Chapter 3
Chippy, Chippy Gum
"SERYOSO? Magdi-dirty dancing tayo tapos 'yan ang tugtog?" I ask Percy while looking at him with wide, bewildered eyes.
Natawa siya sa akin. "Stop complaining."
Sinimangutan ko siya. Hindi niya naman sinabi na bawal mag-complain! Hindi ko naman alam na boring pala itong 'clean fun' na sinasabi niya! Hindi kaya fun ang sumayaw sa ganyang tugtog!
I cross my arms in defiance. "Hindi ako sasayaw na ganyan ang tugtog! Ang jeje kaya!"
Napakamot siya ng ulo. "Stop making excuses. What's your problem with the song? Is it a song for an ex?" he asks, annoyed.
I gasp, horrified. "Excuse me?" I punch him in his left arm. "Kadiri! Just Give Me A Reason Palengke Remix? Song para sa ex?" Ew! Mukha ba akong walang taste sa music?
"Palengke remix?" he asks, confused. I facepalm myself. Rich kid nga pala itong kasama ko.
Well, hindi naman niya sinabi sa akin na he's rich. Pero just looking at him, alam mo na, e. It's in the way he carries himself. He looks relaxed and self-assured...may sense of entitlement.
"Basta! Huwag mo nang alamin! 'Di mo rin mage-gets!" Imposible kasing mapadpad siya ng palengke para ma-gets 'yong sinasabi ko.
I hear him huff. "C'mon!" He grabs my wrist and drags me until we get out of the bar.
Teka! 'Yong mga kaibigan ko!
"Wait lang!" Huminto ako sa paglalakad kaya napahinto din siya. "I can't leave my friends there! Hindi ako pwedeng umalis! I need to go back!" I panic.
He rolls his eyes. "Don't worry. We'll go back later," he assures me. Akmang hihilahin niya ulit nang umiwas ako. Lumingon ulit siya sa akin. "What now?"
"Magpapaalam lang ako sa kanila, or we can invite them na sumama sa 'tin!" I suggest.
Napakamot siya sa ulo. "No," he says firmly. Napaatras ako. What? Why not? Napatili ako when I find myself hanging on his shoulder. Binuhat ako na parang sako ng bigas ni gago!
I punch his back. Hindi siya natinag.
"Bitawan mo ako or else!" I threaten him. Naku! 'Wag mo akong susubukan, Percy.
"Or else what? You're gonna fall headfirst," he says, chuckling. Napansin kong papalayo na kami sa The Ledge.
Ayaw mong makinig ha! Take this!
"Ow!" He jumps. "What the fuck? Did you just bite my ass?" he stutters. I laugh at his tone. Para bang pinagsamantalahan. I shriek when I feel his palm hit my ass. "Now who's laughing?" he asks smugly.
"Ibaba mo na kasi ako! Baka masuka pa ako sa ganitong pwesto!" I protest. Medyo queasy na rin kasi ang pakiramdam ko sa pagkakabaliktad ko.
Agad niya akong ibinaba. "You're right. I don't wanna smell like vomit."
Lumayo ako nang bahagya sa kanya. I take it as my chance para tumakbo pabalik ng The Ledge pero naabutan niya kaagad ako.
"Not so fast, babe," he whispers in my ear. It makes me shudder.
"Bakit ba ayaw mong isama friends ko?" I ask irritably.
"Because you're too conscious when they're around," he starts. "I promised you a night of clean fun. How will I give it to you if you're too stiff?" he asks in exasperation.
Stiff pa ako sa gano'ng lagay? I did body shots with him! I even drank a Blow Job for him! Hindi niya na-appreciate na I'm fucking trying?
Napansin niya yata ang galit sa mukha ko. His face softens and he tries to touch my shoulders, but I swat his hands. "Hey, I didn't mean to upset y—"
Hindi ko na siya pinatapos pa ang sasabihin niya at hinila na siya papunta sa tapat na bar. It's called Anarchy.
"Fine! Tara! Sabi mo naman ibabalik mo ako sa kanila, e," I say through clenched teeth.
"You're mad," he remarks. Nagpapahila na lang siya sa akin.
Nilingon ko siya at binigyan ng death glare. "No shit, Sherlock." Imbes na mainis siya sa sagot ko, tinawanan niya lang ako. Anong sayad ng taong 'to at lagi akong pinagtatawanan?
"Ah. It will be worth it," I hear him say to himself. Ewan ko sa 'yo. Worth it mo mukha mo.
Pagpasok namin sa loob, nagtaka ako nang hilahin niya ako papasok sa bar instead na sa dance floor. "Hey! I thought magdi-dirty dancing tayo?" I ask out loud. May napatingin tuloy sa amin. I hide behind his back. Kakahiya. You and your big mouth, Jamie. Tsk, tsk.
He chuckles. Ayan na naman siya! Ang saya-saya niya. Parang palaging rainbows and unicorns ang nasa utak! "You need a drink to loosen up."
Leche. Ayan ka na naman sa 'loose', 'stiff', and 'conscious' mo.
Um-order siya ng shots namin at ibinigay kaagad sa akin ang binigay ng bartender. "C'mon, babe. Drink up."
I look at him warily before accepting the shot glass. Hindi pa rin ako sanay sa pag-inom ng alak. Nagulat ako nang punasan niya 'yong alak sa lips at chin ko. "C'mon, babe. Lemme see your moves," sabi niya bagi ako hilahin.
Oh no...
"Should I twerk?" I whisper to him when we get in the middle of the dance floor. Percy just chuckles. I roll my eyes at him. I'm serious here! Hindi ako marunong sumayaw! Kaya wala rin akong idea how to dirty dance!
"No, silly," he says, grinning. "Put your arms around my neck." I do as I am told. He puts his hands on my hips and leans his head next to my ear. "Open your legs," he whispers.
My eyes widen. "What?" I shout back in his ear. Sira ulo 'to! Why would I open my legs for him? Sa gitna pa ng dance floor ha!
He just digs his fingers on my hips. "Just do it," he says softly. I squirm when I feel his warm breath on my neck. Bakit lalo siyang lumapit?
"Bakit ba kasi?" I ask irritably.
Diniinan niya lalo ang hawak sa hips ko. Sabi ko nga, e.
"Fine." I open my legs slightly. He slowly inserts his thigh between them. "Uh. Anong ginagawa mo?" I ask, my cheeks burning up.
"Just follow my lead," he orders. Sinunod ko na lang siya para matapos na itong dirty dancing shit na 'to.
And he starts dancing and I just stand there like a freaking pole. "Loosen up, stiff."
I try to dance talaga, but I can't do it sexily, so I just talk—more like babble.
"You know Tris? She's the stiff. Not me. I'm not from Abnegation. I'm not Divergent."
Anong sabi ko? I'm incoherent na. Effects of the alcohol na ba ito?
"Are you talking geek again?" he asks with a chuckle.
I look at him in the eye and quote Han Solo, "Watch your mouth, kid, or you'll find yourself floating home."
He grins. "Star Wars again?" I just nod. "Cute."
"Can we stop dancing already? Mukha lang akong tuod dito!" I hiss at him. I look around and see that well-coordinated 'yong ibang girls sa mga kasayawan nila. Nakakahiya ako. Kawawa naman si Percy.
"After this song," he obliges before pulling me against his body.
Nakaramdam ako ng kakaiba sa dibdib ko. "Labas na tayo," I say to him. Delikado 'tong nararamdaman ko, e.
Hindi kami bumalik sa The Ledge. Naggala muna kaming dalawa. May nakita kaming malapit na park at pumunta kami doon.
"Let's play, Percy!" I squeal at him when that idea strikes. He smiles and continues to walk.
"What do you have in mind?" he asks. Napaisip ko. Oo nga naman, anong lalaruin namin?
Aha!
"Alam mo 'yong Chippy, Chippy Gum?" I ask him, beaming. He frowns. I facepalm myself. "Oo nga pala! You don't know those kinds of things!"
"What things?" nagtataka niyang tanong. See? 'Di niya pa nga yata gets na 'yon na mismo 'yong game.
Hinila ko siya papunta sa pinakamalapit na pavement. Ang layo kasi ng benches sa amin, e. I plant my butt on the pavement and motion for him na gumaya. Hindi siya nag-inarte at umupo rin, walang pakialam kung madudumihan ang suit niya.
I take both of his hands and start teaching him how to play Chippy, Chippy Gum. "Chippy-Chippy gum is a bubblegum. Masarap ito at malinamnam. Bumili kayo sa tindahan. Chippy-chippy gum is a bubblegum!" I sing.
Tumawa siya nang malakas. "No way! This causes my man-pride serious damage!" he says after laughing so hard.
I grin at him. Ano ba 'yan? Ayaw niya na agad? Pero ang gwapo niya tumawa, ha. Iyong features ng mukha niya get enhanced under the moonlight!
"Fine. Let's just do 'yong either/or questions. 'Di naman siguro mabu-bruise 'yong ego mo do'n?" I ask playfully.
He acts like he is thinking hard, and then smiles. "I can do that."
Pakshet. Ang pogi. May dimples.
I grin. "Star Wars or Star Trek?"
He chuckles. "Why am I not surprised?" He shakes his head. "Star Trek. I just watched the latest installment."
I cringe. "Star Wars is much better."
"Hey, you asked, I answered. Don't question my choices." He wiggles his brows pa.
"Totoo naman kasi! Star Wars is so much cooler! What with their lightsabers and of course, Darth Vader!"
"You're so weird." He ruffles my hair and I just let him. Am I really weird? Kasi most girls, maiinis sa ganyang act. Pero ako, gusto ko. It's relaxing for me kapag hinahawakan iyong hair ko.
"Thongs or granny?" he asks with a smirk.
I laugh. "Did you know that the term 'thongs' means tsinelas in Australia?" He shrugs. "Ang weird nila, 'no? Paano kaya kung gawing reference 'yan dito sa 'tin?" I clear my throat and do my best impersonation of his voice. "Annabeth, pahiram ng thongs mo! Nasira 'yong thongs ko, e!" I collapse on the pavement, laughing so hard.
I hear him chuckle. I spring up and answer, "Granny para covered both of my buttcheeks!" And on cue, Percy bursts out laughing again.
"Hey, don't judge me!" I punch his arm. "Boxers or briefs?"
"Boxer briefs," he answers immediately. "Athletes or geeks?"
"Sexy geek," I answer dreamily. Lalo na 'yong katulad ni Chuck Bartowski. Oh, Chuck. Be still, my geek heart.
"Weird or cute?" I ask.
He smirks. Bakit kaya?
"You."
I frown. "Are you deaf? I asked, weird or cute! Wala naming option do'n na 'you!'"
"Yeah, maybe I am deaf."
I slap his shoulder. "Taya! Mahuli may tae sa pwet!" I shriek as I run. I start to panic when I hear him sa likuran ko kaya napatakbo ako nang mas mabilis. Hindi ko na nakita pa 'yong dinadaanan ko.
Hindi ko tuloy nakita na hagdan na pala iyon. Naturally, nadapa ako. At gumulong-gulong pa.
Nicely done, Jamie. Nicely done. Tanga mo, shit.
"Shit! Are you okay?" I hear him shout as he runs towards me. Dumapa siya kaagad sa harapan ko and looks for scrapes sa knees, legs, hands, arms and shoulders ko. He sweeps the hair on my face and looks for scrapes din. Doon ko lang na-realize na umiiyak na pala ako dahil pinunasan niya 'yong luha sa pisngi ko.
"You have scrapes on your knees and on your hands," he says afterward. Tumalikod siya sa akin. "Hop on, we're gonna go back to The Ledge. Your wounds need to be cleaned up."
I wrap my arms around his neck and he gingerly moves my legs. Sa kabutihang palad, hindi nasanggi 'yong mga sugat ko nang hawakan na niya 'yong legs ko for a piggyback ride.
Tahimik lang kami habang binabaybay ang daan papuntang The Ledge. Nakalayo na pala kami. Ano ba 'yan? Nakakainis! Kung hindi ako tumakbo, hindi sana ako madadapa. Hindi sana masisira 'yong mood ng supposed to be 'clean fun' namin ni Percy.
Malungkot kong isinuporta ang chin ko sa shoulder niya. Kakainis talaga katangahan mo kung minsan, Jamie.
"Look at the moon. It looks stunning." Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang nagsalita. Tumingin ako sa langit. Full moon, sobrang laki at sobrang liwanag.
"That's no moon, it's a space station," I quote Star Wars again. Percy chuckles.
"You're too quiet. Are you in pain?"
"I'm actually numb. I think it's because I'm shit-faced," I mumble.
"Hey, don't sleep. Sing a song or something. Just don't sleep on me while I'm suffering here."
I sigh. Fine. I'll sing. Nakakaawa naman siya. e. Ang bigat ko kaya.
"Chimpoy Champoy, dose na de pik!" I start to sing, and he starts laughing again. "Dose na de oink-oink. Dose na de pik. Dose na de bebe. Dose na de pik. Dose na de amen. Dose na de pik," I continue to sing as I wiggle my feet pa.
"Ito ang beat, sabay-sabay. Ito ang beat, bawal sablay. Pabilis nang pabilis. 'Wag mami-miss, 'wag mami-miss. Gets mo na? Gets ko na! Ahhh. Coca-cola! Nalilito, nalilito. Nahihilo, nahihilo. Coke ko 'to. Coke ko 'to. Coke ko 'to!" I sing as I clap pa. Wala naman kasi akong table para gawin 'yong moves sa commercial.
"You're so weird," I hear him say.
"Ah gano'n? Matapos kitang i-entertain, tatawagin mo na naman akong weird?" Sinabunutan ko siya at kumanta ng, "Dunkin donut, tingali-ngaling poknat!" Siyempre ginawa ko sa buhok niya 'yong 'tingali-ngaling' movement. May kotong pa!
Take that!