Just Like How the Lightning Strikes (del Grico Series #5)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Kiss

I stopped stepping at the pedal of my sewing machine when I heard my phone rang. Nang makita kong ang roommate kong si Rhea ang tumatawag, walang pagdadalawang-isip na sinagot ko iyon.

Today was a sunny day. Maganda ang araw kaya ginanahan akong ituloy ang itinatahi kong isang dress na kakulay ng damo sa tapat lang bintana ng condo namin. This dress was not a part of my upcoming project though; I just wanted to sew something new.

Early in the morning, Rhea went out of our condo. Iyon din ang dahilan kaya naman nagising ako nang maaga.

As soon as I picked up my phone, Rhea talked.

“Eve, samahan mo nga ako,” aniya agad sa akin na ikinakunot ng noo ko.

“Saan?”

Without thinking, I took up the level of my sewing machine just so I could pull out the unfinished silk. Handa na agad akong magligpit ng ginagawa ko para samahan ang isa kong kaibigan.

I have lots of friends but the only one I could call my best friend is Rhea. We have been roommates ever since we were in college and up until now that we are already working, we are still living under the same roof.

Mabilis lang kaming nagkasundo noong college. Bukod kasi sa pareho kami ng personalidad, Filipino rin siya gaya ko na rito sa US nagpasyang magtapos ng college.

“Manonood ng NBA,” sagot sa akin ni Rhea. “I need to support my boyfriend, you know?”

I smiled. Masuwerte kasi siya at naka-binggwit siya ng isang basketball player na kasama sa NBA. Iyon nga rin yata ang pinagkaabalahan niya kanina kaya maaga siyang nagising.

“Okay. Okay. Mukhang third wheel na naman pala ako,” biro ko pa at tuluyan na ngang tumayo mula sa kinauupuan ko.

We both laughed at what I said.

“Why don’t you invite Theo? Let’s have a double date,” she suggested that made my smile become bitter.

Wala agad akong naisagot sa gusto niyang mangyari.

Doroteo is my longtime boyfriend. We’ve been together ever since I was in senior high school. Ilang taon na rin simula nang maging kami pero ilang beses din naman kaming naghihiwalay. On and off. A seemingly never-ending cycle.

I don’t know. I’ve been so loyal to him. I never tried to see another man but he has been doing the complete opposite since then. Kahit ganoon, kahit siya na mismo ang nakikipaghiwalay sa akin, hindi ko siya magawang bitawan. Martyr, yes. But I just don’t feel like it. I don’t wanna be alone.

“What?” Rhea asked again when the silence between us prolonged. “Don’t tell me, you two broke up again? For the nth time?”

In the end, I had nothing to do but admit it. Wala rin naman kasi akong maitatago pa sa kaibigan ko.

“You can say that,” mahinang sambit ko.

Theo broke up with me again last night over a phone call. Hindi ko lang masyadong dinidibdib dahil alam kong babalikan niya rin naman ako pagtapos na magsawa siya sa bago niya.

Pain? Yes, I do feel it because of him but not in a way Rhea think how. Ewan ko rin pero simula nang ilang beses kong nahuli si Theo na nambabae, hindi ako nakaramdam ng sakit dahil doon. Ang pinaka kinatatakot ko lang ay iwan niya ako at maging mag-isa.

Not all people would understand my sentiments in life but it is scarier for me to be left behind than to be cheated on. I’ve known Theo for years and he is the second person who knows me well. Maybe, that’s why it is hard for me to let him go completely.

“You know what? Let go of him already,” payo na naman ni Rhea na ilang ulit ko nang narinig mula sa kanya. “Marami namang ibang lalaki r’yan! In fact, you have a lot of suitors. Why don’t you choose a better man?”

Palagi na lang niyang sinasabi ang mga ganitong klaseng payo sa tuwing nagkakaproblema kami ni Theo. Kaya rin hindi na ako nanghihingi pa sa kanya ng advice dahil alam kong kapag sinabi niyang iwan ko na si Theo, hindi ko ‘yon magagawa.

I just shrugged even though my best friend would not see me.

“Let’s not talk about it for now,” I uttered just so we could avoid that topic. Narinig ko na lang din tuloy ang pagbuntonghininga niya.

“You love him that much, huh?” hula niya.

“Nah. It’s just that…” Hindi ko agad narugtungan ang gustong sabihin. Hindi ko kasi mahanap ang tamang salita para ipaliwanag sa kaibigan ko kung ano nga ba talaga ang nararamdaman ko.

“So, you don’t?” I heard Rhea laugh at the other line.

“I mean… mahirap ipaliwanag e.”

Love? I could not bear to use that term. Para kasi sa akin, mas malalim pa ang ibig sabihin ng salitang iyon para ilarawan ang nararamdaman ko kay Theo.

Maybe, that was also the reason why Theo could easily ditch me because I never said I love him. Hindi ko kasi magawang sabihin sa kanya pabalik ang salitang ‘yon.

Maybe, I am built differently.

“Alright.” Sa huli, hindi na rin inalam pa ni Rhea ang paliwanag ko. Mabuti naman ‘yon dahil hindi ko talaga alam kung paano niya maiintindihan ang nasa isip ko. “Kahit ikaw na lang mag-isa. Samahan mo ‘ko.”

“Oki.”

By that, I readied right away. Tuluyan ko nang iniligpit ang ginagawa ko para mag-ayos.

Ever since I was young, my dream is to become a fashion designer someday like my mom. At a very young age, she taught me how to sew which I am still doing at the age of 24.

I’ve been carrying that dream even if my mom and dad died more than a decade ago. It was a tragic story.

My dad was killed in a crew ship he was in by a navy. Weeks after that nightmare for my whole family, Mom committed suicide.

Sobrang lungkot ng mga araw na ‘yon. Bata pa lang ako, ramdam na ramdam ko na kung paano manakit ang mundo.

At a very young age, my Kuya Drake and I became orphans. Si Kuya, nanatili sa Pilipinas para asikasuhin ang kompanyang naiwan ni Dad. Ako naman, pinauwi rito sa US kasama ni Auntie.

On the other hand, the luxury fashion house Cortez branch my late mom was handling in Paris crumpled. There, we started over again.

It took us years before we could get over that misfortune of our lives. Kung mayroon man sigurong natirang trauma sa puso ko na hindi maalis-alis, ‘yon ay ang takot na maiwanan.

As for now, I am already a fashion designer in a famous luxury fashion house too. Kapag ayos na ang lahat, lilipat na rin ako sa Monaco, para muling buksan ang main branch ng Cortez.

Nawala ako sa iniisip ko nang tuluyan na akong makapag-ayos para sa biglaang pag-aya sa akin ni Rhea. Bl-in-owdry ko na lang ang buhok ko para matuyo agad pagkatapos maligo.

Tinitigan ko ang sarili ko sa full-length mirror namin.

I wore a casual outfit. It made me look mature despite having a baby face.

I chose to wear a deep V-neck apricot white knitted top paired with high-waisted gray shorts. My Cortez brown leather handbag was matching colors with my leather boots.

My top should have appeared seductive but it didn’t because I don’t have boobs to show. It was fine though. I like myself this way.

My middle-parted hair that was dyed months ago with soft blonde balayage with lowlights was in a sleek low ponytail. To finish my look, I did natural-looking makeup for my face.

The eyeliner that I put on my eyelids made my eyes even smaller. Naglagay rin ako ng hindi masyadong halatang eyeshadow. Nakaragdag din ng ganda ang maliit na nunal ko sa ibabaw ng talukap ko iyon.

My straight eyebrows made me look kind. Idagdag pa ang pink-colored lipstick na ginamit ko. Kahit ganoon, nagustuhan ko ang kabuohang ayos ko.

When I was done, I texted Rhea right away about her location. As for a car, I called an uber to bring me to the arena.

"Thanks," pagpapasapamat ko sa driver ng sinakyan ko bago ako tuluyang lumabas ng kotse.

"You're welcome."

Tinanguan ko na lang ang estranghero bago maingat na isinara ang pinto ng kotse niya.

Pagbaba ko pa lang ng uber pagdating ko sa tapat ng Golden 1 Center, napahawak na ako sa dibdib ko nang may dumaang humaharurot na motor sa harap ko. Sa bilis nito, halos magulo ang pagka-sleek ng buhok ko.

Like... what the hell? Who was that?! That was dangerous! Paano kung nahagip niya 'ko?!

Hindi ako mabilis magalit pero dahil na rin sa kaba at takot, tumalim ang mga mata ko at sinundan ng tingin ang nakasakay sa motorbike na humarurot.

I wasn't able to see who he was because the guy was wearing a blue helmet, the same color with the motorbike he was riding.

Nang makalayo na talaga ang motor, wala na rin akong nagawa pa kung 'di bumuntonghininga.

Moron!

Usong-uso na talaga ang mga papansin na kabataan ngayon. Lalong-lalo na sa bansa kung nasaan ako.

They don't care whom they cause a nuisance. They only care about the things that will satisfy themselves. Mabuti na lang din at kahit matagal na ako rito, hindi ko na-adapt ang ganoong klaseng pag-uugali.

Maganda sana ang araw ko ngayon kaso ay medyo nasira dahil sa kaskaserong driver na animo'y nakikipagkakera sa kamatayan.

In the end, I had no choice but forgot about that circumstance instead of letting that simple thing ruin my whole day. Nagpatuloy na lang ako sa pagpasok sa loob.

Nasa labas pa lang ako ng arena, rinig na rinig ko na ang hiyawan ng lahat. Mukhang talagang nagkakatuwaan sila sa loob at panigurado ring kanina pa nagsimula ang laro.

I called Rhea to know where she was sitting. Ang dami rin kasing tao at talagang aabutin ako ng siyam-siyam kung hahanapin ko lang siya.

Fortunately, without a minute, she answered my call.

“Where are you? I’m already here inside the arena," sambit ko habang nililibot ang tingin sa mga upuan.

The crowd was roaring as if they were really having fun. Kung malakas ang hiyawan sa labas, nakabibingi naman dito sa loob.

Though, the weirdest of all is that there were no basketball players playing at the center of the arena. Mukhang break pa nila.

“We're right here! Kumakaway ako! Hanapin mo na lang!" Natuon ang pansin ko sa kaibigan ko.

Her idea was absurd!

"Right where? Maraming kumakaway, Rhea." Parang gusto ko na lang mapasapo ng noo dahil sa sinabi niya.

"What's your seat number?" tanong ko na lang ulit.

"I forgot!"

"Hell no." What a pain.

Napabuntonghininga na lang ako. Sa huli, wala na rin talaga akong nagawa kung 'di ang ilibot ang paningin ko at hanapin ang kaibigan ko.

Nagpatuloy ako sa pagtatanong kay Rhea pero mukhang nasa iba na ang atensyon niya. Halos marindi pa nga ako nang bigla na lang siyang tumili.

Mabilis kong inilayo sa tainga ako ang cellphone ko.

"Oh! We're on the screen, hubby!" I heard her say.

Because of that, I unconsciously darted my eyes on the jumbotron above the arena. Roon ko lang din namalayan na naroon pala nakatingin at nakatutok ang lahat kaya tuwang-tuwa sila.

Just like what Rhea uttered, I saw her and her boyfriend on the huge screen. Naka-heart-shaped pa ang camera na tila ba pinahihiwatig na magkasintahan sila.

My friend's cheeks flushed as well as her boyfriend's.

What's the matter? Why are they on the screen?

As I wandered my eyes on the details on the screen, I found the answer to my question.

Sa gilid kasi, may nakasulat na 'Kiss Cam'. Doon ko naintindihan ang lahat.

Oh hell no.

Is that the reason why everyone was hype right now?! They are doing the kiss cam! Wrong timing!

Literal na natigilan ako sa paglalakad at pagtitingin-tingin sa puwesto ng kaibigan ko dahil sa napagtanto.

The kiss cam is a popular diversion in a sports show. To entertain the crowd, the MC, as well as the organizers, usually do it. In that kind of segment, the cameraman will find two people whether girl and boy, both girls, both boys, and even aged women and men to kiss.

Masuwerte kung katabi mo ay boyfriend mo o kakilala. Ang malas naman kung hindi mo kaanu-ano.

Though anyone could refuse to do the dare, some rude people would make you regret it. Kaya talagang ayaw ko sa tuwing may mga ganito.

Nawala ako sa iniisip ko nang tuluyan na ngang maghalikan sina Rhea at Franklen habang nakatutok sa kanila ang camera. Dahil doon, naghiyawan na naman ang mga tao.

Screw it!

I was able to locate my friend by just staring at the crowd. Kahit ganoon, parang ayaw ko na lang talaga munang lumapit sa puwesto nila.

What if matapatan ako ng camera with a stranger? No! I'm not into those kinds of stuff! Aalis na lang muna ako!

To run away from that embarrassing segment, I tried to walk back to the entrance of the arena. Matapos lang din namang maghalikan si Rhea at si Franklen, kaagad nang naghanap ng ibang mabibiktima ang kiss cam.

The camera darted to two people who obviously looked like strangers to each other. Parang nagkatabi lang talaga ang dalawa rito sa arena.

Ayan na nga ba ang isa sa mga kinakatakot ko e.

I watched the screen closely. Mabuti na lang din at nakarating na ako sa kaninang pinasukan ko at tumayo na lang muna roon, umaasang hindi na ako mahahagip pa ng camera.

The two people looked so awkward. They didn’t know if they would glance at each other or if they would just stare at themselves on the screen.

Umiling-iling ang lalaki, mukhang ayaw talagang makisama sa gustong mangyari ng madla habang ang babae naman ay mukhang ayos naman.

“Are you just going to let this chance slip, ma boy?” uttered the commentator who was using the mic.

But the guy continued to shake his head. That was when his nightmare happened.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko nang biglang tumayo ang isang babae mula sa likuran nilang upuan. May hawak itong tea at walang anu-ano’y tinapon niya iyon sa lalaking nasa screen.

Everyone gasped for a moment because of that happening but later on, people laughed at the guy. Kahit ganoon, naawa ako sa lalaki.

Hell! This is one of the disadvantages of kiss cams. It could give you your worst embarrassment in no given time. Dito pa naman sa States, parang walang mga pakialam ang mga tao na maagrabyado ang iba. Usong-uso talaga ang bullying dito at racism.

“I’m right here! I saw you already! Punta ka na!” Natuon ang pansin ko nang biglang marinig ang boses ni Rhea mula sa phone ko. Hindi pa pala namin tinapos ang tawag.

My eyes then looked at someone who was waving at me. Si Rhea na nga ‘yon. Nagkita rin kami sa wakas.

I waved my hand back a little.

“Sit beside me. There’s a handsome guy next to you. You might get a chance to kiss him—” dinig kong suhestyon niya na mabilis kong ikina-iling.

“Hell no!” Not a good idea.

“Why are you there, Eveanne Alya Shiekinah Valiente?! There are plenty of seats! Choose one!” puna niya naman.

“Will just let that crazy diversion pass first.”

“Lame ass!” She then laughed her ass off. Pabiro ko na lang siyang nginiwian.

The crowd roared once again. They were all focused on the jumbotron above, waiting for the next two people who would be lucky. Mas lalo namang tumambol ang puso ko sa kaba.

Oh no! Hella no!

I was silently praying not to be a victim but my attention darted on the new guy who just came in the arena. Sa bango niya at sa lapit niya rin sa akin, talagang nalingon ko siya.

He was a tall guy. He was wearing a black leather jacket and under it was a white t-shirt. Dahil sa nasa gilid ko siya, kitang-kita ko kung gaano kaperpekto ang pagkakahugis ng ilong niya at panga.

He was fixing his damped undercut hair using one hand. Hawak niya naman sa kabilang kamay ang asul na helmet na mukhang katatanggal niya lang sa ulo niya. He was not smiling yet his one dimple was becoming evident with a slight movement of his cheek. On the other hand, his one eyebrow has a lightning-like slit that looks natural. Parang nagmula ‘yon sa isang aksidente.

My heart hammered even faster because of the sight. Tuluyang nawala na talaga sa isipan ko sa nangyayaring kiss cam.

Somehow, he looks familiar. Ilang sandali lang din, natandaan ko na kung saan ko siya nakita dahil sa dala-dala niyang asul na helmet.

He was the devil-may-care driver a while ago! Oh hell! Small world!

Sa pagkaalala ko pa lang noon, nag-init na agad ang ulo ko.

I’m not a fan of reckless guys, really. Para sa akin, sakit sila sa ulo dahil sa pag-iisip nilang sila ang bida sa mundong ‘to.

“Let’s see about these two who seemed to be newcomers.” Because of what the commentator said, we glanced at the jumbotron at the same time. Doon, nakita ko kung paano manlaki ang mga mata ko at mapaawang nang bahagya ang labi.

Hell no!

Kung minamalas ka nga naman!

We were on the screen! Dalawa kami nitong kapapasok lang na mayabang na lalaki!

“What an epic entrance,” I heard the guy whisper coolly.

Ang puso ko naman, hindi na magkamayaw sa pagkalabog dahil sa kaba.

Screw this kiss cam! I don’t want to kiss someone! Especially not this man beside me!

But hell! What if tapunan din ako ng drinks dito? Ang ayos-ayos pa naman ng suot ko. Talagang naghanda ako para dito!

My smile became awkward. Ni hindi ko magawang umiling sa takot na baka may kung anong gawin sa akin.

“We don’t know each other!” I mouthed, hoping they could spare us from doing that ridiculous segment but the cameraman didn’t remove the cam from our direction.

Hell!

"Stop being KJ, you two!" ani pa ng commentator na nakapagbigay ng pressure sa akin. Sa akin lang dahil mukhang wala namang pakialam ang lalaking bagong dating.

Even those who were sitting glanced at us. Mas lalo tuloy akong nataranta.

What should I do? What am I going to do?!

Should I run? Hell!

My anxiety intensified when the guy darted his eyes on me. Roon, nagsalubong ang tingin namin.

I saw him checked me out. Mas lumawak naman ang ngisi niya.

What does it mean?!

At the same time, I noticed his different set of eyes. Its uniqueness was evident especially when you are close to him. They are beautiful. I’ve never encountered someone with that pair of amber eyes.

Even so! We’re in trouble!

As I was having internal chaos, he winked at me. Nagsalubong ang kilay ko dahil doon.

Huh?!

The hell? Does he think I’m into him? Hell no!

He’s not my type. He’ll never be—

My eyes opened widely when the guy pulled me close to him in a swift motion. He wrapped his arm around my small waist. Mas lalong napaawang ang labi ko sa ginawa niya. But before I could protest, he already planted a kiss on my lips.