Watch your mouth.
“Shit I’m late.”
Bakit ba kasi ako sumama magbar sa mga co’models ko.
Mabilis akong naligo at kinuha na lang ang kung anong madaling suotin. I wore my black long sleeves na pinatungan ko na lang ng overall at converse shoes. Mabuti na lang at nakapag impake na ko noong makalawa kung hindi, siguradong hindi ako makakaalis ngayon.
It’s been a month since the wedding. Since their wedding. Nahihirapan pa din ako tanggapin. Stop. I promised myself last night. Did I just cry?
Nagpara ako ng taxi at dumaretso na sa airport. Papunta akong Tagaytay para makapag relax and move on.
Actually, gusto ni mama at papa na magbakasyon muna ako doon kasi uuwi daw ang kapatid ko. Hindi ko na ginamit ang kotse ko dahil sinabi ko kay papa na sila na lang ang magdala nito. Wala naman akong balak maghanap ng bago sa ngayon, actually, ayoko.
I texted V that I’m at the airport na. She’s planning to visit me there after the series of events na gagawin nila. The agency is fully packed because it’s February. Maraming companies ang nagpaschedule ng ramps and whatever. Buti na lang nakapag resign na ako by January kaya hindi nila ko mapipilit but nevertheless, whether they like it or not, aalis ako.
Sev and his wife, as far as I know ay nasa honeymoon nila. I think Hugh is the one managing the agency for now. You know, news fly towards me, not that I want them to.
Pakiramdam ko napeke ako ng 6 years na relasyon namin ni Sev. Iniisip ko kung talaga bang minahal nya ako. Kung oo, ang ibig ba sabihin nito ay may expiration date ang love? Wala bang renewal? Kung ganoon din naman pala, spare me for Pete’s sake.
When I was handed the invitation for their wedding, I wasn’t really planning to attend but my pride tells me to. Yun na lang ang meron ako, so why deprive its wants? But I didn’t expect na hindi ko pala kakayanin. Hell, curiosity killed the cat. I wanted to shout at the wedding and say “Itigil ang kasal!” but duh, like I would do that.
Good thing V was with me and kept pinching my back. Yes, that was helpful.
Buti na lang at umabot ako, I still have an hour bago ang flight ko. Habang naglakad ako, inaayos ko ang bag ko to check kung may naiwan ba ako. “Fuck!” Natapon ang laman ng bag ko at naramdam ko na lang na kumikirot na ang pwetan ko. What the fuck.
“Oh shit! What the fuck?” Pasigaw kong sabi sa nakabangga sakin. Sayang ang kagwapuhan, tatanga-tanga naman. Okay, ang rude ko.
“Watch your mouth” matabang na sabi ng lalaki. Matangkad sya, siguro almost 6 ft. Nakasuot ng black pants and black shirt na pinatungan ng jacket na jeans. Nakasuot din siya ng aviator and medyo dishevelled ang buhok na babagay pa din sa kanya.
Gwapo. But blind. Not that I have some issues with blind people ah. This type of guy is one of those na may red signal sa taas saying, “Hey stop right there. I’m dangerous!”
That signal shouldn’t be ignored.
I stared at him trying to figure out what he’s feeling kahit hindi ko naman makikita dahil sa aviator nya.
Napabuntong hininga na lang ako, “Okay. I’m sorry.” Ayoko ng makipagtalo at wala na rin ako sa mood. Napagtanto ko din naman na may mali din ako. Not entirely my fault kasi kung nakita nya ko, umiwas dapat sya.
Tinaasan nya ko ng kilay at humalukipkip. “Of course. You should be.” Nilagpasan nya ako at hindi na tumingin pabalik. Aba loko ‘tong kurimaw na ‘to ah. I looked at the left and then to the right, walang nakatingin so I raised my right hand and gave him my proud middle finger.
Mainit na humalik sa akin ang sinag ng araw. Mabuti na lamang at malamig ang mga yakap ng hangin dito. I was seven years old the last time I went here. Paglabas ko ng airport, agad kong nakita ang black Audi. May papel ito sa pinto at doon nakasulat ang pangalan ko. Sinabi ko kay mama na magtataxi na lang ako, but they insisted since nandito naman din daw sila.
Tinungo ko ang kotse at ibinigay na sa akin ng driver namin na si Carlos ang susi. Hindi ko na naitanong kung saan siya sasakay dahil agad din siyang umalis after niyang ilagay sa likod ang maleta at bags ko.
I reached for my phone and dialled V’s number.
I grab my bag beside me and munch some chocolates. After three rings, sinagot na ni V kaya nilagay ko na sa loudspeaker para makapagdrive ako while talking to her. Daig niya pa ang mama at papa ko sa pag’remind sa akin na tawagan siya as much as I can.
“Nakamove on ka na?” unang bati ni V. Tahimik ang linya kaya sigurado akong nasa bahay ito at buryong buryo na kaya malakas ang topak. Siyempre, ako lang naman ang nakakatagal sa topak nito. I’m proud of myself. Hah.
“Hello to you too, V.” Mapanuyang salita ko sa kanya habang natatawa. Kung hindi lang ako nagddrive baka kung ano na nasabi ko dito. We’ve been friends since college and saksi siya sa amin ni Sev. She went to Madrid after college and I was more than glad when she came home. She found out that I was a model at Sev’s company so I persistently asked her to join.
Good thing Sev knew her kaya wala ng screening screening pang naganap. And since then, we’re inseparable. It was best to say na mas naging close kami when she started working with me. V’s beauty was more Asian looking dahil sa medyo singkit niyang mata at fair skin, compare sa akin na may pagka-pale at medyo bilugan ang mata. She’s taller than me and has a shoulder length hair na pinakulayan niya ng brown which made her more stunning.
“So saan ka magsstay ngayon? Are you going straight home or nah?” she asked. May bahay kasi kami dito sa Tagaytay dahil medyo madalas dito sila mama at papa because of work. So they decided to have a house here at The Woodlands, Tagaytay. “No, I’ll stay at Taal Vista muna. Nakakatamad pa umuwi.”
“I’m guessing dyan kita pupuntahan? Have you told Tita and Tito na dyan ka magsstay?”
“Well, text me na lang kung kalian ka pupunta so I can inform you. And yes, I told them already.” Mukhang malapit na ata ako. “Okay, alam na din ba nila Tita na bre-“ I hang up.
Nakakabwisit ah. I am mentally killing her over and over in my head.
Finally, I’m here. Binigay ko sa valet ng hotel yung susi ng kotse at kinuha ng bell boy yung gamit ko.
“Presidential suite, please.” The receptionist nod and gave the keys. I scanned the lobby for a while. It’s a classy hotel, I must say. Hindi gaanong marami ang tao so I guess this is good.
I’m not that famous but a lot of people knows me and knowing na wala naman masyado nakakakilala sa akin dito is great. Pero hindi pa din maiiwasan na may iilan ilang sumusulyap sa akin.
Nakarating ako sa tapat ng room ko when I accidentally dropped my key. Talk about massive clumsiness. Yumuko ako para kunin ito. Pag angat ko ng ulo ko, I saw the man I bumped with at the airport.
“Oh fuck this is great.” Tumingin ako ng matalim sa kanya. Okay, so he’s here. Stalker ba to? No no. Don’t think about anything. Coincidences are not that rare.
“Watch your mouth.” Malamig niyang tugon sabay ng pag irap ng kanyang mata and with that, he left and enter the room just in front of mine.
Great.
