I'd Rather Lie (Watty Awards 2015)

PRAEVARICATUS 4

No one dangles a carrot in front of a burping rabbit.

When she was a child, Sham used to wonder why everybody else do not see what she sees --- dialog boxes floating in mid air. She would tell her Mama about it, but the latter would just dismiss it, thinking it was just Sham's imagination as every kid would see an imaginary friend.

But in her young mind, Sham was already sure it wasn't just her imagination. For inside those dialog boxes are information about one's lifestory.

If anyone would ask her about her hobby, Sham would say that she loves reading. Funny it is though, because people would most probably misunderstood her. Living with such a weird ability, Sham has decided to give it a name. And she had chosen the most normal word for such an unusual thing, she called it 'reading'.

Nevertheless, she would not clarify what she really meant, and just let her inquisitor think that she is a bookworm. Besides, she's affirmative that if ever she told anyone about it, no one would believe her. She knew. She had read them.

Okay, she have to admit she also loves reading (and she mean the real thing) so it's kind of appropriate to call her a bookworm. There, no harm done. Except that in both reading and reading, Sham understood how valuable an information could be. And as evil as it may sound, she learned how to manipulate it all --- the truth and lies.

"Mag-stay ka pa, Miss?" tanong sa kanya ng matandang guwardya. Tangan nito ang master key ng eskwalahan.

Tumingin siya sa wrist watch niya. 6:30pm na pala. "May inaantay lang po." Nilingon niya ang dulong kwarto ng pasilyo. Kung bakit kasi ang tagal ng isang 'yun eh. "Nag-cr lang po 'yun saglit," paliwanag niya at nahihiyang ngumiti sa kausap.

Ngiti rin ang itinugon ng matanda sa kanya. "O sige, hija. Pero saglit na lamang ha." Itinaas nito ang hawak na pulumpon ng susi. "Marami pa akong isasaradong kwarto."

Matapos siyang paalalahanan nito ay tumungo na ito sa ibang kwarto upang i-check at isara ang mga iyon. Tumayo na rin siya sa kinauupuan at muling sinilip mula sa bintana ang bandang palikuran.

Kinain na ba ng inidoro si Ginger? Tss. Ang tagal kasi eh.

Hindi rin naman s'ya makapaghintay sa tapat noon dahil ang dami niyang dala. Nahuli kasi siya sa klase noong Huwebes at dulot ng kaistriktuhan ng paaralan nila ay hindi na siya pinayagan pang pumasok ng unang subject, kahit na dalawang minuto lang naman siyang huli. Heto tuloy siya't dala-dala ang napakaraming reference book para sa special assignment for tardy students. Tss. Kapag naaalala n'ya iyon ay nabubwisit lamang s'ya.

"Nandito ka pa."

Napasinghap si Sham nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses. Parang bumalik lahat ang mga nangyari noong isang araw.  Pagkatapos ng alam-ko-pero-wala-naman-akong-balak-itigil-'to spiel nito ay umalis ito kaagad, just like he always does. Animo'y endorser ito ng kung anong produkto at magpapakita lamang para magbato ng mga 'di makakalimutang linyahan. And just what does he mean by what he said? Ano ang hindi n'ya ititigil? Argg. Naguguluhan na talaga s'ya.

Sinubukan niyang ngitian ang binata, ngunit sa sobrang kaba ay ngiwi tuloy ang nagawa niya. "Uh-hmm," nasambit na lamang niya. Seriously, Samantha?  hindi makapaniwalang tanong ng inner bitch n'ya. She could imagine it shaking its head in frustration. Natapakan ata pride eh. But goodness, saan na nga ba kasi napunta dila n'ya?

Sham was about to clear her throat to make a proper conversation when she suddenly felt Heave by her side. Sa hindi malamang dahilan ay bigla na naman siyang kinabahan. Tigilan na kaya niya ang pagkakape? Nagiging nerbyosa s'ya lately eh.