Chaos Series 1: Angel

22

"Sure na ba kayo sa horror booth? Baka hindi bumenta, sayang yung effort natin." Ani ng vice president nila. Andito kami ngayon sa gymnasium dahil dito binalak na itayo ni Ezekiel at Ace ang horror booth.

"It will, I'm sure magiging curious ang mga students sa kung anong meron sa loob, trust me." Ani ni Ezekiel bago bumasok sa entrance bg horror booth.

Its valentines, pero may horror booth? Dahil siguro sa hindi nai-push ng SSG officers and Halloween party dati. Dahil na rin sa busy ang mga estudyante at may mga naghahabol  sa acads nila kaya hindi na rin nagawang magkaroon ng celebration. Pero kung nagkaroon ay tiyak na may horror booth.

Ilang araw nalang at Valentines na. Marami na kaming nagawang booth gaya ng wedding booth, jail booth, photo booth, at iba pa. Pinlano talaga nila Ace at Ezekiel na ihuling asikasuhin ang horror booth para hindi daw madaliin.

Labas pasok ang ibang officers sa loob ng horror booth, habang ako naman itong naka upo lang sa isang monoblock chair, hawak-hawak ang aking isang notebook para gawin ang isang assignment. Mabuti na lamang ay may mabait ako na kaklase na ipinagsusulat ako ng assignment kahit wala ako sa classroom.

As usual, naka excuse kaming mga part ng SSG. Hindi na rin kine-kwestyon ng mga teacher kung bakit ako laging kasama ng mga officers kahit alam naman ng lahat na hindi ako nanalo last year. Pero noong una ay madalas akong tanungun muna ng profs bago ako payagan na umalis sa gitna ng klase.

Napa-angat ako ng tingin sa nakakarindi na katahimikan. Tumingin ako sa aking paligid at napansin na wala na pala akong kasama.

"Asaan na sila?" Tanong ko sa sarili ko at mas inilawak pa ang tingin. Hanggang sa napatingin ako sa entrance ng horror booth kung saan may malaking mukha ng diablo.

Napatikom ang aking bibig bago dahan-dahan na inilayo ang bangko na inuupan ko mula sa entrance at naglayo na ng tingin doon. Bumalik na lamang ako sa pagsasagot at sinubukang hindi pansinin ang mukha ng diablo na naka ngiti sa akin.

Hanggang sa maya-maya ay may narinig akong sumigaw ng pangalan ko na siyang ikina igtad ko.

"Angel! Andyan ka pa ba?!" Boses iyon ni Ezekiel na nanggagaling sa loob ng horror booth.

"Oo! Andito pa ako! Bakit?" Sigaw ko pabalik.

Narinig ko ang malakas na tawa ni Ezekiel at Ace na siyang ikinapag taka ko.

"Nakikita mo ba yung green na eco bag sa ibabaw ng isang bangko?!!" Sigaw ni Ezekiel.

Agad akong napatayo at binitawan ang aking notebook nang makita ang eco bag na kaniyang sinasabi. Tumakbo po sa gawi na iyon at kinuha ito. Mga props at decorations ang laman.

"Angel?! Nakita mo?!" Sigaw ni Ezekiel ulit.

Utay-utay akong tumango at tumingin sa entrance ng booth.

"Oo! Anong gagawin ko dito?!" Sigaw ko, bakit kasi hindi nalang sila lumabas? Nagsisigawan tuloy kami dito.

"Great! Pakidala naman dito sa loob!" Bahagyang nahulog ang panga ko nang isigaw niya iyon.

All these time hindi nga ako pumapasok sa horror booth dahil takot ako sa kung ano man ang inilagay o ginawa nila sa loob. Wala rin akong balak na pumasok dyan o subukan man lang sa oras ng valentines. Tapos ngayon.. gusto nila akong papasukin.

"Lumabas nalang kayo!" Natatakot kong sigaw, ang ulo pa lamang ng diablo sa unahan ay hindi ko na kakayanin, paano pa kaya sa loob?! Alam ko naman na magaling mag-isip si Ace at Ezekiel ng decorations, kaya hindi ko ma-imagine ang basa loob.

"Huwag na! Dalhin mo nalang dito, may ginagawa pa kami!" Sigaw ni Ezekiel at napasimangot ako.

"Sige na! Pero abangan niyo ako malapit sa entrance! Ayaw kong pumasok sa pinakang loob!" Sigaw ko bago dahan-dahan naglakad sa may entrance. Nang katapat ko nalang halos ang kagimbal-gimbal na mukha ng diablo ay napatakbo ako paloob.

Pero mas masaklap pa pala iyon, mga bungo na may dugo, patay na mga hayop, mga parte ng katawan. Mga nakasabit na katawan na animo'y nag suicide, mga malalaking insekto gaya ng gagamba, ipis. Mga paniki at kalahating katawan ng tao.

"Ezekiel? Ace? Asaan kayo? Andito na yung eco bag! Kunin niyo na!" Sigaw ko habang maliliit na hakbang na lamang ang ginagawa.

Dahil mas napapalayo na ako sa entrance ay mas dumidilin na at wala na halos pinanggagalingan ng araw.

"Ace?! Ezekiel! Andito na ako- AHHHH!" Halos mapatakbo ako pabalik nang may malamig na kamay ang humawak sa aking pulso. Agad namang may mga braso na yumakap sa akin kaya hindi na ako tuluyang naka takbo palabas.

Nag echo ang malakas na tawa ni Ezekiel at Ace sa loob bago may liwanag na sumabog sa loob.

"Angel kalma..." ani ni Ezekiel habang tumatawa.

"Kasi naman! Na nanakot kayo! Paano ako kakalma!?" Mangiyak-ngiyak kong turan habang nagpupumiglas sa bisig ni Ezekiel.

"Oh! Ito na yung eco bag! Bahala nga kayo! Nakakainis kayo!" Ani ko bago pinagpilitan ang bag sa kamay ni Ezekiel at nag martsa na palabas. Narinig ko pang muling mag echo ang tawa ni Ezekiel bago ako makalabas.

Lumipas pa ang 2 araw at Valentines day na. Pagpasok pa lamang ng van namin sa campus ay nagkalat na ang mga estudyante na iba't ibang kulay ang suot. Ang mga naka kulay red na couple ay magkakasama na agad.

"Di-diretso na daw ba sa event hall?" Tanong ni Ellie nang bumaba kami ng van. Tumingin ako sa aking relo at tumango.

"Oo, 8am na eh, program starts at 8:15." Sagot ko at tumango siya. Magkasama na kaming naglakad papunta sa event hall.

Pag dating namin doon ay mas nakita ko ang makulay na mga damit. White for singles, red for taken, maroon for bitter, yellow for friends and study first, blue for complicated, pink for in love, purple for dating. I'm wearing the t-shirt that is provided for the officers. But later after the program, I'll be wearing white shirt. I know I should be wearing purple, but of course I won't do that. Students who publicize their dating only does that.

The program starts and its just a quick one, the officers know that the students are excited for the booths and we only have a day to enjoy those. Around 8:50 the event hall is already empty. The officers started changing their shirts and I'm a bit surprised to see that some officers are taken.

"Ace... you're..." I look at Ace's clothes as he came out from nowhere, wearing a blue shirt

"Its complicated, magulo, walang kasiguraduhan, nakakainis siya." He said and I tried to stop myself from laughing.

"So who's the lucky girl?" I curiously ask, he look at me and chuckled.

"Would rather not say." He said before walking away. My lips parted a bit before slowly nodding, I understanding that he wants privacy regarding his love life.

Gosh, bakit pa nga ba ako nagtanong?! Of course he won't say it! Its his love life after all!

I have changed to my white shirt already and I honestly don't know what I should do right now or where I should go. Maybe I'll go with food stalls. Foods will never disappoint you.

"Angel... hindi ka naman color blind diba?" My lips parted as I saw Ezekiel walking towards me, wearing a purple jacket.

"H-Huh? Hindi 'no." I said,

He walk closer to me that made me take few steps backwards, "Shouldn't you be wearing purple? Because you know..." he paused and lean closer to my ear.

"We're dating." He said before pulling away.

"H-Hindi naman mandatory e. I can wear anything I want." I said and he burst out laughing that almost echoed through the whole hall.

"Okay, ikaw bahala, pa-alala lang na may jail booth tayo. Hinuhuli ang mga single." He said before walking away. My lips parted from each other and I stood there looking so dumbfounded.

Ganun pala 'yon? Ganun pala kasama ang jail booth. I better start hiding.

I end up at a tusok-tusok stall. I ordered fishballs, squid ball, sharks fin, and blue lemonade. I just decided to eat since I won't be participating one of the booths or even an organizer. I guess I should have ask to be an organizer in jail booth para hindi ako mahuli.

I silently sat there while other students are taking pictures with their partners. Or some are in photo booth with their friends. Hindi ko pa nakikita si Ellie and I totally understand. Maybe she's somewhere and doing something.

"Arestado ka sa kasong walang jowa sa valentines day. Sumama ka sa amin, may karapatan kang kumuha ng sarili mong abogado." Napanganga ako nang may 3 kalalakihan ang tumigil sa aking harap.

"What?" I confusedly ask,

"Sumama ka sa amin ng walang pagpupimiglas o panlalaban." Ani ng isang lalaki sa iisang tono ng boses. Napahagikhik ang isa niyang katabi, bago humagalpak ng tawa ang isa.

"Tol sigurado ka ba na magpupulis ka?! Para kang robot magsalita!" Tawa ng isa, nilunok ko na lamang ang kinakain ko bago sumama sa kanilang tatlo sa jail booth. Pumirma pa ako sa log book bago pumasok sa sinasabing kulungan.

Pagpasok ko doon ay laking gulat ko nang makita si Ezekiel sa loob.

"Why are you wearing white na? Diba you were wearing purple? Kaya ka nahuli eh! Nagpalit ka pa!" I scolded him before sitting down beside him.

I hear him chuckle, "Pero ikaw nakaputi  if I'm gonna wear purple, you should too." He said and I pouted.

"I only brought white shirt kasi 'yon lang naman talaga ang balak ko." I said and he slowly nod.

"Do you know how we can get out from from this? I want to eat more." I said and I hear him chuckle.

"Well... either a person from outside bail us out and marry us or... two person from the jail marry each other." He replied and my head snap at him.

I squinted my eyes and he once again chuckled, "Oh... I get it now, plano mo lang 'to. I know what you want, and you're pretty smart for that one." I said and he started laughing catching attentions from the other inmates.

"So... payag ka ba? Para maka kain kana?" He said, I crossed my arms and sigh.

"Do I have any options?" I said and he once again laughed before standing up and dusting the back of his pants.

"So... lets go, alis na tayo dito." He said and reach for my hand to stand me up. We went to the door of the jail.

"Magpapakasal na daw kami! Palabasin niyo na kami dito!" Sigaw ni Ezekiel na ikinalaki ng mata ko.

"Hey don't shout it out!" I said and he only grinned at me.

Binuksan na ang pinto at pinalabas  kami bago dinala sa katabing booth kung saan wedding booth. Binigyan kami ng singsing at belo.

"Congrats sa inyo, ninang ako ng panganay ha?" The representative from 4th grade joked and my lips parted a bit.

"Uy Angel joke lang, ito naman di mabiro. Ito na yung marriage contract niyo, enjoy!" He said before handing Ezekiel the paper.

We went to the small platform where we will get married. As we stood there, many students noticed us and started watching which made me a bit uncomfortable.

"Do you... Charleigh Angela Navarro take Alaire Ezekiel Guillermo as your husband?" The so called priest ask. I tried to stop myself from laughing as he forced his voice to sound deep and bold.

"Yes..." I shortly replied.

"Good, do you, Alaire Ezekiel Guillermo take Charleigh Angela as your wife?" He once again asked, forcing his voice. I slightly slap Ezekiel as he try to control his laughter.

"Yes..." Ezekiel replied.

"I know pronounce you, husband and wife! You may now kiss the bride." He announced and the students around us clapped their hands. I felt Ezekiel's hand on my arm and turn me around. My eyes widened, oh no.

"Masakit pa ba?" Tanong ko kay Ezekiel, he's holding up to his milktea to his red cheeks.

"Nagulat lang kasi ako, akala ko hahalikan mo talaga ako. Hindi ko naman sinasadya na sampalin ka." I softly said, he look at me before chuckling a bit.

"No its fine, I'm fine." He said before taking few pieces of fries.

I munch on my fries before looking at him. I can't help but to stare at his beautiful features. Beautiful eyes, long lashes, cute nose, plumpy lips, and his define jawline.

"Para hindi na masakit... may sasabihin nalang ako sayo. Dahil kasal na rin naman na tayo..." I said and he look at me.

His brows furrowed, "Ano?" He ask. I pull out my hand that have the ring and reach for his hand that have the ring.

"We're not just husband and wife in booth, we are also girlfriend and boyfriend in real life."

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