24 // Banned Coffee

Sa gitna ng week ay nangyari ang mga send-off parties for the graduating students. May ilang party na magkasama kami ni Jerrick, tapos iyong mga hindi ay hatid-sundo niya lang ako.

Tapos ano... sa shotgun na ako umuupo sa sasakyan niya. Wala lang. Naalala ko lang.

Pero naiilang pa rin ako kaya tahimik ako habang nagddrive siya. Feeling ko kasi parang lagi siyang ano... manghahalik bigla.

'Di ko sure! Feeling ko lang naman 'yan. I may be wrong ulit, okay?

Hindi na tuloy ako makakain ng marshmallow nang walang iniisip na iba. Suddenly, eating it sent shivers to my spine, ganon. Ugh. Dapat hindi.

I popped the last marshmallow into my mouth before going out of my hotel room. Napatigil ako sa pagnguya noong makita ko si Wyatt. Presko siyang naglalakad habang inaayos ang sleeve ng polo niya.

Right. As a family friend, he'd have to be invited to Lolo's birthday celebration.

In a careless move, I tried to open the door to hide back inside my room. I yanked the doorknob roughly but it wouldn't open! And now he saw me.

"Hey, Viennica..."

Minura ko ang doorknob. I exhaled a bit to conjure a happy smile before I pretended not to notice him first.

"Hello," masaya kong sabi. "You're also checked in here?"

"Yeah. Hey, I'm already going down. Sabay na tayo."

Damn right, you're going down.

I mean, "Yeah, yeah. Okay."

The heels I wore was comfortable to walk in. What was actually uncomfortable was walking with the person beside me.

I have no problem with him. It's just that I didn't want to deal with him at all. Siguro sapat na iyong ilang taon na ginugugol ko sa kanya, diba? Doon na iyon nagtatapos.

Elevator music lang ang naririnig ko habang pababa kami. And because the interior of the lift was mirror, I easily saw how he stared at me.

"Kamusta ka na, Vie? We hadn't talk for so long."

"I'm done with college." I smiled politely.

He laughed. "Tell me more. I'm sure there's gotta be some interesting that has happened with you?"

Nangangating magsungit ang dila ko habang ang kilay ko... naku! Atat na atat nang tumaas.

"Come on, Wyatt. We define what's interesting or not differently. I'd rather not tell," mabait kong sabi sabay tawa na parang si Janice from Friends.

His body suddenly got stiff. Pero matapang pa rin siyang nagsalita, "We should reconnect again, Viennica. Then I'll know what interests you these days. I'm sure you still have my number. Let's text."

I fisted my hidden palm. Lucky for him the elevator dinged open, otherwise it would have landed right on his face.

Lumaki sana pores niya!

Pinauna niya akong lumabas ng elevator. I was reaching down my heels, something got stuck on it. I'm struggling because I need to be careful with how I move 'cause of what I wear. It's a fitted white romper covered with real crystal beads embellishment. The clothing starts on top of my chest as a tube top and ends several inches above my knees as a short.

I chose to let my hair down in curls so that I'd have something to somehow cover my chest. And while looking down, my hair fell and covered my eyes so I lost my balance a bit. Napakapit ako sa braso ni Wyatt na una kong nahanap na paghawakan. Gamit ang isa niyang kamay ay sinuportahan niya ang balikat ko.

"Ako na ang maga-ayos," he said, crouching down.

"Oh! Hindi na! 'Di na.Thanks na lang," I waved my hands dismissively as I awkwardly laughed. Umatras ako kaya naiwan siyang nakaupo.

"Vie..." someone called.

I turned and saw Jerrick. Kinabahan ako kaagad! Binalikan ko ng tingin si Wyatt na nakaupo pa rin. Tamad niyang binalingan ng tingin iyong tumawag sa akin.

I bit my lip out of worry. Kasi... ito na ba 'yon? Iyong magbabardagulan sila kasi nagselos si Jerrick dahil nakita niya kaming magkasama ni Wyatt?

Shet, 'di pa ako ready sa matured roles!

Anong gagawin ko? Dapat ba may masaktan muna bago ko pigilan? Omg, wait! First time ko kasi?

I've still decided. Okay, mga one punch lang. One lang.

Lumapit si Jerrick at kinuha ako sa bewang ko. Tinanguan niya si Wyatt.

"Thanks. I'll take her from here," he nonchalantly said to him.

Looking up, I confusingly blinked at Jerrick. Ganon, ganon na lang? Walang action? Hays. Laki pa naman ng expectations ko sayo, Jerkrick.

Nang hindi niya ako tinitingnan, isinama na niya ako sa paglakad niya. Sinilip ko nang kaunti si Wyatt. Umiiling siya nang tumayo.

Nagsisimula na ang mga host pagkapasok namin sa event hall. Tahimik kaming dumating sa table kasama ang mga pinsan ko. Sa malapit na table naman ay ang mga parents namin.

Lolo Gustin with Lola Safiya made their grand entrance habang nakatayo kaming lahat. They're once again accompanied with music, this time coming from the orchestra.

"Pre, do you wanna shot early outside?" rinig kong bulong ni Elon kay Jerrick.

"Elon!" suway ko.

Napahawak ako sa hita ni Jerrick para sana pigilan siya. Pero hindi ko alam kung sino ba ang mas nagulat sa amin dahil sa ginawa ko. Parehas kaming pinanlakihan ng mata. Parang napaso kong binawi ang kamay ko.

"Uhum, eherm!" I loudly cleared my throat.

May sinabi siya kay Elon bago bumulong sa mismong tenga ko, "Vie... may gusto ka bang gawin? Anong ginagawa mo?"

Tila nakaramdam ako ng paghihirap sa boses niya. Napanguso ako. Inayos ko ang buhok ko na nakatakip sa dibdib ko at umubo-ubo pa rin. Accidental lang naman, e!

"W-wala. Feeling ka naman!"

'Di pa naman ako ganoong girl, ano...

After my grandparents' entrance, I excused myself to go to the powder room. Hindi ako lamigin, pero kanina pa ako init na init! Ramdam ko iyon sa balat ko, sa tenga, at sa pisnge.

The mirror in the powder room didn't say otherwise. Namumula nga ang naisip kong namumula. Naghugas ako ng kamay gamit ang malamig na tubig at pinaabot ko ito sa braso para mahimasmasan.

Pagkalabas ko ng powder room, may nakita akong malaking daga.

"Wyatt..."

"I saw you didn't look okay. You looked flushed," pagaalala niya. Nilapitan niya ako at humawak sa siko ko. "Do you need meds? I'll take you to the hospital, let's g—"

Umiling ako kaagad. OA naman. "Uy, okay lang ako! Nilalamig lang siguro," I smiled uneasily.

Tinanggal niya ang kurbata niya at sinubukang ilagay sa akin pero lumayo ako.

I sighed. Siguro ay oras na talaga para tuldukan ang kung ano man ang hindi namin natapos noon. I continued with my life after him with a denying bad blood towards him. With that, I came to realize that no, we hadn't placed a period in our chapter just yet.

Palagi ko lang iniisip at sinasabi na okay na ako kahit hindi pa talaga. Naging ganoon ang coping mechanism ko kasi akala ko kung sasabihin ko ang isang bagay at paulit ulit itong paniniwalaan ay talagang magkakatotoo.

Ewan ko. Siguro totoo rin 'yan somehow, but it will take time. Healing takes time to complete. And for it to be a complete success, you have to let it work on its own. No interruptions, no urgent efforts, no lies.

It's either a complete success or a complete mess. You choose.

But in my case, healing was different. It came with a head, two definitely clingy hands, frisky eyes, and One. Smart. Mouth.

"I'm sorry, Wyatt. But I don't think we need to still be friends," I finally said. "I want nothing from you anymore that being in touch sounds like a stupid and useless idea."

He didn't look fazed at all.

Tumango siya. "It's okay, Vie. I know you're still upset but I can still wait—"

"Fucking wait for what?" I sneered. My chest started to heave. What am I really to him? "I'm not an experiment! What, are you still waiting for me to get my life's shit together? Wyatt, okay naman ako, e..." nanginig ang boses ko. I swallowed the recurring lump in my throat. I needed to let all this out once and for all, no holds barred.

"Bilang tao, sa tingin ko okay naman ako, e. Pero noong ipinarating mo sa akin na walang wala ako sa iba, o dahil hindi naayon sa gusto mo ang mga gusto ko, doon ako nasira."

I closed my eyes when a tear fell.

When I opened it again, I saw that he looked worried now. "I never said that, Vie—"

"Teka lang kasi! 'Di pa ako tapos magsalita. Eepal pa, e."

He closed his hanging mouth and pursed it tightly. 'Yan, tama 'yan! Sana umulan ngayon ng masking tape rito, lagyan ko 'yang bibig mo.

"Chill lang akong tao, e. Even before you led me on, and even after you broke me, because that's just how I am. A happy-go-lucky, and live-and-let-live kind of person. It's not ideal for someone like you, but I was happy. Noong ginulo mo ang mundo ko, sinubukan ko pa ring manatili kung ano at sino talaga ako. But it just wasn't the same, everything was forced. Even when I wasn't happy, I struggled to look like I'm happy for the people around me... for me. Looking like a miserable young adult because of a petty guy was such a loser thing."

I walked near him to punch his chest. "And I am not a loser."

His eyes told me that he was shaken. But I am nowhere in guilt for making him feel this way.

Oh, go cry in your room later. Don't make a mess here!

"Let's spare both of our time and get this over with. I am over you. Stop bugging me, I already had someone filled in with that responsibility."

He scoffed. Aba't?

"Yeah, like that guy?" He nodded his head behind me. Nakita ko si Jerrick, scanning his eyes to look for something.

I whipped my head back to Wyatt. "Yeah, duh?"

"Vie!" Now, here comes the rascal.

He jogged and stopped beside me. Sinukat niyang pareho ang mukha namin ni Wyatt nang may pagtataka.

Nang itigil niya sa akin ang maya niya ay napansin niya ang mata ko. Nagaalala niyang dinampian ang ilalim ng mata ko gamit ang kanyang hinlalaki.

"Vie, umiyak ka ba?"

Hindi niya napansin ang pag-iling ko dahil tinanggal ni Wyatt ang kamay niya sa akin.

"Dude, we are talking. Can you please fuck off for a while?"

Walang ganang tiningnan ni Jerrick ang kamay niyang nahulog. Pinatunog niya ang kanyang panga bago inilipat ang mata kay Wyatt.

"If we ask Viennica who should fuck off, will you listen to her say your name?" Jerrick replied in distate but calmly.

I watched Wyatt as his expression changed to being offended. True enough, he scoffed so hard his lungs made its way outta his nose.

"Yeah. Because she'll say my name anytime to anything. Who she likes? She will still say my name."

Mapang-asar na huminga nang malalim si Jerrick. Ang tono niya ay mapanuya pa rin, "Vie?" He asked, as if giving the stage to me.

Hindi ako nakasagot dahil sa pagsingit ni Wyatt.

"She's confused right now. She needs rest. I feel the need to tell you that because you don't know her like I do," mayabang niyang sabi.

"Oh, talaga?" Parang batang sagot ni Jerrick. Tila nagdilim ang paningin ni Wyatt dahil doon.

"Sige nga, kung kilala mo talaga si Vie, ano ang paborito niyang facial mask? Tuwing kailan niya iyon ginagamit, at gaano katagal?"

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil doon.

"What?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Wyatt. He wasn't asking for the answer, yet Jerrick received a different message.

"O, hindi mo alam! At syempre hindi ko rin sasabihin."

Hinablot ni Jerrick ang braso ko at marahan akong hinila palayo.

"Alis na kami, pre. Gutom na kami. Kain ka na rin, kung ano-ano nang sinasabi mo, e."

"Don't frickin' talk for her."

"We already shared our lips to each other, now we'll share our words," he said smugly in a volume that Wyatt could still hear.

Lumiko kami sa isang hallway. Hindi ito ang daan pabalik ng event hall. Isinandal niya ako sa dingding para ieksamin muli ang mukha ko.

Malapit ang mukha niya sa akin. Gone was the playful Jerrick a while ago. He looked sincere and worried.

I looked down my nose because I got awkward. Tapos nahilo lang ako.

"Are you alright, Vie? Is there something you want me to do? Anong ginawa ng gunggong na 'yon sayo?"

Mahinhin akong umiling. Ibinagay ko lang sa suot ko ang kilos ko. Except pala kanina noong kausap ko si ano.

"Are you sure?"

Mahinhin naman akong tumango ngayon.

"I just want him pissed so bad. Ugh!"

"Gusto mo inisin pa natin, hmm?" malambing at supportive niyang sabi.

Ayoko naman sana pero isang segundo pa lang ay may umilaw na bumbilya sa isip ko. Sayang naman 'yong ilaw kung hindi gagamitin.

"What do you want me to do?" he followed-up like he already knew that I have one idea in mind.

"Well... he doesn't like messy hair, so..."

Tumawa siya at binasa ang kanyang labi dahil sa amusement. "Aight! Say no more."

He sprinted to go back to where Wyatt was. I peeked at the hallway where they both were, feeling panicky and excited both at the same time.

Gulo na ang buhok ni Wyatt nang makita ko sila. Napasinghap ako nang suntukin niya si Jerrick. I gasped when Jerrick's face was swayed to the side upon receiving the unexpected punch.

Oh my gosh! That's one punch! It's my cue, it's my cue!

Pero hindi pa nakakaganti si Jerrick...

I could negotiate to two. I bit my finger as I waited.

Pinatunog ni Jerrick ang kamay niya. He's hissing and tilting his head from side to side as he secured momentum. He got all warmed up and struck his fist on Wyatt's jaw.

Okay, now that's my cue!

Kids, wait for me!