Takip Silip

xii. Pumapanglabing-dalawa

Aurora and Elli were the center of attention, they both looked like foreigners or random rich kids. The trick of the blonde hair wig and Elli’s oversized black shirt. Nagmukha itong dress dahil umaabot ito hanggang tuhod niya which is unusual to see sa gitna nang mala-divisoria-ng dami ng tao na puro laylay na plain shirt, pawis, at halos mahulog na pants. Habang silang dalawa, looking fresh-aesthetically-good. They both loved the gaze on them at masiyadong abala si Aurora para pansinin ang mga titig sa kanila.   

“Bakit ba tingin ka ng tingin?” reklamo ni Elli sa kanya. She tried to looked away but failed. Sino ba kasing hindi? Another unusual for her to see aside from her reflection today. Elli is wearing a dress. She don’t wear dresses often. Lagi itong suot ay highwaisted pants at mga malalaking shirt. Pero ngayon, her fitted dress shows her body shape. It was Aurora’s first time to see her outside like this. Her new looks gives her . . . unfamiliar feeling in her stomach to her chest. Butterflies? She doesn’t know, worms? Neither. It doesn’t matter. 

“Saan tayo pupunta?” ignoring her question. Umirap si Elli sa kanya nang hindi pinansin ang tanong niya. Napangisi si Aurora. Oh. Lord. Can she stop acting like this? She’s not usually like this. Hindi siya sanay.   

“Ewan. Somewhere far.” aniya. 

“Niyaya mo ko mag-date tapos hindi mo alam kung saan pupunta?” reklamo ni Aurora. It was Elli time to ignore her at patuloy lang naglakad habang siya, nakasunod lang sa likod niya. She doesn’t know where Elli is going to take her and she’s in favor. She wants to go nowhere. She wants to be far away from her circle of hell. And the second time she blink, she’s sitting inside a public bus. 

“Saan tayo pupunta?” she asked, again. 

“Somewhere far.” with the same answer she expected. Hindi na siya nagtanong pa nang mapagalaman niya na hindi siya sasagutin nito. Hindi niya rin naman gusto masagot. She wants to be suprised. Saan ba may posibilidad na puntahan nila? Parks, mall, or museums? 

Nilabas ni Elli ang isang blue na mp4 at sinuot ang isang pares ng earphones sa tenga niya. She leaned back. Having her peace. Her breaths, the song from her ear, the air breeze from the open window, and scenery she first time to see is the only thing she have right now. Leaving everything behind. 

“Para tayong nasa field trip.” Elli whispered. She smiled and nodded. It does. Naalala niya nasa dulo rin siya ng mga bus kapag field trip noong elementary. With the same thing she have right now, lost and music in her ears. Kinuha ni Elli ang kamay niya at inilagay ang isang maliit na notepad at lapis, “Draw.” ang tanging sinabi niya pagkatapos ay sumandal at pumikit. She stared at the notepad in her hands. Kailan ba siya ulit huling nakaguhit? It has been months. She was too busy with work and liquor. She missed the scent of fresh paint and the mess in her hands. It was her drugs. Her escape. Pero ngayon, parang hindi niya alam kung paano hahawakan ang lapis; kung paano ito ikukompas. Heart breaking. 

Have you heard that an artist who’s letting go of her art, desires, and ambitions is suicide? Is she dead? Kailan pa?

Napansin ni Elli ang pakikipagtitigan niya sa papel. Aurora wished she can create fire through her hands. She wished she can burn the paper, the graphite, and her useless hands next. Kinuha muli ito ni Elli sa kamay niya, ibinalik sa bulsa niya. Ipinatong niya ang ulo ni Aurora sa balikat niya. Letting her rest na parang naiintindihan niya ang tumatakbo sa utak nito. Somehow, Aurora felt safe. From her own.

Loud music, lights, and crowd, ayun ang bungad sa kanya pagkalabas na pagkalabas nila ng bus. No, it’s not a bar.  

“Concert?” Elli smiled at her. Hinila ang kamay niya sa gitna ng maraming tao. From the tarpaulin, it’s a music festival. She can hear bands playing from where they are. This is her first time going to one. She was never fond of concerts but she dreamed to go to one kaso masiyadong malayo ang mga venue. But here she is, a staff is stamping on her hand for her to go inside. 

She was speechless. There are art, tattoos, food, and bazaars sa kahit anong gilid. People are on the ground or dancing. Hinayaan niyang higitin siya Elli. There are rides sa loob. A little carnival. They are entering a caterpillar roller coaster.  Everything was so fast for Aurora, ni hindi pa nagsisink in sa kanya kung nasaan sila and now, she’s sitting and waiting for the ride to get started. 

“Wait, wait!” taranta niya. Elli looked at her and smirked. 

“Why? Are you scared?” she provoked, agad na napailing si Aurora. Ni hindi man lang siya tinanong kung gusto niya. Hinila lang siya agad rito at pinaupo. Ginalaw ni Elli ang seatbelt niya, securing it, “Good. Don’t be. You have me.” and then, Aurora is screaming.  

They were dancing, having fun with themselves with a cup of liquor and hotdog on stick. Creating their own bubble. There are times people will look at them due to their noises, some smiled, some are not, but they didn’t care. Sa mga oras na iyon, hawak nila ang mundo. Walang may hawak sa kanila. 

“Pa-tattoo tayo?” yaya ni Elli. Nanlaki mata ni Aurora niya sa kanya. They are so impulsive today! 

“Seryoso ka?” 

“Oo naman.” Elli flashed a smiled. Hinila na naman siya, “Ano, game?” more like a challenge, “Pero masakit ‘to.” Aurora flashed a playful smile back to her. Does she think Aurora is the person who backs out in challenges? Have she forgot that she doesn’t just paint, she does tattoos too? Pain is nothing. 

“If it doesn’t hurt, what’s the point?” they both seem to get  it because they smiled in harmony, “Game.” 

They are both sitting in the ground, watching people. Observing them. Lahat sumisigaw sa mga artista at musikero. Wanting to touch them, like young gods. They both know how it felt to be admired, to look up to. She knows Elli knows it too as a writer, they lined up for her signature, and they line up for her brand. 

“Are we a product or a machine?” Elli asked. 

“Neither, or either.” She answered while looking at her new fresh tattoo on her leg. Oh, god. A flaming red japanese hannya mask tattoo is absolutely hot. And the burning pain feels so wonderful. She wanted more.