Tempted [Tagalog]

Chapter 20: A Blurry Memory

KANINA ko pa narinig ang pagtunog ng alarm clock ko, pero wala akong balak na bumangon. I'm just staring blankly ahead at my ceiling as I try to recall what happened last night. That shot of tequila did give me a boost but at the same time, I want to regret taking it.

"Ang sakit ng ulo ko!" I rolled over my bed as if it would help ease my pounding headache. "Grabe, hindi na ako iinom kahit kailan!"

Ang ilang magkakasunod na katok mula sa pinto ko ang siyang nagpatigil sa akin. Sabunot ko ang aking sarili nang pumasok si mommy na may dalang tray ng pagkain.

"Good morning, sweetie! I brought some breakfast for—" Her bright smile vanished when she saw me in my current state. Dali-dali niyang ibinaba sa center table ko ang dala niyang tray at saka ako nilapitan. "My goodness, Alison. What happened to you, anak?"

Napaawang ang bibig ko dahil kahit ako mismo, hindi malaman kung paano magpapaliwanag kay mommy. Masyado pa namang hysterical ang isang 'to, lalo na pagdating sa akin. Hindi pa nga siya nakuntento't kaagad niyang kinuha ang digital thermometer ko sa bathroom cabinet. Kaagad niya itong itinapat sa noo ko para makuha ang current body temperature ko.

"Your temperature is normal but why do you look like…" medyo nasamid pa nga siya na para bang hindi niya kayang ituloy ang sasabihin.

I rolled my eyes heavenwards.

"I look like s**t. I know, mom! You don't have to shove it on my face."

I saw how she was taken aback by my words. Muntik ko nang makalimutan na hindi nga pala siya sanay sa ganitong way ng pagsasalita ko. But can she really blame me when I don't even know whether I'm sober or not!

"I'm sorry," sabi ko nang hindi pa rin kumakalma ang reaksyon niya. "I just don't feel well. Can I skip school today?"

"And why would you skip school after partying last night?"

Pareho kaming natigilan ni mommy sa aming pag-uusap at sabay na napatingin sa may pinto. Mula roo'y nakita ko si daddy na papalapit na sa amin. He's wearing his usual corporate attire but what surprised me is seeing him here, at this hour.

"H-honey, I thought you left for work." Binigyan ni mommy ng halik sa pisngi si daddy bago siya tumayo para magpaalam. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need something, Alison."

A moment of silence creeped inside my bedroom after mom left. I know that I shouldn't feel uncomfortable around my own father. But somehow, dad's cold personality can be quite intimidating at times. Especially when he keeps gawking on me like I'm some kind of prey or something.

"Pinayagan kitang umalis kagabi dahil kasama mo si Clarkson," panimula ni daddy. "So how come when I called to ask him if you're still with him, he didn't know the answer?"

Awtomatikong kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. That's when I started to question myself, who the hell brought me home last night?

"Well? Aren't you going to answer me?"

Napayuko na lang ako dahil kahit ako mismo'y hindi alam ang isasagot. Damn, I never thought a shot of tequila would be enough to get me drunk. At bwiset na Clarkson 'yan! Hindi man lang ako pinagtakpan ng hayop.

Humanda ka sa 'kin, impakto ka!

"I'm sorry, dad…"

"Are you going to keep disappointing me like this, Alison?" Umiling-iling pa siya sa akin na para bang napakalaki na naman ng ginawa kong kasalanan. Maya-maya lang din ay tinalikuran na niya ako at akmang aalis. Hihinga na dapat ako nang maluwag kung hindi lang siya huminto at lumingon muli sa akin. "Get dressed! I'm taking you to school today."

He slammed the door which echoed all over my room. I let out a frustrated sigh then threw all my pillows on the floor. Hindi ko talaga siya maintindihan! Isang araw, parang hangin lang ako sa kanya tapos bukas-makalawa, kung umasta siya parang napakabuting ama na naman.

How frustrating!

NAKASIMANGOT ang pagmumukha kong pumasok sa school. Gustuhin ko man um-absent ngayon, alam kong monitored na naman ni dad ang bawat galaw ko. And when I say monitored, meaning lahat ng teachers, ultimong janitors ay nakabantay sa 'kin.

What a life!

"Allie, wait up!" I turned around and saw Belle running towards me. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang hintayin ang paglapit niya para sabay na kaming pumunta sa hideout namin. "What's your problem and you look like—"

"—I'm not in the mood, Belle. So unless you're going to say something that would light things up for me, keep your opinions to yourself. Okay?"

"Fine, fine! Geez, girl." Belle raised both her arms as if she's surrendering. I groaned in annoyance as I walked faster, leaving Belle behind.

Ang sabi nila, kapag nalalasing ang isang tao, nakakalimutan nito ang mga nangyari. Well, true enough… hindi ko alam kung sino'ng naghatid sa akin pauwi dahil pagkatapos akong layasan nina Justice at Aome kagabi, hindi ko na halos maalala ang mga sumunod na nangyari. And taking from my dad's sentiments this morning, malinaw rin na hindi si Clarkson ang naghatid sa akin pauwi.

Natigilan ako sa paglalakad at mabilis na nilingon si Belle. "Were you the one who brought me home last night?"

"Huh? Teka, I thought you and Clarkson were together last…"

I squinted my eyes at Belle when she stopped half way of her sentence. She seemed quite stunned by something so I followed the direction she's looking at. Awtomatikong nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang tumambad sa harapan ko ang naglalakad na si Justice.

Seeing him right now reminded me of how humiliating it was last night. He was busy with his notes but when he's just a few meters away from me, I was surprised when he looked in my direction. I kissed him and rejected me upfront, for heaven's sake! And I can never forgive him for doing that to me.

So, I trailed off and strode passed him. Dire-diretso akong naglakad hanggang makarating sa mismong hideout namin nina Belle. Pagkapasok ko'y kaagad kong inilapag ang dala kong handbag at saka pabagsak na naupo sa couch. Maya-maya lang din ay sunod nang pumasok si Belle habang ngiting-ngiti.

"Oh my god! What happened last night?" She sounds excited while asking that question. "I was too preoccupied with the first two subjects kaya hindi kita na kumusta agad. So, tell me! Ano'ng nangyari—"

"—I'm cutting off the deal," I said to stop her from spurting nonsense.

"What?"

"I got rejected twice in a row, Belle. My ego can't take it anymore! Kaya mas mabuting tigilan na natin ang lintik na dare na 'yan." Sa inis ko'y hindi ko na halos napansin na sobrang higpit na pala ng pagkakasakmal ko sa leather cover ng couch. "From now on, I'll handle my own problems. And that includes breaking off my engagement with that bas—"

"Woah, chill ka nga lang, Allie!" pagputol ni Belle sa sinasabi ko. I looked at her with furrowed eyebrows but she seemed puzzled. "I'm confused, kaya let me get things straight. So, Justice rejected you again last night? Bakit, ano ba'ng ginawa mo?"

Mabilis akong nag-iwas ng tingin dahil naalala ko na naman ang nangyari kagabi. Ito lang ang nakakainis sa babaeng 'to. Palibhasa, galing sa pamilya ng mga lawyers kaya ang hilig sa interrogation. But then again, of course I have no choice but to answer her question. Knowing Belle? She won't shut up unless I feed her curiosity.

"I kissed him…"

"Oh, okay—wait, what?!" Kulang na lang ay mag-echo hanggang sa labas ang boses ni Belle kaya naman napatakip na lang ako ng tainga. "What the hell, Allie? You kissed him just like that?"

Sinimangutan ko siya. "It was all part of the plan! You told me to get him by hook or by crook so I had no choice but to use that stunt on him. Look, this is so humiliating on my part—"

"—but you said he rejected you after you kissed him?"

"Can you stop repeating what happened? Nakakainis na, Belle!" I rolled my eyes and groaned in annoyance. Mas inilubog ko rin ang sarili ko sa sofa habang hinihiling na sana, maglaho na lang ako na parang bula.

Ilang sandali rin nanahimik ang paligid nang hindi muna umimik ang kaibigan kong ipinaglihi sa mga crime and investigation TV series. Minabuti kong pumikit na muna dahil parang sumasakit na naman ang ulo ko.

"Umayos ka, p'wede?"

"Why are you even here when you already rejected me? Just leave! Kung ayaw mo sa 'kin, mas ayaw ko sa 'yo!"

"Pambihirang buhay 'to oh! Ihahatid na kita kaya umayos ka, p'wede?"

Pabalikwas akong napabangon mula sa pagkakasandal ko sa sofa. Ilang ulit kong minasahe ang sentido ko nang bigla na lang pumasok sa isipan ko ang usapan na 'yon. Ano ba 'yun? Imagination ko lang ba o baka naman…

"It's weird that Justice rejected you, Allie." Napaangat ang tingin ko kay Belle nang muli siyang magsalita. "Kasi kung totoo ang sinasabi mo, then bakit ka niya sinundan ng tingin kanina kahit nagawa mo siyang lagpasan?"

Natigilan ako sa huling sinabi ni Belle. I don't want to jump on conclusions but based on what my dad asked me this morning and what Belle just said, is it possible that Justice was the one who took me home last night?