“What up homies?”
“Sabi sa’yo iingay rin eh kingina” remarked Ryan while folding his sweat-drenched grey t-shirt.
“Bakit nanaman ha? Ano nanaman ginawa ko sa’yo babe?!” I exclaimed as I hugged and dry-humped Ryan from behind.
“Kingina mo, ano ba trip mo ha? Wew.” He yelled at me while laughing, giving me a strong shove and a follow-up right hook. I evaded his hook and laughed maniacally as I teased him again. Everyone was already tired from the 3-hour training, but still found the strength to laugh at my usual theatrics with our crew’s former captain and my personal friend.
“Tangina wag mo ko hawakan kaka-tae mo lang diba?! Kinginang trip yan!”
“Babe ikaw lang naman tong trip ko.” I replied flirtatiously.
“Lul mo gago, sabihin mo yan kay Donna.”
“Nakow naglalagan na po.” Commented Stephen.
“Uy sino nanaman si Donna?” Inquired Eve.
“Kingina mo ah, gusto mo laglagan?” I threatened Ryan.
“Aba puta, pag ikaw nanlalaglag sa crew okay lang tas pag ako babawi ka? Wew.” He glared at me..
“Oo naman.” I laughed arrogantly. I kept on harassing Ryan until our senior told us off and ordered us to gather around to perform the usual meeting after training. I felt nostalgic with everything considering the fact that I’m already an alumnus of the crew, but was requested, together with Ryan, by the younger members to be a part of the team to compete for the World of Dance yet again. Everyone in the crew knew how critical of a moment it was for the “family”. The consistent losses in the university-wide competitions were greatly affecting the team’s morale. Our recognition as one of the strongest dance crews in UST was being engulfed by wildfire right before our eyes, and personally, I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Alam niyo naman siguro kung gaano na karami yung sinakripisyo natin para sa compet na to diba? 8 days nalang guys, wag kayo makumpiyansa na malinis na tignan sa video yung routine natin kasi pwede pa yan magbago pag wala tayo sa kundisyon sa compet mismo ha” preached Kuya Richard, one of the founding members of the crew. As I was listening intently to the sermon of Kuya Richard, my phone started vibrating.
Donna Mae Perillo
calling
Slide to answer
“Bad timing.” I narrowed my eyes, immediately pressed the lock button and put my phone on Airplane Mode. She called at the wrong time, and personally I don’t know if I was even willing to talk to her — — I mean, what’s there to talk about? After huddling and packing up our stuff, Eve invited the crew members to eat at P.Noval.
“Ano Hangin, sama ka?” She invited me cheerfully.
“Oo sama ako.”
“Puta akala ko ba mag-uusap kayo ni Donna?” Remarked Ryan.
“Ano ba pag-uusapan?” I snarled coldly.
“Ayan siya kingina, lumulutang nanaman ang babae” he teased playfully.
“Bakit lumulutang?” Inquired Eve.
“Paano mo ba iiwan sa ere kung di muna lulutang?” Ryan replied eagerly.
“OHHHHHHH!!” Most of the crew reacted. I tried grinning so it wouldn’t be awkward, but I felt irritated that Ryan had to bring up an alleged “habit” that I tend to do concerning women. I couldn’t say anything in defense so I just glared at Ryan and gave his shoulder a strong shove. He laughed in return because he knew he got me good. The usual scent of inihaw and fruit shakes met us as we walked through the streets of Padre Noval. The sight of the signage “Jan Allen’s Eatery” comforted every one of us as we were all starving.
“Ano sa’yo?” Asked Ryan.
“Ikaw. Yieeeeee.” I taunted.
“Di ka ba talaga titigil?”
“Di ko mapipigilan sarili ko mahalin ka babe.” I laughed. For now this is the best I can do to get back at him.
“Tangina Nick, oorder na kasi si Stephen para satin lahat. Gutom na ako ah puta.” Ryan already gave a piercing glare so I think I already got my payback.
“Babanat ka pa ah.” I taunted Ryan. “Liempo tas dalawang kanin. Penge kamo sabaw. Salamat.” I informed Stephen. Everyone sat down and started chatting with each other. The particular “talk of the town” was us alumni. The new members definitely outnumbered us old ones. I only recognized half of the people staying in the table. Eve, the crew’s secretary, tried standing up as high as she could to initiate a little “getting-to-know” thing going between us alumni and the new members. All of us were asked to introduce ourselves by stating our name and saying a few things about us. It’s lame but we all knew familiarity is important for a crew to become like a family.
“So babies, magpapakilala na yung mga ate at kuya niyo. Simula tayo kay Kuya Ryan kasi siya captain last year.” Declared Eve.
“Ryan Kiezer Canlas. Ako yung captain last year… Ano pa ba?”
“Pre banggitin mo naman yung palabas mo sa GMA. Yung Kalye-Serye.” I teased.
“Kingina mo ka talaga. Ako ba talaga sinusubukan mo?” Ryan replied pissed, but still grinning.
“Hoy Nick, ayos kasi.” Eve could hardly stop her giggle.
“Graduate po ako ng ECE tas kablock ko yung kupal na yan.” Ryan raised his left arm as he pointed at me.
“Grabe ka naman pre, sinusuportahan na nga kita. Halata naman kasi ikaw si Alden bat mo pa dedeny? Dimples palang oh. Yieeee.” The whole crew started laughing. Ryan couldn’t do anything so he opted to give me his signature stiff “bad finger”.
“Oh ikaw naman Nick.” Eve commanded.
“Ako si Nick Jocson Hangin-“
“Hangin po? As in hangin equals wind ganun?” asked a new female member.
“Opo.” I politely replied.
“Bagay na Hangin surname niyan, alam niyo bakit?” Ryan gave a sick grin at me while raising his thick eyebrows.
“Bakit po?” she innocently inquired. I glared furiously at Ryan hoping he’ll get the signal to stop with whatever he’s going to say. Although it’s obvious that he’ll refer to my “habit” again, I didn’t want the new members thinking I really am that kind of guy. I’m just friendly, that’s all there is to it.
“Oo Hangin talaga. Magkablock kami ni Ryan since 1st year college tas… yun. Yun lang. Hehe.” I didn’t know what else to say. It’s not that I’m not expressive it’s just that I’m too lazy to think of other things to say. All the other alumni felt the same way because they basically stated their name and added one small detail about their lives. The new kids on the other hand gave lengthy introductions. They were all eager to say something about themselves; age does have a factor in one’s drive and perception. They’re still young college students while I, on the other hand am a fresh graduate and a latest board exam passer. I have to face responsibilities soon… Fuck. I’m 21 years old and I have no idea where my life will go from here on out, and yet I’m here at P.Noval eating a 35 peso meal and eyeing for a dance championship. I don’t have a job and I don’t have a girlfriend — yet. I wonder where the wind will take me.
After everyone was finished eating, the crew agreed to split up at the main road of P.Noval going to Espanya. Almost all the establishments were closed except for Café U.K. For a regular college student, 11:30 P.M. is a late time to go home, but for dancers and athletes, it remains to be a standard time of departure from school; some things don’t change. As we were walking towards the main road, my phone vibrated yet again.
Donna Mae Portillo
Bakit ayaw mo sumagot? Magusap naman tayo kasi…
Kulit amputa. I didn’t want to answer her because it would be too tedious to talk to her. I didn’t understand the concept of explaining something to a person who’s not even willing to listen. As I was about to put my phone in my pocket a man in a black shirt suddenly ran and snatched it from my hand. My instant reflex was to run after him and soon after Ryan and my other male crewmates followed. I sort of heard Eve scream but I wasn’t sure if it was a scream for help or a scream of shock. I felt the wind touch my face as I sprinted towards the man. He was fast, but I was faster. The distance between me and the snatcher was slowly decreasing, but suddenly, I felt my left leg starting to cramp. I can’t increase my speed because the pain was starting to build up. The distance between me and what I needed to get was getting bigger and bigger — and there was nothing I can do about it. I saw Ryan get ahead of me and he immediately caught up with the snatcher. I saw my friend jump on the man. The snatcher couldn’t do anything once Ryan punched him; it was a one-shot kill — not literal, Ryan just knocked his lights out with one swift blow. Stephen approached me and helped me get to Ryan and the snatcher. I was relieved but at the same time I could feel the sting of the cramps on my left leg.
“Pre okay ka lang? Salamat pre.” I told Ryan after Stephen dragged me towards him.
“Wala… yun…” Ryan was still catching his breath. The crew gathered and Eve gave Ryan a bottle of water to drink. The others already called the police and after 30 minutes, they arrived. We were asked to file a report in the station, but my crewmates told them that I couldn’t go to the station because I suffered from cramps. Stephen volunteered to be the one to file the report instead so I could be allowed to go home already. I thanked everyone and I realized how far the troupe’s relationship developed since I joined — we were truly a family. Ryan escorted me home. I was silent throughout our tricycle drive from P. Noval to Tayuman. I opted to pay for the ride because he has a long way to go as he resided in Fairview. Despite his short stature, he could still drag someone as tall and as lean as me. He was the true definition of small but terrible.
“Okay ka lang ba?” He asked. He still wore his usual calm and emotionless expression.
“Oo, bat mo natanong?” I replied.
“Kanina ka pa tahimik eh, nakakapanibago.”
“Napaisip lang ako pre.”
“Napaisip ng ano?”
“Naiisip kita. Yikeeee.”
“Tangama. Dapat di nalang ako nagtanong.”
“Joke lang gago. Pinapagaan ko lang mood.” I laughed.
“Ulol pakyu.”
“Napaisip ako sa mga ginagawa ko sa buhay.”
“Drama amputa.” He laughed at me.
“Seryoso pre. Wala pa kong trabaho tas wala pa akong girl friend, 21 na ako.”
“Ano naman? Pareho lang tayo gago.”
“Iinterviewhin ka na next week tas maraming nakapila sayo ikaw lang may ayaw pumili anong pareho doon pre ha.”
“Ikaw naman din may kasalanan bat ka single at walang trabaho pota.”
“Bakit ako kingina?”
“Sabi ko sabay tayo mag-apply tas sabi mo ‘maya na pre nag two-2K pa ako’ o ano gago sino may kasalanan?” I laughed once I remembered that it was indeed my own doing that I wasn’t able to submit a resume to the company where Ryan applied to. What can I say, ball is life.
“Tas sa babae naman, ang hilig mo mang-iwan sa ere gago.” He added.
“Ulol mo gago.” I replied laughing.
“Tangina tatanggi pa, since first year pa naman niya ginagawa parang gago.”
“Anong since first year ha? Grabe ka naman pre.”
“Oo nga gago. Ilan babae na iniwan mo sa ere. Lahat naman matitino. Latest ngayon si Donna. Nakakawew ka.”
“Oh, wag ka galit!” I laughed maniacally. Say what you want, but Ryan is a true friend. He was telling me straight to my face the mistakes I’m doing as a person — and for some reason, this is the first time I actually listened to him with an open mind.
“Totoo kasi gago. Kung ayaw mo sa babae sabihin mo, di yung iiwan mo nalang bigla. Nagmumukha ka na ngang paasa, iniiwan mo pa sa ere. Nakakaasar.”
“Sorry na po master hokage.” I teased.
“Tss. Tas uulitin mo rin naman kay Donna.”
“Hindi ko alam pre. Napaisip-isip rin ako kanina eh.”
“Wow nag-isip ka? Bago yan ah.” He teased back.
“Seryoso. Parang medyo naintindihan ko bakit ako ganito.”
“Oh bakit?”
“Basta pre. May kailangan muna ako gawin.”
“Basta amputa. Nakakawew pare. Sasabihin mo na may alam ka tas basta, umay.” He gave an irritated expression. I laughed at him and I apologized. We finished our conversation just after going at the back of the mall near the entrance gate of my condominium. I thanked Ryan and we say our goodbyes. While I was dragging myself inside the premises, I felt the gentle breeze touch my skin; it was awfully windy that night –just like it was during that particular evening last year when we celebrated our graduation…
“He-yo bitches! Mga engineer na tayo!!!” shouted Timothy as he raised the huge brown bottle of beer and did some sort of weird interpretative dance with his arms.
“Uy pre, ingat ka sa mucho ha baka matapon kakalinis ko lang ng bahay” requested Ced.
“Drunk ke ne be Tim?” asked Alyanna before she took a shot of gin bilog.
“Oh my gosh, is this gin? Akele ke be Shivas?” she complained.
“Si Lis may dala nung Shivas” informed Hans.
“Si Lis –as in si Felicity darating?” I asked.
“Ba’t mo tinatanong? Yikeeeeeeee.” Teased Ryan. Most of the people in the room reacted either by grinning or laughing; only Tim and Alyanna didn’t understand what was going on and I didn’t want them to understand because there wasn’t any reason for me and Felicity to be teased –we just used to be close friends.
“Nagkasomething kayo ni Lis pre? Akala ko ba tropa yun?” inquired Gerald.
“Tropa naman talaga pre.” I replied.
“Tsaka feel ko di matatype-an ni Nick si Lis pre, kulang sa…” added Timothy as he placed his two large hands in front of his chest.
“Gago amputa” commented Hans.
“Keng trepe leng nemen keyo why are you being teased by them?” Alyanna followed-up as she stroked her hair.
“Ewan ko nga sa mga yan eh, okay naman talaga kami ni Lis.” I defended myself.
“Pre, kung okay talaga kayo, bakit awkward?” stated the ever critical Hans.
“OHHHHHHHHHHHH! ERHMEGED” yelled Timothy while trying to imitate Alyanna’s conyo accent.
“Alam mo pre ha, kayo lang naman nagpapaawkward.” I smirked.
“Lul mo, kung di awkward kausapin mo nga mamaya pagkarating” dared Ryan.
“Sige ba” I agreed. Truth be told, it wasn’t really awkward between me and Lis. We were best friends since high school but we started to grow apart for some reason. It started during 2nd year college and until now I still can’t identify the reason why. Maybe some friends just drift apart and no one’s actually to blame.
The party tonight was held for the 5th year graduates, which meant all of us who took up engineering. Ced was the one that hosted the party and he didn’t just invite us, but he also invited his high school friends. Our group on the other hand, met through different connections of people. Ryan, Timothy, Ced and I were blockmates in college while Alyanna and Gerald were high school friends of Ced. Meanwhile, Hans is Ryan’s cousin and Felicity happened to be, or used to be my best friend. Our group met occasionally, but all of us became good friends throughout our college years. Ced’s other guests arrived around 10:00 P.M. The long table for beer pong was already set and for those who were not fans of drinking beer (like me). Another table was positioned beside it. Felicity arrived around 10:30 P.M.
“Hey guys! Sorry late ako.” She greeted. She hugged Hans and Ced before placing the liquor on the table and giving me a “hello”. She sat down on the chair beside Hans which was conveniently placed across the table in front of me.
“Ey,Felicity, balita ko break na kayo ni ano, ni TJ?” the semi-drunk Gerald asked.
“Potek, bakit lasing na agad si Ger eh nasakin yung alak?” she replied.
“Eh ano kasi, nagtimpla na ako gin bilog kasi ang wala pa yung Shivas.” Ced answered.
“Ay potek, sorry sorry. Medyo traffic rin kasi beh” she tried explaining.
“Ey, di pa ako lasing ha Lis tsaka may tinatanong pa ako sa’yo.” retorted Gerald as he tried pointing at Felicity but was clearly pointing at Hans.
“Oo sige, di ka pa nga lasing.” Felicity rolled her eyes in response.
“Break ne nge keye ni TJ or is Ger just drunk?” Alyanna pried. Felicity breathed deeply and nodded her head in response.
“Erhemeged. What happened?”
“Break na nga kayo? Weh??” Hans reflected the surprise that everyone felt, including Ryan which usually didn’t give a shit about another’s’ personal life unless asked about his opinion.
“Putangina? Ano nangyari?”
“Sine ne kepeg-break?”
“Eh hala ano, ano nangyari?”
“Wait lang mga beh, kalma lang. Isa-isa” requested the frazzled Felicity. She was laughing but somehow I knew that she was also having a hard time organizing her explanation of the events that led to her and TJ’s break-up.
“Nahuli ko kasi siyang may babae.” She started. Now that is something astonishing –in a bad way of course. It’s astonishing because between the two of them, it was obvious that TJ was the one that poured out his heart more. He courted Felicity for two years and overcame his pagka-torpe in the process. He was famous with the ladies because of his smarts and charisma but he only had eyes for Lis. Why the hell would he cheat on her after all the effort?
“Diba patay na patay yun sa’yo?” I started. “Pano niya nagawang mambabae?”
“Tanungin mo siya beh, kasi kahit ako hindi ko alam.” She replied jokingly.
“Lul. Kwento mo kasi buo.” I answered back.
“Teka nga ito na” she rolled her eyes and I made faces as she did. “Okay lang naman na mambabae kasi siya ng isang beses ganun, kaso yung problema ko pang-ilan beses na pala nila ginawa yun.”
“Ey, anong, anong ginawa?” inquired the intoxicated Gerald.
“Teka, ni-rak ni TJ yung babae? Taeng yan?” exclaimed Hans.
“Nang-rak pa ng ibang babae, pwede naman sa girl friend nalang niya. Buti pa ako loyal” added Timothy.
“Hindi rin kasi kami nag-aano” informed Felicity.
“WEH? Di kayo nagsesex?” Timothy carelessly blurted out. Hans looked at Timothy with disbelief while Ryan gave him a bad finger. I, on the other hand, laughed a little at Tim’s stupidity.
“Hindi pa.” Felicity calmly replied. “Anyway, yun nga, nahuli ko, tas sa akto pa beh. Pumunta ako sa apartment ni TJ tas pang! Nagkakainan sila mukha. Parang teleserye beh.”
“Hele, eneng ginewe me?”
“Ayoko na i-elaborate pero basta ayun. Basta nakipagbreak ako on the spot.”
“Kailan pa kayo break?” I inquired.
“Siguro mga 2 months ago.”
“2 MONTHS AGO? Tas, ano, wala kaming lahat alam?” exclaimed Ced.
“Oo, di naman kasi ako yung tipong nagpopost ng mga ganun sa net.”
“Pero wala ka man lang kwinentuhan. Kamusta ka ngayon?” stressed Hans.
“Kinakaya naman kaso syempre malungkot. Nakita ko narin kasi siyang asawa ko sa future eh.”
“Asawa agad?” I commented.
“Pagnag-jojowa kasi, dapat prospect asawa mo na yun. Bakit ka ba papasok sa relasyon? Anong purpose mo diba?” she defended. “Palibhasa…”
“Palibhasa ano?” I cut her off. If she’s gonna say what I think she’s gonna say, I’m going to get extremely pissed. She glared back at me, but before she could say anything stupid, Hans was able to cut in.
“Hayaan mo na si TJ Lis. Di ka niya deserve.” Hans commented.
“Come here babygirl! Enedete leng keme pere seye.” Alyanna hugged Felicity and Felicity’s hostile aura subsided as she was comforted by everyone. The only thing that I managed to do was give her a tap on the shoulder as I headed outside to smoke a cigarette –that has to count as something right? Around 12 A.M. everyone was either tipsy or drunk. Timothy requested to play truth or dare to, in his own words, make things more “interesting”. He said that he already grew tired of playing beer pong, but frankly I somehow saw this as a ploy to score a kiss or something “more” from any of the girls present in the party.
“Okay guyz, iikot ko yung bote tas kung sino matamaan yun yung mag t-truth or dare ha?” instructed Timothy.
“Ey, di kami tanga pre, lasing, pero di tanga.” Gerald barely informed Timothy. I don’t know if Tim ignored Gerald or he just couldn’t fathom everything that was happening around him so he proceeded with the game. The first three rounds were boring because everyone opted to choose “truth”, so Tim had to come up with rule that the choice between truth or dare should be in alternate order, so if you chose “truth” during your first round, you have to choose “dare” in your next. Everyone agreed and that’s when things became more “interesting”.
“Donna? Donna diba?” Timothy asked her. “Dare ka na kasi nag truth ka na kanina…” Donna fixed her long hair and tried to shrug off her tipsiness.
“Sige ano naman yung dare?” She replied confidently.
“Halikan mo yung taong pinakagwapo para sa’yo dito.” Timothy grinned. He found an opportunity to score tonight and now he’s trying to take it. Ang kati.
“Ang tanong, papayag ba siya, baka ayaw niya.” She snarled.
“Walang ayaw-ayaw dito. Dapat go lang ng go te’.” Timothy eagerly informed Donna. Man he was really desperate. If he doesn’t get chosen by Donna I swear I’ll make fun of him until the night ends.
“Gusto ko sana si ano, Nick right?” What the fuck. Why me?
“Hala ate sigurado kang ako?” I inquired. I don’t know what to do. She was sexy and all, but being kissed by a stranger wasn’t a part of my bucket list for that night.
“Oo, para sa akin gwapo ka kuya” she replied straightforwardly. She stood up and approached me. I didn’t know what to do; I don’t want to embarrass her by saying no so I allowed her to kiss me –on my right cheek.
“Wala naman pong sinabi na sa lips so sa cheek nalang ginawa ko” she whispered in my ear. Damn girl, where did you get all that sass? I was the one that felt a little embarrassed. I already titled my head for a good make-out position but then she turned me down with a kiss on my cheek. The night suddenly did get more interesting.
“Okay! Si Lis na! Nice nice!” remarked Tim. “Game, truth or dare?”
“Putek, bakit ang saya mo? Truth nalang beh.” Felicity giggled.
“Tim, pwede eke megteteneng?” Alyanna cut Timothy. Of course the gentle giant had no choice but to say yes to her. “What’s with you and Nick? I mean, negketheng be keyeng delewe?” Tangina. Felicity became silent and for a moment, looked at the reaction I’ll give. I just uttered a bad word and drank a shot of tequila.
“Anong something beh? Magkaibigan kami since high school ganun. Ayun.” she answered coldly.
“Ano, eh bakit parang awkward kayo?” followed up Ced. Felicity’s eyes grew bigger and she gave out an awkward laugh while shaking her head.
“Wait lang beh ha, anong awkward? Eh parang goods naman kami, tsaka hoy, isang truth lang to diba?” Felicity asserted. Hans signaled everyone to move on from the topic, so we continued the game until everyone was already drunk. Timothy finally got to score on someone, Ryan got to do a lap dance on Alyanna and Gerald threw up. Donna and I got to talk for a little while and I ended up getting her number.
“So, dancer ka na since high school?” asked Donna.
“Oo tas ikaw naman, singer?” I replied.
“Oo, magaling raw ako kumanta” she answered before she took a sip of her beer. “May girl friend ka na?”
“Ngayon? Wala eh.”
“Pero dati meron? Si ano, si Felicity ba yun? Ex mo?”
“Ha? Hindi ah. Magkaibigan lang talaga kami nun.”
“Eh bakit kayo inaasar sa isa’t-isa?”
“Ewan ko sa mga yun. Tanungin mo sila.” I smirked.
“Ang sungit mo naman kuya” she remarked with irritation.
“Hindi, sorry. Ganun lang talaga ako magsalita pero di ako masungit.”
“Diyan usually nafafall yung babae eh, sa pa-mysterious na masungit type.”
“Ganun ba yun?”
“Oo kaya! Marami ka na siguro naging girlfriend…”
I gave out a disappoint sigh. “Wala pa nga eh.”
“WEH? Di nga?” She shrieked. “Bakit?”
“Bakit ka gulat na gulat?” I inquired curiously.
She gave out a smile and flipped her hair. “Gwapo ka naman, liscenced engineer tas dancer pa. Parang ang hirap maniwalang di ka pa nagkakagirl friend no.”
“Wala eh, wala pa talaga siguro akong nakilala para maging girl friend ko ganun” I sighed.
“Okay lang yan, malay mo naman ngayon nakilala mo na siya di mo lang alam na siya na pala” she winked.
“Eh ikaw may boy friend ka ngayon?” I inquired.
“Wala, pero may ex na ako. Tatlo.”
“Grabe ka naman po. Ganyan ba pag maganda?”
“Hindi ah. Sabi nga ng isang ex ko ang panget ng ugali ko kaya siya nakipagbreak.”
“Parang di naman.”
“Ewan ko, yun sabi niya eh.”
“Pano ko ba malalaman kung totoo sinasabi ng ex mo o hindi?”
“Gusto mo labas tayo minsan para malaman mo?”
“Okay lang sige, kaso paano kita macocontact?”
“Akin na phone mo, lagay ko nalang dun number ko.” She took my phone and started entering her digits. I felt good about it because I really was interested in getting to know her. “Yan, just text me if ever.”
“Oo naman.” I agreed. “Wait lang ha, punta lang ako CR.”
I can’t remember everything that had happened during that night, only those essential ones. When it was around 2:00 A.M, I think, Ced announced that the guest rooms were already prepared if there was anyone who wanted to sleep. Almost every one of us already went down because we were all drunk and tired. Guys and girls were supposed to sleep in different rooms to prevent “things” from transpiring but then again, most of the guests didn’t abide by it because they were too drunk to remember. The arrangement ended up with a room for the college friends and a room for the high school buddies. Before I could lie down on the mattress, I realized I left my phone on the beer pong table at the kitchen. I felt something weird while walking towards the kitchen but I brushed it off because I kept saying to myself that I was already drunk. I heard someone crying in the kitchen. The lights flickered and the crying got louder. Lasing ako, lasing lang ako. Like the dumb blonde in every horror movie, I continued to move forward to the source of the wails and just as I was about to reach the kitchen…
“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!” shouted Felicity.
“AH!!!!!!!!” I yelled in response. This crazy bitch almost blasted me out of my pants. She laughed manically and even knelt down because of the humor she found in her childish prank.
“Tae Nick. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Mukha kang tanga! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.” She kept on laughing.
“Para kang bata gago. Saya amputa.” I said while trying to regain composure. She continued to laugh for another 30 seconds or so, and then she sat on the chair near the beer pong table.
“Okay na ha?” I asked sarcastically.
“Okay na. Sorry” she giggled. “Bakit gising ka pa?”
“Naiwan ko phone ko sa table. Nakita mo ba?” I replied coldly.
“Ayan ba?” she pointed at the 6S on the table.
“Oo, salamat.” I reached for my phone. “Eh ikaw, ba’t gising ka pa?”
“Wala lang. Di rin ako makatulog eh” she replied.
“Lakas ah, di ka pa lasing?”
“Potek, hindi naman sa ganun. Di lang talaga ako maantok beh.”
“Alam mo naman siguro rason ba’t di nakakatulog ang tao di’ba?”
“Bakit daw?”
“Marami daw iniisip pag ganun.”
“Oo nga eh” she replied. It’s been a while since the two of us talked like this and I can see her defenses falling down so quickly. I didn’t know if it was liquor courage, but I wanted to admit to her how I missed talking to her and that I was sorry if ever I made her feel irrelevant in my life, but the only thing I could say was…
“Mahal mo pa siya no?” I teased.
“Gago ka talaga Nick. Tama ba yan sabihin sa babaeng nagmomove on? Potek” she exclaimed. I looked at her with indifference to make her realize that I wanted to hear her answer. “Syempre oo, ilang buwan palang nakakaraan beh.”
“Namimiss mo pa?” I inquired.
“Yung memories siguro namin tsaka yung…”
“Yung?”
“Mga intimate moments beh ganun.”
“Nakow ayan na po tayo.” I laughed.
“Potek, kasama yun syempre no.”
“Eh anong balak mong gawin?” I asked her. She scratched her head and swept the loose hair on her face.
“Wala, ano ba magagawa ko? Eh mahal ko parin siya oo, kaso ayaw –ayaw ko na balikan kasi di ko na matiwalaan” she replied. Tears were threatening to fall so I decided to stop prying.
“Matiwalaan amputa, lasing ka na Lis. Tulog na tayo.” I tried helping her up but she refused and said she could stand up on her own. As we were walking toward the guest rooms, she stopped for awhile.
“Nick samahan mo ako sa labas saglit” she whispered.
“Ano sabi mo?” I replied.
“Samahan mo ako sa labas saglit” she repeated herself. I obliged without any resistance because I was too lazy to ask. If ever she’s gonna take long on whatever she means to do outside, I’ll probably leave her –I’m already too drunk and tired for anymore drama. The two of us went to the house’s balcony and we were met by the cool breeze of the wind. It felt so comforting for some reason. I was supposed to light up a cigarette but the wind kept on putting out the flame from my lighter. Felicity walked towards me, flicked my cigarette from my hand, and looked at me. It’s been a while since I last examined the details of her face. The features of her face which I liked the most were her pear-shaped eyes and her heart-shaped lips.
“Hoy anong ginagawa mo?” I managed to utter those words despite my intoxication.
“Bakit ngayon lang tayo nag-usap ulit?” she whispered. I can feel her breath on my lips. I couldn’t answer her because I was too drawn to the sight of her lips which were a few inches from mine. Why did we stop talking to each other? I felt her small hands holding my face and the next thing I knew, her lips were on mine. I could taste the tequila, but other than that, I only felt the heat of the moment. I wrapped my arms around her small waist and she placed her right hand on my nape. Each time our lips parted and I thought that the moment was going to stop, it didn’t. Her soft lips kept on capturing mine and my lips were willing victims to her desires. As the kiss went further and my urge grew stronger, she stopped. The only thing we could hear was our own heavy breathing after. She looked at me intently and she uttered the words, “sorry”. She left and I couldn’t do anything; she left me hanging.
I didn’t understand why that kiss happened back then.
I opened the door to my condominium and the first thing I noticed when I turned on the lights was the unfinished draft of my application form on my study desk. I sat down and searched for the part where I stopped writing.
Name: Nick Jocson I. Hangin
Age: 21
Status: Single
I realized I stopped writing when I got to the “skills” part. I felt cold and I realized that I left the window open that’s why the wind was able to enter my room. I locked my window and just as when I was about to lie down on my bed, I saw my electrical and water bills on the floor. Nahanginan siguro kaya napunta sa sahig. After placing them on a table I lied down and thought of all the responsibilities that I left unfinished before going to training. The only words that kept playing in my head were dapat and sana, but I can’t go back in time. I was just too lazy to pay for the bills, and frankly I’m dumbfounded by my application form because I didn’t know what skills I possessed. I’m afraid to claim a skill that I can’t actually deliver when the time comes just like a while ago when I was chasing snatcher. I thought that I could catch up but, I only ended up hurting myself. Binigay mo na nga lahat, kulang parin. I felt my phone vibrate and I peeked at it so see who it was.
Felicity Agoncillo
Calling
Swipe to answer
Why was Felicity calling? Shit, I forgot that I texted her to call me when she’s not busy because I had something to tell her. What that hell was I doing? Seryoso ka ba na ngayon mo kakausapin Nick?
“Hello.” I answered.
“Oh beh, bakit ka nagpapatawag?” she answered.
“Wala lang.”
“Potek, anong wala lang. May nangyari ba?” I couldn’t answer her quickly. “Huy!”
“Sorry, medyo choppy. Ano, uhm. Muntik na ma-snatch phone ko kanina.”
“WEH? Potek, okay ka lang? Paano mo nakuha?”
“Hinabol namin nila Ryan tas ayun, natalunan siya ni Ryan tas isang suntok palang tulog na.”
“Gago?” She laughed. “Beast mode si Ryan ha.”
“Oo nga eh.” I giggled.
“Pano yan beh, o di ang dami mong kailangan gawin. Papablotter ganun, tas syempre kailangan mo ng abogado para…” she was saying a lot of things that I had to do. I couldn’t bear adding it to the list of the things I keep thinking at night.
“Oo nga eh.” I replied so she could stop.
“Pero ikaw, okay ka lang naman? Wala naman nangyari sa’yo?”
“Wala, nagcramps lang kaya di ko nahabol ng tuluyan yung magnanakaw.”
“Kung kalian ka naman natutong maghabol saka mo di nakuha tsktsk.” She teased. She was right, she was always right. “Mag-ingat ka na sa susunod ha. Wag ka kasi magtext sa kalye pag gabi kahit may kasama ka.
“Opo inay.”
“Nag-aalala lang.” she asserted. “Ayoko rin kasi mapahamak ka.” And there goes Felicity’s trademark sweetness. I guess that’s her weapon of attraction. She’s a plain looking girl, but her heart is too big for any man to handle. “Yun lang ba sasabihin mo?”
“Ah… oo yun lang. Gusto ko lang may makwentuhan.” I lied.
“Sige, magpahinga ka na. Okay na ba cramps mo?”
“Oo medyo nawawala na yung sakit.”
“Sige matulog ka na, maaga rin ako bukas eh. First time ko magpresent ng design sa agency ko beh!”
“God bless, galingan mo.”
“Opo, thank you! Pahinga ka na. Buksan mo nalang aircon diyan para malamig tas masarap.”
“Akala ko ba lamigin ka? Bakit ka masasarapan pag may aircon?”
“Grabe, syempre kahit yung mahina lang, masarap kaya yung lamig ng aircon. Kailangan ko rin ng hangin sa buhay ko no.”
“So kailangan mo ako?”
“Ano ba yan.”
I laughed. “Sige sige, goodnight na Lis.”
“Goodnight po. Wala ka ng kailangan sabihin ha?”
“Wala na.”
— — — Call End — — —
I followed her order and turned on the air conditioner, but unlike her I prefer a colder temperature. I was too tired to shower and brush my teeth. I was already on the verge of entering deep sleep when my phone vibrated. I tried opening my eyes, but the fatigue and stress ruled me over and the last thing I saw was the light of my smart phone and the vague letters of the name of the caller. I wasn’t able to see who has calling for me right now; I guess it’ll have to wait until tomorrow.
