Lesson 14
Insensitive
("Weh? Seriously? Sinabi 'yun ni Sir Neil sa'yo?") Halos hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Sharpay sa kabilang linya matapos kong ikuwento ang nangyari noong Tuesday. Hindi rin kasi kami natuloy sa dapat naming pagkikita dahil pinauwi rin siya agad sa kanila, may emergency yata. Hindi rin siya pumasok kanina.
"Are you implying that it's impossible?!" I whined at her. Grabe naman, maganda naman talaga ako! Big deal lang talaga ngayon because it's Sir Neil who complimented me.
("Hindi naman pero kasi it's shocking that he'll directly tell you that.")
"Wala eh, maganda talaga ako," singit ko agad habang iniikot ang mga dulo ng buhok ko. Nakahiga ako ngayon sa kama ko at nakatitig sa kisame.
("You're so full of yourself, bestie!") She complained. ("Tyaka tandaan mo uy, 'wag mo nang pagpantasyahan si Sir Neil, may Sir Rick ka na.") Advise niya sa akin. I cringed at the thought na hanggang crush na lang ako kay Sir Neil.
"I am completely aware, best. Hate to say pero sayang I prefer Sir Neil. He's way nicer than Sir Rick. Ugh. Hayaan na, basta maganda ako, tapos."
("Maganda ka naman talaga so you can brag. Suportahan pa kita sa paghasik ng kagandahan mo haha!")
"Kaya mahal kita, bestie, eh. You're so supportive!"
("Anyway, anong nangyari sa wedding seminar niyo ni Sir kanina?") Pagkabanggit niya pa lang ng Sir, sumama ang timpla ko. Psh.
"Tss. 'Wag mo nang alamin, bes. Change topic." Angil ko.
("Uy smells fishy oh! Anyare, bes?! Share na 'yan!") Pagpupumilit niya sa akin.
Ano ba 'yan! Nakakabadtrip lang! Nothing special happened actually. Magkatabi lang kami for 4 hours. Shortened ang session dahil na rin sa request ni Mom at may connection siya sa simbahan.
"Four hours lang kaming magkatabi. He's so boring. Nakikinig lang siya sa buong session! Hindi nga ako pinapansin!" Reklamo ko sa kanya. When I said he was boring, I was not exaggerating or joking. Hindi niya talaga ako kinakausap. Ni hindi nga niya ako tinitingnan.
("Baka may iniisip lang, bestie. Ikaw naman oh. Syempre pressured 'yun dahil ikakasal na siya.") Depensa ni Sharpay kay Sir.
"Like duh?! Pressured ka dyan? It's like we're only married by paper!" Atake ko.
("O malay mo ganoon lang talaga siya kapag may mga seminars: sineseryoso niya. Hindi tulad mo na kating-kati kalikutin ang phone lagi.")
"As if," sabi ko agad. "And bestie, stop defending that old hag." Saway ko sa kanya. "And please, let's change the topic." Pakiusap ko and I really mean it.
("Ay bestie, wait lang ah. Mom's calling. Will be back later. Tell me more about your wedding, okay? Babush!")
"Sige, bestie. Bye!"
Our call conversation ended. Napabuntong-hininga naman ako. Tiningnan ko ang munting kahon na pinaglalagyan ng singsing at inabot ito.
Habang nakahiga, itinaas ko ito at pinagmasdan. Sinusuri ulit ang bawat sulok at kurba ng singsing. Naiimagine ko na ito lang naman ang singsing na isusuot ko sa daliri niya sa Sabado. The thought made me shiver. 3 days to go and bye to my unmarried life!
Napaisip ako. Paano kung hindi itinuloy ni ate Francine ang pagiging doktor niya 4 years ago? E siya naman talaga dapat ang maikakasal kung hindi siya nag-doctor. Ang gusto raw kasi ng mga investors ay tagapagmana na business daw ang interes – at ako naman itong bunso na interesado kaya nagkataong ako ang nasa pwesto para ikasal.
Paano kung si Ate nga ang ikasal kay Sir? Mahihirapan kaya siya? Magka-vibes kaya sila dahil halos magkasing-edad sila? Magugustuhan kaya ni Ate si Sir? At si Sir kaya? Matitipuhan niya kaya si Ate?
My thoughts were disturbed when my phone rang. I checked the caller's I.D. Unknown number.
0917xxxxxxx calling....
I picked it up. "Hello? Sino 'to?" Binalik ko ang singsing sa kahon nito.
("I guess, you didn't save my number yet.") A low baritone husky voice filled my ears.
"Sino ka nga? Stop wasting my time." Masungit kong sagot. Duh! Malay ko ba baka stranger eto?
I heard the voice on ther line sighed. ("Cheska, it's me. Rick.")
Natigilan ako. Shet. Hindi ko pa nga nasave ang number niya. "Oh? Bakit ka napatawag?" Mataray kong tanong sa kanya.
Tahimik ang kabilang linya. Is he still there? "Huy–"
("I just wanna say sorry if I acted cold ealier during our wedding seminar. I was really preoccupied with my thoughts. Sorry if that made you feel awkward or whatnot. I know nahihirapan ka rin sa desisyong ito and pasensya na. And I have to warn you that I'm really cold as a person though I can assure you naman na I can provide all your material needs.") Paliwanag niya sa akin. Tahimik lang akong nakikinig. Napansin ko yung sinabi niyang provide all your material needs. Ah, so it means materyal na bagay lang?
Tumawa ako nang bahagya, "Don't worry I am not expecting you to give me something aside from material stuff." I sneered. I rolled my eyes kahit hindi niya ito nakikita. I am not begging for feelings!
("I'll hang up na. Good night.") Paalam niya sa akin. 'Yun na 'yun?! Kaya lang siya tumawag para mas lalong mainis ako?!
"Good night din. P.S. Don't worry I am not begging for your feelings. Don't ever assume okay?!" Sumigaw ako at binabaan siya. Tss. That asshole! Material needs, my ass. Isaksak mo sa baga mo ang kayamanan mo dahil meron kami niyan!
My phone vibrated. May message notification.
From: 0917xxxxxxx
Hey. Ano bang problema?
Ibinagsak ko ang phone ko sa kama. Problema ba kamo? Tangina, ikaw ang problema! Ikaw, 'yang ugali mo, 'yang kilos mo, 'yang mga salita mo! You're such a beast! Ayaw kitang makita! Ugh!
I decided not to reply. Bahala siya sa buhay niya at sa 'provide all your material needs' na sinasabi niya.
I checked the time. It's 11:36 PM. Gising pa kaya sina Mom?
Iniwan ko ang phone sa pagkakalapag nito sa kama and I slipped on my unicorn footwear and went downstairs. I saw Mom and Dad scanning on some papers.
"Mom, Dad," tawag ko sa kanila habang bumababa ng hagdan. "Pwedeng hindi muna ako pumasok bukas tyaka sa Friday? I think I need some space before I get married on Saturday." Sabi ko at umupo sa harap nila. Ayaw ko rin kasing makita ang pagmumukha ni Sir at baka urungan ko pa ang kasal sa pagkabanas sa kanya.
Dad was wearing his eyeglasses. Napatingin siya sa akin sa sinabi ko at ibinaba ang salamin niya. "Sure, Cheskie. Do you also wanna shop for your new stuff and other necessary things you need to your move in at Rick's house?" Tanong niya sa akin.
Inilapag din ni Mom ang mga papel na hawak niya.
"That's actually a good idea, dad," I smiled. "Can you go with me, Mom?"
She smiled, too, looking very pleased. "Naunahan mo pa ako. Of course, I'll go with you. We'll be shopping all day tomorrow and the whole day!"
Shopping? Upon hearing it, natanggal ang stress ko sa lalaking impakto na kausap ko kanina.
* * *
"Mom! What are these very lacey lingeries?!" I exclaimed, totally horrified, upon seeing a pile of lingeries Mom has bought from Victoria's Secret. "Kaya pala pinahintay mo ako sa coffee shop para bilhin ang mga 'to? These are very... Very daring." Napalunok ako. Gosh, the designs are very fancy.
Ngumiti lang si Mom nang nakakaloko. "Ano ba 'nak, okay lang 'yan hihi." Sabi niya at ipinilit na ipahawak sa akin ang VS shopping bag.
Marami-rami na kaming nabili ni Mom from the previous stores we visited kaya kanina iniwan niya muna ako sa Starbucks dahil may bibilhin pa raw siya. Laking gulat ko na lingeries pala ang bibilhin niya!
"Mom, I won't wear this. Ever." I glared at the VS bag I'm holding. "Sure, maganda. But I won't wear this while I'm living with that guy. As if something will happen." I rolled my eyes and let go of the bag on the floor along with almost 20+ shopping bags.
Mom pouted. "Cheskie, malay natin. Someday." Then she winked.
"Mom! That's disgusting!" I complained. "Please, ayaw ko ng ganyang pag-iisip. Ugh! I don't really care if you bought this but I definitely won't wear this!"
"Oo na. Just reserved it." Sabi niya at sumipsip na sa kapeng inorder niya kanina pagkarating. Reserve? Mabubulok lang 'yan sa baul!
"I called Yaya na to pick up the shopping bags so we can shop for more. Mamaya darating na siya." Aniya.
"Okay." Sabi ko at chineck ang phone ko. Hapon na at karamihan sa mga klase ay patapos na. I texted Sharpay why I was absent today and will be absent on tomorrow.
Saktong nadaanan ko ang thread ng conversation namin ni Sir kaya naisipan ko ring i-save ang number niya kahit nabwibwiset ako.
Shithead Asshole
Deserves him right. Tss.
After ng text niya kagabi, hindi na ito nasundan. Weak shit naman pala. He didn't check up on me today! Ugh! Did he not realize he offended me by his words?!
"Finish your coffee na, baby." Utos sa akin ni Mom. "Marami pa tayong bibilhin. We'll also look for a gift to your future husband." Her eyes seemed to sparkle once she mentioned the word 'husband'.
"He doesn't need a wedding gift." I disagreed. Totoo naman talaga! As if ang special ng kasal 'di ba?
My mom's eyes narrowed. "Kailangan 'yun, Cheskie." Okay, I surrender. Once my mom narrows her eyes, there's no point in arguing.
"Fine. But I won't choose the gift. Kayo bahala." I crossed my arms.
"Sure!" Mom excitedly said.
"Ano naman ang ireregalo sa kanya, Mom?" I raised a brow. "He can afford to buy anything!" I added.
"We know pero iba pa rin na nakatanggap ka ng regalo galing sa mapapangasawa mo." Then her eyes went dreamy. I sighed. Here we go again, fairytale time! "I remembered your Dad gave me a –"
"Gold necklace with an infinity pendant made of diamond." Singit ko. Ilang beses niya na itong kinuwento sa amin nina Ate.
"And I gave your dad a –"
"A basketball ball signed by Michael Jordan." I boringly added. Dad is a die hard of that legendary basketball player. "But Mom, iba kami sa inyo ni Sir. You were binded by love. Us, we were binded by a what? A contract?"
"First of all, Cheskie, bakit Sir pa rin ang tawag mo sa kanya? Tell me iibahin mo ang tawag sa kanya once you are married. Second, hayaan mo na, just give a gift, okay?"
"Whatever," I just rolled my eyes and took a sip of Strawberry and Cream Frappuccino.
"Oh there's Yaya na," turo ni Mom kay Yaya na kasama ang isa naming kasambahay para kunin ang ipinamili namin. "'Ya, pakisabi kay Manong sunduin na kami mamayang 8 PM ha?" Paalala ni Mom kay Yaya habang inaabot namin isa-isa ang mga bags.
"Sige po, Madame." Sabi ni Yaya at nauna na sila.
Nag-vibrate ang phone ko. I picked it up. Okay, a message from Sir.
From: Shithead Asshole
Why didn't you go to school? Are you sick?
Is he concerned? Nanaginip yata ako. I blinked my eye to confirm I read the message right. Yup, totoo nga.
Me:
Pake mo. See u on Saturday. Won't go to school tomorrow as well.
Shithead Asshole:
Seryoso, may sakit ka ba? I'll visit you later at your house after school.
Ay wow! At anong nangyari sa lalaking eto? Kagabi sa wedding seminar parang poste lang ako itinuring tapos ngayon may pavisit-visit pang nalalaman.
Me:
Wala akong sakit. Mind your own business, ok? Tss. Bye, I'm busy.
Shithead Asshole:
K. See u on Sat.
Maka-K?! Wow ha! Ang lakas talaga ng loob ng lalaking 'to! Humanda ka talaga sa Sabado! I'm gonna make sure papahirapan din kita sa pag-handle sa akin. Tss.
"Cheska, let's go shop again na," yaya sa akin ni Mom. Tumayo na kami at pumunta na ulit sa Department Store.