MARICON
"What do you think? Should I stick with the first one or just wear this?"
"Nah. In my opinion— it's just my opinion, okay? Don't be too offended— but I think both doesn't suit you. Maybe try another one? The dress doesn't look bagay kasi for me," Ate Kelly said as she inspected her fingernails.
"For me, I prefer the first one. 'Yung blue." I looked at Ate Celeste and smiled at her. I picked up the one that she picked and inspected it.
"But I kinda agree with Kelly, though. Baka mas bagay 'yung pangatlo," she added.
"Psh. Puwede namang kahit ano na lamang ang isuot," Ate Clio stated while playing my piano.
Napangiwi naman ako dahil kung ano-anong keys lamang ang pinipindot niya. Agad naman siyang sinaway ni Ate Celeste kaya napabuntong-hininga na lamang si Ate Clio.
"Excuse me? Hindi kaya puwede na kung ano-ano na lamang ang isuot. Duh, it's a date kaya!" Ate Kelly disagreed and rose up from her seat. Dumiretso naman siya sa closet ko at binuksan iyon.
"Sino ba kasi 'yang ka-date mo? Kilala ba namin?" tanong ni Ate Clio at tumayo na rin upang makisilip sa kung ano mang tinitingnan ni Ate Kelly sa closet ko.
"Saka ko na ipapakilala sa inyo kapag sure na. Baka hindi ako icrushback," sagot ko.
"Ah, so hindi ka crush?" tanong ni Ate Celeste.
I pouted. "Parang ganoon na nga."
"Although I'm sure na magugustuhan niya rin ako. No one can resist my charm, you know," I added and winked at her.
Napailing na lamang siya at mahinang tumawa. I just shrugged my shoulders and chuckled softly.
"Uy! Ngayon pala lalabas 'yung result ng exam niyo sa General Math, ah?"
Tumingin naman ako kay Ate Clio na sa kalendaryo nakatingin. I just sighed and nod my head.
"Sobrang hirap niyan. Nararamdaman ko na ang bagsak kong marka," I joked. Sinamaan naman ako ng tingin ni Ate Celeste kaya muli akong napangiti.
"Kalma, that's just a joke," sabi ko sa kaniya. "Unless magkatotoo."
Ate Celeste frowned. "Nag-review ka ba?"
Agad naman akong tumango. "I did. Sadyang mahirap lang 'yung test."
"Hindi magiging mahirap ang test kung nag-aral ka," she stated.
"Not unless you're not smart like me. Everything is hard for someone who is stupid, you know?"
"Kaya hindi ka pumapasa, e. Masiyadong mababa ang confidence mo. Matalino ka kaya!" Tumingin ako kay Ate Clio habang hinihintay na bawiin niya ang sinabi niya.
"Ng slight," she added and smiled awkwardly. Napailing naman ako at mahinang tumawa.
"Gotcha!"
Sabay-sabay naman kaming lumingon kay Ate Kelly nang sumigaw siya. She looked at us with her eyes that looks like she found a gem underneath my closet. Natawa naman ako sa itsura niya.
"Look! Isn't it pretty?" tanong niya at ipinakita ang dress na regalo ni Dad noong pasko.
Napatango naman ako. "That looks fine," I remarked.
It is a white off shoulder long sleeve dress na may naka-kabit na black sleeveless top sa loob. May itim ring belt na kasama na kakulay ng black sleeveless top sa loob.
"Clio, can you please call Ashanti? Mukhang kailangan ko ng umalis, gusto niyong sumabay?" Ate Celeste asked after looking at her phone.
"Ugh, si Ashanti talaga!" Mahina naman akong tumawa dahil sa reklamo ni Ate Clio.
Hindi na nga naka-abot papunta sa kuwarto ko si Ate Ashanti dahil sinabi ko sa maid namin na ipagtimpla siya ng kape.
"Uuwi ka na rin ba, Kelly?" Ate Celeste asked Ate Kelly.
Ate Kelly immediately nodded. "It looks like Maricon should get ready na rin naman for her date," she said.
Humarap naman siya sa akin. "Let's chika nalang some other time," dugtong niya. Tumango naman ako at ngumiti.
"Babalik ulit kami kapag hindi na kami busy sa acads, okay?" sabi ni Ate Celeste.
"Salamat sa pagbisita. Hihintayin ko kayo ulit, ah? Or maybe ako naman ang pupunta sa dorm niyo— oh, wait. Are you still leaving in a dorm?"
Ate Kelly shook her head. "Our house are near from each other naman. At saka, sa iba't-ibang school naman kami nag-aaral so minsan na lamang din naman kami magkikita if ever."
"Hindi ba kayo nanibago? I mean, you lived with each other for four years. Siguro nahirapan kayong mag-adjust, right?"
Ate Celeste chuckled. "It's hard to cope up at first but it's fine. Change is constant and that is also a part of growing up. You'll know once you experienced it."
Mayamaya pa ay pumasok na si Ate Clio sa kuwarto ko kasama si Ate Ashanti na umiinom ng kape. Well, she likes coffee so much so it's a pretty common sight for me.
"Ang sarap ng kape niyo tapos parang ang dami pang alam ng maid niyo tungkol sa kape. Umiinom ka ba palagi ng kape?" bungad na tanong sa akin ni Ate Ashanti.
Tumawa naman ako at umiling. "Karaniwan 'yung mga maids lang ang umiinom ng kape. Hindi kasi ako umiinom ng kape tapos bihira lang si Daddy ," sagot ko.
"Can I apply as your maid?" Ate Ashanti asked.
I looked at her confusedly and tilted my head a bit. "Really? Kaso kaka-hire lang namin ng bagong ma—"
"Just don't mind what she said, Maricon," Ate Celeste cut me off.
Taka naman akong tumingin sa kaniya. "O... kay?"
"Anyway, we should go na. Let's just see each other some other time, shall we?" tanong ni Ate Kelly.
Ngumiti naman ako at tumango. "Ingat kayo!"
"Enjoy your date!" bilin ni Ate Clio.
"May date siya? Kanino?" takang tanong ni Ate Ashanti kaya mahina akong tumawa.
"Puro ka kasi kape, huli ka tuloy sa chikas!" sabi ni Ate Kelly kaya't napailing na lamang si Ate Ashanti.
***
Nang makaalis silang apat ay naiwan naman ako kasama ng mga damit ko. I looked at the one that Ate Kelly suggested before picking it up to wear it.
Pawisan na ako nang makalabas sa walk in closet ko matapos isuot ang damit na isinuggest ni Ate Kelly. Hindi naman ako nainform na mahirap pala 'yung isuot! Para tuloy akong naglaro ng Doctor Quack Quack dahil hindi ko alam kung saan ko ipapasok ang kamay ko. It's too confusing to wear!
Pero sulit naman nang makita ko ang sarili ko sa salamin. Bagay! Bagay na bagay!
I partnered it with a black boots. I also wore a silver hoop earrings to match my dress. Then I wore a gold necklace to also match the gold details on my belt. Nag-make up din lamang ako ng kaunti para naman magmukha akong presentable kahit papaano sa harap ni Chase.
Nang makatapos akong mag-ayos ay saka ko naman itinext si Chase para sunduin ako. And yes, I already got his number! And no, hindi ako ang humingi. Siya mismo ang nag-bigay.
To: Chase ♥♥♥
Hi!! This is Maricon, you can pick me up now. Take care! xoxo (●´з')♡
Mahina naman akong tumawa. Kung ayaw niyang kumilos, ako ang kikilos! Sana kiligin siya kahit kaunti. I just scrolled through my phone while waiting for Chase to arrive.
Wala pang limang minuto, nag-vibrate na agad ang phone ko. Taka ko naman iyong tiningnan. My eyes immediately widened when I saw who texted me.
From: Chase ♥♥♥
I am already outside your house.
Dali-dali naman akong kumilos at isinukbit sa aking balikat ang dadalhing shoulder bag. Lakad-takbo na ang ginawa ko para mabilis na makalabas sa bahay namin. Ayaw ko namang paghintayin si Chase sa labas.
Nang makalabas ako sa gate namin ay sakto namang pagbusina ng nakaparadang kotse sa tapat ng bahay namin. That must be Chase's car.
"I'm sorry I'm lat—"
"What is xoxo?" bungad na tanong ni Chase nang makapasok ako sa loob ng kotse niya. As expected, I sat on the passenger seat. Ayaw ko namang pagmukhaing taxi driver si Chase kapag sa backseat ako umupo.
Taka naman akong tumingin sa kaniya habang nagsusuot ng seatbelt. "Huh?"
He sighed and just shook his head. "Nothing. Just forget what I said."
I just nodded as an answer before smiling at him. "Kanina ka pa?" tanong ko.
"Kadarating ko lamang noong nag-text ako."
Muli akong napatango at inilibot ang paningin ko sa kotse niya. "I didn't know you're quite well-off? Mukhang mamahalin ang kotse mo," I mumbled while still roaming my eyes around his car.
"Kay Papa ito. I don't own a car yet. I am not as wealthy as you."
Kumunot naman ang noo ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya. "Wala rin kaya akong kotse, ano. Lahat ng kotseng nakaparada sa garahe namin, kay Daddy o kaya sa mga kasambahay."
He looked at me confusedly. "May kotse ang mga kasambahay niyo?"
I blinked my eyes a few times before I nod my head. "That's our gift to my Ates and Kuyas at the house. Isn't it normal?"
He just looked at me weirdly before he silently chuckled. Taka ko naman siyang tiningnan. May nakakatawa ba? I mean, I'm serious!
"Did I said something wrong? Why are you laughing?" tanong ko at itinuro ang sarili ko.
Umiling naman siya habang mahina pa ring tumatawa. I am a bit embarassed because he's laughing at me but nah, minsan lang mangyaring tumawa siya. Hayaan na.
"Do you want to eat something?" he asked.
Agad naman akong tumango. "Sure!"
***
"Ano pang instrument ang kaya mong tugtugin maliban sa gitara?" tanong ko kay Chase bago sumubo sa inorder kong carbonara.
"I also know how to play piano," he answered.
"Hala, same! Marunong din akong mag-gitara at mag-piano."
"Wala ng iba?" tanong naman niya.
"Marunong din akong mag-violin, flute at saxophone. Tapos nag-aaral din akong mag-drums."
"So you knew a lot of instruments, huh?"
Umiling naman ako. "It's not that I am a professional, though. I'm still trying to improve."
"Kung sana nga music ang pinag-aaralan sa school, baka ganahan pa ako," dagdag ko.
"But we have a music subject," he remarked.
I pouted. "Hindi naman nagtuturo ang teacher natin. Tapos pati ba naman sa music, may enumeration at fill in the blanks? Ugh, that's not what I expected."
He chuckled. "I agree."
Muli akong sumubo ng carbonara at magkukuwento pa sana nang mag-vibrate ang phone ko. Kumunot naman ang noo ko nang pati si Chase ay ichineck ang cellphone niya.
Agad ko naman itong tiningnan. It is a notification from our school's website.
"Ah, result ng test natin sa GenMath," dinig kong sabi ni Chase habang nakatingin sa phone niya.
I clamped my dry lips together before looking at my score. I exhaled a large breath upon seeing my score.
"Did you pass?" Chase asked.
I sighed and shook my head. "The passing score is thirty. I got twenty eight."
"That's pretty good compared to the last time." I sighed once again upon hearing what he said.
"The difference is that I studied hard for this test yet I still failed. It really sucks being a dumb."
"You don't have to be too hard on yourself. Atleast you have some improvement," he stated.
I pouted and nod my head. Sabi niya, e.
Muli namang kumunot ang noo ko nang muling mag-vibrate ang phone ko. Someone's calling.
"Wala ka bang balak sagutin?" Chase asked while looking at my phone.
I wet my dry lips before picking up my phone to answer the call. "Yes, Daddy?"
"We have to talk later when I got home," panimula niya.
I bit my lower lip. "F-For what?" I stammered.
My father sighed on the other line. "About your grades."
"D-Dad, alam niyo na naman po na we can't do anything about it. I'm studying. It's just that... It's not enough," I muttered.
"You're with Chase, right?"
Kumunot naman ang noo ko bago itaas ang aking paningan sa kasama ko. He is silently sipping on his iced tea. "Yes po. Why?"
"Bring him to our house later. I want to talk to him."
"Huh? But why?"
"Just do it, Maricon."
"What do you need from Chase?" I asked and looked at my companion.
Taka namang tumingin sa akin si Chase nang mapagtantong siya ang pinag-uusapan namin.
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