"Can you please stop staring at me?" Naiilang na dumaan ako sa harap niya pero ramdam ko pa rin ang pagtitig niya.
Sinalubong ko ang mga tingin niya "What's your problem, huh?"
Binuksan niya ang kaniyang bunganga pero tila ayaw lumabas ng boses niya kaya itinikom na lamang niya ito.
Tinalikuran ko na lang siya saka dumiretso sa aking kwarto para maligo at magpalit na rin ng damit dahil nanglalagkit na ako.
Pagkatapos maligo ay sinusuklay ko ang aking bagong gupit na buhok. I look at the mirror in front of me then smile.
This is me four years ago. The bangs hid my forehead just like it did before. It was still straight though it is longer. I sit on my bed while playing on my hair.
What now?
I don't know how am I going to face Eiffel outside without thinking the stupid illusion alcohol brings in my mind. And maybe he's also mad. He don't even asked where I go last night or asked me if I'm fine. He's just surprise of my new haircut.
I rolled my eyes mentally. Why do I even care? Mukhang siya nga wala naman pake. Baka busy pa 'yon kausap si Alicia. Nakakahiya naman sa kanila.
With my head held high, I made my way out and go in the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Palibhasa kasi malapit na ang December kaya ang lamig na.
Kakalagok ko lang ng kape nang may marinig akong tumikhim sa aking likod. Few meters away from me is none other than Eiffel Buenavantura in his grey sweatshirt. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya.
He look at me intently. Parang pinag-aaralan niya ang mukha ko na kahit tinawag ko siya ay parang hindi niya ako naririnig.
"I-it's you."
Napakunot ang noo ko. "Ha?"
"Imposible..." umiiling-iling na bulong niya.
"Eiffel?" nagtataka kong tanong sa kaniya. Doon lang 'ata niya narinig ang sinasabi ko.
"Huh?" wala sa sariling sabi niya.
"Anong sinasabi mo kanina?"
I saw panicked in his eyes. "A-ano... K-kasi..." umismid siya. "Saan ka pala galing kagabi? Magdamag kitang hinintay, nakatulog na nga ako sa sofa, e. Akala ko lumabas ka lang kasi may binili ka."
Then I remember na kaya nga pala ako napunta sa bar dahil mag-uusap sila ni Alicia. Tss. Mabuti na lang wala talagang nangyari sa akin. I heave a sigh of relief mentally.
"Wala," I said coldly before going back in my room.
"Bree..."
"Britany!" he called but I ignored it. Bago ko pa maisara ang pinto ay nakita ko siya na sinasabunutan ang kaniyang sarili—looking frustrated. Bahala siya.
🍷🗼🍷
We just make the final touch for our work yesterday. Today is the day we've been waiting and preparing for. The stage is on. The lights and the music are ready together with the decor emphasizing the winter theme. The Models are preparing for their walk on the runway. Security can find at every corner.
Bago magdilim ay inayos na ang lahat. Magmula sa make-up hangang sa buhok ng mga models. Pagkatapos noon ay isinuot na nila ang mga damit na gawa namin. Well, everything's going smooth except one.
"Please, Eiffel? The model can't make it. my efforts will be gone if it'll be not shown tonight." She pleaded while clinging into Eiffel's arm.
I tilt my head and focus on the clothes I'm ajusting on the model's body.
Nagkaroon raw ng emergency sa isang model kaya hindi ito makakapunta. They tried to do last minute hunt for a male model but they failed. Since it was supposed to wear Alicia's design, Si Alicia tuloy ang namomoblema. But it looks like she already have a solution for that. I rolled my eyes.
I sense someone looking at me so I looked around and found Eiffel's pair of eye looking at me. Nagtama ang aming mga mata na agad ko namang iniwas. Ibinalik ko na lang ang aking pag-iisip sa aking ginagawa kanina.
"Alright," I heard Eiffel responded to be Alicia's model.
"Ouch!" The model in front of me twitched. My eyes widened.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" I apologized. Natusok ko kasi siya ng aspile habang inaayos 'yung damit sa kaniya.
When I looked at Eiffel's side again, I saw Alicia taking his shirt off. Really? May bihisan naman ha. I patted the back of the model in front of me then said, "Done."
Dumiretso ako sa pintuan palabas ng dressing room. Nadaanan ko pa sila Eiffel at dama ko na napatingin siya sa akin.
Eiffel and I... become distant with each other. It's like ther's a wall that suddenly arise between us that we can't see nor talk to each other. Sumabay pa 'yung fashion show at pakikipag-meet niya sa kanilang mga client. Nagmukhang excuse 'yung pagiging busy namin pareho na kahit papaano ay nakatanggal ng awkwardness.
Actually, He's here not because of me—but because of Alicia. Kinulit niya kasi.
I look at the runway in front of me. I smiled. Another dream come true. But then, I felt my smile suddenly fade. I still feel empty. Feels like a soul that can't still find inner peace. I'm like—
"Britany, someone's looking for you," napatingin ko sa nagsalita.
"Just a moment," I smiled and look once again at the stage.
🍷🗼🍷
After few more hours, the fashion show start. The crowd claps with class and everyone become the judge that night. Masuring tinitingan ng bawat isa ang mga damit na ipinaparada ng mga modelo sa runway. Ang mga ilaw mula sa mga camera ay parang mga bituin na nagniningning. Ang ilan namang manonood ay tahimik lang na nagmamasid.
I was checking my co-fashion designer's design when a man stood in the middle of the runway wearing a styled black jacket with cream turtleneck sweatshirt underneath. He wear a pair of black pants and black combat shoes. His hands covered with black gloves. The color of his clothes defeats the blue and silver theme color of the event.
Well, I have to admit—even though I don't want to—that Alicia made a good job. Eiffel look's stunning in the middle of the room. A very beautiful man, indeed. The man I thought I ki--
I suddenly bit my lower lip. Did I just...? I shook my head to dismiss the thought away. I shouldn't be thinking of that night.
I moved in the dressing room to greet and give thanks to the models that wear my arts. I seat on the chair facing the door.
I'm in the middle of conversation with them when I heard footsteps. Since they are standing around me and their back was facing the door, they can't see who might enter the room. I tried to look at the door only to be shocked.
Eiffel and Alicia... they're... kissing. Siguro ay nagtaka ang mga kausap ko kung ba't ako natahimik at bakit mukhang nagulat ako. Isa-isa silang humarap sa may pinto at nagkaroon ng kaniya-kaniyang reaksyon. May nanlaki ang mata, may natahimik at mayroong parang wala lang dahil normal lang nila itong nakikita. Pero hindi ito ang pinakanakapagpagulat sa akin.
It's June...
and his coffee. Napasigaw ako sa sakit nang maramdaman ko ang mainit na kape na natapon sa aking braso at sa aking hita. The shits stop kissing and I got everyone's attention.
"Damn it!"
Hindi ko pinansin si June. I instantly stand up and remove my jacket as well as my pants.
It's hot!
Goodness! I'm so lucky—okay, not so lucky. just lucky— I'm just wearing a sneakers kaya hindi ako nahirapang tanggalin ang pants ko. Mabuti na lang rin at suot ko 'yung mahabang blue na tanktop ko na umaabot sa kalahati ng aking mga hita.
Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko. Kung lalamigin ba ako dahil taglamig na o maiinitan dahil sa bagong kulong kape ni June na tumapon sa akin. Pero pwede palang sabay.
Naramdaman kong may naglagay ng upuan sa likod ko kaya umupo muna ako.
Mahapdi ang parteng napaso sa braso ko at hita. I'm actually biting my lips because of the pain. I saw red marks in my skin showing they are the injured part.
Napatingin ako bigla kay June na umupo sa lapag nang naka-idian seat sa harapan ko at hinawakan bigla ang aking kaliwang paa at ipinatong sa kaniyang kaliwang hita.
"Hey!" suway ko dahil naghiwalay ang mga hita ko at nakasalampak siya sa tapat ko kaya malaki ang chance na makita niya ang hindi dapat makita. Binawi ko ang aking paa pero hinawakan niya ito.
"Don't worry, baby. I'm just going to put some ointment on your legs." Doon ko lang napansin na may hawak siyang ointment.
"But—" protesta ko pero pinutol niya agad.
"I'm just being a gentleman, baby. And here's the fun of being a gentleman. But don't worry, I'm not looking for that at the moment." makahulugan itong ngumisi. "I'm looking for a stick. A long, fat stick."
Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. The others around me just chuckled even tho it's evident that they are still worried. I just came into realization that he is a bisexual when I saw him taking off his jacket.
"Wait, what are you doing?"
He shrugged. "I think I might change my mind." Biglang nanlaki ang mata ko. Bigla siyang tumawa.
Lumuhod siya at binitawan 'yung ointment. Lumayo ako nang ilapit niya ang katawa niya sa akin.
He laughed again.
Is he making fun of me? At this situation?!
"I'm just kidding. Come here, Britany."
Alangang lumapit ako. Marahan niyang inilagay ang jacket niya sa aking mga balikat.
"Your skin is cold as ice." Doon ko lang naramdaman ang ginaw. Magmula kasi kanina ay naka-focus ako sa hapdi ng paso ko.
Kinuha niya ang ointment saka ito binuksan at nilagyan ang namumulang parte ng aking balat sa aking braso. Pagkatapos noon ay muli siyang umupo sa lapag saka marahang nilagyan ng gamot ang paso ko sa hita.
He look serious of what he is doing. But I can't stop the feeling of being awkward knowing that this bisexual gentleman might see something. I can't help myself but blushed crimson.
God, it's only a cloth that hide my ultimate treasure! It's embarrassing!
"So sweet."
"She's blushing!"
Napaangat ako ng tingin nang may nagsalita. They are all grinning at us with malicious looks in their eyes. Well, almost all of them. because at the corner, I saw Eiffel and he's looking furious. He look at June as if he wanted to murder him. I can see in his eyes that he is mad and I don't know why.
Napansin niya sigurong nakatingin ko sa kaniya kaya napatingin siya sa akin. Sandali akong nakipagtitigan at agad ring nag-iwas ng tingin.
The next thing I heard was the door being slammed by him so hard that everyone stop and silence filled the air.