Dear Zeus

Letter 32

I stepped inside, pushing the door with my foot. The energy I found in this mall guesting and dinner party had drained me. I removed my coat, loosened my tie, and slumped across the coach. I saw my reflection on TV; I looked exhausted. It was already 11 p.m., but I still managed to go home. Dione wants me to sleep in the hotel, but I can't stand the hotel room because of my skin allergies.

Tamade! I cursed.

Kakatapos lang event namin kung alam ko lang na ganito ang mangyayari hindi ako pumirma sa contract. I used to work as a print model, not a promotional model. I swear I won't accept a project like this again.

I also need to lie to that interview; that was what our manager advised. I remember Mama saying that if she knew that Dione was the one behind that viral video, she wouldn't bother me about the Ferris wheel. She knew us, walang malisya sa amin ni Dione. We are best friends.

I wonder if Hera is still awake at 2 a.m.

I checked my phone. I have a lot of missed calls and texts from the security head of Consunji Towers.

I opened it.

From: Head security CT

Sir may 50 ka tao na pumasok sa floor unit ni Sir Seth." I shook my head. Our floor is exclusive to us. Why did Hermes hold a party? I'll confront him tomorrow. I'm really tired, dumagdag pa 'to. Seth is always the source of my problems inside or outside of school. He is just full of crap.

I checked another one.

I frowned. She never spammed me.

From: Nognog,pandak at laki sa HERAp

Mukha kang tanga. (1)

Lahat ng text n'ya ganun ang laman 'Mukha kang tanga

Is she drunk, or is this a prank?

Muli ay may dumating na text message. Galing ulit sa kanya.

From:Nognog,pandak at laki sa HERAp

Mukha kang tanga

She still awake. Bumangon ako para katokin s'ya sa kwarto n'ya pero nakailang katok na ko ay walang nasagot.

Weird.

I decide to take a rest for a while, then take a shower. I check my skin ang daming pantal. A crowded room makes my allergies worse.

My phone is ringing relentlessly.  Invading my sleep. I wanted to ignore it, but when I recognized the ringtone, I picked up my phone

Bwi-Seth is calling.

Yes, I set a ringtone for Seth because I always clean up his mess.

It's only 3 a.m. Devils hour

I wonder, kung ano namang ginawa nitong pinsan ko.

Nakipagsuntukan. Na-ospital, nakulong o baka may babae na namang sumugod dito at nagsasabing na buntis nito?

"What the hell is your problem?" I lazily asked. Seth is the only cousin who dared me to wake up in the middle of the night. He's like a brother that I never had.

"Hera is here on my floor." Bigla'y napatayo ako sa sinabi nito.

Dali dali akong nabihis at pumunta sa floor unit nito.

Bukas ang pinto, kaya pumasok ako. I roamed the surrounding area. There are a lot of spider webs, balloons, and Halloween stuff scattered around.

"Where are you? Seth?" I shouted as I was looking for Seth and Hera.

"In the pantry!" balik na sigaw ni Seth. We have exactly the same floor unit design, ginaya nya lang yung akin, tinatamad na daw kasi syang mag-isip.

Kaagad akong nakarating sa pantry.

"What did you do, Hermes?" Naiinis kong sambit. Nang makita ang sitwasyon ni Hera. She looked wasted.

"Why's she here?

"Anna caught us together in the elevator, so I dragged Hera out. I told them I invited her to my Halloween party," he explained.

"Why do you hold a party here?" I angrily said. Mahigpit naming pinagbabawal ang pagkakaroon ng party dito sa condo. It is supposed to be exclusively for us.

"It was supposed to be a small party but Anna invited her friends. I also saved your ass, Mr. Almight RightZeus," He sarcastically said as he emphasized the word "RightZeus"

"Then, why did you let her drink? I thought, umuwi na s'ya. Hindi ko kasi nakita sa party kanina then ayun nakita ko na lang sa loob ng pantry nagkulong at uminom ng mag-isa mukhang brokenhearted eh." I frowned. Maybe she visits her Nanay and she gets into a fight with her. I checked to see if she had bruises or something.

Mabuti naman at wala.

Nilapitan ko si Hera pero tinulak lang ako nito.

"Wag mo kong hawakan. Galit ako sayo!" She yelled as she pushed me.

"Tamade!" I silently cursed. Lasing nga.

"Mukhang first time lang uminom," Natatawang komento ni Seth. Sinamaan ko s'ya ng tinggin sya pa may ganang magsabi nyan.

Biglang tumayo si Hera at lumapit sa akin.

"Ayoko sa buhok mo na dilaw." Sinabunutan nito ang buhok ko.

"Wait. Baichi!"

"Na pagna-aarawan nagiging puti kala mo ba kinagwapo mo yan Gago!" I froze. It is similar to the HB letter.

"Hindi bagay sayo." Nahawakan ko s'ya sa kamay. To stop her. Mukhang malakas ang tama nito.

"Na- na-na kakainis ka napaka-antipatiko mo por-porket ikaw P-Pre-pre- sident Council." Reklamo nito. Narinig kong tumawa si Hermes. He just sat on the edge of the table, crossing his arms in front of him. Seriously, di nya ako tutulungan?

"Bakit may Special Se- she –seven pa? Hindi nyo tuloy alam kung anong nangyayari sa labas. Masyadong mataas ang tinggin nyo sa sarili!" napanga nga na lang ako sa sinabi nito. Again, I remember HB.

"Bakit mo tinatapon yung mga love letter na binibigay sayo? Alam mo bang mahirap umamin ng nararamdaman mo sa isang tao. Hindi mo ba alam kung anong courage ang inipon nila para lang magbigay ng letter?" She's crying. Why's she crying?

"Na basted ata." Seth theory. I glared at him. Bwi-Seth

"Isa ka pa! Babaero!" Hera glared at Seth.

"Uy hindi ako babaero. Mapagmahal lang." Seth answered back.

"Shut up, Seth!" saway ko dito. Muli akong lumapit kay Hera para i- piggy-back ito.

-----

"Dimitri," she muttered. I smiled ngayon lang nya ako tinawag na Dimitri.

"Why?" I asked her as we entered the elevator.

"Mu-mukha kang tanga kanina habang na kanta." My forehead creased. Pumunta pala s'yang SY mall kanina.

"Bakit ka nagpapakatanga sa isang bagay kung hindi mo naman pangarap?"

"Dahil sa p-pera?" She poked my cheek.

"O dahil sa kanya?" What did she mean? 'dahil sa kanya.'

"Mag-mayor ka na lang. Sasayaw at kakanta ka din pero tuwing Election Day lang." she suggested. Ibang klase pala 'to pagnalalasing madaldal. Nakarating na kami sa loob.

"Ang panget mo. Kinuha mo yung first kiss." Reklamo nito. Nilagay ko muna s'ya sa couch para mapunasan. Papaalis na ko nang hawakan nito ang braso ko.

"Ibalik mo yung first kiss ko." Maktol nito. Napadaing naman ako nang bigla nitong hinampas ang balikat ko.

"Baichi!" I shook my head. I'll never let her drink again.

"Balik mo yung first kiss at second kiss ko." Hera grabbed me hard, which made me sit again. Nagulat ako ng bigla nyang hinawakan ang pisngi ko paharap sa kanya.

She kissed me.

I froze to what she did

"Ayan nakuha ko na ulit. She smiled widely, then closed her eyes.