Chapter 11: Drunk And Stupid
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NEXT THING I KNOW, I was following Jack outside. Towards the center stage where there was a crowd formed already. The lot was so crowded weㅡor Jack actually had to push people out of the way. He was doing all the work and I was just following where he steps next.
Jack was aiming for the left side of the stage so we could join with the rest of the announcers. Malapit na sana kaming makarating nang biglang tumigil si Jack na naging dahilan kung bakit ako nauntog sa likod nito. Tumingala ako at nakita kong may lalaki sa harap niya. Kasabay nun ang realisasyon na napapalibutan pala kami ng mga lalaking nakaitim. It took me a whole minute before realizing we are being surrounded by men wearing black suits. Wait. Bodyguards? In this day and age?
"Move," Jack said, irritated. "Nagmamadali kami."
"Sir Jack, pinapatawag po kayo ni Mayor."
"I'm not a dog that comes and goes everytime someone calls, Ricci. Tell your master that. Now, move."
"Sirㅡ"
"Let me go!" I winced when a bodyguard grabbed me from behind. I think he only meant to step me aside before they go full force on Jack but I was panicked. I'm sure he didn't mean to grip me harder but my nerves are sensitive because of the tension.
Jack turned toward us and raised a brow at the man gripping my arm. "Are you really going to wait and see what I'll do if youㅡ"
Thankfully the man listened and let my arms go. I suddenly have a trauma to arm-grabbing men and this experience didn't make it easier. Not to mention I was suddenly reminded of the day I was grabbed by an accused. In the middle of the day.
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Aspire Heritage University's 65th Anniversary," Nine said from the stage. I can tell she was starting to look for us in the audience, unaware of the commotion down the stage.
"Sir, gusto lang daw po kayong makausap ni sir," nakikiusap na sabi ng tinatawag na Ricci.
"I'm busy," Jack said before holding my hand and grabbing us away from the group of black-suited men.
I was letting Jack drag me away of the calamity and led me in a bench beside the makeshift stairs for the stage. Nine is currently speaking about the theme of the anniversary. "Are you hurt?"
I shook my head, shaken. "He didn't hurt me. Nabigla lang ako."
"This is exactly what I'm trying to avoid," he said, still irritated. "My father isn't the kind man people thought he is."
Tumango lang ako bilang pagsagot dahil pakiramdam ko ayaw niya pa munang pag-usapan ito at mas lalong wala kami sa tamang lugar para pag-usapan ang mga ganitong sensitibong bagay. Kahit na pa tatay niya ang alkalde. Dinaanan naman kami ni Nine at sinabihang stand-by lang kami dahil malapit na ang set namin.
A freshman student stopped beside the bench where I am sitting and forced a smile at me, breathing hard. Hindi ko siya pinansin dahil imposible namang may maghahanap sa aking freshman kaya laking gulat ko nalang ng bigla itong tumigil sa harap ko at binigyan ako ng papel.
"Galing daw po kay George Arturo," wika ng freshman habang inaabot ito sa akin.
"What is this?" I asked but I was already opening the piece of paper. Inside were George's numbers, sprawled in a legible hand.
"Magtext ka raw sakaniya para matawagan ka niya," sabi nito sabay takbo paalis.
I stole a glance towards the note, stopping the urge to memorize the number. Para saan ito? Bakit pa niya ako kinukulit kung meron naman na siyang Rose para pagka-abalahan?
Jack whistled but it didn't stop me from walking towards the trash can and tossing the note in there. I was hoping someone ㅡeven Jackㅡ would stop me from doing it. But well, no one did.
Like me, Jack didn't pester me about the note. Alam niya siguro na off-limits pang pag-usapan si George sa akin gaya ng pagiging off-limits ng usapan tungkol sa tatay niya.
Agad kaming pinatawag ni Nine sa backstage dahil kami na rin ang susunod. Nakita kami ni Dante at binigyan kami ng clip para maayos ang wire ng microphone sa likod.
"Handa na ba kayo?" tanong niya sa amin habang inaayos niya ang microphone wire sa likod ni Jack.
"As ready as an announcer can be," I murmured, slightly glancing at the stage.
Ngunit aakyat na sana kami nang biglang bumaba si George galing sa hagdan na gagamitin natin. Tumayo ito sa harap ko hawak hawak ang isang papel na may listahan.
"Hey," he said, smiling at me.
"Hi."
He handed me the note containing the winner list. "Natanggap mo ba iyong sulat ko?"
Gusto kong magsinungaling at tapusin na ang usapang ito lalo na at nasa likod ko pa si Jack pero hindi ko rin naman magagawa kay George yun. Lalo pa at baka pagalitan niya iyong inutusan niyang bata kanina. "You said third meeting."
He smiled and nodded. "Right. And today is the third meeㅡ"
"Why are you doing this, George?" I asked, cutting his sentence. Dante cleared his throat and scrambled out of the way but Jack continued to eavesdrop. "You are dating my bestfriend. Why are you smiling at me, asking for my number, and acting as if Rose didn't just introduced you to us last week as her boyfriend?" I asked, irritated.
This is probably the first time he is seeing an irritated me. I am always smiling whenever we talk but right now, I don't see anything worth smiling for about him.
His angelic smile dropped, shocked at my breakdown. "Prim, I justㅡ"
"You wanted friendship?" I asked, mocking. "Well I'm sorry. I don't make friends with my bestfriend's boyfriend."
I brushed past him and glanced behind Jack to let him know it's already our turn. Pumwesto kami ni Jack sa harap habang ina-anunsyo ang mga nanalong partisipante sa nakaraang araw. Maraming importanteng bisita ang nasa harapan gaya nalang ng tatay ni George, ang mayor ng bayan na tatay ni Jack, yung alumni na isa na ngayong sikat na Engineer at ang presidente ng Aspire.
"It won't kill to smile a little," Jack whispered beside me, making small talks while being MCs.
"I am," although I really don't feel like smiling.
"Right. Smiling like a lost puppy," he taunted.
I glared at him and turned towards the audience, just so I won't be seen as rude before turning back towards him to reply. "I'm not in the mood for your silly jokes, Jack Saremi."
"Tsk. Why would you even say those harsh words to him when you don't even mean them?" pangungulit niya.
I turned towards him and frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The guy obviously likes you and you obviously has a crush on him. But you just let him down like that."
I was about to deny the latter part but I decided against it because it would be useless. He heard me say all those things to George, helped me hide from him, and even saw me react when I first find out about George dating Rose. He saw me in all those and I don't think he's that slow not to notice. But then again, with Jack, you can't really be sure of anything.
Especially with how he worded it like that. He simply laid it out like that as if he was Archimedes when he first discovered the word eureka. For the first time in a while, I was jealous of someone and it hurts that the someone had to be Jack.
"The guy is dating my bestfriend. Isn't that obvious?"
"But he obviously is choosing you right now," he pushed, smiling every now and then to the crowd down the stage. "No one makes effort to someone they don't love, Prim."
"Don't be ridiculous," I told him before turning towards the task at hand. Nauna akong naglakad papunta sa center stage kaya sa right side ko piniling tumayo. Napilitan naman na noon si Jack na maglakad na sa left stage at tigilan ang pagiging love guru nito.
"We're honored this morning to welcome a very special guest, the man of the hour and the mayor behind our prosperous city, Mr. Desmond Saremi," pagpapakilala ko sa guest of honor namin. Mukha namang hindi sang-ayon si Jack sa sinabi ko pero wala siyang magagawa dahil nagbabasa lang ako bilang MC.
There was an applause as we waited for Mayor Saremi to join us on the center for stage. Hindi rin naman mapakali ang katabi ko pero hindi ko na siya nagawang tanungin pa nang biglang dumating ang tatay nito at tapikin sa balikat ang anak bago dumiretso sa may microphone.
"Don't," Jack whispered, smiling sweetly at his father, "ever touch me again."
Mukha namang hindi ito alintana ng ama at nagawa pang ngitian ako at ang anak niyang malapit nang mag-alburuto. When Mr. Saremi glanced to the center stage, I glanced at Jack behind Mr. Saremi's back and asked him with my eyes, probing. What's wrong?
Ngunit dahil na rin siguro sa inis at hindi na nagawa ni Jack na lingunin ako bago biglang magsalita ulit si Mayor Saremi.
"Thank you, Aspire Heritage University, for the warm welcome," natatawang sagot ni mayor. "It is in my deepest interest to see this university strive, to see my dearest alma mater produce such excellent engineers and to be able to contribute excellence and productivity in this university."
Mr. Saremi reached out and draped his arm around his son's shoulder before smiling broadly to the crowd. "I'm proud to say that my son is going to be a productㅡ"
Mr. Saremi's pause was the product of Jack walking out the stage. Bigla nalang niyang hinablot ang mic sa pagkaka-clip nito sa kaniyang likod at ito ay nagsanhi ng nakakabinging ingay. Maging ang mga nagsasayang mga tao sa baba ay natahimik at nagtataka sa kung ano ang naging dahilan ng biglaang ingay na iyon.
"ㅡof this university soon," nakangiting pagtatapos ni Mr. Saremi bago pa ipinagpatuloy ang mahaba nitong talumpati. Pa-simple niyang itinaas ang kamay na dapat sana ay iyayakap nito sa braso ng anak.
Hindi ko na rin mabigyan pa ng pokus ang sinasabi niya dahil naaabala ako sa paghahanap sa lalaking iyon. Pasimple ko ring inuutusan si Diane na maghanap ng bagong partner ko. Agad namang nakarating si George at kinuha ang posisyon ni Jack bilang volunteer nga ng Supreme Council. Hindi ko na siya tiningnan sa mata ng magpasalamat ako sakaniya at ipinagpatuloy nalang ang pag e-MC.
Sinimulan na rin naman na ni George ang pag aanunsyo ng mga nanalong kalahok pagkatapos mag-speech ang mga guest of honors. It didn't take the announcing of winners long. Maging ako ay nagsisimula na ring makaramdam ng pagkayamot dahil sa paulit-ulit na pagbigkas ng mga pangalan. Bigla ko nalang kinainggitan si Sharmaine na siguro ay wala na namang ginagawa ngayon.
Matapos i-anunsyo ang mga nanalo ay agad naman kaming pinayagan na makauwi na. Sinabihan ako ni Diane na huwag nang tumulong sa pagliligpit ng mga kagamitan dahil sa kami naman daw ang nagtayo nito.
"Salamat, Diane," nakangiting tugon ko.
Diane sighed and nodded. "God. Hindi ko alam na ganun na pala ang galit ni Jack sa ama upang ipahiya ito ng ganun. Ano kaya sa tingin mo ang nangyari?"
"I honestly don't know. I don't even know how it happened except that I was with him when it finally happened," I admitted rather testily. What Jack did was reasonable but very irresponsible.
"Sige, mauna ka na at magpahinga. Congrats sa atin!" nakangiting sabi niya bago tumakbo pabalik sa booth upang makatulong ito sa pagligpit.
Nalulungkot na naglalakad ako pabalik sa bahay. Malapit lang naman ang venue kaya hindi na ito magiging problema pa. Ang inaalala ko lang ay ang naging tanong ni Diane sa akin kanina. Bakit nga ba? Bakit ganoon nalang ang galit ni Jack sa ama?
"Prim!"
Napalingon ako sa boses na tumawag at napangiti. "Liana!"
Ilang araw din kaming hindi nagkita dahil sa paghahandang ginawa ng bawat departamento sa festival. Tumakbo ito papunta sa akin ngunit nang akala ko ay yayakapin ako nito, bigla nalang siyang kumunot ang noo.
"Have you seen Rose?" nahihingal na tanong niya. "We gotta find Rose, Prim."
Nagtataka at puno ng alarma ko siyang tiningnan. "Why, what happened to her?"
"Prim... that George guy, her boyfriend..." she grumbled whispering, "he was cheating on her!"
Various images of George flashed to my mind. The smiling cafeteria guy, the persistent guy who would give me free burger, the chill guy from the stage and this... it just doesn't sound right.
"Believe me. I heard it myself. Kanina sa men's CR, narinig ko mismo! He was talking to someone elseㅡ in the phone and it was... awful. God, how dare he!"
I frowned. "Calm down, Liana. Why are you even at the men's comfort room?"
"I was waiting for Leon because he has my purseㅡbut that's not what's important, Prim! Rose, she's being cheated by that guy! Poor Rose. What will happen to her when she learns about this?"
Halata sa pananalita ni Liana na labis ang pagkalungkot nito tungkol sa panlolokong ginawa ni George. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na magagawa niya ito pero hindi ko naman din pwedeng sabihin dahil alam kong hindi ako maiintindihan ni Liana.
"Who said we're going to tell her?"
"Exactㅡ what?" she asked, turning to me. Bakas sa mukha niya ang pagkabigla. It was as if I've grown two more heads and was going to chew her noisily with it.
"We can't tell her, Liana. Obviously."
"Prim, bakit?" bulong nito matapos dumaan sa harap namin ang mga kaibigan ng boyfriend niya. "Hahayaan mo nalang na lokohin ng lalaking yun si Rose?"
"Liana, of course not. What I'm trying to say is... she's smitten of the guy. Whatever we say could turn against us. We can't just find Rose now and expect her to believe us. Do you get what I mean?"
"I told you. I overheard him talking to the phoneㅡ"
"And do you think that makes that evidence legal?" I asked, cutting her off. "Do you think that's sufficient for her to break up with the guy?"
Shock filled that beautiful face of her. "I don't know, Prim. Sa tingin ko ikaw ang hindi nakakakilala nang lubos sa amin. You'd rather keep it to yourself if you ever learn that Leon is cheating on me?"
"I don't!" I snapped, annoyed. "All these years I've been telling you to break up with him because he's an ass-hat and not good enough for you. But did you ever listen? No! And that's what Rose will do."
"My boyfriend is not an ass-hat!" she screamed that made his boyfriend's friends glance at us and laugh. Namula si Liana pero hindi ko alam kung dahil ba ito sa hiya o sa galit. "Do what you want to do, Prim. Ako sasabihin ko sakaniya kasi kaibigan ko siya."
Malungkot at walang gana kong pinanuod ang likod niya habang naglalakad siya papunta sa kotse ni Leon. Nakalimutan ko sakaniyang sabihin na magkaparehong-magkapareho sila ni Rose at baka ganyan din ang maging reaksyon nito kapag sinabi niya ang tungkol sa manlolokong si George.
Huling linggo ng Agosto at ang linggo kung saan kami mag p-presenta ng magiging topic proposals namin. Medyo nagagambala pa ako dahil hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng Jack ang makikita ko ngayon pa't hindi kami nakapag-ensayo sa huling pagkakataon. Simula nang umalis ito sa stage ay hindi ko na siya nakita pa at maging si Sam ay naging tahimik na rin. What the hell happened last week?
My guards are up when I entered the four-cornered hallway. Marami pa rin ang hindi nakaka-move on sa naging festival noong huling linggo pero marami ring estudyante na halatang kabado sa mangyayaring proposal mamaya. Ito ang magiging kahuli-hulihan nilang ticket para maka-graduate kaya bawat isa ay pinaghahandaan ang magiging presentation.
"Good morning, Prim!"
Napalingon ako kay Diane atsaka tumango. Maging siya ay kabilang sa mga estudyanteng kabado para mamaya pero buti pa siya at nandito na ang partner niya.
"Mag p-practice ba kayo?" aniya. "Kami ni TJ, hindi ko na alam ang gagawin. Binigyan ko na nga siya ng script kahapon para kakabisaduhin nalang niya pero wala pa rin."
"You were here yesterday?" I asked incredulous.
"Oo. Lahat kami pumunta dito para mag-ensayo ng presentation. Kayo nga lang ni Jack ang hindi sumulpot. Pero syempre, alam naman naming nakapag-ensayo na kayo ni Jack. Kayo pa!"
I pursed my lips. Gusto kong sabihin na walang naganap na pag-eensayo at maging lokasyon ng kasama ko ay hindi ko alam. Pero nanguna pa rin ang pride ko kaya hindi ko nagawang aminin na hindi kami handa para mamaya.
"Thanks," I said, forcing a smile. "Have you seen him? Jack?"
"Wala pero alam mo naman at madalas silang mahuli," natatawang tugon niya sabay hatak sa akin papasok. Inanyayahan niya akong mag-aral ng sabay kaya umupo ako sa tabi niya at nagbasa.
Ngunit wala akong maintindihan sa binabasa ko dahil patuloy akong napapatingala sa tuwing may papasok na kaklase. Halos lahat ay andito na pero wala pa rin siya.
Hanggang sa dumating si Ms. Nevada at tatlong pares nalang ang hindi pa nakaka-presenta
"Ms. Mangubat and Mr. Hernandez?" tawag ni Ms. Nevada. Agad namang naging balisa si Leslie nang mapansing hindi pa nakakarating si Sam.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. Mr. Hernandez hasn't arrived yet," nahihiyang sagot ni Leslie. "But I can presentㅡ"
"This is a group presentation, Ms. Mangubat," awat ni Ms. Nevada sa eksplenasyon ni Leslie. "You should've made sure Samuel would arrive on time before you planned what you're going to present today."
Tumango si Leslie pero halata na hindi siya masaya sa naging reaksyon niya. Sakto namang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Samuel Hernandez na halatang bagong gising. Ms. Nevada disappointedly looked at him before sighing and standing at the front; Sam still standing at the door.
"Let this be a lesson to all of you," ani Ms. Nevada sa klase. "Ginawa ko kayong grupo hindi para madali ninyong matapos ang thesis na ito. Some of you here are gifted enough to finish one thesis on her own," with this she glanced at me and nodded. "I made you a team because I wanted you to bond and help those classmates that you knew are having a hard time."
This time, all of us nodded one by one. That had been the purpose of the school festival and yet one week after the said festival, we were back from the old times.
"Ang hindi pa nakaka-present na sina Samuel Hernandez, Leslie Mangubat, Jack Saremiㅡ" she turned to me and raised a brow. "Where is Mr. Saremi, Ms. Montefalco?"
I swallowed and shook my head. "I don't know, miss. He... disappeared."
"What do you mean by disappㅡ"
The door was pushed open by none other than Jack Saremi who is looking more disheveled than Sam ever could. His hair was messy and his shirt was uncharacteristically wrinkled. A gust of wind followed his entrance giving us an idea of what he was up to yesterday.
"Sorry I'm late, ma'am."
Ms. Nevada gracefully covered her nose with a handkerchief and frowned at him. "Tell me the truth, Mr. Saremi. Were you drinking? This early? Really?"
"No, ma'am," Jack smiled charmingly, only that he doesn't look very charming in his uncombed hair and unbuttoned shirt. He looked... different.
"Stop lying. Your clothes are reeking of it," sabi ni Miss Nevada na halata mong disappointed na rin sa paboritong estudyante niya.
Jack, getting annoyed from the continuous questions, pointed a finger at Sam. "Kasama ko po sila kahapon. You can ask them."
Ms. Nevada rolled her eyes, annoyed too. "You want me to ask Samuel Hernandez who arrived less than five minutes ago as well?"
When none of the boys replied, she continued. "You may have gotten away with this, Mr. Saremi, you too, Mr. Hernandez, but that doesn't excuse you for not attending my class today. Dinamay niyo pa ang mga partners niyo. I'm so disappointed. I'll really put it against you next meeting."
Naglakad siya pabalik sa table nito at nagligpit ng gamit. "If you act like this again, I'm going to make Ms. Montefalco and Ms. Mangubat as pairs instead. Total, you two don't seem interested in graduating anyway. You know what? You can drop this subject right this instant and kiss your graduations good bye. The hell we care. Tandaan niyo, taga-compute lang kami ng grades niyo. What you do with this subject is your responsibility."
And with that, Ms. Nevada walked away.
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To be continued...