5 - Probinsya

5

"You what?" I heard Liam say in shock at what I told him right now. He even went away from the girl who was flirting with him in his seat just to give all his attention to me.

I didn't speak immediately, so I took my glass and drank it. What's surprising about that? Tsk. Hindi ba kapani paniwala kung ma engage ako dahil bago ito, na engaged na rin naman ako.

"I said, I am engaged," I said to him nonchalantly without looking at him. I only glanced at him when he took my glass of wine that I was holding and quickly put the glass back on the table.

“What the fvck, bro?” Iritang sambit ko sa kanya sa pagkuha niya sa iniinom ko, pero tumawa lang siya habang nakatingin sa akin, hindi pala sa akin, kung hindi sa babaeng nasa kandungan ko. Sinasabi ko kasi iyon habang hinahayaan ko ang isang babae na nasa kandungan ko at humahalik sa leeg ko. Imbes na pansinin siya ay tinignan ko na lang ang babaeng nasa kandungan ko at walang pakundangang hinalikan siya.

Anak ito ng isang kasosyo ko, but just like before, I asked her first if she was fine with just a simple game, no strings attached relationship. Yes, that's why he's on my lap now. She didn't even care when she heard what I said—that I was already engaged. She even whispered to me that we should get a VIP room right now. Tsk. Girls.

Narinig ko ang pagmura niya habang tinitignan ako.

"You say you are engaged, but look what you are doing right now. You really think I'll believe you about what you said if you're here with a girl? Kissing and I think ready to go to the VIP room and get fvck. I should be the one saying that, what the fvck word, bro," he said while shaking his head and while grinning at me.

Ako naman ang natawa sa sinabi niya.

We were both at a bar, and just like some people here, we're just here to have fun. I just want to enjoy my night tonight because tomorrow I need to go somewhere.

Tito Zeyo wants me to go to that province; para mas mapalapit daw ako sa tomboy na anak niya. I almost cursed when he said that earlier, when he called me. Fortunately, I was able to stop myself from cursing. Tsk. Buti na lang at napigilan ko ang sarili ko. That Callie immediately returned to their province after they declared that we were already engaged.

I didn't think about that, but fine. If that is what they want, then fine. Pupunta ako sa probinsyang iyon, tutal ay tama naman na gawin ko iyon dahil kung magkalayo kami ay hindi ko siya maaakit.

I also thought that was better. The more time I have with that tomboy, the better chance I have of attracting her and turning her into a real woman.

In order to have that island, I will do what Tito Zeyo wants. Papa already knows about it, so Papa said I should take a leave from the company first. Ang sabi niya ay siya na muna ang bahala sa company.

“I am really engaged, Liam. Maniwala ka man o hindi, wala na akong pakealam. In fact, this will be my last night out this month. Kailangan kong sumunod doon sa probinsya dahil nandoon iyong fiance ko,” walang kagana-gana ko ulit na sambit sa kanya at pinaalis ang babaeng nasa harap ko.

“W-Why—” I cut her when she tried to complain about what I did.

“Ang boring mo. I don’t need a boring woman in bed,” prankang sambit ko rason ng pamumula niya.

Kitang-kita ko na ayaw pa niyang umalis, pero nang makita nito na seryoso ako ay agad siyang padarag na umalis. Napasinghab pa si Liam sa ginawa ko at ang tanging ginawa ko na lang ay ang magkibit balikat at kumuha ng panibagong iinumin para inumin.

“Wait. Seryoso ka talaga? Engage ka na?” At talagang hindi siya naniniwala. Imbes na magsalita ay sinandal ko na lang ang buong katawan ko sa sofa at hinayaan ang sariling mamahinga roon. Pinikit ko pa ang mata habang nakatingala na dahil sa pagkakasandal, pero napamulat at napasulyap ulit ako sa kanya nang marinig ang sunod na sinabi niya.

“Don’t make me laugh, Zacky. Kung talagang engage ka na, babalik dito agad ang kapatid mo,” sambit nito. Napabuntong hininga ako nang maalala ang kapatid ko.

“Danica needs time abroad, Liam. After her engagement failed, she needs to rest and find herself. My mother really doesn’t want to say this to her,” sambit ko at umayos na sa pagkakaupo.

“Wow. Why do I have this feeling that there’s really something about that engagement? Engagement ang pinag-uusapan, so it's a bit suspicious that you won't tell this to your only sister,” rinig na rinig ko ang paghihinala niya, pero hindi ko siya pinansin at agad na tumayo. I want to satisfy my needs right now.

“A fvcking womanizer!” Habol pang sambit ni Liam sa’kin nang makita ang pagtayo ko. Mukhang kahit na hindi ko na ipaalam ay alam na nito ang gusto kong gawin ngayon.

Some girls know me here, and they already know what I am planning right now. Some girls approached me, pero agad ko silang pinapaalis.

I have a motto in life. Once I've tasted that girl, I won't want to taste her again. Isang tikiman lang sa isang babae; that's how I am a womanizer.

I don't recycle. When I felt something, I immediately approached it. One touch, one whisper—she already says yes and gives herself to me, kaya para sa'kin, ang gawing straight na babae ang tomboy na iyon at madali lang. Subrang dali lang.

Wala man lang kahirap-hirap. Bumigay agad. Tsk! Girls.

“Yes, Ma. I get it. Don’t worry,” tamad na sambit ko at napailing na lang. “I’m not a kid,” nakasimangot na sambit ko. I am talking to her on my phone. Tawag ng tawag mula pa kanina.

“Basta huwag mo siyang pipilitan. Pursue her, don’t seduce her! Kapag ayaw niya, huwag mo siyang gagalawin! Don’t rape her!” Halos malukot ang buong mukha ko sa sinabi ng mama ko.

“I’m not a rapist!” Iritang sambit ko, pero tawa lang ni papa ang narinig ko, animo’y nakikinig sa usapan namin ni mama.

“Naninigurado lang.” Napailing na lang ako nang marinig na ang pagtawa niya na animo’y natawa na rin sa sinabi niya.

“Hindi ko kailangang mamilit,” nakasimangot na na sambit ko.

“Just please call me pagkarating mo sa probinsya nila Tito Zeyo mo,” pag-uulit niya sa sinabi niya kanina na gusto niyang gawin ko kaya agad-agad akong tumango sa kanya kahit hindi niya ako nakikita. After I assured her that I would call her immediately after I arrived in that province, she said goodbye to me.

Pinatunog ko na lang ang kotse ko saka lumapit sa backseat to put my duffel bag. Sumakay ako sa kotse ko at sinearch kung ilan ang magiging oras ng byahe galing Manila, papuntang Ilocos Sur. Then it says 5 to 10 hours, and it’s just really depending on the route taken and traffic conditions. Ghad! Nakakatamad magdrive ng ganoong katagal na oras.

I just let out a sigh. I still can’t believe that I am making an effort right now. Kung hindi ko lang talaga gustong makuha ang isla na iyon ay hindi ko ito gagawin o mag-aaksaya man lang ng oras.

I was bored with that fvcking travel. Wala man lang akong kausap at tanging ang tunog lang ng music ang naririnig ko. Madaling mahanap ang sa kanina dahil isa sila sa mayayaman sa lugar na iyon.

Tito Zeyo and Tita Helie left the country this morning, so they are definitely not at home now in this province. Iisang anak lang si Callie, kaya paniguradong siya lang at mga kasambahay ang nandoon ngayon.

“Deretso lang at kapag nakita mo ang malaking bahay na kulay red ang bubong, iyon ang bahay nila Zeyo Reymondo,” sambit ng matandang napagtanungan ko.

“Salamat po!” I thanked him and immediately followed what he said. I passed many houses, and then I saw a house with a red roof. Iyon ang pinakamalaking bahay na nakita ko mula sa pagpasok ko sa rutang ito. I honked my car horn so the security guard could hear, but I frowned when I honked the horn several times and no one even came out.

Don’t tell me wala silang security guard?

Inulit ko ulit at mas matagal kung pinindot ang busina, pero napasinghab ako sa inis nang wala pa rin talagang lumabas doon. Napahilot ako sa sintido ko. Sigurado naman ako na binilin na nila Tito Zeyo sa mga trabahador niya na darating ako, kaya anong problema ng mga taong nandito at hindi man lang tinitignan kung sino ang bumubusina?

Inis akong lumabas at halos mapamura ako dahil subrang putik ng daan kaya naputikan ang sapatos ko. What the hell, Tito Zeyo? Ang yaman yaman mo, pero hindi mo masemento ang daan dito!

Nagdoorbell ako, pero gaya kanina ay wala ring lumabas. Natigilan lang ako nang sinubukan kong buksan ang gate nila dahil bukas iyon.

“What the hell?” Kunot noong bulong ko sa sarili ko nang tuluyan akong pumasok at wala man lang katao-tao. Malaki ang bakuran nila at may fountain pa nga, pero asan sila?

Tama ba itong napuntahan ko? Shit! Baka mali at ma trespassing pa ako! Aalis na sana ako, pero natigilan ako nang makarinig ng malakas na bulyaw at mukhang galing iyon sa likod ng bahay. Hindi ko na sana papansinin, pero masyadong pamilyar ang boses na iyon.

“Madaya ka, Budoy! Travelling iyon!” Napasulyap ako roon at agad na sinundan kung saan nangagaling ang boses na iyon. Napasinghab ako. I really can’t believe what I am seeing when I reach the back of their house. Mukhang tama ako at hindi ako ma tetresspassing.

There's a basketball court there. And my tomboy fiance-to-be is there with nine boys on the court playing basketball. I gasped. The other person with them is a bodyguard because he is wearing bodyguard clothes. Nice. This is nice. So no one was guarding the gate because they were playing basketball. The funniest thing is that my fiance is acting like a guy and dressing like she is among those guys.

Nakakainis talaga ang tomboy na 'to!

Nakajersey ito mula sa damit at short. Maluwang sa kanya ang suot. Nakasapatos ng panglalake at ang buhok ay may bandana sa ulo na para bang gangster ito. Yeah, right. What the hell?