THE BRUAL EFFECT

Chapter 6

Jem's POV

Nanonood na kami ng movie ngayon. Napapayakap nalang kami sa isa't isa sa sobrang takot. Halos maubos na ang boses ko sa kakasigaw.

Are we awake?
Am I too old to be this stoned?
Was it your breasts from the start?
They played a part.

KINABUKASAN

Pinagpaalam niya nako sa boss ko then nag-thumbs up siya sakin. Para bang ang dali dali lang ng lahat para sa kanya. Nagbook narin kami ng plane tickets online.

For goodness sake
I wasn't told you'd be this cold
Now it's my time to depart
And I just had a change of heart

I'll quote "on the road" like a twat
and wind my way out of the city
Finding a girl who is equally pretty
won't be hard
Oh, I just had a change of heart

Nag-impake na kami ng mga gamit namin.

Today is the day. First time kong sumakay ng eroplano kaya nakakatakot but Dana is there para pakalmahin ako. She rubbed my knuckles and placed my head on her shoulder.

Nakarating naman kami run ng ligtas.

"Ang sabi lang kasi ni Mommy dumiretso nalang tayo sa funeral home nato. Tara, pasok na tayo." Sabi niya pero halatang kinakabahan siya. Andito na kami sa bandang pintuan. Nakikita na namin ang mga tao sa loob at ang coffin.

Nakita kami ng babae na asawa ata ng Daddy ni Dana. Lumapit siya samin at kinamayan si Dana. Nakakatakot ang mukha niya, parang papatayin na kami. She's Filipina.

"Glad you came. Daniel! Your sister's here." Sabay alis. Nagulat nalang kami nang makita si Daniel. Si Daniel na boyfriend ko. Nagulat rin si Dana nang malamang magkapatid pala sila.

"Babe--" masayang bati ni Daniel sakin.

"Y-you can walk."

"Yes. I was just about to surprise you, but then this happened. I'm sorry. So, it's you. I'm glad to finally meet you in person sis." Yakap niya kay Dana. Hindi parin kami makapaniwala na nangyayari lahat ng ito.

Nakaupo ngayon ako habang magkausap ang magkapatid while looking at their late father. I'm so happy seeing them na sobrang magkasundo.

After nun, hinatid kami ni Daniel sa tutuluyan namin. It's like 7 in the morning. Gusto ko nang matulog.

"You two need to rest. My mom's really conservative so you can't stay in our house. But don't worry, dad has a property just two blocks away so you can visit me or the other way around, anytime you want." He held me hand kissing it.

Pagdating namin sa bahay, knock out agad kami ni Dana. Grabe, ang laki pala ng bahay tapos walang nakatira. Bumalik narin si Daniel sa funeral ng Daddy nila.

Nagising ako mga bandang 3pm. Wala na si Dana sa tabi ko kaya bumaba ako, at naabutan ko syang umiinom sa kitchen.

"Hey." Bati niya sakin.

"You're drinking--"

"Yeah."

"Alam mo bang masama yan sayo?."

"Ngayon lang to. So, how is my future sister in-law feeling right now?."

"Sister in-law talaga? Haha."

"Bakit? Dun din naman papunta yun diba?." Tumabi ako sa kanya at kinuha ang baso niya at nilagay sa isang tabi.

"Malay natin baka magbago pa ang isip ko." Sabay inom.

"What do you mean?." Taka niyang tanong.

"I might do crazy things like this.." I said pulling her into a passionate kiss that she's responding to and after nun nagising nako. Panaginip lang pala. What the heck? Bakit ako nananaginip ng ganun?. Andito ngayon si Dana sa tabi ko. Sobrang himbing ng tulog. Inhale, exhale. Hindi totoo yun Jem. Hindi magiging totoo yun. Wala kang dapat ipag-alala.
Hindi mo naman siguro tototohanin Jem diba?.

7pm. Pumunta na kami sa funeral.

"Oh by the way Dana, this is my friend Louie. Dude, my sister Dana." Pakilala sa kanila ni Daniel. Louie is American.

"Well, hello there beautiful. It's nice to finally meet you." Louie said kissing the back of Dana's hand. Tsk. Mukha namang di comfortable si Dana dun, nakita ko nga siyang pinunas ang kamay niya sa suot niyang jacket eh.

"Nice to meet you too." Dana said uncomfortably.

"And of course, before I forget. This is Jem, my girlfriend."

"Oh, future Mrs. Evans. Hi. Wow. You have no idea how this dude loves you. He talks about you 24/7.."

"Okay Louie, too much information haha. Why don't you talk to Dana?. You want to know her more right?."

"Good idea. Dana, shall we?." Louie said pulling Dana at the corner.

"I'm sorry 'bout that. But he does like Dana a lot."

"I see."

"Do you think they would click?." Tsk.

"I don't know. Maybe." Lihis ko ng tingin. Sabay upo.

"What do you mean maybe?. What's her type?."

"I don't know. We don't really talk about that type of stuff."

"What? Why?."

"We just met, remember?."

"Oh right. Sorry. I forgot. Again sorry, I don't really know what to talk about right now. You know, I'm just really exhausted about this whole set up. Dad's death happened so sudden that it hasn't sink in to us yet. But I'm really glad you're here because it made the atmosphere a bit lighter.." Di nako nakafocus sa kanya kasi nadidistract ako kina Dana at Louie na medyo nagkakasundo na. Tumatawa na si Dana. Mabuti nga yun kasi masaya siya, pero bakit ganito? Parang may bumabagabag sakin?. Pakiramdam ko naninikip ang dibdib ko at hindi ako natutuwa sa nakikita ko sa puntong ito.

Nag pop nalang bigla sa isip ko yung napanaginipan ko kanina kaya napailing nalang ako like, what the heck? Ba't may ganun?.

Napalingon sakin si Dana, kaya lumihis nako ng tingin at nagfocus nalang kay Daniel. Buong gabi silang magkausap ng lalaking yun at pasikip na nang pasikip na ang dibdib ko.

Inenentertain ngayon ni Daniel ang ibang mga bisita. Samantalang mag-isa naman akong nakaupo dito sa harap ng coffin.

Inaakbayan pa siya nito. Nakakairita na kaya tumayo nako para lapitan sila.

"Excuse me. Dana, tara uwi na tayo--"

"Huh? Maaga pa naman ah--"

"Tara naaa." Hila ko sa kanya.

"Are you two going home already? Let me--"

"No."

"Yes. Please." Sabi naman ni Dana. Tsk.