Wind and Sail

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Dayn’s PoV

Sxan:

Talaga? Pa-overnight din :)))))

He replied. This b***h is becoming comfortable making jokes around me!

Ako:

Hah! In your dreams! Lantod mo talaga.

Sxan:

Anong malantod doon? Ito, napakaano, eh. Bilisan mo na, hinahanap ka na ni Miss Daria.

Ako:

Oo na, ikaw lang ata naghahanap sa akin, e.

Sxan:

Dami mong alam, diyan ka na nga! Ingat papunta rito ha? Ikaw may pagkatanga ka pa naman.

I scoffed. This jerk! He’s right but still I am offended!

Hindi ko na siya nireply-an pa at isinilid na sa bag ang cellphone. Maya-maya lang ay lumabas na si Clarene. Naka-cropped racerback tank top siya na puti at straight cut jeans.

“Hoy, inday, ano ‘yang suot mo?” tanong ko.

“Clothes?” kibit-balikat niyang sagot.

“Alam ko. For your information, maglilinis tayo tapos puti pa ang suot mo. Ayos na sana e, pero marecakes, ibang kulay naman.”

“Oh.” She went back inside the closet. Lumabas siya, ganoon pa rin ang suot ngunit iba na ang kulay. Dark brown na iyon.

“’Yan! Pak, oh ganda, o,” I hyped her up. Tumawa siya at umikot na parang model.

I am wearing a jeans, beige cropped shirt and black high-cut converse. She wears Jordans when she’s not wearing heels.

“Let’s go, mag-drive thru nalang tayo. Sa daan nalang tayo kumain ng breakfast,” she said.

I agreed with her. Nagpaalam kami na aalis na kami at sumakay na sa kotse ko. Siya ang nagprisinta na mag-drive.

“Kung mag-drive ka kasi para kang nasa karera! I love my life, I can’t die just because of a f*****g car crash, that is so depressing, my god.” She rolled her eyes.

“Grabe ka naman sa akin. Hindi naman iyon gaanong kabilis!”

“Oo, it’s like you’re humaharurot lang. Like woooosh! Para kang may nine lives, pusa ka ba girl?”

“Bwisit ka, bilisan mo na nga.”

She ordered a big mac, and I ordered a large chicken burger.

Sinusubuan ko siya ngayon habang nagd-drive siya.

“Ang sweet naman na’tin. Baka mapagkamalan pa tayong mag-jowa nito,” she said.

I laughed. “Kaya nga, e.”

“Ayoko kitang maging jowa kahit lalaki pa ako,” sabi niya. I looked at her unbelievably.

“Hoy, Clarene, ayaw mo ba sa maganda, perfect, matalino, sanay mag-drive, mabait, at maganda?!”

“Excuse me? Mabait? At what part?” she scanned my body. “I don’t see any kindness, bitch.”

“Pang-inis ka talaga, noh?”

She shrugs off. “Ah…” Clarene opened her mouth. Isinalpak ko ang natitirang burger sa bibig niya. Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin, inirapan ko lang siya. Kumagat siya roon at ibinaba sa harap.

“Ito naman, isang buo ang isinubo!” inis niyang sabi.

Tinawanan ko siya. “Akala ko kasi kasya sa bibig mo. Hotdogs kasi kasya eh.”

Her mouth opened and looked at me with disbelief and disgust.

“What?” I asked grinning so wide.

“Oh my god—”

“Hoy, ikaw ha anong nasa utak mo?!”

Mas napaamang siya. “Anong ako?! Ikaw kaya ang nag-start ng kung ano-ano diyan! Ang kapal naman ng face mong ako ang gawing masama!” she defended.

My laugh grew louder. “Sinabi ko lang naman hotdogs tapos kung makareact ka riyan parang ibang hotdog iyong sinabi ko!”

“Tigilan mo na nga ako, Dayn!” she replied.

After a few takes and turns, nakarating na kami sa school. Ipinark niya ang kotse malapit sa room ko.

“Mamaya, let’s go have lunch together. See you kapag rooftop area na!” She said then waived goodbye at a distance.

Pagkatalikod ko ay saktong tumama sa akin ang dibdib ni…

“Tangina naman, Sxan!” I whine. Hawak-hawak ko ang noo ko na tumama sa kaniya.

“Oh, sorry,” he laughs. Tumigil siya noong sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Hinawi ko siya at inis na naglakad papunta sa room. As always, he ran after me.

“Hey, miss ma’am.” Siniko niya ako nang mahina.

I glared at him quickly then walked faster.

“Hindi ko naman sinasadya, e. Sorry, please?” he pleaded, his voice was thinner than his normal voice. Oh, god, don’t f*****g tell me that this asshole is baby talking?!

Huminto ako sa paglalakad at humarap sa kaniya. He smiled, waiting for an answer.

“Hoy, ikaw, kung saan-saan ka nalang biglang sumusulpot. Mushroom ka ba sa past life mo, ha?” I said, irritated.

“Nag-sorry naman na ako. Kahit ano pa ako sa past life ko, basta sa future ako ang lover mo,” sabi niya at nakakalokong ngumiti.

“Unbelievable. Unbelievable!” I shake my head then continued to walk.

He chuckled beside me.

Magaling na ang mga sugat ko. I went to dermatologist to have the scar lasered, I was glad it turned out great, though I still have to go back for a few more sessions for it to be gone completely.

“Ambilis mo naman maglakad! Teka lang naman!” he yelled.

“Bakit ba kasi habol ka nang habol? Hindi ka ba napapagod ha?!” tumaas ang boses ko.

“Hindi. Bakit naman ako mapapagod sa iyo?” he replied. I looked at him and he is smiling like crazy. “Ha? Ano? Sagot. Sagot!”

Pinipigilan ko na matawa ako. Iniwas ko agad ang tingin ko at naglakad ulit. I pressed my lips together and smirked. Noong makatabi ko ulit siya at ibinalik ko sa seryosong expression ang mukha ko.

“Ano? Wala ka pala, e.” Tinulak niya ko, mahina lang iyon pero kunwari ay malakas iyon kaya napausod talaga ako nang malala. Kunwari ay muntik na akong tumumba.

Agad siyang dumalo sa akin at hinablot ang braso ko.

“Ay gagi, sorry napalakas.” Natatawa niyang sabi.

Siyempre, galit ako kaya ang sinagot ko. “Sorry mo bulok!” Inirapan ko siya at naglakad nang mabilis.

Kingina, hindi niya talaga ako tatantanan.

“Oy, love! Sorry na!” sigaw niya.

I turned back to him fast, I looked at him with great disbelief.

Ngumiti siya nang nakakaloko noon napansin ko na tinitingnan kami ng mga tao. I marched to him and pinched his side. Napaingit siya sa sakit, kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinawakan iyon.

“Anong love ka diyan, tigil-tigilan mo ako ha,” madiin kong sabi.

“Sorry na nga kasi. Love,” asar niya.

“Tangina ka talaga.”

“Kinikilig ka naman, e. Kunwari ka pa, ayos lang ‘yan. Love.”

I sighed and facepalmed before punching him on the face in a joking manner.

“Aray ko,” sabi niya sabay hawak sa pisngi niya. Inakbayan niya ako at hinarap sa lalakaran namin.

Tinanggal ko iyon pero ibinalik niya lang ulit. Peste talaga.

“Ayaw mo pa ‘ko pansinin, ha,” mayabang niyang bulong.

“Bwisit ka, layu-layuan mo nga ako, sisikmuraan kita.”

“Kahit saksakin mo pa ‘ko rito, hindi ako aalis.” He pulled me closer and his grip on my shoulder tighten.

Damn it, organs inside my abdominal cavity are having a party, I think. My heart is the drums because it is thumping so freaking hard! f**k it!

“Layuan mo nga ako! Kinikilabutan na ako sa iyo!” taboy ko sa kaniya. Tumawa siya at inalis nga ang pagkakaakbay sa akin.

Tangina, joke lang naman iyon! Bakit mo tinanggal?!

Naglakad lang siya sa tabi ko at hindi pa rin inaalis ang ngisi.

“Huwag ka ngang ngumisi diyan! Aso ka ba?!” inis kong puna sa kaniya.

“Hindi naman kita inaano ah? Bakit ba napakainit ng ulo mo?” sagot niya. Nakakunot ang noo niya at nahahalata ko na naiinis na siya sa akin.

Aba, dapat lang. Siya itong lumapit-lapit sa akin, e.

Binilisan ko ang paglalakad at hindi na siya pinansin. Nag-init na rin kasi ang ulo ko. Bakit ba ang moody ko ngayon? Malayo pa naman ang mga araw ko. Hay nako, basta paninindigan ko na lang itong inis ko.

Hindi na siya tumabi sa akin pero nararamdaman ko na nasa likod ko siya.

“Dayn! Ayan andito na si Dayn,” bat isa akin ni Jona, kaklase ko. Nasa labas lahat ng upuan at mino-mop nila ang sahig. May mga nagpupunas din ng estante at bintana.

“Hello, mayroon na bang mga tao sa itaas?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

“Yes, 4B are there too. They were originally placed sa harap ng building na’tin but 3B said they’d do it na. Then the professors told 4B to just help us at the rooftop.”

“Oh,” Precious’ class. Dang girl, Clarene must be killing her now.

“Okay, I’ll just go there to help since it’s full here na. Thank you, Jona,” I answered then left immediately. I ran to the rooftop. I looked round to look for them, or to a group of people watching a fight. It’s like a fish bone bone that was stuck in my throat is now gone. I sighed of relief to see there is no fight. I saw Clarene holding a broom with a handle. She’s sweeping the floor in very lazy way, her body sways slow, and she's sweeping no dirt.

Lumapit ako sa kaniya. “Wow, ang dami mo namang nawalis.”

Umangat ang tingin niya sa akin at lumiwanag ang mukha. Binitiwan niya ang walis at kumapit agad sa braso ko.

“Finally! You’re here! Oh god, I can’t do this anymore. Can I just go?” she pleaded.

“Uh-uh no.” I shook my head. “We’re staying here until four, bestie.” I tapped her arm.

She stomped her feet and frowned.

“I’m hungry,” she said, holding her stomach.

“b***h, we just ate breakfast. We just shoved cheeseburgers inside our body earlier. Hindi pa nga siguro nada-digest ng tyan na’tin ang kinain na’tin kanina.”

“Nakakagutom naman ‘to!” she complained.

May iilan na mga sumagot ng oo sa kaniya.

“If only we could take a break. Our lunch is the next break we’d have. I am certain that some would ditch,” I spoke in a weak voice.

“Yes, I agree with you, so can we ditch?” bulong niya sa akin. I pulled away.

“No. My gosh, no.” I grinned. She giggled, I had to stop her dahil baka mahalata kami.

“Para kang sira, baka makita nila tayo, oh. Baka sabihin na naman ng isa d’yan na nakikipaglandian na naman ako tapos sa babae pa!” malakas kong sabi. Kumunot ang noo ni Clarene sa sinabi ko. Ang mga nakarinig ay nagtaka rin.

I saw Precious with her alipores—Perri wasn’t included— walking as if they are the queen and princesses of the school where in fact, they’re the disease of the school.

Luminga-linga rin si Clarene hanggang sa huminto ang mga mata niya kila Precious.

“Oh, look, the snake is back. Nag-shed lang ata siya ng skin kaya nandito na ulit,” rinig kong sabi ng isang babae sa tabi naming.

Nagtama ang paningin namin ni Precious, umurong ata ang dila niya dahil nakita ko ang sunod-sunod niyang paglunok. I snickered. It looks like she gathered all her courage to show to here and actually see me. See us, I wonder if she had already seen Perri. Where did she get the guts? Gosh, so pathetic. If I were her, I would drop out of school.

I didn’t know that this kind of stuff still happens in college, I mean, I only see this in movies.

“Ugh!” she expressed with disgust.”You know what, let’s go girls. There’s nothing much to do here anyways,” sabi niya at tumalikod.

“You know what?” I spoke. She turned back to me again and raised her eyebrows. This b***h is pretending, acting tough, huh? Kinuha ko ang walis na binitiwan kanina ni Clarene, dustpan, inagaw ko ang mop sa lalaki, at iniabot iyon sa kaniya. “it would be our pleasure if y’all would help us here, right guys?”

They all agreed in unison. “We are kinda short-staffed here, so yes, you have so so so much to do here, Precious and…” I looked to her two alipores. “your two pretty ducklings,” I said then left.

I thought she was going to attack me from behind but I was actually surprised that she didn’t.

Nakasimangot sila habang naglilinis. Siyempre humawak din ako ng walis para kunwari lahat ay may ginagawa.

After hours, it’s lunch already. Parang bula na mga bigla na lang naglaho ang mga tao rito sa roof top, iilan na lang ang natira para ligpitin ang mga gamit na kani-kanilang ibinagsak noong narinig nila na lunch na. Malinis naman na ang area, ang mga upuan nalang ang hindi pa naaayos. Nakita ko na ipinatong ng isang estudyante ang timba sa ibabaw ng mismong wall. Sasawayin ko sana siya pero pagtalikod niya ay nadanggil niya timba at tumapon ang tubig sa ibaba. Nasalo niya ang timba, hindi naman niya masasalo ang tubig kaya wala na ring nagawa kung hindi panuorin iyon na tumapon. Tumakbo ako para tingnan kung may nabasa ba sa ibaba.

“Oh, my god,” Clarene said. We’re all in utter shock here. The student who put the bucket was apologizing simultaneously to the people who got wet. People or should I call them snakes?

Yes, it is a very satisfying thing to watch though. Para silang mga basang sisiw sa baba na pilit na nagpapagpag ng kanilang mga balahibo, as if it would do something. Rinig na rinig mula dito sa taas ang mga hirit nila.

“What the f**k? Who did that?” they said. I try to hide my laugh but this goddamn Clarene who’s beside me won’t stop laughing. Narinig nila iyon at tumingala sa amin. Hindi pa rin tumitigil katatawa si Clarene, she even made a face na lalong kinaasar nila Precious.

“YOU!” Precious yelled towards Clarene then marched upstairs. I can hear her cries and she is mad as hell.

“She’s coming!” I cackled.

Maya-maya lang ay nasa harap na naming sila.

“Why did you pour us water?!” she shouts ferociously.

I pressed my lips together and hid my grin. I even cough just to try to hide it.

“What are you saying?” Clarene answered.

Umuusok talaga ang tainga ni Precious at ang ang kamay niya’y nakatiklop, gigil na gigil at handang umatake sa kahit anong oras.

“What am I saying? Well, you two just poured water on us on purpose!” she cried.

I remain calm and watched out for her hands and behavior that could suddenly change.

“No, we didn’t,” Clarene replied with a chuckle.

It made Precious angrier. She stepped forward to Clarene. I know she can handle her. Isang suntok lang ni Clarene sa kaniya tiyak na tulog na agad siya.

“Really? Kaya pala basang-basa kami!” she points out her clothes and her alipores’ clothes that are dripping wet. Their hair is all ruined and their make-ups are smudged.

“I know. I can see that you all are like wet chicks, but we didn’t cause that one. Why would we?” she mocks her.

“You!” Umangat ang kamay ni Precious at sa mukha sana ni Clarene ang bagsak noon pero hindi na iyon nangyari dahil nasalo ko ang kamay niya at binigay sa kaniya ang sampal na dapat ibibigay niya kay Clarene. Napaatras siya at napahawak sa pisngi.

“Hoy babaeng sinawsaw sa hugasan ng sandok ng sauce sa fishball-an. Ang kapal naman ng mukha mo para pagbuhatan siya ng kamay?” turo ko kay Clarene. “Samantalang hindi mo nga alam kung ano ang totoong nangyari.”

“I know that you two are just naiinggit sa akin!” she exclaimed.

Napaamang kaming dalawa sa sinabi niya. “Ano bang kainggit-inggit sa iyo?” I said.

“Kalandian ba?” Napatingin kaming lahat sa nagsalita. Here comes Perri, the real rival of Precious. Fear was seen in her face as she gulps more than a few times.

“P-perri, I didn’t know you w-were here,” she replied stuttering.

“Really? I don’t f*****g think so,” she crossed her arms across her chest. “Iniiwasan mo nga ata ako, e. Hindi ba?”

I am so proud of Perri now that she can stand up for herself and actually fight Precious. Samantalang dati ay para siyang tuta na laging bitbit ni Precious. If only these two stupid alipores would become like her, Precious will be helpless and powerless. She’s like this because she knows that those two will obey her and treat her like a f*****g stupid queen. For them, she is the queen, let her be then, but can I just add “f*****g stupid”? Because it is true and definitely suits her.

“No, why would I do that?” she answers. Her voice Is shaking but I think it’s only me who can sense that because everyone’s faces are just neutral and I can confirm that they’re thinking of Precious as a mad woman because she dares to face us where in fact, she’s kind of frightened with the sight of us.

“I wonder too,” Perri said.

May nagtaas ng kamay kaya doon nabaling ang atensyon ng nakararami. It’s the student who accidentally poured water on them.

“I really don’t… uhm…” she starts. “I was actually the one who accidentally poured water on you guys. I didn’t do it in purpose, natabig ko kasi iyong timba na nakapatong sa wall then ayon, kayo iyong natapunan. Malas lang siguro talaga kayo. Sorry, ha,” paliwanag niya.

Parang sinupalpal ang itsura ni Precious. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. “Oh, ano? Hindi ba’t sinabi ko na sa iyo? Kami nga’y tigil-tigilan mo na, Precious. Hindi talaga bagay ‘yong pangalan mo sa ugali mo, e,” I said to her.

She ran away because of embarrassment. We all laughed. Perri did smile at us but she left na rin agad.

“Nakakahiya naman ‘yong ginawa ni Precious,” somebody murmured. Minatahan ko ang mga nagbubulong-bulungan para manahimik.

Hinatak ko na si Clarene pababa para mag-lunch. Ugh, s**t! Naalala ko na sasama rin atang mag-lunch sa amin si Sxan. Paano ko ba sasabihin na sorry kasi nasungitan ko siya kanina. Huwag na nga, hindi na lang ako magso-sorry, mababawasan kaastigan ko nito. I laughed with that thought.

“What should I get? Hmm…” Clarene said while looking at the menu for today.