COINCIDENCE
"Good evening, what's your-" nahinto ako sa pagsasalita ng mapako ang paningin ko sa kasama ng supladong ito.
Siya yung lalake sa park, mukha naman siyang mabait, hindi katulad nitong isang kasama niya. Bahagya siyang nagulat ng salubungin niya ang mga mata ko at 'di ko namamalayang ilang segundo na pala kaming nagtititigan ng may pagtataka sa mga mata.
"What a coincidence! You work here?" Sarkastikong tugon ng lalaking ito na muntik ng makasagasa sa akin sa daan. Binalingan ko naman ito ng blankong tingin.
"You know each other?" Takang tanong naman nitong lalaking unang nakita ko sa park. Hindi na lamang ako umimik pa dahil hindi naman sa akin nakabaling ang mata ng lalaking ito at nasa kaibigan niyang saksakan ng kasamaan ng ugali lang ang tingin.
"She's just the stupidest and ugliest woman I've seen on the road," aniya sa walang ganang boses, pero kung makatingin sa 'kin ay napakasama.
"Hey man, easy," pabirong sambit ng lalaki sa kaibigan niyang 'buti ay napagti-tiyagaan pa ang ugali niya.
"How can I act easy when that nerd's face gives me uneasyness?" Wala talaga siyang pakialam kung naririnig ko ba o hindi ang mga lumalabas sa bibig niya.
"Excuse me," biglang singit ng isang kasama nilang lalaki na ngayon ko lang din nakita. Bahagya ko pa siyang tinitigan at maya-maya'y isinunod nito ang oordering inumin. "Diva Vodka, please," walang emosiyong aniya.
"Okay. Wait a minute sir," pilit na may ngiting sabi ko tsaka nagpapanggap na kalmadong tumalikod para kuhanin ang order nila.
"May available ba tayong Diva Vodka rito?" Tanong ko pagkalapit kay Sheila na nasa harap ng iba't ibang klase ng mga non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. Bahagya pa itong nagulat pagkarinig ng sinabi ko.
"D-Diva V-Vodka?!" Hindi makapaniwalang sambit niya habang dilat na dilat ang mga mata.
"Oo, Diva Vodka? Bakit? Wala bang ganoon dito?" Kuryoso tanong ko ngunit nananatiling gulat pa rin ang kaniyang mukha. "Bakit? Masama bang pakiramdam mo, anong nangyayari sa 'yo Sheila?" Chineck ko pa ang noo nito pero kaagad din naman niya iyong tinanggal sa noo niya saka inirapan ako.
"Ano kaba! Wala 'kong sakit! Yung tatlong gwapo yung o-order?"
"Bakit?" Takang tanong ko.
"Ano kaba Yeri! 'Yon yung isa sa pinaka-expensive na beverages meron ang bar na ito at sobrang mahal ng inuming iyon,"
"Pero meron ba tayo dito?"
"Oo naman! Marami pa dito dahil yung mga sobrang yaman lang yung kayang bumili ng ganoon dahil sa hindi nga afford ng ibang gusto lang namang magpakalasing, uh sandali!" Tugon niya at tumalikod. "O heto! Ingatan mo mabuti yan ah! Mas mahal pa 'yan sa kaluluwa mo," paalala pa niya pagkatapos maiabot sa akin ang isang bote nitong Diva Vodka na ito!
Gaano ka naman ba raw kasarap at mas mahal ka pa sa kaluluwa ko?
Tanong ko sa isip ko habang makatitig sa inuming iyon. Habang naglalakad ako palapit ng table nila dala yung tray ng tatlong wineglass at isang bote nitong mahal na Diva Vodka at iba't ibang klase ng pagkaing pulutan ng tatlo.
Hindi pa man ako nasa sobrang lapit ay nakikita ko na talaga sa gilid ng mga mata ko ang nanlilisik na tingin ng lalaking pinaglihi yata sa ampalaya, hindi ko nalang ito tiningnan at baka may mangyaring masama sa mahal na Diva Vodkang ito. Mas mahal pa raw kase ito sa kaluluwa ko.
"Here's your order Messrs," magalang na sabi ko pagkalapag ng order nila. "Enjoy your stay," tatalikod na sana ako para umalis ng marahang hinawakan ng kasama nilang unang nakita ko sa park ang may bandang baba ng siko ko.
"Auhm, wait Miss!" Binalingan ko naman ito at binigyan ng nagtatakang tingin.
"Sir? May kailangan pa po kayo?" Enosenteng tanong ko.
"Uh, nothing! I just want to say sorry for what happened at... the park," aniya sabay pilit na ngingiti-ngiti at kakamot-kamot pa sa batok.
"Hindi niyo naman kailangang mag-sorry sir. Wala naman kayong ginawang masama,"
"Yea, but my girlfriend, no! My ex did! I'm sorry again," seryoso nitong aniya. Nginitian ko naman kaagad ito.
"Kalimutan niyo na 'yon, sir. Wala lang naman sa akin iyon," hindi mawala ang mga ngiti sa labing sabi ko. Napangiti naman siya bigla pagkatapos kong magsalita. Ngunit kabaliktaran niyon ang mukha ng lalaking nasa kaliwa niyang una kong nakita sa daan habang walang emosyon sa mukha naman ang lalaking nasa kanan niya ng balingan ko itong pareho ng tingin.
"Auhm, thanks! I'm Cairo nga pala and this is Zach!" Sabay baling niya at hawak sa balikat ni Zach.
Zach pala pangalan niya. Sayang hindi na ako masyadong interesado.
"And of course! This is Chad!" Baling naman niya sa kanan niya. "Dalawa silang bestfriends ko!" Nakangiting tugon pa niya habang nakatingin sa mga mata ko na parang iniintay pa ang sagot ko.
Hindi ko naman alam kung ano ang sasabihin o kahit ang magiging reaksiyon ko dahil kahit ang dalawa niyang kasama ay nakatingin lang din sa akin na parang hinihintay ang sasabihin ko.
"Okay?" Parang nagtatanong na ewang sabi ko. "Sige po mga sir, maiwan ko na muna kayo," paalam ko sa kanila habang huli kong tiningnan si Zach na masamang-masama ang tingin sa akin.
"Huy! Mukhang nagtagal ka roon uh! Ano bang sinabi sa 'yo girl?" Si Sheila nang makalapit ako sa kaniya para sa susunod na order sa kabilang table na binabantayan ko.
"Wala naman,"
"Ang tagal mo roon tapos wala lang? Huwag ka ngang timang! Bakit ayaw mong sabihin?"
"Dahil paniguradong tatadtarin mo 'ko ng sunod-sunod na tanong kapag hindi 'yon yung sinabi ko," pagpapakatotoo ko na mas lalo pang nagpabusangot ng mukha niya.
"Huy! Grabe ka naman-"
"Huy! Ano nanaman yan? Ikaw Sheila uh! Magtrabaho ka diyan at hindi kung ano-ano inaatupag mo!" Masungit na ani Ate Cristal sa nakatungo na ngayong si Sheila. "Ikaw Meil may problema ba?" Biglang mahinahon niyang tanong sa akin.
"Uh wala naman, ate Cristal,"
"O sege magpatuloy na kayong dalawa sa trabaho," naglakad na ito pabalik sa kusina habang kami naman ay hindi na rin nakapag-usap pa.
Pinagpatuloy ko na ang trabaho ko kahit pa sa t'wing babalingan ko ng tingin ang table nila Cairo ay sumasalubong sa akin ang masamang tingin ng Zach na iyon. Nagkibit-balikat na lamang ako at iniwasan ang mga tingin nito. Ilang sandali pa ang nakalilipas ay nakita ko nalang ang Cairo na 'yon na nasa gitna ng dancefloor at sumasayaw kaharap ang isang magandang babae.
Zach's POV
"Okay? That's it?" Cai can't still believe what that nerdy girl said.
"Why? What do you expect her to say?" Chad wondered.
"Wouldn't she be surprised or something?" Cai.
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is; those other girls, when we talk to them, they'll start crying right away, they'll be shocked, they'll go crazy, and that nerd is just okay? What the fck?!" Cai just said in disbelief.
"Why are you surprised by that! You can't expect anything from that nerd? Kung sino pa yung panget, siya pa nagmamaganda!" I said angrily while looking at that nerd who's now walking with a tray.
"Easy Zach, wait! What do you mean earlier that... she was the stupidest and ugliest person on the road?" Cai asked me. So did Chad, both of whom were waiting for my answer.
"I almost ran her over," I just answered borely.
"What?!" Cai say's on disbelief, I just sighed.
"She's so stupid! The next time that happens again, I'm going to run over that ugly nerd and I mean it!" I don't know, I just really hate her so fcking much!
"Tsk! Then you'll go in jail, not only that, your parents will also get mad," Cai just laughed at me.
"Yeah, and what are you goin' to say? That you did it on purpose because you were annoyed at her? Tsk!" Chad did agree. Hindi na ako nagsalita pa dahil talagang lagot ako kapag sinadya ko. I just heaved a sigh as I think of that nerd's face. She really is irritating. The face, the big old eyeglasses and the clothes! Everything really hurts in my fcking eyes!
"Hello boyzs," it was a flirty voice from a woman I'm sure we don't know.
"Sorry, but who are you?" I irritatedly asked at the woman who had attracted the attention of the three of us.
"Ako lang naman ang mapapangasawa ng isa sa inyo'ng tatlo," she just said flirtatiously while biting the side of her lower lip.
"Okay? Come on girl! Let's dance," Cai gently took the hand of the girl and went straight to the dancefloor.
Chad and I were left behind as we stared at the two dancing through the dancefloor. I actually want to go home because I don't want to see the face of that nerdy girl's fcking face. I'm really pissed off right now. With so many bars, why did we choose to hang out here? With so many jobs that she can be entered, why this bar? Above all, why is she so ugly?
Sa sobrang weird niya pati ako ay nawi-wirduhan na rin sa sarili ko. Yes, I was disgusted by the look on her face and my eyes really hurt when I saw her, but for an unknown reason I just caught my eyes looking at her. I don't understand, really, it just came out in a natural way.
"Where are you going?" Chad asked as I stood up.
"CR lang ako," I responded without emotion on my face and walked to find the bar's CR.
I was just walking straight away when someone suddenly faced me and accidentally threw some beer on my coat if I'm not mistaken.
"What the–" I was almost speechless when I saw the face of this nerdy girl who got wet on my coat. "–fck is wrong with you?!"
She couldn't speak and just remained wide-eyed and stunned.
"I said what the fck! Is wrong with you? You know how much this coat costs huh?" I asked angrily while still pointing at my coat. With the strength on my voice, many people immediately noticed what happened, but I didn't care because I was already seething with anger at this nerdy girl in front of me!
"S-Sorry, kung g-gusto mo- sandali pupunasan ko," she said trembling as she took a wipe from the pocket of her waitress uniform and wiped my already wet coat.
But I quickly grabbed his dirty hand away from my coat. "Stay away from me you fool!" I shouted and pushed her back so she threw herself and fell on the floor.
"What the fck Zach?!" Chad suddenly appeared out of nowhere and quickly approached that nerd then helped her stand up.
I didn't realize the sudden increase of people who came and looked at us or should I say at me.
"That nerd is stupi-"
"But nothing's change! She's still a girl!"
"Who cares huh? Walang may pakialam sa panget na nerd na iyan!" I kept shouting angrily.
"Sorry, hindi ko talaga sinasadya."
"Hindi mo sinasadya huh?" I asked full of sarcasm. "Pero bakit 'pag ikaw, yung dating sa akin sinadya?"
"Dahil natatakpan ng nakakadiri kong mukha ang katotohanan hindi ko sinasadya ang pagkakabasa ko niyang mamahalin mong coat!" Hindi kaagad ako nakapagsalita sa linyang sinabi niya.
"Hindi mo ako masisisi, iyang nakakadiri mong mukha pa rin ang may kasalanan idagdag pa ang katangahan mong iyan!"
"Zach! Stop this fcking bllsht!" Chad scolded but I just ignored him.
"Hindi naman kita sinisising ganito ang mukha ko e. Oo hindi ko rin kayang palitan o bayaran iyang mamahaling coat mo. Pero wala na talaga akong magagawa kung ayaw mong tanggapin yung sorry ko," Up until this moment, mahinhin, pa rin talaga ang boses niya.
"Bakit? Mababago ba niyang sorry mo ang nangyari huh? And don't worry, naiintindihan ko- Naiintindihan kong wala ka ng magagawa dahil pulubing nerd ka lang naman right?!"
"Zach-"
"What?" I shouted at Cai who just grabbed my shoulder.
"Don't be harsh on her, that was just an accident," he responded.
"How can you know it's just an accident huh?! It's pretty obvious that, that nerd is mad at me, so she's making senseless fckin' way para mas lalo akong inisin!" Halos pasigaw ko pang sabi sa harap ni Cai na nakaduro pa sa nerd na nasa tabi lang ni Chad. I almost shouted in front of Cai while pointing at the nerdy girl next to Chad.
"Hindi ako ganon-"
"Maybe you just want to get my attention because you like me! Kung gano'n, uunahan na kita, nerdy girl. I will never ever like a beggar and an ugly nerd like you! My eyes can't handle to see your face way more dirtier than a rotten garbage-"
'Clap!' 'Clap!' 'Clap!'
We all turned around at the same time to the source of that sarcastic applause and in a distance, I saw a girl just a few steps in front of us. Not even one of us spoke and just waited for her to approach. This whatever girl was just smiling with a face full of sarcasm. I looked at her angrily.
"What?" I asked calmly but I know the annoyance and irritation are still visible on my face. But she wasn't even scared and just smiled.
"Ang feeling mo naman, young man. Yea, your handsome, and I can't deny the fact that your fcking darned hot. But you also have to know the fact that not all girls will easily fall for a man like you. Everyone knows you're handsome, but very few women know the real character you have, if they do, then okay, they like you because you're just handsome!" She said, grinning. There was no noise interfere in her voice, even the music on the dance floor had stopped and almost everyone's eyes were glazed over only at her.
"And who the fuck are you to say that infront of-"
"Then who the hell are you to be this mean infront of her?" She shouted angrily while pointing at that nerd.
"Why? She's just a nerd and I don't give a fck! She's nothing for a word respect."
"Who the hell are you to disrespect her sexcentenary even only as a girl needs respect for all men,"
She took a deep breath.
"But on your case, that's not surprising, 'cause I said men respecting her as a girl, not animal disrespecting her as a nerd!" She responded angrily while still looking straight into my eyes. "It's really coming from you that he likes you, huh? How did you know then?" She suddenly asked with a smile mixed with sarcasm on her face. "Because as far as I know her, she won't ever like you because the traits she hates most in a man is in you,"
"Who cares?! Wala akong pakialam sa gusto niya dahil wala naman akong planong ligawan siya!"
"Nagpapaalala lang, para naman marialized mong wala kang pag-asa kapag nagustuhan mo siya,"
"What the– Me? Will like that nerd? You know, just get outta my sight, you're not the one I want to talk to!" I said to her angrily and turned away from her. I faced the crowd here inside the bar who were watching the show.
"Who is the manager of this Bar? I wan't this nerd to immediately fired on her senseless job! Tawagin niyo ang manager, I wan't to talk-"
"I am the manager, Young Man!" My world stopped a little when she said that line behind my back. Chad and Cai as well as the people looked really surprised at the source of that voice that came from behind me. She just grinned as I faced her irritatedly.
"Cristal Diamond Baylen, the manager of this bar where you messed up. Talk about what, Young Man?" A sarcastic smile just plastered on her lips.