End Game 22
"Eyes go cold"
Sheliah Santibañez
"This is your party, bakit ang lungkot ng mukha mo?" Tanong ni Kuya Axel sa akin. I just shrugged as a reply. "Tss, Liah this is your massive breakout on your career. Freaking enjoy!"
I rest my shoulders. "Hindi ko naman hiniling 'tong party na 'to e, oa lang talaga masyado si Divina."
Once Divina set something, wala ka nang magagawa para baguhin ang desisyon niya. Hindi siya yung drawing type of person. Tinutupad niya lahat.
"Well, that's my girl." Napaigtad ako nang may biglang bumulong sa tenga ko. Si Kuya Jonathan pala iyon. "Hey sis."
Uminom ako ng juice. "Jusko kuya! Pwede ka namang sumulpot nang dahan-dahan, aatakihin ako sa'yo e." Napailing na lang ako.
Both of them giggled. "Nanakawin ko muna si Axel." Tumango ako at naglaho na silang tuluyan.
I let myself fell into the beat of music that fills the whole room. This party is nonesense, but for the people who surrounds me right now, it does matter. Invited lahat ng mga kakilala ng pamilya ko, mga dati kong kaklase and ofcoures, mga close friends naming magkakaibigan.
Divina really wanted to make this party for me. I'm grateful naman kaso this is just too extra, 'di bale na nga, pera naman niya 'to e.
May lumapit sa aking grupo ng magkakaibigan, mga ka-edad ko lang din sila. "Congrats Miss Liah." Ani ng lalaking chinito.
"Thank you, please do enjoy the party." I replied and he nods. "May I excuse myself?"
"Oh sure."
Wala ako sa mood makipag-socialize sa mga taong hindi ko naman kilala.
Hinanap ko si Divina and I saw her together with Autumn. Mukhang nagkakasiyahan ang dalawa.
Linapitan ko ang mga ito and mga lasing lang pala sila. "Divina, Autumn." I caught their attentions. "Madami ba kayong nainom?" Stupid question Liah, hindi ba obvious?
Nakangiti si Autumn habang dahan-dahang tumango. "Para ka kasheng shira, alam mo namang party to taposh juice lang iniinom mo."
"Agree. I threw this party for you para naman mag-enjoy ka bago ka ma-stress ganern." Sa boses ni Divina, hindi siya masyadong lasing and that's good. At least may makakausap ako ditong matino. "Ayos ka lang ba Liah?"
I looked upon her. "I'm perfectly fine." Akmang yayakapin na sana ako ni Divina nang may biglang sumulpot na staff.
"Miss Divina, Miss L-liah... Nandito na po si Sir Lucas." Right after he said those words, he left.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Divina. "Does that mean he's also here right now?" Tanong ko kay Divina and she slowly nods. Huminga ako nang malalim. "Oh f*ck me"
Agad kong hinanap si Lucas sa dance floor, hindi ko alam at kung anong pumasok sa isip ko at dito ko siya unang hinanap. This place is too crowded, ang daming nagsasayawan. You dumb Liah, this is a party. What do you freaking expect? And Why am I wasting my time talking to my inner thoughts?
Someone grabbed my hand, I refuse to turn around. This is Lucas. "I've been looking for you, ang tagal mo namang dumating." Tinignan ko pa ang wrist watch ko. Laking gulat ko nang hilain ako ni Lucas and he hugged me. "Uhm... Miss you too?"
Biglang nag-iba ang kanta, from dance song to romantic shit. Ramdam ko ang naghahabulang tibok ng puso ko, damn you Lucas! Sinubukan kong umalis ngunit matibay talaga ang yakap nito. Okay, hindi na ako natutuwa.
"Lucas ano ba!"
"Liah?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ko si Lucas sa harapan ko. As in sa harapan ko! "W-why are you hugging him?"
My palms are sweating, sino ba 'to?
Bumitaw sa pagkakayakap ang lalaki. Ini-angat ko ang tingin ko sa kanya and my knees are shaking.
Something made his eyes go cold. Ibang-iba na ang presensya niya, ni hindi ko nga nakilala ang kamay niya at ang katawan niya. His hair, his face, his suit... He changed a lot, his physical appereance exceeds.
OH SHUT UP LIAH.
I clench my hands into fist. "Get out."
Hindi ito natinag sa akin at daretso lamang itong nakatingin sa mga mata ko. Lumapit sa amin si Lucas at hinawakan nito ang kamay ko. "Umalis ka na lang Art. This is her party."
"This is my fiance's party isn't it?" Sagot nito kay Lucas and it made him shut.
Matalim ko itong tinignan. "We broke up. YOU BROKE UP WITH ME."
"Did we?" May halo ng pagtataka nitong tanong. "Oh... I forgot. Oo nga pala, you're not mine anymore." Umiling ito. "Pardon me Miss Santibanez, nakalimutan kong wala na palang tayo and there's no reason to stay in this crap." His words are like thousand of knives who stabs my feelings. He really changed...
Sinampal ko ito nang malakas, nagtinginan lahat ng tao sa paligid namin and the music stops. Attention... Perfect.
"Liah--" Pinigilan ko ang mga Kuya ko sa pamamagitan ng pagsenyas sa kanila ng hinto. I want them to know that this is a solo game.
This guy hurts my feelings again. Ayokong ipakita sa kanya ang soft side ko ngayon, he don't deserve me at my angelic personality.
"Same old woman, mananampal lang kapag alam niyang hindi niya na kaya-- OH F*CK!" Nagsinghapan ang mga tao nang suntukin ko sa pisngi si Art.
"Same old BOY, hanggang player style ka pa din." I grinned. "Let me remind you Mr Antonio the former campus player of Barden University, this ain't a school anymore. You can move without any consent but in this world you must know your limitations and that is... hurting me twice." Lumunok ako ng laway, I know I can't handle this. Malakas lang ako kapag hindi ko siya kaharap but now that's he's here, I could vomit and cry.
"I'm wasting my time." Tumalikod ito. "Don't cry again Liah, you're too sensitive for this world." at naglakad palabas ng lugar.