So, you hate my playlist? (Slate 809 Series)

098

Part 098

Sachella.

Naupo ako nang tahimik sa lapag. Hindi alintana ang lamig ng gabi'y niyakap ko ang sarili ko habang umiinom ng Dutch Mill. Pang-apat ko na yata 'to ngayon. My eyes unconsciously wandered across the sight before me. Sunrise.

They say, no dream is too farfetched. True enough. You'll always find a way to achieve something.

If you want it badly enough, you'll always figure out a way to get it.

My phone beeped. I sighed, taking one last sip from my drink before I finally got up from my seat. Umaga na rin pala, hindi ko man lang namalayan. Pinagpag ko ang binti ko bago dumiretso sa elevator pababa ng rooftop ng ospital. I typed a reply to Mommy Sasha saying pabalik na ako bago ko tuluyang pinindot ang floor namin.

I wonder, ano ba'ng pakiramdam ng wala kang... dapat piliing isa lang sa buhay?

It must have felt good to have options.

It's a fucking privilege.

"Okay po."

Kaagad na kumunot ang noo ko nang marinig ang... pamilyar na boses sa loob ng kuwarto. Napatigil ako sa pagbukas ng pintuan. I must be hearing things due to lack of sleep. Takang-taka man ay sinubukan kong hatakin 'yung pinto ngunit may humatak na noon sa loob. And I was fucking left dumbfounded. And perhaps, petrified to see the asshole—again—in front of me.

"Little devil! Finally," he beamed as he widened the gap of the door.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I asked, still feeling mortified with the idea that he drove again from Makati to Batangas. What an idiot.

He flashed a mischievous smile, arching a brow. I noticed he was wearing a black band shirt and his hair was up in a white cap again. "I told you. I don't listen to demands."

"Sachella? Ikaw na ba 'yan?"

I sighed in disbelief as I pushed Hunter to the side to enter the room. "Yes, Mom," I replied to Mommy Lauren.

Narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa ni Hunter bago ginulo ang buhok ko. Patago ko siyang sinipa palayo, na nakita rin naman ni Mommy kaya walang kwenta, pero salamat sa Diyos ay lumabas na siya. I'd definitely talk to that asshole later.

I sighed. "Sorry, Mom. Didn't know my friend will go—"

"Anak, boyfriend mo 'yun?"

"W-what?" Kaagad na nanlaki ang mata ko. Mommy nonchalantly laughed at my reaction. It's good that she's getting better though—kitang-kitang lumalakas na rin 'yung katawan niya. The doctor said mataas ang tyansang gumaling siya dahil hindi pa naman daw malala 'yung sakit. Kaya pa, kaya hindi rin kami nawawalan ng pag-asa. "Hindi po. Kaibigan lang."

"Sayang. Gwapo, anak, ah."

"Mom," I called.

She shrugged her shoulders. Umayos siya sa pagkakaupo. "Sinasabi ko lang naman," natatawang sambit niya. "Kanina pa nga ako tinatanong ng mga nurse kung artista raw ba 'yon. Sure kang friends lang kayo?"

"You're weird, Mom. Stop this, please," I said as I handed her a cup of water.

"Fine." She smiled. "Pero, nasabi mo na ba... riya'n sa kaibigan mo?"

I froze.

Lumamlam ang mata sa akin ni Mommy. She held my hand tightly. "I know... hindi ka pa rin naman fully sang-ayon sa gusto namin ng Mommy mo. Pero, sana maintindihan mo. Gusto naming bumawi. Kahit ito man lang ang magawa namin nang tama."