Against All Odds | ✓

Chapter 26

Chapter 26.
 
 
"Chim, tara!"
 
My forehead was knotted when I saw Rochelle approaching me. "Why? Where are we going?"
 
"Birthday no'ng isa kong kaibigan doon sa BS Chem. Tara na at para makahanap ka na rin ng boyfriend mo," aniya.
 
"I'm not looking for someone, Roch. You know that," I told her before focusing on my laptop. I was busy with my narrative report.
 
"Dzuh, minsan lang naman 'to saka huy! 21 ka na, aba. Kailangan mo na ring lumandi. Tara na kasi, minsan ang naman."
 
I rolled my eyes at her. It's almost two weeks before our class ends. Talagang mga narrative report na lang ang tinatapos namin.
 
"Ipapakilala kita sa mga kaibigan niya. Malay mo may matipuhan ka," she's convincing me.
 
I shook my head. "Ayaw ko talaga."
 
"Sige na, please? Sumama ka na."
 
I took a deep breath before looking at her. "Fine. Fine, pero saglit lang, ah? Hindi magtatagal," I told her.
 
She beamed at me. "I promised that!"
 
"Sige na. Mamaya na lang," sabi ko.
 
Kailangan ko munang umuwi ng condo para makapagpalit ako. Medyo maaga pa naman, kaya may time pa ako makapag-ready. Malapit lang ang condo na inuuwian ko mula rito sa university. Kaya hindi rin ako masiyadong magastos.
 
When I reached my unit, I checked some emails from the review center that I'm applying for. After graduation, I need to review for my board exam.
 
I'm a psychology student, and I learned a lot in this field. Not only for helping a lot of people, but also to hear their stories.
 
Rochelle texted me that I should wear something semi-formal, so I decided to wear a black bodycon dress. Binuhaghag ko lang din ang medyo wavy kong buhok at naglagay lang nang babagay na make-up sa akin.
 
The venue is a bar. Nakita ko kaagad si Rochelle mula sa labas, kaya hinatak niya na ako paloob nang makita niya ako.
 
"Gosh! Ang ganda-ganda mo! For sure, maraming mahuhumaling sa 'yo," aniya.
 
I jokingly rolled my eyes. "Kapag moreno, pass! "
 
"Ayy, may pinaghuhugutan ka, teh?"
 
Nang makapasok kami ay tumambay kami sa may counter. Uminom lang kami. Buti na lang at kumain ako kanina bago umalis ng condo! Kung hindi, lintek talaga ang atay ko rito.
 
Kinalabit ako ni Rochelle. Ngumuso siya sa may bandang likuran ko. Kaya napatingin din ako roon. My lips parted a little bit when I saw a familiar man.
 
It's been years since we broke up...
 
He's still alive, huh?
 
He's wearing a white polo shirt. His features are still the same as when we were in senior high school, but he became more manly. His features get stronger. He tilted his head a little bit while talking to his friends.
 
Bakit parang nag-glow up pa rin siya? Samantalang ako ay halos mangangayayat at ilang beses na nagkasakit dahil dinamdam ko ang naging breakup namin.
 
"Si Wayne, iyong nakaputi. Sikat 'yan sa BS Chem! Since the first year."
 
Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi ni Rochelle. Paanong mangyayari 'yon, eh sa La Union siya nag-aaral?
 
"What do you mean?"
 
"Pride student 'yan ng BS Chem. Laging nakapaskil ang name niyan sa mga contest pati sa honor roll. Palibhasa hindi ka naman sumasali at tumitingin sa mga board sa university kahit nga pag-attend sa recognition ay ayaw mo."
 
That's really true. When I became a college student, I didn't care about my grades anymore or extracurricular activities. Basta nag-focus na lang ako sa classroom. I did my best there to be an excellent student. I passed the exam, participated in recitation, and passed my project on time. Pasok araw-araw. Iyon na lang ang naging routine ko.
 
Never na akong ulit na pressure.
 
"So, you mean first year pa lang nasa JRU na siya?"
 
"Yes, yes!"
 
How did that happen?
 
"Pass sa moreno," sagot ko na lang at tumungga ulit ng alak.
 
"Sige, si Neil na lang! "Tumayo si Rochelle sa kaniyang kinauupuan at lumapit sa grupo nila. "Neil! Neil!"
 
Pare-parehas silang tumingin sa amin kasama na ang lalaking kinaayawan kong makita. Mukhang nagtataka siya kung bakit ako nandito. Ako ang unang umiwas dahil lumapit na si Rochelle sa akin kasama iyong Neil na tinawag niya.
 
"Neil, si Chim..." My friend looked at me. "Chim, si Neil. Sige mag-usap na kayo," aniya at iniwan kami.
 
Umupo si Niel sa inuupuan kanina ni Roch at nagkwentuhan kaming dalawa. He's from BS Chem. He's kind, handsome pero hindi kami magiging compatible dahil madaldal din siya katulad ko. Hindi balanse ang energy namin kung gano'n.
 
"Chim, I like a girl like you, but—"
 
"Niel, someone's looking for you," his baritone voice stopped Neil.
 
Dahan-dahan akong lumingon at nakita ko si Jaziel na seryosong nakatingin sa kaibigan. He shifted his gaze to me when he noticed that I was looking at him.
 
"Okay okay. Chim, si Wayne! Top student namin 'yan," sabi ni Neil at iniwan na kami.
 
Tumalikod na lang ako at uminom na lang ulit. Naramdaman ko kaagad ang presensya ni Jaziel sa gilid ko.
 
So, Wayne, na pala ang tinatawag sa kaniya? It suits him, though dahil mukha talaga siyang more serious at this time.
 
"You may leave now. You don't need to entertain me," I casually said.
 
"Just let me guide you," aniya.
 
I shook my head. "I don't need a guardian. Malaki na ako. I'm already 21."
 
I looked at him, he's looking at me with his intense eyes.
 
Tumayo ako at iniwan siya. Pumunta ako sa may dance floor at sumayaw. May lumapit sa aking mga kalalakihan, pero mas nagulat ako nang may humablot sa bewang ko.
 
"What are you doing?"
 
He's mad. Jaziel's mad.
 
"What?" I asked him, confused.
 
He's looking at me with his concerned eyes. Na akala mo ay ako ang mahal niya. Na ako ang talaga iyong minahal niya years ago. No pretending at all.
 
"You're drunk."
 
"I'm not. Bitawan mo nga ako." Pilit kong tinatanggal ang pagkakahawak niya sa may siko ko.
 
"Umuwi na tayo."
 
I grimaced. "No, hindi ako sasama sa 'yo!"
 
"Iuuwi na kita sa inyo," he softly said.
 
Ito na naman ako at natutunaw sa malumanay niyang boses na para bang hindi niya ako sinaktan.
 
"Sa condo ko na lang. Ay hindi wag kang pupunta roon. You don't deserve to see my place. I-book mo na lang ako ng hotel," I told him.
 
Namalayan ko na lang na pinapasok na niya ako sa isang kwarto. He removed my heels and went to the bathroom. When he got back, he wiped my make-up using the wet towel he's holding.
 
I'm staring at his innocent face. How could this man hurt my feelings years ago? How does this man appear in my life after years? Like, didn't hurt me at all? That he didn't cause me a massive pain.
 
I hate him so much...
 
"I still hate you, Jaziel. I hate you," I said while crying.
 
He stopped what he's doing and softly looked at me.
 
"I know..." He took a deep breath. "I know, Xachi."
 
Nang magising ako kinabukasan ay sobrang sakit ng ulo ko. Kainis talaga ang alak na to! Hindi na talaga ako uulit! Kakaasar.
 
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang mapansing hindi ko ito kwarto! Lumabas ako ng kwarto at naabutan ko si Jaziel na nagluluto sa kusina. Nakatalikod siya habang may hinahalo sa kaldero.
 
I need to be casual as possible...
 
"Good morning," he said, looking at me.
 
Umupo ako sa may dining area. "Walang maganda sa umaga kapag ikaw ang nakikita. Bakit ako nandito? Sabi ko sa hotel diba?"
 
He put a bowl of porridge on the table. "You're drunk and it's dangerous for you to sleep there," he casually said.
 
"Whatever. Ugh! Sakit ng ulo ko," reklamo ko at napahawak pa sariling ulo. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
 
"Here's lugaw."
 
I opened my eyes and saw him moving the bowl near me.
 
"Salamat. aalis na rin ako mamaya." I took the spoon and started to eat.

Nakita kong nagbalat siya ng nilagang itlog at nilagay sa may mangkok ko.

"Kain na. Masarap kapag mainit pa."
 
Some memories come to mind again. It's like I'm reminiscing about something. The porridge tastes like the food we used to eat when we were in La Union. The memories...
 
Napatingin ako sa kaniya. He's looking at me. Umiwas lang siya ng tingin nang mahuli ko siya. Pumasok siya sa kwarto niya. Ilang minuto rin bago naubos ang pagkain ko.
 
Sakto namang paglabas niya ay tapos na ako. I was about to wash my dishes when he stopped me.
 
"Ako na ang maghuhugas," aniya. "Just sit there."
 
I shook my head. "Uuwi na rin naman na ako." I get my bag from the couch.
 
Mukhang nataranta siya. "You will leave already?"
 
I faced him. "Thank you for taking care of me, but I hope this is the last time we will meet."
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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