Status: in-progress.
LOVE-NAT, isang makulit na lovestory!
Chapter 45-3. Tequila Baby.
Dahan-dahan lang si Sef sa pagpapaandar, kinakapa yung lugar. He was concentrating on AJ's instructions, until Ellie started to whimper - a sign that she was starting to gain consciousness mula sa mahimbing nitong pagkakatulog. Sef glances at her, only to find Ellie staring hard at him with a wide grin plastered all over her drunken face. Parang nananaginip ng gising ang dalaga.
Sef find her smile and stare a bit awkward, lalo pa't naalala niya ng niyakap siya ng dalaga kanina sa parking lot. He felt his cheeks turned a little bright red, and mentally hated himself for it. He threw a frown at her, "What?" He asked. "What is it this time?"
But Ellie seemed unmoved, hindi siya naapektuhan sa pagsusuplado ni Sef sakanya. Mas lalo lang siyang ngumiti habang pumupungay-pungay ang kanyang mga mata sa naiinis na binata. Parang konti na lang, her eyes will turn to hearts. "Haaiii..." She sighed dreamily, still staring fondly at Sef's face."Bakit pa ko kakain ng Rebisco? Kung sa'yo pa lang masarap na ang feeling ko."
Sef's eyes widened in shock and his jaw dropped. It took him a minute before he chuckled with amusement. "The wonders of alcohol..." He thought out loud, smiling as he shook his head. "Sandali na lang, we're almost there. Makakapag-pahinga ka na."
But Ellie was far from stopping. Ngayon lang umepekto ang ilang baso ng Baileys at 15 shots ng Tequila sakanya. Her eyes were heavy, pero nakuha pa din nitong mag-beautiful eyes."Alam mo kung Facebook status ka lang, hinding-hindi kita ishe-share."
Sef looked at her, one brow raised in confusion dahil ngayon na-kumpara pa siya sa isang Facebook status.
"Syempre, para ako lang ang makaka-like sayo!!" And she laughed, sabay pisil sa pisngi ni Sef. OH DEYM, BANGAG SI ELEONOR!!! BANGAG NA BANGAG!! Ano bang akala niya? Nasa palabas siya ni John Lloyd Cruz at siya kanwari si Toni Gonzaga? Ano 'toh My Amnesia Girl, Part 2?
"Ah, you're wasted!" Sef smirked but for some reason he was actually enjoying it."Enough with the cheesy lines, alright?"But the smile was hard to wipe off his face."Ituro mo na lang sakin yung daan, Ellie."
"Okay, pero ibalik mo muna sakin yung sulat " She opened her palm like a small little girl waiting for some candies.
Sef gave another serious frown. "You're totally... wait, what letter?"
Ellie waved a hand in the air in disapproval. "Pssh."Her eyes seemed as if they're about to close any minute now. "Mas madali bang magkunwaring hindi mo na lang nabasa?" Sabay tawa - isang nakakalasing na tawa. "Hm... May tanong ako..."Ellie leaned forward so as to eye Sef closer.
Sef stepped on the breaks para tumingin sa lasing na dalaga. Actually, si Sef ang may gustong mag-tanong sakanya. Hindi kasi niya toh maintindihan. Ano ba yung sulat na sinasabi niya?
Nagkatinginan silang dalawa, Both searching each other's eyes... the longer they looked, the more they felt an invisible electricity coursing right through them... and Ellie looked as if, she's just about to ask something BIG. Sef has never seen her looked so serious... itanong lang niya ng tama, and Sef wouldn't hesitate about answering her...
Every tick of the clock... another heartbeat...
And Ellie opened her lips upang bigkasin ang pinaka seryosong tanong na maririnig ni Sef sa tanan ng buhay niya - "Kung kamuka ni Aling Dionisia ang lahat ng ipapanganak na bata araw-araw, kokonta ka pa ba sa RH Bill?"
Ilang beses na bang palakad-lakad si Darren sa labas ng gate nila? Oo, mula sa loob ng kwarto niya, sa salas, hangaang sa umabot na siya sa kalsada, sa may tapat mismo ng gate nila.
Ilang beses na ba niyang tinignan yung relos niya para i-check kung anong oras na?
Habang tumatagal, mas lalo siyang hindi mapakali... parang bawat kotseng dumadaan ee, pakiwari niya si Ellie na yun... He glanced on his watch for what seemed to be the hundredth time, at ng nakita niyang halos alas-tres na ng madaling araw. Max had the impulse to get in his car at pupunta na talaga siya sa Taguig!! But then, he took a deep breath, hoping it would clear his mind... ng may narinig siyang makina ng sasakyan na kakaliko lang halos sa street nila.
Max hesitated for a moment, Pajero kasi yung natanaw niya ee Montero yung gamit ni Brad kanina sa pag-sundo kay Ellie. But then... parang pamilyar sa kanya yung Pajero... lalo na yung plate number... san nga ba niya yan nakita?
The vehicle slowed down and went to a full stop pag-tapat na pag-tapat sa bahay nila. Max has his usual frown habang nakikiramdam kung sino may-ari nitong Pajero pero hindi niya alam, the owner inside has a deeper frown of suspicion thrown right at him.
Bumukas yung pintuan sa driver’s seat, and out came the familiar figure Max has learned to loathe so much - the Miguel Josef Uy Monteverde.
Nagkatinginan sila, mabilis lang but it definitely contained all the message they wanted to throw at each other. At para kay Sef, it doesn't take Eintein's brain para i-figure out yung fact na hinatid niya si Ellie sa bahay ni Max.
Sef now rounded to the passenger's seat para alalayan sa pagbaba si Ellie, who already has her eyes half-closed.
Andaming gustong itanong ni Max, it's not that he doesn't like to talk to Sef, it's just that he doesn't know where to begin. Kaya naman pinili na lang ng binata na pagbuksan sila Sef at Ellie ng gate and lead them inside the house.
Walang umiimik sa dalawang binata even as Ellie plopped down the sofa. Max turned to look at Sef as though to tell him na pwede na siyang umalis pero parang naka-glue ang mga paa ni Sef sa lapag. He seemed hesitant to go. Right now, hindi lang si Max ang may mga katanungan.
"Tu-big." Ellie groaned.
Hindi na lang pinansin ni Max si Sef as he went to the kitchen para ikuha ng baso ng tubig ang dalaga.
Sef tried to sound casual,"Ako na, meron pa siyang natitirang tubig sa sasakyan."
Max glared at him. "Meron naman kaming tubig dito."
Tubig pa lang yan, kala mo contest na.
Sef gritted his teeth in anger. Gusto pa sana niyang mag-salita but then he just told himself na hindi niya bahay 'toh... and Ellie groaned for the second time,"Tubig."
Tumuloy na si Max sa kusina. Sef made himself comfortable by sitting on the sofa adjacent sa hinihigan ni Ellie. Bago pa man bumalik si Max, tumayo ang dalaga and dragged her feet towards the bathroom and shuts herself in.
Pagbalik ni Max napansin niyang wala si Ellie sa sofa so he placed the glass of water on the center table. "Umaga na, pwede ka ng umuwi." He muttered coldly at Sef.
Sef smirked with an air of arrogance. "Ah, sorry. Nakakasagabal ba ko?"
Parang may apoy na biglang nabuhay sa mga mata ni Max."Huh. Kapag sinabi ko bang oo, aalis ka na?" He said, gritting his teeth in evident anger.
Sef shrugged coolly.
"Sabihin mo nga sakin, back in EK which part of Stay away from Ellie that you didn't understand?"
"Bakit, sino ka ba to tell me that?"
Oh boy, Sef's question surely triggered something."At ikaw? Clown lang siya para sayo hindi ba? Bakit ganyan ka kung umasta?"
And another point for Darren Max Sanchez.
Parang merong laser beams na lumabas sa mga mata ng mga binata, konti pa siguro and another fight might just occur... pero biglang lumabas si Ellie sa likod nila.
“Ang ingay-ingay niyo naman.”Ellie said sleepily. “Matutulog na ko ee.”
The two gentlemen froze like statues carved on a white marble, their mouths hanging open... ng makita nilang pareho si Eleonor Malicsi Dimaculangan, her hair was damp, parang kaka-shower lang niya and she was wearing a red-velvety bathrobe that fitted her just perfectly.
Kanina pala, when she said TUBIG, she literally meant TUBIG.
Max quickly grabbed Sef’s neck and forced him to look down as though preventing him from looking at Ellie. Sef struggled to free himself from Max’s grip, para tuloy silang nagwre-wrestling na dalawa. Sef took a hold of the throw pillow next to him and slammed it hard on Max’s face so as to block his sight as well.
Humikab si Ellie and rolled her eyes as she started up the stairs. “Good night.” She muttered groggily.
Napatigil ang dalawang binata in that funny position where as they’re strangling each other up, sabay silang ngumiti and answered in unison. “Good night.”
Eleonor Malicsi Dimaculangan
WHAT DA EF!! Parang nasa loob ng kampanang hinahampas ang ulo ko sa sobrang sakit!! DEYM!! Ito na ata yung tinatawag nilang HANG-OVER!! Sa totoo lang, I’m more than tempted to hang myself right now. Sheet, bakit ba naimbento pa ang alak?? GAAAH!! At bakit sobrang daming taong nahuhumaling dito kung panandalian lang naman nitong natatanggal yung mga problemang dala-dala mo? Tipong pag-gising mo pa ng umaga, magdudulot lang pala ulit ito ng panibagong SAKIT!! Weh, Ellie? Di nga? Hahaha. Ikaw ba talaga yan? May ganyang chuva ka na ngayon? Nagagawa ng Baileys at Tequila, nuh!! Haha.
Animales ka Eleonor, ikaw ang gumawa niyan sa sarili mo kaya MAGTIIS KA!! AMP!!
I tried to concentrate on what my professor was saying, pero as usual parang hanging papasok sa isang tenga yung lecture sabay labas sa kabila. ARGH!! Right now, who cares about Business Ethics? Tae naman kasi, hindi ko inaakala na hanggang sa college kailangan pa din i-discuss ang GMRC? Haha. Oo, feeling ko naman kasi its just a matter of deciding what act is right or wrong, yun nga lang related sa Business. Parang nag-bayad lang ako sa MUP para ituro nila sakin na masamang dayain ang financial statements!!
HHHAAAAAAIIII... Ibinaling ko na lang tuloy ang tingin ko sa mga classmates ko, naisip ko kasi... Ako lang ba ang hindi nakikinig? And am I the only who finds this subject stupid? Hahaha. Nakita ko si Borge, pasimple pang itinatago yung phone niya sa bag nya para mag-txt. Si Ken naman suot sa isang tenga yung earphone niya. Mukang si Jill lang naman itong todo sa pag-kopya ng notes, at halos nai-jot down na niya ang lahat ng salitang nasabi ni Sir.
I turned to look at my right, si Max. As usual, naka kunot nanaman ang noo niya habang seryosong naka tingin kay Sir. Minsan iniisip ko, nakikinig ba siyang talaga o nagmumuni-muni lang din kagaya ko? Haha. Sa totoo lang, nate-tempt akong kalabitin si Max... pero... naalala ko, hindi pa rin pala kami okay. Kaninang umaga, pag-gising ko, yung bagong maid nila ang gumising sakin. Hindi pa din niyang makuhang kausapin ako... Gusto ko pa naman sanang itanong kung papano ko naka-uwi ng buhay kagabi pero baka naman hindi din niya alam, siguro tulog na siya nun at di na ko nakuhang hintayin.
Sinubukan kong i-replay sa isip ko yung mga ilang pangyayari kagabi sa Ascend, especially the events right after Brad asked me na samahan siyang umorder pa ng drinks. I could see random images in my head. Mga picture na hindi sunud-sunod, walang sense, hindi synchronized and most of all, ang blurred. ARGH!! Animales ka talaga Eleonor!! Sa susunod nga, WAG NA WAG KA NG IINOM!! BALBAL KA!!!
KRIIIIIIIIII~NG!!!
ARGH!! School bell yun... usually, masaya ko pagnaririnig ko toh pero ngayon parang soccer ball na pumapalo ang malakas na tunog na yun sa ulo ko that I have to slam my head on my desk, wincing due to horrible headache.
“Oh ano?” ngisi ni Borge. “Ayan kasi, iinom-inom, hindi naman nagyayaya.”
“Errr...” I groaned, unable to come up with any decent reply. Animales talaga tong babaeng toh, nakuha pang magtampo di man lang maawa sakin!! Ampfufu.
“Gusto mo ng hot soup? Makakatulong yun.” Sara offered.
“Ano bang ininom mo?” Meg asked.
“Sino mga kasama mo?” Sunod na tanong ni Jill.
POOTEK!! Mas lalong sumasakit ulo ko sa mga tanong nila ee! Maya-maya pa, biglang umeksena si Japo, who spared me from answering any of their questions. “GUYS!!” He shouted excitedly, at lahat kami napa-tingin sakanya. “Pwede ba kayo mamaya?”
“Inuman?” Tanong agad ni Borge.
“Argh.” I growled. “PASS MUNA KO.” And my head dropped on the desk again.
I heard my so-called friends laughed at me. GAAAAH!!
“ANG SABOG MO TLGA ELLIE!!” tawa ni Borge with matching hampas pa yan sa braso ko!!
“No, no.” Japo shook his head, still grinning with enthusiasm. “I got an invitation kanina. Gusto niyong manuod ng basketball game nila Nico?”
“NICO? SIGE SIGE!!” Borge squealed. “MANUNUOD TLGA AKO!!”
I gave Borge and Japo the sad, puppy-eyes. Gusto ko din sumama!! Hello, basketball yun!! Gusto ko manuod but DANG, ang ulo kooooo!! ARGH!!
“Sumama ka na Ellie.” Japo said, squeezing my cheeks. “Masaya yun, cheer natin sila Nico.”
“Oo nga.” Meg joined in. “Ikaw lang wala.”
“Max?” I heard Sara’s voice. “You wanna go watch it too?”
Max stood up, dragging his chair with him that it made a long screeching sound. OW, PAKSYET!! It resonated yet again and my head throbbed painfully than ever. Pakiramdam ko tuloy, sinadya yun ni Max!! GGGRRR...
“I’m not interested.” Sabi ni Max as he grabbed his bag and walked out the room, pero kay Sara lang ako nakatingin and I saw something in her eyes while she was watching Max’s retreating form... parang... nakita ko yung sarili ko sakanya.
It was as if, I was looking at the face of... REJECTION.
To be continued.
Sef find her smile and stare a bit awkward, lalo pa't naalala niya ng niyakap siya ng dalaga kanina sa parking lot. He felt his cheeks turned a little bright red, and mentally hated himself for it. He threw a frown at her, "What?" He asked. "What is it this time?"
But Ellie seemed unmoved, hindi siya naapektuhan sa pagsusuplado ni Sef sakanya. Mas lalo lang siyang ngumiti habang pumupungay-pungay ang kanyang mga mata sa naiinis na binata. Parang konti na lang, her eyes will turn to hearts. "Haaiii..." She sighed dreamily, still staring fondly at Sef's face."Bakit pa ko kakain ng Rebisco? Kung sa'yo pa lang masarap na ang feeling ko."
Sef's eyes widened in shock and his jaw dropped. It took him a minute before he chuckled with amusement. "The wonders of alcohol..." He thought out loud, smiling as he shook his head. "Sandali na lang, we're almost there. Makakapag-pahinga ka na."
But Ellie was far from stopping. Ngayon lang umepekto ang ilang baso ng Baileys at 15 shots ng Tequila sakanya. Her eyes were heavy, pero nakuha pa din nitong mag-beautiful eyes."Alam mo kung Facebook status ka lang, hinding-hindi kita ishe-share."
Sef looked at her, one brow raised in confusion dahil ngayon na-kumpara pa siya sa isang Facebook status.
"Syempre, para ako lang ang makaka-like sayo!!" And she laughed, sabay pisil sa pisngi ni Sef. OH DEYM, BANGAG SI ELEONOR!!! BANGAG NA BANGAG!! Ano bang akala niya? Nasa palabas siya ni John Lloyd Cruz at siya kanwari si Toni Gonzaga? Ano 'toh My Amnesia Girl, Part 2?
"Ah, you're wasted!" Sef smirked but for some reason he was actually enjoying it."Enough with the cheesy lines, alright?"But the smile was hard to wipe off his face."Ituro mo na lang sakin yung daan, Ellie."
"Okay, pero ibalik mo muna sakin yung sulat " She opened her palm like a small little girl waiting for some candies.
Sef gave another serious frown. "You're totally... wait, what letter?"
Ellie waved a hand in the air in disapproval. "Pssh."Her eyes seemed as if they're about to close any minute now. "Mas madali bang magkunwaring hindi mo na lang nabasa?" Sabay tawa - isang nakakalasing na tawa. "Hm... May tanong ako..."Ellie leaned forward so as to eye Sef closer.
Sef stepped on the breaks para tumingin sa lasing na dalaga. Actually, si Sef ang may gustong mag-tanong sakanya. Hindi kasi niya toh maintindihan. Ano ba yung sulat na sinasabi niya?
Nagkatinginan silang dalawa, Both searching each other's eyes... the longer they looked, the more they felt an invisible electricity coursing right through them... and Ellie looked as if, she's just about to ask something BIG. Sef has never seen her looked so serious... itanong lang niya ng tama, and Sef wouldn't hesitate about answering her...
Every tick of the clock... another heartbeat...
And Ellie opened her lips upang bigkasin ang pinaka seryosong tanong na maririnig ni Sef sa tanan ng buhay niya - "Kung kamuka ni Aling Dionisia ang lahat ng ipapanganak na bata araw-araw, kokonta ka pa ba sa RH Bill?"
Ilang beses na bang palakad-lakad si Darren sa labas ng gate nila? Oo, mula sa loob ng kwarto niya, sa salas, hangaang sa umabot na siya sa kalsada, sa may tapat mismo ng gate nila.
Ilang beses na ba niyang tinignan yung relos niya para i-check kung anong oras na?
Habang tumatagal, mas lalo siyang hindi mapakali... parang bawat kotseng dumadaan ee, pakiwari niya si Ellie na yun... He glanced on his watch for what seemed to be the hundredth time, at ng nakita niyang halos alas-tres na ng madaling araw. Max had the impulse to get in his car at pupunta na talaga siya sa Taguig!! But then, he took a deep breath, hoping it would clear his mind... ng may narinig siyang makina ng sasakyan na kakaliko lang halos sa street nila.
Max hesitated for a moment, Pajero kasi yung natanaw niya ee Montero yung gamit ni Brad kanina sa pag-sundo kay Ellie. But then... parang pamilyar sa kanya yung Pajero... lalo na yung plate number... san nga ba niya yan nakita?
The vehicle slowed down and went to a full stop pag-tapat na pag-tapat sa bahay nila. Max has his usual frown habang nakikiramdam kung sino may-ari nitong Pajero pero hindi niya alam, the owner inside has a deeper frown of suspicion thrown right at him.
Bumukas yung pintuan sa driver’s seat, and out came the familiar figure Max has learned to loathe so much - the Miguel Josef Uy Monteverde.
Nagkatinginan sila, mabilis lang but it definitely contained all the message they wanted to throw at each other. At para kay Sef, it doesn't take Eintein's brain para i-figure out yung fact na hinatid niya si Ellie sa bahay ni Max.
Sef now rounded to the passenger's seat para alalayan sa pagbaba si Ellie, who already has her eyes half-closed.
Andaming gustong itanong ni Max, it's not that he doesn't like to talk to Sef, it's just that he doesn't know where to begin. Kaya naman pinili na lang ng binata na pagbuksan sila Sef at Ellie ng gate and lead them inside the house.
Walang umiimik sa dalawang binata even as Ellie plopped down the sofa. Max turned to look at Sef as though to tell him na pwede na siyang umalis pero parang naka-glue ang mga paa ni Sef sa lapag. He seemed hesitant to go. Right now, hindi lang si Max ang may mga katanungan.
"Tu-big." Ellie groaned.
Hindi na lang pinansin ni Max si Sef as he went to the kitchen para ikuha ng baso ng tubig ang dalaga.
Sef tried to sound casual,"Ako na, meron pa siyang natitirang tubig sa sasakyan."
Max glared at him. "Meron naman kaming tubig dito."
Tubig pa lang yan, kala mo contest na.
Sef gritted his teeth in anger. Gusto pa sana niyang mag-salita but then he just told himself na hindi niya bahay 'toh... and Ellie groaned for the second time,"Tubig."
Tumuloy na si Max sa kusina. Sef made himself comfortable by sitting on the sofa adjacent sa hinihigan ni Ellie. Bago pa man bumalik si Max, tumayo ang dalaga and dragged her feet towards the bathroom and shuts herself in.
Pagbalik ni Max napansin niyang wala si Ellie sa sofa so he placed the glass of water on the center table. "Umaga na, pwede ka ng umuwi." He muttered coldly at Sef.
Sef smirked with an air of arrogance. "Ah, sorry. Nakakasagabal ba ko?"
Parang may apoy na biglang nabuhay sa mga mata ni Max."Huh. Kapag sinabi ko bang oo, aalis ka na?" He said, gritting his teeth in evident anger.
Sef shrugged coolly.
"Sabihin mo nga sakin, back in EK which part of Stay away from Ellie that you didn't understand?"
"Bakit, sino ka ba to tell me that?"
Oh boy, Sef's question surely triggered something."At ikaw? Clown lang siya para sayo hindi ba? Bakit ganyan ka kung umasta?"
And another point for Darren Max Sanchez.
Parang merong laser beams na lumabas sa mga mata ng mga binata, konti pa siguro and another fight might just occur... pero biglang lumabas si Ellie sa likod nila.
“Ang ingay-ingay niyo naman.”Ellie said sleepily. “Matutulog na ko ee.”
The two gentlemen froze like statues carved on a white marble, their mouths hanging open... ng makita nilang pareho si Eleonor Malicsi Dimaculangan, her hair was damp, parang kaka-shower lang niya and she was wearing a red-velvety bathrobe that fitted her just perfectly.
Kanina pala, when she said TUBIG, she literally meant TUBIG.
Max quickly grabbed Sef’s neck and forced him to look down as though preventing him from looking at Ellie. Sef struggled to free himself from Max’s grip, para tuloy silang nagwre-wrestling na dalawa. Sef took a hold of the throw pillow next to him and slammed it hard on Max’s face so as to block his sight as well.
Humikab si Ellie and rolled her eyes as she started up the stairs. “Good night.” She muttered groggily.
Napatigil ang dalawang binata in that funny position where as they’re strangling each other up, sabay silang ngumiti and answered in unison. “Good night.”
Eleonor Malicsi Dimaculangan
WHAT DA EF!! Parang nasa loob ng kampanang hinahampas ang ulo ko sa sobrang sakit!! DEYM!! Ito na ata yung tinatawag nilang HANG-OVER!! Sa totoo lang, I’m more than tempted to hang myself right now. Sheet, bakit ba naimbento pa ang alak?? GAAAH!! At bakit sobrang daming taong nahuhumaling dito kung panandalian lang naman nitong natatanggal yung mga problemang dala-dala mo? Tipong pag-gising mo pa ng umaga, magdudulot lang pala ulit ito ng panibagong SAKIT!! Weh, Ellie? Di nga? Hahaha. Ikaw ba talaga yan? May ganyang chuva ka na ngayon? Nagagawa ng Baileys at Tequila, nuh!! Haha.
Animales ka Eleonor, ikaw ang gumawa niyan sa sarili mo kaya MAGTIIS KA!! AMP!!
I tried to concentrate on what my professor was saying, pero as usual parang hanging papasok sa isang tenga yung lecture sabay labas sa kabila. ARGH!! Right now, who cares about Business Ethics? Tae naman kasi, hindi ko inaakala na hanggang sa college kailangan pa din i-discuss ang GMRC? Haha. Oo, feeling ko naman kasi its just a matter of deciding what act is right or wrong, yun nga lang related sa Business. Parang nag-bayad lang ako sa MUP para ituro nila sakin na masamang dayain ang financial statements!!
HHHAAAAAAIIII... Ibinaling ko na lang tuloy ang tingin ko sa mga classmates ko, naisip ko kasi... Ako lang ba ang hindi nakikinig? And am I the only who finds this subject stupid? Hahaha. Nakita ko si Borge, pasimple pang itinatago yung phone niya sa bag nya para mag-txt. Si Ken naman suot sa isang tenga yung earphone niya. Mukang si Jill lang naman itong todo sa pag-kopya ng notes, at halos nai-jot down na niya ang lahat ng salitang nasabi ni Sir.
I turned to look at my right, si Max. As usual, naka kunot nanaman ang noo niya habang seryosong naka tingin kay Sir. Minsan iniisip ko, nakikinig ba siyang talaga o nagmumuni-muni lang din kagaya ko? Haha. Sa totoo lang, nate-tempt akong kalabitin si Max... pero... naalala ko, hindi pa rin pala kami okay. Kaninang umaga, pag-gising ko, yung bagong maid nila ang gumising sakin. Hindi pa din niyang makuhang kausapin ako... Gusto ko pa naman sanang itanong kung papano ko naka-uwi ng buhay kagabi pero baka naman hindi din niya alam, siguro tulog na siya nun at di na ko nakuhang hintayin.
Sinubukan kong i-replay sa isip ko yung mga ilang pangyayari kagabi sa Ascend, especially the events right after Brad asked me na samahan siyang umorder pa ng drinks. I could see random images in my head. Mga picture na hindi sunud-sunod, walang sense, hindi synchronized and most of all, ang blurred. ARGH!! Animales ka talaga Eleonor!! Sa susunod nga, WAG NA WAG KA NG IINOM!! BALBAL KA!!!
KRIIIIIIIIII~NG!!!
ARGH!! School bell yun... usually, masaya ko pagnaririnig ko toh pero ngayon parang soccer ball na pumapalo ang malakas na tunog na yun sa ulo ko that I have to slam my head on my desk, wincing due to horrible headache.
“Oh ano?” ngisi ni Borge. “Ayan kasi, iinom-inom, hindi naman nagyayaya.”
“Errr...” I groaned, unable to come up with any decent reply. Animales talaga tong babaeng toh, nakuha pang magtampo di man lang maawa sakin!! Ampfufu.
“Gusto mo ng hot soup? Makakatulong yun.” Sara offered.
“Ano bang ininom mo?” Meg asked.
“Sino mga kasama mo?” Sunod na tanong ni Jill.
POOTEK!! Mas lalong sumasakit ulo ko sa mga tanong nila ee! Maya-maya pa, biglang umeksena si Japo, who spared me from answering any of their questions. “GUYS!!” He shouted excitedly, at lahat kami napa-tingin sakanya. “Pwede ba kayo mamaya?”
“Inuman?” Tanong agad ni Borge.
“Argh.” I growled. “PASS MUNA KO.” And my head dropped on the desk again.
I heard my so-called friends laughed at me. GAAAAH!!
“ANG SABOG MO TLGA ELLIE!!” tawa ni Borge with matching hampas pa yan sa braso ko!!
“No, no.” Japo shook his head, still grinning with enthusiasm. “I got an invitation kanina. Gusto niyong manuod ng basketball game nila Nico?”
“NICO? SIGE SIGE!!” Borge squealed. “MANUNUOD TLGA AKO!!”
I gave Borge and Japo the sad, puppy-eyes. Gusto ko din sumama!! Hello, basketball yun!! Gusto ko manuod but DANG, ang ulo kooooo!! ARGH!!
“Sumama ka na Ellie.” Japo said, squeezing my cheeks. “Masaya yun, cheer natin sila Nico.”
“Oo nga.” Meg joined in. “Ikaw lang wala.”
“Max?” I heard Sara’s voice. “You wanna go watch it too?”
Max stood up, dragging his chair with him that it made a long screeching sound. OW, PAKSYET!! It resonated yet again and my head throbbed painfully than ever. Pakiramdam ko tuloy, sinadya yun ni Max!! GGGRRR...
“I’m not interested.” Sabi ni Max as he grabbed his bag and walked out the room, pero kay Sara lang ako nakatingin and I saw something in her eyes while she was watching Max’s retreating form... parang... nakita ko yung sarili ko sakanya.
It was as if, I was looking at the face of... REJECTION.
To be continued.