Masked

Twenty Two

~ Aki's 18th Birthday ~

   "Ano ok na?" I asked Betty who is now busy putting pins into my hair.

   "Akiii! Pak na pak! Ang ganda mo! I can't believe it! Debut mo na! Legal ka na Aki! Bagay na bagay sayo ang white ball gown mo!"

   Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya. "Iba ang ibig kong sabihin Betty. I mean the plan."

   "Sorry na distract lang ako. Ganda mo kasi."

   "Betty, yung tinatanong ko."

   "Ay oo nga. Yung slideshow mo ako na bahala nun. Papalabas natin yun after ng 18 roses mo. Ok na ba yung speech mo?"

    My vision blurred. Am I really gonna do this? "Shet yung make-up ko."

    "Hoy wag kang iiyak, 'to naman."

    I hugged Betty. "Thanks for helping me Betty. Hindi ko magagawa lahat ng 'to kung wala ang tulong mo."

    "Enebeyen. Awat na. Yung make-up ko rin. Sige na. Basta ha para sa exhibit hanapin mo lang ako sa crowd para sa cue mo."

    "This is it Betty. After this, sana makuha ko na yung inaasam kong freedom. Baka ma kick-out ako pwede ba ako sa bahay niyo?"

    "Ano ka ba! Okay lang. Tutal, dito naman na nakatira si Tita."

   "Kinakabahan ako Betty. Baka lalo nila akong ipagpilitan kay Terrence."

   "Bakit di mo pagbigyan ng pagkakataon si Terrence? Parang ok lang naman siya ah, base sa mga sinabi mo sa akin."

    "Betty, kilala mo ako. Pagod na akong dinidiktahan. Ayoko na ng ganyan."

   "Naiintindihan kita basta kahit anong mangyari. Andito lang ako. Kaya mo yan! Ikaw pa! Ikaw si Aki!"

    "Thank you so much."

   "Ay teka lang, before anything else. Bago ka ma busy sa mga bisita mamaya, I want to give you my gift." Betty fished out something from her pocket.

    "Betty! This is.. This is breath-taking!"

     "Alam ko kasing di ka na advisable mag skate kaya I bought you a mini skateboard. Hindi lang yan masyadong kamahalan kaya pag pasensyahan mo na."

    "Are you kidding me? It has my face on it! And my name engrave at the back! This is the total replica of my skate board! This is amazing!" Muli ko na namang niyakap si Betty.

    "English speaking mo talaga. Sige na sige na. Baka hinahanap na ako ni Tita. Mag ready ka na ha? Basta yung plano. Happy birthday Jacky."

    I frowned at her which earned a laugh from her.

    "Sige na, ito na. Happy birthday Aki. Happy?"

   "Very much. Thank you Betty."

~~~

    "For our last dance! Let's welcome Mr. Arturo Ferrera, fresh from Thailand."

    "Hey Princess," my Dad said as he held my hand.

    I stared at my Dad, emotionless.

    "I don't know what happen to Terrence pero ang sabi ni Leandro papunta na daw si Terrence dito para sa announcement. Sayang lang at hindi siya nakasama sa 18 roses."

    "Dad..." I'll try to convince him, one more try. "Can we pull that engagement thing off?"

    "No."

   "Dad, please. I'll do everything, everything you want. Itigil lang natin ang kahibangan na ito. Dad, ang babaw-babaw lang nung rason. Ayoko namang masira ang buong buhay ko dahil lang sa isang pagkakamali. Kaya naman Dad, please?"

    "Push through with this announcement."

     "Dad..."

     "Yous said you'll do everything I want so do it. It's final."

     And my Dad let go of my hand. Suddenly, I felt so alone. It's my birthday and my Dad choose to left me.

    "Ladies and gentlemen, before we end this majestic night for my daughter, we will have an important announcement to make."

    Biglang nanumbalik lahat ng galit ko nang makita ko si Margarette, mamaya ko na iintindihin ang lungkot at sakit. Right now, I need to continue with my plan.

    "Of coure, I have an annoucement to make." I walked my way to the stage. I watched Margarette's face change while trying to hide it from the crowd.

    "Oh hija, just sit back and..."

    "Thank you for the introduction, Mom." I looked at her so coldly that it made her step back.

    "Hi everyone. Enjoying the evening?"

    Maraming nag yes, ang iba naman ay sumigaw at pumalakpak.

   "Good, because this will be the most unforgettable night of my life. Why it wouldn't be? Legal na ako! I'm eighteen! I can be in jail."

     Some laugh but I remained my passive face. "At ang tanging gusto ko lang ngayon ay kumawala sa hawla. I want to break free. I want to go on with what my heart tells me, or I might lose it all. So ladies and gentlemen, let's all meet Aki Ferrera."

     Pumainlang sa paligid ang kantang Try ni Colbie Caillat.

    Marami akong narinig na mga bulung-bulungan. Nakita ko ang pagkawala ng kulay sa mukha ni Margarette. She did not move an inch. Her face is locked at the screen behind her.

   Pictures of me joining different kinds of competions flashes at the big screen. I felt happy seeing my pictures. I felt nostalgic. Almost proud.

     You don't have to try so hard

     You don't have to gave it all away

    You just have get up get up get up

    You don't have to change a single thing

    "And that my friend is the real me. You might heard this a couple of times already, but you only knew my name, not my g*damned story. Life's a b!tch people. So am I. I'm tired of hiding and telling people lies so feel free to judge me. And for my endnote, there's a little show at the back, feel free to look around." I winked at Betty who's now walking to my place.

    Bumababa ako sa stage and someone caught my eye. Terrence. He's smiling at me, he's like encouraging me. Before I can respond, Betty grab my hands.

    "Job well done Aki."

    I glanced back to where Terrence was standing pero wala na siya. Was it my eyes playing tricks on me?

    "Halika na habang busy pa sila sa exhibit mo."

    We run like there's no tomorrow.