BLAIR WADSON, CLASS 12-C
As expected, our class was suspended. Sa kadahilanan ng nangyaring protesta sa harap ng university namin. Kaninang umaga nag-send ng email sa amin si Sir Denver, ang Class Adviser namin. He told us that we will have no classes for today. Magre-resume daw tomorrow.
I wasn't able to get enough sleep last night. Na-trauma ako sa nakita ko. Just the mere sight of blood was enough to traumatize me. The scene kept on playing in my head like some broken video tape.
Katatapos ko lang maligo at nasuot ko na ang sequin blouson dress na pinahiram sa 'kin ni Celaena. The dress was too short for me. Hindi ako kumportable na nakahantad ang pata ko. But I agreed to this. At tama si Celaena, this will help get my mind off from the scene yesterday.
Napabuga ako ng hangin at pinasadahan ng tingin ang sarili ko sa harap ng full-length mirror. I looked decent. Not beautiful. I will never be beautiful. Minimal lang ang make up na nilagay ko sa aking mukha. I didn't want it to be too much.
I tried tying my hair into a ponytail and into different hairstyles. But I can only do much to my short hair. Pero sa bandang huli, I gave up in the idea of braiding my hair. Hinayaan ko na lang na nakalugay ang buhok ko. Hindi rin naman kami siguro magtatagal doon. And no one will probably even notice me.
Then I heard a honk outside. Mabilis akong bumaba ng hagdan at dumeretso sa front door. "'Ma, alis na po kami!"
Hindi sumagot si Mama. Instead, a small figure walked toward me. "Busy si Mama, ate," my younger brother, Noah, said to me.
Napangiti ako. He already had his pajamas on. Nakasuot siya ng antipara. Nagmana kasi siya kay Papa na maaga lumabo ang mata, ayon sa doctor. Yumukod ako para halos magkapantay na ang height namin.
"Hi there, little fella," I said, patting him gently on his head. "Bakit hindi ka pa natutulog?" Sinipat ko ang phone ko. "It's already past 7:00 PM na, ha."
Noah smiled back at me. "I'm helping Mama to look for her bracelet," aniya. "'Yong binigay daw ni Papa sa kanya."
"Ang good boy naman," sabi ko. "Osiya, I'll go na. Sabihin mo na lang kay Mama na umalis na 'ko, ha?"
I kissed him on the forehead and headed outside. Nasa harap na ng bahay ang kotse ni Celaena. Nakita kong dumungaw si Brooke sa bintana ng back seat. She waved her hands to me. Celaena opened the door of the passenger seat for me.
"Get on, bitch," bungad ni Celaena. "We'll save this lame party."
Natatawang pumasok ako ng sasakyan. She showed me her phone. A video of Ryan singing in front of the crowd played on the screen. Humagalpak ako ng tawa. Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang pero wala siya sa tono. He's singing "One Last Cry". Then he started crying. Umuungol pa ang herodes habang umiiyak sa mic.
"Poor, Maru," ani Celaena na umiling-iling pa. "Mukhang mabigat ang dinadala."
"Na ano?" Brooke asked from behind.
When I realized what she meant, I turned to her and laughed. "Brooke, oh my, God!" sabi ko.
She giggled in the backseat.
"Here we go," sabi ni Celaena at pinaharurot na ang sasakyan palabas ng village namin.
*****
Celaena parked her Audi A5 in front of John's house. May ilang mga kotse na ring naka-park doon.
Lumabas na ako ng kotse. I was greeted by the cold wind that swept past us.
"This is it, girls," ani Celaena na nasa tabi ko na.
"Let's have fun tonight," sabi naman ni Brooke. "Kalimutan muna natin ang mga homeworks et cetera. We are different people tonight. And we are about to get this party started, bitches!"
"Yes, honey!" Celaena snapped her fingers in the air many times and high fived Brooke.
Natatawang umiling ako sa sinabi ni Brooke at sa reaksyon ni Celaena. I didn't expect Brooke could be this kind of person when I first met her yesterday. I feel like I have been friends with her for years now. Ang jologs din pala nito. And I clearly did not expect na maging ka-vibe niya si Celaena.
And Brooke was right. Tambak na nga kami sa mga school works, but here we are, in front of John's house, about to go inside to party. Mula sa pwesto namin, naririnig ko na ang malakas na pintig ng musika na nanggagaling sa loob. There were people standing outside with some of their friends while holding red cups. I'm pretty sure na alcohol ang laman niyon.
Let me tell you this, I am not a drinker. Mababa ang tolerance ko sa alcohol. I rarely remember what I do whenever I get drunk. Umaasa lang ako sa mga kwento ni Celaena kinaumagahan. But I think she had already exaggerated some of them.
Bumaling ako kay Brooke na malawak ang ngiti sa labi. Halatang excited na excited siya. She looked so pretty in halter crop trop partnered with tattered jeans. Mas lalo siyang nagmukhang koreana, straight off from a kdrama. Si Celaena naman, mukhang aattend ng Fashion Show. She's wearing a black bandage mini dres, na hapit na hapit sa kanyang katawan. She has an house glass figure, na kinaiinggitan ng karamihan ng babae sa school namin. But she eats as much as I do. And every cloth Celaena wears, she always makes it fashionable. Siya ang pinakamatangkad sa aming tatlo.
They both clung their hands on my arms and almost half-dragged me into the huge house. Napakalakas ng music sa loob nang makapasok kami. Dancing bodies occupied the entirety of the living room. I wasn't informed na ganito kadami ang dadalo sa birthday party ni John. Halos buong school na yata ito.
May nakaka-engganyong music sa loob ng bahay. The walls are painted white and the furnitures are either black or gray. Ang classy tignan. May ilang paintings din na nakadikit sa pader. And may chandelier na nakasabit sa kisame, which gave the house a pale light. Pero mas napaganda niyon ang atmosphere ng paligid.
The place reeked of alcohol.
We passed by some people from Student Council, some were our classmates and almost all of them we didn't know, who all said hi to us. Halos karamihan sa kanila ay lasing na. Late ba kami? I thought the party won't start until 7 PM, ayon kay Celaena.
"I can't freaking believe that you agreed to go with us," Celaena shouted, her voice almost muffled by the loud music.
"Yeah! Hindi rin ako makapaniwalang napapayag mo 'ko dito!" I said, almost shouting.
We pushed our way through the crowd until we reached an empty table on the corner side of the living room. May mga empty cup na nakapatong doon. Banda rito, bahagya nang humina ang music.
Marahas na bumuga si Brooke ng hangin. "Whew, that was exhausting," she said. "I want to dance! Who's with me?"
Celaena looked at me then back to Brooke. "Kukuha lang ako ng drinks natin then we'll dance," aniya at muling pumasok sa kumpol ng mga katawan. Until I couldn't see her anymore from the sea of bodies.
Mayamaya pa ay may lalaking pumunta sa mesa namin. I realized it was John, with Kaleon behind him.
Mabilis akong nag-iwas nang tingin nang makita ko si John. I still haven't thanked him for what he did to me yesterday. He saved me from that scene. Naisip ko na kanina na baka mas maiging i-text ko na lang siya. And I forgot that I didn't have his number. I also thought of messaging him on facebook but I didn't want to seem like a stalker. We aren't friends on facebook. And I ended up doing nothing. And now that he's in front of me, hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. I didn't know thanking someone can be this hard and awkward.
"Happy birthday, John!" bati ni Brooke.
John was about to reply when he was cut off by Kaleon.
"Hey, ladies," bungad ni Kaleon. Base sa namumula niyang pisngi, he's already drunk. Pasuray-suray siya habang naglalakad palapit sa 'min. Napansin ko rin na hindi na niya suot ang kanyang antipara. Bumaling siya kay Brooke. "You're too cute, d'you know that? God isn't fair. I wish I can be your boy—"
Mabilis na tinakpan ni John ang bibig ni Kaleon bago pa nito maituloy ang sasabihin. When I turned to Brooke, her face looked like a tomato. Pinigil ko ang sarili kong matawa.
Iwinaksi ni Kaleon ang kamay ni John at saka muling nagsalita. The words coming out of his mouth were now a bit unclear.
"Broowk, I..." huminga muna siya ng malalim at akmang magsasalita nang biglang nanlaki ang mata niya. Lumobo ang loob ng bibig niya.
"Oh fuck," I heard John muttered. "Not here, dude."
But before Brooke can get away, Kaleon already vomitted all over her. Napasinghap siya ng tumalsik sa mesa namin ang suka ni Kaleon. And then he dropped to the floor. May ilang nagtawanan sa nangyari. Bahagya rin akong natalsikan ng suka ni Kaleon but not as bad as Brooke. Basa na ang itaas na bahagi ng crop top niya. She scrunched her nose and turned to me.
"Blair," she said, as calmly as she can. "I'm about to freak out here. Help me get up, please?"
I quickly went to her side and helped her stand. Dumeretso kami sa pinakamalapit na restroom. Agad ding itinuro ni John ang restroom ng bahay niya. I pushed open the door and Brooke ran to the sink and yank the water faucet open. Pinunasan niya ang mukha niya at ang dibdib niya. Nagwisik din siya ng tubig sa amoy-suka niyang damit. Kumuha ako ng tissue at ibinigay 'yon sa kanya.
"Ugh, I hate him," she muttered under her breath, looking at her reflection in the mirror. "I can't freaking believe that guy!"
"I'm sorry, Brooke. Do you want to go home na?" sabi ko.
Mariin siyang umiling. "I won't let that Kaleon Yang ruin my night. Can you do me a favor, Blair?" aniya at tumingin sa 'kin sa salamin. "Hiraman mo 'ko ng shirt kay John. It's his house naman kaya I'm sure he'll lend me an extra shirt. At isa pa, it's his fault for bringing that Kaleon to us, anyway."
I was about to contest with her when I thought better of it.
"Sure, wait for me here," sa halip ay sabi ko.
Nang pihitin ko pabukas ang pinto ng restroom, bumungad sa 'kin si Celaena, holding three cups in her hands. I'm guessing beer from the smell of it.
"What the hell happened? Nawala lang ako ng isang minuto," untag niya.
"Can you stay with her for a minute? Hihiram lang ako ng shirt kay John," I said.
Tumango lang siya bago ako lumabas. Hinanap ng mga mata ko ang pamilyar na mukha ni John. But he's nowhere in the crowd. When I turned my head back to our table, he was instructing the maids in cleaning up the vomit. Patakbo akong lumapit sa kanya.
"H-hey," I started.
Bumaling siya sa 'kin. "I'm sorry about you friend's shirt," aniya at ibinalik ang tingin sa mga kasambahay niya. "Ate, pakilinisan na rin po ang ilalim ng table. Baka natalsikan din ng suka," he said. Muli siyang bumaling sa 'kin nang hindi pa rin ako umaalis. "What's up, Miss President?"
I almost rolled my eyes at the nickname. Pero pilit kong kinalma ang sarili ko.
"Would you be so kind to lend me a shirt?" I asked him.
Napakunot ang noo niya sa sinabi ko. Lumipas ang isang segundo bago niya napagtanto ang ibig kong sabihin. Tumango-tango siya. "Oh, right, right," aniya. "Tell your friend—"
I quickly added, "Her name is Brooke."
"Right. Brooke. Uh, tell her I'm really sorry. I can compensate on her ruined shirt. Just tell me her number later. And about the shirt, come with me."
Nagpatiuna siya sa paglalakad and I quickly followed him on his heels.
*****
Umakyat kami sa mahabang hagdan pataas sa ikalawing palapag. I saw a huge picture attached on the wall. Sa palagay ko ay litrato iyon ng pamilya niya. I saw his two siblings—dalawang nakababatang babae. Siya pala ang panganay, I didn't know. Tinahak namin ang mahabang pasilyo na sa bawat gilid ay may mga magagandang painting.
Sobrang laki nitong bahay nila John, I realized. And it was beautifully made as well.
Dinala ako ni John sa isang malaking silid. Intricate designs were plastered on walls. May ilan ding mga painting na nakasabit sa pader.
"Wait here," ani John at pumasok sa pinto sa gilid. Isa iyong walk-in closet.
Ibinaling ko ang tingin ko sa view sa labas ng picture windows ng silid. Malaki iyon at kahugis ng higanteng frame. It almost took all of the wall space. Pumunta ako roon at pinanood ang nangyayari sa labas. Nakaharap ang bintanang ito sa pool side ng bahay. Ilan sa kanila ay nasa pool na at ang iba naman ay nakaupo lang sa gilid. May mga hawak din silang red cups na may lamang beer.
Napakislot ako nang biglang magsalita si John sa tabi ko. "Beautiful view, huh?" aniya. Naramdaman ko ang paglapit niya sa puwesto ko. When I turned to him, ilang hakbang ang layo niya sa 'kin. His face was lit up by the lights coming from the pool area.
Parang nag-illuminate ang kulay asul niyang mukha dahil sa ilaw sa baba. I couldn't help but admire the view. Tumabing ang ilang hibla ng buhok sa kanyang mukha. He brushed it up. Nang dahil sa ilaw, mas naging noticeable ang jaw line niya. He looked like an art.
"Enjoying the view, Blair?" he suddenly asked without looking at me. I quickly averted my eyes. Nang hindi ako magsalita, he added, "Ba't wala kang regalo?"
"Do I have to bring one?" I retorted.
"Hindi naman. Wala kahit "Happy Birthday" man lang?"
Naramdaman ko ang pagtingin niya sa 'kin. "Required ba?"
I heard him chuckle. "Well, hindi naman. Pero sa pagkakaalam ko, suwerte daw kapag binati ka ng mga dumalo sa birthday party mo," aniya, nakatingin pa rin sa 'kin.
"Happy-birthday," mabilis na sabi ko.
"Ha?" sabi niya. "Hindi ko narinig. Paulit nga."
Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago ako bumaling sa kanya. But I didn't expect him to be this close to my face. Halos gadangkal na lang ang layo ng mukha ko sa mukha niya. Napalunok ako. I felt my heart staring to beat rapidly in my chest.
"Paulit naman," he said, looking directly to my eyes. Sumilay ang isang nakalolokong ngisi sa kanyang labi.
Naramdaman ko ang pag-iinit ng magkabila kong pisngi. Pinisil niya ang tungki ng ilong ko. I blinked several times before I turned my face away from him. Mabilis kong kinuha ang shirt sa kamay niya at naglakad patungo sa pinto.
Narinig ko ang mahina niyang pagtawa. "Binibiro ka lang, eh," aniya.
I composed myself before turning to him again, my hands on the doorknob. "Th-thank you pala," halos pabulong na sabi ko.
"For what?"
"For what you did to me yesterday. And happy birthday din," sabi ko bago ko pinihit pabukas ang seradura at lumabas na ng silid.