The Manila Charmers : TROY

8

This is f*cking frustrating.

5 minutes na akong nakatitig sa closet ko pero hindi ko alam ang susuotin ko. Nakakainis.

Mas madali pa yung nasa Battens ako, I was always wearing a suit. Kahit anong dark color okay na. Tumingin ako sa bandang mga shorts at jeans, lahat naman dark, mga dalawa lang ang light colored, yung iba may designs pa. Tumingin ako sa mga polo,shirts at sandos ko, pangbeach naman ang dating.

But why is it so frustrating to mix and match clothes?

Girls are good at this. Girls..... Oh si Charmaine! I went to my room's phone and dialled 2,

" Charmaine speaking."

" I need your help. She invited me for a party."

" Wait lang po, Sir. I will be there right away."

Nang kumatok na si Charmaine sa kwarto, agad ko siyang pinapasok."
i'm really sorry, Charmaine. Ikaw lang makakatulong sa akin dito. I don't know what to wear. This is so frustrating...hindi ko na alam ang..."

" Relax,Sir Troy. Ako na po bahala.", she smiled at me then faced the cabinet. May mga damit siyang itinatapat sa akin , umiiling lang naman siya. It took a while when she raised a light blue half sleeved polo and printed dark blue shorts tapos tinapos nya sa akin.

She smiled and said that I should try it in the bathroom. I just nodded and grabbed the clothes.

Nang lumabas ako mula sa banyo, napa-palakpak pa siya at hinarap ako sa body-length mirror. Pinaupo niya ako sa maliit na upuan at kumuha ng wax sa banyo. " Close your eyes,Sir Troy.Trust me."

Nang pabuksan niya sa akin ang mga maa ko, I smiled instantly. " I didn't know that you are good at this..well you are GREAT at this! Thank you Charmaine!", tumayo ako at niyakap siya. I looked at myself in the mirror. Nakataas mg kaunti ang hair ko and the clothes that she picked really suits me.

" Wow. Just wow. Bagay na bagay po sa inyo, Sir. Ang ganda! Ang lamig sa paningin. Bagay sa pagkatangkad niyo po tapos ang gwapo gwapo niyo po. Grabe!" , sabi niya habang nakaharap na rin sa salamin at katabi ko.

" Thank you so much, Charmaine."

" Sus. Wala po yun, Sir Troy."

" Seriously, thank you."

" You're welcome po. Anong oras na ba? Ay! 9:30 na pala! I'll just call the shuttle and papahatid ko na po kayo para sa station 2! Sige po sir." Agad siyang lumabas sa kwarto and next thing I know, nakasakay na ako sa shuttle, more excited than before.

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When I arrived at station 2, agad naman akong napansin ng ilang mga teenagers na nakatambay sa beach at mga bars sa sidewalk.

" Grabe naman! Ang cute!"

" Omg! Hottie spotted!"

" Ang simple lang ng porma nya but,damn. Ang hot!"

" Ang pogi naman ni Kuya.."

Nagtuluy-tuloy lang ako sa paglalakad. I was feeling awkward while walking at the middle of these girls na rinig na rinig ang bulungan nila.

When I saw EPIC sign at the far right side of the beach, agad akong pumasok sa loob. Some of the people looked at me and some are busy with their own businesses. May mga nasa dancefloor na na nagsoslowdance, yung mga side to side steps lang.

I roamed my eyes in the bar and saw Roxanne. She was wearing this short shorts na halos kita na ang pisngi ng pwet niya at black cropped shirt. Her round sunglasses were in her hair and her lips were a beige.

Lumingon siya sa akin at tumayo sa inuupuan niya. Lumapit sya sa akin at pinalo ng mahina ang braso ko. " sabi ko na nga ba pupunta ka eh!"

" Sinabi mo kasi ang magic word.."

" Yung please?"

" Nope."

" Eh ano?"

Tumingin ako sa mga sumasayaw habang nakalagay ang dalawang kamay ko sa pockets,"Pogi."

Natawa siya at lalong pinaghahampas ang braso ko. " Kapaaaal! Hahahaha! Oh wait! Anong gusto mong drink?"

" Let me." sinundan ko siya at nag-order ng mga drinks para sa amin. Ako na ang nagbayad ng lahat ng ininom namin at iinumin pa namin. Pinipilit niya na siya na lang daw pero as a gentleman, ako na dapat bahala sa mga ganitong bagay.

Nang magsimula nang tumunog ang mga EDM (electro dance music) , nagsimula na ring tumayo ang mga tao. Everyone was hysterical and wild. Lahat sila nasa dancefloor na. Some were grinding and some were just enjoying themselves while they were having drinks on the hands. May mga nag-uusap habang nakatambay sa high tables at may mga nakaupo lang at nanonood ng mga sumasayaw.

Isa na ako doon. Roxanne was pulling me off of my chair para sumayaw pero iling lang ako ng iling. I don't even know how to dance!

" Sige na Troy! Sasayaw lang naman!"

" No."

" pogi sige na!"

" No."

" Pogi pleaaaase?"

I looked at her and smiled.

" Ayeeee nangingiti na. Sige na pogi sayaw na tayo!"

I gave up. " Kapag natapakan kita, hindi ko na kasalanan ha."

We went straight to the dancefloor. She started raising her hands and swaying into the music. I was just looking at her and swaying a bit para masundan ang beat ng music. Nung may mga tumatalon, tumalon din siya habang nakataas ang kamay niya. Then she danced closer to me.

I can almost smell her breathe. Amoy Margarita at vodka pero ang bango bango ng dating.

Sweat was dripping in her long hair.

Her light make-up was still there. Naka-waterproof yata sya.

Her eyes are closed for a moment and when she laid herself in my shoulders, she opened her eyes and smiled.

" Just dance to the music, Troy." She almost whispered. " Wala namang masama pakawalan mo ang sarili mo."

She moved closer to me. I can smell her sweet scent. Amoy beach. Amoy fresh. Nakakaakit na ewan.

Then our eyes met.

" Troy..."

" Rox.."

Something happened when she said my name. Something that I thought na hindi mangyayari sa akin.

Tama si Marites....

Love will happen to me when I least expected it.