Nezha Marleigh Sanchez
We are all around a camp fire. My friends are all beside me and I was in the middle. Beside Tanya is Alois, and beside Alois was Kalisto, and beside Kalisto was Hansel's husband.
Pilit kong iniiwasan ang tingin ni Kalisto habang lahat kami ay nakapaikot sa camp fire. We are all drinking and talking.
"So, Kalisto.. How's your first night with Nezha?" Tanya inquired. I rolled my eyes and looked at him. He was also looking at me. "Tinulugan ako."
My best friends look at each other then they laughed out loud. "Seriously?" Tanya said. I saw how a smirk formed unto Kalisto's lips. "Yes."
"How about earlier? Ano nangyari sa inyo?" Hansel said as she wiggled her eyebrows at me. I again rolled my eyes. "I really think she needs to stop herself from rolling her eyes or else I'll stop her rolling her eyes but making it turned white." Pumalumbaba siya at tumitig sa akin. Parehong nagtinginan si Hansel at Tanya kasabay ng pagsabi ng "oh."
"Steamy."
"Sexy!"
Uminom akong muli mula sa can ng beer na nasa kamay ko. Hindi ko na lamang pinansin ang mga usapan nila. I listened to them but I didn't dare talk not until Hansel initiate a game. They took out a bottle of pure gin and a whiskey. I know it'll be truth or shot.
It's either we tell the truth or take a shot. They know that I won't do dares but they also know that they can easily defeat me in this. Tanya won't drink and Alois will drink in her stead.
Nag-umpisang magpaikot ng bote si Hansel at agad itong tumapat sa akin.
"Nezha, truth or shot.."
"Shot," I immediately answered. My friends cheered as I chug down the alcohol. I immediately felt the bitter liquid stream down my throat.
Pinaikot ko ang bote at tumapat naman ito kay Tanya. "Truth or shot," Hansel said. Tanya gave Alois a meaningful look. "Shot! I love you, cupcake!" Tumawa lamang si Alois at tinanggap ang shot na binigay ni Hansel sa kanya.
Muling umikot ang bote at bago pa man ito tumapat sa kung kanino ay nagdagdag ng bagong rule si Hansel. The rule is after you took a shot, you should tell the truth and vice versa.
Tumapat muli sa akin ang bote at alam kong kailangan ay magsabi ako ng totoo ngayon. My friends exchanged a meaningful looks. "Kalisto what do you think we should ask her?"
Kalisto looked at me then he shrugged. "I don't know. It's up to you I was just playing along."
I rolled my eyes and I saw him smirk. Hansel smiled and looked at me and Kalisto. "Nezha, are you interested with Kalisto?"
I glared at Hansel when she asked that question. "No," maikling wika ko. "Ouch." My friends' husbands said in unison. I saw Kalisto's smirk widen.
"Just so you wait, Nezha. You'll be kneeling in front of me soon."
"You wish."
"Your tall walls will go done soon, baby."
I cringed when he called me a pet name. My friends roared and continued to spin the bottle.
Muli kong tinignan si Kalisto and he was staring at me intently. Pumalumbaba siya at muling tumingin sa akin. Tumapat sa kanya ang bote.
"Kalisto, truth or shot."
"Truth."
Hansel seemed to think about something then smiled. "If Nezha is a song lyric or a song, what song is she?"
Kalisto cleared his throat and sat up straight. His gaze not leaving mine. He smiled and tapped his fingers.
"A dangerous plan, just this time
A stranger's hand clutched in mine
I'll take this chance, so call me blind
I've been waiting all my life
Please don't scar this young heart
Just take my hand."
Chills crept down my spine when he sang the first part of the song. His eyes was still fixed to where I am. Pakiramdam ko ay kahit anong oras ay maaari akong matunaw.
"I was made for loving you
Even though we may be hopeless hearts just passing through
Every bone screaming I don't know what we should do
All I know is, darling, I was made for loving you."
Alam kong kahit kailan ay taksil ang puso pero hindi ko maintindihan bakit ngayon? Bakit sa ganitong panahon? Bakit ngayon pa niya naisipan na magtaksil?
Nararamdaman ko ang malakas na kabog ng puso ko at para bang nawawala ang lahat ng nakapaligid sa akin at tanging kami na lang ang natira sa paligid.
The fire separating us but the heat in his eyes are undeniable, his baritone voice caressing my heart and the stars are our audience. Hindi ko alam pero sa panahon na ito ayokong matapos siya, ayokong ituring na laro lang ang kanta na ito.
Nang matapos niya ang kanta hanggang sa chorus ay tipid siyang ngumiti sa akin. Sa panahon na 'yon gusto kong magpatuloy lang siya sa pagkanta. Gusto ko lang marinig ang boses niya.
Muling pinaikot nila Hansel ang bote at tumapat naman ito kay Hansel. Hansel took a shot. Nang paikutin ito ay tumapat naman kay Alois. Alois took a shot.
Ilang oras ang lumipas and I can already feel my head spinning. Sinapo ko ito at halos hindi ko na maituwid ang tingin ko. I want to go back to the room already but they were still going on with the game.
Muling tumapat sa akin ang bote at alam kong another truth ito. "Nezha, are you ready to love again?" Tanya asked. Sa amin si Tanya na lang ang nasa tamang pag-iisip.
Tumingin ako sa kanya kahit pa ang paningin ko ay nagdodoble na. "I was shattered whole by your husband's cousin. I love him so much he was my life, so I think you can answer that question."
Tumayo ako matapos kong sabihin ang sagot ko pero agad din akong nagsisi sa biglaang pagtayo ko dahil mas lalo kong naramdaman ang hilo.
I tried to walk pero sumuray-suray ako at nadapa sa buhanginan. Naramdaman ko ang mahapding parte ng tuhod ko pero 'di ko ito pinansin. Pinagpag ko ang kamay ko at ang tuhod ko tsaka sumusuray na nagpatuloy maglakad.
Nang kamuntikan akong madapa muli ay nakaramdam ako ng mga bisig na sumapo sa akin. When I looked towards Kalisto his jaws were clenched and his eyes with all seriousness.
"You know you can't drink too much why didn't you ask my help?" He asked. I struggled to get out of his arms and when he let go of me I smiled at him. "I don't need your help."
I pushed him aside and walked past him. Kahit pa hilong-hilo na ako at sobrang sakit ng ulo ko ay patuloy akong naglakad palayo sa kanya but I was such a klutz I tripped at myself.
When I was on the sand for another fall I can really feel the pain not just from the wound that I got earlier but with the wound inside my heart.
Doon nag-umpisang tumulo ang mga luha ko at nang makita ko sa harapan ko si Kalisto ay lalong lumakas ang paghikbi ko. I can see worry in his eyes but I just cried my eyes out.
"Baby, what's wrong? Where do it hurts?" He asked me. Umiling ako at nagulat na lamang ako nang buhatin niya ako.
I know I'm a mess right now but I can't think straight. I think it's because of the alcohol in my system or because of the warmth this man is giving me. Whatever it is I want to cry it out loud.
Nang makapasok kami sa kwarto ay agad niya akong ibinaba sa kama. "Wait here. I'll get a clean towel to clean up your wounds." Tumango ako at agad naman siyang pumasok sa banyo, when he got out of the bathroom he brought back a wet towel.
Tumalungko siya sa harapan ko at pinunasan ang sugat sa tuhod ko. I felt the sharp pain from the wounds. When I winced in pain he then tapped it lightly then blew it just like how a mother tend to a child's wounds.
Nang malinis niya iyon ay agad siyang pumasok sa banyo. I stood up and walked to the bathroom too. When he saw me at the mirror he was taken aback.
"You want to shower?" He asked. Tumango ako habang hawak-hawak ang pintuan. My head is spinning and splitting, I need to take a shower. Pakiramdam ko ay sobrang init ng katawan ko.
He was about to step out when I stopped him by getting on his way.
"Stay with me."