SEBASTIAN
"What the hell, Man?" Inis na sabi ko.
"Yo, Im sorr-" Napatigil ang nakabangga sa akin. Nagkatitigan kaming saglit bago tumaas ang kilay nito.
I heard people whispering. Looks like namukhaan kaming dalawa. I flashed a fake smile, As real as fake can get.
Nakita kong napangiwi ito nang mabilis ko siyang akbayan. I not-so-slightly tightened my grip on his shoulder, Hoping he would get the memo.
"Axe! I almost didn't recognize you. Guma-gwapo ka pare ah." Axe's eyes examined the room.
Good thing, He's only kind of tanga at napansin niya rin na minamata kami ng mga tao.
"Hey bro..." He said, Uncomfortably. Axe has no idea how to act.
"What're you doing here ba, Pare?" Tanong ko.
"I'm with Allison, I took her on a date. I'm sure you've met." Sumama ang tingin nito sa akin.
"Yeah..." I wonder if miss Riot told him about the hair situation. And a date? So I was right?
"Kamusta? Been a while. How's your dad?" Nakangiti kong tanong at hinigpitan ang pagkakaakbay dito. He coughed lightly.
"He's fine." He said with a stern voice and shoved me away, Very obviously might I add. Tumawa ito. Huminga ako nang malalim bago siya harapin ulit.
"Yeah? That's great. What position is he running for again? Next year?" Tanong ko.
"Senator." Axe smiled. Kung sa malayo, No one would notice his teeth gritting.
"Ah. So is my mom." Tumango si Axe.
"Really?"
"Yep." He looked at me as if he's surprised... Or confused.
"Wait, Diba si tita... Isn't a college graduate?" Their whispers turned into conversations.
"She's a BSAT graduate. Pero walang degree." He commented, Very pasive aggressively I clenched my fist.
"Oh. So a BSAT diploma and no government experience." Mahina lang ang pagkakasabi nito, Tipong kami lang makakarinig. Lumapit sa akin si Axe. Im at least five inches taller than him.
"Goodluck nalang kay mom mo." He smiled, Knowing damn well what he just did.
That Axe kid has a lot of nerve. Tumingin ako sa paligid, They're still looking. I smiled at a few of them before going to the counter.
"That one looks nice." I pointed at the silver ring, Excrusted with diamonds. I stared back at myself on the glass counter.
I look great, Nothing less than usual. Pony tail's a bit much. Bwisit na Allison kasi.
"Ito, Sir?" Tumango ako. She placed the ring infront of me.
"Hmm... What do you think? You think she'll like that?" Tanong ko sa saleslady. Tumango ito.
"Opo sir, Kung sino man mapagbibigyan niyo nyan. Kikiligin talaga." I observed it for a good fee seconds. That's good enough.
"I'll take it." I gave her my credit card. As she was running my card through the register, Napaisip ako.
Why was Axe Cruz on a date with Allison, And anong ginagawa niya sa jewelry story?
Napailing ako.
Why would I care?
He'll make headlines if he dates someone, Let alone that... 'activist'. I can't afford to share the spotlight right now. Not right now. That's exactly why I care.
"Shit."
"Bakit sir, Mali po ba kayo nang napili?" Tanong nito. I shook my head.
"Ah... No. No." I smiled. I saw the saleslady blush as she put the ring in a small paper bag with black ribbons.
"Thanks..." Mahina kong sabi at kinuha ang bag pati narin ang card ko.
I entered another place and was greeted with smiles.
"Bettie." Bati ko.
"Hi, Bastian. What brings you here?" She asked. I pulled out my hair tie revealing a few burnt strands on one side.
"Yikes. Anong nangyari dyan?" Tanong niya. Instead of answering her very insulting question, I asked another.
"Can you save this? I don't feel like having short hair." I sat dont on the chair in front of her, Brushing my hair back with my fingers. Tinignan ito ni Bettie and started to flip sections of my hair around.
"Oh, I love these." Sabi ko nang makita ang donuts na nasa table ni Bettie. Im surprised that this is actually the expensive kind, Considering how awfully cheap Bettie is.
"Well, Are you in the mood para magmukhang edgy?" Tanong ni Bettie. I sighed.
"I don't care, Bettie. I just don't wanna look basic." Tumawa si Bettie.
"Sure."
"These are good, Where'd you get these?" I asked before eating the last bite of the donut.
"That's from a client." I smiled.
"You've got a suitor, Bettie?" Tanong ko before biting into the jelly filled chocolate donut.
"Wala, Wala. Ikaw?" She pouted her lips, Pointing at the jewelry bag.
"Pursuing someone, Sebastian?" She started cutting my hair from the side.
"Uh... Yeah. Something like that." I answered.
"I'll ask her to be my girlfriend." Bettie jokingly pulled my hair.
"Bettie!" I laughed.
"Walang ligaw?"
"No... I..." I sighed.
"I don't think I really need to." Tumaas ang kilay ni Bettie.
"Mutual understanding?"
"Friends." I answered.
"Hey!" I flinched and looked at her.
"What's that?" I looked at her,
Frightened.
"Razor, Sebastian. Electric pa nga oh."
"Alam ko, Bettie! What is it for?"
"Kumalma ka nga!" She aggressively pushedmy shoulders down and faced my head to the mirror.
She started to pull the top of my hair up in a bun.
"What the fuck are you doing, Bettie?" Tanong ko.
"Trust me, Bastian." I stared at her while she started shaving one side of my head. Specifically the part that Allison lit on fire.
"Trust you? Not with that thing in your hand-"
"Sebastian, Kakalbuhin kita if you dont shut your mouth!" Sa takot na gawin niya talaga ito, I jokingly closed the invisible zipper on my lips.
My eyebrows met.
"Holy fuck." I cursed when she shaved the other side.
"Tumayo ka na dyan." Tinignan ko si Bettie.
"That's it? You gave me a side shave?" Tanong ko. I parted my hair in the middle before deciding to push it back.
"Oo." Ngumiti ito. I shook my head and gave her my credit card.
"You're lucky I always look good." While Bettie was checking my card, Tinignan ko lang sarili ko sa salamin.
Semi-long hair that fell just below my ears and a side shave.
"Bettie, You made me look like a rebel. I am not a rebel." Umirap si Bettie at inabot sa akin ang credit card ko.
"The internet's gonna freak out." I said, Still looking at myself in the mirror.