Ms. Optimistic

4

Chapter 4. Surprise Guests

Bumalik na kami ni Van sa upuan namin.

He's unusually protective. He's stance. His eyes. I know there's something different.

"Kelly! Try drinking tequila," wika ng medyo lasing na si Cara.

Umiling ako. "I'm good with this." Tinaas ko ang pangatlong bote ng T ice. Medyo nagflofloat na rin pakiramdam ko pero hindi pa naman ako lasing.

Kinantyawan nila ako ng kinantyawan para inumin ang shot ng tequila na hinanda nila.

"Isa lang ha?"

Humiyaw sila na parang mga baliw. Binagsak ko ang bote nang nainom ko na ito. It tasted bitter but the lemon gave it a different twist.

"Not bad, right?" Tanong ni Miel.

Ngumiti ako. Naengganyo nila akong uminom pa ng tatlo pang shots at pagkatapos 'nun ay parang ang bigat na ng ulo at mga talukap ko.

"Bakit ka pa kasi uminom 'nun?" Tanong ni Van. Medyo blurred na si Van sa paningin ko.

"Masarap naman e. Nahihilo ako, Van." Humiga ako sa balikat nya. Ramdam ko ang paninigas ng muscles nya.

"Nilalamig ka ba?" I asked him.

"Ha?hindi. Bakit?" Gulong tanong nito.

"Eh bakit naninigas ka. Para kang frineezer," sabi ko at bahagya akong natawa kahit di naman nakakatawa. The alcohol already penetrated my system.

"Tss. Iuuwi na kita. Baka mapano ka pa rito," wika nya.

"Papasundo ako kay kuya."

"Sige. Magpasundo ka na," sabi nya ng may awtoridad sa kanyang boses.

Nilabas ko ang phone ko mula sa bulsa ng pants ko. May dalawang missed calls at isang text galing kay kuya.

"Baby, magpahatid ka na lang kila Cara or Miel. Hindi ako makaalis dito. Nasa hospital 'yung friend ko."

"Ako na ang maghahatid sa'yo," sabi ni Van at mukang nabasa nya ang text ni Kuya.

"Sige," maikling sagot ko dahil nahihilo na ako. "Hatid mo ko in 20 mins." I think I needed to nap for a few minutes.

Pakiramdam ko ay nahuhulog ang ulo ko kaya siniksik ko ito ng mabuti hanggang sa leeg ni Van. He wouldn't mind, I thought. He's like a brother to me.

Hinawakan nya ang likod ng ulo ko. Sa tingin ko ay para hindi mahulog ito. Napakagaan ng kamay nya.

Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko. Pilit akong hinihila ng antok ko. The last thing I felt was Van's lips on my forehead. Tila may hatid itong kiliti na hindi ko alam.

I jolt up by that foreign feeling, but when I looked around I was in my bed. There's no Van. No Cara. No Miel.

Was that just a dream? Pero suot ko pa rin ang mga damit ko 'nung pumunta ako ng Club Zero.

Kumirot ang ulo ko at nakaramdam ako ng uhaw.

Saktong pumasok si kuya. Bahagyang nangingitim ang paligid ng mga mata nya. He looked like he didn't sleep at all.

Nilapag nya ang baso ng tubig sa coffee table at umupo sya sa tabi ko.

"You looked haggard, kuya."

"You looked wasted, baby."

Sinulyapan ko sarili ko sa salamin.

"Yeah. You're right," I said.

"Sorry ha. Hindi na kita nasundo kagabi. Emergency sa friend ko," he said.

"Sinong friend, kuya?" I queried. "Si ate Rachel ba?"

Bumuntong hininga sya at tumango.

"Anong nangyari kuya?"

He didn't answer.

"Anyway baby, pinapunta ko si Van dito mamayang dinner. Nang makapagpasalamat naman tayo sa paghatid nya," he said as he got up.

"Sya ang naghatid sa akin?" Gulat kong tanong.

"Yes," tumaas ang kilay ni kuya. "Who do you think? Miel and Cara? Those two are totally drunk. I bet hindi ka nila naalala. Anyway, maligo ka na at kumain."

Tumayo na ako at naligo na nga. Masakit pa rin ang ulo ko pero nabawasan na rin ng kaunti.

Simuot ko ang red shirt ni Van (na inarbor ko sa kanya 'nung naging SSG pres sya) at tinernuhan ko na lang ng comfy shorts.

Lumipas ang maghapon ko na walang nangyayaring kapaki pakinabang. Then, few hours bago mag dinner, dumating si Van.

"Bakit andami mong dala? Titira ka na ba dito?" I laughingly asked as I looked at his bag pack and duffel bag.

"Pano mo nalaman?" He asked.

"Seryoso ka?" Ako naman yata ng nagulhan.

"Yup. Hindi ba nasasabi sa'yo ni Darren?"

Umiling ako. "Aalis ba si kuya? Pinapatira ka dito para may lalaki sa bahay?"

Sunod sunod na tango ang ginawa ni Van habang naglalakad sya papunta sa kwarto ko.

"Teka.bakit ka pumupunta sa kwarto ko?"

"Siguro hindi pa talaga nasasabi sa'yo. Dito ako matutulog, Kelly," he stated as a matter of fact.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Why? Can't you use kuya's room?"

Sya naman itong kumunot ang noo."Wala namang malisya kung dito ako matutulog right? I know you know me. I know you for being open minded and very understanding. What's happening to you now?" He asked. He looked a bit hurt.

"None. I was just asking. You're always welcome Van. We could cuddle if you want!" I said.

Namula ang muka nya.

"Anong sinasabi mo? Sa sofa naman ako matutulog. Tsaka di ako pwede sa kwarto ni kuya mo no. You don't expect me to sleep 'literally' with his girl."

"What are you talking about, Van? It seemed I'm lost. Girl? May girlfriend na si kuya?" I asked, still bewildered with what's happening.

I heard soft chuckles in the living room, so I went out of my room. There, I found a very beautiful woman with a big bump on her tummy. Ate Bea was laughing with them. There is also another girl beside the pregnant woman. The girl looked almost the same age as me. They must have noticed me, so they all focused their attention at me.

What is happening? I asked myself. I felt Van's arms touched my waist.

"Van..." The girl trailed. I thought I saw hurt, shock, and anger in her eyes.

"Hi Aliza," he said in a bright tone. "Hi, ate Ariel." Van waved at the pregnant goddess. She returned Van's greetings, but the one named Aliza kept mum.

I was still confused when Van started to talk again.

"By the way, meet my girl, Kelly."

Ate Bea's face was blank. Ariel smiled at me, and Aliza just threw dagger looks at me.

I nudged Van to ask what's happening and why he introduced me as his girl. All I received was a reassuring back hug.