CHAPTER ELEVEN: Welcoming Party
༺═───MEGUMI'S POV───═༻
"hayyyyy!!! bakit ka kase nanditooo?! diba may party kayo?" nagmamaktol na reklamo ni kio
Napagdesisyunan ko kase na pumunta nalang sa bahay niya dahil wala na akong gana pumunta ng party. Isa pa parang wala naman na akong karapatan doon. Buo na ang loob ko, babalik ako ng australia in a few weeks.
"Bakit baaaaa?" ganti ko habang pinapapak ang ubas sa center table ng dining room nila
"lalabas ako kasama ang mga kaibigan kooo lumayas ka na" sabi niya
"Titaaaa! pinapalayas ako ni ki---" hindi ko na natuloy ang sinasabi ko ng takpan niya agad ang bunganga ko. lumabas naman mula sa kitchen si tita lara na may suot pa na apron.
"Ano nanaman ba ang sinabi nitong anak ko?" natatawang tanong nito ng makalapit saamin at ilapag ang dala niyang spaghetti
"Wala ma! si megumi nga ang may sinasabi ang laki laki raw ng mansyon mo tapos wala ka daw katulong."
agad kong kinurot si kio ng palihim, sinigurado kong pinong pino ang kurot na 'yon.
"nako tita kilala mo po ako I won't say that lame idea it was actually his thoughts HAHAHAHA"
"Well what do we expect from this stupid child HAHAHAHA. Enjoy your meal kids!" nakangiting kumento ni tita na ikinasimangot ni kio.
"Thankyou po tita" I said before she left us and enters the kitchen once again
nagtatakang tumingin naman saakin si kio pero agad din na sumimangot
"How could I enjoy this meal if she calls me stupid hmp!" nakasimangot na usal niya kaya natawa ako bago umiling iling.
Habang kumakain nagpapakwento ako sakanya ng about sa mga game niya since isa siya sa mga pinakasikat na player sa district namin. I know what he were saying are all facts I checked it online last week pa gusto ko lang may mapagusapan that's why I'm asking him.
Nasa kalagitnaan kami ng pagkain ng magring ang phone ko
it's mia...
"Megumiiiiiiiiiii!!!"
halos mabitawan ko yung phone ko sa lakas ng boses ni mia sa kabilang linya
"What the hell?" reklamo ni kio mukhang narinig niya rin kahit hindi naman naka speaker call.
"What? are you with that kio guy?"
"How did you---yeah we're having a uhmm..dinner"
"Whyyyy? we're all here at the club already. the party started an hour ago ikaw nalang ang kulang. Should I pick you up?"
"Mia sorry I won't be there it's just..." I couldn't compose a proper reason why am I not attending. How am I supposed to say that I'm leaving back in my former country?
"What do you mean meggy? pinipigilan ka ba ng kio na 'yan?! teka nga pupuntahan kita nasaan ka ba?"
"No no no! it's a personal reason and I'm with kio at his house I'm fine." I told her
"At his house?"
"Yeah? why?"
"Uhmm nothing, but could you atleast show up you can go quickly just let them see you. I was the one who's incharge to this party and I made it mainly for you" she sounds pleading so I close my eyes trying not to say yes
"She will be there in a couple of minutes don't worry!" malakas na sabi ni kio. pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata.
"Okay! ingat! see you!" bago pa ako makakontra pinatay na ni mia yung call.
This twoooo!!! arghh!
"What?" patay malisya na tanong ni kio bago tumusok ng hotdog sa spaghetti.
napairap nalang ako at inubos ang nasa plato ko.
Matapos namin kumain agad niya akong inihatid sa tinext ni mia na address ng club. Nakangisi siya ng iabot ko ang helmet and I can't help vut to roll my eyes again.
"Teka? magcclub ka ng nakagan'yan?" tanong niya habang nakatingin sa suot ko.
I'm wearing a blue sleeveless top,white jacket and white boyshorts. Balak ko kasing magpractice kanina sa gym hindi naman natuloy.
"I'm not here to party kio, I just want my attendance" sarkastikong sabi ko
"Bahala ka nga sa buhay mo, call me if uuwi ka na. Malapit lang yung house dito ng kaibigan ko doon ako." ahh oo nga pala kaya nakangisi 'to dahil makakagala na siya.
nagpasalamat lang ako bago pumasok sa club, pinakita ko yung ID ko and sinabi ko yung name ng party host na malamang eh si mia. Agad naman akong pinapasok ng bouncer ba 'yon o guard ewan ko basta ang laki niya.
Pagpasok ko langhap na langhap ko na ang amoy ng alak at --- ano 'yon? baho.
Bahagya kong kinusot ang mga mata ko dahil sa blinking lights sa loob, neon colors pa sakit sa mata.
Hindi na sana ako nagcontact lenses.
"Meggy!!!" nagulat ako ng biglang may yumakap saakin
si mia ba 'to?
she's wearing a white shorts and a sleeveless green top.
Ang ganda niyaaaa!!! lalo pa siyang tumangkad tignan dahil sa expose long legs niya.
"Ang tagal mo naman it's been 2 hours since the party started! we're all drunk na look there HAHAHAHA!" Malakas na sabi niya sa bandang tenga ko dahil sa lakas din ng sounds
marami na ang nagsasayawan sa dance floor and puno na rin ng mga bote ang tables.
Ang dami atang 4th year dito?
"You're drunk?" I asked her
she shakes her head no but looking at her state, red cheeks, pouted lips and limp walks.
Damn! she's drunk.
"Where's you're guardians?" I asked her again
"Thereeeee!" turo niya sa bandang dulo.
Agad na sinalubong ng madalim na aura ang mga mata ko ng magtama ang paningin namin ni draco na nakaupo sa area na tinuro ni mia. He looks calm leaning back and holding a glass of whiskey. This is also the first time I saw him in a casual look.
He looks... neat and nice. lol.
Iniwas ko ang paningin ko at nilibt nalang ito. Maganda yung pwesto nila, I think private area 'yon dahil nakaseperate sa ibang tables.
"Let's goooo!" sabi ni mia sabay hatak saakin sa direksyon ni draco. Doon ko napansin si lucas na nandoon rin sa table na 'yon, beside him is amanda and yohei they looks good in their sexy dresses.
"Lorenzo" tawag ni yohei ng mapansin niya kaming palapit sa area nila.
"Megumi glad you're now here!" nakangiting sabi ni amanda kaya napangiti na rin ako ng bongga.
"Hi!" nakangiting bati ko nang tuluyan na kaming makalapit sa table nila.
I felt draco's intense stares. Galit pa rin siya saakin for sure lalo na fresh pa ang argument namin kanina. Idk what I feel about him cause I'm not mad anymore nor happy to see him.
I'm just uncomfortable by his stares.
"Nagpractice ka ba? uhmm your outfit..." takang tanong ni yohei.
naupo kami ni mia umupo siya sa tabi ni draco at ako naman sa empty seat sa tabi ni lucas.
speaking of lucas parang hindi ako pinapansin nito ah? tinignan ko siya bago sumagot sa tanong ni yohei
"Supposedly pero nagpulot nalang ulit ako ng kalat sa gym HAHAHA" biro ko pero totoo naman
"Sorryyy sa mga kalat hindi na namin naasikaso excited kasi eh" usal ni amanda
"Ayos lang no worries saglit lang din naman ako sa gym before I felt hungry HAHAHA"
"So you had a dinner at kio's house?" tanong ni lucas
"Yo he's jealous" usal ni mia dahilan para kunin ni lucas yung cupcake sa mesa at ishoot sa mouth ni mia. Natawa ako sa inaakto nila kaya hindi ko na masyadong pinansin ang sinabi ni mia
"Yeah, his mom invited us so I can't say no" sagot ko
"Megumi... alam mo ba kung gaano kadelikado ang kio na 'yon?" si amanda
nawala yung ngisi sa mga labi ko at kumunot ang noo. I don't care if I look offended cause I am.
"He's not, he's a good guy. Why are you asking by the way?" diskumpyadong tanong ko
"Ohhh sorry I didn't mean to offend he just... uhmm let's say he doesn't have a good first impression to us." she sounds shocked and panicking at the same time.
cute.
"Kio punched lucas' face after their game last year and there's also a rumor that he leads a frat in our district" si mia
"It's not kio's fault tho and baseless accusations should never be considered as facts, right lucas?" I asked him smiling knowing that he's more aware about justice and human nature.
"You trust him that much not to doubt him." malayong sagot ni lucas sa tanong ko.
"We're childhood friends." nakangiting sabi ko. sabay sabay yung gulat na nakita ko sa mukha nila kaya natawa ako.
"Whatttt? really?" tanong ni yohei
"yep we're friends since we were 10."
"That explains why you're into him." lucas
"Ano?" takang tanong ko
"Hindi ba kayo mag-on?" tanong naman ni mia
pinapunta ba nila ako dito para chismisin?
"Let her have her drink first." nagulat kaming lahat ng magsalita si draco.
Nandito pa pala 'to akala ko lumayas na.
"Hereeee" inaabot ni mia saakin ang isang baso ng wine kaya napailing ako.
"She's minor doon ka" sabi ni lucas at hinawi ng bahagya ang kamay ni mia. nakasimangot naman niyang tinungga nalang ng yung wine. Nagalala na kami dahil lasing na nga siya todo inom pa siya kaya nilayo na ni amanda sakanya yung bote ng mga alak pati yung baso niya.
Kinuha naman ni lucas sa fridge sa ilalim ng table yung dalawang flavor ng in-can shake. Naamaze pa ako kasi ngayon lang ako nakakita ng fridge under the table and marami pa talagang beverages bukod sa shakes and alcohols.
Nilapag ni lucas yung shakes sa table sabay abot saakin nung isa. Chocolate flavor yung inaabot niya saakin and yung nasa table naman is strawberry.
matagal kong pinaglipat lipat ang tingin sa dalawang shakes since hindi na rin naman ako ang center of attention nila I take my time. naguusap na sila about sa names nung seniors na nasa dance floor.
nahihiya ako tanggihan kasi baka sabihin nagiinarte pa ako flavor nalang nga. Binuksan ko na yung lid ng biglang may tumapik sa kamay ko.
si draco.
inabot niya yung strawberry shake sabay kuha ng chocolate na hawak ko.
I smiled a little at inopen agad yung strawberry.
"Hindi magandang kumbinasyon ang chocolateeee at whiskey laito" sabi ni mia
nakatingin pala ito saamin kaya ng sabihin niya 'yon napalingon si amanda,yohei at lucas sakan'ya tapos saaming dalawa ni draco.
Imbis na sumagot eh tumingin lang sa malayo si laito like he look so done with this drunken mia.
"How much does she had to be this silly?" I asked
"Three... bottles " pailing iling na sagot ni yohei
napailing nalang din ako.
"Ahh megumi hindi mo pa ata nakikilala yung student council auditor natin, here he is!" amanda's loud voice ring my mind kaya tinignan ko agad ang lalaking palapit sa table bamin. "Kierth Tan, 2nd year criminology."
"Oh? she's?" sabi nung guy
"She's megumiii my one and only friend!" si mia.
tumingin sakanya yung tatlo na mukhang naoffend but they didn't mind na rin agad seeing her state. Close eyes and red face HAHAHAHA.
Drunken mia.
"Nice to meet you kierth. Megumi. Megumi Lorenzo."
"Ang babaeng lapitin ng disgrasya" natatawang sabi nitong kierth. napasimangot ako kaya natawa sila.
Isang disgrasya lang naman 'yon eh? yung sa flasks and tubes...ay yung sa icecream truck...pati pala yung sa cafeteria. Oo nga lapitin ako ng disgrasya.
"Nice outfit huh" I told him pointing out his school uniform
"he has a duty but he's here" si amanda
"Free drinks free girls HAHAHAHA" wika nito sabay lagok ng whiskey
Nagsitawanan kami.
"uhmm guys" lumingon sila saakin
"What is it?" lucas
"If he's the auditor then who's the president? they call him president zeao right?" I genuinely ask.
But I think I asked the wrong question cause kierth suddenly drops the bottle of whiskey and yohei almost choke on her cupcakes so as mia. They all look at me in disbelief. I also noticed the amuse face of draco.
"Guys y'all are scaring hahaha" awkward na kumento ko
napamura si kierth ng mapansin na nabagsak niya yung bote agad siyang tumawag ng maglilinis noon. inabutan naman ng tubig ni lucas si yohei at mia na maiiyak na sa pigil nilang kung ano habang may nginunguyang cupcake.
"Seryoso ka ba sa tanong na 'yan megumi?" tawang tawa na tanong ni amanda
ng malunok na ni yohei ng tuluyan yung kinakain niya. Nauna siyang tumawa ng malakas at kasunod noon ay ang tawa nilang lahat.
I felt so stupid without knowing the reasonnnn!
I'm so embarrassed right now
"You're fighting with him over and over kaya pala HAHAHAHAHA cause you don't know who he is HAHAHAHA" nabuhayan na sabi ni mia
teka... fighting over and over...
nilingon ko si laito pero inirapan lang ako nito.
zeao...
laito zeao???!?!!!!
biglang nagsink in sa memories ko yung mga ilang beses na tinatawag nilang zeao si draco, pati yung mga teachers sa science lab at yung mga police pati si inspector.
parang gusto ko nalang magpakain sa lupa.
The one and only ruler of moisle.
Yung iniiwasan ng lahat na mapunta sa bad side abdpatience niya na presidente ng mga estudyante sa moisle rh yung tinatawag kong draco? kung ano ano pa sinabi ko sakanya kaninaaaa (╥﹏╥)
How can I be so stupid?!?!?
If I just knew baka mas humaba pa ang pasensya ko sakanya at hindi kami laging nagtatalo.
"I'll just go to the bathroom." the first thing na pumasok sa utak ko para makaalis sa nakakahiyang sitwasyon na 'to.
rinig ko pa rin ang hagikgikan nila ng tumayo ako at hinanap yung bothroom.
Naikot ko na yung buong bar pero wala akong makitang comfort room.
Nanahimik nalang ako dito sa front bar to compose myself. I snatch a bourbon whiskey from the bartender, he don't mind since ayon naman talaga dapat. Ang mali lang binibigyan niya ulit ako kaya nilagok ko nanaman.
Nang makaapat na baso ako napagdesisyunan ko ng bumalik kanila mia, ngunit napatalon ako ng bahagya ng may brasong humigit sa bewang ko.
"You look hot kidoo. tell me your name, baby girl." bulong nito sa tenga ko.
tumaas ang balahibo ko at agad itong tinulak sabay takbo palayo.
I know him isa siya sa nasa dance floor kanina so malamang isa siya sa 4th year. I noticed his boots din na sa tingin ko is for criminology. I saw kierths boots it's the same. maybe they knew each other but I don't care he's creeping me out.
Sa pagtakbo nahagip ng mata ko ang bathroom na malapit sa back door.
agad akong pumasok doon.
Walang tao sa loob dahil naka vacant yung tatlong cubicle anf and wala rin sa powder room.
Doon ko nilabas ang frustrations ko kaya sinipa ko yung pader ng ilang beses.
"Nakakahiyaaaa ang tanga mo megumiiii!" I voice it out of frustration. I was about to kick the wall for the last time ng biglang may pumasok ng cr kaya lumingon ako.
It's the same guy who creeps me out. now he's being more creepy.
"What are you doing in a female bathroom?! get out!" I tried to sound as tough as I can.
"How dare you push me infront of so many people huh? there's nothing special about you. Let's just enjoy our privacy here." sabi niya sabay tawa na parang nababaliw he tried to snatch my arms but before he could do that I kicked him where the sun won't shine.
Agad ko siyang nilagpasan at tinungo ang pintuan pero nagulat ako ng hatakin nito ang buhok ko na dahilan para mapasigaw ako ng malakas pero hinatak ako muli nito sa braso naman sabay hampas saakin sa lababo.
I feel dizzy.
Napansin ko nalang that his head is resting on my neck.
My eyes are getting hot when I realized what he's doing.
I pushed him with all my strength and punch his face I also make sure to give him a proper shot in his stomach uhmm no...near his lungs. I saw him struggling with his breath. I push him against the wall and choke him.
"Try to touch me again and I'll ripped your heart away from your chest." I said before letting him go.
Still I hit my final straw. I kick him again between his legs.
"Well sorry goodbye future rabies--I mean babies." I said when I saw him at the ground holding his happiness and stomach.
Tinalikuran ko siya to reach the door that's when I saw that draco is right there. He's watching me with his judgemental eyes.
Bago pa ako makapagsalita eh lumakad na siya palayo. Sinundan ko siya kahit lumabas siya sa back door ng bar, as he's about to enter his car, I gripped his arms.
his dark shade eyes bore falls into mine I don't know but it made me shudder.
"What do you want? two faced bitch." Inalis ko ang pagkakahawak sa braso niya ng marinig 'yon pero nagulat nalang ako ng mahigpit niya akong hawakan sa pabalik. He's holding into my arms that might form dark circles after.
"Ano? you're going to deny it again? smiling infront of everyone, acting nice and showing up like a naive soft girl then what? when it's just the two of us you're a freakin' bitch who easily beats people! I'm done of giving you a chance to prove thay you're as innocent as mia's saying." he spat harshly near my face
I can't help but to let my tears fall.
"What do you want me to do? let him touch me inappropriately?" I ask him
I felt his eyes softened a bit pero agad nawala 'yon ng makita niya ang bagsak na jacket ko. Exposing my sleeveless top. Agad kong inayos ang suot ko at umiwas ng tingin sakan'ya.
"No wonder." he says
I tries to pull my arms but he grip it harder that made me whimpers.
He look behind me before he shoved me inside his car. I was about the get out nang pumwesto na agad siya sa drivers seat.
I don't care if the only noise inside his card is my sobs as he drive to I don't know where. Madilim na kasi ang dinadaanan namin and blury na rin ang paningin ko because of my tears.
"Stop crying, I'm sorry okay." he said calmly
that's when I move my gaze to him.
"I'm sorry..." he says again, sounds more genuine, I just nodded and wipes my tears.
"I'm gonna ask you again megumi. What are you hiding?"
"Why?"
"Just answer me."
"Nothing."
"Why are you pretending?"
"I don't know what are you talking about." after saying that he didn't speak anymore. The whole time was a quiet ride no dares no start a conversation again.
Fee minutes I notice na nasa tapat na kami ng apartment ko. He didn't said anything, nakatingin lang siya sa labas hinihintay na lumabas na ako ng kotse niya.
I can sense he's still mad at me and he's just controlling it by avoiding me.
I still take the risk.
"I... is mia at home already?" I asked.
"Lucas brought her home."
"What about amanda and yohei?"
"Malaki na sila kaya na nila ang mga sarili nila, unlike you. Now go."
I'm still offended by his remarks just a while ago and here he comes again. I just rolled my eyes starts to unbuckle the seat belt but what the fuck is this. Ayaw matanggal. I tried it again and again and again.
Kainis ngayon pa talaga!
Unti unti akong lumingon kay draco and to my surprise he's looking at my state with his bored eyes.
"Move." he says before forwarding his body and reach my seatbelt. Mukhang hindi rin niya matanggal kaya I assume na may mali kanina sa pagkakalagay niya nito.
I awkwardly leaned backward to provide more space between us especially our face. I stares outside and I saw some people outside judging us inside his car. Isn't his car tinted? Last time it was tinted.
Nang matanggal na ni draco yung seatbelt inexpect ko na aalis na siya sa harap ko pero nanatili siyang nakatingin sa'kin.
"You're lying" he said
"What are you talking about? please I'm tired of your accusations"
"Monday morning. that's the last chance I'm giving you. Kapag hindi ka lumapit saakin sa lunes ng umaga at sabihin kung ano ang sinisikreto mo you'll face the real deal, lorenzo."
he angrily spat.
"Tabi!" I bravely said and push him pero parang wala lang dahil hindi man lang siya natinag.
"Hindi ako makapaniwalang hindi mo 'ko kilala."
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