Chapter 44: My Fair Lady
Abala kaming lahat sa classroom. Not with classes but with putting up Christmas decors. Normal pa rin naman ang Bridle High, we still put up a Christmas tree and other stuff gaya ng mga ginagawa ng public school. Hindi lang naman puro aral ang ginagawa namin.
"Gray-chan please lift me on your shoulders dahil ilalagay ko iyong ribbon doon sa taas," malambing na wika ni Marion.
Iniabot naman ni Gray ang isang monoblock chair dito. "You should use this."
"Ang arte, magaan lang naman ako ah. Hindi ko pa rin maabot kahit gamitin ko 'yan. Amber pakiabot ng ribbon please."
"Find another way," Gray said.
"Sige na Gray-chan! Hindi ko talaga maabot eh," wika ni Marion at hinila si Gray.
"You're so heavy. Look at your body, you're so fat," he said lazily. Tila wala talaga itong balak na tulungan si Marion.
"What did you say? Ako? Mataba? Rule of the thumb, never call a woman fat!" she said to him. Si Marion mataba? Oh, Gray must be blind! Napaka-sexy kaya ni Marion! Hindi ito pinansin ni Gray dahil abala ito sa pagtanggal sa mga buhol sa tassel.
Inabot ko kay Marion ang isang malaking ribbon. She tried placing it on top of the big Christmas tree using the monobloc chair ngunit hindi niya talaga iyon maabot. She tried again ngunit tinawag siya ng kaklase naming si Lorie.
"Marion, tawag ka ni Ma'am Mendez doon sa faculty office," wika nito.
"Bakit daw?"
"Tungkol yata sa Yuletide Pageant eh. Punta ka na lang doon."
"Okay," masiglang wika ni Marion at ibinigay sa akin ang malaking ribbon. "Amber, ikaw na lang maglagay nito sa tuktok ng Christmas tree, doon malapit sa star," wika nito at nagmadaling pumunta sa faculty office. I looked up at the top of the Christmas tree. Mataas iyon at hindi ko iyon maaabot kahit pa pumatong ako sa isang upuan. What was Marion thinking?! Hindi nga niya iyon maabot kahit na mas matangkad siya sa akin, ako pa kaya!
Inihagis ko iyon kay Gray. "Mas matangkad ka naman, ilagay mo raw 'yan sa tuktok."
Kumunot ang noo niya nang tingnan ang tuktok ng Christmas tree. Muli niyang inihagis sa akin sa akin ang ribbon. Uh, kawawang ribbon.
"Ikaw ang maglagay niyan, I will carry you," wika niya. Seriously? Tumanggi siya kanina kay Marion but now he's suggesting to carry me?
"Ayoko nga! Tumanggi ka kay Marion kanina tapos ngayon ako ang bubuhatin mo? Flip ka siguro ano?" I asked him and I saw him smirked.
He gets down on his knees at tinapik ang balikat. "Step here as I lift you. You can hold the wall for support," wika niya.
"Ayoko nga!"
"Sige na Amber, para matapos na kayo," Jeremy said. Nakaupo ito habang nakapatong ang isang paa. He was reading another Sherlock Holmes book na malamang ay hiniram nito kay Gray. Like a boss eh? Bakit hindi na lang ito tumulong?!
"Sige na sabi," Gray said kaya hinubad ko ang suot kong sapatos at tinira ang medyas. Umapak ako sa dalawang balikat niya at humawak sa dingding. I don't mind stepping in his school uniform. It's his idea kaya bahala siya. Pero hindi rin naman siya marurumihan dahil malinis naman ang medyas ko! Unti-unti niyang inangat ang kanyang katawan patayo.
"Don't dare look up or else I will kill you," banta ko sa kanya habang ibina-balance ang sarili ko.
"Of course I won't, aray! Dahan-dahan," wika niya at hinawakan ang mga paa ko.
"Itaas mo pa ako ng konti," I demanded.
"This is my full height you know," reklamo nito. I stepped my foot on his head. "Hey, anong ginagawa mo― aray ano ba?"
"Konti lang talaga," wika ko habang inaayos ang ribbon sa ibabaw. "Ayan! Tapos!"
"You two look cute," komento ni Jeremy. Namula naman ako sa sinabi nito. Uh, I silently wished na sana ay hindi na lang ito naging madaldal. Kailan nga ba nagsimula ang pagiging madaldalin nito? Ah tama. Noong PE namin na napa-infirmary kaming tatlo ni Marion at siya ng matamaan kami ng bola ng dodgeball. Ganoon ba talaga ang impact ng bola sa kanya?
"Uyy, si Amber nagba-blush!" tukso ng kaklase ko. Yeah, palunok ko sayo yang hawak mong christmas balls eh!
"Ibaba mo na ako, bilis," I demanded at agad naman akong ibinaba ni Gray.
"Nahihiya si Amber!" tukso pa ng isa kong kaklase. I took a deep breath at pinigilan ang sarili kong pagsakalin sila ng mga tassel na naroon. Binigyan ko ng masamang tingin si Jeremy. He started it!
"Bakit wala pa ang subject teacher natin? Sayang ang oras natin na dapat ay inaaral natin sa halip na tinutukso ninyo ako," nakataas-kilay kong wika sa kanila.
"Nasa meeting para sa upcoming yuletide events kaya free time natin ngayon," wika ng kaklase ko.
"Yeah, they're on the meeting," Marion said. Kadarating lamang nito. Mabuti na lang at hindi nito nakita ng ginawa kong human ladder si Gray dahil baka magselos ito. Unti-unting umalis ang ilan sa mga kaklase ko. Some of them went to the cafeteria at kung saan-saan naman ang iba. Siyam lamang kaming naiwan sa classroom.
"I have a riddle for everyone," wika ni Ina.
"Go ahead. It's a perfect way to kill time," Jeremy said.
"Here it is. With pointed fangs I sit and wait; with piercing force I crunch out fate; grabbing victims, proclaiming might; physically joining with a single bite. What am I?" she asked.
"A vampire!" bulalas ni Jeremy. Uh, really?!
"No, you're too literal," sagot ni Ina sa kanya.
"Sorry, na na-carried away lang sa binabasa kong the adventure of Sussex vampire," Jeremy said.
"Hmm, a knife?" Marcus asked ngunit nakangiting umiling lamang si Ina.
"An icepick?" Umiling pa rin ito.
"A stapler," Gray said and Ina frowned.
"How do you know?" she asked.
"Quite easy," mayabang nitong wika. Uh, ang yabang talaga. Siguro noong nagsabog ng kayabangan ang Panginoon ay nasalo lahat nito. Ay mali. Pinaghatian pala nilang tatlo ni Khael at ni Ryu.
"My turn," Marion said. "I am greater than God. The poor people have me and rich people need me. If you will eat me, you will die. What am I?"
"Nothing," walang kabuhay-buhay na wika ni Gray.
"Could you atleast let others think Gray-chan?" Marion said pouting.
"Huh?" Lorie asked. "Di ko gets eh."
"Nothing is greater than God. Poor people have nothing; rich people need nothing. If you eat nothing you will die. Ganoon," paliwanag ni Marion.
"Meron din naman sigurong kahit ano yung mahihirap tsaka may pangangailangan din naman ang mayayaman ah," kontra ni Lorie sa sagot.
"Ah basta, nothing yung sagot," Marion said at tumahimik na lamang si Lorie.
"Ako naman," Jeremy said. Nag-isip ito saglit. "Eto, why was the chef embarrassed?"
"Bakit?" I asked. Riddle ba iyon? Hanging yata eh. He made a face.
"You have to answer it. Hindi 'to pickup line Amber para sagutin mo ako ng bakit. It's a good riddle, I bet even Gray doesn't know the answer to it," he said.
"Hindi siya magaling magluto?" Marcus asked at isang iling ang natanggap nito mula kay Jeremy.
"Dahil may langaw ang niluto niya?" Imie asked ngunit umiling pa rin si Jeremy.
"Shoot nerd," Marion said impatiently. Uh, thin thread of patience huh?
"Ikaw Gray, alam mo ang sagot?" tanong niya kay Gray ngunit maging si Gray ay naguguluhan sa riddle niya kaya umiling ito. "See! I told you it's a very hard riddle. The chef is embarrassed because he saw the salad dressing! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! The salad dressing! HAHAHAHA!" he said at sinabayan iyon ng hagalpak na pagtawa. Inihampas pa nito ang kamay sa mesa dahil tuwang-tuwa ito samantalang nagkatinginan naman kaming lahat.
What's funny?!
"Stop it Jeremy, walang nakakatawa," wika ko sa kanya at tinapik siya sa balikat. Tumigil naman ito ngunit nagpipigil pa rin ng tawa. There were tears in his eyes, marahil ay dahil sa sobrang pagtawa nito.
"How about this one. What starts with a P, ends with an E, and has thousands of letters?" I asked. Tiningnan ko ng masama si Gray. "Wag kang magsalita kung alam mo ang sagot."
He looked away and whispered "KJ!" Bumulong pa ito, eh dinig na dinig ko naman!
"Walang word na may thousand letters!" JC said. "Kung meron man edi pinalitan na nito ang Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis bilang longest word." I frowned at him ay natawa lamang ito.
"Oo nga!"
"Shoot Amber!"
"Post Office," Gray said lazily at mahinang hinampas ko siya sa balikat. "Aray! Ano ba?"
Uh, didn't I say "mahina?" He is exaggerating his ARAY, yeah.
"I said don't tell them the answer!" wika ko sa kanya. Simpleng instruction lang naman iyon ah, di pa makuha?! Akala ko ba genius siya? Duh!
"Hindi naman nila alam kaya ako na lang," paliwanag niya. He cleared his throat. "My turn. What is easy to get into, but hard to get out of?"
"Trouble," I said lazily. I thought makakaisip ito ng magandang riddle, hindi pala.
"You're good at it dahil madalas mong pinapasok ang sarili mo 'dyan," he said and crossed his arms.
"Name-mersonal ka na yata."
"Am I?" patay-malisya niyang sagot.
"Whatever," I rolled my eyes at him. Uh, this is civil war! Bigla na lamang tumayo si Marion at umupo sa pagitan namin ni Gray.
"Dito ako sa tabi mo Gray-chan!" she said. "Ako naman. What do you throw out when you want to use it, but take in when you don't want to use it?"
Nag-isip naman ang mga kaklase namin. It's quite easy so I'll let them handle it. Sana ay ganoon din si Gray. Hindi yung basta-basta na lang itong sasagot hindi pa man nakapag-iisip ang iba.
"It's an anchor," Gray said. Wala na! Panira talaga ito! Tiningnan ko lang siya ng masama at ginantihan niya ako ng isang dakilang smirk.
"Ako na naman," Jeremy said. "What did zero say to eight?"
"Oh, I know it's another pun," wika ko.
"Gano'n na nga," Gray said.
"Wag ka na lang magsalita Jeremy," dagdag ni Marcus.
"Ang daya niyo! Sagutan niyo na lang!" wika ni Jeremy.
"Ewan. Ano'ng sagot?" Imie asked him.
"Hey, nice belt! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA," bumunghalit ulit ito ng tawa. Seriously Jeremy?! Nakapag-almusal ba ito? Nainom na ba nito ang mga gamot? Haaaay!
"Oh, sabi ko na nga ba," wika ni Ina at tumayo upang lumayo kay Jeremy. Gumaya na rin ang lahat at dumistansya rito.
"Here's mine," Imie said. " What kind of coat is always wet when you put it on?"
"May ganoon ba?"
"Tinanong ko diba, edi meron," she said sarcastically.
"Fleece? But I don't think it's wet," Marion said. Nag-iisip ito ngunit nakatitig kay Gray.
"A coat of paint," I said at pumalakpak naman si Imie.
"Amazing Amber!"
Si Marcus naman ang nagbigay ng riddle. "What only gets wetter the more it dries?"
"A towel!" Marion exclaimed. "Ikaw na naman magbigay ng riddle Gray-chan."
Nag-isip saglit si Gray. "Ah, ito. This word I know, six letters it contains. Take away the last and only twelve remains. What is the word?"
Mukhang mahirap nga iyon. Six letter word? Ano nga bang 6 letter word ang magiging 12 kapag kinuha mo ang huling letter? Napaisip din ang lahat. I gave up. I can't think of any word.
"Shoot," Marcus said.
"Isipin niyo muna," pagpupumilit ni Gray ngunit wala talaga akong maisip.
"Dozens," wika ni Jeremy mula sa likuran. He wasn't looking at us dahil patuloy ito sa pagbabasa.
"Right," wika ni Gray at gulat na gulat naman si Jeremy dahil nakatama ito.
"Really? Tama ako? Oh my God, I can't believe it!" he said and I rolled my eyes at him. Weird.
"Okay, dahil nakatama ako, my turn," pagbibigay-alam nito.
"Just make sure it's not another pun."
"Ayusin mo Jeremy. dahil kung hindi ay hindi ka na sisikatan ng araw bukas," pabirong wika ni Marcus.
"Why? Wala namang report ang PAG-ASA na uulan bukas ah?" inosenteng tanong nito. We all made a face at him.
"Ugh, just go on."
"Sige, what do pandas have that no other animal has?" tanong niya.
"A black-eye!" sagot ni Marion ngunit umiling si Jeremy.
"A black and white color?"
"Remember, may dalmatian," he said.
"Ewan!"
"Ano'ng sagot?"
"A baby panda! Uhaaaa! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" bulalas ulit nito. Isa-isa namang nagsitayuan ang mga kaklase ko at lumabas ng classroom.
"Let's go and grab some snacks," wika ni Lorie at hinila ang ilan sa mga kaklase ko.
"I'm leaving too."
Lumabas na silang lahat hanggang sa kaming apat na lamang nina Gray, Marion at Jeremy ang naiwan. Katatapos lamang tumawa ni Jeremy.
"Where are the others?"
"Umuwi na," sagot ko sa kanya.
"Bakit?"
"There's a meteorite that will fall on Earth," I answered at kumunot ang noo nito. Iisipin ko na talagang may sayad ito sa utak kapag naniwala pa ito.
"I didn't read that in the news," nakakunot-noong wika nito at nilingon sina Marion at Gray. "Don't tell me you heard about it too?"
Marion made a face at nilingon ako. "Tell me Amber, how many years in prison I will spend if I will kill this nerd here?"
"How old are you?"
"17."
"Hindi ka pa makukulong. Go ahead and kill him," kinuha ko ang stapler na ginamit namin sa pagdedekorasyon at ibinigay iyon kay Marion. Natatarantang tumakbo naman si Jeremy palayo sa amin habang nagsisisigaw ng tulong. Hinabol ito ni Marion na dala-dala ang stapler.
Biglang tumunog ang cellphone ni Gray. He immediately answered it. "Yes Detective Tross?" Nakinig ito saglit at panay "okay" ang sagot. Ano na naman kaya ang itinawag ni Detective Tross dito?
"We're on our way. See you," Gray said at pinatay ang tawag. We're on our way? Sino naman ang kasama nito? Nagulat na lang ako ng bigla niya akong hinila at patakbong lumabas ng classroom.
"Hey, where are you dragging me?" nagtatakang tanong ko sa kanya. Hindi ito sumagot hanggang sa makarating kami sa parking lot ng Bridle. Uh, here he goes again with his new car.
"Detective Tross need our help," wika niya. "We have to hurry bago pa tayo maabutan ni Marion. I don't want an excess baggage."
Binuksan niya ang pinto at mahinang tinulak ako. Aba! Nanunulak?! "Teka, teka! Sinabi ko bang sasama ako?" I asked him.
"Did I ask for your approval? Remember I appointed you to be my assistant kaya wala kang karapatang magreklamo. Sige na, pasok ka na," wika niya. Nang hindi pa rin ako gumalaw ay hinawakan niya ang balikat ko at iginiya ako papasok ngunit ayaw ko pa rin.
"Ayoko sabi eh." Pagmamatigas ko. Syempre, sasama ako pero gusto ko munang sagarin ang pasensya niya.
"Ayaw mo talaga?" he asked as he crossed his arms.
"Ayaw," I said and shook my head.
"Well you leave me with no choice," wika niya. The next thing I knew was that he pressed something at bumukas ang convertible roof ng kanyang kotse. Napasigaw ako nang tinulak niya ako papasok at napahiga ako sa upuan. Damn him! I'm wearing a skirt! What a perverted moron!
Tumalon siya papunta sa driver's seat at muling isinara ang kotse. I tried opening the door ngunit naka-automatic lock ang mga iyon. He started the engine at pinaharurot ang kotse.
"This is kidnapping, jerk!" I hissed at him. He let out a hearty laugh.
"Like I said, you leave me with no choice," wika niya. Dumaan kami sa guardhouse at sinabi niya sa guard na inutusan kami kaya pinabayaan lamang kami ng guard na lumabas ng Bridle. Ang dakilang sinungaling talaga! I hope I don't get any consequence for cutting another class. O kaya ay sana hindi pa rin magkaklase mamayang hapon.
"Saan ba kasi tayo pupunta?" I asked him nang nasa daan na kami. Mahina lang ang pagpapatakbo nito, unlike the first time that I rode in his car.
"May hinihinging pabor si Detective Tross and he needs both of us."
"Kasali ako? Ano namang magagawa ko?"
"Malalaman natin mamaya." He flashed a sweet smile at muling humarap sa daan. We went to a restaurant at doon namin kinatagpo si Detective Tross. He was with a man, about his age. Tila nababahala ang mukha nito na para bang may malaking problema.
"Silvan, Amber, mabuti at dumating kayo," bati niya sa amin ng makalapit kami.
"Yeah, we ditch class," sagot ko and the detective chuckled.
"Sorry about that. Hindi naman siguro kayo uulit ng highschool dahil 'dyan diba?" biro nito.
"I doubt."
"Oh, by the way, this is my friend Albert Worth. Albert, these are the kids that I'm talking about," wika niya. I rolled my eyes when he said the word "kids".
"Sigurado ka bang makakatulong sila? They don't look useful," wika nito. Teka, minodify niya lang ba ang pagsabi na mukhang useless kami?
"I think we have to go Amber. Mauna na kami Detective. I don't also think that I can help someone who thinks we're useless. Just to think he needs OUR help," matigas na wika ni Gray. Mukhang na-offend yata siya sa sinabi ni Albert Worth.
"Silvan, please ..." Detective Gray said at hinawakan si Gray sa braso. Kapagkuway bumulong ito. "He is boastful at times, but he is good deep inside."
"Fine, I wouldn't help if it's not because of you."
"I'm sorry about it," paghingi ng depensa ni Albert. "Please have a seat and hear me out."
Umupo kaming dalawa ni Gray. When Detective Tross asked for our order, I just asked for a coffee at gayundin si Gray. "This is more of a personal request than a police assignment. I want the two of you to disguise as an adult couple and enter Underworld," the detective said.
Underworld? Ano iyon?
"It's an underground bar. As you see my friend Albert here needs something from someone from that bar."
Si Albert naman ang nagsalita. "I have lost a very important heirloom of our family in that bar. I guess you don't know Bruno. He is an evil man from Underworld. Underworld, as the name suggests, is a bar which do underground stuffs. Drugs, drinks, gambling and bitches are there."
"Let me guess, ipinusta mo ang bagay na nais mong mabawi, right?" Gray asked.
"Yes and I regret doing so. That's why I asked Tross for help and he referred the two of you," wika niya.
"What kind of heirloom is that? And in what game did you lose?" tanong ko kay Albert.
"It's a ring with a lapis lazuli and embedded with diamonds," wika niya. He showed us a picture of the ring. Whoah, that was quite a jewel! No wonder pinagdiskitahan iyon ng kapustahan niya.
"And I lost in a monopoly game," dagdag niya. Kumunot ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya. Monopoly? What is that game?
"That's why I am asking for your help Silvan. I know you're playing monopoly since you are a kid dahil isang businessman ang daddy mo," Detective Tross said.
"And? You want me to play the game and get back the ring?"
Tumango si Albert. "Yes, I'm willing to pay any amount as long as mabawi lamang ang singsing," wika niya. "Please help me."
Paglalaruin si Gray ng monopoly? And what did Detective Tross said? Magpapanggap kaming couple? Seryoso ba iyon?
"My service doesn't need any amount. I'm not a professional anyway. I will help to the extent that I can but I cannot accept any amount as payment," wika ni Gray. He has his own principles. Hindi ito tumatanggap ng bayad dahil ayon sa kanya ay hindi pa siya propesyonal sa ganoong larangan.
Detective Tross instructed us to follow his plan. He wanted Gray to assume the name Albie Worth na kapatid ni Albert. Ako naman si Vanessa Worth, his wife. Uh, ginawa ba naman kaming mag-asawa? They brought us to somewhere na mag-aayos sa amin para sa aming "couple" look. We were dressed in an elegant manner kung saan magmumukha kaming mag-asawa than some high school students.
Matapos kaming maayusan ay nagmukha nga kaming matured sa bihis namin. I pulled my dress down. Bakit ba ang ikli naman yata ng pinasuot sa akin. It was a red slutty dress.
"I'm not comfortable with this," wika ko habang panay hila pababa sa damit. "Hindi ba ako nagmumukhang pokpok dito?" I asked Gray na abala sa pag-aayos sa necktie niya.
"Let me see," pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa. "If only your chest is a bit bigger, papasa kang round girl sa boxing." Sinabayan pa niya ito ng mahinang pagtawa.
"Gusto mo bang bumaon ang takong ng suot kong sapatos diyan sa katawan mo?" I asked him with glaring eyes. Fine! Ako na ang flatchested!
"Just kidding," wika niya at pinigilan ang sariling matawa. "Let's go. Naghihintay sila sa labas."
Sumunod ako sa kanya at tiningnan ang suot kong relo. It was still 1 pm and I wonder why we're dressed this early. Bukas na ba ang bar na iyon ngayon? They instructed us about the place where Underworld can be found. Mayroon pang password para sa mga maaring pumasok. Underage is not allowed kaya kailangan naming magpanggap.
"Teka. Bukas na ba ang bar na iyon ngayon? Ala una pa lamang ng hapon," pagbibigay alam ko sa kanila.
"Underworld is unlike any other bar. Bukas iyon anumang oras at maaring naghahanap na naman ng kalaro si Bruno," Albert said. Isinaulo namin lahat ng habilin nila. They said they would be waiting outside kung ano man ang mangyari sa loob ng bar.
Nang dumating kami roon ay napalingon ako sa paligid. A convenience store? Akala ko ay roon nga ang Underwold ngunit lumapit si Gray sa isang guard. He told him the word HADES at agad kaming iginiya ng guard papunta sa isang maliit na pinto. He opened it and there was a tunnel-like way there. May isang hagdan na pababa rin at madilim doon. Looks like they mean the word Underworld literally.
Pagdating namin sa mismong bar ay parang gusto kong umatras. There were people with large tattoos everywhere. Mayroon ding malalaki ang katawan na tila ba lumaklak ng sangkaterbang steroid. Almost naked girls were everywhere. Panay ang masahe nito sa mga naglalaro ng baraha sa mga mesa at ang iba naman ay naglalaro ng billiard.
Nang humakbang papasok si Gray ay napakapit ako sa braso niya. Gosh, I don't want to enter such place! Tila naintindihan naman nito ang pagkapit ko. He got my hand and intertwined our fingers together.
"Relax Mrs. Worth," bulong niya sa akin. I took a deep breath at tumango sa kanya. Magkahawak-kamay na pumasok kami doon at dumeretso sa bar.
Nang makaupo ako doon ay bumulong siya sa akin. "Order something. Just make sure na hindi ka magmumukhang bata sa oorderin mo. I'll just check if that Bruno is around," wika niya. I just nodded at umalis na agad ito doon. Teka, ano nga ba ang oorderin ko na hindi ako magmumukhang bata? I'm sure I cannot pick an orange juice at wala rin naman sigurong itinitinda na kape doon. I was mentally fighting with myself if what will I drink nang may lumapit na babae sa counter.
"Martini please," she said at agad na umalis nang ibinigay ng bartender ang order nito.
Fine, I'll have a martini too. "M-martini please," wika ko sa bartender.
Nang ilapag nito sa harap ko ang inumin ay agad ko iyong ininom. Napangiwi ako sa lasa. It doesn't taste well but it's not bad either. Muli akong uminom hanggang sa nasanay ang bibig ko sa lasa niyon. Hindi pa rin dumarating si Gray kaya muli akong kumuha ng isang martini.
"Ilang taon na po kayo Ma'am?" tanong ng bartender ng ilapag niya sa mesa ang inumin ko.
"Sev- I'm 22," pagsisinungaling ko. Gosh, if I have told him that I'm seventeen, malamang ay sa labas na ako pupulutin.
"How about the guy who's with you kanina? Is he your boyfriend?" tanong ulit nito. Kailan pa naging si Boy Abunda ang bartender ng Underworld? My head was spinning in circles. Mukhang nahihilo na ako sa nainom ko.
"Ah, si G- Albie? He's my husband," wika ko. Focus Amber! Baka masira ang plano.
"Husband? Mukha ka pang bata," komento nito.
"Why? What's your problem with my wife being married at young age?" tanong ng kararating na si Gray. He scowled at the bartender at agad akong tinayo roon. I was getting tipsy kaya napayakap ako sa kanya ng hinila niya ako patayo.
"Hey, careful baby," I said. My eyes are cloudy and I want to puke. Wait, did I say baby? Ew, saan naman galing ang endearment na iyon? Nakakasuka! Nakakasulasok! Pwe!
Isang pilyong ngiti ang sumilay sa labi niya. Itinayo niya ako ng tuwid. "Who told you to drink baby? You should have waited for me." Inilayo niya ako sa counter ng bar. "Hey Amber. I already booked a game with Bruno kaya umayos ka 'dyan. You will sit beside me inside," wika niya sa mababang boses.
I was too dizzy to say yes kaya kumapit lamang ako kay Gray. I buried my face in his neck.
"Amber."
"J-just a few minutes please?" I asked him at patuloy lamang sa pagkapit. Shit, I regret drinking such thing!
Naramdaman ko ang mahinang paghawak niya sa beywang ko at inayos ako ng tayo. He held my face at itinapat iyon sa mukha niya. "Times up." His face was so close at tila nahimasmasan ako dahil doon. Bigla ko siyang natulak at agad na tumuwid ng tayo.
He chuckled at hinawakan ako sa braso. "Halika na baby." He emphasized the word baby at tila gusto kong masuka, either due to the martini or due to that "baby" thingy.
Pumasok na kami sa isa pang pinto at mas lalo akong namangha roon. There were lots of people and they were all in their elegant clothes. Mukhang mayayaman ang mga ito. I recognized some people inside. Politicians, businessman and some were in showbiz.
"So ikaw ang nais na makipaglaro sa akin? Ano'ng maibibigay mo?" tanong ng isang lalaki. He was in a tuxedo while sitting at the end of the long table. May hawak itong pipe na sinisindihan nito.
"Name it, I can give it," Gray said.
"What's your name again?"
"Albie Worth."
"Ah. Worth. Damn rich. Well, you challenged me, kaya humanda ka. I would like to remind you of my rules. Whatever you bet in the game, you have to give for real."
Ngumiti si Gray sa kanya. "Got it. You can have anything from me but I want only one thing from you. The ring that my brother loses to you."
Tumawa naman si Bruno. Nakakatakot itong tumawa. He really sounded like a soap opera's villain. "Ah, you mean this one?" inangat nito ang kanang kamay at ipinakita ang singsing sa amin. "Okay! Deal."
"Let's start," wika ni Gray. Umupo siya sa isang upuan kaharap ni Bruno at naupo naman ako sa tabi ni Gray. Some people were around us. Nanunuod ang mga ito sa laro.
Kahit hindi ko maintindihan ang laro ay nanuod pa rin ako. I was puzzled with everything on the board game. There were chance ad community chest cards, go to jail and other stuff. I saw how Gray easily acquired hotel and houses. He sometimes land on go to jail ngunit agad din naman siyang nakakabawi. Bruno seem to be losing dahil halos hindi maipinta ang mukha. Hindi lamang bahay at mga hotel ang nakuha ni Gray but as well as money.
When he rolled the die for the last time ay agad niyang inihagis iyon. "I won. Give me my ring," wika niya sa galit na si Bruno.
"Not so fast lover boy. Let's have one last round. My turn to ask for what I will get. I'll bet everything I have if you win but if I did, give me that fair lady beside you," wika niya at tiningnan ako ng malagkit. Tila ito isang aso na naglalaway nang makakita ng isang buto. What the hell?! He wanted me to be the collateral for the game?!
"This fair lady beside me is my wife," Gray said at tiningnan ako.
"Your wife huh? Interesting," Bruno said. Gusto ko siyang belatan. Neknek niya! Akala niya siguro ay ipupusta ako ni Gray! Hindi no! No way―
"Yes, my wife. But if you really want her, then let's play again," Gray said. Bruno flashed an evil smile.
Maang na napatingin naman ako kay Gray. Did he just bet me to a nasty looking guy?! What the hell! Paano kong matalo siya?! I felt hot liquids beside my eyes ngunit pinigilan kong tumulo iyon. How dare him to bet me!
"Okay, let's play then," wika ni Bruno at nagsimula na silang maglaro. It took them almost two hours ngunit gaya ng naunang laro ay nanalo pa rin si Gray.
"I'll take the ring and my wife then," wika ni Gray. He pulled me closer towards him. Gusto kong alisin ang kamay niya sa balikat ko. Kahit pa nanalo siya, I can't believe that he really bet me to that guy!
"I think you should take this first," Bruno said at naglabas ng baril and pointed it to us. Tuso! Hindi ba ito tumatanggap ng pagkatalo? "Like I said, not so fast lover boy. No one defeated me in this game! Not even once at ngayon tinalo mo ako sa dalawang laro? Who the hell are you?!" he said at ikinasa ang baril.
"I told you my name is Albie Worth," walang kabuhay-buhay na wika ni Gray.
"Oh come on. That person is dead two years ago kaya marahil ay ginamit mo lamang ang kanyang pangalan. Oh, wag mo na lang sagutin. Susunod ka rin naman sa hukay," Bruno said at nakakalokong ngumisi.
"Sorry but it's too late," wika ni Gray. Napakunot naman ang noo ni Bruno. Hindi marahil nito naintindihan ang sinabi ni Gray. The next thing I knew was that bigla na lamang bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa niyon ang maraming pulis kasama si Detective Tross.
"Walang kikilos! Mga pulis kami! May warrant kami para sa drug at illegal firearms smuggling!" wika ng isang police. Bago pa man magkagulo roon ay inilabas na kami ni Detective Trosa mula sa silid na iyon. Ginawa ng mga pulis ang kanilang trabaho at hinuli ang mga naroon lalong-lalo na si Bruno.
"Thank you for your help. The police received a tip about this place and we immediately got a warrant kaya madaling nakapunta ang mga pulis dito," paliwanag niya. "I hope you two didn't get hurt."
"Wala namang nasaktan sa amin," Gray answered.
Anong wala?! Nakalimutan na ba nito na nasaktan ako ng ipinusta niya ako sa mukhang halimaw na lalaking iyon?! My God! Mukha itong asong ulol!
"Halika na Amber," he said at hinawakan ako sa braso ngunit napapiksi ako.
"Saan mo ako dadalhin?"
"I'm taking you back to Bridle. Uuwi na tayo."
"I hate you!"
"Bakit?" nagtatakang tanong niya.
"Wag mo akong ma'bakit-bakit!"
"Bakit nga?" he asked. Hindi ko namalayan na nasa tapat na kami ng kanyang kotse. I was able to walk kahit na pasuray-suray ang lakad ko.
"You bet me to that ugly freak, you moron!" I scowled at him. Uh, I really want to puke.
"Nanalo naman ako ah! Ba't ka nagagalit?"
Muli ko na namang naramdaman ang pang-iinit sa gilid ng mata ko. "Kahit na! 'Yong isipin na ipinusta mo ako?! Hindi mo alam kung ano ang pakiramdam ng ganoon! Kahit gaano ka pa kagaling, ang sakit isipin na ipinusta mo ako!" I said at hindi ko na talaga napigilan ang aking mga luha.
Nagulat na lang ako ng hinila niya ako. He slammed me against his chest. He caresses my hair as he hugged me. "I'm sorry. You should have trust me. I wouldn't risk you for anything if I don't trust myself over that stuff. I'm sorry. I swear it won't happen again," wika niya. I could feel his sincerity but there is something that I am feeling.
Something's coming up inside me.
The next thing happened was that I puke in front of Gray.
Right in his chest. Great! Ang galing tumayming ng pagsusuka ko.
Ipinusta niya ako at sinukahan ko siya. Well, we'll call it even.