Chapter 7
Debt
"Are you serious? If you're serious then I'm right, you really like me.." aniya matapos niya akong pagtawanan.
Patience. That's what I need right now. God please give me that. Kahit kaunti lang po, ayaw mo naman sigurong masaktan ng pisikal ang nilalang na ito na ginawa mo. And I don't wanna hurt my fist too. Sa tigas ng mukha niya pati buto ko nagagawa niyang inisin.
"It's not like that, wala lang akong choice." I confidently said.
Napasinghap siya at tinuro ang kaniyang sarili.
"And your only choice is me?" parang naiinsulto niyang wika.
Hindi ba dapat ay matuwa siya? Sa sobrang dami kong kakilalang lalaking kaibigan ay siya iyong napili ko? Siya pa na hindi deserve na piliin? I cussed him in my mind. Ang kapal naman talaga.
"Yeah... Pumayag ka–"
"Look Miss, I'm not stupid to agree. I don't even know if you're pranking me or what." aniya, biglang naging seryoso.
"I'm not pranking you." I breathe deeply. "I want you to be my husband."
"I won't ask your reason, bakit ako papayag? I don't even know you." malamig niyang wika.
See? I should've followed my instinct. Dapat ay hindi na ako sumubok pa. It's nonsense, napahiya pa ako. Nabawasan pa ang pride ko. I feel like a loser, kahit pa paulit ulit kong sabihin na ayos lang dahil hindi naman siya kawalan. Pero hindi e. Hindi ayos. This is the feeling of being rejected? Mas masakit pa pala 'to kaysa sa pagsakit ng puson ko.
"I guess, I will just marry that old man." bulong ko sa sarili.
Tumalikod ako sa kaniya at walang paalam na naglakad paalis.
Mabigat ang dibdib na pumasok ako sa sasakyan. Umub'ob ako sa manibela at sunod sunod na nagpakawala ng buntong hininga. I stayed in that position for a minute before I got up my phone. I dialed Clarita's number.
"Ano? Pumayag ba siya girl?! Ano? Is your problem was solved already–"
"Hindi. He didn't agree, but it's okay! There are so many guys who will love to be my husband." ani ko.
"But they're all gago! Paano ka Ade? I can't let you choose to one of them." she said sadly.
"Kingina, magpapaka-choosy pa ba ako? I don't want to get married to an old man!"
"Listen Ariadne bitch, don't lose hope okay? We'll try to find a perfect guy for you, just don't lose your hope."
I cannot do anything but to hold on to Clary's words. Alright, makakahanap pa ako ng matinong lalaki. It's not like I've really tried hard to solve my problem. I didn't. Paano pa kapag sineryoso ko na 'to? Oo! Hindi naman talaga ako seryoso sa proposal ko sa lalaking iyon e.
"Tsk. Who am I to lie to myself." I murmured.
Inisang lagok ko ang panlimang basong binigay sa akin ng lalaking hindi ko kilala. I don't know but I just found myself going to a bar. This bar isn't even familiar to me. Nadaanan ko lang noong papauwi ako. I just feel like I need to drink. I'm so problematic and the only thing that can help me is to drink and get intoxicated.
"Let's dance?" aya bigla ng lalaki.
Ngumisi ako at malanding tumango. I know this man is also a tomfool, ang malas niya lang dahil parehas kami. I laughed in my mind.
"Ano nga ang pangalan mo?" I asked him again because I forgot already.
Lumapit siya sa akin saka ako inakbayan. "Vile."
I looked at him in disbelief. Vile? Natawa ako ng malakas.
"Is that really your name?" I asked with a hint of laughter.
Napailing siya at tumango sa akin. "Let's dance, I'm also problematic."
And then we just found ourselves dancing while his face is on my neck. I am too drunk to mind his every move. Hinayaan ko na lang siya. Three music has already passed but we're still dancing like we own the dance floor. Namalayan ko na rin ang sariling nakayakap kay Vile habang siya naman ay nakahawak sa baywang ko.
"This is so fun!" I spat.
Tumango siya sa akin pagkatapos ay dahan dahang yumuko. I stiffened. Hinintay ko ang gagawin niya pero biglang may humila sa aking damit mula sa likuran. Sa lakas niyon ay muntik pa akong matumba.
"You don't want to do that, pare."
Napakurap kurap ako ng marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses na iyon. Tila nawala ang kalasingan ko.
"Who are you meddle with my business?" Maangas na tanong naman ni Vile.
My eyes narrowed when I finally recognized who's the owner of the voice. Sinalakay ng inis ang sistema ko. I hastily walk towards them. Mabilis akong pumagitna sa kanila saka ko tinapunan ng masamang tingin ang hambog. He also glared at me then he arrogantly pulled my wrist to put me on his side. Pumiglas ako pero hindi niya ako binitawan.
"I am the only man that she likes." he said in a rude manner.
My mouth fell open.
Hindi pa man ako nakakapagsalita ay agad niya na akong nahila palayo kay Vile. Nang makarating kami sa rooftop ng bar ay saka niya ako binitawan. He glared at me then he brushed his hair using his fingers.
"Why did you do that?" I blared.
His brows furrowed. "Ang alin?"
"Ba't ka ba nakialam?!"
He shrugged his shoulders in a bored manner.
"You like me, you shouldn't do that. I'm not going to tolerate it, you're cheating." I don't know if it's a joke because he said it in disbelief.
My mouth parted again. I scoffed at him.
"You keep on insisting that I like you, I don't even know you." I sternly saith, I am definitely impersonating what he have told me.
Tumitig siya sa akin ng kunot ang noo.
"Just because I turned down your offer you'll deny it now, come on, keep on liking me. I don't really mind." He joked again.
Tila isang pisi'ng naputol ang pasensiya ko. Mabilis ko siyang tinalikuran. Ayaw ko nang makipagpalitan pa ng salita sa kaniya. He's wasting my precious time. Paano niya nagagawang magsalita ng walang kahiya hiya sa katawan? Ang akala niya ba hindi ko pa nalilimutan ang pagtatanggi niya sa akin kanina? It hurts my pride. Ilang porsiyento ang nabawas kung alam niya lang. Tapos heto siya? Nangingialam ng buhay nang may buhay? Bobo ba siya?
"Hatid kita." And now he sounds mad.
Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy lang sa paglalakad. Kung bakit kasi dito niya pa ako dinala sa rooftop. He can bring me outside so I don't need to walk out.
"I said, I'll send you home." ulit niya, hindi ko parin pinansin.
Nasa may hagdan na ako nang magsalita siyang muli.
"Stop walking Ariadne." He strained with a cold as ice tone.
Natigilan ako ngunit hindi ako nag-abalang lumingon sa kaniya. How did he know my name? Is he a stalker? Posible bang kilala niya na ako dati pa? Hah! What a cockroach.
"Aish. Stop it, mali ang iniisip mo. I just heard that man calling you Ariadne." he explained.
Bumuga ako ng hangin saka nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. "Paki ko."
I heard him suspired. "Ihahatid nga kita."
Sa inis ay marahas akong bumaling sa kaniya.
"Tapos ano? You'll ask me for a payment again? Shut up you cockroach." galit kong utas.
I thought he will not answer but the son of a cockroach seems to have a lot of surprises.
"Nagpapautang naman ako. I'll charge it as your debt."
