Beneath Your Smile (The Old And The New Series #1)

Simula

Simula

Magulo.

Iyon ang maihahambing ko sa nangyayari ngayon. Hindi ganoon karami ang mga tao pero dahil ayaw ko ng mga presensya nila kaya nasasabi ko na magulo.

Kailan pa ba 'to matatapos? Gusto ko na lang matulog o 'di kaya'y tumakas dito para mapag-isa.

"Thoughts of running away have taken your mind, Eanne?" My cousin, Eleazar Mignus, asked as he took the chair beside me.

Inayos pa nito ang suot na polo habang hinihintay ang sagot ko. Ang wavy na buhok nito ay siyang umaalon ngayon. Sa tuwing gumagalaw si Eleazar Mignus ay sumusunod din ang buhok nito. Hindi kasi ugali ni Ely na maglagay ng gel kapag merong party at hinahayaan lang nito ang totoong buhok na ipakita sa nakakarami. Even in school, he doesn't use gel just to have his hair styled. Guwapo naman siya kahit hindi naka-ayos ang buhok at marami ang nagkakagusto sa kanya.

I retreated my eyes from Ely and back to the dirty plate in front of me and sighed. Playing my leftovers using my fork, I looked back at Ely.

"When will this party end?" I asked, slowly losing my patience. Bit by bit.

Ely chuckled at my idle question. "A party will always get you bored, huh?"

I rolled my eyes. "Just answer me back, Ely!" I exclaimed. My patience is wearing thin because of his answer. 

"Parati namang nababagot 'yang si Eanne, Kuya Ely! Hindi ka na nagulat sana," Sora came, interrupting us.

I groaned. Once Sora is here, susunod na ang lahat sa kanya na animo'y alagad nito. At hindi nga ako nagkamali. Sumunod nga ang iba sa round table kung nasaan ako. Toby, Chary, Toden, Uella, Nova, and Calla. Suot ng mga babae ang kanilang white flowy dress at sa mga lalaki naman ay naka polong puti at jeans.

Bumaling ako kay Nova. It was her Dad's birthday party. So she should know when this goddamn party ends.

"When will this party come to its end?" I asked.

Nova gazed to the small makeshift stage on the side of their house and back to her. "At nine-thirty," she smartly answered.

Tumango ako. Mabuti at may nakuha akong maayos na sagot sa kanya. Hindi katulad ng mga parati nitong sinasagot sa akin noong una na related sa mga weird stuff on earth o mga sagot na alam mong mahahanap mo lang sa textbook.

"Good!" Grabbing my purse, I looked at them one by one in the eyes. "I'm going to head to the door, cousins! Enjoy this boring party!" I said and waved my hand at them as I was making my way to the stone square platform.

Nang tuluyan na akong naka-alis sa grass at humuling baling sa mga pinsan nang makatungtong na sa maliit na parisukat na sementong daanan ay biglang nagsalita si Toby, ang kuya ko.

"Don't go, Eanne. We're heading to the private house. Not here when there are a lot of eyes looking at us."

"And what are we going to do there?" I asked, putting all my weight to the other part of my body.

Toby shrugged. "To have our own night and enjoy it, the way we like it. Come now, Eanne. We will have fun."

Napabuntonghininga ulit ako. "You better be sure this will be fun," I mumbled and silently followed them in the dark.

Umalis kami sa dagat ng mga tao. Umalis kami sa party ni Tito Patricio at tinahak ang gilid ng bahay nila Nova. 

If there's just no party, I will spend my night chilling at the rooftop of Tito Patricio's house and will just stargazing. And I bet, the night will be as chill as what I am feeling now, perfect for a hot chocolate drink and some marshmallow on top of it.