"Phil?" pagsisingit ni Jerv. I blinked twice before drinking a bottom shot of Black Label.
I do parties and stuffs pero parang hindi na ako sanay sa alak ngayon. Geez. Masakit na sa lalamunan ang mga alak na iniinom ko ngayon.
"Hey!" Phil greeted Jerv at nang napako ang tingin nito sa akin ay umupo siya sa aking tabi.
I want to vomit. Gosh, this is killing me!
"Kamusta na? The last time I saw you, you were with a guy in EK." he took the smirnoff and made a bottom shot.
"I am fine, you?" tanong ko while massaging my temples.
"Great to hear that. I am okay, too. Sorry 'nga pala sa nangyari nuon. I hope you forgive me now." he asked me while staring directly in my eyes.
"Forgiven," I answered and gave him a small smile.
Nagiging dalawa na ang paningin ko. Umiikot na 'nga din. Mukha siyang baboy. Naging crush ko ba talaga 'to?
"Friends?" he offered me his hand.
"Fri---!" I was about to answer him 'friends' but I vomit!
Nasukaan ko siya! This is disgusting!
"What the hell!" singhal niya at agad tumayo.
"Settang!" inalalayan ako ni Jerv papuntang restroom. Nagsitilian ang mga babae ng makita si Jerv. Agad akong pumasok sa isang cubicle ng makaramdam ng pagsuka. Itinali niya ang aking buhok habang patuloy ako sa pagsuka sa bowl.
"Nakita mo lang si Phil, nasuka ka na!" biro niya. He handed me a tissue. Inayos ko naman ang sarili ko at flinush na.
"Ang panget kase niya," I went to the sink and gave my mouth indeed a lot of water.
"Wow! Parang di ka naman patay na patay sa kaniya nung highschool!" sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at napakapit sa bewang niya ng matumba ako.
"Pinagsisisihan ko 'nga 'yun e. Mukha siyang baboy, ang panget niya."
"Bestfriend talaga kita, Settang!" we both chuckled.
Jerv and Tans wanted to sleep in my unit. El was with another guy having some 'kamustahan' and as for Sefa, she has readings so, probably she's in her condo na.
Malapit na ang graduation nila. I am so excited!
Nang matapos maligo ni Tans ay sumunod na ako. Ibinabad ko ang sarili ko sa malamig na shower at nagsipilyo. I even made a mouthwash kase nandidiri ako sa ginawa ko kanina. I did my skincare routine and wear my pink pajamas. Naglagay na lamang ako ng pink na turban at lumabas na.
Jerv went to a convenience store to buy some foods for us. Hilo kasi kaming tatlo kaya baka masunog lang namin ang buong building kapag nagluto kami. When Jerv came, naligo na rin siya at tumambay kaming tatlo sa sala.
"Nood muna kayo sa Netflix, aayusin ko lang ito." saad ni Jerv habang bitbit ang apat na sandobag.
Puta, yaman talaga neto e.
Nagpasya kami ni Tans na ilabas ang dalawang malaking extra uratex foam ko. Naglapag kami ng carpet sa ibaba ng uratex para hindi kami akyatin ng lamig. Inilabas ko ang aking mga unan at kumot at naglabas pa ng panibagong apat na bean bag at dalawang comforter para kila Jerv at Tans.
"Ano papanuorin natin? May DVDs ako dito!" I asked Tans while looking at the smart tv.
"Annabelle Comes Home," Tans grinned.
Foackkkk!
"Ayoko si Annabelle!" I immediately screamed.
I am damn scared of those talking fucking dolls!
"Pero si Kyo na iniwan ka, gusto mo!" we heard Jerv's screamed. Natigilan ako at bahagyang nag-pout.
"Mukha 'kang bibe," Tans said at bahagyang tumawa.
"Mukha 'kang baboy," sumama naman ang tingin niya sakin. Naghagisan kami ng bean bag habang nakaupo sa foam. Nang mapagod kami ay bahagya niya akong niyakap.
Suddenly, I remembered Aki. I faced Tans and held her hand, "Tans, what if may taong gustong makasama ka? But you too met in a wrong time in a wrong place."
"Edi kakamustahin ko muna siya," she answered. Mabilis ko siyang binatukan at hinampas ng bean bag.
"Seryoso kasi!" singhal ko.
"Of course! Kamustahan muna!" she chuckled.
Iba ang kamustahan pagdating sa kanila ni El. It means sex!
"Lintik ka!" I playfully pulled her hair.
"Edi, mag-aantay ako o kami sa tamang panahon, sa tamang oras sa tamang lugar." she answered.
Napansin ko ang pagiging tahimik niya. She's not usually like this.
"May problema ba?" I asked and lean on her shoulders.
"Your question reminds me of someone."
Aki?
"Who?"
"Aki. Lasallian Guy?"
Gotcha!
"It's okay, you'll meet soon. The right time and the right place together with the right person."
Hindi ko 'man alam ang buong nangyari, My senses says 'She's been hurting a lot'
Well, hindi naman ako 'yung tipo ng daldalera and chismosa so, I'll remain silent.
Nanood kami at kumain hanggang sa dinalaw na kami ng matinding antok. Naparami rin kami ng pictures at puro post sa IG. Magkatabi kami ni Tans matulog at solo naman sa kabila si Jerv.
Kinabukasan, tinanghali na kami ng gising. Actually, ako pa lang ang nagigising. Mahimbing pa ang tulog ng dalawa.
Ang gulo nilang matulog, jusko. Inayos ko ang comforter nila at nagtungo na sa banyo para magsipilyo at maghilamos. Itinali ko ng bun ang aking buhok at nagtungo na sa kusina para magluto ng tanghalian.
Sinigang will do.
Makalipas ang kalahating oras, nagising na din ang dalawa kasabay ng pagkatapos 'kong magluto.
"Hmm. Ang bango naman ng luto mo, Settang!" sigaw ni Jerv.
"Di tulad mo, mabaho!" sigaw ko pabalik habang nagaayos ng mga kubyertos.
"Aray ha!" I laughed.
Nakita ko si Tans na lumabas galing sa banyo. Halos bagong sipilyo at hilamos siya. Himala, charot.
"Kain na!" sigaw ko sa dalawa. Agad naman silang lumapit sa hapagkainan.
"Ang sarap talaga ng luto mo, Ayii!" pagpupuri ni Tans habang nagpatuloy sa pagkain.
"Mas masarap 'yung nagluto, girl!" I laughed at their reaction. They both choked.
"Expired na ata 'to, sis!" Tans looked at me in a disgusted way. Sinuri din ni Jerv ang niluto 'kong sinigang.
"Di ko na kayo paglulutuhan next time!" pagbabanta ko.
"Edi wag! Meron pa naman si El!" They both laughed. I pouted.
"Walang aalis ng unit ko hangga't hindi niyo nauubos 'yan!" pagbabanta ko.
"Aye, aye, Captain!" sumaludo pa ang dalawa.
Pagsapit ng 1 pm ay nagpasya kaming magtungo sa SM North Edsa para magshopping. Wala din naman kaming magawa kaya nanood muna kami sa cinema at nagpasyang maglaro sa time world.
"Baby, next week ay aalis na ako." halos manlumo ako sa pagpapaalam ni kuya.
"Ikaw na 'nga lang ang natira sakin, iiwan mo pa ako?" I sounded like a kid.
"I have to continue Law School, baby. Skype naman tayo everyday, if ever. You can always message me if you want to talk to me." he kissed me on my forehead.
"Kamusta ka na kuya?" I asked him and took a sip on my milktea.
"Well, I am fine tho. Halos wala na 'ngang tulog e."
"You should sleep more," I said. He didn't say anthing and patted my head.
****
"Cheers!" I smiled and we all lifted our alcohol beverages.
Today's Friday night and we are here in Dapitan upang i-celebrate ang nalalapit na graduation namin sa Monday.
"I can't believe gragraduate na tayo!" Channiel hang herself in my shoulders. Pinaghalong whiskey, vodka at tequila ang mga iniinom namin ngayong gabi. Kuya went in New York to pursue his dreams. Sefa went in California. They both left us after they graduate.
Tanya decided to work in Manila. Nakapasa siya sa board exam and now, she is a CPA. Nagtratrabaho siya sa isang malaking company sa Manila. While El, she is now in Cebu. She stopped Second Semester due to personal problem.
Hanggang ngayon ay hindi niya pa rin nakakalimutan si Unra lalo na't bumagsak pa siya sa First Semester niya. I tried to reach her but she distanced herself from us. Bukas ay babalik siya rito para ayusin ang acads niya dahil isang taon na lamang ay gragaduate na siya.
Jerv, happy na siya ngayon ulit dahil pinayagan siya muling manligaw ng cheerleader niya. Tuwang-tuwa 'nga kami nuong UAAP dahil MVP siya at nanalo din ang UP sa larangan ng basketball.
Si Unra naman ay ganun pa rin. He always on the top and he continued to pursue his dreams. I think may girlfriend siya ngayon, Pierra? I saw them together in UP Town. I also saw his latest post on IG. And, nakadagdag ito sa problema ni El.
While on the other hand, Kyo and Ams, next week ay uuwi sila dito sa Pinas. Wala na din naman akong balita sa kanila. The last news I heard was their engagement.
Well, good for them. Mine's not.
Daddy didn't pay attention to me. Only for Maple, her 'boyfriend' which is I didn't know who it is and Mommy, Maple's mom. I call her also mommy but we aren't that close.
Being 4th year College, I suffered a lot of pressure and problems. May mga araw na wala na akong tulog dahil kinabukasan agad ang pasahan ng plates then wala pa akong matinong maisip na design.
Andyan din ang mga pabuhat na kasama sa thesis. Jusko, dito ay halos wala na akong iniinom na alak at puro kape na lang dahil iilan lamang sa grupo ko ang tumutulong.
But, thank God, I am a Suma Cum Laude.
"Girl! My boyfriend's here! Halika, ipapakilala kita!" kilig na kilig naman si Chan habang hinahatak ako palabas ng bar. I saw a familiar face.
"Aki?" wala sa sariling nasambit ko. When he looked at us, It is Aki!
"Hey," he kissed Chan's lips. I looked away.
"Hey, long time no see!" I gave him a fake smile to Aki when he greeted me.
Hindi ko kinaya ang tumatakbo sa isipan ko ngayon kaya nagpaalam na ako para pumasok muli sa bar. Sunod-sunod ang paginom ko sa mga hard drinks at naging wild sa dancefloor.
Huh, Mahal pala si Tans dude? Wtf.
It was 3 am when I decided to go home. I stayed in my unit and never came back home ever again. During my OJT, I had to work in a part time job in order to have extra money. Daddy always give to Maple's mommy my allowance. Pero palagi niya itong binabawasan ng malaki kaya maliit na porsyento lamang ang nakukuha ko. That time, I needed to pay my bills. So I had to search a part time job. Luckily, I found one.
****
"Babeeee!" I screamed and hugged El so tight.
"Kamusta na? I miss you so much!" El said and hug me even tight.
"Okay lang, ikaw kamusta na? Andaming inom ang na-miss mo girl!" I playfully pulled her hair. She gave me a sad smile.
"I am still depressed, babe. Nagpatingin na ako sa isang therapist and magpapaconsult uli ako because too much suicidal thoughts are running in my mind, all over again."
"Hey, andito ako babe kahit na nilayuan mo kami. After my graduation, Bataan tayo?"
"Game!"
Sinamahan ko siya buong Sabado sa kaniyang unit at nagtungo din kami sa UP Town para makagala. Kinagabihan ay niyaya ko siya sa isang rooftop bar. We were wild, damn. Not until midnight, she cried a lot. She was holding a knife and she was about to cut her wrists but I hugged her and she kept on saying sorry.
****
"Aesther Rosetta Grospe, Suma Cum Laude!" pag-aanunsyo.
Umakyat ako sa stage kasama si Kuya. He handed me a bouquet of Juliet Rose.
"Congratulations, lil sis. Ikaw ang magdedesign sa bahay ko sa QC." he whispered.
"Triple ang bayad. Presyong kapatid," I whispered back.
"Presyong kapatid, half the price!" I laughed at him and we faced in the camera.
As we threw our hats, I made a boomerang and posted on IG. We took a lot of photos including me and kuya, and also me and Chan.
After 4 long years, Architect indeed!
That was the caption of the my photo together with Chan. We were holding our medals and diplomas while still wearing our togas.
You are not just a great and smart, Lawyer. But, you are also a sweet, caring and supportive brother! I love you so much, my brother Attorney Maui!
That was the caption of my photo with kuya Maui. He placed his right arm in my shoulders and kissed my hair on the first photo. On the second one, we are smiling together and he leaned his head on my head. And the last one, we made a wacky.
****
"Congratulations!" we screamed into joy as we cheered our bottles in the air. Nasa QC kaming magbabarkada for a celebration but El isn't here.
I was about to drink vodka when suddenly called me. My phong rang.
Unknown Number
Lumabas ako ng bar upang sagutin ang tawag dahil masyadong malakas ang music at hindi ko ito maririnig.
Hello?
(Is this Aesther Grospe?)
Yes, who is this?
(This is Trean! I rushed El here in Luke's Medical Hospital!)
Ano?! Anong nangyari?! Is she fine?!
(I'm not quite sure. She's still unconcious.)
What happened to her?!
(She tried to kill herself.)
Para akong nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig sa sinabi niya. Walang lumabas na mga salita sa bibig ko. Nagunahan sa pagtulo ang mga luha ko. Eto ba ang sinasabi ni Kyo nuon?
Am I a useless friend? I am so sorry, El. Hindi kita nailigtas, I am so sorry.