Hiding Place

Chapter 2

"Come on, CJ. Alam mo naman na hindi ako papayagan ni Mommy kapag hindi ka kasama eh" pag pipilit ko sa kaibigan ko

One of our classmate invited us to a party. Celebration dahil natapos na namin yung Senior High. Pero itong si Crispin ayaw sumama. Nag effort pa ako na papuntahin sya dito sa bahay para ma-convince. 

"Ano naman gagawin ko dun? I wanted to sleep. Sa wakas tapos na yung stress. Don't you want to rest?" tanong nya saken. Yung itsura nya parang nakaka-insulto

"Kakaiba talaga trip mo hanu?" balik na pang iinis ko.  "Everyone is coming there, then right now you're telling me that  we should rest? Pwede natin gawin yan sa ibang araw" pagdadahilan ko sa kanya

Nagkamot pa sa ulo si Kurimaw. Besides pupunta din ang grupo. Ewan ko ba bakit ayaw sumama ng Crispin na to. 

"Please. I-support mo naman ako. Last chance ko na para makita si Grant"

"Ayan lumabas din ang totoo. Hindi na talaga ako sasama para di ka payagan ni Tita Bella.  Matutulog na lang ako kaysa makita ka-corny-han mo" pang- iinis nya

I make a sad face. Sana mag effect. 

"Pupunta din naman sila Katnis and Eli with boys. Bakit ayaw mo sumama?" tanong ko

"Tinatamad ako" pagdadahilan nya

"Then, hindi na ako sasama sa Tree House para magtanim sa free time naten"  paghahamon ko

"What? Ikaw ang nakaisip ng plano na yun. Tapos ngayon ayaw mo na kasi hindi ako sasama sa Party ng Grant na yun?" naiinis na si Kurimaw

"I just wanted to come CJ. Please" lumapit ako sa kanya sa kama. He's checking my pink alarm clock. Di ko alam ano kinakalikot nya dun. 

"This will be the last time that we can bond with our classmates. It's just one night. Buong bakasyon samahan pa kita matulog" offer ko pa. 

"Alright" pag payag nya. Yes di ako natiis ni Kurimaw.  "In one condition" dagdag nya pa

"At ano na naman yun beshy ko?" naiirita na ako ha

"Pag sinabi ko na uuwi na tayo. Uuwi na tayo. Maliwanag?" tanong nya

I have no choice.    "Yes Sir" sabay irap. 

"Cheers!" as we all shouted, after Grant raise a glass to start the party.

A lot of schoolmates were invited here. I saw some familiar faces chatting with each other. I guess they will surely miss each other. After this party, we're all back to normal but we need to be ready to face another pace of life as being college student. So, I guess I need to enjoy this moment. 

"Awat na sa wine girl. Here, take a shot"  sabay bigay ng tequila with lemon. Taena neto ni Katnis, kakaiba ang  trip

"Tita Bella don't allow her yet to drink" mariing sabi ni CJ

"Malalaman ba nya?" sabay pang -asar ni Raiden

"Shut you mouth, Raiden" natatawang sabi ni CJ. Buset na naman si Kurimaw

"Just one shot. Di ka namin isusumbong" dagdag ni Eli 

Itinaas ni Nezer ang kanang kamay ni CJ.

"How about this guy?" lakas pa ng tawa nya. Lalo na lang nainis si CJ. Pinag tripan na naman nila. 

"Alright. I'll take it. Just one shot" pag payag ko. CJ sign a thumb down. Tinawanan ko na lang. KJ. 

We all enjoy the party. Tamang usap sa ibang schoolmates kapag may minsang tanungan. Then we dance in the stage, tamang talunan lang kapag masigla yung music. Then we make a circle tamang takbuhan. Medyo natagalan na din kami sa kasiyahan ng nakaramdam ako ng pagod. I guess I need to rest a bit. 

I was about to go in our table when Grant call me at the crowd.

"Smooth" saba'y sipol ni Katnis.

"Shut up Katnis Hope" natatawa ko na sabi sabay lapit kay Grant.

"Hey" he uttered.

"Hey. The party was nice" I don't know what to say.

"I hope you like it."  

Medyo hinihingal pa ako.

"Yeah. Of course. I guess everyone liked it." I just smiled. 

"Are you going somewhere?" He asked me. Gusto ko sana sabihin na I need to drink water. Pero nakakahiya. 

"Ahmm. No. Why?" I asked as well

"Nothing. I just wanted to say thank you for coming here. Ilang party na din kasi yung hindi mo napuntahan. I just didn't expect na pupunta ka dito" 

"Oh, sorry about that. Medyo busy lang. But yeah, the party was good." sabi ko. 

The music become slow, and the light gets dim. Ilan-ilan na lang yung nakita ko na sumasayaw.  While I was checking some people at the stage, someone bumped at my back. Nagulat ako, at muntik na ma-out balance. Buti na lang Grant hold me. Kaya nga lang sobrang lapit namin sa isa't isa. 

"Sorry" a ramdom schoolmates. Then she walked away. Lasing na ata.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Grant. Then we laugh. 

"Sorry about that."

"No. It's okay. "

"Maybe I should go --"

"Wait Alara. May I have a dance with you?" nagulat ako. 

Is this true? Si Grant na to ha. I was about to answer his questions when someone spoke.

"Alara. Let's go home" Crispin said.