Miss Perfectly Imperfect

RUNWAY

Shane's POV

An invitation came the day before my flight back home. I was hesitant at first for some personal reasons. Wala lang, medyo hindi lang maganda 'yong kutob ko. Or maybe because I was able to witness how most people behaved in bigger cities like Manila. They tend to be more bolder and aggressive. Perhaps too much for me to take in. Besides, I didn't just locked myself in that dressing room for an hour just to be exposed now. Some of them still knows my real identity. And some of them might be there too.

"Do this for me, please?" Lou pleaded with downcast eyes.

Umirap ako. "Yoko nga..."

"This will gonna be our last bonding Sai. Hindi natin alam kung kelan tayo muling magkikita pa. Hindi natin alam kung ano ang mangyayari sa'yo pag-uwi mo ng Mindanao. At kung ano ang mangyayari sa akin the moment na maiiwan na akong mag-isa dito." Tinapunan ko siya ng malalalim na titig. It's kinda weird to hear her saying those words. We've been friends for such a long time and literally been together for quite a while. Kulang nalang sa bahay na namin siya tumira. It just feel so odd that it's gonna end up so soon.

At Oo, dalawa kaming lumuwas ng Maynila, pero mag-isa na lang akong babalik ng Mindanao. Lou got an offer! as expected. Kaya sino ba naman ako para pigilan siya? At napakawalang kuwenta ko namang kaibigan kung di ko siya mapagbibigyan ngayon. Kaya tapos ang usapan, sasamahan ko siy, whether I like it or not.

"Sai, sorry talaga." Maluha-luha si Lou habang nakayakap ng patalikod sa akin. Her bloody shot eyes reflected in this huge mirror in front of us. Itinigil ko ang pag-aayos sa sarili. I lifted my eyes at tinitigan siya sa harap ng salamin. Kitang-kita ko ang kalungkutan sa kanyang anyo, which I didn't like to see at all. She tried so hard to convinced me to do this party thing, tas magdadrama siya ngayon? We should be celebrating tonight at hindi mag-iyakan. Our hard work has definitely paid off. So, there's nothing to be sad for.

"There's nothing to say sorry, wala kang kasalanan. You don't say sorry for someone's success! You actually celebrate it with them. Especially if that someone happens to be your friend. Besides, deserve na deserve mo 'yon." Ngumiti ako at marahang tinapik ang mga braso niyang nakayakap parin sa akin.

"Pero... wala ka ng magiging kasangga niyan, kapag muling umiral ang kamalditahan ni Kendra." Yumuko siya.

"I can manage Sai, don't fret about it. May sarili kang laban dito. Isa pa, may kakampi pa naman ako do'n." Muli siyang nag-angat ng tingin patungo sa akin.

"Plano ko ng seryosohin si Carl." Paglalahad ko na naging dahilan kung bakit niya itinaas ang isang kilay. Kinalas niya ang yapos sa akin.

"Bakit? Hindi ka parin boto kay Carl?" Untag ko.

Humalukipkip siya habang dumistansiya sa akin. "I don't know Sai, there's just something strange about that man. At hanggang ngayon hindi ko parin talaga naiintindihan kung bakit nakukuhang magtiwala ni Uncle Ramon sa kanya, despite of him being so strict." Ikinumpas niya ang isang kamay.

Tumalikod ako sa salamin at humarap sa kanya. "He's a good man, Sai. Moody lang sometimes, gawa narin siguro ng stress sa trabaho. But he truly cares for my well being. Pinagbibigyan niya din ang mga kapritso ko sometimes. Ipinagtatanggol niya pa ako kay Auntie at kay Dada, minsan."

"Minsan." She mimic the last word I just uttered.

"Oo, minsan. Hindi rin naman kasi puwedeng palagi. It's against the natural flow of life. I wouldn't learn to accept any defeat then."

Umirap siya. "Bakit ka naman magpapatalo kung kayang-kaya mo namang ipanalo ang lahat, di ba?"

Bahagya akong tumawa. "Which is apparently not true. Kay Dada nga lang, talo na ako eh, mas lalo pa do'n sa bago niyang pamilya. But you know what? Kung meron mang magandang naidulot 'yong pagdating nila sa buhay namin? Yon ay unti-unti kong natutunang tanggapin ang pagkatalo. I used to getting things that I want... hanggang sa sinampal nila sa mukha ko ang katotohanan.

"So, papayag ka na tuluyan ng maitali kay Carl? Of course aware ka naman siguro sa gusto niyang mangyari, di ba? Susunod niyan kakasal na kayo. Mahihirapan ka na talagang kumawala sa kanya if ever you decide to commit to him."

"I... " tumikhim ako, may tila kung anong bagay ang bumara sa aking lalamunan. "I'll eventually get used to it. Hindi rin naman siguro ako igagapos ni Carl. I'll make sure I still get to enjoy my freedom, if ever..."

"Sinasabi mo lang yata 'yan para makampante ako, eh! Parang nagdadalawang isip na tuloy akong magpaiwan dito."

"Of course not! Brush it off! Again, you have nothing to worry about. Isa pa, this is a once in lifetime opportunity for you. Sayang naman kung itu-turn down mo lang just because of me. Ako naman ang magi-guilty pag ganon. Trust me, I can manage. I have made my decision and I will stand by it."

"Desisyon na magpatali sa kanya? When you gladly talk about your freedom all the time. Kaya nga tayo nandito, di ba?"

"Freedom from my own family, Sai. Freedom from my current family stats."

"Para lang muli kang ikulong sa mundo ng ibang tao? Handa ka na bang maging trophy wife?" I glared at her. Hindi ko na nagugustuhan 'yong mga salitang lumalabas sa kanyang bibig. Wala ba siyang tiwala sa judgment ko? Simula pa lang hindi na talaga siya pabor kay Carl. Pero, alam ko rin naman na nag-aalala lang siya para sa akin.

Humakbang siya at muling lumapit sa akin. "What if... wag ka na lang bumalik ng Mindanao? What if... sabay nalang tayong mag build ng career dito? To think na matagal mo na naman tong ginagawa. Kabisado mo na ang mga galawan dito, kahit papano. For sure, hindi na tayo mahihirapan pa." She tried to convinced me as she tightly hold my hands.

"Sa tingin mo hindi ko talaga naisip ko 'yon Sai? You know... when I decided to put that sexy clothes on, naisip ko narin na... it could be the start of something big in this city. But when I take a look at the crowd, I saw Dada in them. That's when I realized na hindi ko pala talaga kaya na tuluyang lumayo sa kanya. Isa pa, natatakot ako sa mga posibleng mangyari kapag matagal akong nawala. Yes, I wanted to escape, but not to be totally gone. I wanted to distant myself, but not too far from him. Gusto kong abot parin siya ng aking mga paningin."

Her lips parted. And I knew she got my message right there and then. "I understand Sai, though a part of me is protesting. Just promise to always keep in touch, okay?" I nodded in return.

"I will, and you better be good here, kay?"

"Oo naman! Pero sandali, sandali! Bukas pa flight mo di ba? Ba't parang nagpapaalaman na tayo sa isa't isa ngayon? We still have time for this later."

"Ikaw kaya nagsimulang mag drama diyan!" Tumawa ako habang pinipigilang wag maluha.

"Ako ba?" Tumawa narin siya, kahit na maluha-luha din. Para na talaga kaming mga baliw nito. Maya-maya ay tumunog ang aking phone bearing someone's message.

"Nasa baba na raw 'yong sundo natin." Dali-dali kaming lumabas ng hotel. Sa isang mamahaling night club daw ang punta namin, according to the guy who accompanied us. Kapwa kami na excite ni Lou habang pababa ng sasakyan. Sabagay, ganito naman kami palagi, aayaw ako nong una until I starts to loosen up. Sadyang nakakahawa yong energy ni Lou.

Hila hila niya ako papasok na animo'y batang paslit na takot siyang kumawala sa kanya. We were greeted with a mind blowing special lighting effects at the entrance. Mas lalo pa kaming namangha nong makapasok na kami sa loob. Kapwa kami huminto sa kalagitnaan ng paglalakad as our eyes roam around. High ceiling, exquisite furniture and fixtures and a truly, truly great interior design. Our jaw drops for a while. This club really screams class and elegance. "Just follow my lead," ika ng taong pinasundo ni Mamang sa amin. I'm not really a party pooper just like Lou. But I'm not saying that I've never been to places like this before. Ilang club at bar narin ang napuntahan ko for social events. But this one is... just too overwhelming. Bumuga ako ng malakas na hangin.

Pinagtawanan ni Lou ang naging reaksiyon ko sabay muling hila sa akin. "Sa private lounge daw tayo," ibinulong niya.

"And you're here!" bungad ni Mamang nong makita na kami. Kaagad siyang tumayo mula sa inuupuang couch.

"Hi Missy, I thought you two, won't be able to make it tonight." Bumeso siya sa akin at kay Lou naman pagkatapos.

"Well, a friend just made me realized something. And so, I changed my mind, Mamang." Ngumiti siya at inilipat ang tingin kay Lou.

"Lakas talaga ng convincing power mo dear, but have you ever tried to convinced her on staying with us?"

Lou let out a small chuckle. "I actually did Mamang. Hindi nga lang umobra." She giggled.

Tawa lang ang isinagot ko sa sinasabi nila. Mamang was just kidding I know. We have discussed this matter at alam kong naiintindihan niya naman ang side ko. Trip lang talaga nila akong aarin. Iilan lang kami nong umpisa. But when the hands of the clock strikes at 11:00 in the evening, the crowd gets bigger and wilder too. Napuno narin ang VIP lounge na kanina ay spacious pa.

Mamang eventually introduced us to some people who according to her words "belongs to the elite society" Well, nakikita ko naman sa mga itsura nila. I even noticed some celebrities around. Influencers, models, even some of the media personalities are here. I was in awe.

"Ganito ba palagi sa club na ito, Mamang? I mean... does celebrities always hang-out in this place?" I curiously asked.

"You'll see when you get a sneak peek to the third floor. There's an exclusive bar for celebrities up stairs, and I mean, just celebrities alone."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "So, bawal kami don?" Ngumiti siya bago sumagot.

"Not if you choose to stay and settle with us. I'll make you an instant celebrity, gusto mo?"

"Mamang naman eh! Nag-usap na po tayo tungkol dito." Ngumuso ako.

"Just kidding!" Pinilantik niya ang isang kamay. "But on a serious note, puwede ka namang pumunta don, as someone's guest."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning... if one of the celebrities invited you to be their plus one, then you are very much welcome to join them. Yon nga lang, celebrities na sila. May mga pangalan na, you can't expect them to be completely nice to a total stranger."

"Ow! I see..."

"Mamang excuse us please. Mag-eenjoy lang kami nitong BFF ko." Lou interrupted our conversation.

"Of course dear. Enjoy yourselves."

Hinila ni Lou ang aking kamay pababa ng hagdan. Kaagad kaming dumiritso sa bar at umorder ng maiinom. 1 shot, 2 shots, until I lost count. Hangggang sa inaya ko na siya sa dance floor. I'm a bit tipsy, I know. But this will serve as our last bonding at hindi ko alam kung kelan pa ito muling masusundan o kung masusundan pa ba. Nagsimulang umindak si Lou kasabay ng mabilis na tugtog. Until it change keys. Naging sensual yong music, kasabay ng paggiling ng mga tao sa gitna nitong dance floor. Lumiyad at gumigiling-giling din ako without knowing that someone has been eyeing on me. I presumed. Kasi yon ang nababasa ko sa kanyang mga mata the moment our eyes met.

Labo no? Pero 'yon talaga ang pumasok sa isipan ko. Kasi simula noon ay hindi na siya bumitaw ng pagkakatitig sa akin. But the thing is... we vanished from each others sight the moment I almost got into trouble.