FIFTEEN
Darn, I'm stressing over next week's Acquaintance Party habang pabalik ako ng SC Room.
Well, settled naman na lahat ng budget-related stuff and miscellaneous bla-blas after ng meeting ko with the Finance Division Officers kanina. Kaso, hindi ko lang talaga matanggap na Masquerade ang theme sa huling Acquaintance Party na aattendan ko sa buhay ko bilang isang high school student! Ew. Epic. Tsk, ka-stress!
Not that I'm also stressed about last night's wave of confusing events, no. And it's not like there were colorful & eventful happenings sa bahay ko kagabi. Hello?
Oh, fine. There were probably one or two events worth remembering, and that's that! End of story.
Ugh. Okay, truth to be told, grabe. Pagkatapos ng hopefully-not-too-late realization ko tungkol sa, uh, well... feelings ko for Key, I suddenly had this super strong urge to confess my everlasting love for him. Huhu, yuck! Who would have thought that I had this Desperate Housewives-ish side in me? Kadiri.
At bongga, I never knew that I wanted to win the guy back so badly. Not until now, at least. Crap. Kaya ko kaya na i-risk ang mga bagay-bagay para dito? Would the guy be worth it? Aaaah... stress!
Pagkabukas ko sa pinto ng Student Council Room, I found my officers in the middle of a heated conversation. Oooh. Mukhang hindi nila napansin ang entrance ko dahil nagpatuloy lang sila sa pagbabangayan, so I indulged myself at pinanood ang dalawa while trying to stay invisible behind the massive bookshelves.
"Ihhh, ano? 'Dun ka natulog sa kanila?!" Milo whisper-shouted frantically. "Kaya naman pala nakalimutan niya akong i-text kagabi eh! Shet! Sakit."
Aw. Oh no, oo nga pala. I instantly felt a pang of guilt pagkarinig ko nito. Fudge, he must've been worried.
"For the nth time, Ovaltine, yes. I slept in her house." Sagot ni Key while flipping a page sa binabasa niyang libro, the guy sounds bored. "And will you keep it down? Kung makasigaw ka naman eh."
"Eh bat hindi ka na lang 'dun sa kwarto mo sa bahay ko natulog?" The annoying boy countered. Teka, may kwarto pala si Keith Kato sa bahay ni Milo? Fishy. "Grabe ka talaga Key, lahat na lang ng pagkakataon mong maka-chansing sinusunggaban mo eh!"
"Sira," Key snorted, his eyes now gleaming in amusement. "We did nothing. I just wanted to be with her last night, that's all."
Ah. Alam ko na para patuloy akong makapangalap ng juicy intel, I should keep myself hidden and unnoticed at this crucial moment. Pero my uncooperative cheeks are beginning to show signs of life. Seryoso, why is this guy capable of making me blush so effortlessly with his miserly, cheesy words? Ugh. Kainis.
"Sus! Hahaha corny mo, lul!" Milo roared in laughter. Tawang-tawa lang talaga siya sa mushy statement ni Key na para ba itong isang mabentang joke. When incidentally, said statement just swept me off my feet. Great. "Buti nga sa'yo! Kala mo siguro makaka-homerun ka na kagabi, no? Asa ka boy."
"Baliw, of course not." Pinaikutan niya ng mga mata si Milo impatiently. So gay. "Fortunately, Ovaltine, my brain, unlike yours, is not contaminated with porno."
"Tsss, mapagpanggap. Deny ka pa eh! Pwede ba, natulog kaya kayo sa iisang kama!" Milo's voice broke into a yell, it was laced with accusation. Isa itong false accusation, I tell you. "I'm sure nagpaulan ng sandamakmak na wishful thinking 'yang birdie mo!"
"Birdie?" Pag-uulit ni Key. He looks mortified. Ako din eh. Guh. Who even uses birdie these days? Ano siya, kinder? And my gosh, saan patungo ang usapang ito?!
"I can't believe I'm friends with you," pagpapatuloy ni Key. "And get your facts straight, Chocolate. Paano kami matutulog sa iisang kama when we did not even share a room?"
"WEH."
"Oo nga." Iritableng sagot ng lalaki. He gave Milo a tired look, para bang what they're talking about is exhausting him. "Hinayaan lang yata niya akong makatulog, then she left and slept in her own bedroom."
True. I even held the guy's hand when I put him to bed. Tsss. Abusado na kung magrereklamo pa ah, that was more than enough!
"Awww, iiyak na 'yan." Said Milo in a mocking tone with matching pout pa. Pffft. However, in a nanosecond, all of a sudden, the annoying boy's face shifted into a serious one. "So? Ano nang balak mo n'yan?"
"After last night, hindi ko alam kung wishful thinking ko lang ba 'to or whatever but, I'm starting to think that Ellie feels the same way about me."
Gulp. The same way? Uhm, I'm not playing hard to get here ah, pero, alam ko naman na Key has always been flirty with me. The guy even once told me that he has 'feelings' for me pero, grabe. What was I supposed to feel at that time when he told me those words as he was pinning me down sa isang matigas na kama sa school clinic? So much for sincerity.
Yeah, people say actions speak louder than words. Kaso minsan, ang kailangan lang naman ng tao para maniwala, is for her to hear the words & see the actions at the same time. Is that too much for a girl to ask?
"I need to know if what she has for me is real, or if it's just, uh, hindi ko sigurado, probably," the guy paused for a while. Naghahalungkat siguro siya for an appropriate word from his vocabulary para sa tamang brand ng feelings ko for him. "...sympathy. If it's real, we'll figure it out. All of it. We'll find a way out of this. Together. But if it's not," lumunok siya, his voice strained, "then I guess I should stop holding onto her and just, let her go. For real this time."
"Let her go?" Milo echoed. He went ballistic, uh-oh. "Ihhh, gagu! Kahit nerdy-kadiri ka Key, may engot-engot tendencies ka talaga paminsan! Sa tingin mo ba dedeadmahin lang ni Pring ang Channing Tatum level of hotness ko kung 'di siya bulag sa pag-ibig ng dahil sa'yo?"
I stifled a laugh. Hindi ko alam kung natatawa ba ako dahil sa faulty metaphorical logic nitong si Milo o dahil shockingly, may substance 'yung mga pinagsasabi niya ngayon lang. Could be both.
Nagkibit-balikat lang si Key, unfazed. "There are still a handful of things I should worry about," he heaved a deep, heavy sigh. "Rina, my father, explusion. Damn."
"Ba yan. Puro ka drama, lul! So what if alam ni Rina? Mapapagod din sa kaka-blackmail 'yung malagkit na babaeng 'yan!" Whoa. Alam ni Rina? Blackmail?
"Saka h'wag mo na problemahin kung hindi na kukunin ng Daddy -yo mo 'yung services ng parents ni Pringles dahil hindi siya fan ng love story ninyo. Ano namang akala mo, 'yung pamilya mo lang 'yung kliyente nila? Ang laki kaya ng law firm nila Pring."
"Can't say I'm not impressed, Ovaltine. Pinag-isipan mo ba talaga ng malalim itong problema ko? I'm touched." The guy smirked deeply. Affirmative: his bastard self is back. "You forgot to provide solution for one teeny-weeny factor though: expulsion."
"Eh ano naman kung ma-expel ka?" The annoying boy rolled his eyes. As if indicating na ang mga pinoproblema ni Key – namin, actually – eh hindi naman talaga problematic & worthy of our neurons. "Ang dami kayang ibang schools na pakalat-kalat dyan! Pero tandaan mo Key, ang tunay na pag-ibig iisa lang."
Having said that, Key shuddered. Para ba siyang biglang nilamig at kinilabutan. "Seriously, Ovaltine, you sort of freak me out when you talk with sense like that."
"Wala eh, ganyan talaga ako: Pinagpala. Pogi na, awesome pa." Milo grinned at saka pa siya nag-strike ng kanyang Mr. Pogi pose. "Samin ka na muna tumuloy for the time being. Bigyan pa kita ng allowance eh."
"I still have cash. At bakit mo naman ako bibigyan ng pera?" Key shot him a piercing stare as he put on a disgusted face. "The mere thought of you giving me money is quite creepy."
"Syempre naman, baby. I'm your sugar momma. Lika nga dito," kinindatan ni Milo si Key while curling his index finger, doing the come here hand gesture, "kiss mo ko."
"Ah, I always knew you're secretly in love with me."
With the two of them na abala sa kanilang bromancing, I just stood still here like a statue, covered behind the shelves. Eh kasi naman, what I just heard is too much for me to process. Yup, I'm stupid. Very.
Hiniwalayan ako ni Key dahil nalaman ni Harina that we're together. He did it probably to save my ass from being expelled, in case magsumbong man ang imbyernang flour girl.
Pinalayas siya ni Scary Dad, God-knows-why, pero I'm 99.9% positive na may kinalaman ako dito.
All the while, he's been suffering because of me – to protect me. And here I am, naïvely questioning myself if the guy would be worth it? My gosh, oo na. Sige na, ako na ang tanga.
Mental note to self: Kapag mahal mo ang isang tao, there's no room for discussion. He'd always be worth it.
xxx (one week later)
Already a week has passed pero wala pa ring nangyayari, ni hindi ko pa nga nakakausap ng matino si Key eh. Darn. Not that I'm chickening out or anything ha, kaso kasi, the chance to have him all alone for myself and to talk to him one-on-one just hasn't revealed itself yet.
At isa pa, hindi ko alam if this is merely paranoia or what, pero malakas talaga ang pakiramdam ko na the guy's been avoiding me. Again. Tsk. The creep gets all jumpy and tense kapag kaming dalawa lang ang naiiwan sa isang enclosed space. UGH! Yeah. Story of my life.
It's Friday, 1:30p.m. at nasa bahay na ako. Naka-mood kasi si Principal Lee Chone at pinaghalf-day kami ngayon, so we'd have time to prepare for tonight's Acquaintance Party. Uh-huh. Ang eww at lame na masquerade-themed naming party. Saya.
The fifth package arrived even before I reached home. Errr, simula kasi nung Monday, nakakatanggap nako ng random parcels delivered directly to my house. They're unsigned. Creepy.
The first one came, as I've said, nung Monday. My first present from Santa was a headband. 'Yung merong ears ni Minnie Mouse na naka-attach dito, the ones sold in Disneyland. Meron itong kasamang note with alien letters '恋の予感' written on it. Weird.
Akala ko nga at first nagkamali lang sila ng padala eh. Sayang-saya pa ako dahil finally, nagkaroon na rin ako ng souvenir from my Tokyo Disneyland trip. Kaya lang, apparently, everything wasn't just a happy coincidence.
Kasi come Tuesday, something for me arrived in the mail again. Aba't bibong bibo naman talaga itong si Secret Santa!
So as I was saying, Tuesday, nagpunyagi ako at halos magpagulong-gulong na sa kama sa sobrang tuwa. Yeah, ang O.A. Pero really, I was ecstatic. Eh kasi, in a blink of an eye, I got a signed copy of Simple Plan's new Extended Play album in my hands. Signed. Eeeeep, signed!! My goodness!
Meron siyang sticky note na nakadikit sa likod nito, and upon reading, I instantly recognized the lyrics from one of the band's older songs:
'I close my eyes, and all I see is you. I close my eyes, I try to sleep, I can't forget you.
And I'd do anything for you.
P.S. If you miss me, have no fear. I'll be here. I'll be waiting.'
Wednesday, ayaw pa din paawat ng mga da moves ni Santa Baby.
What I received that day was a book, a paperback publication of Cassandra Clare's City of Lost Souls. Hardcore fan kasi ako ng TMI series dahil I ship Jace for myself, uh-huh. Erm, wala nang seal 'yung libro, wala ring note na nakalagay dito. But it was bookmarked sa page 150, at may passage na naka-highlight dito:
'I won't be just your friend. I love you, Maia. I'm in love with you. I always have been. I always will be. Just being your friend would kill me.'
The next day, Thursday, was a revelation. Syempre may hinala at suspect na ako kung sino ang sappy freak na nagpapadala ng kung anu-anong mga bagay sa bahay ko but I didn't have ample evidence to back my theory up. What I've gotten yesterday, well... it washed away all of my doubts. Dahil indeed, all signs point to yes. It is him – Key.
Nakatanggap ako ng flash drive. I immediately fired my MacBook up at pagkabukas ko dito, I was greeted by a PowerPoint presentation ng report namin about Free Falling. Wow ha, bongga. Tapos na nga niya? Good job.
The first slide displayed:
'You dare defy Newton's Law of Physics? Aw, love, I'm so sorry to break your heart but you just can't. I fall, you fall. It's inevitable – we're inevitable. You and me; we're always bound to happen.'
Right, of course it's him. Hah, who else? Tsss. Cocky bastard.
Now, Friday, I got one again.
Kinuha ko na mula sa living room table 'yung alay ni Santa Key sa akin for today and took it with me patungo sa aking kwarto. I sat on my bed as I opened the little pink box. Shocks, suspense! Ano nanaman kaya ang pasabog ni KitKat for today?
Ah. Oh, my. What's in it is a pair of ivory, wrist-length lace gloves, all matchy-matchy with my gown for tonight. Nako, nagsanib-pwersa nanaman siguro sila ni Grammy kaya niya alam 'yung kulay ng damit ko! Tsss. A folded slip of paper was tucked behind one glove. Inscribed on it is:
'I cannot promise that I could make all these problems go away, but I can promise one thing: You won't have to face them alone. Hold on to my hand, love, and don't let me go.'
I won't, love. I won't.
I inhaled sharply, yes. I have to tell him tonight. It has to be tonight. Hindi ko na hahayaang takasan and iwasan pa ako ni Key, dahil maghahanap talaga ako ng mga obedient minions at henchmen mamaya. Ipapakulong ko kaming dalawa somewhere dark and spooky so I could talk some sense into the guy. Hah. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Nagsimula na akong maghanda for tonight's combat. Naligo nako, with all the kuskos and everything, and then I laid out my creamy white satin dress sa kama afterwards. My look for tonight is Blair Waldorf-inspired. Ginawa kasi naming Gossip Girl Masquerade 'yung theme ng party nang mabawasan naman ang level of eww-ness nito kahit papaano. Well, uhh, hopefully.
I only applied a minimal amount of make-up and tied my hair up dahil makakasagabal lang ito sa drama ng lacey off-white mask ko mamaya. At tsk. Asar, hindi ko maabot at maisara ng mag-isa 'yung gown ko so I asked Grammy to zip me up.
"You look like a princess, hija," says the doting Grammy pagkatapos niyang maisara 'yung damit ko. Pinag-twirl pa niya ako ng pinag-twirl that I'm beginning to think I'm seeing double.
Napahawak ako sa ulo and managed to grin despite my dizziness, "All thanks to your lovely, powerful genes, Grammy."
"'Yan naman ang gusto ko sa'yo eh," nakangiti siyang lumapit sa akin and she presented me a tight, bear hug, "magaling mambola."
Bago pa ako maka-isip ng ico-comment dito, the doorbell rang. Grammy volunteered to get the door at ako naman, lumakad-takbo pabalik sa kwarto ko. Shocks, kainis. All this sparkly-sparkly stuff is getting me super nervous.
Humarap ako sa salamin and I carefully put on a matte red lipstick, my lace gloves from Key, and lastly, ang aking pair of gorgeous and uncomfortable heels. Darn, I hate walking in high heels. Pero wala eh, tiis ganda. All for the sake of love. Tch. This better be worth it.
Pababa nako ng hagdan like I'm some freaking debutante. And waiting for me, downstairs, is my escort. He's donning a black tuxedo, definitely scorching with his model-ish stance pa, pero nakatakip 'yung mukha niya with a breathtaking bouquet of tulips, in the palest pink color.
"Oh, tumutulo laway mo. Akala mo si Nate Archibald no?" Inabot niya sa akin 'yung mga bulaklak as I reached the last step, revealing his still partly-concealed face. He's wearing a silver Phantom mask. "Nabighani ka sa stunning self ko, no?"
Binatukan ko siya while suppressing a laugh, "Yuck ha. Please, asa."
"Ay sus, typical girl. Pakipot." Tumayo siya beside me and offered his arm. I took it. "Let's go, Queen B."
Nagsimula na kaming maglakad palabas ng bahay with our arms linked but I stopped in my tracks. "Teka, magda-drive ka wearing that mask? Hoy, Milo, tanggalin mo 'yan," I demanded. "Mahal ko pa buhay ko."
"Ihhh Pring, h'wag kang mag-alala. We're too cool to die young." He said habang patuloy lang siya sa paglalakad, half-dragging me. "Saka pwede ba, h'wag ka munang hadlang sa kaligayahan! Kita mo namang ine-emphasize nitong maskara ko 'yung fabulous facial features ko eh!"
Tch. Hate to admit it, but the annoying boy, tonight, does not look like a boy at all. Tunay ngang his mask complemented his tall nose perfectly. Para siyang princely version ni Phantom sa Phantom of the Opera. Darn. I better keep this to myself though, at baka magfumeeling pa lalo 'yung isang 'to kung sabihin ko. Tsss.
May nag-flash na camera while I was busy studying Milo. Patay, caught in the act! Grammy snapped some photos (karamihan dito, vain shots ni Milo, actually) and waved us goodbye. "Have a magical night, kids."
"Adieu, Grammy!" Says Milo sabay wagayway pa ng kanyang free hand enthusiastically.
I was about to remark na hindi ako naniniwala sa magic pero nanahimik na lang ako at nginitian si Grammy instead. Kasi alam ko na ngayong gabi, I'd do something magical (or stupid) that could significantly change the path of my own fairytale.
Hah, I must be really, really, foolishly in love dahil I'm starting to hope for my own version of a happy ending. Ew.
Kapasok ko ng sasakyan, I quickly fastened my Tiffany & Co. Tiffany Hearts® bracelet on my right hand. Yeah, heto 'yung bigay sa akin ni Key during our first anniversary. Hope it brings me good luck.
Tonight, I am going as Blair Waldorf with my dashing debonair of a date, Nate Archibald. Pero, alam naman nating lahat kung sino talaga ang tunay na love of her life.
Prepare yourself, Keith Ayala. You've fought for me all this time, now I'm coming to fight for you.