Chapter 34
"Good morning," nakangiting bati ni Faith nang makita niya akong palabas ng kwarto. Sabog pa ata akong tingnan kasi hindi pa ako naliligo. Saglit lang akong nag-toothbrush at hilamos bago lumabas ng kwarto. I could even smell the alcohol on me.
I looked around and saw all of them already sitting at the dining. Ako na lang ata iyong hinihintay.
Dumiretso na ako sa pwesto ko at naupo. Masakit ang ulo ko pero mas nangibabaw iyong gutom na nararamdaman ko. Gusto ko ng sabaw.
"Oo nga pala," biglang sabi ni Faith saka tumayo. She went to her room and later went out. "May binigay si Sir na tickets," she said while showing us the tickets.
"Ticket to what?" Love asked.
Faith looked at the paper to read something. "December Avenue."
Nanlaki iyong mga mata ko. Bukas nga pala 'yon! I was about to buy tickets!
"Oh my god," I mumbled when I snatched the tickets from Faith's.
"Sana all," narinig kong sabi ni Clarisse.
"These are for us," sabi ni Faith sabay kuha 'nong tickets mula sa akin.
"Di nga?" Tanong naman ni Clarisse.
"By us, you mean all of us, right?" I asked.
"By us, I mean all of us, except you," she answered. Napakunot-noo ako.
"Hindi ako kasali? But he knows I love December Avenue!"
"Duh? Malamang nasa kanya ticket mo," Love butted in.
Oh.
"Right..." I just said. Narinig ko silang natawa.
"Oh my God!" Biglang sigaw ni Clarisse. "Na-excite ako!"
"Ang generous naman ni Sir!" Sabi naman ni Love. "Ang mahal kaya ng tickets."
"Mahal niya kasi si Hope kaya willing gumastos, ano ba kayo," pang-aasar ni Clarisse.
"So this will be tomorrow. Since for sure, sabay naman sina Sir and Hope, therefore, sabay na tayo?" Baling ni Faith kina Clarisse. "Lio, can you drive?" She asked Lio, na tumango naman bilang sagot.
"Sasabay rin ako ha," sabi naman ni Love.
"Sir got you and Lay tickets. Di kayo sabay?" Faith asked. Napatingin rin ako kay Love, but she just shrugged. I wonder what's going on.
"LQ kayo?" Tanong ni Clarisse.
"Di ko alam. May topak 'yon eh," Love said.
"Tinotopak din pala ang boys..." wala sa sariling sabi ni Clarisse. Napatingin ako kay Lio with a questioning look. He must've read me because he made a face.
"Aba malay ko," he mumbled.
"So, di kayo bati?" Tanong ni Faith kay Love. Muling nabalik ang tingin ko kay Love. She looked sad. Kaya pala parang may iba sa kanya these past few days.
"Hayaan niyo muna 'yon," she just said.
"Sayang 'yong tickets..." Clarisse mumbled. "Benta ko na lang kaya?"
"Mahiya ka naman uy!" Sita ni Lio sa kanya. Napailing na lang ako. Nagsisimula na naman ang dalawa.
But even if the two are already bickering and are so noisy, hindi pa rin nawala sa isip ko si Love. I looked at her. Napansin niya sigurong nakatingin ako sa kanya kaya tumingin siya sa akin. She smiled at me. But that smile's just... so sad. Hindi ako sanay. Hindi naman kasi sila madalas mag-away ni Lay.
