Presque Vu [Phenomena Series #3]

Chapter 18

Chapter 18:

At dahil Sabado ngayon, napagpasyahan naming uminom na apat sa condo. Saglit lang akong natulog pagkauwi ko galing ng El Nido. Ginising na kaagad nila ako para rito sa inumang pinlano nila dahil ito na raw ang huling weekend ng holiday break namin.

Pumayag na ako dahil tama naman sila; tsaka baka kailangan ko rin 'to.

Sa kalagitnaan ng tawanan, kwentuhan at inuman namin, narinig namin na tumunog ang doorbell. Nagkatinginan pa kami dahil wala naman kaming inaasahang bisita ngayon. 11:00 p.m. na rin.

"May babae kayo?" tanong ko.

"Bugok! Wala!" sigaw ni Terrence sa akin.

"Eh sino 'yon?" tanong ni Jin.

"Baka babae mo?" I scoffed. "Ikaw madalas magdala ng babae dito."

"Tang ina mo!"

Tumawa si Connor. "Pagbuksan mo na, Ter."

"Huwag mo akong utusan!" sigaw ni Terrence bago tumayo na at nagpunta sa pintuan.

Pinanood namin siya at inabangan kung sino 'yung nag-doorbell. Narinig ko pa na nagulat si Terrence matapos buksan ang pintuan kaya lalo akong na-curious. Tumayo ako at maglalakad na sana papunta ro'n nang makita ko si Lily na pumasok sa loob.

Putang... ina.

Nanghina ako bigla.

I heard the men around us groan. "Lasing na ako, 'tol, ikaw ba?" rinig kong sabi ni Jin.

"Lasing na rin ako. Magligpit na tayo. Halika na Terrence, tulungan mo kami."

Mabilis namang naglakad si Terrence, nilampasan kaming dalawa ni Lily na magkaharap na ngayon. Sunud-sunod na paglunok lang ang ginawa ko habang kaharap ko siya ngayon. Hindi ko na alam kung gaano sila kabilis nawala, basta kami na lang ang natira rito sa living room.

I stared at Lily who's looking at me with her eyes full of sadness and guilt. It was swollen; maybe because she's been crying for too long since I left. Tears are pooled on the corner of her eyes.

"Aldrin, let me explain," she started before her tears fell.

I looked away. "Why are you here? You should've been still in El Nido."

She sobbed. "How can I stay when my boyfriend left me there?" she sniffed. "You told me that you'll wait for me."

I sighed as I turned my back at her. "Umuwi ka na. Almost 12 na."

"I don't fucking care!" she shouted.

I gulped as I heard that. I sighed and turned my back from her before I started walking to my room. I really can't face her right now. Hindi ko kaya. I can't face her when she's like this—hurt... crying because of me.

I was about to enter my room when she came in first and blocked my way. "Don't you dare turn your back at me, Aldrin."

I sighed. "Lily, I really can't face you right now. I don't want you seeing me this angry—"

"Then be angry! It's not like I'm stopping you to be angry at me. May kasalanan ako at may karapatan kang magalit, so go and be angry at me. I don't care. But please, hear me out."

Napalunok ako bago muling nag-iwas ng tingin. Naglakad ako papasok sa k'warto ko; sumunod siya sa akin. Kinuha ko ang bag ko, pati ang plane ticket na napanalunan ko sa raffle.

"Aldrin, listen to me."

"I'm listening," I said, looking at the envelope on my hand. This is for the Valentine weekend. I don't think I can go with her.