Dominika (Pale As Dead I) | COMPLETED

𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚎

d e e
july 16, monday, 6 a.m.

Our classes always started at eight in the morning, pero nasa school na ako. Sa harap ng field, may maliit na park with at least ten benches circling a big fountain with an angel holding a vase and from it, clear water flowed. So I sat on one bench.

You might ask: and why were you early, Dee?

Last night, I had received a call from an unknown number whose owner was none other than Shiloh Dominguez. How he had gotten my number would forever be a mystery to me. Baka kay Kyo niya nakuha, kasi may numbers kami kay Kyo. Pwede ring from Amy. Or from Paris.

Oh, God. Naalala ko na naman si Paris. Wala akong mukhang ihaharap sa kanya.

Kikiligin na nga sana ako kay Shishi. Ikaw ba naman ang maka-receive ng call from someone famous. Who would not be flattered? But he shouted agad after I had said hello. I did not even get to finish saying the whole word when he started rapping like Eminem from the other line.

"Pumasok ka bukas nang maaga. Mga ala-sais. Practice tayo. Dalhin mo kopya mo ng lyrics no'ng kantang gusto mo. Ayoko nang pinaghihintay ako."

Rhyme pa yung last sentences niya. I had said okay na lang. He did not even say bye and just hung up.

I had no idea where Shishi was now. I had just sent him a text a few minutes ago when I arrived to tell him that, but I was yet to receive a reply. And like when you spoke of the devil, he would come. I received a text from Captain Barbel.

     𝙎𝙖 𝙜𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣. 𝘽𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙤.

Don't judge me. I always used corny names to save contacts in my phonebook. My girlfriends were the only exceptions. Paris was saved as Macaque and Kyo was saved as the Yen sign.

After over five minutes, nakarating na rin ako sa pwesto nila sa garden. I found Shishi sitting at their table—a cigarette stick in one hand and a can of Red Horse beer in the other. Monday. Umaga pa.

I sat on the chair across from him. "Hey," nanglalambot na bati ko. Not even an hour in school yet pero haggard na ako.

"Bakit ang tagal mo?"

Eh bakit nga ba ako sumusunod sayo?

Kung tutuusin, pwedeng hindi ko siya sundin because I did not owe him anything, and I could fail this subject once and for all. Pero isipin ko pa lang na disappointed siya dahil sa akin, nakaka-dishearten na.

"Nasa quadrangle po kasi ako kaya natagalan," I said, and fanned the smoke of his cigarette away from my face dahil nauubo na ako. Magkaka-cancer na talaga ako sa secondhand smoke na nai-inhale ko.

"Ang arte mo. Para yosi lang, eh."

Siniringan niya ako. Nevertheless, pinatay naman niya ang cigarette niya. He even stood up and went to the bin to throw the butt away. So minsan pala, nagma-manifest din sa kanya ang mission and vision ng school kahit bully siya. He went back to his seat and took a long swig.

Pinanood ko siyang uminom. Nasusuka akong tingnan siya. Like, yung lasa ng alak na ininom namin ni Paris, parang nasa stomach ko pa.

"Hingalin ka, eh, 'no?" he said that as he yawned. At para lalo siguro akong asarin, he smirked and offered me the can. "Gusto mo?"

"Hindi ako nainom," I told him nonchalantly. Okay, liar.

"Ikaw 'tong hinihingal d'yan, eh. Pasalamat ka nga, inaalok kita."

"May dala akong water sa bag ko. Bakit mo ba kasi ako pinapasok nang ganito kaaga?"

Binaba niya ang almost empty can on the table with a silent thud. He then looked me in the eyes like I was the only person in the world. Assuming on my part, but ang tagal kasi. Ilang seconds na. Nag-iinit na ang mga pisngi ko dahil sa pagtitig niya. Hindi na rin ako mapakali sa inuupuan ko. Parang gusto kong maihi or matae. Kadiri but true.