We won the Paper Dance game and Czanelle had already claimed the prizes. She was hugging several toys with her tiny arms and she was contemplating whether to put them down or not. “Ilagay mo na lang muna sa bag, Czanelle,” Jazer suggested and after a few words, he had convinced her to put them to their respective boxes. Nakatingin naman ako sa kanilang dalawa at nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang may makita akong lipstick stain sa right shoulder part ng damit niya. I remembered pressing my face on that area because of what happened earlier. I pursed my lips, embarrassed by the sight, and to make the matter worst, those old ladies were pointing at his shirt and started to tease him. “Naku, hijo, minarkahan ka na ng asawa mo!” sigaw ng isang nanay at nagtawanan naman sila ng mga kasama niya. “Mukhang selosa, ah. Ganyan din ang misis ko,” dagdag naman ng tatay sa likuran niya. Ang mas nakakainis? Nginingitian niya lang sila habang inaasikaso si Czanelle habang binibigyan naman nila ako ng mga nakakalokong ngiti. Tumalikod na lang ako at uminom ng tubig para kalmahin ang sarili ko. “Tahimik kasi rito.” Oh, for Pete’s sake! Stop thinking about that goddamn scenario, Chloe! Suddenly, I felt like my high school self again. Dahil si Iñigo lang ang lagi kong kasama at nakakatagal sa akin dati, well okay, I felt something for him but not serious enough to be considered love. Kind of like a silly attraction, something I kept to myself. We were friends and each other’s companion until college happened. Dahil magkaiba kami ng course at schedules, hindi na kami madalas nagkikita at nagulat din ako noong sinabi niyang may nililigawan siya. Doon niya rin inamin na may gusto na siya sa akin noong high school pa pero dahil parang wala naman raw akong pakialam at ang dense ko ay napalitan ‘yon ng inis. Simula no’n, hindi ko na siya kinakausap at naging sila na ni Queenie. He has a point, though. Maybe I was brave back then, we could be a couple. Pero hindi ko na ‘yon maisip ngayon. Hindi ko na nakikita ang Iñigo na nagustuhan ko dati at mukhang gano’n din ang tingin niya sa akin. “Hindi ka pa ba kakain?” Bumalik naman sa kasalukuyan ang isip ko nang makita ko ang pagmumukha nina Jazer at Czanelle sa harapan ko. Hindi ko napansin na kumuha na pala sila ng pagkain at inabot naman sa akin ni Jazer ang sa akin habang hawak ni Czanelle ang bottled water ko. “Thanks,” I muttered and they both sat in front of me. “No, no, Kuya, I can eat on my own na,” sabi naman ni Czanelle. “Talaga? Wow!” sabay ngiti niya sa bubwit. Binuksan naman ni Czanelle ang paper box at nagsimula siyang kumain kahit na may mga nalalaglag na kanin sa kutsara niya. Nagsimula na rin kaming kumain pero napatingin ulit ako sa white shirt ni Jazer dahil sa pesteng lipstick mark at mukhang nakita niyang nakatitig doon. “Minarkahan mo na raw ako,” he teased with that freaking dimple coming out. “Excuse me?” sabay taas ko sa kilay ko. “That’s your fault.” “Ako ba talaga?” “Sino kayang nanghatak na lang bigla . . .” Natigilan ako dahil naalala ko na naman ‘yon. “Basta kasalanan mo!” Natawa naman siya pagkasigaw ko no’n at nakitawa rin ang bubwit na akala mo naman ay naiintindihan niya ang usapan. But beneath my irritation, it felt soothing while looking at them. Their genuine laughter and the way they play with each other reminded me of Dad. I was closer with him than Mom when I was a child but just like with her, I decided not keep my hope up anymore. Pagkatapos naming kumain ay may set of games ulit pero hindi na ako sumali. Sina Czanelle at Jazer lang ang nag-participate habang ako ay nanood lang. Nag-picture na lang ako sa mga nangyayari at matapos ang tatlong oras ay nag-closing remarks na ang Family Day Fest. Nag-text na ako kay Kuya Larry para sunduin kami at habang naghihintay ay bigla naman kaming hinatak ng isang nanay papunta sa booth sa gilid. “Mag-picture naman kayo! Kay gaganda at ka-gwapo ay walang litrato?” sabi niya habang tinutulak kami ro’n. “Picture! Picture!” Czanelle chanted excitedly when she saw the camera. Dahil katatapos lang ng isang pamilya mag-papicture at dahil nakatingin na sa amin ang photographer ay wala kaming nagawa kundi tumayo ro’n. “Okay, pakibuhat ang bata,” the photographer ordered and Jazer lifted Czanelle. “Para naman kayong hindi mag-asawa niyan,” reklamo niya. “Duh? Hin—” “Closer, closer!” he yelled, cutting me off and I heard him chuckling again. I glared at him but he hid his face behind Czanelle’s body while moving closer to me. The photographer was about to take our photo but before he could press the shutter, Czanelle suddenly hugged my neck while giggling, leaving me with a surprised expression. “Oh, I like that. Candid shot,” the photographer commented. Hindi naman na siya nagpaulit dahil ‘yon na raw ang pinakamagandang kuha namin kahit hindi ko alam kung paano nangyari. Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay nag-text si Kuya Larry na nasa labas na siya kaya naman naglakad na kami. Pagdating namin ay tinulungan niya kami sa buhat namin pero napatigil siya nang makita niya ang shirt ni Jazer. He stared at it for a few seconds and when he looked at me, I could see how his expression changed from being curious to a mischievous one. “Tigilan mo ako, Kuya Larry,” sabi ko agad at ngumiti siya nang malawak. “Wala pa nga akong sinasabi!” depensa naman niya. Pumasok na ako sa loob ng sasakyan at doon ako naupo sa passenger’s seat bago pa sila makapagreklamo. ‘Yong dalawa ay dumiretso sa back seat kasama ng mga laruan na nakuha namin kanina. Pinaandar ni Kuya Larry ang kotse. I put my earphones to block all the noise with my music and watched the view outside. Ang lakas pa rin ng tibok ng puso ko at mas nararamdaman ko ‘yon ngayon dahil tanging music lang ang naririnig ko. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung dahil lang ba naaalala ko lang ang nangyari kanina o . . . Damn it, I don’t even want to think about that. Napatigil naman ako nang narinig ko ang kanta na kasalukuyang tumutugtog sa playlist ko. ~I'm sorry you saw me shaking Stay with me for a day I've got no one to hold me Cause I, I turn them all away~ I suddenly remembered the times when he saw me crying and it was strange because his timing was always perfect. Tss. I hated that. Pagkabalik namin sa bahay ay agad akong dumiretso sa kwarto ko para maligo at magpahinga. Nang nakahiga na ako sa kama ay nakatulala lang ako sa kisame pero nabaling ang atensyon ko sa pag-vibrate ng phone ko. I reached for it and stared at the screen for a few seconds when I saw the sender of the message. Katrina, huh? Binuksan ko naman ang message niya. Chloe, sorry sa nangyari last time. Nadala lang ako sa mga pangyayari. Sorry talaga. A quick smile formed on my lips and somehow, I was relieved that she texted me. Yes, I was disappointed when we met and talked about that issue that I even called her two-faced but her reading her apology kind of buried the hatchet for now. I think it’s better if we talk. Calmly, if possible. Pagka-send ko no’n ay nilapag ko ulit ang phone ko sa kama. Right. She likes Iñigo and Jazer likes her. Ayokong makisali sa panibago na namang gulo matapos ng nangyari sa amin ni Queenie. I just want to live in peace. Okay. Tomorrow? Thank you, Chloe! Hindi ko na siya ni-reply-an at kung anu-ano naman ang tumakbo sa isip ko hanggang sa makatulog ako. *** I slept the whole night and woke up hungry. Mag-5 AM pa lang pero dahil hindi ako nakapag-dinner ay bumangon na ako at bumaba. Sakto namang nagpe-prepare ng breakfast si Nanay Meling kaya pumunta ako sa kitchen. Hinainan naman niya ako ng pagkain. “Ano bang ginagawa mong bata ka at hindi ka kumakain sa gabi?” tanong niya. “Nakatulog lang ako, Nanay Meling.” “O sige na, sige na, kumain ka na.” Nagsimula naman akong kumain at pagkatapos no’n ay humiga muna ako sa couch sa sala dahil maaga pa naman. I took a nap but it was just short-lived. When I opened my eyes, Clark was already awake and he was carefully crawling towards the couch. “Amamam,” he mumbled while climbing. Nagising naman bigla ang diwa ko dahil sa ginawa niya kaya agad akong umupo. “What the heck are you doing?” tanong ko sa kanya pero nginitian lang ako ng bubwit. Pinuntahan naman kami ni Nanay Meling at sinabihan na niya akong mag-prepare at siya na ang magbabantay kay Clark kaya naman umakyat na ako sa kwarto ko. Matagal akong nagbabad sa banyo para mawala ang antok ko at saka ako nagbihis. Pagbaba ko, ready na sina Czanelle at Jazer. “Ate!” Czanelle called while smiling widely. Dumiretso naman kami sa garage at nag-drive na si Kuya Larry. Tahimik lang ako hanggang sa makarating kami sa campus. Dahil may klase si Jazer ay agad siyang naglakad palayo at ako naman ay tumambay muna sa library. I was planning to sleep but I was surprised when I saw Queenie walking in a hurry. We met each other’s eyes and she halted for a second but after that strange moment, she passed by me and hid behind the shelf on my left. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyayari pero makalipas ang ilan pang segundo ay nakita ko naman si Iñigo at napansin niya rin ako. “Chloe,” tawag niya, “nakita mo ba si Queenie? Pumasok ba siya rito?” Hindi naman ako nakapagsalita agad. So I was right. I really saw tears from that woman’s eyes. Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko pero iba ang sinabi ko kay Iñigo. “No,” I lied. “At sa tingin mo ba may paki ako sa kanya?” “Chloe.” “She’s not here, Iñigo. Now, get lost.” Pagkasabi ko no’n ay huminga siya nang malalim at saka siya lumabas sa library. After a few seconds, I heard her voice. “What was that? I don’t need your help,” she said with a brittle voice. “Do you think I did that for you? Dream on,” I retorted. “Good. I don’t want to be indebted to you,” she replied and after that she became silent again. Akala ko ay hindi na siya iimik pero nagulat ako sa sumunod niyang sinabi. “Thanks by the way, kahit na nakakadiri,” she murmured. “What?” “Are you deaf?” Tss. Siya pa ang galit? “Bitch,” I swore. “Witch,” she returned. And another wave of silence came between us. Well, that was a weird turn of events. What the heck did just happen?
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chaptersPrologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Epilogue Bonus Chapter |