Chapter K
We were back with the old drill but this time less calls and video chats dahil nagsimula na rin siya sa NYU habang ako naman ay busy sa pag complete ng requirements since malapit nang mag sem break.
Excited sana ako kung magkikita kami kaso hindi naman pala mangyayari iyon. I can see how busy he is, mas busy pa siya sa'kin kasi tumatanggap parin siya ng trabaho galing sa company nila. Hanga nga ako sa kanya dahil napagsasabay niya ang lahat. Superman na siya sa mata ko ngayon pero syempre hindi ko sasabihin yon sa kanya dahil baka lumaki lang lalo ang ulo niya. Still conceited as ever.
Occupied din ang time ko sa pub dahil marami akong articles na kailangan i-submit. Sunod sunod din kasi ang events, may upcoming pa kami ngayon at ako ang inatasan maging photographer at si Euphy ang writer.
Right now I'm writing an article about sa Society dito sa Pinas for the school paper. Three days pa 'to due, inagahan ko na para hindi na ako mag cram at mahaba pa ang oras ko para mag take ng photos.
Naka open lang ang skype ko, waiting for his icon to blink "Online" pero natapos na ang article ko't lahat wala. I only sighed and shut my laptop off.
We haven't talked for real in like three days now. Palagi nalang naka-cut yung usapan namin. And still, screw time difference.
Next morning nauna akong umalis kay Logan. Alam ko naman na nag set siya ng alarm. Minsan kasi sobrang pagod siya sa training nila na ngayon ay everyday na kaya hindi ko na siya ginigising kung saang parte man siya ng unit nakatulog. He needs sleep more than I do.
Nag park ako sa Hall kung nasaan ang first class ko but it starts two hours from now. Ang sadya ko talaga kung bakit ako pumasok ng maaga is to take photos.
Kinuhanan ko lang iyong kailangan ko. Nang mapunta ako sa park nahagip ko ang isang perfect shot.
I smiled before taking a picture of him.
"Nice one Castillo," nilapitan ko siya at pinakita ang picture. "Your picture states 'Screw the norm'. It's perfect for my article"
He's reading a classic book kasi at ang aura pa niya pang model talaga.
Tumawa si Ethan at umurong para maka upo rin ako.
"Kia said I should start reading to get a hang of writing"
"Writing? Pang second sem pa yong subject na iyon ah. Excited ka?"
And he laughs again.
"You should read Harry Potter," I suggested. "Seriously the best series ever but kung gusto mo ng marami patayan then Game of Thrones"
"I've watched the tv series and it's awesome"
We both but then fell silent.
Ethan drops the book before looking at me. "So how's life?"
"Crazy"
Tumawa naman siya sa sagot ko. "How are you doing Cara? Answer the truth"
"Truth? I'm seriously fine. It's not like I'm going to die of stress"
"Kamusta naman ang buhay LDR?"
"Okay lang din" Kumunot ang noo ko because I'm not sure of my answer.
"Nagloloko ba siya?" He looks genuinely concerned.
"Hindi naman. Just a bit busy. Sinusubukan naming maging flexible sa time. Clash kasi eh"
He texted me this morning na pupunta silang Chicago ni Lee for business and that's it. Sabi may ilang classes siyang ma mi-miss and it's hard to keep up but his Dad wants him present sa business venture nila. No call times or any follow up texts.
"You really trust him huh?"
"Why wouldn't I? Distance won't make me trust him less"
At wala naman siyang binigay na reason sa'kin for him not to trust him.
Kailangan lang talaga naming mag adjust sa state ng buhay namin ngayon. It's not how we planned it noon pero wala rin naman kaming choice talaga.
"Why did he leave? I mean, bakit parang ang dali sa kanya na iwan ka dito. He loves you, it's clear to everyone. Nilinaw niya rin sa'kin yon"
"Leaving me here doesn't mean he doesn't love me. Priorities lang talaga and he did it for his family"
"How long is this going to keep up?"
I sighed. Hindi ko alam. Hindi ko talaga alam.
Ethan invited me to a party tomorrow night since friday naman. It felt good talking to him kahit na medyo deep ang napag usapan namin nung una, sunod naman non ay inintriga ko na siya sa buhay niya. And of course he did it to me too. He asked kung bakit hindi ko tinanggap yung offer ni Chloe.
Yes, I rejected her offer for modeling their fashion line. Sa ngayon kasi hindi ko pa nakikita ang sarili ko na gawin iyon pero gusto ko naman. Kailangan ko lang talaga mag focus sa studies ko. Chloe was so sure kasi na after kong mag model sa kanila may susunod agad na mga projects at may nag offer na ring mag audition for casting sa isang management. Ibig sabihin non mahahati pa lalo ang oras ko. My parents respected my decision. Ethan even said na tama ang ginawa ko. I can see how busy he is, magiging ganon kaya ako if ever na tinanggap ko ang offer?
Minsan nga absent siya sa subject kung saan classmates kami. Puros nalang siya special exam and activities. Alam kong si Kia ang gumagabay sa kanya sa lahat. Mukha namang napapagsabay niya ang lahat efficiently. I wish I was as good as him when it comes to time management.
Tinignan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin. Ang party kung saan inimbitahan ako ni Ethan is a celebration para sa isang project niya na ginanap sa Singapore recently. Sa isang bar lang iyon sa Herondale. Chloe's invited at siguro ang ibang elite names sa fashion world.
Hindi sana ako pupunta but Ethan threatened na siya mismo ang susundo sa'kin kapag hindi niya ako nakita doon. I still have things to do pero pwede naman akong pumunta, support na rin para sa kaibigan kong baliw.
I was wearing a nude colored dress and stilletos. Simple yet classy. Tinamad na kasi akong mag ayos. Naka ponytail rin lang ang buhok ko and light make up. Hindi rin naman ako magtatagal ng bongga doon.
"Saan ka pupunta?" Logan asked, leaning by the door.
"Party ni Ethan. Sama ka?"
"Nah, I'd rather sleep" He gave me a once over before giving me a thumbs up, approving my outfit.
"Ingat ka"
"Yep. Just order pizza if you're hungry. Wala nang food sa ref, di pa ko nakakapag grocery"
"Nakita ko nga. Ako na gagawa non this weekend para di ka na maabala"
I kissed his cheek. "You're such a sweetheart, L. We'll do it together na lang. Magpahinga ka ng mabuti. Bye!"
Habang patungo ako sa elevator, I dialed my cousin's number. Dahil friday ngayon baka kung saang bar na naman nakatambay ito. Halos lagpas isang linggo na kaming hindi nagkikita ng pinsan kong walang kwenta.
Buhay pa kaya yon?
"Yow!"
Bahagya kong inilayo ang phone ko dahil sa lakas ng boses niya. Para namang nang aaway 'to!
"Nakainom ka ba?" I raised my voice dahil rinig ko ang background music sa line niya. Buti nalang ako lang mag isa sa elevator.
At for sure nasa party din 'to.
"Yep!" Rix answered with a laugh. "I drank water a few minutes ago"
I rolled my eyes. "Asan ka ba?"
"Prism. Ikaw?"
"Pupunta ako sa party na malapit d'yan"
"Oooh sama 'ko!"
"Ayoko nga! You're drunk!" Dapat pala di ko na tinawagan 'to.
"I'm not, just tipsy. The twins are here too. Sama kami sa'yo"
Great. Magiging babysitter din pala ako ngayon.
It was a typical socialite party. Marami akong nakitang kakilala at marami ring kilala ako pero hindi ko sila kilala. Si Josh na ang tinext na andito na ko because Rix's mind is obviously flying.
I mingled with some acquaintances while waiting for the kids. Binati ko na rin si Ethan but he's obviously busy with other guests so I went out of his way.
It wasn't a suprise to find Chloe and her group kaya sa kanila na ako sumama.
She warned me about the scouts and they're swarming the party like hawks. I tried to avoid them but some did get to me and managed to land their propositions. I politely declined with the help of Chloe.
The three kids announced their presence by lifting me off the group and passing me around like a freakin football. Binatukan ko silang tatlo because really? Could they be more embarrassing?
"I missed you!" Rix threw his arms around me once again.
"Get off me you freak!"
"Oh come on baby, where's the cousin love? I haven't seen you for like a week."
"Not my fault," I glare at him. Sarap talaga sapakin nito minsan.
But okay na rin na andito sila. They closes ranks on me like a human wall warding unwanted people away.
The so called 'unwanted people' were staring, clearly waiting for them to turn their attention away from me to get their own fill.
Inakbayan ako ni Josh at bumulong, "Jace has been pestering Rix to do an exhibit together and Rix is not having it."
Josh and I settled in one booth to get some privacy. Siya raw ang designates drive ng dalawa because it's their "get fucking wasted night".
I told him how off Rix is today kaya sinabi niya sa'kin kung bakit.
"He feels pressured," I eyed my cousin who's already making a fool of himself sa dance floor.
Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Josh. "Bakit hindi na lang si Jace ang mag exhibit mag isa?"
"He's confident alone but he wanted Rix to show off his own guns. He wanted for them to do it together coz he's a sentimental shithead," Josh shrugged.
"I know he means good," I say. "But could you tell him to lay off for a while? Or else Rix is going to drink himself to oblivion."
"Hard to do when we live in the same house."
Josh and I tried to kill time by talking since our other friends have other agendas we don't want to involve ourselves in.
By the end of the night we'll be as a whistle.
But we did get pulled in to dance. Rix is more hammered than ever, Jace is a little sober pa but with the way he's downing shots hahabol na siya kay Rix. I won't be suprise kung may secret bet ang dalawang kumag.
I'm having fun but there's a nagging thought in my mind that I shouldn't have too much.
Just before midnight, nag paalam na ako sa kanila.
I got called a sour sport but I don't care. They can get hammered all they want. I've got a boyfriend to catch.
Rix was moaning on my shoulder while muttering "Don't go...". He reeked of booze and sweat, gusto ko man siyang itulak hindi ko na ginawa.
"I have to, Rix. Ikaw din umuwi ka na before you die of alcohol poisoning." I pat his hair. Inwardly grimacing because of how sweaty it is.
"The night is still young... dali na..." He slurred.
"Yeah baby," Jace pipes in grinning like a fool. "Master won't mind."
I sighed. Ano bang gagawin ko dito?
"Hey Rix," Josh says loud enough for my drunk cousin to hear. "You really shouldn't make a fool of yourself malay mo andito yung babaeng gusto mo."
That sobered Rix up. Jace too because he laughed so hard.
I mouthed a "thank you" to Josh. Nakumbinsi na niya si Rix at Jace na umuwi from then on.
I said goodbye to the people I know then head out.
I let the sweaty boys hug me one more time bago ko sila itulak sa sasakyan ni Josh.
"Drive safe," I wave. "Don't give Josh hell when you get home."
Josh shook his head. "They're on their own when we get home."
"Bye baby. Love you..." Rix managed to say as the car drives away.
Sumunod na rin ako. Dahil late na, wala nang traffic kaya mabilis lang akong naka uwi.
I found Logan eating some take out while watching some tv show from the '90s.
"Got more that?"
"Meron pa sa ref. I'll reheat it for you." He says because he's sweet like that.
I kissed him on the cheek before heading to my room to fix myself.
After doing my night routine, nag check agad ako ng phone.
Walang message galing sa kanya.
Oh well, not the first time this happened kaya hindi ako mag pa-panic. Baka jet lagged lang siya or something.
I left a message for him as Logan gave me the reheated chinese take out.
"Kala ko tulog ka na pag dating ko"
"Got hungry," he grunts. "Josh texted me kanina. Rix was hammered daw."
I told him the reason why. Napa iling nalang siya.
"Rix will do it if he wants to. Jace is a stupid knuckle head."
"I know right? He's got the means to push that exhibit. Saka nalang si Rix."
We were silent for a few minutes. Tamang desisyon talaga na si Logan ang kasama ko sa iisang bahay. Marunong siya maka intindi ng "comfortable silence" unlike my crazy cousin. And above all, hindi siya reklamador.
Bless his good heart.
Then our silence was broken by a phone call.
Assuming it was Vini, hindi ko na tinignan ang caller ID at sinagot na agad.
"Hello? Cara?"
"Bommie?"
Napataas ang kilay ni Logan. He probably assumed it was Vini too.
I haven't heard from Bommie since she got accepted in a university overseas. Since then hindi na siya bumalik dito sa Pilipinas. We don't contact each other that much anymore. Ganon naman sometimes pag high school friends diba? You get to keep some. You get to lose some. Bommie happened to fall on the latter.
"Yeah. It's me..."
Logan lowered the volume of the tv para hindi na ako lumipat ng pwesto.
"How are you?"
Bommie filled me in with the details but she seems a little off. Parang malumanay yung boses niya.
"Enough about me, it's not why I called..."
"What is it then?"
Bakit bigla akong kinabahan?
Shit. Did something happen?
"It's about Vini. I saw him."
Logan turned attentive dahil halata na sa itsura ko yung kaba ko.
"When? Where?" I kept my voice firm. Do not jump to conclusions, Calliope Rain. He's in Chicago diba? Siya mismo ang nagsabi sa'yo.
"I was in New York the other day with Kuya and..."
Spit it out. God dammit.
"I saw him with a girl at Time Square."