12 // Describe Amused

Around lunch time na kami nakaalis sa venue. So sa Bistro Bistro ang sunod naming punta. We're hitching a ride with these mag-best friends.

Ako, si Jules, at Pol ang nandito kay Jerrick. Si Cara ay lumipat doon sa sasakyan ni Kurt, kasama si Lesly. Dahil nga bet niya 'yon, hinayaan na lang namin.

Hindi nila ako pinilit na sumakay sa shotgun ngayon. Alam nilang gutom ako, magkakamatayan na talaga!

Una naming madadaanan ang Mostaccio bago ang bistro. It's expected na maraming tao doon ngayon for lunch. Marami nang naglalakad sa gilid na estudyante, karamihan din ay naka-fun run shirt, at mukhang papunta rin sa pupuntahan namin.

"Jules, magshower muna kaya ako?" bulong ko sa kanya.

"Huh? 'Wag na! Mamaya na rin ako maliligo pagka-lunch natin." Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

I pouted. Sumandal na lang ako sa upuan at tinanaw ang labas. I just felt a bit uneasy because I didn't know if I smelled funny. Sinipsip na ng damit ko ang pawis ko at natuyuan na rin ang likod ko.

Parking spots were full when we got to Bistro Bistro. Natanaw ko iyong loob ng bistro, Cara and Lesly were already sitting on a table. That's perfect! Makakakain kami kaagad, and I'll just leave as soon as I'm done so then I could shower.

Sinalubong ni Kurt ang sasakyan ni Jerrick. He said that he saved a parking space beside his car. Bumaba na kami ng sasakyan bago sila nag-park.

Sa gilid lang ng daan usually nagpapark ang mga sasakyan dito. Usual thing siya rito kasi hindi naman ito national road o dinadaanan ng public vehicles. Normal na rin kasi sa mga estudyante ang maglakad sa loob ng campus. Marami ring puno sa paligid kaya laging mahangin at may lilim ang sidewalk. Sa pwesto naman na walang lilim, uhm, mag payong na lang.

"Girl!" Nanlalaki ang mata ni Cara nang salubungin kami. Ikinawit niya ang braso niya kay Jules at bumulong.

"Nandito si Wannie. Oh my god!" pagpapatuloy niya. Parang halos hindi siya makahinga kasi kailangan niyang bumulong pero hindi niya ma-contain ang emosyon niya.

"Oh crap! Nasaan? Nakita ba ni Kurt?" tanong ni Jules.

Luminga rin ako kasabay ng pinsan ko. This time, I know Wannie. She's famous in social media and in the campus. As someone who doesn't use her phone a lot, I could attest that Wannie really is known because even I know her.

But I'm still not sure what the fuss is about. Nang tumingin ako kay Les ay ngumuso siya sa table across ours.

Then I saw Wannie on her phone. She's with her friends, all freshly groomed unlike me. Obviously, hindi sila galing sa charity run.

Tinabihan ko na si Les, habang iyong dalawa naman ay awkward na sumunod sa table. Tahimik kaming lahat which was unusual. Ang weird nila! Parang ingat na ingat silang magsalita as if maririnig ni Wannie ang paguusapan namin.

"Hindi yata napansin ni Kurt si ano," sabi ni Lesly sa maingat na boses.

"Shocks! Ano kayang mangyayari 'pag nagkita sila. Shet, para akong manonood ng live na kdrama nito," excited na sabi ni Cara.

So there's something between Kurt and Wannie? I tried to imagine. Hmm. They're bagay naman. Parehas silang good looking.

Ginilid ko iyong mga menu nang maglagay ang babaeng server ng pitcher at glasses sa table. Kinakabahan pa siya kaya tinulungan ko na.

"They're billing out na," Lesly narrated while she discreetly watched the other table.

Kami kasi ang nakaharap doon, while Jules and Cara had their backs at that direction. So Les had to take one for the team. Si Pol ay katabi ni Les sa kabila, but I doubt he's into rumors.

"Hala, hindi sila magkikita? Sayang naman!" sabi ni Cara habang nakanguso.

Isa-isang tumayo ang circle ni Wannie. They look like supermodels just by their height and fashion. Most of them were wearing black skinny pants and woah, skimpy tops. And those killer heels? It definitely had to be there for extra finesse! They're all like Saige. Except my cousin was more beautiful by tenfold.

"I wanna be their friend!" Cara whined and pouted even more after she took a peek behind her.

"Lahat na lang gustong i-friend." Tamad na kumento ni Jules. "You just want to be them."

Napabuntong-hininga si Cara. Pumangalumbaba siya sa table habang nakanguso pa rin, "Yeahhh..."

Hindi ganoong kalahihan at Bistro Bistro pero hindi rin maliit. Halos tulad lang siya ng Mostaccio sa laki, at parehas may tables sa labas.

When the door opened, all of my friends whipped their head at the entrance. Sina Jerrick at Kurt ang pumasok. Naguusap sila at hindi napapansin ang paligid.

I saw Kurt welcomed Wannie's stare. Mabilis lang silang nagkangitian. The girls were already leaving. And because they're all tall, hindi na sila magkasya sa may entrance.

Kumalam ang tiyan ko. Hindi pa pala kami nakaka-order! So dahil priorities first, hindi ko na sila pinanood. I looked for a server but they're all waiting on other tables right now.

"Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh!"

I looked back at Cara. She smiled meekly and covered her mouth now that she realized she's giving herself away. Masyado siyang nagpapaka-obvious.

Doon naman ako sa may entrance tumingin.

Jerrick and Wannie were talking shyly at each other. I noticed Wannie's mauve lips were slightly smiling, as if she has a lot of emotions to contain.

Pinagbuksan siya ng pinto ni Jerrick para makalabas. Nang magpaalam ay napahawak na lang siya sa batok.

Now I'm confused. Si Jerrick at Wannie ba ang tinitilian nila?

Noong makita kong palapit na ang magkaibigan sa table namin ay binilisan kong maglipat ng page ng menu. Gutom na ako! That's all.

"Ah! Ang sa akin ay Shrimp Pasta Aglio Olio," mabilis na sabi ni Jules bago makaupo sina Kurt.

Nagkukumahog na rin sina Lesly na kumuha ng menu para maging props nila.

I just shook my head.

Tumabi sa akin si Jerrick. Kahit hindi ko siya pinapansin ay lumapit siya para bumulong.

"Your friends have questions, don't they? I know it." Tumawa siya.

Napalunok ako. Oh. Okay. So it's really about him and Wannie, then.

That's no biggie. Hindi pa rin ako interested.

"Tanong mo sila," masungit kong sagot.

Halos magka-papercut na ako sa paglilipat ng menu. Wala ako biglang mapili. May shower ba sa menu na 'to? 'Cause that's my order!

Nakakainis!

"Anong sabi nila?" tanong niya ulit, this time ay amused na lalo siya.

Naglipat ulit ako ng pages. Nandito na ako sa page ng mga beer.

"Sila nga kasi ang tanungin mo. Ugh!" I groaned. Inirapan ko iyong menu. Walang shower dito.

Kinatok ko ang table para kunin ang atensyon ng pinsan ko. Busy na kasi siya makipagkwentuhan kina Pol ngayon. They're all really serial-chismosas. Ngayon ay parang wala silang napanood na eksena kanina ah?

"Jules, gagaya na lang ako sayo. The pasta is a quick order, diba?"

"Yata. But the place is jampacked, we need to ask," sabi niya habang naghahanap ng server.

The person on my left nudge me. I growled in response, tumawa lang siya.

"Nagmamadali ka ba? Ihahatid kita."

I gave him a side-eye. "Gusto kong maglakad pauwi."

"The fun run was just a kickstart for you, huh?" Ngumisi siya. "Sasabayan na kita. I'll drive beside you."

As I'm looking for a server myself, napatingin ako kay Kurt na nakatingin sa amin. Tinawanan niya ako.

"Dude, inaaway mo na naman si Viennica," sabi niya kay Jerrick.

"Nagselos yata kay Wannie," pangiinis ni Jules.

Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata at binato ko ng table napkin.

Tumawa si Kurt at sinipulan ang kaibigan.

"Finally, the Top 1."

"Please! Spill niyo na 'yan!" kantyaw ni Cara. She's helpless. Nagulat pa ang katabi niyang si Kurt sa boses niya.

"Wait. Background muna daw ulit for Viennieca," humagikhik si Lesly. "Hindi siya aware doon for sure!"

"Pero interested na 'yan ngayon," sabi ni Jules at tumango tango pa.

Nanatili na akong walang expression. Pabalik-balik ko silang tiningnan. "I'm not aware because I'm not interested. Not even now."

Gusto ko lang naman kumain dito, Lord. Bakit ganito?

Huminga ako nang malalim. Hindi ko na sila papansinin. "Gutom na talaga ako. Order na tayo."

It's true. Hindi kami nag-breakfast ni Jules kanina bago pumunta sa charity run. We've only had coffee and water so far.

Tumayo si Jerrick bigla. Lahat kami sa table ay sinundan siya ng tingin kung saan pupunta. He walked near a server who's waiting on another table. Instead of interrupting, siya pa iyong naghintay sa server.

Naramdaman kong tumingin sa akin si Jules. Nagpipigil siya ng ngiti.

Binalikan ko na lang ang menu, baka sakaling may magical food dito na trip kong orderin. Beer na lang kaya?

Bumalik si Jerrick sa table kasama ang server, and we finally ordered! And when I asked, mabilis nga lang daw ang serving time ng pasta. I get it why, though. Because it's pastah!

Okay, sorry! Gutom lang talaga!

"Okay, so Vie, ganito iyong kwento," started Cara. I looked at her weirdly. I didn't ask but...

Sinulyapan ko ang katabi ko. My friends were batshit crazy! Nandito lang sa table ang topic namin. Like before, they were all unapologetic.

Natatawang nagkibit ng balikat si Jerrick. Bumulong siya, "It's okay. I don't find it rude. They have consent."

Nagtuloy tuloy na si Cara sa pagku-kwento.

"We all know Wannie, right? Famous, pretty, rich. You know, one of the typical type you see in movies. She's like a wild child as her instagram posts suggested."

Tumaas kilay ko. "You're judge-y."

She scoffed. "You saw her instagram, right? All-night everyday partying at clubs, bar-hopping even on hell week! What's crazier than that!"

"Yeah, she can be a bit wild, that Wannie," sang-ayon ni Kurt. Cara gestured her hands as if to say, 'see?'

"O, so tapos ayon na nga! Palaging nasa instagram stories at post 'yang dalawa," she both pointed at Jerrick and Kurt.

"Parang naging part na sila ng clique nina Wannie," Jules butted in. "So syempre dahil instagram at campus famous nga siya, people followed their story. A lot of her followers were shipping her and Jerrick."

Ah, the showbiz life.

Ang tagal ng food! Gusto ko nang umuwi.

"That's right." And now we're back with showbiz reporter, Cara. "Paano ba naman kasi, sa mga posts ni Wannie e laging nakayakap kay Jerrick madalas. Meron ding yakap niya iyang mag-best friends as if one just wasn't enough for her."

Nakangiting umiling si Kurt. "Wannie is clingy. Even to her girl friends."

"Yeah, right." Cara rolled her eyes and continued. "People went wild din noong nagpost si Jerrick ng black and white portrait ni Wannie sa instagram niya. As in I think it was your most-liked photo, diba?"

Nanliit ang mata ni Jerrick habang nagiisip.

Wow, Wannie made it to his feed? There was definitely something between them. I'm now convinced.

My friends told me that people like Jerrick cherish their instagram accounts because that's where they showcase their artistic side. It's not as simple as just a social media to them, it was more of an outlet where they pour excessive amount of artistry.

Hindi ako artistic but I like taking pictures din minsan. Not of people, but of interesting things like antique coffee mug, and a cocoon trying to debut as a butterfly. Yup, that's interesting to me. Baka may weird taste lang din ako because my family didn't even make it to my feed!

But sometimes I post photos of Saige that I personally took. Sa angkan namin, siya talaga ang muse.

"May IG story pa siyang video of her having a slow dance with someone. Nakatalikod kasi si Wannie tapos hindi kita 'yong face noong guy tapos nakayakap siya sa neck. But of course, because people were shipping her with Jerrick, everyone suspected that it was him. Then a second before the end of the video, she made out with the guy! Hindi clear 'yong nangyari kasi ang gulo na noong angle!"

Lesly inhaled a sharp breath before exclaiming, "Ang controversial talaga no'n!"

"So, was it really you in the video?" direstong tanong ni Jules.

I slowly looked on my left, only to see that he was already looking at me. Binaling ko tuloy agad ang tingin ko sa kisame.

He chuckled. "Hindi ako. It wasn't me."

Napabuga ako ng malalim na hininga.

Fuck! Nagmukhang relieved ako.

"Oh, shit. My cousin feels great now," tawang tawa na sabi ni Jules. Sabi ko na, e.

Parang mas natuwa pa si Jerkrick sa narinig. Buti na lang ay dumating na ang order ko. Kahit wala pa ang order ng iba, at kahit mainit pa itong pasta ay kinain ko na kaagad.

"So kung hindi ikaw 'yong nasa video, was that the reason why Wannie took down all her posts with you and Kurt in it?" tanong ni Cara na parang may light bulb na naka-ilaw sa taas ng ulo niya.

"That makes sense! Pero hindi rin pala," pagbawi kaagad ni Lesly. "Because I'm at her feed now, tapos ito iyong caption niya doon sa first post niya after she deleted the stuff."

Lesly read it from her phone out loud. "I admit it was tiresome chasing after a gold. Yet now I realized, why should I run after you when I'm already a diamond myself?"

Was that her caption? I absentmindedly mouthed, "Wow."

Yes, wow. Buti pa siya na-realize niya iyon kaagad, if only I did, too, a couple of years earlier. Hindi na sana ako ganito ka-bitter in love.

Joke! Hindi nga pala ako bitter. Na-uh.

Isa-isa nang dumating ang pagkain nila, pero hindi pa rin sila natinag sa perennial topic na ito.

"Edi anong nangyari?" frustrated na tanong ni Jules. "Sagot."

Tumawa si Jerrick. "Like the usual, I'm not giving away anything. Iyong kanina lang. Hindi ako ang nasa video. That's it."

"What a boring answer," reklamo ni Cara kaya mas tumawa lang si Jerkrick. Nilingon naman niya si Kurt. "Tell me."

Kurt just shrugged. "It's not my truth. Ask him."

Nanlumo si Cara. She badly wanted to know, huh.

"Bummer!"

Inubos ko na rin ang tubig ko sa isang lagukan.

"Oy, Vie. Hinahabol ka ba?" sabi ni Pol. I forgot he's even here.

"Gusto lang niyan maligo," pagkaklaro naman ng pinsan ko.

Humagikhik si Cara sa balikat ni Jules. "Gusto niya sigurong magpa-fresh. Nakita niya kasi siguro kung gaano kaganda si Wannie kanina."

Napainom pa ako ulit ng tubig.

"What's wrong with Viennica now?" seryosong tanong ni Jerkrick. "Mas gusto ko siya sa kahit anong kundisyon kesa sa kahit sinong iba."

Nabuga ko nang kaunti ang iniinom kong tubig. Matalim ko siyang tiningnan.

Tumatawa niyang pinunasan ang gilid ng labi ko gamit ang tissue.

"Tapos ka nang kumain? Balik na tayo sa Mostaccio?" kaswal niyang tanong.

Anong tayo? Walang tayo. Ang meron lang ay ako. Kaya babalik akong mag-isa.