Today

Chapter 2

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The graduation ended well. When the master of ceremony said congratulations, everyone celebrated and threw their caps in the air.

Hindi pa natapos ang hiyawan, lumabas agad ako. At luminga-linga kung saan, siguro nandito parin siya. Hindi pa siguro yun nakakalayo.

Pumunta ako malapit sa may auditorium, walang tao. Tinignan ko din ang labas ng canteen, wala ding tao. Pumunta ako sa may assessment, janitor lang ang nandoon.

May nakita akong mazda papalabas ng school gate, I immediately ran towards the hallway. Ang hirap tumakbok kapag nakatakong, matatalisod sana ako kung di ko nahawakan ang pole. Nang nakaliko na ang kotse, tumigil ako sa pagtatakbo at umupo sa isang bench sa may gilid.

Hindi ko naabutan. Hinihingal padin ako sa kakatakbo ko.

"Ba't bigla kang nawala?" I heard my twin brother's voice. Nilingon ko siya at tumayo ako. I shouldn't tell Llianndrew that I saw the guy whom we met at the milk tea shop na pinapa-iwas niya sa akin.

"Ah! wala, nagpapahangin lang sa labas, crowded kase masyado yung loob eh." Ang bobo mo talaga Lliannie! Ang pangit mong mag dahilan.

"Really? The Gymnasium is fully air conditioned yannie. Stop shitting me." Tumawa naman si drew at ngumiwi. "Let's go. Nasa parking lot na sina mommy. Ama is already waiting at the hotel."

What? Ama is joining us for dinner? I really hate it when Ama is around. It's not that i hate having a grand mother but.. She always makes her decisions for us.

"Akala ko tayo tayo lang?"

"No, our other relatives will be there too, including the distant relatives." Ani drew

Tumango nalang ako. I bet this celebration of ours will be grand, most of my relatives are not from the Philippines and they barely visit us, unless it's a big occasion or what.

Naglalakad na kami ni drew papuntang parking lot dahil doon nga nag antay sina mommy't daddy.

We arrived at exactly 5pm at the hotel. The restaurant was fully booked, siguro madami din nag c-celebrate ng graduation. Good thing we owned this hotel. When we entered the function hall of the hotel, everyone was already there. And there are even unfamiliar faces that I can see, maybe my relatives who got invited, invited other people.

Everyone congratulated us. Andami ding nag bigay ng regalo, tumingin ako sa mesa kung nasaan nakalagay ang mga gifts, i bet nasa mga 40+ yung gifts doon. Hindi naman to birthday tsss. Umirap ako and I immediately saw Ama sitting in the middle with Lolo, nang makalapit kami sa kanya, drew and I bowed to show respect. Umupo kami sa long table malapit sa stage. Daddy and Ama talked about business during dinner.

Nang matapos kaming kumain. Biglang tumayo si Ama, she called one of the hotel manager at binigyan siya ng mikropono.

"Congratulations Lliannie and Llianndrew! It is true that obtaining Latin honors when graduating runs in our blood." Here we go again. She should probably stop bragging about that. Pumalakpak ang iilan sa mga guest, at tumawa naman si Ama. "Now that my granddaughter is done with her studies, and she's also of age. I am announcing her engagement with the Chua's only son, Zhao Daven Chua." They all clapped and cheered.

What the actual fuck? Who's engaging who? I am too young to be engaged! A chua? Chihuahua? I don't even know that guy. No one was shock in the crowd aside from daddy and drew. Seems like they already know that this is gonna happen.

"Daddy, What is this?" Daddy shrugged his shoulder, siguro hindi din alam ni daddy ang nangyayari. I turned my gaze to mommy and she was smiling widely, now I know, she knows something about this fucking engagement!

Tumayo ang isang lalaki na maputi at insik ang mata at nag lakad papunta sa mesa namin, he was smiling shyly while walking, i can barely see his eyes.

"I hope that the two could produce more intelligent offsprings who's good with numbers in the future." Tumingin si Ama saaking at ngumisi. "Now, go yannie, get to know each other."

Nang nakalapit na ang lalaki saakin, tumayo ako at nag walk out. I ran as fast as i could para makalayo lang doon.

I can't take it. I can't believe that she's making her own 'match made in heaven'! Why the hell would she pair me up with some stranger?

Mabilis akong pumara ng taxi at pumunta sa isang bar.

The club was very crowded when I arrived, I guess everyone is celebrating their bachelor's party. Mausok at amoy sigarilyo sa loob. My eyes wandered the whole club para makahanap ng mauupuan. I guess the tables are full. Umupo ako sa isang long chair kaharap ang bartender.

"One sapphire martini please." Sabi ko sa bartender.

Nilagok ko kaagad ang cocktail drink at umorder ulit. Kinuha ko ang phone ko at ite-text ko sana si Laurea ng may biglang tumabi saakin.

"You're not trying to get drunk. its alcohol percent isn't that high." I lazily turned my gaze at the guy who was talking. Sino na naman ba to?

"Why do you even care?"

"I guess you wanted to be penniless. That's too expensive for a cocktail drink." Ani ng lalaki

"Saka lang ako ma uubusan ng pera kung mauubos lahat ng inumin sa pilipinas."

"Rich alcoholic girl." He said.

"Uhm, since when did your opinion matter?" I feel like I insulted him, but he was eager to talk to me...

"Just now." Gulat akong nilingon siya, anong inig niyang sabihin?

"Shut up and get lost. I want to be alone." Sabi ko naman pero hindi parin siya natinag. Nakatayo parin siya sa gilid ko.

"Ba't mag isa kalang? Where's your twin?"

Since when we were close? i don't even remember him. How did he even know that I have a twin? Umupo siya sa katabi kong upuan.

"He's busy." Ani ko. Tumango siya at nag order din ng sariling drink.

Hindi na siya nag salita pa, at umorder lang ako ng umorder. at tahimik naman siyang naka upo sa tabi ko. Nang naka 10 shots na ako, biglang sumakit ang ulo ko. Bigla akong tumayo at nagpasya na pumunta ng bathroom.

Mapapasubok ata ako dito. Nahirapan akong makalusot sa dami ng tao. When i finally reached the bathroom may bihlang tumulak saakin papasok ng cubicle. Nadapa ako at nasubsub malapit sa bowl.

"Ugh, Ang sakit." Hinawakan ko ang tuhod ko. Mabilis akong hinagit ng isang malaking kamay at nakita ko na ito yung lalaking kumakausap sakin kanina.

He tightened his hold on my hand and tried to kiss me. Nag pumiglas ako at sinubukang sumigaw.

"TULONG!" Sigaw ko at tinakpan niya naman ang baba ko. I tried to shout again. "HELP! HELP!"

Nanghihina na ang buong katawan ko. Nang may isang malaking hampas akong narinig galing sa pintuan.

The door then opened. And i saw the guy, the guy who was there at the graduation earlier.