I grunted when I felt a hand pulling me up. Kung pwede lang magpasabog, kanina ko pa tinapunan ng tear gas ang isang to. Ang aga aga! Bestfriend ang katawan ko sa oras kaya alam kong maaga pa lang at may taong walang habas akong pinipilit bumangon!
"Out" I murmured. I so love sleeping I wanna marry it.
I hear no response and I didn't bother to open my eyes. Feeling ko umalis na siya. Pero bigla na lang lumipad ang comforter ko. Anak ng! Wag mong sabihing minumumo na naman ako.
I forced my eyes open. Nasilaw pa ako dahil hindi ang dim lights ko ang naka open kundi lahat ng ilaw sa kwarto ko. Hanep!
"Ano ba yon?!" Hindi ko na inalam kung sinong hudas ang gumising sakin. I grabbed my phone, looked for the time and exhaled. "Three twenty-five pa lang! God, people!"
I again hear no response. I dare to look at... "Langya Century! Ano? Binabangungot ka ba? Kasi ako, mukhang oo!"
She showed me her tab. "Simbang gabi daw"
Tumirik ang mata ko. "Wow! Anong petsa na?! December 21 na! Para saan pa ang simbang gabi eh hindi naman natin nasimulan?" I reached for my comforter na nasa sahig na. Ang lakas naman ng hatak ng pipi na 'to at sa sahig pa talaga napunta 'yong comforter.
I expected her to leave pero nakuha pa niyang umupo sa kama ko. Anong drama neto?
"What?"
She's scribbling something. "Sabi ng mama mo kailangan nating pumunta sa simbang gabi. It's an order daw. Kung gusto mo daw makuha ang regalo mo sa pasko, gigising ka daw."
I gripped my hair. "So dinadaan nila ako sa black mail?"
She shrugged. And doon ko lang napansin na wala na siyang bendang nakabalot sa kung saan saan except sa kamay niyang nasugat kahapon. But I can still see those bandages sa ribs niya dahil ang nipis ng shirt niya.
I sighed. Kakalbuhin ko ang tatay ko kapag hindi dumating sa pasko ang gusto kong regalo.
I stood up, grabbed clothes. "Out. I'll shower" I dimmed the lights.
Hindi ko na siya hinintay lumabas at pumasok na ako sa bathroom.
Simbang gabi's one of the occasion my parents never missed. Well except ngayon since they've been busy with the business and Century's case. Tuwang tuwa naman ako dahil kala ko postpone ngayong taon ang simbang gabi namin. Kasi syempre hindi namin na-start. Malay ko bang itutuloy pa namin. Ang hirap bumangon ng maaga...
I changed into black jeans and white printed shirt. I went out with my dog tag in my hand.
I went straight to my closet to grab a thick hoodie dahil nagyeyelo sa labas! I wore my dog tag and grabbed socks. I started looking for my chucks under my bed when I noticed a figure sleeping on it.
Syempre dumugudog na naman my heart dahil feeling ko na talaga... may mumu sa bahay na to.
Napahilamos na lang ako sa mukha nang mapansin kong si Century na naman pala. Pusang gala! Ano bang meron sa disabled na 'to?!
"Century! I thought I told you to get the freaking out my freaking room?"
She steered then sat up.
"Wow. Pambihira Century! Pinadala ka para gisingin ako pero ikaw naman tong na-knock out diyan!" I hissed.
She gave me an irritated look.
"Up, woman."
She stood up. I grabbed my chucks and wore it.
I looked at Century. She's wearing joggers and chucks and a white shirt. Hindi naman siya gaya gaya ano?
"Bakit ba andito ka pa?" I started tying my shoes.
She just looked around.
"Hoy! Nanuno ka ba?"
She shook her head and headed to the door. She went out without looking back.
"Problema nun.."
I looked for my Armani cologne and sprayed some on me. I fixed my hair, put my one earring on and headed to the door.
Pero hindi pa ako nakakalabas eh sumulpot ang tatay ko. He looked at me... up and down.
"Problema mo? May reklamo ka na naman sa porma ko?"
He just grinned. "None, rat. Bakit hindi mo binigyan si Century ng jacket? Inutusan ko siyang umakyat dito para humiram ng hoodie mo."
Kulang sa damit at gamit si Century dahil hindi alam ng mudra ang sizes and stuff niya. Pag medyo maayos na daw si Century tsaka sila lalabas para mag-shopping. And knowing my mom, sigurado akong hindi niya nabilhan si Century ng jacket. Sangkatutak na shirt, dress and other personal items ang binili ng isang yun.
I rolled my eyes. "Kaya naman pala andito kanina. I asked her kung bakit siya andito hindi naman siya sumagot. May kelangan naman pala..."
Walang anu-anong binatukan ako ng magaling kong tatay.
"What the--!"
"Malamang hindi talaga magsasalita yun, pipi nga di ba? Kuh Luke!" he made a face.
I gripped his shoulder. "Tatang! May tablet siya! Nagsusulat 'yong isang yon pag may sasabihin!"
We stared at each other. Dad nodded. "Okay, okay... kalma bata."
"Neknek neto..." bulong ko.
"Kuha ka na ng hoodie mo. Dahil alam mo naman ang mga damit ng mama mo, kung hindi fitted masyadong maraming fur eklabo o kung ano anong design, baka mapasama pa sugat ni Century. Pero pag ikaw, loose kaya okay lng. Kaya hala! Larga. Kuha ka na. Sunod ka sa garahe. Do you wanna drive your car?"
I twisted my face. "The heck I do, oldie." I spun around to get the mute a hoodie.
"I heard that, rat!" dad bellowed while walking away.
"Good!" I shouted back.
Dad tossed me my car keys. "O. Sasabay sa'yo si Century para sigurado akong simbahan talaga ang tutuluyan mo. Mamaya, mag u-turn ka pa papunta sa kung saan. Okay na 'yong sigurado."
I grunted. "Para namang may kawala pa ako..." bulong ko.
Yeah, kinda went the wrong way nung last year habang naka-convoy kami papuntang simbahan. Eh sa inaantok pa talaga ako kaya nag- u-turn ako pabalik sa isang 24/7 na café na nadaanan namin at dun ako natulog.
Galaxy's sleeping in my mom's arms at nasa front seat na sila. Mom gave me a warning look then smiled. "Drive safely, monkey"
I nodded. "Sure mommy"
Tumingin ako kay Century na hikab ng hikab kanina pa. Mukhang nilalamig na ang isang 'to. Binato ko sa kanya ang hoodie ko. Malaki sa kanya pero that'll do.
"May kailangan ka pala, hindi mo pa agad sinabi. Tutulog tulog ka pa sa kama ko, letsugas na 'to" kako habang binubuksan naglalakad papunta sa driver's seat. I opened the door pero hindi agad ako pumasok dahil mukhang nangangailangan na naman ng good manners and right conduct si Century.
She cringed when she tried to insert her injured arm sa hoodie.
I groaned and ako na ang nagsuot nun para sa kanya. "Princess much eh?"
Hindi siya kumibo at naglakad na papunta sa sasakyan. She made sure she stepped on my left foot though.
"Aray!"
She looked at me when she's settled in the front seat and smiled sweetly. She mouthed "sorry" then rolled her eyes.
Lokong 'to.
15-minute drive papuntang simbahan pero dahil madaling araw, maluwang ang daan kaya nakuha ko in just 8 minutes.
I parked beside my dad's car and mukhang pumasok na sila sa loob. I glanced at Century who's sleeping... again. I shrugged, grabbed my cigarette and went outside.
4:26 pa lang at 5:00 naman ang start ng mass kaya makakayosi ako.
May smoking area sa parking na 'to kaya hindi ako mapapalayo. May mangilan-ilan ding nagyoyosi. At may nagbebenta ng kung ano ano sa di kalayuan.
I lit my smoke and started burning my lung. I glanced behind me, it's just a wall. Plain wall. Boring. I took my pen out and started writing stuff, I doodled faces.
I patted my back when I was done. I wrote Century as the artist. I grinned and left.
"Cent... wake up. Let's go inside."
She opened her eyes and glared at me. I pulled her out. She lost her balance and fell flat on her butt. I chuckled. "Clumsy..."
She kicked my shin and held onto me trying to stand. I carefully helped her. "Loser."
She elbowed me and I apologized. I think masakit talaga pagbagsak niya lalo na at may sugat pa siya sa katawan kaya tinulungan ko siyang maglakad. She furrowed her brows and looked at me.
"What?"
She shrugged and we went inside.
***********
"So we're thinking to give you a job..." mom looked at Century. We're at some hotel for breakfast. Pero mukhang hindi lang breakfast mangyayari dito dahil may pakiramdam akong may something.
I glanced at mom. Wala siyang nabanggit sa'kin pero...
Century stopped eating and focused on what my mom's talking about.
"We kicked Galaxy's nanny out and we're thinking... since ayaw mo kamo na nakikitira lang then just take care of Galaxy. You'll get paid too."
I swallowed my food. Not bad. But wait for it...
Buti na lang wala na 'yong nanny na 'yon. Hindi lang niya ginagawa trabaho niya pero pinagsasamantalahan din ng nanny na 'yon ang pagkatao ko. Pfft! Para siyang matrona. Mahilig pa siyang maki-alam sa mga gamit ko. Kabilang na dun ang mga boxers at briefs ko.
"And we're planning to send you to school. I'm still working on your records and such but I'm confident that you'll attend school for the next school year."
Bakit medyo hindi ako komportable sa balitang to...
"Para may nagbabantay din kay Luke"
I spit my drink. "Ano?!" Heto na nga ba sinasabi ko eh. Malakas ang radar kong may something!
Dad ignored me. Oh come on!
"So what course do you want to take, Century?"
Century shook her head and grabbed her pad and pen. "Pag-iisipan ko pa po. Hindi ko po kasi talaga alam"
Mom gave me a look. "That's okay. But you should decide soon. Enrollment is on two weeks from now, hun"
Century nod her head.
I shook mine...
Paano na ang reputasyon ko?????!
Ang mga pinakatago tago ko sa mga magulang ko?!
Magsisilabasan na ba??????