Pinaiwan ako ni Clark sa bahay niya sa West. May point naman kung bakit kasi barkada meeting nga raw, and even their wives understood na kapag sila lang, sila lang talaga ang mag-uusap-usap.
It was odd to know that their wives trusted them that much, as if sobrang kampante nina Jaesie na hindi pupunta somewhere ang mga asawa nila like sa bar or club na usual tambayan ng mga barkada ni Kuya.
Well, alas-tres pa lang naman ng hapon at walang bukas na club nang ganitong oras, but really, the girls didn't care at all.
Siguro kaya sila ang pinakasalan kasi mga wala silang pakialam sa mga asawa nila. Although, hindi naman babaero si Kuya for Jaesie to worry about him doing nasty stuff behind her back. Leo is very loyal to Kyline, kahit pa ang sungit naman talaga niya in reality for girls to pursue him. Si Patrick ang babaero, pero duda akong makakapambabae pa siya knowing na isang maling galaw lang niya, hindi na niya makikita si Melanie at ang baby nila ever again kahit kasal na sila.
Dating stage pa lang sina Will and Mat, but Will barely flirt kapag nasa bar or club. Si Calvin lang ang makakapambabae sa kanila pero duda ako kung may lakas siya ng loob magsama ng outsider sa barkada moment.
Si Clark . . . makulit siya, but according to all her exes na kilala ko, they broke up with him kasi annoying siya. Iisa nga lang sila ng response sa kanya: nakakabuwisit siyang kasama. But as he said, Mum was watching him kaya nga ang tagal na niyang nirereklamo ang pagiging single.
As much as I wanted to ask Clark about their agenda, ayoko siyang kulitin kasi more likely, iba ang sasabihin niya. That was why I chat Will about their so-called urgent meeting para makibalita. Siya lang kasi ang sure akong hindi makikipagmurahan sa akin kapag kinulit ko.
BB Chubs
Will, ano sabi ni Kuya?
Yammy
We're not gonna spend anything para sa wedding nina Leo and Ky. Ang weird. Legit. Pinag-iipunan ng barkada 'to actually.
BB Chubs
Wait. WDYM by weird?
Yammy
Gets namin bakit ayaw pagastusin ni Tita Tessa si Early Bird. Back off na siya sa expenses. But Ky said wag na raw kaming magworry abt sa ibang gastos kasi sponsored na ng ninang niya.
BB Chubs
Simple wedding lang ba?
Yammy
Not sure. Pero parang hindi yata. Walang church wedding, sa hotel ang venue. Family friend daw na priest ang naka-sched for the event. Premade na rin daw ang mga susuotin. Pili na lang daw kami ng kakasya sa amin. Then may family heirloom gown thingy yata for Ky? Para less gastos. Si Leo, papahiram na lang daw ng tux from ninong yata ni Ky din. Super rush ng lahat, unexpected kasi next year ang plan namin for Leo's wedding. Excited pa naman kami mag-Galera.
BB Chubs
Yeah, that's what I know too.
Yammy
Kakatapos lang ng kasal ni Pat last week. Hindi kami ready lahat. Pero ayaw naming mag-no kasi kapag nag-no si Leo rito, natatakot siya baka iwan siya ni Ky. Nag-separate na sila before, ayaw niyang bumalik sa setup nila dati. Unfair din kay Leo kung kami ang tatanggi samantalang ang tagal na niyang hinintay 'to. Ngayon lang nag-yes si Ky sa kasal, ayaw naming maging hindrance.
BB Chubs
What abt Clark?
Will was typing, pero ang tagal niyang mag-type. Kahit gusto kong ituloy ang pananahi, hindi ako matahimik kasi nate-tense ako.
Akala ko pa naman, super haba ng tina-type ni Will kaya ang tagal mag-reply.
Yammy
Pinag-iisipan pa namin.
Grabe. Sa three minutes na idle moment na 'yon, 'yan lang ang sasabihin niya?
BB Chubs
Clark said kapag ikinasal si Leo, ikakasal na rin siya.
So does that mean within this year din, may wedding ulit?
Yammy
I dunno.
Ayaw naming i-give up si Clark, pero ayaw naming maging unfair kay Leo.
Big deal si Clark para sa barkada, but we have to choose.
I was reading Will's chat na para bang hirap na hirap din silang mag-decide.
They didn't want to give up Clark.
Ibig sabihin, ganoon kaimportante si Clark sa barkada para mag-panic sila nang ganito.
I felt sad for Leo and Clark right now.
Gusto ko rin sanang mag-no sa wedding ni Leo, pero nalulungkot ako for Eugene and Luan. Hindi naman sila broken family, pero ang selfish kasi na pipigilan namin ang wedding ng parents nila just because may sarili rin kaming agenda.
Hindi pa okay ang brand ko. Basically, wala pang naipapasang amendments si Clark sa Sun-Dias. So, under pa rin ako ni Mum in legal sense.
But Mum's not saying anything.
Napa-chat ulit tuloy ako kay Will.
BB Chubs
May sinabi ba si Mum abt my wedding?
Will answered after a minute.
Yammy
Wala. Ang latest topic, supposed gastos ng kuya mo sa wedding ni Leo and abt sa baby nila ni Jaesie na ayaw naman ni Jae.
So, walang news about Mum and my own wedding. Ang weird. Or maybe because her mind was focused on Kuya and Jaesie's baby na at wala na sa 'kin?
Well, that makes sense. May baby na si Patrick, and Mum's not gonna sit there, waiting for a baby to miraculously fall from the sky para kay Kuya.
Yammy
By the way, may online magazine interview pala si Tita Tessa! Watch it. Hindi pa namin napapatapos pero baka ma-mention ang wedding mo.
Yammy sent a link.
Gusto ko pa sanang makitsismis sa meeting nina Kuya pero mas mahalaga pa rin ang update sa wedding ko, and Mum has an interview with Johnny Han's segment. May uploaded video na available din sa isang online streaming site.
Mum accepted the invitation for the weekend segment of One-on-One with Johnny Han. The title of the segment was "The Woman Behind the Success of the Dardennes."
Mum mentioned about this interview last December, and I was supposed to be with her kaso nga, may conflict kami may ilang araw na kaya wala ako sa interview. It should be Women, but, well . . . shit happened.
They were in a minimalist studio. A plain white background with some abstract paintings behind them. Nakaupo si Mum sa white barrel chair same sa interviewer. Suot ni Mum ang favorite pearls niya, and her high-neck white dress na knee-length ang haba. The makeup is nice, though. Hindi sobrang distracting. Natural look na parang walang inilagay sa mukha niyang kahit na ano. Flex-worthy talaga ang skin niya sa braso at legs kasi hindi saggy. Of course, she has a healthy lifestyle, ano ba ang dapat asahan sa kanya?
Fifty-five na si Mum, but her face didn't look like her age kasi ang bata pa rin niyang tingnan. Her genes are the source of envy of her amigas kaya proud na proud siya kapag nagkikita-kita sila.
I checked the comment section, but it was locked—as usual for Johnny's segment para doon kumuha ng feedback sa main site nila.
The segment started, and I skipped the opening part kasi puro endorsement and acknowledgment of their sponsor lang ang sasabihin ni Johnny.
I played the video sa part na tinatanong na niya si Mum about Dad.
"What it feels like to be the wife of Enrico Dardenne?" Johnny asked as he checked his prompt sa envelope na hawak. He looked at Mum and gave her his curious stare. "Kailan kayo unang nagkakilala?" Johnny gave the audience a disclaimer first. "This is an exclusive interview, by the way."
Wala pa mang nababanggit si Mum, natatawa na 'ko. Mum and Dad's love story is a bit Romeo and Juliet minus the "killing the both us out of stupidity" part.
"Johnny, you know . . ." Mum started, chill lang sa puwesto niya habang nakapatong ang left arm niya sa arm rest ng upuan. ". . . the first time I met Enrico sa international convention sa Madrid, walang spark. That was thirty-six years ago, we were sitting beside each other kasi alphabetically arranged ang mga upuan. Siya lang ang D and his father, then E na, and that was me and my Papa."
"This is the photo, right?" Johnny asked, and the screen flashed a photo of Mum and Dad standing side by side. Naka-black bodycon dress pa si Mum na square-neck at hanggang heels ang haba. Dad wore a formal three-piece beige suit.
"Yes, Johnny," Mum answered behind the photo as a narrator.
"You two look good here, ha!"
Mum just released a mahinhin laugh (na parang hindi bagay sa kanya unless titingin sa innocent face niya). "International convention 'yan, Johnny! Of course, we had to look good!"
"Then after this, what happened?"
The photo disappeared at nakita na ulit sina Mum sa screen.
"May partnership ang papa ko and si Daddy. Doon nag-start. Unfortunately, hindi siya sanay sa ligawan, kaya napilitan siyang manligaw. From Denmark, tatawag siya overseas!"
"Oh! Ang haba ng hair!" Nag-apir pa silang dalawang habang tumatawa. "Then after the call?"
"Kinabukasan, kumakatok na siya pinto ng kuwarto ko sa Cebu. Ang dami niyang pasalubong! Nasa expansion pa lang sila ng business that time, and wala silang branch sa Cebu! Nasa Makati pa."
Mum and Dad's love life is something na minsan kong pinangarap noong bata pa 'ko. Imagine a man from the other side of the world, magta-travel just to see you because he misses you a lot. Ang ganda ni Mum, nakakairita.
Dad told me not to glorify minimum efforts from guys na pinu-pursue ako. Because if a man wants me, he'll do everything for me despite the existing barriers.
"But you know, Johnny," Mum continued, "I told Rico na hindi ako nadadaan sa pa-cute lang. I was twenty-two when I finished my master's degree in Strategic Business Economics. I'm telling you, Johnny, hindi ako nadadaan sa pa-prutas-prutas lang."
If there's one thing I hate about Mum, it's her bragging achievements. Noong twenty-two ako, haggard na haggard ako kasi inaalipin kami ng mga senior designer sa company bilang juniors. Wala nga rin akong balak mag-masteral. Si Kuya Ronie, merong master's degree. MBA naman siya.
Mum continued, "I was twenty-three when I married Rico. It was bound by an agreement ng parents namin. Pero nanligaw siya, and he's sincere. That very moment, I told Rico, ayokong maging asawa mo lang. Kasi, Johnny, hindi ako nag-aral for more than seventeen years pa lang ma-stuck sa bahay."
Exactly!
Then bakit niya sinasabing gusto niyang maging housewife lang ako? Wow, Mum! Bawiin mo ang sinabi mo kay Madame O!
"After three decades of being married, do you still love each other?" Johnny asked.
Ako na ang sasagot, yes and no.
No, kasi annoying talaga si Mum as a wife.
Yes, because walang choice si Dad ha-ha.
"I don't want to speak for Enrico, alam mo 'yan, Johnny," Mum said. "But even if there are times when we didn't love each other, I'm lucky enough to sleep with the same man and wake up with him every single day for the past three decades of our lives. I'm fortunate to understand where my husband's loyalty lies."
Nakakairita naman 'tong interview na 'to.
Lalo lang ipinaramdam sa akin ni Mum na walang kuwenta talaga ako pumili ng boyfriend!
Sa sobrang inis, nag-skip na lang ako sa other part para hindi ko na makita ang pagyayabang ni Mum about Daddy.
Nasobrahan ako sa pag-skip kasi nabanggit ang mga anak ni Tessa Dardenne. Bumalik tuloy ako sa umpisa ng next question para maintindihan.
"Mahirap bang maging mommy sa dalawang successful na bata?" Johnny asked then shifted his gaze to Mum after reading the envelope. "Kasi sobrang successful ni Ronie and ni Sabrina, right? Ronie married a successful woman, as well. Paano mo sila pinalaki?"
Well, basically, Mum didn't raise us alone. Ewan ko kung paano niya 'to sasagutin.
"To be honest, Johnny, mahirap maging mommy kapag busy ka. Noong mga bata sila, expansion kasi ng business namin 'yon. There were times na umaasa kami kay Ali, sa Tita Ali nila, or sa nanny namin ni Enrico. Pero hindi ko sila pinalaking may personal yaya kahit busy kaming mag-asawa."
"Why?" Johnny asked.
"Johnny, I grew up like a princess. I once perceived the world as a very peaceful place and everyone is nice and happy with each other. Pero nasira ang expectations ko pagdating noong high school. Alam mo 'yon? Na-bully ako. I was discriminated just because I'm a daughter of a prominent family. Ang hirap mag-adjust when you know to yourself na wala kang ginagawang masama. Papasok ka sa school, you have four yayas walking with you. Susunduin ka at ihahatid ng Mercedez-Benz, then walang issue sa pera because you have a plenty of it. The reason why they hated you is because you're wealthy. Binabato ako ng prutas para lang mamantsahan ang uniform ko, and—na-culture shock ako!" Then Mum started to touch the tip of her eyes. A PA gave her a box of tissue. "It was a nightmare for me. At a very young age, Johnny, maybe my parenting skills aren't the best, but I don't want my kids to suffer later on dahil lang pampered sila. I didn't treat them like fragile things. I want them to be strong. I want them to grow according to society's expectations. If they want something, gusto kong paghirapan nila. Gusto kong maging fair sila sa mga makikilala nila outside our home. Until now, wala silang personal yaya aside sa nanny nila na parang lola na rin."
Mum didn't tell us about those things. Not sure if drama lang ba niya for the interview, but it met the process and how our childhood worked.
"Paano mo napili si Jaesie as your daughter-in-law?" Johnny asked. Then Kuya and Jaesie's wedding picture flashed on the screen. Yung shot sa yacht club na kinabubuwisitan ng buong barkada ni Kuya. Jaesie held her long, red gown flowing in the air. And I must say, she looked so gorgeous in her posing. Ang ganda rin ang curls niya with enough volume. Kuya wore a white button down top na nakabukas ang tatlong buttons hanggang dibdib niya. Ang pants niya, khaki, so he looked like a prince charming. Nakahawak siya sa waist ni Jaesie and they smiled like they were challenging each other—not sweet, but it was hot.
"It was a struggle, Johnny, 'cause I'll be honest, hindi ko first option si Jaesie."
Oooh . . . napanood na ba ni Kuya and Jae 'to? Gusto kong makita ang reaction nila!
"Hindi first option, why?"
"I knew my son well," Mum said, eyes wide and glaring at Johnny. Parang ready na siyang makipagsagutan ulit. "I never met Jaesie even once! Then all of a sudden, dinala ni Ronerico sa family gathering at buntis pa!"
Oh my God, Mum, ang daldal mo talaga.
"Was she?" Johnny asked, confused.
Mum crossed her arms and raised a brow. May paiyak-iyak pa siya kanina, bigla namang magtataray. "She wasn't. Ngayon na hinahanapan ko nga ng baby saka walang mailabas!"
Ooooh! Patay ka talaga, Kuya. Announced na announced na ang kalokohan ninyo ng asawa mo.
"But you like her later on?" Johnny asked.
"I was about to end their relationship when Enrico said hayaan muna si Ronie kasi malaki na," Mum explained. "Hindi ko pinalaking kaladkarin ang anak ko, Johnny, alam na alam mo 'yan."
Johnny nodded. "Yes, I'll agree."
"But as I was doing my research," Mum said and winked at Johnny. Yeah, her research means pagkalkal sa buhay ng ibang tao. "Saka ko na-realize na good choice si Jaesie as a wife. I always want the best for my kids. Ayoko ng kung sino lang. Siguro kahit ikaw rin naman, kukuwestiyunin ang credibility ng babaeng first time mo lang makikita. My daughter-in-law is a very good choice. Two years na silang kasal ni Ronie, and they're doing fine."
"What about Sabrina? I heard, break na sila ng non-showbiz boyfriend niya."
Oh fuck, ito na!
Shit, kinakabahan ako. I paused the video for a while saka huminga nang malalim.
Binalikan ko ulit ang video saka ipinagpatuloy ang panonood.
"Yes, unfortunately," Mum said, as if she was mourning about it samantalang siya nga ang nagsabing huwag kong iyakan si Ivo! Ang plastic ni Mum, ha, in fairness. "But my daughter is doing great today! I'm sure she's in the right hands now."
"Sayang at hindi siya nakapunta today para sa interview."
Then the interview was cut because of an advertisement. After it resumed, ipinakita na ang house tour sa bahay namin sa Makati.
And no fucking wedding was announced.
Wait, confused ako. Sumuko na ba si Mum sa amin ni Clark?
Ang shady, oh my gosh. Gusto ko sanang mag-celebrate, pero ang shady talaga. Knowing Mum, hindi siya magpapatalo nang basta-basta lang.
After watching the clips from that interview, nag-chat agad ako sa lahat ng puwedeng i-chat for confirmation. Kay Jaesie, kay Tita Ali, kay Inday Sita—I badly wanted to know kung sumuko na ba si Mum, and all I received were:
Walang sinasabi si Mum.
I'm not sure, baby.
Wala'y gisulti si Mama mo, Sab. (Walang sinabi si Mama mo, Sab)
Clark came home before dinner, at may dala na rin siyang pan-dinner naming dalawa. Pareho kaming confused kasi wala ngang dina-drop si Mum na details about our wedding and Leo's gonna marry next month!
Nasa billiard area na naman kami, nasa sahig kami kumakain, and we were both thinking about the wedding—kay Leo and supposedly sa amin.
Clark didn't bother to change his clothes. Naghubad lang siya ng shirt at naiwan ang pants niya habang nakapaa rin.
May kitchen and dining area naman siya, but he might be that tired to think about where he should eat.
Naabutan nga lang niya akong suot ang long sleeves niya at underwear lang. And we've been like this for three days. Hands off pa rin siya sa 'kin, so I guess I'm fine.
"Plan n'yo?" tanong ko habang ngumunguya ng uwi niyang roasted chicken, wheat bread, and some lettuce with dressing.
"Titingnan pa," he answered, bored and uninterested. "Nagulat kaming lahat, e."
"Kita ko nga."
Kahit iwasan ko, bumababa talaga ang tingin ko sa chest part niyang may mystery tattoo. Ayokong ngayon mangulit tungkol doon kasi ang random. Gusto ko munang makiramay sa kanya.
"Walang sinasabi si Mum about our wedding," sabi ko. "Hindi ba ang weird?"
"Ewan ko na. Ang gulo namin kanina," kuwento niya at pinipilit tumawa kahit malungkot pa rin at walang gana. "Na-stress lang ako."
We tried to finish our dinner pero may natira pa rin. Ayokong kumain nang marami, and the meal didn't satisfy Clark's appetite. Siguro kasi wala rin siya sa mood.
Ako nga rin, wala sa mood. Sa sobrang pag-iisip ko sa plano ni Mum na walang nakakaalam, hindi na ako sure kung wala ba talaga siyang plano o hindi lang nagsasalita.
Pero flex queen naman kasi si Mum. Nakakapagduda na wala siyang pine-flex about me.
Clark's bedroom is really nice kapag walang ulap sa langit. The moon wasn't full, but its light was enough to create a glow inside Clark's small yet ironically spacious room.
Naka-slope ang isang part ng kisame, and there was a huge glass window na puwedeng itulak kung gustong buksan para makapasok ang hangin.
Bad mood kaming dalawa kasi lost kami today, and it looked like the whole universe conspired to side with Mum's plan habang wala kaming idea sa next step.
Idinaan na lang namin sa inom at paglaro ng Cards Against Humanity ang pagpapalipas namin ng oras.
May natirang tatlong Budweiser sa ref niya, and we drank each quarter of a liter.
Halatang bored kami kasi patay ang ilaw pero maliwanag because of the moon, patay ang AC pero bukas ang fan, tapos wala kaming productive na ginagawa, when we were supposed to be planning about my amended articles sa Sun-Dias.
Cramming at its finest. Sabi kasi ni Clark, bukas na raw niya gagawin before ipasa sa Sun-Dias. Crazy.
"Why do you have this?" I asked, showing him the cards after he spread them on the floor.
"It's a cute game, bakit ba?"
"Ang boring, tayo lang dalawa."
"Gusto mong mag-invite ako?" biro niya sabay ngisi, pero halatang wala sa mood, hindi umabot sa mata.
"Huwag na, baka makasapak ka lang."
I barely play this game kasi ang messy.
Messy in a sense na kapag nalaman ni Mum with evidences pa lalo kung may dare game pang kasama, for sure, she will disown me. But Clark and I were in a bad mood, and I wouldn't dare play Scrabble in the middle of the fucking night.
I read the last house rules of the game sa instructions copy, "Don't play Cards Against Humanity: Walk to a park. Call your mother. Live a little. Hahaha!" I laughed so hard after I read that. "Not gonna call Mum 'cause I will definitely live a little afterward!"
I dropped the instructions and Clark grinned at me. "Six cards lang. Tig-three tayo, game." He gulped his beer and picked three random black cards.
"Di ba, pipili dapat tayo ng white card para sa sagot," sabi ko.
"E di, wala nang thrill."
"Sa bagay." Nagkibit-balikat naman ako. "I'll go first?" I asked after I got my three cards in my hand.
"Go."
I read the first card I chose. "Blank . . . It's a trap!" I grinned at looked at Clark. "Don't marry! It's a trap!" I gave him the card para siya naman ang sumagot.
Nakatitig lang siya sa card habang nag-iisip ng sasabihin. "Don't fall in love. It's a trap," he casually said and dropped the card sa gitna namin.
Tumaas lang ang kilay ko saka sinilip ang card na inilapag niya. "Why? May regret ka?"
"Hindi naman regret," seryoso niyang sagot. "Mahirap lang timing-an."
"Bakit mahirap timing-an? May hinihintay kang dumating?"
"Wala. Good news." Umiling lang siya saka tumawa nang mahina bago uminom.
Walang hinihintay, e di okay.
He chose his card next.
"What ended my last relationship?" Clark said. "Wow, ang daling sagutin haha!"
"Ano?" tanong ko.
"Na-bore."
"Ikaw?"
"Yung girl."
"Bakit na-bore?"
"Ewan ko sa kanya." Inalok niya sa akin ang card.
"Nambabae ka?"
"Nanlalaki siya."
"Ouch!" sabi ko at kunwaring napahawak sa dibdib. "Na-hurt ka?"
"Hindi. Expected naman na. Kapag ang babae na-bore, naghahanap 'yan ng distraction."
"Hindi mo love?"
Mula sa pagkakatingala habang umiinom, saka lang siya umiling para sabihing hindi.
Pairap ko namang binasa ang question. "What ended my last relationship? Putang ina ni Ivo, ayokong sagutin, alam mo na 'yan."
"Hahahaha!" Ang lakas ng tawa niya pagkababa niya ng bote. "Ang sama ng loob!"
"Gago ba siya? Ibalik niya lahat ng pera ko, fuck shit siya!"
"Huwag kasing gagastos sa lalaki. Parang tanga, e."
Padabog kong ibinagsak ang card sa sahig saka ako marahas na bumunot sa card ko.
"How did I lose my virginity? Hmm . . ." Napatingin ako sa itaas para umisip ng tamang way para sabihin 'yon. "Nasa US pa 'ko n'on. Sorrority dare. Makikipag-make out sa quarterback ng football team."
"Weh?" nagdududang tanong niya, sinusukat ako ng tingin.
"True nga. Bakit ayaw mong maniwala?"
"Ang bata mo pa n'on, a," sabi niya, at mukhang hindi niya gusto ang sagot ko.
"Peer pressure—ouch!" Pinitik niya ang noo ko. "Come on! I'm already twenty-six!"
"Hindi 'yan ang topic. Maharot na bata."
Ibinato ko sa kanya ang card at nag-landing 'yon sa nakatuping binti niya. Ang lalim ng buntonghininga niya saka kinuha ang card bago binasa.
"How did I lose my virginity?" Kinagat niya ang lower lip saka nanliit ang mga mata, nag-isip ng isasagot. "Kailangan ko ng info para sa sinusundan naming tao."
"Ooohh . . . then?"
"Nag-hotel kami, one-night stand."
"Ilang taon ka?"
"21."
"Really? Seryoso? Akala ko, mga fifteen ka lang nakipag—aray!" Pinitik na naman niya ako sa noo. "Bakit ba?"
Dinuro niya ako. "Kaya ka napapahamak, e."
Grabe! Malay ko ba, e sa kanya nga ako unang na-expose sa porn.
Siya na ang kumuha ng panibagong card saka pabuntong-hiningang binasa 'yon bago ngumiti. "What's my secret power? Ako talaga si Superman."
"Eww." Hinablot ko na sa kanya ang card saka binasa 'yon. Akala ko, joke lang, seryoso pala. "'Yon na 'yon?" tanong ko pa.
"Wala naman akong secret power, baliw."
"Pero naka-survive ka noong nasaksak ka before, right?"
"Wala lang natamaang vital organs kaya ako naka-survive."
"Wow, ha. Nare-relocate ba 'yang organs mo?" Binasa ko ulit ang nakalagay sa card. "What's my secret power? Hahaha! Ang KJ ng question! Next!" Ako na ang kumuha ng card. "A romantic, candlelit dinner would be incomplete without . . . blank." I frowned for a second. "Sex?"
"Ditto," Clark said. "Tapos ang epic fail ng romantic candlelight dinner n'yo ni Ivo."
"Fuck you! Sige, i-remind mo pa!"
"Hahaha! Bakit kasi ikaw ang nag-prepare?"
"Romantic nga, di ba?"
"Tapos nag-break kayo."
I rolled my eyes and drank the remaining content of my beer. "I already moved on, duh!"
"Angas. Pero ang bitter mo, 'no?"
"Shut up!" I pointed at the cards. "Last card, ayoko nang kalaro ka!"
He acted bored after he picked the last card for this game. "What made my first kiss so awkward?" Bigla niyang ibinato ang card sa 'kin.
"Hoy, sagot! Grabe, 21 ka na nga nabinyagan. Don't tell me, 21 ka na rin nagka-first kiss."
"Ikaw sumagot."
"Why me, e card mo muna 'to?" tanong ko sabay irap.
"Sabihin mo muna sino first kiss mo," dare niya.
"Nahiya ka kasi 21 ka na-devirginize? Grabe, ha." Dinampot ko ang card saka binasa ang naka-print. "What made my first kiss so awkward?"
Then I realized how stupid this question was after I recalled when was my first kiss.
Shit, si Clark nga pala ang first kiss ko after my kalandian moments noon.
Sasabihin ko ba?
Tulog naman siya noong kini-kiss ko siya.
Or . . . maybe I should be honest. Wala naman na sigurong malisya 'yon ngayon. Nakakatulog na nga kami nang magkatabi.
"Awkward kasi . . . tulog ang hinahalikan ko," sabi ko habang nakaiwas ng tingin at numanakaw ng sulyap sa kanya. "Yeah. Hindi nakaka-enjoy, pero okay lang. Past is past." Ibinato ko ulit ang card sa kanya. "O, sagot."
Gusot ang dulo ng labi niya nang tumango at tinitigan ang card.
"What made my first kiss so awkward?" pagbasa niya sa card. "Awkward kasi . . . nagising ako noong hinahalikan mo 'ko." Then he looked at me na parang may hidden malice ang titig niya. "Hindi nakaka-enjoy, pero okay lang. Past is past."
As I looked at him, may kung anong panic na biglang nabuo sa dibdib ko.
And in my head, I was screaming, "Aaaaahhhhhhh! Putang inaaaaaa!"
♥♥♥