Brilliant Plans

B-Plans (One)

Paggising ko wala na si Nate sa room ko.

He left a note on my bedside table and a tray of food. Fresh cut apples, strawberries and peach na may kasamang cinnamon roll at pineapple juice.

Well, he knows that I don’t eat heavy at night. I read the note, that tells me to eat well, before throwing it in the trash can. Dati  kinikilig ako sa mga ganitong bagay na ginagawa niya but not now. Feeling ko ang selfish niya. If he really loves me, dapat intindihin niya rin ang point ko.

Bumangon ako at nagtungo sa bathroom. Feeling ko wala akong kakampi.

I look at myself in the mirror.

I feel so alone. Sabagay, all my life ganito naman lagi ang feeling ko.

I am Jelna Cielo Javar. I am an only child. Pero hindi ko alam kung suwerte o curse ang pagiging sole child ko dahil wala rin namang time ang parents ko sa akin. Most of the time nasa ibang bansa sila to tend their business at pag nandito naman sila sa Pilipinas busy din sila sa textile business nila. Binibigay nila lahat ng bagay na kailangan ko. Sometimes it’s more than enough pero hindi naman iyon ang kailangan ko. What I need are parents who could spend their time with me.

Ilang beses ko na ring hiniling na sumama nalang sa kanila sa ibang bansa pero ayaw nila dahil sagabal lang daw ako sa business dealings nila. I was so hurt pero di ko nalang ipinahalata.

There are times when I feel na parang hindi nila ako anak. But everytime I ask them they show me my birth certificate. A proof that mom gave birth to me.

“Bakit kayo nakasunod sa akin?” tanong ko sa dalawang bodyguards nang papalabas ako ng bahay. Mag-iisang taon na mula nang hayaan ako ng parents ko na wag na akong bantayan ng mga ito. Well that’s because I asked Nate at siya ang kumausap sa kanila.

“Ma’am napag-utusan lang po.” Sagot ng mga ito.

“Look, I don’t need you okay? Lalabas lang ako sandali.” Saad ko at agad na pumasok sa kotse ko.

Napapalo ako sa manibela nang makitang nakasunod sila sa akin gamit ang isa pa naming sasakyan. I’m more than sure it’s my parents idea.

 I raised an eyebrow. Let’s see kung kaya nilang habulin ang Ferrari ko. I step on the gas at mabilis na pinatakbo. I don’t care kung ilang sasakyan ang iovertake ko. Their speed also accelerated pero pagdating ng intersection binilisan ko ang takbo bago pa man mag-redlight. I looked at the rearview and smiled they are stuck on the red light.

I drove fast, I am more than sure hindi na nila ako maaabutan.

“Hi Jelna! I thought you are no longer coming!” bungad ni Kate pagbaba ko ng sasakyan. We kissed each other’s cheek. Everyone is ready on the lane. We are on one of the not so busy streets of Manila.

“I’ve got a cute problem. Puwede bang ako ang sasali ngayon?” I asked. She puffs her cigarette.

“Hey Jel baby! You’re late!”

Napapiksi ako nang maramdaman ang dila niya sa tenga ko.

“s**t ka Jack! Get lost!” naitulak ko siya. Dinilaan pa talaga ako ng gago. He is one of the drag racers. Naka-take na naman siguro ang loko. Matagal nang may gusto sa akin ang gagong yun but he could never get me. Kaya siguro pag nakikita siya ni Nate ay kumukulo ang dugo niya rito but I never tell Nate na pumupunta ako sa ganitong event.

It all started when I had my freedom from bodyguards. Kate invited me to join. Drag racer kasi ang boyfriend niya. Kaya nagpabili rin ako ng Ferrari sa parents ko. They don’t want at first but through Nate nakumbinsi rin sila. I told him that it’s my dream car though I don’t care much about brands of cars as long as I have one.

Kate is the only friend I have since high school halos lahat kasi ilag sa akin except her. Well she’s a b***h, too at instead na mag-away kami we just connived.

Madalas niya akong tinutulungan dati para makatakas sa mga body guards ko pag gumigimik kami sa gabi. Hindi naman ako bawal gumimik sa gabi besides my parents seem to not care at all basta may kasama akong bodyguards pero ang awkward lang kasi kaya madalas ko silang takasan.

“Sorry dear, there’s no more slot for you… You know those bitches, they don’t want to be replaced once they are on track.” Turo niya sa ibang mga babaeng racers. May separate category kasi ang girls at boys at ang pustahan minsan umaabot ng millions. Buti nalang at never pa akong natalo. Well, I did once pero si Kate ang nanalo so I never had to pay. That’s how bitches play.

“Ikaw, why didn’t you join?” I asked her. Jay, her boyfriend handed me a bottle of beer at sumandal sa hood ng kotse.

“Well, it’s not good joining without a match.” She raised an eyebrow and smirked at me. Napatawa naman kami pareho at nag-apir. Sumandal na rin kami ni Kate sa sasakyan.

“Now, tell me about your problem.” She whispered.

I sighed before answering.

“My parents want me to marry Nate after graduation.”

“What? Don’t tell me ayaw mo?” kunot-noo niyang tanong.

“It’s too early.” I answered nonchalantly.

“Loka si Nate naman eh. He’s so hot! Gusto mo ako na lang?” she laughed. Loko talaga itong babaeng to. Sabagay matagal na niyang gusto si Nate pero ayaw sa kanya ni Nate.

There was even a time na natripan naming i-trap si Nate. She tried to seduce him but it didn’t work. I just laughed at her and at the same time proud of my boyfriend. Natawa lang din ang loka. But we never tell Nate about it. Sinabihan rin ako ni Nate na layuan siya after that pero natawa lang ako. At inulit pa talaga namin. Nilasing namin siya pero di pa rin niya talaga pinatulan ang isa. How faithful?

 Nasa ganun akong pag-iisip nang mag-ring ang cellphone ko.

“Where are you? Bakit mo tinakasan ang mga bodyguards mo?”

Bahagya kong inilayo sa tenga ko ang cellphone. Nate is on the line.

“You know I don’t like bodyguards!” I yelled.

“Alam ko yan but with how you reacted a while back, nag-alala lang sina Mama at Papa.” He said. I pouted. He calls my parents mama and papa ni hindi pa kami kasal.

“Asan ka ba? Susunduin kita!” saad niya. Mas lalo naman akong nainis.

“Kaya kong umuwi ng mag-isa.” I said before turning off the phone.

“Party?” I asked Kate tumango naman ito. I immediately went inside my car at nag-convoy kami papuntang bar. I have to breathe for a while.