Wind and Sail

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Dayn’s PoV

I showered quickly because I really want to just go to bed and sleep already. Paglabas ko ay napansin ko na wala sa kama si Clarene. Inilinga ko ang paningin ko at napansin nakaawang ang pinto papuntang balcony. I walked tiptoed to see what she’s doing outside at this hour.

Hindi ko marinig nang maayos pero nakita ko na nasa tainga niya ang cellphone niya at may kausap. Mukha rin na seryoso ang pinag-uusapan nila at panay lang din ang tango niya katulad kanina noong kami ay nasa mall. Nagtago agada ko nang lumingon siya sa direksyon ko. s**t, baka nakita niya ako na nakikinig!

Mas bubuksan ko pa sana ang pinto para marinig ngunit nahuli niya ako. Kunwari ay dedma ako at kalalabas lang ng banyo, kumbaga ay kararating ko pa lang at wala akong nakita.

Inilabas ko na ang sarili ko nang hindi nagpapahalata na kanina pa ako roon. Pinatay niya ang cellphone at lumapit sa akin nang nakangiti. I can sense she’s faking it, isn’t she?

“Oh, kanina ka pa riyan? Magbihis ka na nga, baka magka-cold and you’re gonna get sick if you stay here,” sabi niya na para bang walang nangyari.

“Sino---”

“… hurry!” she cut me off. She put her hands on my shoulder, turned me around, and lightly pushed me to the walk-in closet. I restrained but she kept on insisting that’s why I had no choice but to go inside and put some clothes on.

Paglabas ko ay nakahiga na siya habang tumatawa sa pinanonood sa cellphone niya. Lumundag ako sa kama at tiningnan kung ano ba ang tinatawa niya. Nanonood siya ng k-drama series na Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo. Hindi ko naman akalain na nanonood pala siya noon.

“You watch Korean dramas?” I asked, I was indeed surprised.

“Yeah, Scarlet Heart got me hooked up and since then I am an avid fan of these kind of dramas s***h kind of love that you will only find in novels and fictional men created by women authors.”

I laughed at what she just said. Lahat ay puro facts at tiyak na ang mga hopeless romantic ay makakarelate.

“That’s enough, Clarene. Let’s sleep, we still have school to attend tomorrow,” I said to her. I tucked myself in. She turned the lights off, put her phone away and tuck herself in also. I turned my back on her and pretended to be asleep. Tig-isa kami ng kumot dahil ayokong may kahati lalo na’t minsan sa kalagitnaan ng gabi ay nagtatalukbong ako. Sinadya ko ang malalalim kong paghinga para mas lalong kapani-paniwala na natutulog na ako kasi kanina pa ako reklamo nang reklamo sa kaniya na inaantok na ako. Nakikiramdam pa rin ako kahit sarado na ang mga mata ko.

Alam kong malaking pagtitiwala itong isinusugal ko para sa kaniya, dahil bakit nga naman ako magpapasok ng hindi ko kakilala sa bahay naming at patulugin sa tabi ko?

Mabuti na rin na alerto at nakikiramdam ako kahit pa sabihin na komportable naman ako sa kaniya. Hindi ko pa rin maiiwasan ang doubts at pag-ooverthink kung magw-work ba ang friendship na ito. Baka isa lang itong ship na lulubog. Lumalalim na rin ang paghinga niya, ibig sabihin ay lumalalim na rin ang tulog niya. Baka mamaya ay hindi pa ito tulog at saksakin na lang ako bigla rito.

Like what I always say to myself, isa akong kawalan. Manghihinayang ang mundo ‘pag nabawasan pa ang magaganda na katulad ko. Baka ma-extinct na kami at mga pangit na ang mukha, pangit pa ang ugali ang maghari sa mundo, which then would be a nightmare.

I noticed she moved. I contained myself and continue to pretend that I am in a deep sleep. I felt the weight of her head on my shoulders, I think she is checking if I am already asleep. I do not know why she is acting weird this whole day. Umupo ata siya dahil parang nabawasan ang bigat na nasa kama. Pasimple akong gumalaw paharap sa kaniya. Hindi ko siya makikita ngayon dahil nakapikit pa rin ako. Pandinig at pandama lang ang sandata ko ngayon. Sigurado ako na tiningnan niya ako noong gumalaw ako.

"I am sorry I had to put down the phone call kanina,” she started. The weight of her was completely lifted off the bed, I think she stood up. “Yeah, it was her. She’s asleep now…” Okay, I’ll take care of it. Yeah… bye.”

That’s it? I thought I was going to uncover something tonight, but I did not, not even one. Napaisip tuloy ako kung bakit niya pa sinabi na natutulog na ako, at nagtataka rin ako kung ano ba iyong tinutukoy niya noong sinabi niya na ‘I’ll take of it.’. Was it the birthday party that she told me precursory at the mall? Or is it some other business that has something to do with me? I am really confused and curious right now. I think I am going to ask her tomorrow.

Another result of investigation about Karina has come through earlier in my emails. I haven’t opened it yet, maybe tomorrow I will.

I slept with half of my mind awake like a f*****g dolphin. I shouldn’t have let her to sleep here last night. I barely know her. I was awake before my set time in my alarm clock. Two days straight, no alarm clock has been destroyed yet. It is still early to wake her up, so, I decided to get my laptop and check the email that has been sent yesterday.

Karina still has not left the country yet. There were attached pictures of her at the Underground and the place where his father had died. Like I expected, she inherited his father riches, or I can say smuggled riches and his position as well. She is now the head of the group and I think they are keeping themselves out of sight since a crime had just happened and it is crucial for them to move and get involved. Though no police were involved in the first place, it is still dangerous to be under the spotlight.

I deleted the email and removed my account from my own damn computer to avoid any uninvited guest. I thought what Clarene said again last night on the phone. I am really curious, and it is killing me.

"Clarene? Hey? Hey!" Niyugyog ko ang balikat niya noong alas singko na ng umaga, ganitong oras nagwawala ang alarm clock ko. Inangat niya pa lalo ang blanket at sinubukang magtalukbong pero pinigilan ko siya. Ang hirap niya bakbakin sa higaan, parang ako. Pero ngayon ay hindi, dahil hindi naman ako nakatulog nang maayos.

"Come on! Get your ass up!" Hinila ko ang mga kamay niya at pinipilit siyang bumangon na. Mukhang wala ata siyang balak bumangon.

"It's still too early! Lay down girl, you're disturbing me!" she said exasperatedly. She forced her hands out of mine and went back to sleep on her side.

Ilang beses ko na siyang ginigising, siguro ay mga bandang five thirty or five forty-five nalang ulit siya magising kasi naman ay paulit-ulit na akong napapamura dahil sa mga pinaggagagawa niya. There’s an urge to pour a bucket of ice-cold water on her but then my bed would be drenched as well.

I had no choice but to leave her for a while, I just rolled my eyes. Thirty minutes had passed, and I have to wake her ass up again.

"Seriously Clarene? Damn this girl! If you don't want to go to school, then..."

"It is five thirthy-five... Clean my room but don't f*****g touch my things, I mean that, that, that, that, that and that,” I commanded. I point the useless things inside my room, pointing to my valuable items could lead to danger.

Napabalikwas siya sa sinabi ko pero nakapikit pa rin ang mga mata. "Hell no! I'm not your maid, fine I'm going to school,” she hissed.

I am confused right now. I like that she’s here, but I still doubt her being here. It is like investing your money to a small business.

"I do not get it why should I study, I’ll just become a stripper,” she cried, half asleep. “Why does school have to be this early?" she said while getting up with her eyes still closed. “I hate school, I hate school…” she repeated while making the bed. She almost stumbled because she is not in herself right now and I think she is still in her dreams.

"My turn muna ha!" she ran towards the bathroom. She doesn’t know that I am finished taking a bath and all I have to do left is eat breakfast.

Kunwari ay nakikipag-unahan ako sa kaniya para mapabilis ang kilos niya. "No, this is my room I must go first---"

"Whatever! Bleh!" Bumelat siya sa akin at sinaraduhan ako ng pinto ng bathroom. Hindi pa rin niya nare-realize na tapos na nga ko.

My attention was caught by a vibrating sound on the bed while I was tidying. I located the phone under Clarene’s pillow. I am fighting the urge to not open the message. Though the screen is awake, and the name is visible. It was a message from… “Her?” I muttered beneath my breath.

Is this the one she was talking to last night? Her? What’s with that name? Is ‘her’ the name of her nephew’s mom who has a party planned? I am not even sure it the party was just an excuse.

 I was about to open the message when Clarene stepped out of the bathroom. I panicked but I tried my best to not show it on my face.

"Why are you holding my phone?" nagtatakang tanong niya pero nararamdaman kong may halong kaba ang boses niya.

"Ahm... I was about to take a photo of me, but I was shocked when I saw a man on your lockscreen. There is something you’re not telling me, huh? Is that you’re new crush?" Kunwari kong tanong.

I don’t care about the picture, I cared more about the message! "Ohh, you've got a text nga pala but don't worry, I didn't open it. I was caught off guard sa lockscreen mo," maarteng sabi ko. I don’t want to always doubt her, I don’t want us to fake each other because I really like her as a friend. I think she’s a catch though she is kind of fishy.

"Ahh, that? Him? He's just one of my crushes! Walang malisya! Duh!" nahihiya pang sabi niya.

“Crushes? Pang-ilan itong lalaking ito sa listahan?” natatawa kong tanong.

“Like, uhm… five?”

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa isinagot niya. “Five? So, there’s more to him?”

“Of course, gotta keep that list long, bestie.”

" I am famished. Sabi kasi you shouldn’t just put anyone on your lockscreen, why? Is he your boyfriend ha? Hindi lang naman ikaw mag-isa ang may gusto riyan, no? Pang-lima ka riyan, ultimate crush mo ‘to no?" I chuckled.

"You know that? H-how? Hindi ko pa naman sa iyo nakukwento ah!"

"BDO, duh!"

"You have your own words ha, what does BDO means?"

"What? I thought you already knew that! It means I have my own ways.”

"Well, that is knew,” said she. Her eyes squinted at me, and she started walking towards me. “What the actual f**k, Dayn?” walang buhay niyang sabi habang dahan-dahan pinadudulas ang kamay niya sa braso ko.

“Hey! Do not touch me like--- Aw!” she slapped my arm.

“Tapos ka na pala maligo! You didn’t tell me! Binilisan ko pa tuloy, hindi na ako nakapagshampoo, straight conditioner na agad!”

Asar na asar siya sa akin habang ako naman ay tawa nang tawa.

I still entered the bathroom to brush my teeth.

"I'm done Clarene---" naputol ang susunod na sasabihin ko nang makita ko siyang may hinahalungkat sa drawer ng side table ko. She's finding something.

"I-I'm just… Where's your comb? Hindi kaba nag susuklay? I can't find it!" Iniba nya ang daloy ng pag-uusap. Hinahanap niya ang suklay samantalang nasa buhok niya iyon nakaipit.

"Bobo, nasa buhok mo kaya!”

Tumawa siya at kinuha ang suklay na nasa buhok niya at ipinagpatuloy ang pagsusuklay. She rolled her eyes at me funnily, so I did the same thing to her, just a little more extra, ‘yung para bang makikita ko na ang utak ko sa pag-ikot ng mata ko.