I found myself dressed up for Gab's mom's birthday. I drove a car papunta sa bahay nila Gab. It's already 6:30pm when I arrived to their house. Sa labas palang ako ng bahay ngunit kita mo na agad na ang daming ilaw sa labas ng kanilang bahay.
Pagkababa ko ng kotse ay pinindot ko ang kanilang doorbell. The gate opened at ang nagbukas nun ay kanilang kasambahay. She lead the way sa backyard nila gab kung saan ay nandoon ang mga bisita sa birthday ng mom ni Gab.
I saw Ryan standing habang may dala itong inumin. Nilapitan ko siya at nang malapitan ko siya ay I asked him "bro, kanina ka pa dito?" He said "Oh ikaw pala. No. Not really, kararating lang namin kani-kanina lang." Sabi ko "okay, where's Gab?"
Ryan said "well, kausap ko siya kanina ng biglang may tumawag sa cellphone niya, kaya maybe he's just around." I said "okay." Tumingin ako sa paligid and I can see that this occasion was really planned. I mean every occasion should be planned right? It's just that the decorations and everything was so fine.
After waiting for just few minutes I decided to get a drink. Pagkakuha ko ng inumin ay bumalik na ako sa pwesto ko kung nasaan ay si Ryan ay nakapwesto din. He asked me "dude, oo nga pala nasaan na yung gift na pinabili sa iyo ni Gab?"
I said "Shoot! Oo nga pala! I forgot." Ryan said with a worried tone "Dude, don't freaking tell me you left it sa bahay niyo." I said " No. Hindi sa bahay."
Ryan asked "eh nasaan?" I said "nasa kotse lang. I'll be back." Ibinaba ko ang inumin sa ibabaw ng lamesa at umalis para kunin ang regalo. After I get the gift, pagbalik ko ay may naririnig na akong may nagpapalakpakan.
I think Gab's mom is already there. I hurried my walk at nang makarating na ako ay tama nga, Gab and his mom was walking and already greeting the people around. Lumapit ako kung nasaan sila Ryan and his parents at nakita ko na si Gab and his mom was talking to them.
Ryan said "happiest birthday to the most loveliest and only Gab's mom. Tita Selene." Hinawakan niya at hinalikan ang kamay ni Tita Selene at ibinaba naman iyon pagkatapos. Tita Selene smile and said "Thank you so much, lalo na sa parents mo sa pag punta. Hindi mo din naman kailangan pang mambola."
After she said that, she giggled. Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Tita Selene at kiniss din iyon at ibanaba din after. I said "Happy birthday po Tita Selene." She said "Thank you din sayo at sa pag punta." Then she asked me "kamusta ka na nga pala? Kayo ng parents mo?"
I said "ah, ayos lang naman po." She face Ryan and asked and talked him and his parents. While she's talking to his parents ay lumapit ako kay Gab at patagong ibinigay iyon sa kanya. Gab whispered "bro, is this the gift?"
I said "of course, what do you think it is?" He said "I don't know maybe one of your pranks." I said " I don't do pranks, you're the one who does that." He said and smiled "I know, I just said that." I just gave him a poker face as he said that.
After few minutes, Tita Selene face us and Gab gave his gift to her. Tita Selene smiled and give a hug to Gab. Tita Selene said "aww, you don't have to." Gab said "Happy birthday mom."
Tita Selene said "thank you sweetie. Can I open it now?" Gab said "of course." When Tita Selene opened the gift. Gab got shocked when he saw what it is. He pulled me a little bit far to Tita Selene, Ryan, and Ryan's parents.
He whispered with a angry tone "what was that!?" I said "your gift for your mom." Gab said "I know it's a gift for my mom! But that gift is a LAMP?! Really?! A lamp?! " I said "it's a moon lamp. You said anything that is related to astrology stuff."
Gab said "yeah, I said that! But it's a lamp." I asked "what's wrong with a lamp?" Gab said "It's just- AH GOD. I expect more than a lamp." Suddenly, Tita Selene turned over Gab to her then she hugged him. After she hugged him, Tita Selene said "thank you so much sweetie. I loved it!"
Gab confusedly asked her "Huh? Wh-what did you say?" Tita Selene said "I said I loved it." Hindi naman na nakasagot agad si Gab after what Tita Selene said that to him. Tita Selene said "how did you know I've always wanted a moon lamp?"
Gab didn't say anything but only say "ah.. umm." He looked at me slowly habang nakanganga at nakakunot ang noo. I just smirked and said to him "you're welcome." She looked back at Tita Selene and said "of course I know because you love astrology stuff am I right?"
Tita said "oh you are surely right sweetie." Bumalik kami sa pwesto nila Ryan at ang sabi naman ng mom ni Ryan "Is that a moon lamp? I like it." Tita Selene "well, it's a gift from my handsome son and I surely really loved it."
Tumingin siya kay Gab at nginitian niya ito. Mga ilang saglit ay may lalaki na may hawak ng cake at nagsimula naman na kami kumanta ng birthday song kay Tita Selene. After we sang, Gab said to her "make a wish first."
Tita Selene closed her eyes then she blew the candle. Maya-maya pa ay nagsalita si Tita Selene at ang sabi niya "Thank you so much to my only and tender son, Gab and I am lucky to have him and people na nandito ngayon. oh, you eat already na ha? And enjoy the night okay?" After that ay kumain na kami ng sabay-sabay.
Seeing the people around here with their parents makes me feel alone even more. Ako lang ata ang walang magulang na kasama dito eh. Well, alam ko na ang iba ay gustong hindi makasama ang magulang nila but I'm not like them.
Maybe it's because simula palang nung grade 2 ako ay wala na sila sa tabi ko. They all care about is their company. They care as if its their son and not me. Pero nasanay naman na ako, sanay na akong walang magulang.
After we dine ay tumayo ako sa ikanauupuan ko at kumuha ng drinks. I just stood there and gazed the people around. Habang nakatingin sa paligid ay may narinig akong boses. I heard her said "can I have a tissue please? Thank you."
The voice sounds familiar. Lumingon ako, at nang lumingon ako, nakita ko na nakatalikod na ito at naglalakad patungo sa table that I assume where she was seated. Hindi ko na lang iyon inintindi at tumigin na lang sa ibang direksyon. I saw Gab with Ryan raising and waving his hands at me. Lumapit ako at biglang na lang niya ako niyakap.
Gab said "Dude thank you so much." I said habang inialis ang kamay niya sa pakakaakap sakin "Stop hugging me!" He stopped hugging and he said "thank you so much bro." I said "don't thanked me, kailangan mo bayaran yan."
Gab asked "bakit magkano ba yun?" i said " kukwentahin ko pa." Gab said "kukwentahin?" I said "It includes the gas and the time that I've wasted."
Natawa si Gab and said "HAHAHAHA bakit magkano ba oras mo?" I said " okay, okay stop laughing, I'm just kidding. Wag mo na bayaran okay? Mom mo naman yun eh. Hindi mo girlfriend, oh wait, wala ka palang girlfriend." Gab suddenly stopped laughing and start glaring at me.
Ryan laughed "HAHAHAHA wala ka palang girlfriend eh." Gab said "I don't have a girlfriend kasi hindi ako makapili dahil sa daming nagkakagusto sa akin."
I said "really? Baka walang kang pagpipilian dahil wala naman nagkakagusto sayo." Ryan keeps on laughing. Gab said "stopped it! Ikaw nga din walang girlfriend." I said "meron, naging ex lang. ikaw? Ex o hindi, walang pa din."
Ryan said "HAHAHAHA ano ka ngayon bro?" Gab glared and mumbling at me. Then suddenly he said "Wait! Is it Really?!"
Napatigil naman si Ryan sa kakatawa at napakunot ang noo ko sa kanya. Ryan asked "oh bakit? Nababaliaw kana ba?" Gab said "is it really her?"
Ryan and I looked at where Gab was looking and looked back at him. I asked "her?" Gab said "yeah her." Ryan Asked "sino?" Gab said "Kayla."
I asked "Kayla is here?" Gab said "well, I'm not really sure." Ryan said "naku gusto mo lang makabawi kay AA." Sabi ni Gab "I'd like to but hindi sa ganitong paraan noh. I'm serious."
Maya-maya pa ay may nagsalita at pagkalingon ko ay si Tita Selene iyon na kasama, si Kayla and her parents. Tita Selene said "I'd like you to meet kayla and her parents. This is my son nga pala si Gab and his friends AA and Ryan."
I'm suprised na nandito si Kayla and I'm sure she is too. I can tell by just looking on her face. Her mom said "What a good looking boys and especially your son of course." Gab said "uh..t-thank you po." Mukhang hindi din ito makapaniwala na tama nga ang kanyang hinala.
Tita Selene said "oo nga pala remember Jaya and Leo?" Her dad said "oh yes why?" Tita Selene said "they're here." Her mom said "really?" TIta Selene said "yes, I'll take both of you to them. Anak can you accompany Kayla for a while? I just need to take them to the Villa family for a while." Gab said "Y-yes mom, don't worry about."
Maya-maya pa ay umalis na sila Tita Selene at ang parents ni Kayla. We were just silent and staring at each other pero nawala din agad nang magsalita si Gab "Ay um..oo nga pala bro may sasabihin nga pala ako sayo. Diyan lang muna kayong dalawa ha?"
We looked at the both of them hanggang sa umalis ito at nagsalita naman ako. I said "I never knew you would be here." Kayla said "My mom is friends with Tita Selene that's why I'm here." I just looked at her then she asked "Ikaw? Why are you here?"
I said "haven't you heard Tita Selene a while ago? I'm friends with Gab. Her Son. That's why I'm here." She glared at me at bigla naman tumingin ito sa ibang direksyon. I said "so nakikipag date ka na pala sa iba." She asked "date?"
I said "I saw you holding hands with someone and holding a flower with your other hand sa mall yesterday. That's why I assume it's a date." Kayla said "so what if I'm dating other people? We're not together anymore. So what do you care?"
I said
"I didn't say that I care about it or I care about you." Kayla said "you didn't say it, but you sounded like you do." I glared at her.
She said "you've changed not just your tone of your voice, but the way you talk to me." I said "Nagbago ako dahil naghiwalay tayo." Kayla said "Naghiwalay tayo dahil sayo."
I asked "Dahil sa akin?" Kayla said "Yes. You're the reason why we broke up, because you're not around that day that I need you." I said "I'm not around that day because I'm with my mom, because it was her birthday that day. I've told you that already." Kayla said "so what?!"
I glared at her even more when she said that. Kayla said "I'm glad that we broke up." After she said that she left. Nanatili ako sa kinatatayuan ko at maya-maya pa ay lumapit sakin sina Gab and Ryan.
Ryan asked "what happened?" I didn't answer his question but I just said "I have to go, pakisabi na lang kay Tita Selene happy birthday and I thank her for inviting me."
After I said that ay umalis na ako sa lugar na iyon. Pagsakay ko sa kotse ay pinatakbo ko agad ito ng mabilis papuntang Night Club. Yup, night club.
Well, kilala naman na ako sa night club na yun dahil sa kaibigan ni dad ko yun. Pinapasok ako sa loob. Well, they thought ay nasa legal age na ako para uminom but I'm not. I'm still, nineteen years old, Nakakainom lang ako kapag kasama ko si Ryan dahil nasa legal age na siya, twenty-one years old niya lang last 2 months ago. Nakakapasok lang din ako sa bar kung saan naman ay kilala na si Ryan at kilala na ako as his friend.
Pagpasok ko ay umupo na ako, and nagorder na din ng drinks. I just watch people in the crowd drinking, dancing and kissing. Lalo napasama ang tingin ko sa dalawang taong naghahalikan. I mean they can do that here but really? They should get a room instead na gawin nila yun dito.
Nilingon ko ang iba pang direksyon ng paligid habang umiinom then suddenly, I remember what Kayla said kanina sa Party ni Tita Selene. Tandang-tanda ko kung ano ang sinabi niya. She said "I'm glad we broke up."
It's like nawala lang lahat ng pinagsamahan namin na parang bula para sa kanya. After 3 years together, hearing those words from her, hurts me a lot. And I hate the reason why we broke up. Minsan ko na nga lang nakasama at nakabonding si mom, and that day was a very miserable for her kahit na birthday niya.
Mom said she's just very sad cause dad is not around dahil nasa trabaho ito, and it's been 9 years nung huling beses na nag celebrate kami o na kasama namin si dad sa birthday niya. I can't just leave her alone and celebrate her birthday in sadness.
I just can't understand why Kayla doesn't understand that. After 2 hours I guess ay nakaramdam na ako ng pagkalasing. My vision is getting a little bit blurry. Madami-dami na din kasi ako nakainom and the alcohol was a bit strong so that's why of course, it will really hits me.
Sumandal na lang muna ako and I just let myself closed my eyes. While my eyes closed, I'm just listening to the loud music that was playing. I sighed because of can't stop thinking the moments I've had with Kayla when we were together.
Mga ilang saglit ay may narinig na lang akong lalaking nagsasalita. My eyes are still closed dahil It's a little bit drowsy. I kept hearing that guy talking dahil rinig na rinig naman na ang boses nito. I heard him saying "sige na, dito ka naman nagtratrabaho right?"
Wala naman akong narinig na sumagot sa kanya kaya I assume his talking to his phone. The guy said "Don't worry, we're just going to have a good time. Kahit na isang gabi lang." Napakunot noo naman ako ng marinig ko yun. Suddenly, I heard a girl talked.
She said "sorry po sir, I'm not a hooker or a call girl here. Isa lang po akong waitress dito." The guy said "oh come on, babayaran na lang kita. Magkano ba? Just one night stand." Lalong napakunot ang aking noo dahil sa narinig ko.
You know what is the most thing I hate? The most thing I hate is that people whose forcing you or controlling you in order to just get what they want. I heard the girl said "sorry po, ayoko po at hindi po ako papayag kahit na bayaran mo po ako."
I heard footsteps away then narinig ko na lang nagsalita yung lalaki. He said "saan ka pupunta? Hindi pa tayo tapos mag-usap." I heard the girl said "bitawan niyo po ako!" The guy said "kung ayaw mo edi ako na ang mismo ang gagalaw sayo." The girl said "wag po!" I opened my eyes and moved my head slowly to the direction where the voices came from.
I shouted at them "Hey!" Lumingon ang lalaki sa direksyon ko habang ang babae ey nanatiling nakayuko. My eyes are a little bit close dahil pagod na ito but i can still see them kahit papaano. The guy said "What?!" Nakakatitig kong sabi sa kanya "what are you f*cking doing?"
The guy said "Pff, what do you care?" Tumayo ako then slowly walked to them. Medyo merong distansya nga lang ng kaunti. I said "Is that what you answer to someone's question? You answered a another question?"
The guy "Bakit ka ba nakikialam dito?" I said "Again, another question." Tinitigan ako ng masama ng lalaki. I said "Nakikialam ako because I think you're doing something wrong." Patuloy na nakatingin lang lalaki. He suddenly said "Wrong?"
I said "Oo. Wrong. In tagalog, mali. Alam mo bang mali yang gingawa mo? You're abusing someone just to F*ck with you." Nanatiling tahimik ito. I said "O kaya naman nirerape mo tong babaeng ito. Alam mong ayaw niya sayo o ayaw niya sa gusto mo, ngunit pinagpipilitan mo parin na mag one night stand kayo!"
Lumapit na ako sa kanya at at nakita ko na hawak-hawak niya ang braso ng babae. Tinignan ko ang babae at nakita ko na nanatiling nakayuko pa din ito. Humarap ako sa lalaki and I said "Let her go." The guy said "No. Ayoko." Tinitigan ko siya and said "Ayaw mo?"
He said "Oo, A-YO-KO." I said "Tss, ayaw mo ah." I Punched him on his face at umatras naman palayo at nabitawan niya ang braso ng babae. Nagulat ang babae kaya na patakip ito ng kanyang bibig at tumingin sa lalaki. Pinunasan naman ng lalaki ang kanyang labi dahil ito ay nagdudugo dahil sa pagkasapak ko.
Maya-maya pa ay lumapit ang lalaki at sinuntok din ako. Napaatras ako at nagdugo din ang aking labi. Can you believe that? Our punches were powerful. Pinunasan ko din ang labi ko and I looked at the guy. He said and smiled "hindi lang ikaw ang malakas sumuntok."
I gave him a smirked then sinuntok ko uli siya at napaatras naman ito. Pero bago ito uli makalapit ay sinipa ko siya sa tiyan niya.
I've wanted to kick also to his private part para tumigil na ito sa pagkabastos sa babae but i can't, buti na lang may awa pang natitira sa katawan ko. The bouncer suddenly came near us and asked "Ano po nangyari dito?"
I said "Paalisin niyo na yang lalaking yan. Nanggugulo at nangbabastos ng babae eh." Pinatayo ang lalaki at binitbit palabas ng nightclub.
Tinignan ko naman ito habang paalis na ito, at ganon din ang babae na paunti-unting binababa ang kanyang kamay na nakatakip sa kanyang bibig. Nang makikita ko na sana ang mukha ng babae ay may biglang tumawag naman sa akin. Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko mula sa bulsa ko at agad naman nang sinagot iyon. I said "Hello?"
It was Ryan, "Bro, are you okay? Where are you?" I said "I'm okay." He asked "where are you?" I said "I'm in a night club." Ryan asked "What?! How did you get in?" I said "Pumasok sa entrance."
Ryan said "I'm not joking around." I said "pinapasok ako." He asked "How? Did they even know that you're not in a legal age yet?"
I said "Nope. I think they just assume I was in my legal age. Pinapasok din ako dahil kilala na ako sa night club na ito, dahil sa kaibigan ito ng dad ko." Ryan said "You sounded like you're drunk, mukhang napadami ata inom mo. What's the name of the club? I'm going to pick you up."
I said "No need. Kaya ko sarili ko." Ryan said "anong kaya? Di mo kaya, halata pa lang sa boses mo na hindi mo kaya." Hindi ako kumibo, Ryan said "Hey AA! don't you freaking dare to drive a ca-."
Ipinatay ko na agad ang tawag at hindi na pinatuloy ang sasabihin Ryan. Pagpatay ko ng tawag ay lumingon ako sa direksyon kung nasaan ang babae.
Guess what? Wala na siya dun. Great, I don't really care though kaya nagiwan na lang ako ng enough money to pay what I've order sa ibabaw ng table at umalis na din ako ng club. Nang makalabas ng club ay nanatili ako nakatayo sa labas, and just thinking if I would really drive my car o tumawag na lang driver mula sa amin.
Maya-maya pa ay may nagsalita at ang sabi "Sir!" Nilingon ang a boses kung saan ito ay nanggagaling even though my eyes are already tired and hard to open.
Paglingon ko ay isa iyong babae.