Chapter 9
Chapter 9 | Fair
Hindi rin nagtagal si Trojan sa aking tabi dahil nakatanggap siya ng tawag mula kay Lucre. Nanghinayang man ay mabuti na ring umalis siya dahil baka ano pang kagagahan ang masabi ko sa kanya.
I spent the next hour taking photos of the place. I had someone who took photos of me dahil mag-isa rin pala siya. She was friendly so we got along together. Nagpaalam na lamang ako nang napagpasyahang pumunta sa MOA.
Tahimik akong nakatayo sa bus terminal ng Troyen and as usual, na sa priority lane ako dahil sa mahiwagang card ni mama.
My eyes were busy admiring the lights and got distracted when I smelled a familiar manly perfume.
"Sir Mikael," bati ng isang guard na tila ba nagulat pa sa presensya ni Trojan sa aking tabi.
"It's fine. I'll ride with the bus service with her," Trojan calmly said to him.
"Sige po, sir... alam po ba ito ni ma'am—"
"Yes, she knows."
The guard quickly bowed and took steps away from us. I glanced at Trojan with a questionable look on my face. He just chuckled after a few seconds of silence.
Tingnan mo 'to, lakas talagang magpaasa.
"Ginagawa mo ulit dito?" I asked with a slight annoyance.
He just shrugged as he replied, "Don't want to babysit my sister so I ditched them—"
"Wow, ang bait na kuya," I sarcastically commented.
He smirked, "And anyway, I heard from kuya Marcus that my grandfather's inviting us to dinner. Don't want to dine with them," and he looked away.
"Oh," I trailed off, didn't know what to say after, "pupunta akong MOA."
"I know."
"Sasama ka talaga?" hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti.
Tangina naman kasi!
"Puwede naman, 'di ba?"
Umirap ako ngunit may ngiti pa rin sa labi, "You have lots of friends. Bakit 'di ka roon sumama?"
"Well, I'm with my friend now. Aren't we friends?" naguguluhan niyang sabi.
"No, we're not friends. I don't want friendship with you," I bluntly stated that made him laugh.
I tried not to stare at him while he was laughing, lalo na't na-realize ko kung ano ang lumabas sa aking bibig.
"Geez, you're really something," I heard him whispering.
"Straight forward lang talaga, sir," I joked.
"Okay, then... we're not friends, as you said. I heard earlier you passed Syru?"
Tumango ako at saka muling tumingin sa kanya. He was waiting for me to say something but I couldn't find any words to say.
"Then good. We're going to be schoolmates. Syru isn't that hard so if you're worrying, don't be. Anyway, I think you'll find friends in an instant," he babbled.
"I hope so. Marami bang g'wapo roon?" I laughed.
His brows creased, para bang hindi agad nakuha ang aking tanong.
"Bakit? Aanhin mo 'yong mga g'wapo?" tunog iritado pa nga si sir.
I shrugged even when my shoulders were still shaking as I laughed. Mas napahalakhak pa ako nang nakitang umirap si sir.
Trojan ninyo galit, sana true.
"Wala lang, para ma-inspire!" I reasoned, "saka biro lang naman! Parang hindi na nga ako interesado sa iba ngayon."
Sa 'yo lang.
Tangina, Mikasha, bibig mo!
"Why?"
"Ewan... basta nawala na lang 'yong interest ko makipag-date or lumandi sa kung sinong lalaking hindi ko naman talaga gusto. I realized that it'd be a waste of time and energy. Nakaka-haggard pa if 'di niya kayang tumanggap ng rejection," I answered him.
Trojan chuckled as if I said something funny, "Did something happen between you and your last guy?"
"Si Jez?" napa-irap ako nang naalala ang mga nangyari, "I turned him down. Remember what I told you before? Feeling ko mayroon siyang gusto roon sa friend niya kuno, guess what? Sila na after a week of rejecting him. Then recently he got into a fight with a guy friend of mine because of me—"
"Bakit ka nasali sa away?"
"My friend got triggered knowing Jez was backstabbing me or something," I answered dramatically, "na-stress talaga ako kaya siguro nadala na."
"Sabagay," he drawled, he was about to say something when I spoke.
"Kaya nawalan na siguro ako ngayon ng gana lumandi. I'm thinking that this won't permanently stay, nakakakaba rin kayang mawalan ng interest sa paglalandi at a young age! Baka tumanda akong dalaga nito!" I tried to joke, "kaya sana sa Syru may mas maayos akong makilala."
"Well, you're right. Maybe you just want a break from the drama that's why you're thinking as if you already lost interest in making landi... I guess next time, choose the right guy to play with you," para pa siyang nalilito sa mga sinabi.
I smirked watching him in this state, "I don't know... really not sure. I think even if I find the right guy to play with me, it'd end up the same."
"Why do you say so?"
I leaned, just enough to reach his right ear and whispered, "I already have my eyes on someone."
I watched his lips slowly forming his boyish grin. Wala na siyang muling nasabi sapagkat sumaktong dumating na ang service bus ng Troyen.
We were escorted where to sit inside at kahit nang nakaupo na kami ay hindi pa rin siya kumibo... probably because someone was guarding us.
"Tell me, you have plenty of friends too... why didn't you invite someone with you?" he asked me after minutes of silence.
Kasalukuyan na ring umaandar ang bus at patungo na sa MOA, stuck sa traffic kaya maaaring higit pa sa sampung minuto ang magiging biyahe.
"I only have like four real friends, you know. I interact and laugh with people but I don't consider them as friends in an instant. Hindi ko na ginambala ngayon 'yong apat kong kaibigan dahil gusto kong mapag-isa," I replied calmly.
He slowly nodded and turned his gaze on me. Nakaupo ako katabi ng bintana kaya ang awkward gumalaw lalo na't siya ang katabi.
Hindi naman siya sobrang lapit sa akin, ako pa nga 'tong humihiling na sana lumapit naman siya kahit konti!
"Right, that's my answer too for your question earlier. I only have three real friends at school, I'm not close with a lot of people especially men because I tend to insult whoever I want... which often leads me into fights. I don't really mind other people's feelings but I guess..." he paused.
Pabitin naman, ganda-ganda na ng usapan namin, e! Feeling ko na sa get to know each other's stage na kami!
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing."
"Luh, pa-mysterious ka pa riyan!" I scolded, "ano nga?"
Tumawa na naman siya ngunit wala ako sa mood para ma-distract sa laughing routine niya. Hindi ko na napigilan at inalog-alog ko pa siya upang tumigil katatawa at ituloy ang sinabi niya.
"Para kang tanga, sir," I tried to say it seriously but I ended up laughing with him.
Para kaming tanga. Meant to be na ba kami nito?
"Nothing, really. Let's talk about something else. Enough with that topic," he uttered.
Saka ko lamang napansing nakahawak pa pala ang kanang kamay ko sa kanyang kanang braso. Agad ko itong tinanggal at nahuli siyang doon din nakatingin.
"Sorry, na-carried away lang!"
"Why are you suddenly mad?" he chuckled.
"Hindi ako galit," I tried to tone down my voice.
"You want to know more of me, huh?" tukso niya, "don't worry, I already accepted your friend request so that it'd be easier for you to—"
"The audacity!" I hissed, "for your information, I didn't intentionally add you."
"Oh? So you're stalking my account, then suddenly your finger tapped the add button? Okay, I think that makes sense," he chuckled.
Grabe rin pala talaga ang kapal ng mukha nito. Hindi na ako magtataka kung one day siya na ang pangalan ng isang super typhoon.
"You could've rejected," hindi ako nagpatalo, "and for the record, I wasn't stalking you. Na sa suggested friends ka lang."
Tawa na naman siya nang tawa.
"Ang saya mo tuwing kasama mo ako."
Nagkibit balikat lang siya't sinabi, "I'm kind to my admirers."
Ang kapal talaga!
Umirap na lang ako at napagpasiyahang manahimik. Baka mahuli pa ako nito ngayong gabi, wala sa plano kong mabuking, aba.
Tama na 'yong ganitong nakakasama ko siya paminsan-minsan at nag-aasaran lang kami. Saka sabi nga ni mama, normal lang 'tong nararamdaman ko. Hindi rin naman ako sigurado kaya ayaw ko munang seryosohin.
"Hey, you mad? You know I'm just playing around," panunuyo niya sa akin makalipas ang ilang minuto ng katahimikan.
My brows arched as I plastered a wide grin, "Alam ko naman. Bawal bang manahimik saglit? Miss mo na agad akong kausap?"
He rolled his eyes, "I just don't want you to misunderstand."
I confidently nodded, "You're just overthinking."
Mabuti na lang at inanunsyo na nilang pababa na kami, feeling ko anytime mahihimatay na ako sa mga titig nito ni Trojan.
Akala mo kasi mind reader 'tong isang 'to na long lost descendant ni Professor X. Hindi yata aware si Trojan na sobrang intimidating niyang tumitig.
Sabay kaming naglakad patungo sa bayside nang nakababa na sa bus. Different city lights conquered the night in every corner of the place. The rides were glowing as well and surprisingly, there were more people tonight than the last time I went here.
May mga taong nakaupo roon sa harang at nakaharap sa Manila Bay habang kausap ang mga kasama. There were groups of friends that liked making fun of one another. Everyone seems busy enjoying the night.
"Trojan, may iba ka bang gagawin ngayong gabi rito?" I finally talked to him while we were slowly walking by the bayside.
"Why?"
Tinuro ko 'yong Dream Twister, "Sakay sana tayo roon, oh!"
Sinundan naman niya ang turo ko kaya ngayon pareho kaming nakatingin sa dream twister. Iyon 'yong ride na hindi ko nasakyan last time dahil mas inuna kong pumorma. Itataas kayo sa ere sabay doon iikot, five minutes yata kayong paikot-ikot.
"Kung gusto mo lang mahilo, I suggest you just drink liquor," he told me, "less effort."
Napahalakhak ako roon at hinarap siya ngayon, "Kung ayaw mong sumakay, you can just say it straight. Hirap na hirap ka bang babaan pride mo kahit sa simpleng pagtanggi?"
HIndi naman siya nagpatalo at ngumisi rin, "I just don't want to take care of you after we ride there."
"Tingin mo talaga mahina ako sa ride na 'yan? Ako na nga ang nagyaya, e, baka ikaw? You scared you might pass out?" balik ko sa kanya.
"Fine, let's buy tickets," para siyang nanghahamon sa kanyang tono.
"Libre pa kita," mayabang kong sagot.
Pareho kaming umirap at naglakad patungo sa ticket booth. Feeling ko talaga bagay kaming dalawa, e, ma-attitude at mayabang.
"Let's make a deal," bulong ko sa kanya habang naghihintay kami ng turn naming bumili.
Iritado niya akong tiningnan, "What deal?"
I shrugged.
"Example kapag ikaw ang nahilo after, may ipapagawa ako sa 'yo. Kapag ako naman ang natalo, e 'di ikaw ang may ipapagawa sa 'kin."
"Ano namang ipapagawa mo sa akin?"
"Agree first before we talk about it," I told him.
"Unfair, wala naman akong gustong ipagawa sa 'yo. Just say you want me to do something for you but you're too shy to say it," he retorted.
"You won't do it unless we make this deal," sabi ko naman.
Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay at hindi nagtagal ay, "Fine. Let's do the deal."
I clapped my hands in excitement. Siguro nga malandi ako pero at least aminado naman.
"So what's my consequence?" he asked after we bought our tickets.
We were standing in front of Dream Twister and waited with only a few individuals. Ito lang talaga 'yong ride na hindi mahaba ang pila dahil konti lang ang gustong sumubok.
"No girlfriends until the end of school year," there, I said it!
When I tried to see his reaction, he just looked like this amused. Akala niya ba talaga'y duwag ako sa ganitong bagay, e, dito nga ako nage-excel.
Sobra akong na-stress sa dami ng babae niya this year at swear hindi ako makatulog tuwing sasagi sa isip ko iyon. Ilang weeks na lang naman at matatapos ang school year na ito.
Alam kong ang selfish ng gusto ko pero gagawin niya lang naman 'to kapag natalo siya.
Mayabang naman siya kaya for sure kahit gustuhin niya mang sumuka mamaya ay hindi niya gagawin. Gano'n.
"Okay," he cooly said, "shall I say your consequence right now?"
"Bring it on."
He leveled his gaze on me as he stated, "Don't entertain boys for the next whole school year."
Aaminin kong sobra akong na-shock. May pasabi-sabi pa siya kaninang wala naman daw siyang gusto ipagawa, e, ano 'to?
"Wait, parang ang unfair!" I hissed.
"How is it unfair?" he mocked.
"Buong year sa akin, ikaw until end of this school year lang! Kontra ka sa love life ko, ha?" tuloy-tuloy kong reklamo.
"Then you should've made my consequence harsher in the first place," laban pa niya.
"I won't lose anyway," parinig ko.
Nakita ko siyang bahagyang ngumisi na tila ba pinipigilan niya lang ang sarili niyang tuksuhin pa ako.
Hindi ko rin talaga makuha 'tong isang 'to, para bang lahat ng gawin niya ay unpredictable o ako lang talaga 'tong natatanga sa kanya?
Hindi nagtagal ay isa-isa na kaming pinapasok. Si Trojan ang na sa harap ko kaya siya ang sinundan ko kung saan kami uupo.
I quietly sat beside him and while I was focused buckling up, he spoke.
"Huwag kang kabahan," may panunukso sa kanyang tono.
"Hindi ako kabado!"
"Feel free to shout when you feel like it," dagdag pa niya at napahalakhak na ngayon.
"Yeah, thanks for reminding that to yourself."
Then the crews started to check everyone to make sure no one would fall down.
"Kuya, anong mapapayo mo sa kasama ko? Kabado kasi siya," dinamay pa ni Trojan iyong crew na nag-aadjust ng safety belt ko!
"Enjoy niyo lang po, ma'am," natatawang sabi ni kuya.
"Middle name mo ba ay epal?" iritado kong tanong kay Trojan nang umalis na 'yong crew.
He was about to reply when we all felt the ride going up already. Napahawak ako sa magkabilang handles dahil sa biglaang paggalaw.
Puta, wala man lang warning or countdown!
Hindi pa kami iniikot sa ere ay nagpapawis na ang mga kamay ko sa sobrang kapit sa handles. Wala sa life goal kong mahulog dito, aba! Hindi na nga ako masalo ni Trojan, papatayin ko pa sarili ko?
Lahat ng kasama namin ay nagsisisigaw na ng iba't ibang mura, iyong iba tumitili lang habang nakapikit.
Pareho kami ni Trojan na tahimik lang sa gilid, he even had the courage to take out his phone to take pictures of the view!
Hindi ko alam kung bakit tila ba pinagpapawisan na ako ng malamig and it somehow made me feel dizzy. Malamig na talaga ang simoy ng hangin lalo na ngayong na sa itaas kami pero hindi maganda ang epekto nito sa aking katawan.
I had no idea why my body reacted like this, I never felt frightened of any rides!
"Shit," I whispered when our chairs slowly turned upside down.
Mabuti na lang at maingay ang mga kasama namin at hindi gaanong maliwanag dito sa taas para makita ni Trojan na nakapikit lang ako.
Hindi mapakali ang puso ko, sobrang bilis ng kanyang pagtibok at tuwing bahagya mang madulas ang kamay ko sa handle, pakiramdam ko'y mahuhulog na ako!
I tried to convince myself to open my eyes. Iniisip ko na baka kapag nakita ko na ang night view sa ibaba ay magiging kalmado na ako.
So I opened my eyes and the first thing that I saw was the night sky na tila ba kinukuha na ako ni lord.
Then our seats swayed to the right and I was able to get a glimpse of the city's view from above.
But what really caught my attention was Trojan, hindi siya nakahawak sa handles at nakatitig lamang sa kawalan na akala mo nanonood ng isang interesting na Netflix film.
Grabe?
Ganito siya kamanhid?
Pilitin ko mang magkunwaring okay ay wala ring silbi.
Kitang kita naman sa mukha ko nang natapos kami, sobrang sabog ng buhok ko at namumutla pa raw ako base sa puna ng isang staff!
"Let me see," natatawang sabi ni Trojan sa akin at sinubukan niyang iharap ang aking mukha sa kanya.
Mabilis akong umiwas at naglakad palayo kahit pa tila namanhid ang buo kong katawan dulot ng takot kanina.
This never really happened to me before, even when I tried zipline for the first time. What happened up there was new to me and it was so embarrassing.
"Mikasha!" tuloy-tuloy na tawag sa akin ni Trojan.
I heard his shoes running the remaining distance in between us. I stopped walking to breathe in before I faced him.
"What?" my voice sounded weak but I tried to keep it normal.
He didn't say anything instead he quickly grabbed my hand that made me almost lose my balance. Gusto kong bawiin sa kanya ang aking kamay dahil tila ba may takot na pumasok sa aking isip dulot ng nangyari mula sa nakaraan.
"Your hand is cold," he pointed out and I quickly took my hand.
"The temperature's cold."
"And you're slightly shaking," he added, "we can take a rest, you don't have to force yourself."
I had the energy to roll my eyes over.
He chuckled and pointed somewhere, "Let's go inside that restaurant. My treat. I'm also starving already."
Hindi na lang ako sumagot at hinayaan siyang maglakad patungo roon sa sinabi niya. Tahimik akong nakasunod sa kanyang gilid habang kinukurot-kurot ang magkabilang palad.
"You lost," he said.
"Alam ko."
"You gonna do the consequence?" he asked, "like for real?"
"Malamang, iyon ang usapan, e, pero unfair pa rin," wala sa mood kong sagot.
Ako na ngayon ang unang naglakad patungo sa entrance ng restaurant na gusto niya.
There were tables outside that were occupied by noisy people but I clearly heard Trojan when he called me.
"What?" I lazily asked him.
My right hand was already holding the entrance, ang awkward dahil dito pa kami tumigil dahil lang tinawag niya ako.
"I'll do mine, too."
"Huh?" naguguluhan kong tanong.
"You look upset so I'm going to do your given consequence, too. It doesn't require a lot of job anyway," he reiterated to me.
He took a step closer to me.
"Fair enough?" he asked me afterward.
"Miss, papasok ba kayo?" a stranger behind us asked.
Saka ko lang naiwas ang aking mga mata kay Trojan upang tuluyan na kaming makapasok sa loob ng restaurant.
Hindi kami nahirapang makahanap ng magandang puwesto sa loob dahil sa labas naman ang maraming tao. We sat down on both opposite sides so we ended up facing each other, tanging lamesa lang ang pagitan.
I secretly glanced at him while we were supposed to read the menu. He was so into picking his foods, a ghost smile formed on my lips.
He wasn't that unfair at all.
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