02
3503 Words
I woke up early when I sense someone is caressing my face gently. When I opened my eyes, I saw Dad smiling at me when he noticed that I am now awake.
"Dad? Why po?" I sat while yawning. Sakto ang oras ng gising ko kaya pinatay ko na lang ang supposed to be alarm ko.
"Good morning, my Princess. How's sleep?" he asked gently .
"It was fine, Dad. Why are you here po?" tanong ko pabalik. Hindi naman kasi siya madalas na bumibisita sa kwarto ko, occasionally lang.
He shook his head. "Donna told me about your attitude towards her."
I bit my lower lip and lowered my gaze. "I still respect her, Dad. Hangga't maaari ay ipinapakita ko po ang pag-galang ko sa kaniya but I'm just respecting her because she is older than me, not because she is your wife. Your only wife I knew is Mommy."
"I know it's hard for you but please, bear with it. Donna never experienced having a child, that's why she's like that. Understand her, anak."
"Okay po, Dad," I agreed to him, kahit pa labag sa loob ko. I always understand so what's the use of explaining myself? Ang akin lang, h'wag naman sana niyang bastusin sa loob ng pamamahay ang Mommy ko, pati si Nanay Luz. Masama ba iyon?
Pagkalabas niya ay nagbuga agad ako ng malalim na hininga. Daddy is so nice at inaabuso iyon ni Tita Donna. Sana matauhan na siya. Hindi naman pwedeng pasensyoso siya palagi. Alam kong napapansin niya rin ang ugali ni Tita pero wala siyang ginagawa.
I went to the VillU at the exact time. No one greeted me and that's okay. That's my everyday life. After class, I walked with a black aura around me. Ilag sila sa akin or 'di kaya, ako ang ilag sa kanila. Kaliwa't kanan ang tumitingin sa akin pero nakatingin lang ako ng diretso sa daan papuntang Cafeteria. No one will dare to befriend me.
I sat on my favorite spot again, where no one could ever notice me. I opened my bag just to order but my other wallet isn't there. 'Yung wallet ko na may lamang important money cards ay nawawala. Narito ang wallet ko na may lamang mga barya, for emergency purposes.
Ginapangan agad ako ng kaba. Did someone steal my wallet from me? I can't remember myself having a close contact with anyone. Kailan iyon nawala? Imposibleng maiwan ko sa bahay dahil hindi ko naman inilabas iyon kagabi. Wait, saan ko ba iyon inilagay kahapon? Hindi ba't sa bulsa ko?
Stupid, Ayannah! My pocket is empty! Where the hell I lost it?!
And great! My ID isn't in my pocket too! Nakasabit ang wallet ko sa ID ko dahil bihira ko lang suutin at iyon ang mas kapit sa katawan ko.
I didn't bother myself eating lunch. I immediately stood up and walked rapidly in lost and found office. Hoping that there's someone with a good heart found my ID and wallet. Please, God.
"Miss, did someone surrender a wallet and an ID here?" I asked the lost and found officer.
"I'll check, Miss." She immediately browsed a book.
I bit my lower lip while thinking where I lost it! Kung kasama ang ID ko doon, perhaps he or she would know where to bring back my wallet and ID, right? But if that person is heartless, she or he can just throw my ID and get the cards. Maybe, the person is heartless because it should be on my hands now!
But my cards have passwords. Oh right, iba na ang utak ng mga mapagsamantala ngayon! Perks for them that they have my ID!
Why are you so freaking idiot and stupid, Ayannah Miles?! Kailan ka pa naging burara sa mga gamit mo? Wallet at ID pa talaga ang nawala mo?!
"Miss, there's no record here. How many hours did it lost?"
"Uhm, I don't really know when I lost it. I didn't notice. Just a while ago," I muttered.
"We can have a public announcement, then." The woman immediately took the telephone connected to the radios here, but I stopped her.
"Wait, maybe I can find it first, then I'll go back here if I really can't. It has my ID, so I'll just wait for a while for them to call or approach me."
I went to the complex to relax myself. Calm down, Ayannah. Just pray that it will return to you immediately. Hindi ko alam kung saan sisimulan maghanap dahil first of all, I don't know where I lost it.
My phone beeped so I opened it immediately. Hoping that my wallet and ID are with him him or her.
From unknown:
Look who's reckless.
My brows furrowed. What the hell? Who is this?
To unknown:
Who's this?
I replied. I can't just ask this person if she or he has my things. Baka gawin niyang dahilan iyon para mabudol pa ako. I don't trust.
From unknown:
Ayannah Miles Vegas, nice name, huh? Please to meet you, then.
"D*mn it," I whispered. I am sure now that he has my ID! Doon niya nakuha ang number ko!
To Unknown:
Please, give me back things.
From unknown:
What's the reward, Miss?
This human is a freaking opportunist. Alam ko na ito ang mangyayari. Bakit hindi niya na lang kinuha ang laman ng wallet ko kung ganoon?!
To Unknown:
I'll give you money. How much do you want? Just please meet me and give back my things.
He didn't reply immediately to my last message. Mukhang nagiisip kung gaano kalaking pera ang hihingiin niya. Wala naman akong pakialam kung milyon ang hihingin niya basta maibalik lang ang cards ko, handa akong bayaran siya. Hindi nababawasan ang laman ng cards na iyon dahil hindi ako palabili ng kung ano-ano but those are still important to me!
From unknown:
I don't need your money, Miss Vegas.
My eyes became unsteady because of that. I could feel my face full of sweats. Lalaki ba ito? If he's a man, then d*mn! He wants my body? No way! Sa kaniya na lang yung cards ko kung ganoon. I'll report him to the police!
To unknown:
Money is all I can offer. Not. Anything. More.
"Silly, I don't need your money."
I yelped because of surprise when a man suddenly talked behind me. Napaharap agad ako sa likuran ko. My brows furrowed because of familiarity. Siya 'yung… kahapon, right? The one who tried to flirt with me in the same place? Oh, wait! I'm not good at memorizing names! What is his name again?
"Did you fr*aking do this for a purpose?" I hissed.
Bakit hindi ko man lang napansin kahapon na may ginagawa na pala siyang mali?!
"I'll take that as your way to say thank you, Ms. Ayannah Miles Vegas. You are very welcome." He smirked while walking towards me. On his left hand, he's holding his phone. On the other hand, my ID and wallet arethere.
Inilahad ko ang kamay ko sa kaniya. "Give me back that."
His bedroom eyes looked at me from head to toe. "What's my reward?"
My lips parted and I automatically covered my body with my both hands. "Don't you f*cking come near me!"
He laughed manly upon hearing that. D*mn him again! "I'm not going to touch you, Miss. What are you thinking?" he scoffed while stepping towards me, again, napapaatras ako dahil doon.
"You!" I pointed my finger on him. "You tried to flirt with me yesterday. You didn't win me so you did this for a purpose, don't you? Why? You want to take me on your bed? Leaving me untouched?"
He didn't speak and stare at me blankly. The cold that had seemed mild at first now numbed his face and extremities. Why? Did I say something bad? What I stated is what I think are facts. I don't know him.
"Judgmental woman.," his cold voice crept the hell out of me.
I looked away, trying to get away from his cold stare. "What do you want then?" Ibinaba ko na rin ang kamay ko. Kasalanan kasi nung wallet at ID, e. Kung hindi ko lang kailangan iyon baka ipakain ko pa sa kaniya.
"I have 3 conditions," his voice is calm now.
My forehead creases. "Conditions? What are those?"
"Firstly, makikipagkilala ka sa kaibigan ko. Secondly, you will always be with us during lunch breaks and third, a friendship with you. That's all," he said, fingers were counting.
I looked at him unbelievably. "Oh c'mmon. Why don't you just give me my wallet so that I can just pay you. Give me that and name your price," maririin ang bawat salita kong sinabi iyon. Inilahad kong muli ang kamay ko. I'd rather die than be friends with him and what? Bakit naman ako makikipagkilala sa tropa niya?
"I said I don't need your money. You? Why don't you just accept my conditions? Makakalibre ka pa," he scoffed.
Sabagay, he looks highly-rated and expensive. Mukhang hindi na nga niya kailangan ng pera.
"I don't need your treat as well. I don't want to be friends with any of you. Why this is a big deal to you? Hindi mo kayang mabuhay at tumulong nang walang kapalit?"
"I can but not with you. Accept it or else..." Itinaas niya ang wallet at ID ko. "I'll not give this to you."
I crossed my arms. "Oh man. I can report it to the police."
"And you think they will sue me just because you didn't accept my conditions? This won't even cost a penny," he fired back at me. Looking so d*mn relaxed while annoyance is really evident on my face.
Three conditions. Just three but I can't accept it. I don't have friends and I have no plans. He is forcing me to be friends with him? Is he crazy? Pati pala pakikipagkaibigan ay pinipilit?
But I can pretend, I can play with him if that what he wants.
"Fine, I'll introduce myself to your friend, I'll join you during lunch breaks and I'll be friends with you. Satisfied?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
He glanced at his wristwatch. "Let's go then. It's still lunch break."
"Now na agad?!" I yelled.
"Yes, do you have any problems with that?" He bit his lower lip and playfully throw my wallet and ID, not leaving my eyes.
I gritted my teeth and sighed heavily. Nauna na akong maglakad papunta sa Cafeteria but I startled when he grabbed my hand.
"Not in Cafeteria."
Hinila niya ako pero hindi na ako umangal. We went to Golden Sky Café, dito malapit sa VillU. Tinanggal ko agad ang pagkakahawak niya sa akin nang makapili na kami ng upuan. Ba't dito pa kasi kami kakain?
"Decide your order now. We'll just wait for my bestfriend," he commanded and I complied, ignoring his presence.
Minutes passed and someone approached us. I looked at him, nagkangitian agad sila nitong lalaki sa harap ko. I scanned him from head to toe. He's height is similar to his friend, obviously taller than me. His hair was in pushback and his eyes has more emotions than his friend. He's attractive too. Bakit ba nandito ako?
"Ayannah Miles Vegas-"
"Just Aya," I said boredly.
"Okay, Aya. This is Alastrid, you can call him Alas and he's my bestfriend,"pakilala niya sa kaibigan niya.
Si Alas naman ay nakita kong humawak pa sa batok niya bago inialok ang kamay sa akin. He looks shy because the redness of his neck is clearly visible, but I couldn't care less. Tinanggap ko na lang ang kamay niya para matapos na.
"It's nice to meet you, Aya," ani ng katamtaman lang na lalim ng boses niya.
I just nodded. Can we just eat first?
Alastrid sat beside me and his bestfriend. Sa wakas ay kumain na rin kami pero nagkukwentuhan sila kaya tumatagal. Nakakainis naman.
"Uh... Aya. Try this one. This is delicious, too," Alastrid offered his one untouched order.
Kumuha ako ng inialok niya at bumalik na sa pagkain ko. They stopped talking and stared at me. I am not comfortable with them staring at me so I bore my eyes onto them and stopped eating. Hello! Dalawa kaya sila!
"Do you have friends aside from us?" Alas asked again. Ah wow, kaibigan ko na pala sila. Hindi man lang ako na-orient.
"Wala."
"Paanong magkakaroon ng kaibigan, Alas. Napakailap. Makikipagkaibigan na nga lang, kailangan pang pilitin," sabat naman nitong mukhang kampon ni Hudas.
"Levi, maybe she's just that introverted person," he explained to his bestfriend. "...but now that you have us, you're not alone anymore." He smiled at me.
"Should I say thank you for that then? Your bestfriend forced me. It's not right." I pointed out, glaring at my newly found enemy.
Naalala ko na rin ang name niya dahil nabanggit nitong si Alas. What is it again? Livay? Whatever.
He eyed his bestfriend seriously. Nag-usap sila gamit ang mata at hindi ang bibig. Great! Sana matapos naman na 'to!
"I'm so sorry for that, Aya. Pero mas maganda na rin na may nakakasama ka, right?? I mean, you can't just be with yourself every time. You need to lean on someone, too," Alas said to me sincerely.
I just stared at them. Lalaki sila at hindi ko kailangan ng kaibigan. Are they blind? "If you're offering a friendship just to take advantage of me. No thanks."
"Advantage? Tsk, ikaw na nga bahala d'yan, Bro!" Levi stood up and was about to walk away, he walked on my side, but I immediately grabbed his hand. "s**t!" He didn't expect that, so he got out of his balance in front of me. He held onto the back of my chair and the other hand was holding on the table to keep his balance. Nakahawak pa rin ang kamay ko sa kamay niyang nasa mesa and we are freaking an inch away from each other!
Gulat kaming pareho kaya naibitaw ko ang kamay ko at itinulak siya. "Damn you!" Mahinang asik ko sa kaniya.
"What the hell? You grabbed my hand tapos ikaw pa galit? Bakit ba?" Pumamewang siya sa harap ko.
I stretched out my hand. "My wallet and ID, you a*shole. Give it back to me. I already did your conditions."
"Ah, talaga?" he retorted sarcastically, narrowing his bedroom eyes a bit.
"Uh here..." Alas handed me my wallet and ID. "You can take it. I'm sorry for my bestfriend. He's just like that." He laughed a bit.
"What a traitor, Bro! Salamat sa pagtatanggol!" Levi mumbled but we heard it and Alas just laughed.
I rolled my eyes for the both of them. I massaged my temple a bit. Really? Ganito gagawin ko palagi? Ganito mararanasan ko palagi? Dagdag lang sila sa sakit ng ulo ko!
"I'm done. I have class pa." I stood up. Aalis na ako dito tutal naman nakuha ko na kailangan ko. Sana hindi na ulit sila magpakita sa akin.
Alas stood up too. "Let's go, then."
Natigil ako at tinaasan siya ng kilay. "What?"
"I'll take you to your building. H'wag ka na umangal, please." He looked so hopeful.
Hindi na lang din ako umangal. I'm so tired of it. Nauna na akong maglakad sa kanila. Lumingon lang ako nang makarating ko sa building namin. Si Alastrid lang ang nandoon at wala si Levi.
"Where's your bestfriend?"
"He didn't come with us," he answered what's obvious. Still staring at me.
Okay, I don't care. Mabuti na lang at hindi siya sumama kung ganoon. "I'll go now."
"Hmm, take care." He gives me a genuine smile and waved while walking backwards. Pagkatalikod niya ay huminga ako agad ng malalim.
Alas is nice, by the way. Levi is... rude and I don't like his attitude. There's something in him that I really don't like. Si Alas pwede pa pakisamahan ng maayos, e. Si Levi, ewan ko do'n.
I don't know their problem, really. Sa lahat ng pwedeng maging kondisyon ay iyon pa ang napili ni Levi. Bakit friendship pa? Sus! Nagsasawa na ba sila sa isa't-isa kaya naghahanap ng mato-tropa? Bakit ako? Seems fishy.
Sabagay, it was my fault too. Sa kapabayaan ko rin. In my entire years of living, I have never experienced this before. Being forced to be their friends. Isn't rude? Kung sakali ngang they're offering a genuine friendship which I don't like, isn't bad if I refuse? Eh sa ayaw ko sila maging kaibigan, e!
Pinilit kong hindi magpakita sa kanila pero si Levi, alam pala ang number ko. Nakakainis naman. Why being friends with them is already a big deal for me? And besides...they're men for heaven's sake! In this toxic society, issue agad iyon but it seems like they don't care.
For some reason, I know them now for better. Si Alas ay kasalukuyang legal management student, balak mag-abogado. Parehong mga magulang niya ay may-ari ng isang law firm at may isa siyang nakatatandang kapatid.
But aside from Levi being a fine arts student, wala na akong alam pang iba sa kaniya. Hindi rin naman niya ikinukwento at wala akong balak alamin but if he's a fine arts student, does it mean that he's into arts or something, right?
Ganoon din ako. Wala na silang alam na iba maliban sa ako ay Hotel Management student. I don't know, maybe they knew something from me but chose not to talk about it. Maraming Vegas sa mundo pero siguro naman alam na nila ang pinagmulan ko. I just hope that they won't take that as an advantage because for now, I'm really rooting for a good friendship.
"Nasaan si Levi?" I asked Alas since siya lang ang kasama ko ngayon. Well, this isn't the first time that Levi is not with us.
"He's busy daw. I don't know if he's busy for study or for woman," he said, chuckling.
I winced. Palaging sinasabi ni Alas sa akin kung gaano ka-flirt si Levi, hindi rin naman itinatanggi ni Levi. Almost half of the fine arts students daw ay nai-date na niya. Well, men. Ganiyan talaga sila.
"Eh ikaw? Aren't you busy?" I asked while eating my food.
He smiled for a moment. "Just enjoy when I'm still with you."
I rolled my eyes. I'm not enjoying their company, duh. Naghahanap lang talaga ako ng butas kung saan pwedeng hindi ko sila makasama at magkaroon ako ng peaceful na buhay-estudyante and besides, napaka-busy kaya ng kinuha niyang course. Hindi ba siya nag-aalala?
Natapos kami kumain nang hindi man lang ako nakakapagsalita dahil nagkukwento siya sa araw niya. He's a vocally-inclined person unlike me. Medyo madaldal siya pero ramdam ko ang pag-iingat niya sa mga sinasabi niya.
Pagdating ko sa bahay ay nasa mesa na si Daddy at Tita Donna. Dumiretso akong humalik kay Daddy at nagmano kay Nanay Luz. I washed my hands and didn't bother to go upstairs just to change my clothes.
"You're a bit late, Aya? Busy now?" Dad asked me in the middle of the food.
"Yes, Dad," I answered, no details.
"Or... baka naman you're just traveling for your own satisfaction-" sabat naman ni Tita Donna.
"Donna, don't start," Dad cut her off.
My grip to the spoon became tight. Ano bang pakialam niya?
"You know your daughter, hon. She likes traveling a lot. Malay nating gumagala lang pala siya at hindi nag-aaral," taas noo niya pang saad.
“Just enough,” my dad said to her wife but I couldn’t control myself from talking.
"I can show my attendance to you, Tita Donna," sabat ko na dahil kung ano-ano na naman sinasabi niyang walang kwenta. Pati pagpasok ko sa school ay may problema siya?
"Oh dear. Don't give me a proof that can be deceived," she said sarcastically.
I looked at her coldly. "What do you want me to do then-" Napatalon ako sa upuan ko nang biglang hinampas ni Daddy ang table at dumagundong ito sa lakas.
"I said, enough! Stop it, you two. We're eating for God's sake! Can you set aside that ridiculous thing as of the meantime?!" the authority in Daddy's voice echoed in the whole dining area.
Bumilis ang hininga ko dahil sa kaba. Minsan lang magalit ng ganito si Daddy at hindi pa ako nakakarecover sa gulat mula sa paghampas niya ng table. Uminom ako ng tubig dahil sumisikip ng bahagya ang dibdib ko, eventually, umayos naman ang pakiramdam ko.
I stood up. "I'm sorry, Dad. I'm done. I'll go upstairs na po. Goodnight."
Mabilis akong nakarating sa kwarto ko. Pagkatapos magshower at magbihis ay ibinagsak ko ang katawan ko sa kama. Pagod na pagod ako, physically, mentally and emotionally and I'm just keeping it all by myself.
I am matured enough to handle this pain but it's also sad because to be a matured person means I can't cry because everyone thinks that I understand everything. Like I just breathe deeply and then it's okay. Sana ganoon na nga lang kadali.
Hirap talaga maging matured na tao, akala ng lahat okay lang.
~~~
- Writer
