Love n' Dear

Chapter 5: Unexpected Visitor

My graduation party held at a hotel. Everything went well. Relatives from my stepdad came, with their business partners. I just smiled, every time I receive their congratulations because I know they are all plastic. They keep pretending they are fine yet at their back I know they're busy cursing me and my mom. I'm just glad, Elle's family camr na hindi kasama si Troy na kapatid kuno niya. But that's not my problem anymore. We just enjoy drinking nonstop until we're really shut down.

After the party, I began working my ass so I can save money for my tuition, and other expenses. My stepdad keeps asking me, if I change my mind but no, I will be a Chef and I’m at the moment of my life where I don’t want to meet new people. Screw them all! I’ve had enough of them. I can't deal another shameful thing for them.

"Let's go," Elle said. I stop scrolling my phone and look at her. What is she thinking now? We are about to enter the mall but now, she is dragging me, forcing me to hop in her car again. I just said to her that I'm tired and I don't have energy to argue something with her. If only I'm not her friend, I won't be here.

I'm so done with my job. I mean, I did try working before, with my Mom. We clean rooms in a hotel; the most difficult part is to clean the bathroom since we really need to make it clean and shining. Sabay rin kaming naglalaba ng mga bed sheets, curtains and such. Nakakapagod iyon, pero kumpara sa trabaho ko ngayon? That's double or triple draining.

"You said your work is not healthy anymore." I saw how she pouted after finishing her sentence. As if!

"And you want me to resign? Are you nuts? That's the only job I am doing for about a month," I snorted back. I did many job, nonetheless, I won't stay that long, usually a week is the longest but now, it’s been a month working in a drugstore. My job before, it's either I was fire or an awol. I know, that every job is not easy but I'm not yet ready to be shouted of the things I didn't do, accused me of something, telling me bad words, being a center of attention just because I did one mistake. I'm tired understanding and pleasing people. I'm so done with my colleagues, passing me their assigned works. Am I their errand girl? Why would I be stuck with it, when I know my worth? At hindi naman kawalan ang pag-alis ko. Their business will run smoothly, even without me. But every time it’s gets hard, I always think why I started, because of my Mom and our future house and my tuition for my college life. I need to suck it up and earn the most important thing in the world, money.

Mukhang nakaisip ng magandang ideya si Elle dahil sa pasimpleng ngiti niya na alam mong may laman. "Ever heard the student assistant, or you can apply for a scholarship, since you are smart."

Hala? I didn't think that way. I quickly hug her and shower her cheeks with my kiss.

"Clingy as ever." She rolled her eyes while wiping her face, full of my saliva. I stuck my tongue out.

"I'll treat you today."

"Thought, you are broke?" tanong niya habang inilalabas ang cellphone sa bag. Iwinagayway ko sa harap niya ang putting sobre. This is my first pay check. Finally! My hardship pays off.

"Ang sweet naman, pero isn't good to save it? Hindi ako plastic ha! I'm actually honored na ilalaan mo sa akin ang una mong sahod but I think mas kailangan mong ipunin para sa tuition. Pwede mo naman akong ilibre kapag mayaman ka na, pautang din ako ha!"

Isinakwit ko ang kamay sa braso niya kasi ang dami na naman niyang sinasabi while dragging her to the entrance of the mall. Kasi mukha kaming tanga na nag-uusap sa labas ng sasakyan niya.

"Don't be too hard. Sometimes you have to reward yourself. Point everything you want, I'll buy it for you." I swing again the white envelope in front of us; this was made by my blood, sweat and tears.

"How about bag?" she jokingly said. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Bag? Seriously? I think I can only afford the handle of the bag of her favorite brand.

I suggested na kumain na lang kaming dalawa and drag her to the nearest resto inside the mall. She acted a child having tantrums, like a kid who lost a lollipop or candies.

"Thought you'll treat me a bag."

I ignore her sa pag-akto niyang parang bata. Bag her face! Napaka-spoiled talaga!

We are welcomed by one of their crew, and we politely greet them back. Iilan ang tao sa resto dahil lagpas ala-una na.

“After this, we should buy clothes." Elle is really having her moment in time. I shrugged and look at the menu, weighing what food I can eat, with my hard earned money.

I’m startled how she slapped my arm. “Ano na naman?” naiinis kong tanong. I’m busy choosing the food that will be worth it for my stomach. Syempre first time kong o-order na ang ipambabayad ay perang pinaghirapan ko so dapat worth it tapos mambibigla siyang mamamalo.

“You know, you are spoiling me and I love it," she said, hindi pa itp nakuntento at kumindat pa. Tinawagan ko na lang ang waiter because I have decided what order I will take. While waiting for our food, we keep entertaining ourselves with our phone. We talk about silly things we did, and her being a queen of creating fake news.

“Speaking of! I didn’t know you have a brother.” I remember what my stepdad's son said, that Troy is Elle's brother. Hindi ko rin napansin na dumadalo siya sa mga party at gathering kaya hindi ko alam. Gaya noong graduation party ko, hindi ito um-attend. Hindi ko naman sinasabing need siya roon pero syempre kung nakita ko man lang siya, kahit isang beses lang, I should have know na bawal siya.

"Yes, he's Troy," tipid niyang sagot na parang nag-aalangan pang sambitin iyong pangalan ng Kuya niya. "Why? Have you met him?"

Nah! Elle must be kidding me! We didn't just met, we're sweating bullets, panting and moaning under sheets, shouting and cursing each other, begging to move faster as what pace we wanted, like a hungry lion, thirsty to feed the hunger, to satisfy our cravings we play in the pits of fire. Well, we just literally had s*x.

I don't know but it feels awkward to say something vulgar to her especially it's her brother. It just, I always feel that relatives of my friends are off-limits when it's about me addicted to satisfy my needs. There is a thin line between them that I should not step on. Kasi paano kapag may nangyari hindi maganda? I know, I'm playing pero at the end of the day, I know that Elle will choose her brother over me. Anyway, relatives of my friends are not my type. I'm glad, we ended it, months ago.

Wala pa akong sinasagot sa tanong niya pero alam mong may mga fake senaryo na siyang binubuo sa utak niya. Mabilis ko ngang hinampas iyong braso niya. Napakachismosa talaga.

"Is he your new prospect?" Diba? Ramdam ko na agad na medyo malungkot siya sa tono pa lang ng boses niya. Hindi ko naman lalaruin iyong kuya niya kasi nalaro ko na, nasarapan na ako at tapos na ang lahat.

Agad ko siyang sinagot ng hindi. I don't want her to think na may something between sa brother niya at sa akin. Ayokong mangapa sa reaksiyon niya. Dalawa lang naman iyon, tutuksuin niya ako at baka ituring akong soon to be ate niya o baka magalit siya at medyo mag-split kami dahil ang tingin niya sa akin ay malanding babae at ang habol lang sa kapatid niya ay parausan. I bet, it's the latter.

This is annoying! Siya na nga lang iyong nag-iisang friend ko so sinong kikitain ko sa labas kapag nagkalabuan kaming dalawa? Baka bahay at school na lang talaga ako. Back to boring life na naman. I will surely miss her.

Alangang tumingin siya sa akin. Mukhang hindi siya kuntento sa sagot ko kasi paano ko ba ipapaliwanag base sa gusto niyang marinig? Kung totoong may nangyari nga sa amin ng Kuya niya. How can I conceal the truth in front of her? I don't want to hurt her but I don't want to lie either. I hate being stuck with these annoying options.

"Did you do it to him? The exercise part?" she asked with her eyes full of hope. Pakiramdam ko gusto niyang marinig iyong pagtanggi ko but at the same time, gusto niyang malaman ang totoong nangyari.

Everything is a real mess!

I don't know what to say. Wala akong mahanap na tugmang salita magpapagaan ng pakiramdam niya kasabay ang pagsabi ko ng katotohanan. I don't know. Am I greedy for wanting her to still be my friend after what happened? Iyong magsisinungaling na lang ako para matapos na at maging ayos na ulit kami.

Hindi pa ako nakakasagot pero agad na siyang umiling. Kasi mukhang napag-aralan na niya ang mukha ko, nakumpirmang may nangyari nga. She feels uncomfortable, ni-hindi nga siya makatingin sa mata ko.

"Are we fine?" I asked, being selfish na sana magtagal pa kami. She maybe loud but I love being her side.I live her company. Madaldal man siya, neversiyang lumagpas sa bakod na nakalagay sa harapan ko.

"Yeah! It's not like you did a serious crime. Having s*x with my brother has nothing to do with me. Why would I care that much? And if anything happens, you will be part of my family as my sister-in-law. Who would not be happy to have my best friend to be my sister?" I saw how she forced to smile in front of me. She didn't let me talk and excused herself to go to the restroom.

Pinanood ko lang siyang maglakad hanggang sa maglaho sa paningin ko. Patago kong pinunasan ang medyo namamasa kong mata. I feel like she's trying to understand everything. I know her, she will need time to think.

Nang makabalik siya, pilit siyang ngumiti sa akin bago naupo. Magsasalita na sana ako when my phone rings, someone is calling me. Nagpaalam ako sa kaniya and walk outside the resto.

Huminga ako ng malalim para hindi ko madala iyong medyo malungkot kong nararamdaman ngayon.

"Hello, may I know who is this and why do you have my number?" Malay ko bang importante itong tumatawag. Dapat laging pormal.

"Ms. Violet--"

I halted hearing that voice. I will never forget it. I mean, my ears will never lie to me. I’m not a fan of day dreaming and why would I dream with the owner of this voice?

Ans there's a hearsay that people come and go and it's inevitable. Some just came to teach us lesson and go after their purpose in life, iyong iba nananatili pero karamihan pinipiling umaalis but this man, ticked the last option out of two.

Iniharap ko ang cellphone para malaman kung kaninong number pero number lang talaga. Why would he know my number? Nangunot ang noo kong mapagtantong he is using a local number. Why is he here? Is he really this one?

"Ms. Louisse Vio--" he repeated calling me. Bumabalik na naman iyong dati, kung paano niya sambitin ang buong pangalan ko.

Hindi ko siya pinatapos sa balak niyang sabihin dahil nagsalita agad ako. "Ano na namang binabalak ng isang dakilang stalker?"

I heard his annoying laugh. "Ms. Violet, I know you miss me but not is the right time for it. I want you to inform that your mom is in the hospital right now, she passed out while we're discussing something." Kahit hindi niya kita, umikot pa rin ang bilog kong mata. Why would he be with my Mom? Everything is settle, isn’t?

“Probably because of what you said."

"What's wrong with it saying I dump you, Ms. Violet." I can even imagine him grinning. He's enjoying this conversation so much. I can surely picture myself, grabbing his hair in front of many people.

"Why are you with my mom, anyway?"

"She invited me over, Ms. Violet," he answered. I can feel the excitement in his voice. Ano naman kayang pinaplano ni Mama at talagang pinapunta pa rito ang stalker ko? Basta as long as wala ako sa plano nila, I’m good.

"Ms. Violet your foot! End this call," I commanded him.

"I already dump you, why not this time, you end it?" This guy is really freak!

"End it, Zeroanio Gochiaco or I'll end your smelly life." Kung nakikita ko lang siya, talagang ibabaon ko siya ng buhay ngayon din.

"See you," he said then hang up while laughing.

Inis kong ginulo iyong buhok ko. Everything is too much for my morning. I hate it!