Everything Started on New Year's Eve

Camachile Sky

I was brought out of my reverie when my phone rang. Think of the devil and he will appear on your phone. He wanted to talk to me about something important and he was still outside our gate. 

Nakabihis na ako ng pambahay in my dolphin baby pink shorts and overused tee, yung tipong malapit na maging bacon yung kwelyo. Tinamad na ako magbihis so I wore a white hoodie over it and headed out the gate. Nakapark si Jaxx where he dropped me off. His car was still running.

I shuddered immediately when I got inside his car. I swear that devil lives in the North Pole, his thermostat is always at 18 degrees and the blower in full blast. His eyes strayed on my legs a while before shifting to my eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed and he cleared his throat.

“You’re already wearing a jacket yet you still feel cold?” bungad nyang namimikon.

“Yan ba ang rason bat mo ako pinalabas dito, para insultuhin?” inirapan ko siya.

“Ooo-kay. Look I don’t want to fight again. I just wanted to clarify some things.” He put his hands up in mock surrender.

“Ok, what’s up Jaxx?”

He looked into the row of houses in front of us, concentrating. His eyebrows furrowed and he was chewing on the inside of his lower lip.

“Jaxx?” ulit ko.

He shifted to face me and leaned back on the car door. “What am I to you, Scarlet?”

Bang!

Nawindang ako. San nanggaling iyon?

“Ha? A-anong nakain mo b-bakit mo naman natanong?” I stuttered.

“You’re stuttering.”

“Malamig kasi e.” I lied.

“Sorry,” he leaned over to turn down the fan speed and increase the temperature. He rested his hand on the hand break between us. It was enough time to compose myself and hide my heart.

“So ano na?”

“Kaibigan, siyempre! Ano ba. May iba pa ba? Anong gusto mo, driver, cockblocker, taga-libre..” binilang ko sa mga daliri ko.

“Just a friend. Nothing more?” there was a curious look on his face and I had a feeling he was probing me, checking if I was really telling the truth.  

Lintik talaga tong Benedict Jackson na to! Hindi ako ready sa confrontation na to, sana man lang nakapagpractice ako ng mga sagot ko kung alam kong ito ang maaabutang kong question and answer portion sa labas ng bahay ko at 1:00 AM!

Ang lakas ng kabok ng puso ko. What do I tell him? Aaminin ko ba?

Of course, hindi noh! Baliw ba ako? Oo, nababaliw sa kanya. Pero hindi ko rin ito aaminin. Ever.

“Oo naman! Feelingerong ‘to.” Tinawanan ko sya. “Ano bang nakain mo at naisipan mong tanungin ako nyan? Quarter-life crisis? What’s next, ‘who am I’?”

He laughed and shook his head. “I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.”

Ouch! Natigilan ako.

But wait, bakit ako nasaktan? Was I just friend-zoned?

“Look, I’m sorry for all the cockblocking. I just felt protective of you. You know, like a big brother.”

So he sees me as just little sister? Double ouch! If I knew na ito ang aabutin ko ngayong gabi, I should have worn a chainmail because my heart has already been stabbed twice in the span of one minute.

“Para kang ewan. I don’t need protection anymore. I’m ready, I think. But thanks.” Tinapik ko braso nya and he gave me a tight-lipped smile and nodded.

“Well, now that that’s cleared, we can all sleep soundly.” He clapped and rubbed his hands together, looking half convinced.

I smiled wanly and looked ahead. Bakit ba ako nasaktan sa sinabi niya? Ganito ba ang pakiramdam ng na-basted? Hindi nga ako nanligaw, na little-sister-zoned nya na naman ako!

He moved closer to the center and leaned over to reach me. My eyes widened when he moved his face closer to mine and medyo napaatras ako.

“W-what are you doing?”

He stopped midway and looked at me, confused. “Beso? Goodnight?”

“Oh. Yeah. Goodnight.” Uminit ang mukha ko kaya mabilis ko siyang bineso at bumaba na agad. There was a smirk on his face and I heard him snigger just before I closed the door. Pambihira naman oh, assuming kasi masyado!

The next weeks passed by quickly and halos gabi-gabi kaming magkasama. If we weren’t practicing, we were playing gigs at music bars and clubs. We had our first Podcast guesting as well. Ace and Seb did all the talking, si Ace sa seryosong sagot, si Seb naman sa mga pambara at kalokohan. Minsan lang kaming sumagot ni Jaxx, nung nagtanong ang host kung single ba kami lahat sa banda.

“Yep, single and ready to mingle.” I laughed.

“Depends on who’s asking,” Jaxx answered with a smirk. 

“Lonely, but not alone,” Ace added sabay tawa.

 “Alone, but not lonely.” Kumindat si Seb at nagtawanan kami sa booth. Pahalatang hindi sila seryoso.

A few days after the podcast, it was Chino’s 25th birthday and we arranged to play two sets. Tamang-tama it was the weekend and Chino did not have to study. He practiced a few songs with us so sya ang magbe-bassist sa isang set, ako naman sa isa.

I checked my trunk and made sure I had all I needed for tonight’s gig. Nagpaalam ako kina Mom and Dad, telling them we will be playing in Camachile Sky and that I’ll be home late. I picked up Val on the way out of the subdivision.

“Heeey! So glad you can make it!” nag beso kami ni Val as she got in.

“Of course! You make it sound that being a Derma is so demanding. Pag weekdays lang ako busy.” She laughed lightly. She turned around to check the back. “Kala ko ba si Chino magbe-bass ngayon?”

“Siya sa isang set, yung pinratice nyo. Yung isang set, kami na ulit nina Jaxx, Ace, and Seb.”

“Asus, nanga-others na naman kayo. Gagawa pa talaga ng second set. Hmph!” She pouted, pretending to be offended.

“Uy hindi naman! Two sets daw kasi nirerequest ni Mr. Magbanua. Eh one set lang naman na practice nyo.. so wag ka mag-inarte dyan!” I jokingly scolded her.

“Who’s Mr. Magbanua? Yung scout?”

“Nope, one of the owners of Camachile Sky.”

Camachile Sky, the “underground” music bar where we started. It was known to starting bands because the owners were very open to new and up-and-coming acts. They like to be dubbed as the birthplace of young talents, and kung tutuusin, marami na nga din silang bands na natulungan at napasikat.

When we got to the place, nandun na si Seb. He was sitting at the bar talking to the bartender. We sat beside him, flanking him on either side.

“Hey Seb!” Val cheerfully greeted. Nagbeso sila and she smiled at the bartender.

“Hey! Buti na lang andito na kayo. I’ve been pestering Rachel since I got here.” He said, pertaining to the barmaid.

“I wouldn’t call it pestering. The pleasure was all mine. It’s not every day I meet the sous-chef of Cocina Español.” Rachel chuckled.

She was pretty with dark hair and bright, round eyes. She had an eyebrow piercing and a few more piercings on both ears. Her hair was twisted up in a messy bun. I noticed that she had a few tattoos on her inner forearm: a hello kitty with a barcode under, and several circles of different sizes, which didn’t seem to form a distinct shape. It was artsy, but I didn’t know what it meant. 

“Can I get you girls anything?”

“I’ll have a Hoegaarden Rosée”

“I’ll have a strawberry mojito, please”

“And I’ll have another Pale Pilsen, please Rache. Thank you!” dagdag ni Seb.

“Nakailan ka na ba?” I asked Seb.

“Three, I think. You guys want to get pulutan?” Val and I declined.

Val and Seb chitchatted for a couple of minutes, catching up. They hardly ever saw each other because of work and residency. Kahit kami ni Val, we hardly see each other. I was just looking around the bar, sipping my mojito and minding my own business when a group of five walked in and suddenly, my jaw dropped. Seb was animatedly telling Val some story about the band when I reached over and repeatedly tapped Val’s thigh without breaking my stare at the group that entered.

“Oh em gee, Val! Val! It’s Fratboy and Unicorn girl!”

“What? Who?”

“Fratboy and Unicorn girl! Yung sa UP fair!”

“Oh! Yung kinockblock ni Jaxx? Saan?” Seb excitedly looked around.

“Pucha naman, Seb! Wag masyadong malakas boses mo! Val, be discreet!” I hissed at both of them. Gulat silang lumingon sa akin.

“Aba, excuse me ha! Sino bang excited na tawagin ako para tumingin?” Val laughed. Then they alternately bombarded me with questions. 

“Sino ba kasi dyan? Yung naka dark shirt na may mga isaw na design? Isaw ba iyon?” Seb squinted. 

“Uy, cute yung naka gray na Adidas jacket. Sya ba?” 

“Cute ba yun? Mukha syang mama’s boy!”

“Well, look who’s talking!”

“There’s nothing wrong with being a mama’s boy, as long as you don’t look like it.”

“How can you say that he looks like a mama’s boy? What does a mama’s boy look like ba?”

“That is inconsequential information as of the moment, Valerio. Si Unicorn girl ba yung naka spaghetti strap na violet?”

I simply nodded. Di ako makasingit sa sunud-sunod nila na mga tanong!

“Lilac, yan Seb. Know your colors.” Val pointed out.

“Wow, Claude Monet is in Camachile Sky! Kamusta po bihaye nyo?”

“f**k you, Seb!”

“Who’s that other girl na kasama nila? May code name din ba sya?”

“Ewan ko sa inyo, kayo naman nagbibinyag sa mga tao ng kung anu-anong pangalan e.” natawa ako sa tanong ni Seb.

 “Yikes! Wag mo sabihin sya yang naka undercut and pony tail na naka black. Mukha syang goon kahit gwapo. Gwapong mestisong goon.”

“May goon na ba ganoon? Pwede ba yun?” Seb glanced at Val with a doubtful look on his face.

“Oo, yung mga don ng Italian mafia.” Val bit her lip holding back a smile and Seb scoffed rolled his eyes exaggeratedly.

“Pambihira.”I heard him say under his breath and I had to laugh. “Kasing aura sila ni Jaxx. Pa-mysterious.”

“Sya ba? Yan ba type mo?” Val snapped her head to me. I nodded hesitantly while biting my lower lip.

“Uuy, kung ganyan type mo, e di type mo si Jaxx?” Seb quickly looked at me and wiggled his eyebrows.

“Ha?! Ano ka ba Seb, umayos ka nga!” galit ko syang hinampas sa balikat. I felt my face and ears heat up.

“Aray ko! I was just asking. No need for violence.” Seb rubbed his shoulder.

“E bakit ka namumula kung hindi totoo?” 

Isa pa ‘tong Margaret Valerio na to, pahamak!

“Namumula ako sa galit! Leche, ano ba kayong dalawa!”

Sa kadaldalan nila, hindi namin na pansin na dumating na pala sina Jaxx and Ace, with the birthday boy.

“Hey! Sino yang pinag-uusapan nyo dyan?” Ace placed an arm around my shoulder and did a bro handshake with Seb. Nag beso sya kay Val.

“Si Fratboy andito.” Sagot ni Val, vaguely pointing to their direction.

“Sino?” Chino was confused. 

“Si Fratboy ni Cara! Yung ni-cockblock ni Jaxx sa UP fair! ” Ang lakas ng boses si Seb na kahit maingay ang bar nangingibabaw pa rin boses nya.

Nagtakip na ako ng mukha. Gusto ko nang matunaw na lang sa hiya. My god, can’t my friends be more obvious?

“Saan?” All three heads spun simultaneously to where the Fratboy was seated with his friends. Sa ingay nila, napalingon din si Fratboy at mga kaibigan niya sa amin at nagkatinginan kami.

For a moment the world seemed to stop. The glass on their table na natabig ni Adidas guy tipped halfway toward the edge of the table, the liquid inside sloshed to one side. The flame from Fratboy’s lighter was unmoving; the tip of his cigarette remained unburned despite being surrounded by the fiery glow. The Other girl looking at the menu while Isaw boy pointed us out to Unicorn girl.

Then Unicorn girl waved happily.

Punyeta. I will strangle all of my friends later.

Fratboy and his friends sat with us the rest of the night I learned that his name was Quino, short for Joaquin Antonio. First name nya pa lang yan. He was smart and very articulate. He was also witty and because of that, I found him 3.5 times more attractive now compared to last month.

Pero undergrad nga sya ng BS BA sa UP Diliman. He was a 3rd year to be exact, which makes him at least 5 years younger. And just take a wild guess, who else took BS BA in UP Diliman?

Benedict goddamn Jackson, the bane of my existence.

So bigla na lang may connection na sila. Unicorn girl and Adidas guy were also taking up BS BA. Other girl and Isaw boy were BS Psychology and they were also looking at going into medicine.

Val and I gave them some advices. We talked about the fun things and hardships of med school, and a lot the crazy experiences we had during clerkship and internship – mula sa mga epal na groupmates, mga kupal na ka duty, to how survive bedside rounds, hanggang sa kakulangan ng tulog at kain, and of course, hindi mawawala ang mga McDreamy sa bawat rotation.

The entire time we were talking though, I kept on stealing glances at Jaxx and Fratboy. Nakita ko similarities nila and I figured out why I was attracted to Quino – he reminded me so much of Jaxx, physically and mentally. Tama si Seb when he said they exuded the same aura of mystery, and they both were smart, witty, and very good with words.

Ano ba, Cara, must everything be about Jaxx? I scolded myself mentally.

We finished our set by singing “Happy Birthday” to Chino. Rachel brought out a cake with lighted candles to where Chino was. Some of the candles were put out unavoidably, and Fratboy lit them up again. Jaxx concentrated on taking a video of the audience singing and Chino happily clapping along. Once the candles were out, Fratboy handed Seb and me a beer, while Adidas guy gave Jaxx and Ace theirs. Ace then proposed a toast, at the end of which he shouted, “BOTTOMS UP!!”

Bangka sa kwento si Chino and Seb, as well as si Unicorn girl and Adidas guy. All this time, Jaxx and I were seated apart and he was occasionally talking to Other girl or Isaw guy. At one point he stood up and went to the bar and chatted up Rachel. I could see her blush, after which he handed her his phone. She typed in something and gave it back to him.

Nakaramdam ako ng inis pero wala akong karapatan diba? 

Rachel gave him a new beer and he took it before returning to our table. He sat beside Seb who nudged him and whispered something to his ear. Jaxx laughed and just shook his head, while looking down on the floor and picking with the sticker label on his beer. When he looked up, I met his eyes. I forced myself to smile. I raised my beer to him and took a sip. He responded by doing the same. There was a smirk on his face but there was also something else in his eyes na hindi ko mabasa. And hindi ko na nabasa kasi umiwas na ako ng tingin, baka sya pa may makita sa mga mata ko.