Chapter 16-III
"What if we make evil and darkness win this time?" Kiera boldly announced, she is their tall class representative and director prefers she prefer controversies more than romanticize events. Naghalakhakan at nagpalakpakan ang mga kaklase niya, na parang bang inaasahan to." What if we corrupt fairy tales and dreams afterall?"
Ricos was insistent for my response." Matagal na yung ganto."
But Nabi continued talking for me instead." Yung "exchange students" matagal na pero yung kunin lahat ng magagaling sa block mo para ilipat? Hindi. Ngayon lang.Kilala ang university pagdating sa engineering, architectures and arts kaya nagpatutuunan ng pansin ang art month, lalo na ang itong course. You heard what out adviser said, they need full hands on deck. They always perform about contemporary social issues afterall."
Ricos whispered to us."They don't like musicals and fairy tales?"
I shush him. Ang daldal niya ngayon dahil lang sa likod kami nakapwesto." This is not our block or course, kaya ayos ako kahit anong mapagdesisyunan nila."
"Pero Ate...."
"This our fourth year anyone could do whatever they want for change." Nabi commented playfully as her other hand is waving her phone around." Kung ayaw mo nun edi magdrop ka tutal ang bata mo pa naman."
"Huwag mo implwensyahan." I scolded Nabi, then to Ricos." Huwag ka makinig."
Ricos nodded, then went about his way to try and hold my hands. Ako na ang unang gumawa nun dahil ayaw ko siyang maging makulit sa tabi ko. Hanggang sa mga palad niya may lapnos siya, I can't see his palm lines." Ate, do you think humans are as corrupt as they say? As Ate Kiera wants in her play?"
I saw how Nabi's curious eyes because of Ricos physically closeness to me, or perhaps of the bullshit we're talking about. "Human are humans, Ricos."
He softly asked." Do I look human to you?"
Suddenly, there was a flash right in out face." Look at this way monsters."
Nakatutok ang cellphone ni Nabi sa amin, muntik na kaming mag-agaw ng atensyon dahil sa ginawa niya. Parang gusto niya kaming ipahiya. She didn't need to sit beside us if she would be like, she should have gone with the others! I snarled at her." Delete that, Nabi. Ano ba?"
"It doesn't matter, blurred naman." Nabi replied as she plop back to her seat. Pinakita niya ang picture na kinuha niya. Malinaw nga sa side kung nasaan ako, pero pagdating kay Ricos malabo na."I don't remember being bad at photography, that's weird."
I heard Ricos chuckled." Nanginginig kasi kamay mo, Ate Nabi."
I repeated my order." I-delete mo na---hindi kita isasabay pauwi."
Pero sa huli sumabay pa rin si Nabi sa sasakyan.
Ricos have gone home before us, I think somebody pick him up. Habang si Nabi naman nagpasama tumingin ng tela dahil siya lang nasa wardrobe team. Magaling din siya fashion designing at pananahi, siguradong kahit anong role ang ibigay sa kanya ngayon ay flexible niya magagawa.
Natagalan nga kami sa pag-uwi dahil sa kanya...
Kaya ngayon nagmamaktol si Gregory." Madaw, gusto ko na umuwi!"
I raised brow." Ano ba, ip-park mo lang nga sa garahe."
Literal na nasa tapat na kami ng garahe pero itong si Gregory akala mo ang layo-layo pa. He just grudgingly park the car and turned of the engine." Inom na inom na ako, Madam! Ano ba yung maarte mong munyika ang tagal-tagal sa mall! Mga wirdo naman kinakaibigan mo, pati boyfriend mo baka kung anong nilalang yun kaya di ko masaktuhan!"
I look up from my phone." Private lang si Percival."
Napasipol si Gregory. Akala ko ba gusto na neto uminom? Chismoso." Hala, issue, baka nagtatago kayo. Hah? Kasi naman, hindi ko pa talaga nakikita! Siguradong kayo lang ng boyfriend mo ang mayaman lugar natin. Makikilala at makilala siya ng lahat na di ka-level namin. Kailan ba siya bumibisita?"
My driver have a point, but I deny it."Baka nga, di mo lang naabutan..."
"Halos palagi lang naman ako nasa labas, Madam. Wala talaga. Palagi akong malas sa paghahanap ng trabaho kaya lagi lang ako hindi umaalis. " Kwento niya sa akin sa boses na pilit niyang pinapadrama. I just end up giggling as I stepped out the car." Pero mukang sayo lang ako tatagal, Madam. At ako magtuturo sayo magdrive ha? Huwag na dun sa Percival!"
Si Percival, bigla akong napalingon bintana ng bahay." Is he here?"
Gregory look at where I'm looking with confusion. The whole house now has eerie quality to it." Huh? Madam? Sino? Yung Ronald ba ang hinahanap mo pa rin? Bukas na nun, sabado naman eh."
"Mauna ka na, Gregory." I said.
"Sige? Di ka pa muna papasok sa loob, Madam?" Gregory seems to be thrown off guard by my tone." Ako na mag-sasara ng gate. Diba magpapasundo ka pa naman bukas?"
Tumango ako." Hindi ako sigurado, magt-text na lang ako..."
Gregory just fake a cough, his grin is becoming more mischievous again. Pero nawiwirduhan siya sa pagtitig ko sa bahay." Ano, buksan ko pa po para sayo yung pinto, Madam?
Umiling na lang ako at inabutan siya ng pera." Inom na."
His confusion was overcomed with joy, naswelduhan ko na siya kanina kaya mas natuwa siya sa dagdag. That's fine, I can't have him too concerned with me when I want him to leave. He was happily waving me goodbye as he lock the gate." Thank you, Madam! Bye! Bukas ulit ha? Susunduin kita ng maaga para sa lunch mo kasama parents mo!"
Binuksan ko ang front nang mag-isa na lang ako." You're here?"
Inside was Percival with his finger on his lips. Shushing." Welcome back, Hon."
"Why didn't you come out? Hinahanap ka sa kin ni Gregory." Dahan-dahan kong tinutulak ang pinto para makapasok. When Percival opened the door wider, I just saw how dark it is inside. Lahat ng bintana na nakasara at sobrang tahimik sa loob." I could have introduce him to you. Driver ko siya, at tutal madalas ka naman dito sa bahay palagi mo siya makakasalubong."
"Ayos lang, hindi niya naman ako maabutan." Percival explained.
"Huh? You would. Tagadito lang siya." Depensa ko naman.
Percival eye's began to turn oddly still, nilagpasan ko na lang siya dahil mukang walang papatunguhan ang usapan namin." Saka nga pala, mag-l-lunch kami ng parents ko bukas. Narinig mo sinabi ni Gregory, diba? Do you want to come with me? I'll just make up excuses on who you are, so you could go. How does that sounds to you, huh?"
Naging malamig ang boses ni Percival. "Pero Hon, paano mo ako ipapakilala?"