Tale as Old as Time (La Fortuna Series #1)

Kabanata 34

Kabanata 34

Us

"Babe, you look so hot tonight!"

Abot-tenga ang ngiti ko nang salubungin ako ni Krista at agad na hinagkan. The lights inside the club were making me a bit dizzy, lalo na't medyo tipsy na ako dahil galing pa sa isang bar bago tumungo rito.

"You look fantastic as well," puri ko.

She giggled. A hand snaked on my waist which made me look up to Ian, a friend of mine as well. Siya ang kasama ko sa bar na pinuntahan namin kanina. I drank with his friends but they were getting boring as time went by. Nalalasing na kasi at dahil ako lang ang nag-iisang babae roon, ako na yata ang ginawang pulutan. They kept bugging me and asking me about my life. I didn't wanna talk about it, so I left.

"I didn't know you were with Ian! Kayo na ba?" Krista gasped.

Umiling ako. "No, Krist. He visited my condo and invited me over. Hindi ko naman matanggihan kaya..."

"Why are you even so shocked? Do I not look like I can be with the Anastacia Aledo of Cebu?" Ian let out a boyish laugh.

Umirap ako. They patronized me too much.

"I told you guys already, I'm not an Aledo. I'm a Raya."

Krista playfully rolled her eyes while Ian chuckled again. Napanguso ako ng kaunti. Paulit-ulit ko na kasing sinasabi sa kanilang hindi ako isang Aledo ngunit hindi nila ako siniseryoso. They did believe me, though. They just didn't seem to understand why I was so pressed every time they referred to me as an Aledo.

Hindi naman sa ayaw kong tinatawag na gano'n. It's just that I was learning how to accept my true identity. Sa La Fortuna, halos itago ko na ang identidad ko dahil sa muhi ng mga tao roon sa 'kin. It's only here in Cebu city that I could be who I wanted.

It's a step closer to loving and honoring myself. Ayoko nang matakot na ipakita sa mundo kung sino ako. It's not like I could choose what surname to have, anyway. That's why it's unfair how the townspeople condemned me for something I had no control over.

"Yeah sure, Tace," Krista said and smirked at me. "I understand. Talagang nagkalamat yata ang ginawa sa 'yo ng mga taong-bayan sa La Fortuna, ah?"

"Please don't mention that name," ismid ko.

"I'm just saying. Easy," halakhak niya. "Anyway, it won't hurt if you let us refer to you as an Aledo, right? 'Tsaka andito ka sa Cebu. Your surname's a ticket to a lot of fine things. Having you is like carrying a black card with us."

"User," biro ko na tinawanan niya naman.

Kalaunan ay dumiretso na kami sa couch na para sa 'min. There I saw some of my old friends. Nagulat sila nang makita ako at nagsi-unahan pa ng yakap sa 'kin. It's been three months since I went back to Cebu. Nasa Santander nga lang ako sa naunang buong buwan at ni hindi manlang lumabas ng bahay. I was depressed. Lolo Clavio even considered sending me to therapy, which I declined with conviction.

They were overthinking, obviously. Normal lang namang magmukmok lalo na't presko pa ang mga masalimuot kong alaala mula sa La Fortuna. Hindi nga lang mapakali si Lolo kaya sinabi ko nalang na rito muna ako sa syudad upang magliwaliw. Apparently, he'd prefer me partying and getting wrecked instead of being a lonely ass bitch. What could I say, though? I preferred myself better like this as well.

"Hi!"

Napalingon ako sa katabi kong lalaki. Ian went to the dance floor with Krista, leaving me at the couch with a mixed group of friends. May mga bagong mukha sa grupo kaya hindi ako pamilyar sa ilan sa kanila.