#UM3
I was never a perfect daughter, I am not and will never be.
I've done a lot of mistakes, I had lower shameful grades and I used to have friends that were far from Mommy's likes. I accepted suitors but was hiding it from everyone to protect my image as a good daughter—a Miramontes, rather.
But it's true that I have never been into crowded places, sorrounded with dancing and loud people to party. Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang takot si Mommy na makasama ko ang mga Villareal na may ganoong lifestyle.
Siguro...
"Come on, Pallavi! Just try it!" halos sigawan ako ni Patch habang nakatawa at pinipilit sa akin ang inuming sila mismo ang nagtimpla.
I'm not sure, it was a mixed of soda and liquor.
Umiling ako. "No, thanks."
They groaned. Apat pa rin kami at medyo naiilang na ako sa bar na pinuntahan namin, hindi ako sanay sa maingay na lugar at maraming nagsasayawan. Marami ring nagsisigarilyo at tila wala na sa sarili ang karamihan sa table na nakikita. So, this is how it feels like to be in a bar for the first time. May mga pinsan ako sa mother's side pero kailanman ay walang nagyaya sa akin ng ganito.
I kinda hate that they forced me to get along with them in this place, hindi yata nila ako naintindihan. Kung hindi lang sa pakikisama ay baka nagkasagutan na kami. Nasa tamang pag-iisip pa naman ako at ayaw kong maging awkward ang holidays ko kasama sila.
"You're so boring, we won't leave you behind!"
"Kami ang kasama mo, parang iba naman 'to!" sumbat ni Capriana.
Dia winked and raised her glass. "Loosen up! Hindi ka namin pababayaan kahit anong mangyari, gusto ka lang namin makainuman."
My chest constricted, huminga ako ng malalim at pinakalma ang inis na nararamdaman dahil wala ito sa usapan namin ni Mommy.
Okay, Sileas... just one.
I took the glass from Patch and tossed with them.
"Just one, okay?" I said.
Wala akong nakuhang sagot kundi hagikgik at tawa. I took a deep breath and tasted the drink, it wasn't really bad. It actually doesn't taste alcohol, parang coke lang kaya inisang lagok ko iyon upang matapos na.
"'Di ba? Wala naman lasa! Coke lang!" Dia said.
I nodded and smiled. "Yeah."
The neon strobe lights were dancing around the dark boisterous place, the girls cheered me up and Capriana poured a drink in my glass again. Uminom na rin sila, halatang sanay sila sa ganito kaingay at sikip na lugar.
Siguro kung sa puder ni Papa ako naging madalas, baka kinasanayan ko rin ang ganito kaso iba talaga ang mundo na kinalakihan ko. Mas disente at pormal.
"Kumusta pala ang course mo? Nakakapressure bang isipin na magl-law ka?"
It made me think, ngumiti ako upang hindi magmukhang naguguluhan sa isasagot dahil ang totoo ay pressured talaga ako sa kahit anong aspeto. Hindi ako matalino, e. Ni hindi ko alam kung kakayanin kong maging lawyer.
"Hindi naman," I lied. I wanna be like them, they looked so calm and happy without minding acads.
"Ay, sana all matalino!" halakhak ni Capriana.
Sana nga...
"Gusto ko rin mag-law kaso ayaw kong tumanda ng maaga! Ang daming Law students na napapanot dahil sa stress!" ani Diamante.
