It almost seemed like a ridiculous miracle happened when April and Iris suddenly invited me to join them for dinner.
At first, the dining table was uncomfortably silent. I can sense their lingering gazes, it almost feel like they are looking for something in my face.
“So... Alectrona,” Iris started after how many minutes.
My eyes switched to them. I immediately felt it. They want to verify something. “Spill it. You won’t let me eat with you two if you don’t need anything,” I said frankly.
April’s face immediately twisted as she rolled her eyes. “You should be thankful though. Do not even use that tone on us. Baka nakakalimutan mo kung ano ko rito,” she said sharply.
Hindi ako nagsalita at pinagmasdan lang sila.
“Where were you last night?” Iris asked.
I unconsciously raised my eyebrow. I knew it. “Nandito sa bahay.” Of course, I won’t say anything about the party. They won’t hear what they wanted to know.
“Really? Manang said that you didn’t go home early,” she said using her annoying high-pitch voice.
Pinanatili kong blangko ang mukha at hindi nagbigay ng reaksyon. “Because I didn’t. 10 pm na ako naka-uwi. I stayed with my groupmates for thesis after our class. Nobody noticed me when I got home becuase some of the maids were already resting.”
Tumaas ang kilay ni Iris at mukhang hindi pa rin kumbinsido.
The thing is, this conversation has been decided. They won’t get anything from me tonight.
“What’s this all about?” I asked, still playing clueless.
“Did your bestfriend attended a party last night?” April finally asked.
“Mallory? I’m not sure. We didn’t have any plans to hangout last night.” I can lie in front of them smoothly. Wala silang mababasa sa mukha ko. It’s the tactic. If you don’t want to get caught lying, maintain an eye contact, try your best not to stammer and make sure your face expression isn’t readable at all.
Natahimik sila at nagkatinginan. “Why?” muli kong pagmamaang-maangan.
Tumikhim si Iris. “Nothing. We just want to make sure that you are not trying to sneak out,” aniya at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.
My lips curled and I almost snickered. Sneak out my ass.
Pagkatapos kumain ay para na ulit kaming hindi magkakakilala. I was the one who washed the dishes, as what always happen.
I spent my Saturday night doing some of my paperworks to avoid cramming in the future. It was a usual boring night, but I can’t help but to keep glancing on my phone.
Nangangati ang kamay kong i-text si Rush. I let go of the pen that I’m holding to grip my hair. I wanted to laugh at myself for thinking that. What would I even say? And why should I?
Sa huli ay muli na lang akong nag-check ng aking mga social media account. I kept scrolling until I found what I was looking for.
The album that’s going to be released by the Ludic Selcouth is one of the viral topics again online. It says that the album entitled bolt-hole we have will be released two weeks from now.
Bolt-hole. Like a place of escape or refuge. It already sounds oddly comforting to me.
* * *
Tita Carolina and Tito Sandro exactly arrived at 8 am on the Sunday morning. Tumulong ako sa mga kasambahay para buhatin at ayusin ang mga gamit nila. Iris and April also woke up early just to check the pasalubongs for them.
“I’m still feeling drowsy because of tiredness. Just arrange everything and I’ll rest. Leave it to Alectrona!” Napabuntong hininga na lang ako sa sinabi ni Tita Carolina.
Inayos ko sa kusina ang mga dala-dala nilang pagkain habang pasimple naman akong tinutulungan ni Crystal. I was busy putting something inside the fridge when my phone at the bar counter started ringing. Mabilis kong sinarado ang ref at nilapitan ’yon.
It's Mallory again.
“Hey, Mal,” I greeted. Iniwan ko muna saglit si Crystal at lumabas papunta sa likod ng bahay.
“Alec! May Halloween performance ang Ludic Selcouth tonight!” Kumabog ang puso ko sa narinig. Performance... That means... I will see Rush again?
“They are asking everyone to dress dark clothes and put on dark make-ups. We can’t miss this! A wild night is surely waiting for us!” she exclaimed excitely.
“Really? But...Tita Carolina just arrived. I don’t know if I can sneak out tonight.” Nakagat ko ang labi at bumuntong hininga. What a bad timing. Pahirapan na naman ’to.
Natahimik saglit si Mallory dahil sa sinabi ko. Kapag nahuli na naman ako ay siguradong tuluyan na akong mapapalayas.
“Tell your Tita Carolina that you need to stay overnight to a blockmate’s house for your thesis! After their gig, you can just sleep in my condo!” nandedemonyo niyang suhestiyon.
Napaisip naman ako. She’s right. I can make that as an alibi. Hindi naman ito ang magiging unang beses na magpapaalam ako para mag-overnight. She can’t restrict me because what she knows is it’s about university stuffs. Kailangan ko lang mag-ingat ulit kina Iris at April dahil alam kong hindi rin nila ’to palalagpasin.
“You know what, you’re right. I should just bring my clothes for tomorrow,” I answered. Tumawa siya at sinabing siya ang bahala sa make-up ko para mamayang gabi.
Later that afternoon, I started arranging my things inside my bedroom. Hindi pa agad ako makakapagbihis dahil siguradong magsususpetya sina Tita Carolina. Sa condo na lang ako ni Mallory mag-aayos.
Nahalungkat ko ang isang black flowy long sleeve dress sa aking closet. It has a deep v-neckline that will slightly show my chest. I immediately threw it inside the bag along with other necessities.
Nang matapos ay napangiwi ako nang makita ang rami ng mga dadalhin ko. It includes my shoulder bag for the school, another bag that contains my clothes for tonight and tomorrow, and a paper bag where I placed my heels.
It should be fine. Normal lang ’to pag mag-oovernight!
6 pm when I decided to inform Tita about my so called overnight for our thesis. Naabutan ko siya sa living room at nagbabasa ng magazine. Tito Sandro is beside her, watching TV.
I hesistantly approached them. Hindi nag-angat ng tingin si Tita Carolina kahit na alam kong napansin niyang lumapit ako. Si Tito Sandro lang ang agad akong tiningnan at nginitian. “Alectrona... Do you need something?” he instantly asked. I cringed and forced myself to smile at him before I turned my gaze to Tita Carolina.
”Tita...” I called. Doon niya iniangat ang tingin sa’kin at tinanggal ang suot na salamin.
She immediately raised her eyebrow while looking at me. “What?” she asked unkindly.
“I just want to inform you that I need to stay overnight to my blockmate’s house for our thesis,” dire-diretso kong sabi.
Pinagkrus niya ang braso. “Overnight. For thesis. Halloween’s already approaching. I’m sure your thesis won’t be due until next year,” she said, skeptical.
I gulped and looked her straight in the eyes. “We need to finish it early so we won’t cram, Tita. By December, everyone’s going to be busy again for different family events. We are still halfway through it, we also need to revise some parts—” I stopped when she raised her palm.
“Are you sure this is about thesis? Don’t you dare trick me, Alectrona. You won’t like what I’ll do once I found out that you’re lying again.” I maintained a straight face and nodded.
“Siguraduhin mo lang,” she said dismissively. I mentally grinned. It’s finished. Once her tone turned like this, she’s already indirectly letting me go, and she doesn’t want to hear more.
“Thank you, Tita,” I said softly. Nagbabanta niya lang akong tiningnan at muling bumalik sa pagbabasa ng magazine.
Aalis na sana ako nang magsalita si Tito Sandro. “Don’t you think it’s not that safe for her anymore to sleep in another house?“ Agad na nangunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya.
Tita Carolina didn’t even glanced at him. “Kaya niya ang sarili niya, Sandro. Kapag may nangyaring masama sa kaniya ay kagustuhan niya ’yan at labas na tayo ron,” sagot niya. Wala akong pakialam sa sagot ni Tita dahil wala naman talaga siyang gaanong pake sa akin. Mas naiinis ako dahil sa pinagsasabi pa ng asawa niya.
“Don’t be like that, Carolina. She’s our responsibility. Kung ako ang masusunod ay hindi kita papayagan, Alectrona. Mahirap nang magtiwala ngayon. May mga kagrupo ka bang lalaki?” I secretly gritted my teeth when he scanned my whole body.
“I have, Tito. But I can assure you that they won’t do anything bad to me. They respect women,” pinagdiinan ko ang salitang respect habang nakatingin sa kaniya.
Mas nairita ako nang bahagya siyang ngumuso at muling tumingin sa mukha ko. Ang sarap niyang hambalusin.
“You can’t say that all the time, iha... Kailangan mong malaman na may ibang nagpapanggap muna para makuha ang loob mo pagkatapos...” It felt like I’m going to explode anytime now because of disgust and irritation.
“I know that, Tito Sandro. I can also tell if a person is planning to do something immoral to me. Alam ko kung may masama silang balak kaya naman iiwas agad ako. It’s a woman instinct. Thanks for your concern, but I can handle myself,” matigas kong sabi.
“That’s enough. Get out of my face now, Alectrona,” ani Tita Carolina.
I gladly obliged and left. Naaasiwa ako sa mga tingin ng asawa niya.
Muli akong bumalik sa itaas para kunin ang mga dadalhin ko. I also messaged Mallory to inform her that it’s all set. Susunduin niya na lang ulit ako sa may highway.
I gathered my stuffs and went downstairs again. To finally leave this time.
“I’ll get going now, Tita, Tito,” muli kong pagpapaalam. Hindi ako pinansin ni Tita samantalang si Tito Sandro naman ay sinundan ako ng tingin. Napairap na lang ako at dali-dali nang lumabas ng bahay.
Hindi nagtagal ay nasa loob na ako ng sasakyan ni Mallory.
“My cousins asked me about the party yesterday,” pagkukuwento ko.
“Oh? What did they say?” humalukipkip ako at tumingin sa unahan.
“May nakita si Iris na ig story ng isang taga FU na um-attend din sa party. You were caught on the camera. They instantly concluded that you dragged me with you.”
I heard her scoff. “Kahit kailan talaga ’yang mga pinsan mo. Did you say the truth?”
“Of course not.”
She laughed. “You should have! I’m sure inggit ang mga ’yon kaya ka tinatanong. Hindi nila matatanggap na nakapunta ka lang naman sa private party ng Ludic Selcouth! And take note! You’re getting along with Rush Zedova! Zath Accardi is also nice with you. I’m sure they will explode because of so much jealousy!” Napailing-iling nalang ako at bahagyang tumawa. I’m sure they will be really mad.
Pagkarating namin sa condo niya ay kumain muna kami bago nagsimulang mag-ayos. I wore the black dress and the pumps. Mallory did a stunning cat eye make-up for me, she also put a matte red lipstick to my lips. Medyo kinulot niya rin ang dulo ng hanggang balikat kong buhok.
I sighed with satisfaction when I stared at myself on the mirror. “And viola! You’re so gorgeous!” Mallory said. I just smiled and continued staring at myself. I can’t help but to feel strange while looking at my face. When was even the last time that I was able to dress up like this?
Mallory wore a black slip dress and a cutout heels. Pareho kaming naka cat eye make-up at todo ang photoshoot namin pagkatapos. Sadly, she can’t post the photos on her social media accounts because my cousins might possibly see it.
Pasado 9 pm na nang lumabas kami ni Mallory at tinungo na ang bar kung saan may gig ang Ludic Selcouth. It was unexpectedly a long drive because of traffic! Halos 10 pm na kami nakarating sa bar na ’yon kahit na 20 minutes lang dapat ang byahe.
My heart is already beating with excitement when I climbed out of the car. Tanaw ko na ang mga taong puros mga naka-itim at pula na naglalabas masok sa bar. Some were even dressed like goths, I can see some people wearing a wool dreads on their hair.
Bigla akong nanghinayang dahil hindi platform heels ang sinuot ko. Masyado kasing mabigat kung iyon ang dadalhin ko.
Malakas ang music nang makapasok kami ni Mallory sa loob. I feel like I’m on a vampire-like place. The people around us are all wearing a black or red clothes and dark heavy make-up. Para kaming nasa isang gothic festival.
Hinila ako ni Mallory sa isang u-shaped couch at doon kami naupo. May mga nagsasayaw na sa dance floor at ang iba’y halatang may tama na agad kahit ang aga pa.
“As per what I read this morning, Ludic Selcouth’s set will start at 11 pm,” sabi ni Mallory. Tumango naman ako at mas iginala pa ang paningin at pinagmasdan ang mga tao.
Ilang minuto kaming naka-upo lang muna sa couch habang hinihintay ang paglabas ng Ludic Selcouth.
Napatingin lang ako sa entrance ng bar nang biglang magsilingunan doon ang mga tao. I squinted my eyes to figure out what’s going on there. The bright lights are making me dizzy.
My jaw eventually dropped when I suddenly saw Zemira, on a black sheer ruffled off-shoulder dress. She’s wearing a skull designed black stockings and an ankle-length platform heels. She is also wearing a choker with a sharp-looking spikes around it. Even her eyeshadow and lipstick are black! Mas tumingkad din ang lime green niyang buhok. Hell, she looks so magnificent!
Dire-diretso siyang pumunta kung nasaan ang mga VIP room.
Napatingin na lang ako kay Mallory na mukhang na-starstruck na rin kay Zemira. I can’t really blame her because the woman was a legit head-turner. Ilang minuto ring pinag-usapan ang entrance niya.
Kalahating minuto pa ang lumipas bago biglang namatay ang mga ilaw kaya naghiyawan ang mga tao. A spotlight flashed on the center stage. The people immediately knew it and started to get even wilder.
I checked my wrist watch. It’s already past 11.
Tumayo kami ni Mallory at nakipagsiksikan para makapunta sa harap. The Ludic Selcouth is now going on the stage. I can clearly hear the throat-scratching screams of the women around us as the band started to arrange the wires and their instruments.
Napako agad ang tingin ko kay Rush na naka-topless at naka-itim na knee ripped pants. May itim na choker din siya sa leeg. His eyes are being highlighted by a thick black eyeliner and I can spot a silver piercing on his nose. One more thing... Those naturally disheveled hair... he dyed it with dark red!
Jesus... he’s looking even hotter and rugged tonight!
Pumunta siya sa harap ng micstand at inayos ang taas no’n ayon sa height niya. He gripped the microphone using his right hand as he grinned at the crowd. “You are all looking stunning with black and red tonight, huh,” he started. The crowd cheered. My heart seemed like it’s also cheering by beating ridiculously fast.
I just love his looks tonight like crazy... His firm torso is so exposed. May nakapinta nga lang na WILD ROCK sa kaniyang tyan but still! He’s still so exposed...
Actually, lahat sila naka-topless.
Halos mabaliw na kakasigaw ang mga nakikita ko dahil sa kanila.
“I’m loving our theme tonight, do you too? I especially want to thank Zemira and our manager for this suggestion. It pretty turned out well,” he said. Nakagat ko na lang ang labi at patuloy siyang pinagmasdan.
“Well... I hope you all enjoy this night! Let us light more fire to this hot umbra!” Kasabay no’n ang paghampas ni Tase sa drums at ang pagkalabit nina Zath, Castriel at Paesyn sa kaniya-kaniya nilang instrumento.
Nagtayuan ang aking balahibo habang umaalingawngaw sa paligid ang halo-halong tunog na nililikha nila. The sound of the keyboard is on extra fast pace tonight. Halos hindi na ako kumurap habang sinusubukan na sundan ang bawat galaw ng daliri ni Paesyn. How can he even move that fast?!
Mas nagwala lang ang mga tao nang magsimulang kumanta si Rush. It became noisier and chaotic while we are witnessing the band rocking the night.
This is fucking life...
Nakisabay ako sa kaguluhan at halos matapilok na ako kakatalon. We are all raising our hands on a rock ’n roll sign while jumping non-stop.
Halos libutin ni Rush ang stage at nakakaaliw din ang pahagis-hagis at pagpapaikot ni Tase Mortell sa drumsticks niya.
My eyes widen when Rush suddenly jumped from the stage. The men at the front immediately catched and passed him to one another while he’s still singing.
He is doing crowd surfing and this isn’t even their concerts yet!
Humalakhak ako nang makitang pilit siyang inaabot ng mga babae para hawakan. This is crazy.
Their performance lasted for an hour. Pakiramdam ko ay wala na akong boses nang matapos ang gig nila. Take note, gig lang talaga ’yon. My feet is also hurting because of too much jumping. Nagkapaltos pa ata ’yon.
Nagtatawanan kami ni Mallory habang medyo paika-ikang bumabalik sa couch. The loud electronic music returned as we collapsed on the couch. I feel so tired and sweaty with all the chaos. Ibang-iba ang performance ng Ludic Selcouth ngayon. It felt like we were on a different dimension and we were just living our best lives with that whole hour.
I chuckled as I lean the back of my neck on the backrest of the couch. This is so worth it.
“Their gig tonight was freaking lit! But fuck, my feet hurts so bad,” sabi ni Mallory at bahagyang hinilot ang talampakan. Tinawanan ko lang siya at saglit na pumikit. Muli kong inalala ang mga nangyari.
I’m not regretting that I lied to Tita Carolina just to attend this.
Iminulat ko lang ang mata nang maramdaman kong parang dumami ang tao sa couch namin. And I was right. May mga naupo at kinakausap na ngayon si Mallory, mukhang mga kakilala niya. She even introduced me to them. Ngiti at pagtango naman ang sinagot ko.
“Hey... it’s nice to see you again.” Napalingon ako dahil sa lalaking nagsalita sa gilid ko.
He is familiar. Ilang segundo ko siyang tinitigan bago nanlaki ang mata nang mapagtanto kung sino ’yon. “Riggs?”
He smirked and handed me the new bottle of beer. Tinanggap ko naman ’yon at hinawakan muna. “I’m glad you can still remember me, Alec,” aniya. My heart pounded. He’s here... Baka naman kasama niya rin si April?! Agad kong tiningnan ang mga tao sa couch isa-isa pero wala akong nakitang April.
“I’m sorry for what April did last time. I didn’t really believe what she said about you being a maid. I mean... you just don’t look like it,” he said.
Ngumiti lang ako at saglit na uminom mula sa bote na hawak. “Thanks, Riggs, and no need to apologize for what happened that night,” pakikisama ko kahit na medyo kabado na dahil baka magtagpo na naman kami ni April.
They can’t see me here.