Chapter 18
“Oh my God! You're drunk na, girl!”
I rolled my eyes when I heard that again from Milan. She keeps on saying that I'm drunk already even if I'm not. Mabilis kong ininom ang alcohol drink sa shot glass. I became dizzy as I moved my head and swayed a bit.
“Shut up! Kanina ka pa!” sabi ko kay Milan nang mapansin na naman niyang lasing na raw ako.
“Duh! You're so pulang-pula na kaya! And kanina ka pa umiinom 7 PM! It's already 10 PM oh, look!”
We're shouting at each other because of the loud music here inside the bar. Dahil doon, napapagod na rin akong magsalita kaya umiinom na lang ako.
Erica chuckled beside Milan. “May problema yata si Gaga. Magpasundo ka na nga sa boyfriend mo! Tawagan mo si Kuya Ry, Milan!”
Umiling na lang ako sa mga pinagsasabi ng dalawa. They're just lucky now that Rachel isn't here with us. She's with her older brother — Rylan who's my boyfriend. We're now two months in a relationship.
Sinilip ko ang phone at nakitang may text message ako galing sa kaniya.
We'll be home late. I'm sorry, hindi yata kita masusundo. Sumabay ka na lang sa friends mo. Be safe and enjoy there. Love you.
I didn't bother to reply anymore. I just drank the last shot for tonight and danced a bit to make myself entertained. Nakita kong umiiling ang dalawa habang nakatingin sa akin. I just rolled my eyes and chuckled when someone accidentally hit my elbow while I'm slowly dancing near our table.
We're here to enjoy the whole night. We deserve to have a night out after the semi final exams 'cause we got a passing score. I went here to be happy.. to be entertained but there's really something missing.
It's been a year since I felt this unrecognizable feelings of mine. I can't describe it. It's so strange that I'm feeling more unfamiliarity towards it. Pakiramdam ko.. sa loob ng nagdaang taon — may kulang sa akin.
I feel like something's missing in my life. I feel like there's an empty space in my heart that needs to be filled with something that I don't even know. Gulong-gulo ako sa sarili ko na nagawa kong makipag-date sa halos lahat ng lalaki sa university.. including Rylan.
I thought if I would have a boyfriend, I would be satisfied again. At hindi ko na mararamdaman ang nararamdaman kong 'to pero nagkamali ako.
I made another mistake again. I made another wrong decision again!
Tumulo ang luha ko na kaagad kong pinunasan. I don't know the reason why I'm emotional when I feel this emptiness inside me. I'm not really contented to the life that I have even when I almost have everything.
Nakukulangan ako! Nakukulangan pa rin ako!
Muntik na akong matumba nang may bumunggo sa likuran ko. I faced whoever he or she is.
“Hey, what's your---”
I cut myself off when I saw a tall man in front of me. He's wearing an eyeglasses with slightly thick frame — behind that is pair of deep eyes. I can still visibly see that despite of the blinding lights around us. Napakurap ako nang ilang beses habang nakatingin sa lalaki. He's quite familiar but I'm sure that I've never met him before.
“Alindra?”
Kumunot ang noo ko saka lumayo sa kaniya nang hawakan niya ang braso ko. I have no time to flirt now!
I ran away from him as fast as I can after he called me again. He's saying a lot of things that I can't hear properly because of the music. Humalo ako sa crowd para hindi ako makita ng lalaki saka nagtago sa comfort room para hindi na niya ako masundan.
I immediately washed my face with running water as soon as I went inside the comfort room. Now I'm not sure kung talaga bang hindi pa kami nagkikita ng lalaking iyon. The way he looked at me a while ago, it appears that he knows me for a long time already at ngayon lang ulit ako nakita.
I took a deep breath and checked my face before going out.
“Ano ba?!”
Binawi ko kaagad ang kamay ko nang may biglang humawak. I thought it's the stranger that I saw a while ago but I'm startled to see Rylan behind me.
“Y-You're here? Akala ko ma-l-late kayo ng uwi?” gulat pa ring sabi ko sa kaniya.
I saw him grinned. “Your friends called me. Sabi nila lasing ka na raw so pumunta kaagad ako rito. Halika na, ihahatid na kita sa inyo..”
I smiled a bit and nodded to agree with him. I don't know why I'm guilty even though I'm not doing something bad to him. Pakiramdam ko lang, hindi ko masuklian ang lahat ng ginagawa niya sa akin.
“I think we should drop Erica and Milan to their houses, too..”
“They're still having fun at kinausap ko rin, ayaw pa nilang umuwi,” he answered and held my hand as we started to walk
I looked at our intertwined hands. Wala pa kaming isang taon ni Rylan pero nararamdaman ko namang mabait siya. He courted me for less than a year but I can say that he is way better than Edward — my ex boyfriend who only wants my body.
He's kind and sweet and also gentleman. He's really a nice guy. Kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito pa rin ang nararamdaman ko..
. . .
“Are you sure you want to move to our unit?”
I immediately nodded at my father. “Yes, Dad. I just want to be a strong and independent woman. Para hindi na rin ako masyadong umasa sa inyo at sa maids.“
We both chuckled with what I told him. Umupo ako nang maayos pagkainom sa iced coffee. Nakababa na ang newspaper na binabasa ni Dad kanina kaya alam kong interesado siya sa sinasabi ko.
I'm confident that he'll agree with me.. hindi ko lang alam kay Mom.
”I also love the location. Malapit lang sa university, sa mall.. sa almost everything! So please, Dad,” I told him and flashed my sweetest smile.
Tumango naman siya. “Alright. Pero sabihin mo muna sa Mommy mo. You know that she's our boss.”
I smiled widely upon hearing that. I can now imagine my life when I finally live all by myself. There's no maid, no driver, no rules for the mean time. I'm now thrilled with the thought of living alone.
Should I hire an interior designer now?
“You're the best talaga, Dad..”
“Bolera.” Dad chuckled and shook his head.
“Can I join your chitchats, sweethearts?”
Nagulat ako nang biglang dumating si Mom na naka-robe pa at umupo sa tabi ko.
“Oh, Mom. 'Wag na. Just continue your beauty rest,” I told her and laughed a bit.
“No need to rest. Your Mom's already beautiful..”
Naningkit naman ang mata ni Mom na ikinatawa ni Dad. “Alesso, you're really such a sweet talker..”
Hinayaan ko lang na mag-usap ang parents ko habang nag-b-browse ako sa internet. I'm trying to look for a design that suits my unit. I've already seen it on pictures but not in person. Matagal nang nabili iyon ni Dad pero wala namang gumagamit so I suggested that I should live there kaysa naman walang nakatira doon.
“Is it true, hija? Sa condo ka mag-s-stay for the meantime? In what reason? You don't want to stay here anymore?”
Inangat ko ang tingin kay Mom. My parents are both looking at me and waiting for my answer. “Of course, I want to stay here with you. But just like what I said to Dad, gusto kong maging independent. I always depend on you so..”
I shrugged my shoulders off as I continued to browse for more designs. I like something minimalist and neutral in colors.
“Pag-iisipan ko..”
“But Mom! Dad and I already talked about it! Wala naman akong---”
“Then let's go shopping! We'll buy new stuffs for your unit!” she excitedly interrupted me. “I'll just get ready..“
Tumango lang ako kay Mom. I just let my Dad kiss me on my forehead when he left for a meeting. Naiwan ako sa living room habang nagtitingin pa ng ibang designs. I just stopped when I remembered the guy that I saw last time at the bar.
He's somewhat considered as a creepy guy because of the way he followed and stared at me. But despite of that, it's surprising that I don't even feel any strangeness when I saw him for the first time. Or was it the first time?
All I can feel was familiarity even when he's so unfamiliar to me.
“Let's go, darling..”
Napatayo kaagad ako nang makita si Mom na pababa na ng hagdan. She's now wearing a white long sleeves and black trousers. Her whole look makes her look younger than her actual age.
“Oh, I'm so excited to shop with you. Ang mga amiga ko palagi ang mga kasama ko these past few months..”
I nodded. “Yes, Mom. Matagal na tayong hindi nakapag-shopping. You always go with Tita Imelda and Ninang Lacy..”
“Well.. that's our bonding...”
Hindi pa kami nakakarating sa garage nang sumalubong kaagad sa amin ang driver.
“Ma'am Minerva, nasira ho ang kotse,” Manong Elan said while scratching his nape.
“What? How about the other car?”
“Ginamit ho ni Sir..”
Bumaba kaagad si Mom para tingnan ang kotse. I'm impatiently waiting at the gate while they're checking our Porsche. Mukhang naiirita na rin si Mom.
Nagulat naman ako nang may mabilis na nag-park na kotse sa harapan ko. Bumaba naman doon si Rylan na naka-sunglasses pa. He's wearing a 3/4 polo shirt right now and a khaki short pants — his usual outfit.
Tinanggal niya ang sunglasses nang huminto sa harapan ko. “Good morning. Where are you going?”
“I'm with Mom, mag-sh-shopping kami. There's just a problem..”
“Oh, hijo? You're here!” Mom greeted Rylan and smiled. “We're about to leave kaso nasira ang car. Mag-m-mall kami ni Alindra..”
“Sabay na po kayo sa akin, Tita. Papunta rin naman ako sa mall,” nakangiting sabi ni Rylan.
Tuwang-tuwa si Mom sa sinabi ni Rylan. My boyfriend immediately opened the door of his new car. Mom is obviously fond of him. She always brags Rylan to her friends and our relatives. Ayon sa kaniya, mabait daw si Rylan. Gwapo at mayaman. 
She didn't agree at first when she knew that I already have a boyfriend but eventually, she accepted Rylan. Especially when she figured out that he's the older brother of my friend that she knows. Alam ni Mom na mayaman ang pamilya nina Rachel kaya natanggap niya na rin si Rylan.
Gusto niya ang mayaman para sa akin. I understand her reason though. She just wants the best for me and my future.
Hindi ko na hinintay na pagbuksan ako ni Rylan. They're having discussions about business that I'm not even interested. Paminsan-minsan, tumitingin sa akin si Rylan.
“You should sit beside your boyfriend, hija.” Malayo na kami sa subdivision nang magsalita si Mom.
Umiling naman ako. “He understands naman na ngayon lang ulit tayo nagkasama, Mom. You just came from a vacation, right? And Rylan and I are almost inseparable these past few days. Baka magsawa kaagad siya sa akin kapag palagi niya akong kasama o katabi..”
“Pasensya na sa anak ko, Rylan. Isa lang ang sinabi ko, sa kaniya marami na.” They both chuckled when Mom said that. “My Alindra is just so loud and talkative almost all of the time. Pero intindihin mo na lang din 'cause I understand her. Well, nag-iisang anak..”
“Of course, I do understand her, Tita. Tanggap ko naman na ganiyan siya...”
Nagtawanan ulit ang dalawa habang tahimik lang ako. I don't know but I'm not in the mood to talk to them anymore. I just want to go to the mall now to buy stuffs that I need when I finally move to my condo unit.
“Drive carefully, Ry. Come on, 'wag mo akong titigan,” I told Rylan when I noticed that he kept on looking at me a while ago.
Tumawa lang siya saka sinunod ang sinabi ko. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako.
I feel so empty right now.. and heavy at the same time.
. . .
I carefully opened the door of the unit when I took the keys inside my bag. I suddenly felt nervousness and I don't know why. I expect that all of my stuffs are already here. Kasama na ang mga binili ni Mom para sa akin.
I turned on the lights only to see the whole space of my unit. Natuwa naman ako nang makitang nakaayos na ang lahat ng mga gamit. The furnitures, appliances and displays are all set inside. Just like what I said to the interior designer that Mom hired for me, I only want a minimalist design. Good thing that they really followed what I described to them.
I became happy even more when I saw my piano! Kaagad kong nilapitan iyon pero nagtaka ako nang mapadaan ako sa magiging room ko. Pinihit ko ang door knob at bumungad sa akin ang nag-iisang candle.
“Surprise!”
I don't know what to react when I saw Erica, Milan and Rachel in front of me. They're all wearing a blue party hat on their heads. May hawak na candle at balloons si Rachel. Actually there's a lot of balloons inside my room right now. May kulay puti at blue na hindi ko naman paboritong color!
“Okay.. so, mas nauna pa kayong makapasok dito kaysa sa akin?” I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. “And what surprise is this? Homecoming, gano'n?”
Natatawa na lang ako sa ginagawa nila. It's so corny but I kinda like it huh.
“Parang like that na rin and according to Rach, she'll fly to US na so this will be our last bonding for this year. So don't be KJ---”
“What? Anong sinasabi mo, Milan?”
Tiningnan ko si Milan na tiningnan naman si Rachel. I noticed that Erica is now eating a slice of pizza while playing games on her phone. Umikot na lang ang mata ko.
Hinubad ni Rachel ang hat saka lumapit sa akin. “Si Mommy kasi nag-suggest na sa US muna ako mag-aral. I'll also pursue my career there as a model. May mga nag-offer na rin kasi sa akin..”
Tumango ako. “Alright, I see. Kailan ang alis niyo?”
“I think before pa mag-start ang classes,” she answered. “Wait.. hindi ka nalulungkot?”
“Hindi 'yan malulungkot, 'te. Umalis naman na rin siya dati no'ng pumuntang---”
“Erica!” sabay na sabi ni Milan at Rachel.
Rachel even widened her eyes at Erica. Nagtaka naman ako sa kinilos nila. Natigilan naman kami nang marinig namin ang door bell galing sa labas.
“The carbonara is here!” sabi ni Milan saka nagmamadaling lumabas sa room.
“Don't worry, before I leave.. pupunta tayo sa beach! Let's swim and relax there!"
“That's a great idea,” I said and smiled a bit.
Inikot ko ang mata sa loob ng room at nakita ko ang design nito. The walls are pure white but the curtains are black. Ang mga naka-display naman ay brown at gray pati ang ibang mga gamit sa loob.
I can't really appreciate the design of my room that much right now because Rachel keeps on talking to me and asking me about my relationship with her brother. Kinakain na rin namin ang carbonara at pizza na in-order nila.
“We're cool, Rach. In fact.. sinamahan niya kami ni Mom mag-shopping last time..”
“Oh? I heard boto naman si Tita Minerva kay Kuya!” she giggled and wiped the sauce on her mouth. “Actually, narinig ko sila ni Daddy na nag-uusap last time. May plano na yata si Kuya na mag-propose sa ‘yo!”
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