Splendiferous (Legazpi #1)

Eight

8.

GOROSTIZA

["X, mawawala muna ako ng dalawang araw. Emergency. Sinapian 'yong kapatid ko."]

"Sige, pre. Ingat," ibinaba ko na ang tawag ni Arlszent at nilingon ang babaeng natutulog sa tabi ko. Her name's Shea or Sia or whatever S it is and she satisfied me this evening but right now, I need to go back home.

Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagbubutones ng aking pang-itaas nang magsalita si Sia. "Babe, 'wag ka muna umalis. Maaga pa," sambit nito sa nang-aakit na tono.

"Sorry, Sia. I need to go." Hindi ko ito nilingon at ipinagpatuloy lamang ang pag-aayos ng sarili. Nagulat na lang ako dahil bigla siyang lumitaw sa gilid ko ng hindi ko napapansin at hinampas sa akin ang bag niya.

"That's Sheila! Asshole!" inis ako nitong hinampas muli bago siya na mismo ang naunang umalis ng motel room.

Wala akong nagawa kundi ang mapailing. I'm very bad at names, maybe because I don't give much attention when girls introduce theirselves. There's no point in remembering anyway, kakalimutan ko rin naman.

"Good evening, oh! Good morning na pala, kuya," my sister greeted me when I arrived home.

"You're not yet asleep?" I glanced at my watch. "Pasado alas-dose na, Satina."

"Kumuha lang ako ng tubig, kuya. Saktong dumating ka," she answered.

"Go to sleep. Your guy's not going back," utos ko rito.

"Yes, I know. Sinapian daw ang kapatid," she shrugged. "Gosh! May ganoon pa rin pala ngayon!"

"Nagtaka ka pa, may sapi ka din naman."

She rolled her eyes at my comment. "I hate you, kuya. Matutulog na lang ako."

I'm currently suiting myself with a cup of tea when I heard voices of people talking at my living room. Pinuntahan ko iyon at nakita ang kapatid ko pati si Arlszent. Tapos na nga pala ang dalawang araw.

I actually hoped that he would just not come back. Lalandiin lang naman nito ang kapatid ko.

But then, I need a driver. Dibale na lang.

"Arlszent, pre," tawag ko at paunting lumapit sa kinaroroonan nila. Nang lumingon ito sa akin ay hindi ko maiwasang magtaka ng kaunti.

Aren't we supposed to be of the same height? I thought.

Pinasadahan ko ito ng tingin at parang may kakaiba sa kanya. His features got soft and… I stopped thinking about things when my sister suddenly kissed Arlszent's cheek which made me disgusted.

Sinabihan ko siyang pupunta kaming club mamaya dahil nag-aya sina Rengell at Denver, mga pinsan ko, ng inuman. Ayon sa kanila isama ko na rin itong si Arlszent doon para makilala nila ang sinasabing nobyo ni Satina.

"Alright, dude. Makikita mo nalang mamaya, boto sa akin 'yang mga pinsan mo."

"It still won't change the fact that I don't like you for my sister," I scoffed. Yabang ng lalaking ito.

To see my sister end up breaking down because of stupid love? I won't let that happen. I don't like anyone for my sister even though it's a friend.

"Bahala ka sa buhay mo, X. Wala ka lang girlfriend."

Napangisi na lang ako sa sinabi niyang iyon. "Girlfriends are a waste of time. There are more things to do that's more worth it than having a girlfriend."

Like cleaning up the mess and the bloods that's been taken to make it look like nothing happened. That's more important than getting myself some fucking girlfriend.