La Puerto #1: Along with the Sun

Kabanata 16

Kabanata 16
Floating

Is it weird? When you don't want things to become a big deal because that is not even new to you but it bothers you so much?

"Adi? Hello? Earth to Adi! Hello!"

"He's not even the first guy who admitted he likes me..." I murmured nonchalantly.

Hindi naman na talaga bago saakin may umamin na gusto nila ako. I have some co-models who are vocal about their feelings towards me.

"Should I talk to myself as well?" Napatingin ako sa pinsan kong nakanguso na habang nakatingin lang saakin. "What are you thinking? Are you okay?"

"Huh?" Napakurap kurap ako habang tinitimbang ang tingin ng pinsan at iniisip ng mabuti kung ano ang huling pinag-uusapan namin.

"Nakakabaliw talaga kapag nasa province noh?" Maarteng sambit ni Shanaya at maiisip mo agad na hindi ito lumaki sa Pilipinas dahil hindi sanay matagalog.

"Oh! I'm so sorry. I'm just thinking about my.... uhm exam." Napataas ang kilay niya at nagkibit-balikat.

"But I heard someone likes you. Who's he?" Aniya at mukhang hindi nakatakas sa pandinig.

I looked around and all our relatives were here. It's the 30th anniversary of Tito Nheil and Tita Miranda and everyone gathered for this event. Tito Nheil was my mother's older brother and this event serves as our reunion.

Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit pero nakukumpleto talaga kami kapag may ganitong event sila Tito. Kaya kahit ayaw ko na talaga umuwi Manila ay kailangan ko gawin dahil importanteng event ito sa family ko. Kahit ang mga kamag-anak namin sa ibang bansa ay uuwi sa Pilipinas para lang dito. And i'm so pissed to think that I need to socialize with them, especially Shanaya.

Siguro ay wala talaga ako sa sarili ay nahayaan kong makausap ako ng pinsan. And again, why am I spacing out about that confession?

"Uhm, just my co-models." Kibit-balikat ko dahil mukhang di niya talaga ako tatantanan kapag hindi ko siya sinagot.

"Like who? I have friends here in the Philippines who are also models maybe I know him." she intrigued.

That's why I hate to be with her. She's like a paparazzi who asked so many questions. Hindi ko alam kung talagang curious siya sa buhay ko o para lang mapag-usapan nila ng iba namin pinsan.

I just feel it. Pakiramdam ko rin hindi talaga nila ako gusto dahil ako lang ang bukod tangi nakapasok sa showbiz. I've heard them once talking about me saying that I can't even cry naturally from my movies.

And they always used my past as a topic every time we had interaction and made me feel so uncomfortable. They acted as those people who understood me but when i'm not around, they were the people who disliked me the most.

It's suffocating. Hindi naman ako pinanganak kahapon para hindi mapansin ang ganon trato nila saakin.

"Ikaw kasi, lumaki ang ulo." All those years, they kept saying that line. Sasabayan pa nila ng mga advises and says they're still here for me.

And take note, yung mga relatives ko from abroad pa ang nagsabi nun sakin without even knowing that whole story. Ano ba alam nila e ang layo nga nila?

Funny how people reacted based on what they see in media and indeed they were the ones who judge you easily.

"Excuse me mukhang tinatawag ako ni Mommy." Ngiti ko at nakita ko ang pagingos niya. Tumingin siya sa gawi nila Mommy at saktong nakatingin naman si Mommy saamin.

I rolled my eyes when I turned my back at her. Umaasa siguro siyang may makukuha siya saakin.

Pakiramdam ko ay hindi totoo ang pakikitungo nila saakin lalo na ng marinig kong pinag-uusapan ako. Even Mommy noticed that. Sinabi niya saakin naiinggit lang ang mga 'yon dahil sa buong angkan ako ang pinaka maganda.