Takip Silip

xiii. Pumapanglabing-tatlo

[Read the author's note!]

Aurora remembered the first step to change her path. The first night she entered that flickering blue, red, green lights crowd. She can't remember the taste of the liquid in her tongue that night but she remembered the burning sensation in her throat, it burns her. Beer and gin doesn't taste good even now. 

But she still drink and drink and drink. Drowning herself.She doesn't know why. Maybe she got addicted to the pain in morning after? The feeling of wanting to smack her own head in the ground and the fast beating of her heart made her believe that maybe, she's still alive. She feels something. She can feel her blood rising up. She gets excited. She's living! 

That's what makes her go back to that place and to the red cup she's holding right now. 

Oh, gosh. She's tipsy. 3AM, the concert is not yet finished. People are still screaming, yelling, dancing, and jumping. It hurts her eyes. It felt good. She lay down to the fake grasses, put her arm in her face, and listened to the noises. She can feel Elli sitting beside her. A little tipsy, too. She got high tolerance than her. 

There are raindrops falling. Umaambon. Everyone doesn't seem to care if it would rain. They continue having fun. Tinaas ni Elli ang kamay niya. Feeling every drop in her fingertips. 

"Kapag nasa labas ka at biglang buhos ang ulan, wala kang payong o kahit ano, anong gagawin mo?" out of blue. Aurora smiled. Inaalis ang braso sa mukha niya. Letting it drop in her bare face. She somehow get used to Elli asking out of blue question that she can finally go with the flow and answer them. 

"Enjoy the rain. Wala naman choice 'e." or else, you'll get irritated. 

"But you could just prevent it. You should've bring umbrella in the first place. Edi sana hindi ka nababasa." 

"That’s no fun. Nabubuhay ka sa loob ng kwarto mo na hindi pa nararansan kung gaano kasaya maligo sa ulan? You’re missing the point of life. We’re here to enjoy, not be locked up.”  Aurora said. She felt at ease. She’s like giving herself a reason to live. Her purpose is to taste every side of life, bitter and sweet. 

“My room is much more comfy.” Elli disagreed, which makes her let out a lopsided smile. She sits, hugs her knees, and lets her face rest in it. They both stared at each other's eyes. Looking for answers and more questions. The rain gets stronger. People are standing up from the grass to find a shed. But Aurora and Elli stayed, they didn’t dare to move. Locked up with each other's gaze. It makes Aurora smile bigger, letting out a small laugh. 

“If your room is much more comfy, why are you here with me in the middle of the rain?” Elli lips get thinner. Trying to stop herself from talking. Aurora noticed it with her uneasy eyes. Don’t stop yourself. 

Elli looked away. Biting her lower lip, “Because. . .” almost a whisper from the raindrop noises, “I want to be with you.” Aurora bite her tongue to stop herself from smiling too much. Why is she smiling?, “You make everything nicer. With you, everything seems better.” She watched how people get panicked, they are both soaking wet. They don’t have any extra clothes. They are not even bothered. Tinanggal niya na ang mahabang wig niya dahil dumidikit sa balat niya. 

Is it really possible that she has that effect in some person?  Or Elli, as a romance writer, who is great at words, is trying to comfort her? She wants to hope. She wants her to be honest. She’s scared to ask more questions. 

“Umuulan na.” oo, kanina pa, “Uwi na tayo?” napatingin sa kanya si Aurora. Aalis na sila agad? But didn’t refuse, she nodded. Ayaw niya pa umalis. Elli stood up. Ayaw niya pa umuwi pero wala siyang magagawa. She followed Elli to the exit. Aurora gazed from the concert for the last time. Biding her goodbye to her temporary happiness.  

Tumila na ang ulan. Nakatitig lang siya sa kalsada. Empty,  “Wala nang masasakyan.” it’s almost 4AM. What do they expect? Tumingin siya kay Elli who is constantly looking through her phone. She’s waiting for her reaction but she got none, “Excuse me, paano tayo makakauwi?” calling for her attention. Sinagot siyang kibit balikat. Napanganga siya. Oo, ayaw niya pang umuwi pero ayaw niya naman matulog sa kalsada. A moment of silence. Nagulat siya nang hilain siya nito kung saan. Do people around her really like to pull her somewhere, they can kindly ask? 

“May nahanap akong inn na malapit dito.” hinila niya si Aurora sa isang eskinita. Tumumbad sa kanila ang isang mala-apartment. May isang matandang naghihintay sa labas, nilapitan ito ni Elli. Ito siguro ang may ari ng inn na sinasabi niya. She can see them exchanging keys and money. Bumalik siya kay Aurora at hinila muli papasok sa apartment.

They entered a room, it was cozy, pink, and hello kitty, “Okay, ayos lang ba?” she nodded as if she could say no, “We can stay here for awhile hanggang sa may sasakyan na. Hanggang mamayang tanghali, o hapon?” pumasok siya sa restroom, leaving Aurora alone. She let out a sigh. She’s getting used and being reflexive to events going around her. She checked all sides of the room, drawers, the TV, inside of the empty refrigerator, looking for a hidden camera, nagbabaka sakali lang. She found two hello kitty robes. She couldn't sit on the bed, her clothes are wet. She really badly wants to rest. All of that walking, her body aches. 

Hindi na niya pa hinintay matapos si Elli, tinanggal niya na ang damit niya at ang tanging suot niya na lang ay ang robe. Pagkatapos niyang isampay ang mga ito sabintana, She finally threw herself in the bed. Turned on the TV. Wrap her own with the comforter like it’s her own home. The rest room opened, sumilip ang ulo ni Elli. Tumaas ang kilay niya sa kanya. Wala siyang damit, walang tuwalya. Aurora let out another sigh. 

“May robe rito.” 

“Nasaan?” Aurora pointed on the drawer. Elli stared at it and back to her, “Wala akong suot. Paki abot.” she pleaded. Aurora had a playful thought, can’t help but smile. Iniwasan niya ng tingin si Elli at tumingin sa TV. 

“Bahala ka d’yan.” she can hear Elli scoffed. Later on, Elli walked through the drawer, fully naked, whispering complaints and curses. Aurora's smiles got wider as she examined her body. She never got a close look at it with lights. She watched her every move. How she opened the drawer. Elli had such a great body shape, her waist curves and perfectly flawless back. The scenery is an entertainment to Aurora. With effect of the flickering lights from the TV gives her . . . unexplainable feelings. 

She can see herself walking to Elli, she doesn’t why. She doesn’t seem to have a controlin her body. She was hypnotized. Her hands are touching her back. Lightweight, like a feather. Studying every piece of it. Imbis na magulat si Elli, she flashed a smile. Humarap sa kanya at sumandal sa drawer. Exposing her own skin. 

Oh, god. I’m in danger.

“Paint me like one of your french girls,” and a smirk, “Please?” she really has her way to get her, mostly in her own words. If she could, she would frame her up. Tie her up in an easel. She would shower her with paint and cover her with it. She would be a masterpiece. Better than Picasso and Frida Kahlo combined. 

Elli bite her lip, lifting her leg like a model. Aurora was drooling. Elli knows what would be her reaction. 

I'm trapped.