Moonage Daydream (Ciudad de Escalante #4)

Phase 11

"Anong meron? Dumaldal na naman ng kalandian nila 'no?" Snezhana who just entered the bar's estates said.

Naglakad siya palapit sa amin ni Arisa na kasama kong nanonood sa mga pinsan namin magmula kanina. Pinasadahan ko ang suot ni Zhan at mukhang kakagaling talaga mula sa practice. She looked tired but still blooming. Her ankles and feet are kinda reddish too from her ballet shoes. She laughed secretly to Cairistiona and Hadassah who are like kittens surrounded by tigers.

"Anong round na ba ng imbestigasyon?" Snezhana asked again and observed the drinks at the table.

"Round two, which is the confirmation round if they're lying or not," Arisa answered her and laughed silently beside me when her sister, Hadassah, was forced to drink a liquor that she hated. Ngumiwi siya at napapikit sa lasa.

May round one kasi na magtatanong-tanong lang ang mga pinsan naming mga lalaki kung anong nangyari, ganito ganyan. But knowing my girl cousins who are good at keeping things and making many excuses, there's round two where they'll ask the same questions again in their drunken state.

Prado la Silvestres are sincere human beings when they are drunk.

They are doing that to know if we lied about our answers from the first interrogation. Kaya kailangan magsabi na ng totoo para magtugma-tugma ang mga sinasabi upang hindi na umabot pa sa round three. We, girls don't have an idea what's all about. Wala pa naman kasing nakakarating roon dahil umaamin na agad sila kapag may ganitong sitwasyon.

"Woah! May panibagong session tayo rito, ah. Makiinom nga ulit," si Shade na kararating lang din at mabilis na naglakad palapit sa mga pinsan naming lalaki na sinasabayang uminom sina Hads at Iris.

"What a dimwit. Why don't he look after our little sister?" ani ni Snezhana habang nakatingin ng matalim kay Shade na nagsasalin na ngayon ng alak.

Pinasadahan namin ng tingin ang paligid at wala nga si Sameera. Maybe she's having a sleepover again in her friend's house.

"Kailangan pa ba ni Eera iyon? Mas lalaki pa nga kaysa sa kanila," natatawang sabi ni Arisa.

I smiled at her silliness. That's true. Sameera can take care of herself. Wala ring masyadong inaalala sa kanya ang mga pinsan namin dahil hindi mahilig sa lalaki. Natawa rin si Zhan kaya napalapad ang ngiti namin ni Arisa. Ngunit agad din napawi ang tawanan namin nang magsalita at tumayo si Kuya Zelan sa kanyang upuan.

"Mon, bring your sister in her room and don't leave her until she's not asleep," deklara ni Kuya at iyon ang sinunod ni Callistemon.

Tumingin ako kay Cairistiona na may binubulong-bulong at mukhang tinamaan na ng alak. Mon carried her sister in his back. Tahimik si Iris kapag lasing na talaga kaya walang kaming narinig na pagrereklamo mula sa kanya hanggang sa makaalis sila ni Mon sa bar. I think the questioning is over now.

Habang si Kuya Zeren naman ay tumayo rin at sinunod na binuhat si Hadassah na tumatawa-tawa pa.

"Oh! Oh my! I'm flying!" she shouted in surprise when Kuya Zeren lifted her in bridal style.

Napailing si Arisa sa kinikilos ng kanyang Ate dahil winawagayway ba naman ang kamay at ginagawang pakpak.

"Arisa, come with me. Help her to wash up before going to bed. The liquor stinks at her," nakangiwing pahayag ni Kuya habang inaamoy si Hadassah.

Arisa hissed and crossed her arms.

"Ikaw nalang or call Manang! She's too old for that," she complained, and Kuya Zeren cursed in frustrations.

"Me? Remember what happened last time? Halos idukdok niya ako sa inidoro!" namomroblemang asik ni Kuya.

"Really? I did that? Damn! I'm so sorry... mukha kasing eskoba ang buhok mo..." tumatawang sabi ni Hadassah. Hinawakan niya ang buhok ni Kuya para guluhin, sabunutan at manghila ng ilang strands.