Mean Girls...
Am I already one? People think that I'm bad for bitching them around. Well, here's my say on that. It wasn't me who started it. True. Kapag may pera ka, mas maluwag ang buhay. You can buy whatever you want. You can order people around but money also blurs the line between truth and lie; simplicity and greed. It can break ties. It can break hearts.
I had this favorite aunt of mine. Well, she was my favorite when I was a kid. Siya yung kina-imbyernahan ko nang bongga ngayon. Ang kapal lang kasi ng mukha. Tuwing dumarating ako galing Amerika, siya yung kaunahang nakasahod sa 'kin. Nanghihingi ng imported na bag, lotion, damit, alahas, chocolates, sapatos, at kung anu-ano pa.
At parang obligasyon ko pang pag-aralin yung tatlo niyang anak! Noong una, okay lang kasi nga favorite ko siya. Kaso nasobrahan. As in kada punta sa bahay namin, naghi-hint na gusto niya ng ganito o ganyan. Yung mga gamit ko, pinapakialaman palagi. Sukat nang sukat ng mga damit ko tapos hindi na huhubarin.
There's this one time na may tumawag sa 'kin. Manager ng restaurant. Si France. I know him and his cousin—Kent. Palagi akong may free dessert sa restaurant nila kasi patron ako ng restaurant na 'yon.
"Yes France? Napatawag ka?"
"Uh Meg? Someone here is claiming to be your aunt. Ilagay ko na lang daw sa tab mo yung kinain nila. Would you please confirm?" he asked me.
My eyebrow automatically shot up. Aunt? Huh. "Sino raw siya?"
"Millicent del Fuego."
Damn. Siya na naman. "Magkano?"
"Around eleven thousand 'yong bill niya. She dined with a lot of people."
"To tell you honestly, France, I don't even know that woman. Tell her that the next time she uses my name to pay her food, I'd sue her. If she can't pay, let her wash all the dishes."
I heard France inhaled sharply. "I should've known. Dammit."
Naawa naman ako kay France kaya naisip kong bayaran na lang. Kamag-anak ko rin naman talaga si Tita Milli. Saksakan lang sa pagkaabusada kaya nakakaimbyerna. "I'll pay for it this time so don't worry," I said to him.
I heard him sigh in relief. "Thanks, Meg."
"No worries." I hung up pero nanggagalaiti ako sa galit. My goodness! Ang lakas ng loob kumain sa isang mamahaling restaurant tapos walang pambayad? Ano 'yon, eat and run?
The very next day, sinugod ako sa bahay ni tita. Minura-mura ako. Bakit ko raw siya ipinahiya and blah blah blah. Then she went on with the list of things that she did for my family.
Kesyo pinautang daw niya ng fifty thousand si mama para maipatayo yung bahay namin. Kesyo palagi raw niya akong pinapamaskuhan ng isang daan tuwing Pasko dati. Yung welcome na welcome raw ako sa bahay nila.
Yumaman lang daw ako, naging mayabang na ako at saksakan ng damot.
I opened my purse na naglalaman ng ilang lilibuhin at isinampal ko sa kanya 'yon. Sabi ko, "O ayan! Isaksak mo sa baga mo! Ang kapal din naman ng mukha mo 'no? Pera KO 'yang inaangkin mo! Yung utang namin sa inyo, bayad na ng isang mamahaling Louis Vuitton na ninakaw mo sa closet ko! Ngayon kung nakukulangan ka pa, ito—" I shoved my purse to her. "Isangla mo 'yan! Mahal 'yan! And please lang, don't ever show your face around here anymore. You disgust me woman! ALIS!"
Bitchy? Yes. Maybe. Okay, I am bitchy. Pero masisisi ba talaga nila ako? She deserved it!
Kaya ngayon, galit sa 'kin lahat ng kamag-anak ko. At dinamay pa talaga ang pamilya ko na nananahimik lang. Sa kanila lumalapit yung mga parasite kong kamag-anak para humingi ng balato kuno. Naasar ako kaya pinapunta ko na sila ng Amerika. Ayaw pa nga pumayag ni mama eh. Hayaan ko na lang daw.
Pero hindi ako pumayag.
My thoughts got interrupted when my phone started ringing. I looked at the caller ID and grunted. It's Angel.
"What?" I snapped at her.
"Megan! Pwede bang pumunta dyan?" Kahit gabi na, masayahin pa rin siya. Hindi ko nga alam kung ano bang vitamins ang iniinom nito at saksakan ng saya.
"Why?!" Napataas bigla ang boses ko. Ayaw ko kay Angel. Asar ako sa kanya. As I've said before, she's too goody-goody.
"Sleepover!" ang nakakapanggalaiti nyang sagot.
"What are you—twelve?"
"Sige na Meg... minsan lang naman, e," nagsusumamo niyang sabi.
"No way! I don't want to see you."
"Please?" she begged.
"No," I answered firmly. There's no way I'm letting her sleep here. Masyado siyang masaya.
"I have chicharong bulaklak."
I let out a droning exasperated sigh.
"What time are you coming over?" So I sold my soul for chicharong bulaklak. That's my favorite food.
I heard her laugh merrily on the other line. "Wala nang bawian ha?"
"Fine. Bring some beer too."
"Already did. I'm already outside."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" inis kong tanong.
"Eh kasi baka magalit ka."
I sighed. "You know I'm always angry at you. But I'll let you in just because you have chicharong bulaklak."
"And beer."
"Yeah, that too."
I got up from the bed and hurried to the door. Nilalaway na ako sa chicharong bulaklak. When I opened it, nakatayo sa labas si Angel, already in her pajamas with a tote bag on her right shoulder, a huge plastic bag on her left hand and her phone on her right ear—na ibinaba niya upon seeing me. She automatically smiled at me.
"Meg!" Balak niya sanang yumakap kaya lang, inunahan ko na siya. I help up my hand and shook my head. She just pouted.
"Come on in."
Her eyes shone and she squealed. She's so giddy.
--
I really hate her attitude. I hate how she's so optimistic and bubbly like nothing can dampen her mood. I hate the way she carries herself with ease as if she has no burden of her own. Palagi siyang nakangiti. Palagi siyang masaya. She's so down-to-earth and nice. In short—plastic.
I usually don't see her when she asks to meet so she found a way around that and tried to bribe me with food. It surprisingly worked every time.
She made herself comfortable on my bed with the big plastic bag of chicharong bulaklak sprawled in the middle. We each held a bottle of cold beer. Pareho na kaming nakahiga sa kama ko. She's in her pajamas. I'm in my shorts and oversized shirt.
"Hey, Meg?"
"Yeah?" I began munching on the last piece of chicharong bulaklak.
"Can I sleep here with you?" tanong niya.
"Well duh—would you prefer the couch?" I replied.
She shook her head vigorously and gave me her megawatt smile. "Thank you."
"We're still not friends though so don't get too close."
She pouted her lips and looked at me with crossed eyebrows. "Fine."
We finished up the last of our beers and then we went to sleep. Humarap siya sa 'kin kaya tinalikuran ko siya. I don't want to have nightmares about her.
"Good night, Megan." I heard her say. I didn't respond. Pumikit na lang ako at natulog.
--
I opened my eyes slowly and scanned the room. I hate it when I get awakened in the middle of my sleep. I looked at the digital clock and it says 3:15am. At ang mas nakakaasar? Nakayakap sa 'kin si Angel. Ang bigat bigat ng braso niya! I was nearly choked!
Kinapa ko yung kamay niya and was ready to haul it back when I suddenly realized something. This was definitely not Angel's hand. It's bigger. Panic struck me. Sa sobrang kaba ko, parang lalabas na sa lalamunan ko yung puso ko. I gripped the hand with all my might, ready to break the man's bones when I heard him speak. And I shivered all over.
"Careful sweetie. You might break my hand."
Napamulagat ako. I knew that voice too well! It's Daniel. He probably got here when I was asleep and Angel opened the door for him. I knew I shouldn't have let her in.
And I dare not turn around for I might—
"W-What the hell are you doing here?!"
I heard him chuckle. "Dinadalaw ka."
"In the middle of the night?!"
"Well, technically... it's morning already."
At nakuha niya pa talagang mamilosopo. "Where's Angel?"
"Pinalipat ko muna sa kabilang kwarto."
"What are you doing here?"
"You have a habit of repeating yourself Meg. I told you already, dinadalaw kita."
"Wala akong sakit," sarkastiko kong sagot.
He chuckled again. "Yeah. I know."
"Umuwi ka na, Daniel."
I felt him snuggle me. "I miss you, Meg."
"Kakakita pa lang natin nung isang araw."
"You know what I mean."
"Umuwi ka na!"
Bigla niya akong iniharap sa kanya. It was so dark that I couldn't see his face but my other senses were not as obscured. He smelt so good. And he feels so good too.
What am I even thinking?
"One moment."
In a matter of seconds, I felt his lips on mine, hot and hungry. Like he's been so deprived. I tried pushing him away but it was like pushing a wall made of stone. My efforts were to no avail. I felt his hand tug my hair down, making me gasp. He took the opportunity and deepened the kiss. Muntikan na akong madala.
Muntik lang.
"D-Daniel... stop—"
He slowed down a bit and I was able to catch my breath. He then sighed against my lips and whispered sorry. Then he loosened his embrace and I heard the bed creak. Tapos nakita ko yung silhouette niya as he got up. "Sleep tight, Meg."
He opened the door and left.
How the hell could I sleep tight after that?
--
"Hey Angel, wake up!" Umungot si Angel. She was hugging my hotdog pillow as she sleep. She looked like a baby. An annoying one. "ANGELICA DIRHAM! GET THE HELL UP!"
"Hmmm... why? It's too early. And it's Saturday!" pagmamaktol niya.
"How dare you!"
She looked sleepily at me. "What?"
"Bakit mo pinapasok si Daniel sa kwarto ko?" iritado kong tanong.
"Because he asked me to," sagot niya.
Pinamay-awangan ko siya. "And who gave you the right to do so?"
"He did."
"Damn! This isn't even his house!"
She grinned at me. And I became more irritated. "So what did you do?" Sa tono ng pagtatanong niya, parang may gusto siyang iparating.
"Pack your things and get the hell out!"
Umungot siya at sumimangot. "Can't I sleep some more?"
"No! Get up and get out!"
Nakakaasar. She even smiled at me for yelling at her. Nakakasakit ng ulo! Why isn't she getting mad at me?! She sniffed. "Ouch, Meg... you've really changed."
I ignored her remark. "ALIS SABI!"
Crestfallen, she sighed and walked to the door. "Bye, Meg."
Hindi ko siya nilingon. I just waited for her to slam the door on her way out. But I only heard a soft click as she closed the door. Napapikit ako. I was trying to calm myself. I was trying to find logic with her behavior. Why is she so nice to me? I hate them both.
"Tsk. You are so mean, Ate."
What the hell? I knew that voice. But why is he here? Or maybe nag-ha-hallucinate lang ako? I turned around just to be sure and I was shocked to find him leaning on the doorway.
"ENZO?"