Lamahista
Kabanata Labing-Pito
A box was delivered at my unit this morning. Binuksan ko ito at kumaway sakin ang isang emerald green halter dress. Ang ganda niya sa mata at napaka-simple, ngunit elegante. Sa tantsa ko ay hangang tuhod ito at hindi ko pa man naiisusuot ay meron nang sariling korte. Ito ang mga klase ng damit na makikita mong suot ni Kris Aquino pag nakikipag-date siya kay… well, I lost track of the men she’s dating. Television, internet, and I aren’t buddies these past few weeks. Sa gilid nito ay isang pares ng glittery silver pumps sa may taas na 3 inches at isang purse na pareho ng style nito.
Kumunot ang noo ko dahil bukod sa walang note ay wala rin akong ideya kung kanino ito galing. My phone rang and I glared at it. What a bitch phone. Sakin ba talaga tong cellphone na to’ o kay Monica? They seem to resemble each other. Cock-sucking-bitches. Whore-athlete’s foot-look-a-like. Underarm-smelling-slut---
Okay, okay. The phone had enough profanities and glaring. I took the phone. It’s Mama calling. Ha. Great.
“Hi, Mother.” Bati ko. Wait—did she just giggle? Oh, my God she did! “Hey, Mom.” Ulit ko. Then I heard her murmured something. “Preshiela!” Masiglang bati niya. Uh-okay. This is weird but, okay. “You received my present?”
“It’s from you?” Well, shouldn’t be surprised there. Sino pa bang magpapadala sakin ‘non. Stupid question. Thank God, she stopped giggling. It’s… uncomforting.
“Of course, it is. Sino pa bang ine-expect mong magpapadala sa’yo niyan, boyfriend mo?” She asked. And I swear, I swear I heard something strange from her voice. She sounds… disgusted. Huh. The softest woman I’ve ever known sounds disgusted over something.
I disregard it. “Para saan po ito?”
“We are meeting your brother tonight, rememb--.”
I cut in. “I told you, I’m not going.”
“Sure. Just in case you change your mind, darling. Wear that, okay? You have to look beautiful in front of Eleandre. Stunning. Gorgeous. Eye-catchi--.”
“Okay Mom, okay. I get it.” Of course, I don’t. Bakit kailangan kong maging maganda sa harap ng kapatid ko. Ano yun, anong ginamit niya? Beautiful. Stunning. Gorgeous. Eye-catching. She made it sound like I’m about to meet the man of my life. “I’ll let you know in case I change my mind.” Which is not going to happen.
I threw the phone across the room and slumped on my bed. No, this isn’t the bed the two of them had used. I bought a new one. Ayokong humiga sa pawis at… at… Whatever nila. Bumili ako kaagad ng bagong kama.
