Crying Shoulder (SBHseries#1)

Kabanata 1

They were already in their assigned bungalows at sa kasamaang-palad, kasama nga pala niya si Siquia sa bungalow na ito. She had been ignoring her simula noong ni-realtalk siya nito at panay naman ito sa paghingi ng "sorry." They also shared the same room with Rose, na ngayo'y may kausap sa phone. For sure, it was her boyfriend or was it appropriate to call him her "fubu."

"Hadiya, sorry na. Alam mo namang kung anu-ano 'tong lumalabas sa bunganga ko. I'm a girl with a no-filter mouth. I say what I want to say. Hindi ako nangplaplastic," anito na hindi makatingin sa kanya. Guilty na guilty ang mukha nito kaya naman ay gusto niyang magbunyi.

"You say what you want even if it will offend someone kaya ka nga iniwan ng ex mo diba?" Seryoso ang aking mukha nang sinabi ko iyon. Napatigil ito sa ginagawa pati na rin si Rose na kanina lang ay may kausap sa phone.

"Hindi ko gustong maging referee ngayon, okay? I'm tired as fuck so please... Kung gusto niyong mag-away, not in front of me. Not when I'm fucking around!" Rose broke the ice between us. Kung si Siquia walang filter ang bunganga, Rose is the cussing machine. Every time you hear her speak, don't be surprised if you hear her utter the word "fuck."

"Tired? You're tired fucking your boyfriend? Tired from spreading your legs?" Mukhang siya yata ang magiging referee sa ngayon. Bakit ba kasi binuksan pa ni Siquia ang bunganga nito? What she said was really below the belt. She stood up and went to Rose nang aksyong aabutin nito ang buhok ni Siquia. She did stop Rose from doing so, ngunit hindi niya aakalaing hihilain din ni Siquia ang buhok nito kaya nagkaroon nga ng away. The two were already on the floor, pulling each other's hair and she didn't know how to stop these girls. Malimit naman itong mangyari sa kanila pero hindi pa rin siya sanay. Hindi pa rin niya alam ang gagawin sa tuwing may cat fight na nagaganap. Napatigil siya sa pag-iisip nang marinig niya ang cellphone niyang tumutunog. The caller's name was Novah. Tamang-tama ang timing nito. Akmang sasagutin niya na ang tawag niya nang masiko siya ni Earl dahilan upang mahulog ito sa sahig.

"Can you please fucking stop it?!" Hindi na niya mapigilang sumigaw. Yung pobreng phone niya! Yung inosenteng phone niya na walang ginawa ay nahulog dahil sa away ng dalawang 'to. Being with them in the same room was really wrong! The next time they'll travel, hinding-hindi na siya makikipagshare ng room sa mga maldita na ito.

"Sorry about your phone," they said in unison while looking at her phone. Napa-face palm na lamang siya. Nagsorry nang paulit-ulit ang dalawa na ngayo'y hindi makatingin sa kanya. Ang dami na ng kasalanan ng mga ito sa kanya. Katatapos niya lang makasaksi ng away kaya mas mabuting lumabas na muna siya upang hindi makapagsimula ulit ng away.

-

She was walking in the seashore for about 30 minutes now ngunit mainit pa rin ang kanyang ulo. The phone she was holding was the first thing she bought using her own money. Kahit naman mayaman sila, hindi naman siya gastador. Alam niya ang importansya ng pera sa buhay ng mga tao lalo na sa buhay ng kanyang mga magulang. They worked really hard to gain a lot of money to the extent that they forgot they have a daughter. Mapait siyang napangiti nang maisip ang mga magulang. When will the time come her parents would shower her with love and attention?

"Miss?" She was pulled out from her trance when she heard that familiar masculine voice. Napahingit siya ng hininga nang makitang naglalakad ito papunta sa kanya. His hands were on his pocket. She was hesitating if she was going to ignore him or not. In the end, she looked at him and his piercing blue eyes meet hers.

"Yes?" sagot niya rito. Luminga muna ito sa paligid bago muling nagsalita. Ang mga mata'y nakatutok pa rin sa kanya.

"Mag-isa ka?" His question made her eyebrow arched up. It's really obvious na mag-isa lang siya depende na lang kung may nakikita itong hindi niya nakikita. Dahil sa inisip ay napaatras siya nang kaunti na ikinatawa ng lalaki. Ang pagtawa nito ay naging dahilan din para sumirko ang kung ano sa tiyan niya. Hindi niya mapigilang magmura.

"So you're alone... Where are your friends or are they your sisters?" Napapikit siya nang marinig muli ang boses nito, very manly. She flashed a half-pint smile before answering him. Mas pinalambing niya ang kanyang boses.

"They're my sisters. We're sisters by heart. Anyway, are you doing the first move now?"

"Stop using that tone, whore. I'm not flirting with you. I'm just plainly asking you if they're your sisters or not," she composed herself at hindi pinahalatang nainsulto siya sa sinabi nito. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin dito at nagpasyang umalis nalang. She was about to take one step backward when she heard him calling her by her first name.

"Hadiya!" She gather a lot of courage to continue turning her back at him.

"I h-have to go," tuluyan niya itong tinalikuran at naglakad paalis. Hindi niya ito kilala pero tumagos sa puso niya ang sinabi nito. Nasaktan siya sa pagtawag nito sa kanya ng "whore" because she isn't a whore and she will never be. Ang dami niya ng naging boyfriend, but ni isa sa mga ito ay hindi siya nadala sa kama. She's still sane so why would she let someone fuck the hell out of her? Sobrang bata pa niya para diyan. Yes, she is liberated. They are all liberated, but they are also against pre-marital sex.

-

Walang sabi-sabing binuksan niya ang pinto ng kwarto at bumungad sa kanya ang kaninang nag-aaway. Naghahagikhikan ito habang nakatingin sa laptop ni Rose. Tumikhim siya at hindi naman siya nabigong makuha ang atensiyon ng mga ito.

"Look Hadiya... We are really sorry. Hindi talaga namin yun sinasadya," Siquia said sincerely. Napatango nalang siya. Kahit gaano pa man kalaki ang kasalanan ng mga babaeng itinuturing niyang mga kapatid, isang sorry lang mula sa mga ito lalambot na ang puso niya.

"So what happened outside? Nagtext si Elle kanina na nakita ka niya na kasama si Walter," napakunot ang noo niya sa sinabi ni Siquia.

"Who's Walter?" Sa pagkakaalam niya, wala siyang kakilalang Walter ang pangalan.

"The guy in the beach. His name is Walter Augustine Alfaro," hindi na rin mapigilan ni Rose na sumabat sa usapan. Napangiti naman siya nang malaman ang pangalan nito.

"Gus... That's what I'm going to call him!" But then the sweet smile that was plastered on her face was replaced by a bitter smile. 

"She called you a whore, remember?" her inner thoughts interfered her.