Tamed: The 8th Hiñago (HS#01)

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Passed

That dinner proved to me that whatever will happen to this courtship I have with Denise, will be my end too.

My father and grandfather surely made it clear that they will disown me.

Alam kong ayaw mapahiya ni Dad sa kababata niya, which happens to be Denise's uncle. Hindi naman nakikialam si Dad sa mga naging relasyon ko noon, ngayon lang nang nalaman niya na pamangkin ng kababata niya ang nililigawan ko.

And Lolo? Napapagod na guro siya sa reputasiyon ko kaya binibigyan niya na ako ng ultimatum. Isang taon na akong walang girlfriend. I've been good for a year!

"Wala ka ngang girlfriend pero ang dami mong issue." Tarrie reminded me. "Can you count how many times you've been called to the guidance office?"

That shut me up.

I been ranting to Tarrie this whole time and also I was asking for her insights too kung anong mas magandang gawin ngayong nanliligaw ako kay Denise.

"It's not that bad, Tarrie," iling ko.

"Not that bad?" she scoffed before lifting her eyes from the canvas. Technically ginugulo ko siya habang nagpi-painting siya. "You were late everyday. You're so bagal maligo and so late magising. Hindi nagsusuot ng uniform. Lagi ka pang nagka-cutting. Admit it, you're not that behaved naman."

I sighed. "So Danny's right? I shouldn't pursue Denise?"

"No, that is not what he told you naman," rason niya. "He said, hindi kayo bagay ni Ate Den."

"It's the same thing," I sighed.

Umupo ako sa couch na nasa likuran niya. That's where I saw her painting, it was me... but it doesn't feel like it was me. Kuhang kuha naman ang facial features, even my skin tone is on point, it was like a picture of me yet, I don't feel like it was me.

"Hold on..." I halted her, lumingon siya sa gawi ko. "Is that me?"

Tumango siya. "Yeah."

"Parang hindi ako."

"Yeah, I know," she chuckled. "Weird right? Tama naman ang mukha at proportions... but it feels like this man in the picture is different from you... pero ikaw to. I don't know how to put it into words—but it feels like this is indeed you but...in the future... like—he is the older you. Funny thing about this, I dreamt of him last night, so I painted him today."

I looked at the man in the picture. Maybe our difference is that he is a man... I don't see myself as someone like that.

"Let's hang this in your kwarto please?"

I smiled and nodded.

I looked at the undone painting again. Danny's words lingered in my head. This man in the painting... bagay siya kay Denise. I chuckled at my thought. Nagbubuhat ata ako ng sariling bangko.

"Damian be sure to submit your contributed article sa mga school journalist. Kinakailangan na yon dahil malapit na mag-end ang school year." Ms. Herrera reminded me. Isang linggo na ang lumipas mula noong dinner na nangyari sa Casa.

That's when I remembered that I haven't made it yet.

"When is the deadline for that again?" I asked her.

"Later."

"Oh..." fvck up. I tried my best to smile and act cool. "I-I'll send it this evening, Maam. Nasa computer kasi sa bahay."

Tangina. Rason ko lang yan. Hindi ko lang talaga ginawa. Ang dami nang dapat gawin, I needed to finalize our Research too. May assignment pa. May entrance exam para college. Pag pumalpak ako, talagang ikakahiya ako ng buong angkan ko. Tangina.