Denying Destiny

"Comeon, Stacy, ang corny mo! Try lang natin." Lian tried (for about a hundred times now) to convince me and Max to try some tent we passed by kanina, while we were roaming around our crowded school grounds. I rolled my eyes—which is my signature reaction to absolutely everything, as they both say— at Lian and her ideas while finishing my ice cream and dumped the wrapper in the nearest trashcan we passed. "Hay nako. Pagbigyan mo na yang si Lian, Stace. Di yan titigil, alam mo yon." Inirapan din ni Max si Lian. Max and I knew that already. It was our school fair and Lian was completely enjoying it. On the other hand, I didn't like it because of the fact na madaming tao. I wasn't really comfortable with crowds. I think I have claustrophobia pag madaming tao. Or maybe, social anxiety? Anong tamang term ba don? Siguro tama na yung social anxiety. Anyway, thank god the school fair was only for the 3-day weekend and it wasn't mandatory. I only came because my two bestfriends Lian and Max insisted. It was our last year in highschool, so we agreed to enjoy everything together before we go our separate ways for college. We got accepted to different universities. In three months, we'll be graduating and not long after, starting with our new life and away from each other. I wasn't actually prepared to be away from these two so I tried not to think about it too much. "Fine." I finally agreed and Lian excitedly dragged Max and I sa direction nung tent. Lianna May "Lian" Coronel, Maximo "Max" Francisco, and myself, Stacy Margaret Valdez have been best friends since Grade 4 when we became classmates and were totally inseparable since. I'm pretty bummed that we'll be away from each other during college. We had planned to attend the same college when we were kids. But of course, not all plans fall through. I got accepted in a state university in Manila to take up Political Science. While Lian naman got accepted sa isang college sa Alabang where she lives to take up Legal Management. We wanted to be lawyers someday (I'm really not sure why. It just sounded so respectable, I guess.). While si Max, is set to go to Film School to pursue his passion in making and directing movies. I tried to shake away my feeling of separation anxiety from my two best friends. I don't want to be too mopey since the two were enjoying this day. What Lian wanted to try was the Fortune Teller tent. I profusely refused to go because I didn't see the point. I didn't believe in those kinds of things. Too unrealistic for me. I believed that it's our choices that leads us to where we are and where we'll be, not some fate or an unknown divine force. Another reason why I refused is I don't want anyone na hindi ko kilala to touch me. I hope walang palm reading na mangyayari dito. We entered the tent and my eyes adjusted sa dilim. "Wow taray ng ambiance." Max whispered to us and we looked around the tent. I thought it actually looked bigger sa loob than how it looked like sa labas. And malamig din considering that it was a little hot outside. In fairness nga, the fortune teller outdid herself with all the decorations. It was like a movie set. "Welcome." Bati nung manghuhula na naka upo sa gitna at nakaharap sa crystal ball na nakapatong sa mesa. Super cliché but I guess talagang ganon diba? She had to make it look legit. "Magpapahula po." Lian said. Duh. Ano pang gagawin namin dito? I frowned and natawa ng konti si Max so siniko sya ni Lian. "Okay, tickets?" The fortune teller asked, and the three of us took out the tickets we bought at the school entrance to be able to do rides, enjoy the games and tents and handed her one each. Our school usually goes all-out pag may mga events na ganito. Carnival rides were strewn all over the campus grounds as well as games, tents and food booths. Our rather massive school was transformed into a mini Enchanted Kingdom. I wonder if ganito din ba sa college. Siguro hindi. They probably don't have fairs in college. Maybe I will indeed miss this. The fortune teller gestured on the free seat in front of her. Okay sino sa amin ang mauuna? Definitely not me. Tinulak ni Lian si Max paharap. "Gaga to, ako pa inuna." Max turned around to glare at Lian, but he took his seat anyway. Lian and I looked on from the side. I was secretly hoping na hindi talaga palm reading ang mangyayari. And hello sayang naman yung bolang krystal nya kung props lang. Well everything is a prop here. But what do I know right? We just waited for something to happen and magsalita na yung manghuhula for a full minute kasi we're all literally silent right now. Di ko alam kung normal ba yon or nagaaksaya lang talaga kami ng pera dito. Siniko ako ni Lian excitedly at ngumuso sa crystal ball in between the fortune teller and Max. Max turned around and tinaasan nya kami ng kilay. The crystal ball turned smoky and buti nalang di umilaw kasi that will be too theatrical. We all waited for the fortune teller to say something. The anticipation was kinda funny and too dramatic. "In 3 years, magbabago ang takbo ng buhay mo. May babaeng dadating at bibigyan ka ng rason para iwan mo lahat." The fortune teller said. What the hell? Babae? Kay Max? Good luck. I couldn't control the small laugh that escaped my mouth and I felt another nudge from Lian. Pero hindi pa tapos yung manghuhula. "Pag tinanggihan mo, mapapasaya mo ang magulang mo. Pero pag tinanggap mo, ikaw ang magiging masaya at makukuha mo lahat ng gusto mo." Tinapos nito. "Mother, bakla po ako." Max told her. I just silently sniggered baka masiko nanaman ako ni Lian who was really feeling this way too much. The fortune teller just shrugged and nanahimik ulit. "Tapos na po ako?" Max asked dahil the three of us weren't really sure and tumungo lang ang manghuhula. Lian excitedly took her place sa upuan pagtayo ni Max and tumabi naman si Max sakin. "That was so weird." Max breathed silently and I slowly nodded. Definitely. And yung manghuhula din. Di mo alam kung tamad or talagang ganon lang sya. Will it make her look mysterious? Pag upo ni Lian, the crystal ball turned smoky again afer a few seconds of waiting at tahimik pa rin yung manghuhula. After a minute, nagsalita na sya. "Magkakaron ka ng anak sa paraang hindi mo mo pinili at sa panahong biglaan." I filled my cheeks with air para di talaga ako matawa. "Girl, sabi sayo, mabubuntis yan agad." Max whispered to me and I tried to hold back a chuckle. Pumikit ako at tumingala kasi sobrang natatawa na ko. We both knew Lianna was always the hopeless romantic type. She dreamt of having the perfect family in the future. Kaya sobrang magiging unexpected talaga kung mabubuntis sya. And sa totoo lang wala yon sa ugali ni Lian. Kaya nakakatawa yung hula sa kanya. "Ummm, yun lang po? Walang choices?" Lian asked the fortune teller, looking annoyed. I'm pretty sure she's expecting a certain outcome. Like yayaman sya, makaka pangasawa ng gwapo, and all those bullshit things that people want to hear. "Meron, pero hindi ko nakikita kung anong mangyayari." Sinagot sya nung manghuhula at clearly mukhang di masyadong nagustuhan ni Lian yung hula sa kanya. Naiisip nya din na yung hula sa kanya ay mukhang maaga syang mabubuntis. Nakakunot ang noo ni Lian na tumayo sa upuan and hinila nya ko para umupo sa tapat nung manghuhula. I sat down awkwardly kasi nakatitig lang sakin yung maghuhula, as usual, not saying anything. The crystal ball turned smoky again. Paano nya kaya ginagawa yon? I frowned. Gusto kong silipin yung ilalim ng mesa para makita kung may tinatapakan ba yung babae para sa special effects. "Killian Roxas." Biglang sinabi nung manghuhula. Whaaaa? Did she just say I'm going to kill someone? "What?" I asked her kasi di ko talaga masyadong narinig. The fortune teller stared right at me as if annoyed and repeated slowly, "Killian Roxas.". Okaaaay. So, it's a name. I waited for more. Pabitin much? "Umm, yon na po yun?" Di napigilan ni Lian at sya na ang nagtanong ng iniisip ko rin. And the fortune teller just nodded. Again. Di talaga masyadong madaldal tong manghuhulang to, super weird. "Thanks. I guess?" I awkwardly said as I stood up to leave. "Hintayin mo sya." Pahabol ng manghuhula before I can turn to leave. Yeah whatever. He might not even exist. "Well that was weird." Max said loudly echoing what he already said to me as soon as we were outside the tent. "Yeah like hell mabubuntis ba ko ng maaga??" Lian was was starting to get hysterical and natawa kami ni Max sakanya. So Lian yung reaction nya. Over. "Hindi nakakatawa guys, my dad will murder me!" She continued while stomping as we walked away from the tent. "Hoy, Lianna wag kang exagge!" Max continued laughing loudly. "Yeah, saka hindi naman totoo yun no." I pointed. "True! Like hell would I choose a...girl." Max said then nandiri sya while looking at us, making a face. Finally natawa na din si Lian. "Just admit it Li, it's not true." I smiled at Lian who went back to frowning. "Yeah I guess." She finally agreed. "Alam nyo, medyo buzzkill yang ginawa natin so let's just use up our remaining tickets for rides." Max took both Lian's and my hand and pulled us over towards the rides. And for once, I was happy I'm here. "OMG, do you think Max ikaw yung makakabuntis kay Lian?" I joked looking at him. "Ewwwwww GROSS!" My two bestfriends said in unison and Max rebuffed from Lian and she did the same. I laughed out loud at their facial reactions and Max moved to my other side para nasa gitna ako. "Diring diri ka naman?? Lugi ka pa??" Lian said ng pagalit kay Max with matching kurot sa braso. "Te, hindi yun sa lugihan, bakla ako, bakla!" Sinabunutan ni Max si Lian at naipit ako sa gitna nila, but we all laughed. I knew I shouldn't worry too much about being away from these two. Kahit maghiwalay kami, we will always stay best friends. We all knew that. And no fortune teller needed to predict that for us.