Faking Delays

57. Friend

Kristeena Abegaile

  

DINALA NIYA ako sa dalampasigan, malayo sa party. The moon and stars, shining above and the sea waves, moving in sync with the wind.

"This looks good," aniya at umupo sa buhangin. Ano kayang trip nito?

"Seriously, Atom. Ano bang naisip mo't dito mo 'ko dinala?"

He shrugged and took off his long sleeve. "Oh, ba't ka naghuhubad?" I took a step back.

Tumawa siya at napailing. And he placed his shirt on the sand. "Kumalma ka. I won't do anything." Pinagpagan niya pa ito at inunat. "Just sit down, Kristeena. I just want someone to talk to."

Umupo ako gaya ng sinabi niya. "Okay. So what's the matter?"

"Wala naman. Kanina pa ako sa party na 'yun and every girl I meet wants to fuck. It's just surprising to meet a girl like you."

"Should I take it as a compliment?"

Ngumiti siya. "It is a compliment." Naglabas siya ng bote ng alak. "Can I?" Tumango ako. "Sorry. Just stressed out."

"Mahilig ka bang uminom?"

Umiling siya. "Umiinom lang ako pag may kasama. 'Cause I do a lot of crazy things when I'm drunk."

"Hoy kapag ikaw naglasing talaga, sinasabi ko sa'yo."

"Masyado ka talagang paranoid noh. Matagal akong malasing." And he opened the bottle and took a gulp. "So... Jane told me something about a heartbreak. Does it hurt so much?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko. Argh, MJ! Ang daldal mo talaga! "Don't worry. She didn't share all the details to me."

"Uh, wala 'yun. Just an infatuation." Kumuha ako ng bato at itinapon sa dagat.

"And does it hurt? The rejection?"

Tumango ako. "A little bit, yes. I never liked anyone before like this... tapos ganun. Kaya ayun."

"That's why I never take love seriously. You always get hurt, you know. Sooner, or later."

"It's okay. Marami pa namang iba d'yan e. At isa pa, kaya ko mag isa. Sanay na."

Muli siyang uminom. "Paano kung marealize niyang gusto ka niya talaga? He just can't say it kasi he's scared of the possibilities?"

Tinignan ko siya. "Edi it's his loss. I know I may not look... worthy without this make up and fancy look pero alam kong I am worth it. Deserve ko 'yun."

"Personally, I think he just lost a chest full of treasures." Inangat niya ang bote at uminom.

---

Matapos ang munti naming pag uusap ay bumalik kami sa venue. I actually found out a lot of infos from Atom. Nalaman kong hindi sila magkadugo ng ate niya. Nalaman ko ring takot siya sa heights and also... he's addicted to coffees.

He opened up a lot to me. Made me feel that we're somehow friends.

Nang makarating kami doon ay agad kong nakita si MJ.

"Ate! Buti naman bumalik ka na!" At niyakap niya ako. Nang makita si Atom na nakasunod sa akin, ngumiti siya ng kakaiba. "Okay, where have you been?"

"D'yan lang sa may dalampasigan." Atom na ang sumagot. "Don't be too malicious, Jane. You're too young for that." And he placed his hand on the top of her head.

Agad niya itong inalis. "You're only 4 years older than me."

"Whatever, kid," asar pa nito.

"Teka, I believe you have a bathroom here," sabat ko.

Tumango si Atom. "Of course. Sa loob ng resort. Pagpasok mo just take a right then straight ahead."

"Samahan kita, 'te?"

Umiling ako. "Ako na. I'll be right back."

Agad kong sinunod ang instruction ni Atom and thank god, nakita ko rin ang restroom.

Mabilis din akong lumabas matapos 'yun. As I was walking the hallway, biglang may lumabas mula sa corner kaya't nagkabanggaan kami. "Araykopo!" daing ko at napa hakbang pabalik. Jusko! Buti na lang hindi ako natumba.

"Sorry," saad ng malaking boses. Inangat ko ang tingin. "Hindi kita agad nakita."

"Sorry din po." Ang laking tao naman neto. Katakot. And he looks like he's already in his late 30's pero gwapo pa rin naman. "Sige po, sorry uli." Tumango siya at umalis na ako.

Pagbalik ko ay nakita kong nakaupo ang si MJ, Atom, Gerard, and Loui. Pero si Oscar at Harris, missing in action.

"You're back, finally! Dali, come sit here. I'm going to introduce you to someone."

Umupo ako sa pagitan ni MJ at Oscar. "Where's Oscar?" tanong ko sa dalawa. Hindi makatingin sa akin ng diretso si Ger sa akin kaya si Loui ang sumagot.

"Ewan," sabi niya sa badtrip na tono. Saka ko lang napansin ang pulang marka sa mukha niya.

"Oh? 'Nyare sa mukha mo?"

"A girl happened to my face," he said in a serious. Nabigla ako ng bahagya nang mag mag english siya. Ngayon ko lang siya narinig mag english!

Natawa ako. "Gan'yan ka pala pag badtrip. Nagiging englishero."

"Oh, ikaw? Anong nangyari sa'yo?" Hindi pa rin ako tinitignan ni Gerard kahit halata namang narinig niya ako. Ano kayang nangyari dito.

"Just lost his first kiss." Si Loui uli ang sumagot. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang nag eenglish siya! Napapangiti na lang ako.

Pero naaawa ako kay Gerard. Mukhang siyang hinarass na ewan. Parang natrauma ata 'to.

"Where's your bro, Jane?" tanong ni Atom sa tabi ko.

"I don't know. Probably hanging out with your sis."

Atom sighed. "Si Ericka talaga..."

"Ross! You're back!" sigaw ni MJ at tumayo. Inangat ko ang tingin. "Ba't ang tagal mo? I've been wanting you to meet ate Kristeena na e. Come here."

Lumapit sa amin 'yung lalake. "Good evening," bati nito.

"So, Ross, this is ate Kristeena. Ate Kristeena, this is Ross. The one that I've been telling you."

Inilahad niya ang kamay. "Nice to finally meet you," he said and smiled.

And I just stared. This is Ross?! Kaya naman pala hindi boto 'yung kuya niya rito! He's much older than her!

I took his hand, of course. "Ikaw rin po. Sorry uli sa kanina."

"Kanina? What happened kanina?"

"Nabangga ko siya ng hindi sinasadya kanina nung papunta ako sa banyo."

Ngumiti ako. "Pero okay na rin naman."

"Oh, look. My sister's finally here," rinig kong sabi ni Atom. Tinignan ko kung saan siya naka tingin and there they are.

"Buti naman at nagpakita pa kayo," rinig kong sabi ni Atom sa ate niya.

Ericka just smiled but Harris face says otherwise.

---

Author's Note:

Hiiiii. Malapit na ang juicy part nitong story hehe and I'm just hoping na sana you share what you think of the story with me :>

I really want to feel the prescence of my readers :<

Anyway, stay cool yo! Luv yu!

Love,
RM