Veiled Diaries #1: Shriveled Poison

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I sucked the filter of my cigarette while scanning the long bridge, there are almost twenty people here watching live illegal racing. Some people on the side are talking while drinking, some are smoking weed while talking. Amoy pa lang kabisado ko na, it was like a breath of fresh air for smokers. I had tried it many times. It actually became a routine for me these past few days whenever I wanted to laugh.

Isn't it crazy? Well, it would really make you feel crazy! Biruin mo, tatawa ka kahit walang nakakatawa? Ngingiti ka kahit walang nakakakilig o nakakapagpangiti? Ganoon ang tama no'n kaya nakakatuwa ring subukan tuwing malungkot ang araw...

Inakbayan ako ni Aldin at binugahan ng usok sa mukha pagkalingon ko sa kanya, hinawi ko agad siya kasabay ng halakhak niya. I also puffed out the smoke to his face then pushed him that made him groan when his back hit the concrete.

"Fuck!" he muttered.

Ngumisi ako at tiningnan sina Simon na abala rin sa pagtatawanan habang papalapit sa aming gawi, sinulyapan ko ulit si Aladdin na matalim ang tingin sa akin. He threw his stick away and pulled me to walk with him. Napairap ako at pinitik na rin ang yosi sa lupa. 

Simon's laughter echoed to my ear as we reached their side. Their eyes shifted to me, laglag ang panga ng iba.

Habang si Simon ay lumapit. "Bakit nandito 'yan?" sabay nguso niya sa akin.

"Masama ba, Mon?" 

He shrugged. "Baka nakalimutan mong sinugod kami ng ermats mo noong isang araw lang? Telling that we're all bad influence!"

"Hindi ba totoo?" Ngumisi ako.

Iyon nga ang nagustuhan ko sa kanila. Masarap ang bawal, masarap kaibiganin ang mga bad influence, dahil sa kanila ramdam ang kalayaan. Walang boundaries, masaya silang kasama. Kahit naging kadikit na ng imahe ko ang kanilang mga imahe. I don't fucking care; I just want to live freely and happily even though I'm not really a free fairy.

Aladdin laughed while his arm was still on my shoulder. He pinched my cheek. Simon grinned as he held out a stick of weed to me. 

Iniikot ko man ang mga mata ko ay tinanggap ko iyon at ibinulsa agad. I winked and stuck my tongue out. "Thanks, Mon!"

"Huwag papahuli," he warned

I pouted and nodded. "All right, prick!"

"Problem solved?" Aladdin whispered. "Huwag mong sobrahan baka mahalata ka ng mama mo, baka magmukha kang Cyclops pag-uwi."

I rolled my eyes and elbowed him on the stomach. "Ikaw ang nagpaubos sa akin noon. Ikaw may kasalan, gago."

Humalakhak siya. "Inubos mo naman, abusado ka rin."

Nakibit balikat ako at ngumisi.

I shrugged and smirked. "Wala, e. Masayang maging masaya..." That was my motto every time they would ask why I was doing things that could harm me.

"Huwag gawing kanin ang dahon, Lace," muling paalala ni Simon.

Sinapak siya ni Darren sa braso. "Isa ka rin, kunsintidor at pusher. Alam mong hindi marunong mag-control 'yan, mamaya susugod na naman ermats n'yan. Baka ipa-rehab na tayo."

Humagalpak sina Simon at Aldin. Nanatili ang braso ni Aladdin sa aking leeg habang nilalaro ang buhok ko.

"Herbal naman 'to, hayaan n'yo si mommy. Hindi kayo ipapa-rehab no'n!"

Wala naman talagang pakialam iyon sa gawain ko. Ang inaalala lang niya ay baka makita ako ng kapatid ko kung saan at gayahin. Mahirap na, maliit pa naman ang mundo lalo na 'pag nasa isang bansa lang. Though, I didn't really want to be seen by my sister doing these kind of shits, too—smoking cigarettes and weeds, laughing for no reason, smiling stupidly and drinking my ass out all night.