Sapantaha

113

[“Ipagpapaalam ka namin. Pupunta kami sa inyo tapos kunwari, hindi mo alam. Huwag ka munang magbihis, ha! Para hindi halata.”] Pagpaplano ni Niña.

I nodded. “Hmm. Bilisan niyo, Rivermaya na ‘yon, oh.”

[“Aba, nag-demand pa. Kung natututo ka kasing magpaalam, ineng.”] Sabat ni Ian.

Pinatay ko na ang tawag pagkatapos. I’m in my pajamas, it’s quarter to seven already. Ang dinig ko ay alas dies ang umpisa ng banda. Aabutin ng hating-gabi kaya hindi ako makapagpaalam dahil baka lalo akong hindi payagan.

I prepare my clothes and fix my hair habang wala pa sila. Daddy is in the living room, baka siya pa ang magbukas ng gate para sa kanila. Act fool, Kalopsia, gusto mong manood, ‘di ba.

“Sia!” Dad’s voice.

They’re here. Agad akong bumaba nang marinig ang pagtawag. Niña and Ian waved at me.

“12:00 AM, Kalopsia. Sharp. Kapag wala ka pa, ako mismo ang susundo sa ‘yo.” He gave me a glare that wasn’t even scary but cute.

“Yes, Dad. Thank you!”

Mabilis kaming nakarating pero nahirap kaming maghanap ng parking. Driver ni Niñaang kasama at magiging bantay namin ngayon, buti na lang at napakiusapan itong huwag na kaming tatlong sundan.

“First stop?”

“Vikings!”

“Kals?!” Ian exaggerately shouted.

“Ay, may takot nga pala rito sa rides.” I laughed. “Tara, Niña. Sakay na tayong dalawa.”

Iniangkla ko ang braso sa kaniya at hinila siya papunta sa pila. I opened my phone while waiting for our turn. I forgot to log-out the Waffles account, buti na lang at hindi nila nakita kahit nasa likod ko lang sila.

Uranus chatted that account asking if I was really here. I told him yes. Not scared to tell him that at all, hindi niya naman ako mahuhuli o makikilala sa dami ng tao. But there’s a possibility that I might see him.

“What the fudge, Kalopsia! Kasalanan mo kapag namatay ako ngayon!”

I just laughed and laughed with his reaction. Nakakapit siya sa braso ko, nakasiksik sa balikat. Hindi ko naman siya pinilit sumama!

“CR lang ako,”

“A-Ako rin...”

“Need help?” I asked.

Umiling ang dalawa at tinahak ang daan papunta sa comfort room. Naiwan ako sa gilid ng ferris wheel. I look around, hoping that I would see some acquiantance. But look who I saw.

“Chan!”

Chan, a classmate, is just behind him and Cassandra. Parang ginawa ko lang excuse si Chan para makalapit kay Uranus.

Pagkalapit na pagkalapit ko ay nagulat ako nang nakangiti si Uranus sa akin. He offered his hand for a fist bump and I gladly accept it. I just want to went near him, did not expecting any interaction but what?

Fist bump might be my favorite way of greeting from now on.

“Tibay ng sikmura, ah. Tumawa lang sa taas,” Uranus laughed.

“Sina Ian kasi—” Hindi na ako nakapagsalita dahil natawa na lang din ako.

“Ferris wheel tayo,” Aya niya

Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagngiti. “Libre mo?”

“Sure, why not.” Mabilis niyang sagot, desidido.

I shake my head. “Huy, joke lang. You’re with Cassandra naman, enjoy na lang.”

He nodded and took a quick glance to her who’s busy with her friends, did not even saw me talking to his man. He licked his lower lip.

“Next time?”

I smirked and mocked him. “Sure, why not.”