Visions of the Sea

Chapter 2

*** Clumsy ***

"Okay, okay. Robi, saan ka ipinanganak? Let me guess then if I'm right, you give me your baon," pangungulit ni Venn sa nakangiwing si Nairobi umagang-umaga pa.

"Bakit hindi si Thylane yung tanungin mo ni'yan? Mas marami yung pera niya kesa sa'kin," tamad niyang utas at ibabalik na sana yung headphones sa ulo pero hindi pa natitinag si Venn.

"Ito?" turo niya sa'kin."Sa Madrid 'yan pinanganak. Alam ko na 'yan. May dual citizenship kaya 'yan," maangas niyang sagot at umiling nalang ako habang nakangiti. What is she up to now?

"Tanungin mo sarili mo kung saan ka ipinanganak," barumbadong utas ni Robi.

"Natanong ko na. Sabi sa Alcatraz daw ako pinanganak."

Lumaki ang mata ni Robi at tiningnan ako. "Gago, totoo?"

I shake my head. "Naniwala ka agad? Parang hangin ang laman ng utak ni'yan minsan, eh."

She groans out of irritation. "Don't you have money? Your dad literally owns one of the leading construction firms in the country besides other things."

Tinuro niya ako para sagutin ang tanong na 'yon para sa kanya dahil alam niyang alam ko.

"Walang pera 'yan. She pissed her dad off after maxing out his credit card while having a shopping spree in Berlin," I say casually as I keep transcribing the lectures yesterday in my notebook.

Pumalakpak ang tanga. "Very good answer! You won a million dollars. Next time mo lang kunin kasi wala pa akong wa-warts."

Iritadong bumuntong-hininga si Robi bago pumayag. I continue listening to their conversation.

This year I realize I need to take my academics more seriously than before. I don't have that much pressure on me but bearing my families' names—Alcaraz and Puertollano—I have some legacy to live up to.

"You were born in France, I already know that information. You're a French breed, eh. Tsaka, halata naman sa pagmumukha mo. But I need to be precise where in France," she eyes her suspiciously.

Mahina akong natawa. French breed. Parang aso lang.

"Which part?"

Mahina kong tinulak si Venn sa balikat. "Sis, give up ka na. Hindi mo 'yan makukuha ng tama."

"No, no, no, no. I got this. I'm psychic," she proceeds to put her fingers of both hands on her temples while closing her eyes tightly like she's formulating something inside her head. "Is it in Versailles?"

Robi rolls her eyes because she, in fact, got it right. "Ugh! Tama ka," kinuha niya ang wallet mula sa bag at binayaran si Venn na abot-langit ang ngiti dahil may baon na.

"You know na pwede ka namang humingi sa'kin ng pera o librehin kita," I stare at her but she taps my shoulder confidently.

"Palagi mo nalang akong nililibre. Alam ko na ang pagkikitaan ko, sis. I'm resourceful as hell," she giggles happily and returns putting on some lashes when Char comes in with her eyes glued to her book.

"Ilang minuto pa lang kitang nakita pero yung ilong mo hindi na matanggal sa libro," komento ni Venn while staring at our redhead friend who just mindlessly sits down and carries on reading '1984' as she ate her sliced apples.

"Hayaan mo ako. Pakialamera mo talaga kahit kailan," she says bluntly.

Noong bata pa lamang kami ni Charolais, gusto ko ang kulay ng kanyang buhok. She's multi-racial and has more or less an auburn color for a hair. Her eyes are light brown with the slightest hint of emerald green. Her wavy hair is perfectly defined.