Stay the Night

Getaway Car

"Nag promise ka na pupunta tayo. Nag handa pa ko ng costume natin dalawa para matching. Tapos sasabihin mo ngayon that you can't go?" I was ranting on the phone while looking at myself in the mirror. "Sana hindi ka na lang nag promise." Nilipat ko naman ang tingin ko sa Batman costume na nakalapag sa kama ko.

I was already in my leather cat suit. Mask na lang ang kulang, in character na ko. I got him a Batman costume para matching kami and relationship goals. But, my boyfriend-kung matatawag ko mang relasyon ang meron kami, decided to cancel on me at the last minute.

"I'm really sorry, love." He sounded apologetic, but I am really pissed off. "Makikipagkita na sa akin yung naging kaibigan ni mama while she was in Italy."

My heart sank. It's him and his parental issues again. Kapag iyon na ang usapan, kailangan ko na kalimutan na mahalaga din ako sa kanya. He just can't let go of it. Hindi nya mapakawalan kahit busog naman sya sa pagmamahal ng adoptive parents nya.

I sighed heavily.

"Toyang..." He said my name as if trying to calm me down. "This is important to me."

I sighed again. "Alam ko. At iniintindi ko." I sat on the edge of my bed. "Nag-promise ako na iintindihin ko. Nag-promise ako na hihintayin ko na maayos mo lahat ng issues mo. Nag-promise ako na titiisin ko kahit masakit na itago ang tungkol sa atin. I promised you a lot of big things... kaya sana tuparin mo din yung mga promise mo, even just the little ones."

"Toyang..."

"Mahal kita, Eli-"

"And I love you, too." He cut me off.

"Paramdam mo naman." I blurted. "Try mo. Kahit every other day lang." Sarcasm filled my voice.

"I'm sor-"

I dropped the call. I knew I'd cry if I talk to him any longer. Ganito ang relasyon namin. I am his life line, while he is my life. I love Eli. Mahal din naman nya ko. Hindi pa lang nya kaya ibigay sa akin ang sarili nya ng buo. At dahil mahal ko sya, kakayanin ko ang pagiging life line ko sa kanya.

I looked at the halloween invitation on my bed. It's my second favorite time of the year- Christmas is first, of course. I love dressing up and playing different characters. It's fun not being yourself once in a while.

Tumawag ulit si Eli, pero hindi ko na sinagot. At nang makatatlong tawag pa sya, pinatay ko na lang ang cellphone ko. I stood up and looked at myself in the mirror.

"I don't like leather anyway." I said to myself and unzipped my skin tight leather overalls. "And ayoko kay Catwoman."

I went to my closet. Kinuha ko yung paper bag na pinaglagyan ko ng isa pang costume na binili ko. Iyon dapat talaga ang susuotin ko, pero pinagalitan ako ni Eli. He said that it was too provocative. Masyado kasi maiksi yung shorts and skin tight din. At dahil dakila ang pag-ibig ko sa kanya, kahit labag sa kalooban ko, I pushed aside the idea of dressing up as my favorite hero-slash-villain. Pero dahil hindi naman sya tumupad sa promise nya, magrerebelde ako. Gagawin ko kung anong gusto ko. And I'll be whoever I want to be- just like what Papa always tells me.

Sinuot ko yung "Daddy's Little Monster" shirt ko. I wore fishnet stockings and skimpy shorts. I fixed my hair on a pigtail. I sprayed blue washable hair color on one side and pink on the other. I did my make up as well and put on a pair of boots.

I looked at myself in the mirror. "May kulang pa eh... red and blue eyeshadow. Check. Black heart. Check. Hair color. Check. Hmmm... Aha! Baseball bat!"