“King Emmanuel Naïve III.”
Natigilan ako. Hindi lang dahil unti-unting narealize ko kung ano ang kanyang sinabi kundi nang marinig ang pangalang muling tinawag ng emcee. Pakiramdam ko ay nanlamig ang buo kong katawan. Napatingin ako sa emcee. Did he say King Emmanuel Naïve III?
“Oh, sorry guys. Mukhang naduling yata ako dahil dalawa ang King Emmanuel Naïve II na nakita ko sa papel. Cristopher Matthew Jacinto.”
Bumaling akong muli kay Dos at muling lumapad ang ngiti niya. it was like a happy and hopeful smile. “Happy birthday,” iyon lang at pi-nat niya ako sa ulo like it was a normal thing he had done in the past saka ako binigay sa huli kong makakasayaw.
After the traditional 18s ay nagsimula na ang dinner. By the time the guests ate, I immediately went back to my room to change my outfit for the next part of the program. At decided na ako sa gagawin habang abala ang lahat sa pagkain.
Apparently, Olive and Chris caught me inside my room. May dalang cocktails si Olive habang si Cris ay mabilis na nakapulupot sa aking katawan na parang sawa. He nibbled at my neck and smelled me.
“Hey, babe,” anas niya saka marahang kinagat ang aking tenga.
If it was just any other day of the days before tonight, I could’ve just let him do what he wants to me but I could no longer tolerate it tonight. Because tonight I’m done with it all.
“Stop,” sabi ko saka tinanggal ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa bewang ko.
“Uy, nagpapakipot. I like that,” nakangising panunukso niya saka ako muling hinapit.
Nag-groan ako as protesta nang umakyat ang bibig niya para sakupin ang labi ko pero mabilis ko nang hinarang ang kamay ko sa bibig niya. Kumunot ang noo ko nang maamoy ang alak sa hininga niya. “Uminom ka?”
Itinaas niya ang hintuturo at hinalalaki. “Konti lang. Ang sarap kasi ng binigay ni Olive. You should try one, too.”
“Yeah, here ibs,” ani Olive saka inabot ang baso sa akin.
Nagbuga ako ng hangin. I don’t need them in my room. I should get rid of them and make my plan work bago pa ako puntahan ni mommy. “No.”
“Someone’s edgy. Nerves lang ‘yan, Ibs,” sabi ni Olive. “Here, it’s good for the nerves.”
Pero inilayo ko lang ang kamay niya. “I said no. can you leave? I want to be alone.”
Tumawa lang si Olive saka muling lumapit. “Ano ka ba? We’re here to celebrate."
And I lose it. Malakas kong tinabig ang kamay niya at nabitawan niya ang baso at nahulog iyon sa carpeted na sahig.
“I said, leave. I don’t want you both here!”
Nagulat siya at halatang hindi nakapaniwala sa ginawa ko. Nagkatinginan sila ni Cris na halatang hindi rin inasahan ang ginawa ko.
“Babe? Ano’ng-“
“Stop calling me babe. I’m not your babe,” inis na sabi ko kay Cris. “Let’s stop this pretense, shall we?”
“What?”
Huminga ako ng malalim saka tiningnan silang dalawa sa mga mata. “You’re not my friend, Olive. You just befriended me because of my grand birthdays. And you, Cris just hang out with me because you wanted a trophy girlfriend. And I’m tired of being in your squad when I don’t really know how I was able to last a day na kasama kayo. Maybe I was asleep. But now I’m awake. So, please leave me alone. I don’t want to put words in my mouth that I know will hurt you. From now on, I’m better off without friends who lies, betrays, and screw each other when I’m not around.“
