Kabanata 7
1614 Words
Helian
"Why did you take a photo?" Tumalim ang tingin ko kay Troy. "Isalaksak ko kaya sa ngala-ngala mo 'yang cellphone mong mamahalin?"
Troy smirked. "It's just one photo, Ian. Just for remembrance. Knowing you, siguradong matagal na naman bago kita makita nang personal." Isinangkal niya ang kanyang mga siko sa mesa. "Pero kung natatakot kang magselos si Reemo, I'll take it down."
Umikot ang mga mata ko. "Bakit ako matatakot? Hindi namin gusto ni Reemo ang isa't isa. Ayaw ko lang na basta na lang akong kinukunan ng larawan nang walang paalam."
"Like I said, I just wanna keep a remembrance. Isa pa, hindi naman na bago 'yon. Dati pa naman kitang kinukunan ng photos. Kung hindi lang pinabubura ni Reemo, hindi naman mawawala sa files ko."
Napakunot ako ng noo. "Pinabura ni Reemo?"
He nodded. "There was a time that I had enough. Nag-away kami dahil ginawa kitang wallpaper. He said I have no right to do that, pero bakit siya picture ninyo ang wallpaper hindi ka naman niya girlfriend?" He smirked. "Baka may gusto sa'yo?"
Napalunok ako. No, I wouldn't get my hopes up. Hangga't hindi sa bibig ni Reemo nanggagaling, hindi ko paniniwalaan.
I inhaled a sharp breath. "Hindi. Sadyang protective lang ang mokong na 'yon."
Troy smirked. "Why don't you start going out with me so we can prove if he's really not into you romantically?" He leaned a bit forward. "Malay mo, biglang umamin. Problema kasi sa'yo, takot na takot kang may dumikit na ibang lalake sa'yo dahil iba ang nagiging reaksyon ni Reemo. Na-stuck ka tuloy sa pagiging best friend."
Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Eh, kung suntukin na lang kita sa mukha?"
Mahina siyang tumawa. "Come on, Ian. If you're gonna date me, baka sakaling umamin sa'yo si Reemo. He will never speak up unless you will show him that you're open to entertaining other boys. In case you're not aware, men don't usually step up if there's no competition."
I pursed my lips. Nanligaw na noon sa akin si Troy noong college kami pero dahil takot akong magalit si Reemo, nilayuan ko si Troy at sinabi kay Reemo na ayaw ko sa tropang nagkakagusto sa akin kahit na ang totoo, I want him to see that I will always be available for him.
Doon ba ako nagkamali? O baka sadyang hindi lang naman talaga ako gusto ni Reemo?
"Give me a month. Either we'll be able to push Reemo to confess or I'll make you fall." He smirked. "Hindi ka naman talo sa'kin. I have a good career. May bahay at lupa na rin. May sasakyan at ipon. I am ready to date you."
Ano bang akala sa akin ng kumag na 'to? Hindi kayang bumili ng sarili kong bahay at lupa? Hindi kayang buhayin ang sarili ko?
Umismid ako. "Women like me who make her own money will never be impressed by a man's social status. We want someone who can offer his loyalty, care, and of course, someone who has plans for the future with us included."
Ngumiti si Troy. "I know. Sinabi ko lang naman dahil mapera si Reemo. But unlike him, I worked my way up. I have no parents who have a thriving business."
"And it wasn't his fault that he has parents who worked their ass off to give him something he can inherit once they're gone. After all, responsibilidad ng mga magulang na bigyan ng maayos na buhay ang mga anak."
Troy held his glass of wine. There's a hint of amusement in his eyes as if instead of getting annoyed by my rebuttals, mas naaaliw pa siya.
"I know, but don't you think parents should also let their kids build their own names, hmm? Yes, inheritance is good but when someone doesn't know how to acquire such valuable thing, it's not gonna last. Look at my parents? They both came from wealthy families but instead of doubling what they inherited, they ended up wasting everything. Why? Because they didn't work a single day earning even just a portion of the wealth they inherited."
I sighed. "Tama naman." Nakakainis. I really hate losing in an argument but this son of a b***h has a point. "Well, Reemo isn't a spoiled brat who only knows how to spend his family's money. He works for them, too. Nagsimula siya sa mababang posisyon. He worked his way up and proved that he deserves to take over someday."
Naging makahulugan ang kanyang ngisi. "You stand up for him even without him hearing you. Maybe it's the other way around, hmm? Baka ikaw ang in love sa inyong dalawa kaya ayaw mo akong i-entertain?"
My heart pounced. Masyado ba akong naging halata? s**t, s**t!
I inhaled a sharp breath and kept a poker face. "Why? You don't defend your friends in rooms where they're talked about when they're not there?"
Lumawak ang kanyang ngisi. "Alright, I get it." He sighed and licked his lower lip. "Come on, Ian. One month. Just give me one month. We can go out and if it's not gonna work, we'll call it quits."
"Pag-iisipan ko. Kilala mo ko. Hindi ako kasing lambot ng ibang mga babae. Ni hindi ko kayang mag-lipstick."
"Hindi ko naman hinihiling na baguhin mo ang sarili mo. I like you just the way you are." Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Unless someone is making you want to change yourself? Dahil ba puro mahinhin ang idini-date ni Reemo?"
Umigting ang aking panga. "Ilang beses ko bang sasabihing magkaibigan lang kami ni Reemo?"
Dinampot ko na ang susi ng big bike ko saka ako nagmartsa palabas ng resto'ng nasa loob ng mall. Hindi naman niya ako pinigilan. Siguro ay takot na suntukin ko siya sa harap ng maraming tao.
I went out and was about to go to the parking lot when I noticed a bunch of pretty girls inside a cosmetics store. Lahat ay nakaayos at tila babaeng-babae.
I saw my reflection on the store's glass wall and realized how dull I look like. Itim na button-down polo na naka-tuck in sa high-waisted jeans ang suot ko na pinaresan ng boots. My hair is tied up in a messy bun. Iyon lang. Ganoon lang. Ni pulbo sa mukha ay wala.
Bumuntonghininga ako. Paano nga naman ako magugustuhan ni Reemo kung hindi man lang ako nag-aayos?
I chewed my bottom lip. Maybe a lipstick wouldn't hurt? Maybe I can start there for him? Baka kahit isang beses man lang, magandahan din siya sa akin.
Humugot ako ng hininga bago lakas-loob na naglakad papasok ng store. I felt anxious and overwhelmed with all the products around me. Sinusundan din ako ng saleslady kaya parang lalo akong kinabahan. Akala ba niya magnanakaw ako?
Lumipat ako ulit ng aisle ngunit bumuntot pa rin ang saleslady. Hindi na tuloy ako nakapagpigil. Humarap ako sa kanya at napipikong nagsalita.
"Miss, hindi mo ako kailangang sundan. Hindi naman ako magnanakaw."
Napakurap siya. "Ay hala, hindi ko po kayo pinag-iisipan nang gano'n, Ma'am. Sumusunod lang po ako kasi baka kailangan ninyo ng tulong sa pagpili ng item."
Para akong napahiya lalo na nang mapagtantong nakuha namin ang atensyon ng ibang customer. Napabuntonghininga na lamang tuloy ako.
"P-Pasensya na."
Ngumiti ang saleslady. "Ano po ba ang hanap ninyo? Pwede ko kayong tulungan."
I swallowed then spoke in a low, shy voice. "L-Lipstick."
Pinagmasdan niya ako. "Bagay po sa kutis ninyo ang wine red. Dito po tayo. May sample po kami."
She guided me towards their testers. Ibinigay niya sa akin ang kulay na sinasabi niya pagkatapos saka siya ngumiti.
"Subukan mo, ma'am."
Napalunok ako bago nahihiyang nagsalita. "H-Hindi ko alam kung . . ." The other girls looked at me, making me feel embarrassed. "H'wag na lang pala, miss. Salamat na lang."
"Wait po!" She held my arm and glanced at the group of girls before she sighed. "Ganito lang 'yan. Madali lang."
Nahihiya ko siyang pinanood na lagyan ang sarili niyang labi. Nang matapos ay ibinigay niya ang lipstick sa akin. I put some on my lips and looked at myself in the mirror. Nang makitang bumagay naman sa akin kahit parang nakakailang ay payak akong ngumiti.
"S-Sige, Miss. Kuha ako nito."
Ngumiti siya pabalik. "Sige po. Pero baka gusto mo rin ng foundation saka pangkilay at mascara. May mari-recommend din ako. Tuturuan kita paano gamitin."
Nabudol na nga ako nang tuluyan dahil lang mabait ang saleslady. It was too late before I realized that I have already purchased a complete set. Pati skin care ay kumpleto! Lintik. Naisahan ako ro'n, ah?
"Eleven thousand two hundred po lahat. Cash or card?" tanong ng cashier.
I pulled out my wallet and gave her a card. Hindi ko na napansing iyong extension card na bigay ni Reemo pala ang naiabot ko at huli na bago ko napagtanto. Nagno-notify pa naman sa kanya tuwing nagagamit ang card. Siguradong magugulat iyon dahil saka ko lang nagagamit ang card kapag may gusto akong kainin sa labas at ayaw gumana ng cards ko!
My phone rang as expected. Humugot pa ako ng hininga bago ko sinagot ang tawag ni Reemo.
"Ian, someone stole the extension card and bought a bunch of beauty products—"
"Huwag kang mag-alala, babayaran kita. Hindi ko lang napansing card mo pala ang nagamit ko."
"That . . . was you?" parang hindi makapaniwala niyang tanong.
Lumunok ako. "O-Oo. G-Gusto kong magpaganda eh p-para sa susunod naming date ni Troy," dahilan ko.
Natahimik ang kabilang linya. Maya-maya ay bigla na lamang niya akong binabaan ng tawag. Napabuntonghininga tuloy ako.
I really don't know what's happening in my life right now.
Nilingon ko ang beauty products saka muling bumuntonghininga.
Lintik na beauty products . . .
- Writer
