Against the Tides

CHAPTER 8

“Hi, girls!” Napalingon kami ni Jas sa nagsalita. And it's Eric, one of our friends, but in a different course. Since maraming tao ngayon sa cafeteria, kaya dala-dala niya ang tray niya at naglakad papunta sa lamesa namin ni Jas. Nilapag niya ang tray at tumabi sa akin. I smiled widely at him. Minsan na lang kasi namin siya nakikita at nakakasama dahil sa aming magkaibang schedule.

“Musta! Salamat naman at nagpakita ka,” asar ni Jas na ikinatawa lang ni Eric.

“Oo nga,” I added and sipped on my coffee.

“Busy e. Pero mukhang may nakakalimutan kayo ah.” Jas and I looked at each other before we shouted in a whisper in unison,

“Birthday mo!” Nagtawanan kaming tatlo.

Pinunasan ni Jas gamit ang tissue ang gilid ng labi niya bago tinanong si Eric, “So, are we invited?”

“Of course, the reason why I also look for you guys here on campus. Buti nga nahagilap ko kayo.”

We spent our vacant time in the cafeteria at hindi na namin napapansin ang ingay sa paligid. Pinagusapan lang namin ang plano ni Eric para sa kanyang birthday. Bukas supposed to be his birthday, but sadly, full sched siya bukas. Kaya sa Saturday na lang para makapunta ang mga bisita niya. So Jas and I are excited kasi minsan lang kami magkakasama-sama bilang magkaibigan.

After class, I messaged Mama na sasamahan ko lang saglit si Jas para bumili ng ilang damit. I’m not gonna buy for myself since may damit naman ako na isusuot, hahanapin ko na lang later. And of course, to buy our gifts. Based on what he said, sa bahay ng Kuya niya gaganapin ang party.

“I wish he invites his handsome friends,” sabi ni Jas na ikinatango ko. We’re walking towards the food court kasi nag-text si Kuya Rogie, my driver, na andun siya kumakain.

“I told him, tinawanan lang ako,” I rolled my eyes.

“Pero sa bahay ng kuya niya gaganapin. Damn, what if his brother na lang? Ang gwapo gwapo nun!” Tumango-tango ako ng may malaking ngiti sa labi. Eric and his brother are fine as hell.

“Kaso may kilala akong makakatalo sa kanila.” Humarap sa akin si Jas na ikinataas ng kilay ko.

“Who?”

“Syempre, sino pa ba ang the well-known Elias.” Napabuga ako ng hangin sa sinabi niya. I thought something good ang sasabihin niya, pero ang Tito ko lang naman.

“Yes, he is handsome as hell. But Jas, he is my uncle.” I shake my head.

“Hmm, well. There is nothing wrong with crushes?” Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata. At talagang gustong-gusto ko siyang i-push.

I just laugh and shake my head.

Days passed, nagpaalam na naman ako kay Mama at Dad. They both agreed basta I should be alert and aware of my surroundings. Meanwhile, Elias. Nonstop pissing me off these past few days after that so-called “babe.” Naiinis na nga ako ng sobra-sobra, hindi ba siya makakabawi?

Tuwang-tuwa siya sa kalokohan niya na wala namang nakakatawa. Minsan, tuwing kumakain, kapag magkakatinginan kami, ngingisi siya and he will mouth ‘babe’. Gustong-gusto ko siyang murahin, kaso ako naman ang malalagot.

For Pete’s sake, I’m 22 years old already. Feeling ko bumabata ako sa kalokohan na ito.

There was also one time when we were in the sala with my parents, and magkakasalubong kami nang tawagin niya akong babe. Of course, my beloved parents looked at us. Ang ginawa lang naman niya, nilagay ang phone sa tenga as if he was talking to someone.

He is handsome as hell. His attitude is hell.

“Wow! You’re so beautiful, anak. For sure lots of guys will drool over you, kaya punch them when they do something shitty.” Tumawa ako sa sinabi ni Mama ng matapos kong ayusin ang light makeup at buhok ko.

The outfit na sinuot ko is a sleeveless black mini dress with a high halter neckline and a front keyhole cut-out. The top is fitted, accentuating my waist, while the skirt flares out with soft pleats. I paired it with drop earrings, and my hair is styled in loose waves with black high-heeled platform sandals featuring a thick block heel. It has crisscross straps over the front and two ankle straps with gold buckles. The heels are open-toe, showing my toes.

“Pumayag si Dad?” I ask when I face her. She just laughs and shakes her head. “Of course, he’s just worried, that’s all.” I nodded and sat beside her on my couch.

I understand Dad since it’s a party, especially with drinks involved. Dad trusts me, but not my surroundings. Even I sometimes wonder who knows. That’s why at every party, Jas and I make sure that before we get drunk, she texts her driver to pick us up. And that’s where I’ll sleep. Jas’s driver is a trusted one; we’ve attended several parties together, and we always get home safely. But we only drink sometimes—like, really sometimes. In a year, we can count on our fingers how many times we've had drinks. The reason? Sometimes we just don’t feel like it; we end up focusing more on food and run out of time.

“Bye, Mama and Dad.” I kissed their cheeks and hugged them. “Ingat, anak. Update us.” I nodded, and before I left, Mama took a picture of me para raw i-myday niya. Jas and I just laughed, and we let her.

While in the car, I’m busy texting Eric, asking who among our friends would be attending and if there would be too many people. His birthday starts at five, and Jas and I plan to leave before 11. “Baka naman makahanap na ako ng the one dyan ah,” I said to Eric in our message. “Hm, yes. Marami dito ang pasado sa taste mo, I mean sa inyo ni Jas.” I laughed at what he replied. I just shook my head and noticed the car stopping in front of Jas’s house. I could see the girl hurriedly getting into the vehicle.

“Damn, s**t. You’re hot as hell,” she said, playfully shaking my arm.

“You too, gaga,” I said while laughing. She was wearing a plain white fitted dress just above the knee.

“Ano 'to? Black and white? Oo nga pala. Nag-send si Eric ng pic kasama mga male friends niya. Ang daming gwapo! Huwag tayong iinom mamaya ah, kailangan smooth ang transaction sa pakikipaglandian.”

“Yeah,” I simply nodded.

We kept on talking about the party and how the excitement consumed us as we discussed the handsome guys who would be attending Eric’s birthday. I didn’t know why, but suddenly I felt nervous for reasons I couldn’t fathom. It wasn’t my first time attending a birthday or a party.

Before I went downstairs, I took a deep breath and signed myself with the cross.

“Tinatawagan ko na si Eric.” I glanced at Jas, who was indeed calling Eric. We were both feeling shy about entering.

“Baka sabihin ni Eric parang tayo pa ang may birthday,” I said.

“Nakakahiya pumasok! Maraming tao, sabi ni Eric e. More on mga kaibigan ng kuya niya.”

“Huh? Kuya ba niya ang may birthday?” I asked in surprise. Jas was about to respond when we saw Eric walking toward us. He was simply dressed in a white long-sleeved polo and pants, making it hard to believe he was the birthday boy.

“Happy birthday, Eric baby!” Jas shouted joyfully, which made Eric and me laugh. He shook his head while embracing both of us.

“Salamat, akala ko hindi kayo makakapunta.”

“Pwede ba 'yon? Hello! It’s food!”

“Well, sinabihan naman na kita about sa mga bisita. It’s more on my brother’s friends.” I frowned and couldn’t help but ask.

“Why? I mean it’s understandable but… why?”

He just shrugged.

“Business shits, and you guys know naman that my circle of friends is small.”

Jas and I nodded. Eric gestured for us to follow him. While following Eric, I couldn’t help but think. If Eric’s brother is a businessman and this birthday party is basically taking over his birthday, what if that happens to me? In my entire life, without celebrating on my father's side, nothing like this has ever occurred. But this is different. We are now in my Dad's territory.

However, I know Mama won’t allow it.

I looked around at his brother’s house; it’s a typical luxury mansion. The color of the house leans toward gray and black. Eric walked straight until we stopped at the back of the house. It’s a huge room, a very large one. Jas and I gasped in awe; the catering is on the side, and there are tables and chairs, with a bar at the corner. I saw many unfamiliar faces, but I recognized some—Eric’s friends I had seen on social media.

“Ang daming pagkain!” Jas whispered.

I was about to look at her when I noticed a familiar person, making my heartbeat accelerate. I felt everything around me shift into slow motion and blur. I couldn’t see anyone else but him. Even the music faded; I could only hear my heartbeat.

He is with someone—a group of friends, I guess. This room is connected to the pool area, and there’s a glass sliding door open in between. Some of the people are out by the pool, and there are tables and chairs over there, too. Meanwhile, he sat in a lower chair, with a small table between their circles.

Wearing a black long-sleeved polo buttoned down, four buttons were open, and I could see his silver necklace. He has a watch on his left hand, black trousers, and white sneakers. His hair is neat, softly slicked back, but a few strands fall onto his forehead. He is smirking while swirling his glass of alcohol in his hand, looking down and seemingly listening to what one of them is saying. His legs are spread apart as he sits.

I gulped and looked away. No wonder he hasn’t been home all day; he’s attending a party. And we both went to the same party! Maybe that’s why I’m anxious. Because my brilliant uncle is here.

When I looked back at Eric and Jas, they were staring at me as if they caught me looking at something.

“ W-What?”

“ Well, small world indeed,” sabi ni Jas.

“ I’m just shocked, Jas,” paliwanag ko.

“ Why? You know Elias?” I lick my lips when Eric asks and guides us to a corner where we can sit. Kumuha naman si Jas ng tatlong wine mula sa isang waiter na nag-iikot-ikot. I sip on my wine before answering him.

“ He’s... he’s my uncle.” I glance at Jas na nakangiti ng nakakaloko.

“ Really? Well... he is one of my brother’s close friends, more like best friends.”

“ Talaga? OMG, ang ganda naman ng circle of friends ng kuya mo! Baka... pwede pang sumali.” Hindi ko maiwasan na hindi matawa at ganun din si Eric.

“ Bat hindi nalang kayo nagsabay? He came earlier, mga... four andito na siya.”

“ With a girl?” Napakunot ang noo ni Eric sa tanong ko. Wala namang sigurong masama since normal naman ata na may dalang babae kahit saan?

“ No, he came alone and spent the remaining time in my brother’s office.” I just nod and sip on my wine.

Hindi ako mapakali at mas lalo akong kinakabahan. What's the big deal anyway? As if tumakas ako sa kanila Mama at makikita niya ako, and boom, magsusumbong. But I’m here completely agreed by both my parents. So ano ikinakabahan ko?

“ I’ll be right back, girls. CJ and the others just arrived.” I nodded. Good thing dumating na yung iba pa naming mga kaibigan.

“ Sure, dalhin mo nalang sila dito.” Eric just nodded and left. At nang mawala si Eric sa paligid, tumingin sa akin si Jas ng nakakaloko.

“ This place is full of hotness.” She looked at me from head to toe, and I showed her my middle finger.

“ Chill, girl. Huwag ka nang magulat kung makita mo si Elias sa lahat ng party. Palaging perfect attendance yan.” I rolled my eyes.

“ Wala akong pakialam.”

“ Hmmm. You look nervous, girl.”

Napailing na lang ako at uminom ulit ng wine. Taking my time to relax because my system is so overreacting.

“ s**t, girl. He is looking.”

Kumunot ang noo ko at dahan-dahan na tumingin sa pwesto ni Elias. s**t, yes, it is. Bakit ba kasi hindi ko napansin na ang lapit ng pwesto namin sa kanila?

I can't look away; bakit parang naka-magnet ang mga mata namin at hindi ako makaiwas ng tingin. Naramdaman ko ang bilis ng t***k ng puso ko. I suddenly felt more nervous.

He is looking at me emotionless.