Art of Serendipity

09

"Where do you want to go?" Alastrid asked me while playing the key for his car on his other hand.

Magkasama na kami ngayon dahil hinintay niya talagang matapos ang klase ko kanina. I agreed to his message last night that was why he patiently waited for me. Wala rin naman akong gagawin for the rest of my day, so I guess it is really good to have some fun with friends. Ewan ko. Simula nang mamasyal kami ni Levi kanina ay naging magaan na ang pakikitungo ko sa kanila.

"Ikaw ang bahala, ikaw naman nag-aya 'di ba?" I just said. Malay ko ba kung bakit inaya niya pa akong lumabas tapos hindi naman pala niya alam kung saan kami pupunta.

He laughed. "You're so cute." He ruffled my hair again. Gustong-gusto niya talaga ginagawa iyon, 'no?

Cute raw ako. Itong dalawang mag-bestfriend na ito ay ginagawa talaga akong parang bata.

Inaya na niya ako umalis. Mabuti na lang at hindi na kami pinag-uniform ngayon, It is our wash day. I just wore a tank top and mom's jeans while Alastrid just simply wore a blue shirt and jeans.

"Kailangan sulitin na natin 'to. I will be busy for these following days, weeks or months for sure. Baka umalis pa ako ng bansa," he informed me while he's driving his car.

"Where are you going?" I asked. Narinig ko kasi ang bansa. Gusto ko rin tuloy mag-out of town kaso wala naman akong kasama ngayong break, but he mentioned that he will be busy, baka hindi naman out of town ang gagawin niya.

"Singapore. I'll represent our business in a conference because my parents cannot come. Pagkatapos siguro ng sem na ito"

Tumango lang ako. I looked at him in the rear mirror. I can see him as a lawyer, really. Kung ang family nila ay puro lawyers, iyon rin ba ang dahilan niya kaya siya mag-aabogado? Nalaman ko kasi na passion and talent talaga ni Levi ang pagpipinta kaya iyon ang pinili niyang pangarapin.

"Let's go," iginiya niya na ako sa kung saan.

I roamed around my eyes. This is an open space garden na may malaking screen sa gitna. Medyo marami ring tao pero hapon pa lang naman. They are just sitting on the grass maybe because of they are waiting for the movie to show on the big screen in front. Nakakainis lang dahil puro couple ata ang nandito. Out of space kami ni Alas dahil hindi naman kami couple.

"We will watch movie?" I asked him. May hawak siyang carpet at inilatag iyon sa hindi kalayuan. Hindi ko man lang napansin na may hawak na pala siya nito.

"Yes. Have you already watched five feet apart? Iyon daw ang movie ngayon, nasa premiere." Umupo na siya sa carpet kaya tumabi na lang rin ako.

I shook my head. I haven't watch that but I know it because I often see it in some ads. Maya-maya lang ay nagsimula nang ipalabas ang movie na iyon, we watched the movie quietly and I don't know but my tears suddenly burst out after watching the movie. Hell! Tragic pala ito! Nadala ako sa story!

"Hey, don't cry." Alas tried to wipe my tears but I immediately wiped it before he could. Ibinaba niya na lang ang kamay niya at ngumiti sa akin.

"Sorry, nadala lang." I chuckled a little but he looks not convinced.

"I shouldn't let you watch that," he murmured like he is scolding himself.

"No, it's okay. Maganda kaya. Thank you, anyway," agap ko agad. Hindi naman ako iyakin pero kusang tumulo ang luha ko kanina. No big deal, a single tear won't matter.

Kumain lang kami sa mga pagkainan dito sa labas. Walang fancy restaurant dito at mas okay ako roon. It's good that he's not that stuggy.

"Hmm. Are you with Levi yesterday?" he inquired.

"Yes, I got a painting from him," I said carefully. Baka kasi magtaka siya kung bakit kami magkasama for no reason at siguro sinabi ni Levi iyon sa kaniya.

He just nodded though, he looked at nowhere for avoidance. Inipit ko sa likod ng tenga ko ang mga takas na buhok ko. Ang weird lang, kahapon ay kasama ko si Levi tapos ngayon naman ay siya. Gala ako, I mean it but never in my life kong na-imagine na may kasama akong mag-gala maliban kay Ate Noreen.

"Do you really like to be a lawyer? Is it your... dream?" I asked, interested.

"Yes, don't get it wrong because of my family. I just find being a lawyer captivating and sensational. Ever since I was a kid, nakikita ko na ang rahas ng mga tao, siguro, dahil nakikita ko kila Daddy," he explained willingly.

His mind and logic, his intelligence is also one of the reasons why he wanted to be a lawyer. Para sa akin, nakikita ko na iyon as a talent and ability. He can be an outstanding lawyer. Levi can be a great artist. Ako? I can be... Nothing. Nothing but to follow the plan of everyone who's around me. Doon ako kung saan ako dadalhin ng mga tao sa paligid ko.

At some point, I felt useless. Useless because I can't use myself to satisfy myself in order to be happy. Useless because I'm scared to be the one of those disappointing woman of my age. Gusto ko ba talaga na mag-manage na lang ng mga hotels namin? O may gusto pa akong maabot?

Where is the thrill in this life if I will be having a goal to reach? I believe that I will not learn my lesson at all.

"How about you? Ano nga palang pangarap mo? Why did you choose Hotel Management?" he added, asking.

Oh no. I lost my words to answer. Ano nga bang pangarap ko? Wala! Hanggang ngayon wala akong maisip dahil hindi naman na yata kailangan! Wala rin naman akong motivation para mangarap.

"Uh... Let's go home... It's a bit late na," I answered awkwardly. Mabuti na lang at hindi na siya nagtanong pa at sumunod na lang sa sinabi ko.

Tomorrow came and I'm here at our classroom. Kakatapos lang ng klase kaya nag-aayos na ako ng gamit. A bunch of girls approached me before I stepped outside our room. Huminto na lang ako at bored silang tinignan.

"Hi Aya," one girl with short hair greeted me happily.

Here we go again.

"Excuse me," I refused to talk to them. I was about to step away but they blocked my way again.

"We are just want to invite you to go to the park tomorrow. It's for our activity, Aya. Don't say that you don't want to help, you are my member so-"she ranted but I cut her off right away.

"I'll come. Just email me where exactly and what time," I said coldly and vanished immediately.

Those girls, bakit kasi sa grupo pa nila ako napunta? Sila lang naman yung mga babaeng nakikipagkumpetensiya kahit kanino, kahit sa akin. They are so competitive and it s causing everyone to be scared of them but I'm the only exception. Bakit ako matatakot sa kanila? Hindi ako takot sa kanila.

I went to the complex since I am expecting Alas or Levi here. There is no one here so I just sat and waited for their message. Funny how I used to hate being with them but look at me now, waiting for those guys. Nasanay na ata ako. Kaibigan na ba talaga turing ko sa kanila? Parang ang hirap naman isipin.

"Ayannah Vegas, uhm... Hello," another bunch of girls approached me. Ano ba yan, nakaiwas nga ako sa isa tapos ito naman ngayon. I hardly prevented myself from rolling my eyes.

I just looked at them coldly without saying a word. Hoping that they would notice how pissed I am with their presence but they continued.

"It's my 18th birthday party tomorrow. Would you mind coming? Mom said that Vegas are invited. Your Dad refused to come because he's busy but I said to my mom that we're friends so surely, a Vegas will come," tuloy-tuloy na sabi ng babae sa harapan. Ano naman pakialam ko sa debut niya?

"Obviously, we are not friends so tell your mom that no Vegas will come to your party." I can almost feel the coldness of my voice. Again, they're using my family's name to be close with me? The hell with these people's mindsets.

"Sorry, but you are already-"

"I said no Vegas will come to your party. You don't understand? Then I don't care. You can go out of my sight now."

"Ha!" She laughed sarcastically, losing her patience. "You think high of yourself 'no? For sure, you are nothing without your family's name. I didn't wonder now that you don't have friends. Remember this, Vegas. No one will offer a genuine friendship with you." Bahagya pa talaga siyang lumapit para ako lang ang makarinig ng sinabi niya. Fake b*tch.

I know...

"Oh, really? Sad to say but I'm not born to please all of you, deal with it. I don't care," I said casually, looking at her burning eyes with my coldness.

Makikipag-away pa sana siya pero inawat na siya ng kaibigan niya at umalis na lang. I held my head because of frustration. Wala na ba talagang matinong tao sa mundo?

"Ang suplada naman."

I startled when someone suddenly sat beside me. I immediately get away from him. It was Levi, looking amused at me with his usual good-looking attire. I roamed around my eyes to look for Alastrid but he's nowhere. Palagi kasing magkasama 'tong dalawang to kapag sa school kaya nakakapagtaka na mag-isa lang si Levi ngayon.

"Alas is busy," Levi answered the question in my head.

"Then why are you here?" my frustrated voice didn't even changed. Inis pa rin ako sa mga babae kanina.

"What did those girls told you? Sinungitan mo naman. Kawawa sila, they look good you know. Baka maging kaibigan mo rin sila," he said instead of answering my question.

"E 'di sa'yo na lang. Iuwi mo," I said sarcastically. Lalo lang akong nainis sa sinabi niya.

"Can I?"

I looked at him unbelievably. "The hell?"

Tumawa siya. "I'm just kidding, ready ka na yata manapak, e. So feisty."

"You're so flirt. Playboy," I accused but he didn't even deny that!

What? Aminado siyang babaero siya!

~~~