We, The Sad Sack

Thirteen

MATAPOS ANG USAPAN ay pinatayan na ng linya si Sergi ng kausap niya. 

“My parents can’t make it today,” ani Emerald sa kasintahan. 

“Again?” ani Sergi na parang nanghihinayang. Inikutan ito ni Emerald ng mga mata.

Hindi na nagawang itago ni Sergi ang ngiti niya. Nilapitan niya si Emerald. “Pwede bang doon tayo sa cabin niyo? Nami-miss ko na ‘yong irigasyon,” may kahulugang sabi niya.

Nahawa ito sa ngiti niya. “Right. Irigasyon. Do you have your swimming trunks?”

He looked smug now. “Birth suit, baby,” aniya.

“Sira ka talaga! Kaya panay na ang tukso sa akin ng mga tao rito,” anito at naalala kung paano sila nakita ng ilang taong napadaan sa irigasyon habang hubo’t hubad si Sergi.

Nagkibit-balikat lang ito at nagpunta na ng kwarto.

****

JESSIE RECEIVED THE weirdest call so far that she stared at her phone for seconds before turning to Cameron who was busy as well looking at her own phone. Kinuha niya ang atensyon nito gamit ang pagkumpas ng kamay sa ere. She might as well learn from the master, Dominic. Bigo siyang makausap ito nang dumating si Spencer bitbit ang dalawang pinggan ng nagsi-sizzle na sisig.

“Okay,” ani Cameron na nilanghap ang amoy ng pagkain. “Get this, Spence,” patuloy nito. Inabot sa kanya ni Cameron ang phone at bumungad sa kanya ang isang itim at mahaba at lupaypay na—

“Si Ate, may friends siyang gay couple. Pangalanan natin silang Dominic at Mel. Hindi ko alam kung nagpa-surgery ba sila ng black pe/nis o kung kaninong pe/nis man iyon o kung may ka-threesome sila na black dude but—” Iniharap naman ni Cameron ang litrato kay Spence.

“Nude for a good evening,” ani Cameron.

“Indeed,” ani Spence. “But more like it’ll get you into the mood.” They both chuckled.

“I’m not liking this,” si Jessie. 

Napabaling ang dalawa sa kanya. 

“How are you not liking this?” si Cameron na naging high pitch. “Last night, I received a text from Mel saying RAVE! All caps. Tapos ngayon naman iyong d**k pic from your good friend Mel ulit.”

She shushed her. “Yeah, and minutes ago I answered Dominic’s call. You know what he said?” 

Huminga siya ng malalim at sa sunod na pagbuka ng kanyang mga labi ay, “Oh, my God, Jessie! Ignasi! Rave rave rave rave! And ooooooh my sweet baby jeezus, we saw this black dude and immediately thought of otherworldly magical s*x like what? We persuaded him and off we went to the nearest—BLEARGGH!” She moved away and talked a pitch low. “Baby, are you alright?” 

Inilapit niya ulit ang upuan sa dalawa at ibinalik ang mataas na boses. “Yes! Talk to Jess! Okay, so at this point, I think Mel took the phone from Dominic and Mel was like, hey, who the hell is this chick you’re talking with? And Dominic said, no! Tell her this Escapade ganap we had just hours ago.” 

Nagsimula nang kumain ang dalawa. 

“And also note that I haven’t even said a word during the call. Mel pushed on to tell me about the 45-minute ‘ordeal’ they had with the huge guy and then I heard people shouting rave rave rave rave and Mel went on to tell me they went to Bora and back, surfed in Baler, hiked in God knows where, and they’re back to civilization now getting drunk and shouting rave, all the while calling me Vanessa.”

Cameron looked a bit pensive. “You mentioned Ignasi?”

“Not a question, Cam. Dominic mentioned Ignasi,” sabi niya. Kaya lalo siyang napaisip kung bakit hindi niya makontak ang telepono ni Ignasi sa loob ng dalawang araw. Ganoon na katagal simula ng huling pag-uusap nila. Hindi siya nag-alala dahil naisip niyang baka busy lang ito.

Spencer tried to make sense of what they were talking about. “We don’t know the timeline but let’s give this a try, ok? Sabihin na nating in span of…?” He looked at them waiting for someone to supply the next probable word.

“Two days. Maybe,” aniya.

“Okay. Let’s just say they managed to fly to Bora, hike, and surf somewhere else and send Cameron an informative text last night, and back to tonight, ten fifteen in the evening, whereas they are giving themselves a reasonable hangover for them to never go out for the next three months and also a threesome in a very dirty Escapade. Someone had to clean that car, could you imagine? I say damn, you, guys, went to the wrong place to unwind,” ani Spence, lost in his trainwreck of thoughts.

“Please note that I haven’t been able to contact my boyfriend for the last two days. Hindi kaya isinama nila si Ignasi sa kalokohan nila?” tanong niya.

“So, tama ako,” ani Cameron na hindi pinansin ang sinabi niya at iwinagayway ang cell phone habang nakabukas ang imaheng pinadala ni Mel. “Threesome,” anito sa mapaglarong tono.

Nang mangalay ito ay inilapag nito ang cell phone sa mesa. Sinadya nitong iwan nang nakabukas ang screen kaya naman napapadako ang tingin niya sa naghuhumiyaw na imahen. Napatili siya nang matuunan ng pansin ang isang bahagi ng kuha. Hindi pa sapat ang pagsigaw niya kaya nagpaulan siya ng mura at unti-unting inabot ang cell phone at z-in-oom ang kuha at tinitigan iyon.

“Medyo kadiri, Ate,” ani Cameron.

Muli ay nagmura siya. “Kaninong daliri ito?!” sigaw niya. Itinuro niya sa dalawa ang bahagi ng kuha na umagaw ng pansin niya.

“Uy, tangina, oo nga,” ani Cameron na makikita ang bumabakas na excitement sa mukha nito. Nakisama na rin ito sa pagtili niya. “Ate, sino? For sure, kilala mo. I’m not saying that you’re particular with men’s fingers but come on—”

“Ignasi’s?” tanong ni Spencer.

May dumaang anghel.

“S-siguro…?” sagot niya.

Pumunit sa katahimikan ang napakasakit na tili ni Cameron.