Eleonor Malicsi Dimaculangan
Bakit ba ang bilis ng biyahe kapag hating-gabi na??? Sana uso din ang TRAPIK ng ganitong oras para matagalan pa si Sef sa paghatid sakin… Lechugas ka Eleonor!!! Haha. WAG KA NGA!!! Alam mo sa tingin ko, hindi mo naman talaga kailangan ng SIGNS eh… kasi with or without it you’re still going to fall in love with this guy anyway!
Miguel Josef Uy Monteverde then turned his eyes on the road, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel while looking at the group of guys walking on the left side of our street. Mga kanto boys yun na dinaig pa mga tanod sa kakaikot sa buong barangay namin. Oo, andito na kami sa tapat ng bahay ko and for some unknown reason, AYOKO PANG BUMABA!!! Haha. Sef continued to look outside, probably thinking how he would say good night to me. Ako naman, iniisip ko kung paano sasabihin sakanya yung INGATS ng hindi nangingisay sa kilig!!!
Grabe Ellie, are you for real?!?! Haha. IKAW BA TALAGA YAN?!?!
ARGH!!! Sa totoo lang kahit ako naninibago sa sarili ko eh… I mean… all these feelings… they’re kind offoreign especially to someone like me.
Parang gusto ko tuloy sampalin ang sarili ko para magising na sa kahibangang ito… pero pano kung…ayokong magising Ellie??? Hahaha. PAKER KA!!! Tumigil ka na nga Eleonor!!! GAAAAAHH!!! BUMABA KA NA… MAHABA PA BIYAHE NI SEF PAUWI SAKANILA!!!
“Uh–” I tried, finally breaking the silence between us. “Sef… Salamats.” Yan, ganyan Ellie… suave lang dapat. Chill lang. Wag pahalatang ayaw mo pang bumaba!!! Haha. “Salamat sa paghatid. Ingats sa pag-uwi!!!” I grinned and quickly opened the door. I leaned forwards pababa na sana but my entire body willfully shut right back against the chair that I gasped. Ano toh naka-MAGNET na ko dito?? Haha. ANAKSHUTANG ANIMALESSSS!!! YUNG SEAT BELT KASI ELLIE HINDI MO PA NATATANGGAL!!! AMPFUFU!!! Hahaha. Wag palang pahalata ah???
Sef gave a small laugh, shaking his head. “Let me get that.” He leaned closer to me para abutin yung lock nung seat belt sa right side ko, and I felt my heart jumping up & down in joyous rhythms na kala mo nagdidiwang ng celebration party!!! Ayan, parang mas lalong ayoko na talagang pumasok sa loob ng bahay namin!!! Hahaha. Lechugas Ellie, if I know sinadya mo lang na kalimutan yung seat belt mo!!!
“T-thanks.” I stammered, blushing. PAKER KA ELYONORRRRRR!!! Rawr!!!
“Hmm.” Sef gave off that sexy, teasing smirk with his face still a tad close. “You’re really acting weird tonight.” He caught my gaze, analyzing me. “Sobrang tahimik mo & you seemed awfully shy in front of my friends.” Mas lalo tuloy nag-wala ang napaka exaggerated kong heart beat. “Ah,” He nodded his head as if meron siyang biglang na-realize. “Ganyan ka ba talaga pag… naiinlove?”
Parang narindi ang tenga ko sa sinabi niyang yun!!! HUWAAAAAAAT?!?! AKO IN LAB??? T-TEKA GANUN BA KO KA-OBVIOUS??? ANAKSHUTAAAAA!!! Kulang na lang tubuan ako ng kamatis sa sobrang pula ng mga pisngi ko… PAKERRRR!!! I HATE HEARING THAT WORD LALO NA KAPAG GALING SAKANYA!!!
“Weird?” I glared at him, my brain rattling for an excuse. BILISAN MO ELLIE!!! GAAAAH!!! Wag kang papatalo!!! “Mr. Monteverde matagal na akong weird!!!” I snarled, kulang na lang kagatin ko ilong niya sa inis eh!!! GRRRR. “AT OO!!! IN LOVE AKO, MAAAaaayyy… prub-lema ka?!?!”
Dahan-dahan akong napalunok when I realized what I had said!!! Pahina ng pahina yung boses ko, parang nawalan ng baterya!!! But I managed to keep the angry, irritated expression on my face kahit na gusto ko na lang talaga matunaw sa kinauupuan ko. Oh, ano? HINDI KA PA BA PAPASOK NIYAN SA LOOB NG BAHAY NIYO??? Haha. Oo nga eh, now’s the right time to run screaming inside.
Bigla tuloy sumagi sa isip ko yung kanta ni Usher na Scream: ‘♫Ah-ooh baby baby ooh baby… If you wanna scream ♫’
PERO T-TEKA NGA LANG… HUWEYT POR JUAN MADAPAKING MINUTE!!! SINABI KO BA TALAGA YUN?!?!?! REWIND PLEASE!!! Hindi ba pwedeng TAKE 2??? Hah. Anong feeling mo Ellie, shooting toh at nasa set ka lang ng THE MISTRESS?? WALA KANG HAWAK NA SCRIPT TEH!!! Ikaw ang gumagawa ng sarili mong prublema… kaya lusutan mong mag-isa yan!!!
Sef was somewhat taken aback. His eyes widened in sheer disbelief, obviously he wasn’t expecting to hear such blunt words coming from me. “You… are?” He asked, yung boses niya parang takang-taka na ewan. Parang kulang na lang itanong niya kung KANINO!!!
Oh, I’m in deep shit!!! Sa totoo lang bigla akong natakot… I have no effin’ idea how to handle situations like this… Unang-una sa lahat, I’ve NEVER confessed to a guy before!!! Hindi ko alam paano i-handle ito!!! AHHHHHH… LORD, ILANG BESES NA KO HUMIHINGI SA INYO NG GUIDE BOOK EH!!! Hindi ko alam ang mga ganitong klase ng bagay!!! Naman kasi eh… bakit ba walang subject na ganito sa school??
AAAAAHHH EWAN SAYO ELLIE… BASTA!!!! WALA AKONG PLANONG UMAMIN SA KANYA NUH!!! NOT NOW… NOT EVERRRRR!!! PERIOD.
I’LL JUST HANDLE THIS MY WAY!!!
“Oo, at sinisigurado ko sayong HINDI mo siya kilala!!! OKAY?” I continued the tough act. I barely jumped out his Pajero. “Hmp. Diyan ka na nga.” Inay, gusto ko ng maglaho ditoooo!!! Tama naman yung sinabi ko diba? I think it made a lot of sense, besides, hindi ko naman sinabing hindi siya yun eh!!! Haha. Sinabi ko lang, hindi niya kilala. Eh totoo naman diba? Hindi niya alam na SIYA yung tinutukoy ko??? Hahahaha. LANJOT MO TEH!!!
“Huh. I see.” Sef scoffed arrogantly, but I swear his eyes looked dangerous. “I have a tough competitor. Well, tell him I won’t lose.”
BOOM!
I felt my stubborn heart melt in an instant. I have to fight the urge not to SMILE at him. Sheet, ang sarap naman pakinggan nun… he won’t lose daw… hahahaha. Paker kung alam lang niya…
“Uh–” And my WEIRD self was back. This time, my voice drastically changed its tune. It went back to being warm but still somewhat strong. “Sige na. Umuwi ka na. I-txt mo na lang yung… yung number ni AJ kapag nakarating ka na sa inyo.” I have no idea why I just said that. Whether I’m concern or whatever, I don’t know… SHEET ELLIE!!! KAYA KA SINASABING WEIRD NI SEF EH!!! ILANG BESES KA NG HINATID NG LALAKING YAN DITO SA BAHAY NIYO… AT NGAYON LANG… OO, AS IN NGAYONG GABI MO LANG SINABI NA ITXT KANIYA PAG NAKAUWI NA SIYA!!!
Sef slightly furrowed his brows at me. “AJ? Oh, right I forgot.” He said, reaching for his compartment yung parang maliit na cabinet sa may harap nung passenger seat na inupuan ko kanina. “I have your phone with me.”
I blinked. Huh? “Papanong napunta sayo toh?” I stared at my long-lost phone, naka full charged and as usual umaapaw nanaman sa unread messages at missed calls.
“You… left it at home.” Sef uncomfortably looked away na parang ayaw niyang ikwento yung details. Kung hindi lang madilim, I would be pretty sure he was slightly blushing.
“Ah.” I nodded, satisfied with his answer. “Ok sige. Thanks.” I was just about to shut the door of the Pajero kaso lang may pahabol pa ulit si Sef.
“Nga pala, Ellie!” He called. “Palitan mo pangalan ko sa phonebook mo!!!” I gaped at him. Alam niyang pinangalanan ko siyang PANGET??? Hay naku, kahit kelan talaga… PAKIALAMERO tong si Sef!!!
“Ge, BOSS.” I grinned. “Papalitan ko… McDonalds!” Oh, dali!!! Tanong niyo sakin kung bakit McDonalds? Haha. Syempre, diba sabi sa commercial ng McDo… ♫ Paparapapap… LOVE KO ‘TOH!! ♫ Hahahahahahaha. PAKYU KA ELLIE!!! WAGAS SA PAGBANAT AH?!?! Hahahaha. At super din sa KA-KORNIHAN!!! Animales, ganyan ka pala talaga mainlove: nagiging WEIRD ka hija!!! Hahaha. With that, agad ko ng sinara yung pintuan para hindi na makapagtanong si Sef kung bakit!!!
I plunged back down on my own bed & exhaustion was far from knocking me out cold. My mind is still…adrift. Sino ba naman ang dadapuan ng antok matapos ang LAHAT ng mga pangyayari ngayong gabi?
Hindi pa din kasi ako makapaniwala… I mean… seryoso ba ang lahat ng toh??? Sef introducing me with his friends tonight… tapos yung malupit na SIGN mula sa langit… hanggang sa mga nakakalokang tagpo kanina sa Pajero niya… Dios mio, que horror!!!
C’mon Ellie, wag mong sabihin sakin na babaliwalain mo ang thumbs-up ni John Lloyd? You got your SIGN, you got what you need… it’s about time you do your part of the deal.
Eh sino bang nagsabing may balak akong UMATRAS??? At may McDonald’s ka pang nalalaman ngayon ah??? Wahahahaha.
Para kong tangang nakangiti habang titig na titig sa ceiling ng kwarto ko. I still didn’t move kahit nung bumukas yung pinto at pumasok ang malandi kong pinsan. As usual, may makapal na beauty mask na nakalagay sa mukha ni AJ and a pink towel wrapped atop his head. Mas lalo nga siyang naging obsess sa kagandahan niya especially right after he had that huge, black eye.
“Mm-hm.” He mumbled teasingly. “You smell like you just got from a date.”
I laughed and rolled over to my stomach kaya nakadapa na ko sa kama. My neck twisted to my right, sa direksyon mismo ng pinsan ko. “Cuz, nakakabaliw pala ‘tong ganito nuh?”
Umupo si AJ sa harap nung tukador ko and he looked at me through the mirror. “Aba, aba… parang iba ata ang tono mo ngayon? Dati nung na-realize mong in love ka ang drama mo sakin ‘AJ, hindi pwede toh! Hindi ako pwede mainlove kay Sef… huhuhuhu… kill me now cuz. I can’t fall in love with that guy… si John Lloyd lang ang may puwang sa puso ko…’” He whined, his voice going small obviously ginagaya niya yung boses ko in an overly exaggerated way. Syempre HINDI yun yung exact words ko nun but it was enough para mapaupo ako mula sa pagkakadapa sa kama ko.
I frowned at my cousin as I felt my cheeks burned hot. I was slightly embarrassed when I recalled that moment too. Alam ko galing kami ni Sef nun sa Antipolo when I first met his aunt – si Tita Yolly – tapos he kissed me in the middle of the road at paguwi ko naabutan kong nanonood nun ng TV si AJ. “OA ah!!!” I hissed defensively. Tae naman kasi, kailangan pa talagang ipaalala?? Haha. Napa-indian sit tuloy ako as I grabbed one of my pillows. “Pero… kasi naman AJ eh…” I fumbled with my fingers. I sounded like a little girl na nagsusumbong lang sa ATE ko, haha. “Lahat na ata ng argumentong alam ko nasabi ko na sa sarili ko… pero wala pa ring talab eh.”
“Gaga!” AJ laughed, twirling around to actually face me. “Ganyan talaga yan, the more mo kasing pinipigilan, mas lalong nagpupumiglas!! Haha. Ano na ba kasing status niyo?”
“Status? Parang facebook lang ah?” I chuckled. Animales talaga, daig pa niya totoong abogado kung makapag-tanong ah? “Status… Syempre SINGLE pa din ako. Ewan ko sakanya.”
“Balbal! Hindi naman yan ang gusto kong malaman nuh?!” Tumaas ang kilay sakin ng pinsan ko.“Matalino ka namang babae cuz, pero pag dating sa love, dinaig ka pa talaga ni Papa Jack!!! NAKAKA-LOKA KA!” Tumingin na lang ulit si AJ sa harap nung salamin habang dahan-dahang tinatanggal yung beauty mask niya.
I pouted at him sabay bato sakanya nung unang yakap-yakap ko. “Animales, ang dami mong sinabi!!” I sighed and dropped my back on the bed again. “Ahhh… basta, itutulog ko na lang toh!!!”
“Pero, hindi nga Ellie?” AJ asked, his voice was serious. “Nanliligaw na ba si Sef sayo?”
ARGH. Kulang pa ata yung unang binato ko sa pinsan kong toh!!! Hahaha. Dapat dito inuuntog sa pader eh!! Haha.
Well, seryoso naman siyang nagtanong… seryoso din akong sasagot. “Oo. Ata.” I shrugged,utterly confused. Napansin kong nakatitig pa din si AJ sakin, one of his brows raised questioningly. “Sinabi naman niya eh… pero… hindi ko naman alam kung seryoso yung gagung yun o ano. Malay ko bang biruan lang ulit sakanya ang lahat ng toh?” I comfortably stretched my hands on the back of my head and stared back up the ceiling as I continued rambling on. “Parang sira ulo kasi yun eh, manliligaw daw eh simpleng I LIKE YOU nga ni hindi niya sinabi sakin!!! Tss.” I hissed, frowning. “Tapos sa tuwing sinasabing SEF may kasunod agad na LIANNE, hindi ba pwedeng ELLIE naman?”
“Oh, you’re in love alright!” AJ smiled sweetly at me. He then stood up and sat next to me. “So, ibig mong sabihin you want to know how he really feels about you?”
I flinched to his question. ARGH!!! TEKA NGA, BAKIT BA PARANG SUPER SERYOSO NG USAPAN NAMIN?!?! SHEET!!! “GRRRR.” I suddenly growled, and roughly ran my hands on my hair leaving it all messed up. “Tama na nga tong ganitong usapan AJ!!!” I dodged. “Bakit mo ba ko nila-love therapy?? Maaga pa pasok natin bukas!!!” I reached for my phone I placed underneath the pillow & checked at the time. “Oh, 12:15 na!!! Matulog na tayo.”
“Nakuha mo na pala yang phone mo!!!” AJ gasped, instinctively backing away na kala mo aatakihin siya ng cellphone ko. “Tae, yan ang dahilan kung bakit ako nagka-black eye eh!!!”
“Huh?” Kumunot ang noo ko & I stared strangely at my phone. Iniisip ko tuloy yung mga gadgets sa movie na TRANSFORMERS. “Bakit? Nagtra-transform ba tong phone ko?”
“Gaga ka talaga!” Angil niya sakin. “Yang cellphone mo kaya yung rason kung bakit nagsuntukan sila Sef at Enzo!!!” AJ rolled his eyes, his voice being sarcastic again. “Sef thought you were actually with Enzo kasi he was the one who answered your phone when Sef tried to call you. Alam mo bang kamuntik ng paliparin ni Sef yung Pajero niya para lang makarating sa bahay nila? Iniisip ata kasi niya hinalayka na ng pinsan niya. Haha.” I stared at AJ, trying to absorb every detail pero sa totoo lang I was slightly disappointed. Akala ko kasi nagtra-transform na talaga tong phone ko eh. Haha. Lintek Ellie, yun pa talga yung nasa isip mo??? “Ako namang si gaga, pumagitna and tried to stop them… ayun ako nakasalo nung suntok ni Papa Enzo. Oh ano?” He then eyed me teasingly. “Hindi mo alam yun nuh? I think that answers all of your questions about Sef. Dios ko naman nuh, biruin mong makikipagpatayan siya sa pinsan niya para lang sayo??? Sa tingin ko naman, hindi na niya kailangan pang sabihin yung I LIKE YOU para lang patunayan yun nuh!!!” Napanganga ko sa sinabing yun ni AJ. Minsan talaga, MADAPAKER toh eh!!! Hahaha.
At teka… Hinalay talaga yung term? Haha. Kahit kelan talaga napaka green minded talaga nung si SEF!!! But on second thought, I think Sef was right to think that. Naalala ko nga pala kung gaano ka-manyak yung si Enzo. Then I blushed wildly nung naimagine ko yung mga pangyayari nun ayon sa kwento ng magaling kong pinsan. Well, kahit naman sira ang ulo nito I’m pretty sure 100% reliable naman ang mga chismis niya.
Tapos naalala ko yung itsura ni Sef kanina sa Pajero when I asked him kung papaanong napunta sakanya yung cellphone ko. Kaya pala ganun katipid yung sagot niya sakin!!! Hahaha.
“Haiiii naku,” AJ grimaced, his face freed from his beauty regimen. “Minsan kasi ang prublema sa atingmga girls… Gusto nating sinasabi pa ng mga guys yung salitang I LOVE YOU. We want to hear it from them, when in fact it doesn’t really matter kasi, believe me Cuz… mas madaling magsinungaling sa salita kesa sa gawa!!! Hindi naman inimbento ang katagang ‘ACTIONS SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS’ dahil trip-trip lang nuh!!”
Oh san pa kayo??? Basta PRUBLEMANG PAG-IBIG ang usapan… Who you gonna call??? Ghostbusters!! Este, Juan Antonio Malicsi pala. Hahaha.
“Oo na, sige na!” I smiled at him. Pero infairness, sa litanyang narinig ko mula sa pinsan kong toh… somehow… I feel much better even though I’m not utterly convinced. Buti na lang talaga… oo, as in… buti na lang naging pinsan ko ang BRUHANG toh!!! Haha. “Grabe, ano bang pinakain sayo ni Sef at talagang todo ka sa pagtatanggol sakanya? Hindi naman masyadong halata na botong-boto ka sakanya nuh?”
Nagulat ako kasi biglang tumawa ng malakas na malakas si AJ. Pakiwari ko nga magigising ang buong barangay namin eh!!! “ABA hindi FOR FREE ang ginagawa kong toh nuh!!!” He then raised his forefinger and kept moving it from left to right. “No, no, no. May kapalit ito dear cousin, in return kailangan ILAKAD din ako ni Sef sa one & only pinsan niya – kay ENZO!!! Ohohohoho.”
SINASABI KO NA NGA BA EH!!! Pero pati tuloy ako sobrang natawa. Anakshutang animales yan!!! Forever laughtrip kausap toh!!! Si Enzo pa talaga ang napagpantasyahan niya and I could just imagine the possibility na si ENZO naman yung mamanyakin nitong si AJ!!! Hahaha. I’m sure, that will teach Enzo Monteverde a lesson he will never forget!!!
Wala talagang katulad tong pinsan ko!!! It’s proven… Nagiisa lang talaga ang Juan Antonio Malicsi sa balat ng lupa!!!
For sure… tonight… matutulog akong nakangiti. Hahaha.
To be continued.