Into the Spotlight

Chapter 8

"Bye, ingat ka!"

I sleepily waved at Shin as I opened the door beside the shotgun seat. Siya ang naghatid sa akin pauwi from Enchanted Kingdom. Ryan was the first to get home while Dylan came home alone.

He has a house in Sta. Rosa, if I remember it correctly. I was a third-wheel at the moment, alone in the backseat kaya naman Shin got slightly mad. Ryan was actually hesistant to ride the shotgun.

"Okay lang ako!" I insisted.

They both shook their head, as if they don't believe in what I am saying. Ryan actually sat with me at the backseat para raw hindi naman ako mag-isa.

"I mean, really, it's okay. Matutulog lang naman ako wearing my headset so you could just do your thing or something.." I said hesitantly, kind of lowering my voice.

Shin gave me a glare that kind of shut me up. "One more complaint from you, you're gonna be sitting here in the shotgun seat and keep me awake."

"Okay lang talaga sa'kin, Sof." singit ni Ryan, bahagyang tumatawa dahil sa sinabi ni Shin which I don't find funny at all. "Willing naman akong samahan ka rito sa likod and wala namang masama roon, diba, Nate?"

Shin nodded and looked at me again through the mirror. Nai-intimidate tuloy ako, amp. "Literally nothing wrong with that. Feeling."

"Foul!" hahampasin ko na sana siya ng kung anong hawak ko but I remembered that he was driving and baka ma-aksidente kami so.. I chose to behave. Mahirap na.

Ryan ended up chatting and entertaining me with her usual topics, her college life, which I really do find interesting. Paminsan-minsan ay sumisingit ako para magbigay ng side comments at inisghts pero sa huli, I ended up falling asleep.

I was so tired that when Ryan woke me up para makapagpaalam na bababa na siya, I barely opened my eyes. I just waved my hand and smiled, though I think I look like I'm high on drugs or something. Bahala na si batman.

"Ang hirap mong gisingin." Shin whined bilang pagsagot sa pagpapaalam ko.

Kahit inaantok ay umirap na lang ako. "Edi sana hindi mo ako ginising. Daming problema, amp. Sapakan na lang, ano?"

"Are you expecting me to welcome you in my house again?"

Pasuray-suray na ako dahil sa antok. Sabog na nga yata ako kung sumagot. My eyes were half-closed tapos gulo-gulo pa ang buhok ko mula sa pagkatulog.

"Haha, 'wag na. Sapat na siguro 'yung magkasama tayo sa Star City buong araw."

Dinig ko ang paghalakhak niya. "You dummy, we went to Enchanted Kingdom, not Star City. Are you tired or drunk?"

"Ang dami mo namang sinasabi, eh." humikab ako at nag-inat. "Sige, bye na. Papasok na ako para makauwi ka na at makatulog na ako."

Mabagal akong naglakad papalayo sa kotse niya at nagsimula nang buksan ang lock sa gate. Nakatungo pa ako at nakapikit. I've memorized the way in my house so it's okay to walk while half asleep. That's a skill, you know.

"Ow, pota!"

I massaged my forehead that smashed into the gate. Lintek na gate 'to, nabuksan na at lahat ayaw pa rin magpadaan.

I heard Shin clicking his tongue hanggang sa maramdaman kong inaalalayan niya na ako papasok. "You look drunk, Ploy. Have you forgotten that you just unlocked the gate? You didn't open it."

"Blah, blah."

I just let him help me dahil wala na akong energy pang tumanggi at makipagsagutan sa kanya. I don't know why I'm so physically and mentally exhausted, parang nag-EK lang naman kami.