Wind and Sail

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Dayn’s PoV

Hapon pa lang ng Thursday ay nagchat na ako sa gc na kung maaari ay i-gcash na lang ang pagbabayad nila. Two hundred pesos lang naman, kung tutuusin ay barya lang iyon sa kanila.

Tumunog ang cellphone ko, umupo ako mula sa pagkakahiga, kinuha iyon sa mesa, at binuksan para tingnan kung ano iyon. It was a notification from Gcash that someone had sent me two hundred pesos. Dali-dali akong tumayo para kumuha ng pen at papel para ilista kung sino na ang mga nakakapagbayad.

Lester Sinco, two-hundred pesos only.

I write his name down. Maya-maya lang ay sunod-sunod na ang pagdating ng mga notification sa phone ko. Naghintay ako hanggang ala una ng madaling araw, binilang ko ang lahat ng nagbayad.

Thirteen lang, e, samantalang halos nasa forty kami sa klase.

Good morning. Mag-send na po ‘yung hindi pa nakakapagbigay, please. Hihintayin ko kayo hanggang twelve noon, same day. Friday. Salamat.

I sent to the group. I got a little bit irritated for there were only few people who has seen it. They didn’t even respond, a yes or thank you would be fine but there was nothing. Nothing.

So, I send another one before eating dinner.

Y’all have rich-ass parents, don’t make paniningil ng money hard for us to do.

It is almost eleven in the evening, Friday, twenty-four hours had passed, tomorrow is Saturday. Pero hindi pa lahat ay nakakapagbayad. Ang kukunat ng mga kaklase ko, para dalawang daan na piso, hindi makabayad? Baka nakakalimutan nila na sa yayamanin na school sila nag aaral at hindi ka makakapag-aral dito kung wala kang pera. Wala bang pera ‘yung susunduin na lang naka-Mercedes Benz pa? Naka-Ford Everest? BMW sedan? Wala bang pera ‘yung ang gamit na mga bag ay Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel Mga pangalang sumisigaw ng pera. Hindi ko naman akalain na ganito pala sila kakunat.

Nag-iinit na ang ulo ko dahil hindi pa rin talaga sila nagbabayad. Kaya napagpasiyahan ko na mag-send ng aggressive na voice message.

"Wala na ba talagang magbabayad? Ang kukunat ninyo! Mga binansagan kayo na mayayaman at magagarbo, tapos para two hundred pesos, hindi kayo makapagbigay? I am not asking for two million pesos! Two hundred lang, two hundred, dios mio!” I blurt out. I slick my hair back, leans forward to the table where my phone is sitting.

I am waiting for their response. I am seeing three dots, then no dots, three dots---

Here, sorry. Somebody replies. My phone buzzes again, but I am not yet done with the talking so I sent another voice message, saying, “I am telling you guys, this behavior will reach Ms. Daria. Nakakahiya kayong Tourism-1B, para two hundred lang. Pero kapag may bagong labas na bag, relo, kotse, alahas, kahit milyon-milyon pa ‘yan, hala, sige, gastos doon, gastos dito," pagpaparinig ko.

Maya-maya lang ay sunod-sunod na ang pagtunog ng cellphone ko. Nagsimula na silang mag-ambag, nanlaki ang mata ko sa amount na sinesend ng iba.

Cohn Clerigo has sent you an amount of one thousand pesos only. Ang iba naman ay limang-daan, mayroon din na dalawang libo.

Tingnan mo nga naman, kauting threat lang talaga ang kailangan, at siyempre tiyaga. Hindi sila magpapatinag kung hindi talaga sila guguluhin.

“Keep the change”

“See you on Monday”

“Ito na, oh.”

“Pang-snack niyo na ang change.”

“Sorry, nalate.”

“You are welcome, ask if kulang.”

“Tell me if it’s not enough,” Then proceeds to send me five thousand pesos. Sunod-sunod talaga sila.

I really don’t know what to say to them, but I think I’m just going to say thank you.

Nagulat ako sa mga pinagsasabi nila. Napakamot nalang ako sa batok ko, ano naman kasi ang gagawin ko sa sobra? Halos nakalikom ako ng fifty thousand pesos, makakabili ka na halos ng bagong set ng sofa. Baka nga hindi pa umabot ng limang libo ang maipamimili namin ni Sxan. I will just keep the money on my phone to pay bills online, at physical cash ang ilalabas ko. Dustpans, brooms, curtains, cleaning materials lang ang kailangan, sobra-sobra talaga ito.

Excuse me, sobra-sobra ang binigay ninyo. Two hundred pesos lang ang hinihingi ko pero libo-libo ang ipinadala ng iba sa akin. Do you have any request? Tanong ko sa group chat.

Uhm, maybe you could buy the automatic trash bin? I guess? Somebody replied.

I respond, Yeah, we could do that. Anything else?

Will you buy an inflatable sofa? Kumunot ang noo ko sa tanong ng isa sa amin.

Are you nuts? Somebody said.

Uhm, yes, we could but for what? Sxan finally entered the chat.

For chilling, I guess? The person who asked for an inflatable sofa answer.

The chat went on and on until we all had come to an agreement and finalized everything. Somebody even asked for a heater, a microwave, somebody even requested if we could change the seats to chairs that swivel, and actually have a cup holder sa gilid. Of course, we declined that one. Sxan had to remind everyone that this is not a room makeover but a school project that involves cleaning and environmental stuffs. By which I imagine all their face frowned upon.

I messaged Sxan privately, Hey, I think we are good tomorrow. I’ll text you the details later.

My phone buzzed, I immediately opened it. I’m glad we’re good. See you :) Sxan sent. A smiley face at the end? That is weird, and I feel like when he replied that he was glad we were good, I think there’s more to it, but I don’t want to assume anything.

I sit down in front of my vanity table. I opened the cabinet and put the things I am going to apply on my face on the table. I am wiping my face when my phone beside me buzzed. Hindi ko na iyon pinansin, maya-maya ay nag-vibrate ulit iyon, pero sa pagkakataong ito ay hindi na tumigil. Tiningnan ko kung sino iyon, tumatawag si Clarene. Ibinaba ko ang bulak para sagutin ang kaniyang tawag.

“What now, Clarene. I am getting ready for bed,” I say the moment I picked up the phone.

I put the phone to a distance when she squealed, "Oh my g! As in OMG! You're talking to that guy? You told me that, that guy is ugly. And what now? Umiikot nga talaga ang mundo."

“What in the earth are you talking about? Who’s guy?” I ask.

“That guy,” she answers, as if I know what she’s talking about.

Hindi na ako nakapaglinis nang maayos sa mukha, tumayo na ako roon at umupo sa kama. Inayos ko ang kumot at sumandal ako sa headboard. Now, I think I know who’s guy.

"What the hell are you talking about? That guy ba, you mean Sxan? The one you told me na napopogian ka?” I scoff. I inform her, “We are the elected BM and Treasurer." 

"I heard na laging magkasama ang BM at Treasurer ‘diba? Sa tuwing mamimili? Ano ba iyan, you're so kainggit naman. Can I come?" she asks on the other line.

"No! First of all, kaklase ba kita? Second, you weren’t elected, kahit in your classroom. Third, I don't want,” I said, tucking myself in the blanket.

"Ouch! Hindi mo naman kailangan ipamukha sa akin ‘yung pangalawa. And duh! May iba pa kayang clubs na pwede kong salihan! How about you? May napili ka nabang club? Don't worry dahil kung saan man yon, hindi ako sasama sayo! I'm sure naman na nakakaboring yung sasalihan mo dahil wala ka namang ibang ginawa kundi tulala roon, w*****d dito, basa roon, tulog dito.” I can see her rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. Minsan hindi ko na alam kung paano ba kita kauusapin, e. Anyway, can we go shopping again, next week? How’s that?”

Napaisip ako saglit kung may gagawin ba ko next week. “Sounds good, but probably on weekends. Next week is going to be busy, I suppose,” I say to her.

“Oh, okay. Yeah, sure.”

"Uhm, before I forgot, when’s your nephew, nephew ba or niece? When’s the birthday party na nabanggit mo noon sa akin? Para if ever, mamove ko ang mga gagawin,” I ask.

I heard her swallowed. Seconds had passed but she still hasn’t said anything.

“Clarene? Hey---”

“---oh, I am sorry. I dozed off,” she explains.

“Okay? Did you hear my question?”

“No, I didn’t. What was it again?”

“Uhm, nothing, are you getting ready for bed na rin ba?” tanong ko.

“Yeah, chichikahin kita sa Monday ha, handa mo na iyan. Goodnight!” she said cheerily.

“Ayoko nga, may bayad na ngayon chismis, no.”

She laughs, “Hah! Really, I’m a drama lover. I’ll pay for that!”

I bid her goodbye then put the phone down. I don’t know if she heard my question clearly. But I think she did, didn’t she? I brushed off all my thoughts and went to sleep.

Nagising ako ng alas syete. Naligo na agad ako at nagbihis. Nagsuot lang ako ng mom jeans, white racerback, flannel jacket, at Airforce na puti.

Pababa pa lang ako ng hagdan ay nakatingin na sa akin si Ate. Tinatantya niya ako at nakataas pa ang isang kilay sa akin habang may hawak na plato sa kamay. Nag-aayos siya ng umagahan.

“Uhm Ate? Aalis ako ngayon, ha?” paalam ko. Umupo ako sa upuan ko at tumusok ng bacon. Kahit araw-araw pa na bacon ang ulam ko, ayos lang sa akin, hindi ako magsasawa.

“Halata nga na may lakad ka e, aba’t saan naman ang larga mo?” tanong niya. Alam ko na kanina pa niya yan gusto itanong, simula noong nakita niya akong pababa ng hagdan.

 “Sa department store. Mamimili kami ng gagamitin next week para sa program, eh. Don't worry I'll be home by 8:00?" hindi sigurado kong sabi.

"Eh, bakit parang hindi ka pa sigurado? Sino kasama mo?" Tumalikod siya sa akin, binuksan niya ang ref para ata kumuha ng tubig.

Sumubo ako ng cake na binake ni Ate. Napatango-tango ako dahil masarap naman pala.

"BM." I mushed another bite. I didn’t say it clearly because there was so much food inside my mouth, I can’t speak properly.

"Ano?!” Tumaas ang boses niya. “BF? Boyfriend? May boyfriend ka na hindi mo sa akin sinasabi? Lintek ka talagang bata ka!" Nalunok ko agad ‘yung nginunguya ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

Mali nga ang pagkakaintindi niya, ang rinig niya ay BF, samantalang BM ang sinabi ko. Hindi naman magkarhyme o baka bingi lang talaga siya.

"Anong BF? BM kako! Business Manager." Uminom muna ko ng tubig bago ipagtanggol ang sarili ko at sagutin ang tiyak na sunod-sunod at walang katapusan niyang mga tanong.

Nahigop ko lahat ng tubig na nasa baso. Para na akong mamamatay kauubo. Tinawanan lang ako ni Ate. “Parang sira itong si Ate, e. Mali-mali iyang naririnig mo tapos sa akin ka magagalit. Kung ayaw mo naman maniwala, edi don’t!" 

"Nako, Dayn! Hindi mo ako maloloko. Sa ganda mong yan! Nasisiguro kong may jowa kana! Iharap mo sa akin iyan!"

Napataas ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya. “Edi, inaamin mo ng ana maganda ako?” I pursed my mouth in a self-satisfied smirk.

She waves my praises for myself away. “Oh, no, her head’s now getting larger, and her brain is too small for a head that big.”

I looked at her detestable. She shrugs, and went back to the refrigerator to get…

---“A yogurt? Since when you started eating yogurts?” I squeal.

She furrows her brows. I knew I had to stop or else she’ll throw that yogurt to me and possibly stain what I’m wearing.

After breakfast, I called Miss Daria to ask for Sxan’s number since when I checked his status, he is not online. I was so thankful she gave it to me, it’s a personal information, she should not hand it out to just anybody. But I am Dayn, I am an officer, and I really need to ask Sxan what time we shall meet up and of course, where.

To: Sxan

This is Dayn. I’m just going to ask what time tayo magkita and saan?

From: Sxan

Mga eleven am. Hinintay kita kagabi, sabi mo kasi sa akin kagabi na ise-send mo sa akin ‘yung details. Hindi ka naman nag-chat.

Natauhan ako nang nabasa ko ang reply niya.

To: Sxan

Ay, oo nga pala, sorry ha. Nakatulog na kasi ako e. Sa CBU crossing na lang tayo magkita, how’s that?

Nito ko lang naalala ‘yung huling sinabi ko kagabi.

Fr.: Sxan

Oh, no, it’s fine. I hope you slept well.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa huli niyang nireply. Bakit parang may halong sama ng loob?

My phone buzzed again.

Fr.: Sxan

Anyway, saan mo nakuha iyong number ko?

I told him na galing iyon kay Ma’am Daria.

Fr.: Sxan

See you later. Ingat papunta sa akin ha?

I can feel my cheeks blushed and got a little shy. What the heck.