Sinful Attachment

KABANATA 1

“Graduate na tayo!” Nakangiting sigaw ni Lauren habang tumatakbo papunta kila Chase.

“Graduate na tayo, pero yung isa diyan hindi pa.” Pag paparinig ni Charlotte dahilan para may isang tao na biglang napaiwas ng tingin.

“Sino kaya yon? Hmmm?” Biro pa ni Charlotte na ikinatawa nilang lahat.

“Congrats to us!!” Sigaw naman ni Chase habang nakikipag apir sa mga kaibigan nila at naka kapit kay Chaos.

“Paano yan? Babalik na ba kayo probinsya ni Chaos?” Tanong ni Charlotte kay Chase.

“No.” Mabilis na umiling si Chase habang nakangiti.

“Me and Chase are staying here in Manila for good.” Sambit ni Chaos.

“For real?” Hindi makapaniwalang sambit ni Danzel.

“Mhm, since we have our own business naman here, we decided na mag stay nalang din dito.” Tumatango tangong sambit ni Chase.

“Yun naman pala, edi wala na tayo problema ngayon? Mag i-i-stay naman pala silang dalawa for good e.” Nakangiting sambit ni Danzel.

“Mag stay nga yung dalawa, aalis naman si Lauren at Renan.” Naka ngusong sambit ni Charlotte.

“Hala ka.” Gulat na sambit nbi Chase.

“My parents decided na iuwi na ako sa Spain since you know, tapos naman na raw college ko rito.” Kibit balikat na sambit ni Lauren.

“E ikaw Renan?” Tanong ni Chaos.

“Babalik na sa Madrid. For good, I guess?” Natatawang sambit nito.

“Why?” Tanong ni Chase.

“Nandon ang family business. Kailangan sundan.” Kibit balikat na tugon ni Renan.

“Right.” Paano ba yan? Set set nalang?” Biro ni Danzel habang naka ngiti.

“Paano pa nga?” Biro naman ni Lauren.

“Kelan ba alis niyo?” Tanong ni Chase.

“Ngayon.” Sabay na sambit ni Lauren at Renan.

“Are you for real?!” Gulat na sambit ni Chase at Charlotte.

“We forgot to tell you.” Nakangusong paliwanag ni Lauren.

“See you when we see you?” Biro pa ni Lauren bago tuluyang umalis kasama si Renan.

“Edi tayo nanamang apat ang naiwan?” Naka ngusong sambit ni ChASE.

“Parang labag sa loob mo?” Taas kilay na sambit ni Charlotte.

“GOOD MORNING EVERYAN! Y’ALL!” Sigaw ni Lauren nang makapasok siya sa loob ng aming room.

“Ingay ha, it’s too early in the morning.” Chase murmured softly, her eyes gently closed as she rested against Chaos’s shoulder.

“Puyat.” Tipid na sambit ni Chaos na abala pa rin sa pag se-cellphone.

“Right.” Sambit ni Lauren at mabilis na tinakpan ang kaniyang bibig.

It’s their first day of school as fourth year students.

“Wala namang ginagawa tuwing first week.“ Bagot na sambit ni

Charlotte.

“Mall oh.” Biro ni Danzel na sinang ayunan naman ng lahat. Except kay Chase na mahimbing nanaman ang tulog.

“Ano nanaman bang ginawa niyan kagabi at bakit puyat na puyat?” Takang tanong ni Charlotte.

Nag binge watch ng movie.” Nakangising sambit ni Chaos.

She remained asleep, unaware of everything happening inside the classroom. It did not matter to her, because she knew her friends were still with her, and she was comfortably resting her head on Chaos’s shoulder.

“Alam kasi niyang walang gagawin tuwing first week kaya ayan, nag susulit bago mag p*****n ulit.” Naka ngising sambit ni Chaos.

“Nasaan nga pala si Danzel at Renan?” Tanong ni Lauren.

“Nasa klase, may introduction daw sila e.” Sambit ni Charlotte.

“Right, mga masisipag at takot umabsent.” Biro pa ni Lauren na ikinatawa nilang lahat.

Habang hinihintay na sumunod sa bakanteng room si Renan at Danzel ay nag kukwentuhan lang si Charlotte at Lauren.

“Are you hungry?” Tanong ni Chaos sa kakagising lang na si Chase. He could feel something was off, because when Chase woke up, she just sat there, staring blankly and staying silent.

“How did you know?” Takang tanong ni Chase habang nag kukusot ng kaniyang mata.

“I just knew.” With a smug grin, Chaos spoke arrogantly but jokingly to Chase.

“Matagal pa ba yung dalawa?” Tanong ni Chaos kay Lauren at Charlotte.

“Maybe.” Kibit balikat na sambit ni Charlotte while typing on her phone.

“Gusto niyo ba ng pagkain? Bibili kami ni Chaos.” Pag aalok ni Chase. Hindi pa man um-oo si Chaos ay may desisyon na agad is Chase.

Typically Chase, tinatanggalan ng karapatan tumanggi si Chaos. Because clearly, she knows na hindi kayang humindi sakanya ni Chaos.

“Nah, we’re good. Bumalik nalang kayo agad para pag balik niyo mag mall na tayo.” Sambit ni Charlotte na sinang ayunan at tinanguan naman ni Lauren.

“Okay, bye.” Paalam ni Chase at walang sabi sabing hinitak na si Chaos palabas ng room.

“At saan mo ako dadalhin?” Chaos laughed softly as he looked at Chase, his eyes never leaving her. He did not resist as she kept pulling him along, allowing her to drag him wherever she wanted to go. “Hindi naman canteen pinupuntahan natin e.” Dagdag pa n i Chaos habang napapa iling.

“Hindi ko naman sinabing sa canteen tayo bibili?” Pambabara ni Chase kay Chaos.

“Bawal pa talaga lumabas.” Biro ni Chaos.

“Ako ang batas. Pwede yan, tropa kami ni Kuya Guard.” Mayabang na sambit ni Chase na ikinatawa ni Chaos.

“Oo na, slow down okay?” Napapa iling na sambit muli ni Chaos kay Chase.

“I know, excited lang.” Masayang sambit ni Chase.

“Palagi ka namang excited basta pagkain e.” Biro ni Chaos dahilan para irapan siya ni Chase.

“Come on, walk faster.” Muling sambit ni Chase habang hinihitak pa rin si Chaos.

Nang makarating sila sa labasan ay agad na dumiretso si Chase sa favorite spot nila. Ang tindahan ni Aling Nerita.

“Hi Nanay!” Naka ngiting bungad ni Chase matapos makita ang may ari ng tindahan.

“Oh, ang aga niyo naman dito. Wala ba kayong klase dalawa?” Nakangiting sambit ni Aling Nerita kay Chase at Chaos.

“Wala po Nay. First week, introduction lang po.” Nakangiting sagot naman ni Chaos.

“Dalawa po Nay.” Nakangiting dagdag ni Chaos kaya tumango naman si Aling Nerita.

“Osige, maupo muna kayo. Iha, Iho.” Sambit ni Aling Nerita bago pumasok sa loob ng kusina para mag handa na ng order ni Chase at Chaos.

The two of them eventually sat down, facing each other directly. There was a quiet moment between them as they settled into their seats, their eyes meeting in silence. Neither of them spoke right away, as if both were waiting for the other to break the silence.

“So hindi ka mag sasalita?” Taas kilay na tanong ni Chase.

“What am I supposed to say?” Takang tanong ni Chaos na ikinanguso naman ni Chase.

“Hoy babae tulala ka nanaman.” Puna ni Charlotte habang marahang tinatapik ang braso ni Chase. They’re on their way sa resto bar ni Chase.

“Yeah, I’m okay.” Sambit ni Chase na ngayon ay tulala pa rin.

“What’s on your mind?” Seryosong tanong ni Chaos.

The four of them were now inside the same car, sharing the same space as they headed to their destination. Napag desisyunan nilang sa resto bar nalang ni Chase sila mag celebrate ng graduation nila kaysa lumayo pa sila at mag hanap ng ibang place to celebrate.

“We’re here!!” Masayang sigaw ni Charlotte habang naka yapos ang kaniyang mga kamay sa braso ni Chase.

“Kaya niyo lang gusto rito mag celebrate kasi hindi kayo magbabayad e.” Pabirong reklamo ni Chase.

“Ay ngayon mo lang narealize? Sayang nga e kulang tayo ng dalawa?” Muling biro ni Charlotte dahilan para mapairap sa kawalan si Chase.

“Just order whatever you want.” Chase eventually gave in, knowing there was really no point in resisting anymore. No matter what she said or did, hindi rin naman niya kayang tanggihan ang mga kaibigan niya. In the end, she just sighed and accepted it, letting them have their way as usual. Minsan lang din naman ito, win win situation since ganito rin naman siya sa business ng mga kaibigan niya.

“Fair enough.” Naka ngising sambit ni Danzel.

“Dedma sa dancer diyan, hirap budulin hindi tayo talented.” Pagpaparinig ni Chase kqay Chaos na ngayon ay nag lalagay ng yelo sa kaniyang baso.

“I can teach you, you know.” Mayabang na sambit ni Chaos.

“Hard pass. Dancing is not for me.” Reklamo ni Chase.

“Neither of us?” Tumatawang sambit ni Danzel sabay turo kay Charlotte na busy makipag usap sa waiter.

Hindi na sila kumuha ng vip o magarbong room sa bar ni Chase, nasa public space sila at exposed sa mga tao. They actually preferred it that way, because it gave them a chance to meet new people, dance in the middle, and interact with others. Unlike when they stayed in a private room, where they would eventually get bored of each other and run out of things to talk about.