The Wayward Daughter

Chapter 17

“I HAVE an idea,” wika ni Monique sa kabilang linya.

“Go on,” susog ni Luna. Hawak ang lighter na naka-emboss ang katagang CLIPPER, sinindihan niya ang nakarolyong maria.

Hinithit niya iyon at saglit na pinigilan ang hangin sa dibdib.

“Are you familiar with the concept of selling foot pictures online?”

Napabuga siya ng hangin sa narinig sabay tawa ng pagkalakas-lakas. “My god, Monique!” hindi niya mapigilan ang mapalakas ang boses sa naging suhestiyon ng kaibigan. “Have you been online all this time selling pictures to strangers on the Internet?” she playfully asked.

Luna heard Monique scoff. “No, dumdum. But this can pay your bills.”

She shook her head. “I can apply in BPO or as VA and yet the first job you think I could do is sell foot pics online?” Luna said in disbelief, but didn’t try to hide her laugh.

Monique laughed along with her. “You will be instant rich, hon.”

Luna giggled. “Seriously, Monique?!” Bumunghalit na siya ng tawa.

“Yes! Imagine the amount you will spend in salons just to get the right color your subscriber paid you to get. Or, or, the disbelief in your nail technician’s face every time you go to her place just to get your nails done four times in a week.”

“Ugh, no way.” Muling bumalik sa pagkakahiga si Luna. “My nails would be dead before I hit my first million.”

“Just throwing ideas, if you don’t like it, then go ahead and apply as a virtual assistant. Be like a normal working student. Go have your eight hour workload. You will grow old even before you reach the stage and I will be there looking young and fresh as a baby's butt reaching for my diploma.”

“I’ll circle back on it, don’t you worry,” Luna giggled.

“How was your first night there, by the way?”

She groaned. “Ang ingay ng folding bed pero mas okay na ‘to kesa sa wala. I’m thankful for you, guys.”

“Did Joaquin come back to your place last night?”

“Yes. Dito pa siya natulog.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Said he had a long day and he’s tired.”

“Baka ayaw ka rin maiwan mag-isa riyan. Wait, saan naman siya natulog?”

“Sa sala, pinahiram ko iyong banig.”

“Uff. And he’s still there?”

Umiling siya. “No. Paggising ko, paalis na siya. Akala ko makakapag-usap pa ulit kami. Para makumusta siya. Looks like he has his own ongoing battle.”

Her phone vibrated. Sinilip niya kung ano ang notification na nag-pop up at nakita niya na may mensahe si Alex. Nilagay niya sa speaker si Monique at binasa ng tahimik ang text ni Alex.

She bit her lip. Alex wanted to send her another twenty thousand pesos. What for? she asked.

“Hello, are you still there?” puna ni Monique.

“Hmm?” Wala ang atensyon niya rito.

So you have an emergency fund till next month, ang sagot ni Alex.

Luna bit her lip. You didn’t have to do that but thank you so, so much, babe!

Luna quietly sighed. Ibinalik niya ang atensyon kay Monique. “Ayon nga, he woke me up so I can lock the house. He left in a hurry. We didn’t have time to chat. Ganoon naman iyon lagi. Parating may lakad. Hindi na napirmi. Gig dito, raket doon.”

“Yeah, he looks on edge no’ng hinatid ako. Must be really hard to take his path, you know, as a musician. I don’t understand why he chooses to perform in that junk Desperados.”

“I know, right? Beats me. Pero as far as I know, lumuluwas din siya to perform. It’s just that, luck is not always on his side.”

“Oh, Sebastian was waiting for me last night. Nakita niyang hinatid ako ni Joaquin and he was wearing a helmet so Seb couldn’t see who it was but I still told him who it was. Ang ending, nag-away kami.”

Nangunot ang noo niya. “Bakit naman?”

“I couldn’t tell why Joaquin the musician would bring me home.”

Mas lalong lumalim ang gatla sa noo niya. “Kasi galing kayo dito? Anong big deal doon?”

“For once, Clip, I didn’t want them to know your business.”

Nagulat siya sa sinabi nito. That’s new. Monique finally resisted on telling her.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up,” si Luna. “You, of all people, and for the first time, didn’t spill the latest chismis? And to your boyfriend pa, ha.” Luna felt a sense of pride. For Monique. Maybe she could still change. Monique changing? Yeah, not bad. She crossed her fingers.

Monique whimpered. “And he was so suspicious of me I couldn’t bear it, Clip!”

“Well, I don’t mind!” aniya. “Kung ang paraan para magbati kayo ay ang simpleng bagay na sabihin ang katotohanan, then go. You have my permission. I’m not against the truth. And also, don’t say too many details. Just the surface truth.”

Monique continues to make little noises like a puppy. “He was so hurt. I feel bad. I’m not perfect and I’m not the most beautiful girl in this godforsaken city but I landed Sebastian, that sweet, gentle guy. I should go ahead and say something.”

“Paano naman magselos ang isang Sebastian?” natatawang sabi niya.

Sebastian usually doesn’t care about the flies loitering around Monique, they are, after all, flies. They would be the same age as Sebastian. He would just smirk, shrug his shoulders, and walk away with his hand on Monique’s curvy waist. But if older guys would flirt with Monique, then his radar would go crazy. He knows Monique’s type of man. Monique clearly has daddy issues. And once a silver fox would give the slightest attention to Monique, Sebastian will be heartbroken and would cling to Monique, reassuring himself that his girlfriend still wants him, a twenty-year-old-something with no financial assets.

Sebastian would give his usual speech: why would Monique choose him if her type is older than her for at least ten years?

Monique lightened up as she started speaking again. “It’s really funny how I convince him that he’s the one I like and not someone else. Every time I come up with a new reason why I choose him every day. And that’s on personal growth, bitches.”

“Hey, happy for you, Monique. I know you always say you like having guys around, but we all know you got lucky with Sebastian. Buhay pagkadalaga is over. Promise me that.”

“I ain’t promising you anything,” Monique teased.

“Hmp!”

“I’ll go see Sebastian. Bisitahin ko siya sa bahay nila.”

“Yeah, no worries. You can hang up. Thanks for telling me this. Pwede mo naman sabihin why you were out late last night. It’s the truth. You were here with me, at hinatid ka lang ni Joaquin. Best of luck sa inyo.”

Monique gave her a quick kiss on the other line.

“Bye, Monique.”