakin.
"Smile" she says and I follow her and then give her the flower. I was startled when she hugs me.
"Let's go" I say and I remove my hands from Kylie.
Nakabalik na kami sa loob ng kotse and I look at Kylie and ask if everything is okay.
"Sorry natagalan" I say and I heard Xia's chuckles.
"Landi" she says and I rolled my eyes.
Nakarating na kami sa bahay and I park our car outside, may mga kotse kasing naka-park sa labas. Lumabas na rin ang mga kaibigan ko at si Ma'am. I was about to hold Ms. Lavigne's hand para alalayan s'ya, I look at her and she's look at my hand.
"Oh" yun lang ang tanging nasabi ko at binuksan ang pinto.
"Pasok po kayo" I say and they go inside.
"Alexies!" Agad naman akong nagulat sa sigaw ng mga pinsan ko.
"Ano?" I glared at them.
"Andito na pala kayo" bumangad ni Mommy.
"Hi Tita" agad namang pinausog ni Kylie si Crystal and she give the flower to my mom.
"Oh, tulips!" Masayang sambit ni Mommy.
"It's you right?" Tanong ni Mommy and Kylie smile.
"I'm sorry po, I shouldn't posted it" mukha namang sincere itong si Kylie.
"It's fine, but you should think before you post something" Mom says.
"Yes Tita"
"Doktora, Maligayang Kaarawan" tawag ni Nanay.
"Maraming Salamat po" agad namang niyakap ni Mommy si Nanay.
"Ayos na po ba ang pakiramdam n'yo?" Mom asks and Nanay nodded.
"Happy Birthday Tita!" Agad namang niyakap nung tatlo kong kaibigan at binigay yung regalo nila.
"Crystal" tawag ni Mommy at agad namang lumapit si Crystal tsaka binigay yung dala n'ya.
"Happy Birthday, Mrs. Alcantara" nahihiyang sabi nito at agad namang hinawakan ni Kylie ang kamay ko.
"Tita" agad namang sambit ni Mommy at inayos ang buhok ni Crystal.
"Sa Nanay palang, talo ka na" bulong ni Kelly kay Kylie.
"Whatever" inirapan lang s'ya ni Kylie.
"Ate Crystal!?" Tawag ng mga pinsan ko.
"Crystal!" Agad namang kumaway yung mga Tito at Tita ko.
"Hello po" nahihiyang sambit ni Crystal.
"Sayang wala si Mama, hinahanap ka n'ya" sabi ng isa kong Tito.
"Kamusta na po si Lola?" Tanong ni Crystal and I smile.
"Ayos lang naman" sabi ng Tito ko. They are close to Crystal.
"Kilala ng buong angkan, paano ka na n'yan?" Tanong ni Kelly kay Kylie.
"Sasaktan talaga kita" inis na sabi ni Kylie.
"Hoy, magsi-alis kayo" utos ko sa mga pinsan ko na nasa sala. Agad naman nilang sinunod at pina-upo ko na silang lahat.
They're starting to eat and having a party, my Parents and Uncles are in the garden while my cousins are here with us. I look at Cheska who's giving an attitude glare to Crystal.
"Cheska" saway ko sa kan'ya at inirapan n'ya lang ako.
Agad naman akong tumayo para kumuha ng pagkain, ako nalang at si Crystal ang walang kinakain rito. I look at Crystal, she looks scared.
"Do you want to eat?" I ask her and she looks at me.
"I'm fine" she says and I shake my head.
"The baby is hungry, let's go" I say and I ask her to go with me na kan'yang sinunod naman.
"What do you want?" she's holding her plate.
"I'll do it-" I cut her words.
"Give me your plate" I say and she bit her lips.
"Alexies, no need to do this" she says and I look at her.
"Crystal, I'm doing this because you're my friend. I have promises to fulfill, hindi ako nag promise sayo para hindi tuparin. You're still welcome here and your baby" I say with a forced smile.
Nakabalik na kami sa sala at nakita ko ang mga pinsan ko na inaayos yung televison para maging karaoke.
"Kylie wag ka na kasi kay Alexies" natatawang sambit ni Kelly.
"Ayoko naman sayo" Kylie response.
"Kelly" saway ni Nanay.
My cousins and friends, enjoying singing habang kami ay nag nakiki -jamming nalang sa kanila. Nakailang kanta na rin sila at mukhang walang kapagodan ang mga boses nila. Si Nanay naman ay hinila ni Mommy papunta sa garden, baka daw ay ma-out of place s'ya sa mga bagets.
"Ate Crystal kanta ka" Crystal was about to refuse pero agad namang sumulsol ang mga pinsan ko.
"Oo nga ate, ang ganda ng boses mo" sabi naman nung isa.
"Hindi ka titigilan ng mga yan ate" sabi ni Chris and I sigh.
"Wag n'yong ipilit pag ayaw-" Crystal cut my words.
"Just one song" sabi ni Crystal and my cousin give the mic.
"Anong kanta ate?" tanong ni Chris, s'ya kasi ang may hawak ng remote.
"Love In The Dark" sabi ni Crystal at nginisian lang ako ni Kelly.
Crystal started singing and her voice gives me shivers. Every word that she says has emotions. I just stare at her, she's closing her eyes while singing.
Please, don't fall apart
I can't face your breaking heart
I'm trying to be brave
Stop asking me to stay
I can't love you in the dark
It feels like we're oceans apart
There is so much space between us
Baby, we're already defeated
Ah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
Everything changed me
Crystal finish her songs and she give back the mic to my cousins. Nakikita ko ang nangingilid n'yang mga luha.
"Who's ready for beer" sigaw ni Chris na hawak ang ilang beer kasama ang mga pinsan ko. We drink, eat and enjoy but I can't get out my sight to Crystal who's silent.
"Ikaw naman Alexies" nawala ang titig ko kay Crystal at agad inabot ng pinsan ko ang mic saakin.
I was about to pick a song but Xia grab the remote from my cousin at nilagay ang 'Sana'.
"Good luck" they wink at me and I rolled my eyes, they love teasing me. The music is now starting.
Umuwi nang tila bang lahat nagbago na
Nawalan na ng sigla ang 'yong mga mata
Ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang lamig ng gabi
Kahit na magdamag na tayong magkatabi
Bakit ka nag-iba?
Mayro'n na bang iba?
Sana sinabi mo
Para 'di na umasang may tayo pa sa huli
Sana sinabi mo
Hahayaan naman kitang sumaya't umalis
Sana sinabi mo
Para 'di na umasang may tayo pa sa huli
Sana sinabi mo
Hahayaan naman kitang umalis
Umalis
When the chorus part comes, agad na lumapit saakin si Kylie and she sits on my lap. I look at Crystal and I saw her staring at me but she quickly looks away.
Binibilang ang hakbang hanggang wala ka na
Nagbabaka-sakaling lilingon ka pa
Hindi na ba mababalik ang mga sandali
Mga panahong may lalim pa ang iyong ngiti?
Bakit ka nag-iba?
Mayro'n na bang iba?
Sana sinabi mo
Para 'di na umasang may tayo pa sa huli
Sana sinabi mo
Hahayaan naman kitang sumaya't umalis
Sana sinabi mo
Para 'di na umasang may tayo pa sa huli
Sana sinabi mo
Hahayaan naman kita...
Agad umalis si Kylie sa lap ko and she sat beside me and Crystal, she started hugging me and I look at Crystal who was looking on the floor.
Sana sinabi mo
Para ang mga ayaw mo'y aking iibahin
'Di ba, sinabi mo
Basta't tayong dalawa'y sasaya ang mundong mapait
'Di ba, sinabi ko
Gagawin ko'ng lahat upang tayo pa rin sa huli
Biglang nalaman ko
May hinihintay ka lang palang bumalik
Sana sinabi mo
Dahil 'di ko maisip, ano ba'ng nagawa kong mali?
Sana sinabi mo
Para 'di na umibig ang puso kong muli
Sana sinabi mo
Para 'di na umasang may tayo pa sa huli
Sana sinabi mo
Hahayaan naman kita...
Sana sinabi mo
Para 'di na umasang may tayo pa sa huli
Sana sinabi mo
Crystal stands up when Mom comes inside the house. I look at Crystal and Mom who is having chitchat.
"Dama?" I look at Kelly and I rolled my eyes.
"She can't look at you" she says and I bit my lower lip.
"Sana sinabi n'ya" sabi ko at mapaklang tumawa.
"I love you" sabi ni Kylie and she hugs me.
"WE love you" pag c-correct ni Kelly. Lagi nalang magkaaway itong dalawa.
"Hindi Crystal" agad naman kaming lumingon kay Mommy.
"Gabi na, baka mapano ka pa" Mom says.
"Alexies" tawag saakin ni Mommy.
"Isama mo muna si Crystal sa kwarto mo, dito s'ya matutulog" sabi ni Mommy.
"Bakit po?" tanong ko.
"Delikado sa labas" she says and I look at Crystal na walang kalaban-laban kay Mommy.
"Pwede naman sa guest room nalang" I say.
"Doon matutulog ang mga pinsan mo at ang mga Tito at Tita mo" she says and I sighed, agad akong tumayo at pinaunang mag lakad si Crystal pataas.
"Sorry kay Mommy, pero kung gusto mo talagang umuwi, ako nalang maghahatid sayo" I say and I open my room.
"Bukas nalang, magagalit si Tita" she says and I chuckles.
"Hindi ka naman makakatanggi doon" I say and I open my cabinet.
"Mag papalit ka ba?" I ask and she shakes her head.
"Here, take a shower. Hindi ka sanay matulog ng hindi nag h-half bath" I say and I put my clothes on the bed.
"Have a good night, call me if you need anything" I say and she nodded.
"T-Thank you" she says and I pat her head which makes her stunned.
"No problem" I smile and she stares at me.
"I'll go downstairs" I say and leave her in my room. I closed my door and put my hands on my chest.
"It's beating so fast"
Agad akong bumaba at tumabi sa mga kaibigan ko. They teasing me using their eyes while I look at Cheska who's raising her eyebrows.
"Rupok" she mouthed and I rolled my eyes.
"Paano ka na n'yan Kylie?" pang aasar ni Kelly.
"Isang beses lang naman" sabi ni Kylie.
"Di mo sure" natatawang sabi ni Kelly.
"Manahimik na nga kayo" I say and I drink my beer.
Many hours have passed, and we're almost drunk. My friends decided to sleep here because I can't drop them at their house, even Nanay. I look at Kylie who's sleeping on my lap while some of my cousins keep singing kahit wala sa mga tono.
"Akyat ko lang ito" I say and pointed at Kylie. I stand up and pull her to stand. I already feel the dizziness.
"Let's go" I say and put her arm on my shoulder. I hold her waist to secure her.
Nakarating na kami sa isang guest room kung saan matutulog ang mga kaibigan ko. I slowly lay Kylie's down on the bed and she pull me, our lips almost meet.
"You don't deserve to be hurt like that, don't treat her like a princess anymore. The way you look in her eyes, it hurts to see you being hurt" she says and she holds my face.
"Love me baby, please" she says and she tries to reach my lips.
"Kylie" I look at her and remove her hands from my face.
"Sleep" I say and stand up. I put a blanket on her body.
"Still her" I say and close the door.
I go inside my room, I slowly open my room and the lights are closed. I open the lights and I saw a beautiful woman sleeping on my bed. I slowly crawl into the bed because I don't want to wake her up. I look at her face and remove some hair on her face. I smile when I saw her wearing my clothes.
"Beautiful" I say and smile. My face is slowly coming closer to her face. I can't refuse her beautiful face, it's hard to resist this face. I slowly landed my lips on her lips, it's so soft. I close my eyes and started moving.
"Fuck" I was stunned when I feel a slap on my face.
"What the fuck!?" she yelled and get the blanket to cover her body.
"Why? We already did it, don't be shocked" I say and she glared at me.
"I know na nagulat ka, we can continue" sabi ko at dumapo na naman ang palad n'ya sa mukha ko.
"Shut up" she says and I clenched my jaw.
"Oh, I forgot I only have these fingers" I say and she glared at me.
"I can't satisfy you" I pouted and I saw her clenching her jaw.
"Alexies, stop" she says.
"I want an answer" I say and she just looks at me.
"Because I'm a girl? I don't have the things that the boys have. I can't impregnate you?" I say and I saw a tear from her eyes.
"Ganyan ba ako kababa sa paningin mo?" she asks.
"Oo" I say.
"May inaantay ka pala, bakit di mo naman sinabi? Pinag mumukha mo akong tanga eh" I look at her eyes.
"Wala akong inaantay Alexies" she says and I bit my inner cheek.
"Wala? Eh anong nangyari? Nag pabuntis ka pa nga sa ex mo eh-" she slapped me again.
"Masakit ba yung katototoohanan? Bakit ganyan kayo? Mga takot sa totoo" I say.
"Gusto mo ng totoo?" she asks and I nodded.
"Hindi lahat ng narinig mo noong gabing yun ay kumpleto" she says and I furrowed my brows.
"Lahat ng narinig mo ay kulang, I whisper some words to my co-teachers because I'm scared. I whispered the words that reflect how much I love you. I'm scared that some people will know, someone will hear because it will ruin you, your future. Remember the girl outside my office, the one who took a picture of us kissing? I know she's in the school" she says without breaking our stare.
"Nakipag kita ka pa rin sa ex mo" I say, ayokong bumigay.
"Your family reunion, the reason why I tell you na uuwi na ako. Carlo meet my dad that day and tell my dad about our past relationships, he wants me to marry that guy. Gustong umuwi para kumbisihin s'ya para hindi n'ya ituloy pero Alexies I still choose to be with you" she wiped her eyes.
"Nung narinig mong makikipag kita ako sa kanya" she paused.
"He told me that he will help me to convince my dad na huwag na ituloy" she continued.
"And what happened? Nabuntis ka" I say and she closed her eyes.
"He raped me" halos bumagsak ang balikat ko at may narinig akong ugong mula sa tenga ko.
"Kung mababa ako sa paningin mo, wag kang mag-alala, ganun rin ako sa sarili ko. Sobrang baba ko Alexies, ang dumi ko. Halos hindi na ako makatulog nang maayos tuwing gabi dahil lang sa isang lecheng gabing iyon. Ngayon alam mo na ang totoo, at oo takot ako sa katotoohanan" agad n'yang pinunasan ang luha n'ya. I feel guilty on my words earlier.
_______
A/N: have a goodnight everyone! :))