“Wake up, little monster.” I wrinkled my nose as I felt something tickling my nostrils while I was still half asleep. I somehow smelled that thing and it pretty sucks, smells like nature.
“Go away, Oshi. I want to sleep more. It wasn’t spring to wake me up with that vibe,” I snorted. Imbis na tumigil ang loka-loka kong pinsan, mas kinalikot niya pa ako gamit ang bagay na iyon. Amoy lupa na hindi ko maintindihan kaya naman wala na akong nagawa kung hindi dumilat.
Bumungad sa umaga ko ang nakangiti kong pinsan. Ang lawak-lawak noon at pakiramdam ko, ikapupunit iyon ng labi niya. Halatang nagpapa-cute siya na parang anghel pero imbis na haleluya ang background song, chant na ‘p.i.’ ang naririnig ko. Was there a black emo angel? But I could refer her as one...
“Why are you staring at me? Are you turning gay?”
“You look like a smirking demon, not a smiling angel, babe,” I commented as I gazed upon her looks. Oshlov had a mesmerizing deep eyes that complemented her Greek nose to show balance of strong feminine beauty. She also had wide medium lips which does not often smile, more like smirk every moment of her victory whenever she thought of something playful.
Napailing ako habang nagsusukatan pa rin kami ng tingin. “Damn. Paano ako nagkapinsan ng demonyo?”
“Kasi demonyo ka rin. Napaka-aga demonyo na naman tingin mo sa `kin. Tumayo ka na nga dyan.” She rolled her eyes then dragged me to the floor.
Hindi na ako nabigla at hindi nga ako nag-react dahil ang normal na Oshlov ay parang loka-loka. Kung titignan mo siya, mavi-visualize mo ang sungay at buntot niya.
Nasa sahig ako pero nagawa ko pa ring pumikit. Napasapo ako ng noo nang biglang kumirot ang sintido ko dahil sa hangover. We drank, got drunk, and wasted. Ni hindi ko na minsan talaga alam kung paano ako nakakauwi rito bigla. Buti na lang at ako lang ang nasa bahay at si Oshlov na madalas ay wala rin dahil mas layas sa 'kin.
“Ibiza Blessed Bartolome, can you freaking get up? Bibisitahin natin si Mommy. Anong oras na, oh. Mainit sa sementeryo kapag tanghali pa tayo umalis.”
I snapped and widened my eyes for what I heard. Shit! Oh, almost forgot. Sorry, Mom.
“MOMMY, it is your fifth year now. Matagal-tagal na rin pero heto, nandito pa rin ako for you. Visiting you even if I am busy,” I smiled.
“But she’s late. Multuhin mo nga `yan, Mommy,” sulsol niya naman kay Mommy na akala mo ay maririnig nito. I made face pero mukhang seryoso siya kaya sinamaan niya lang ako ng tingin. She turned to Mommy and spoke, “Thank you for being there when I was isolated by the people who supposed to be my support system. I love you, Mom. I owe you, my sanity.”
If there’s one person who can make her sit like an angel, that’s Mommy. Oshlov became her baby girl when she had nothing. Both of her parents already died. Si Tita Cleofe ay namatay noon sa aksidente samantalang si Tito Korben naman ay dahil sa sakit. Noon, hindi ko pa kilala si Oshlov and I had no idea about their family. Like me, only child lang siya kaya siguro mabilis kaming nagkaintindihan nang tumira na siya rito sa amin ni Mommy.
“I am done confessing everything. How `bout you?” Oshlov turned her gaze at me, kaya naman sinimulan ko na rin magsalita.
“Amm, sorry,” I uttered as I bowed my head. “You know, Mom, I love you but I really can’t stop my shittiness but I promise... I will do more, I mean less. Sorry,” I paused when Oshlov cleared her throat. “Another thing is, I can't be kind to all your relatives. Mom, I just can't take their attitude towards me and Dad. They keep on questioning why I still communicate with him even if you two were separated. That’s all. Always guide me, Mom. I love you,” I ended my speech as I touched her tomb.
“People prepare for their deathbut no one is even ready in life.”
Cerann Vlyv LafortezaNovember 25, 1968 - February 5, 2014
If love means losing a half of you just to make someone whole then I don't want it. Bata pa lang ako, mulat na akong hindi lahat may happy ending. I saw how Mommy and Daddy ended up pero bilib ako, they managed to be friends and civil because of me. Nakakatuwa rin kahit papaano. It was unexpected. Knowing my Mommy was a very straightforward and decisive person, agad niyang hiniwalayan si Daddy nang malaman niyang Dad was seeing someone that time which I thought, may mali rin si Mom. Siyempre noon, hindi ko naiintindihan pero I was just silently observing things and that made me realize, you only had yourself in the end and love should never ruin you. If it did, baby, it was not love.
“Where are you up to now?” Oshlov spoke. Napatingin naman ako sa kanya na parang nagpipigil ng luha dahil namumula ang mga mata niya kaya naman napakunot-noo ako.
“I need lapses. Ikaw?” But I did not mention that I noticed it. Ayaw ko ng drama between us. We should seek happiness in life. Masyado nang marami ang nangyari sa buhay namin. We already collected enough sad films in our cassettes so I must say that have fun was the key to continue living our lives.
“I will visit my vape shop later but I will visit George first. May pinalakad ako sa kanya tungkol sa renewal ng permit ko. Alam mo naman iyon. Maraming connection,” she answered and I just nodded. I got her thing because I also had mine. Oshlov got a vape shop and I was on an online fashion shop where I sold branded bags, shoes, and clothes. “Ikaw, hindi ka ba papasok?” she asked, sarcastically so I darted him a death glare then she laughed.
“My professor today hate me. Will he gave me an A if I come to class? Probably no so I hella don’t care for this shitty semester. Papasa ako cause I have the spirit saka kung tutuusin, kakasimula pa lang ng klase. Mom will make a way.” I stood. Pinagpagan ang damit ko at inayos ang pagkakatupi ng boots ko. “Have to go. My body is missing the water,” I calmly stated as if I didn’t mind if she also didn’t give a fudge about it.
“`Yan ang gusto ko sa `yo,” then she clapped.
“Bitch,” I uttered and at the same time raised a middle finger.
“Bitch you too, babe,” she rebutted like a obdurate-spirited kid as she raised her too middle fingers.
My eyes were closed as I felt every beat of the first verse. Trying to loosen up and release all the negativity of my freaking life, I tried to feel the water up until my neck. The pool area was dim so the reflection of the arctic blue tiles filled the room because of the lights under me.I swayed my arms to make waves so I smiled. I looked down and check my suit, bandeau style top and thin-stringed bottoms, while mimicking the song “Strip” by Little Mix on my Playlist. “If you got little boobs, love it. If you got a big ass, grab it. If you got nothing big, rock it. It's your life, go get it, if you want it,” I sang and swayed my hips this time.
“Shit,” I moaned as I heard my phone ringing. I opened my eyes. Nabuhay ang dugo ko, like I was obliged to sing “The National Manthem” by Little Mix. “Don’t break your promise. Thou shall be faithful and honest.” Damn. If a doctor told me that I only have thirty-two seconds in my life, I would definitely listen to this perfect song.“Yes, hello. What do you need in the morning?” I answered the phone without checking who called me but instead of a furious replied, I received a sexy chuckle.“Blessed
"Oh, you know her name!" Oshlov declared in a sarcastic way, na parang may ipinapahiwatig siya.Cydeo shrugged. "Yes. Madalas siyang usapan sa College of Commerce, specifically my blockmates, kaya hindi ko rin maiwasang makinig. Sorry if that offended you," he reasoned out. His voice made my knees weak. It was husky baritone which got me distracted. Napatingin ulit ako sa labi niya sabay balik sa mga mata niya. Damn, I was seeing an angel.Mezka giggled which caught my attention. "You're a campus crush pala. Before naririnig ko na yata ang names mo sa guy friends ko sa student council. You're a chic daw and now that I see you na, I proved that surreal. You are gorgeous nga talaga," she said with an excited voice. Nailang ako sa compliment na binigay niya kaya hindi ko alam kung paanong ngiti ang gagawin ko. "Anyway, paniguradong k
I excused myself from my friends who were all drunk and wasted. I felt like my urinary bladder would explode any moment kaya naman patakbo na ang lakad ko at nilalampasan ang mga nagsasayawan sa buong bar.Nakakabingi, magulo, siksikan, mausok, amoy-alak at maraming 'di kaaya-ayang pangyayari ang nasa loob ng lugar na tinuturing kong tambayan. This was where I felt comfortable. Dito ko nailalabas kung sino talaga ako.Having nasty bad things around you was not an issue, it was how you let it affect you and how you would deal with it. Ang hirap kasi sa tao, masyadong ma-issue at judgmental. They kept on looking what's outside. Minsan kung sino pa yung mukhang santo, sila pa yung hindi mo aasahang demonyo. Yeah, right. Been there, done that.Napabuga ako ng hininga nang mailabas ko
"What's the use of being here if you're on your ear piece, Ibiza?" Nabigla ako nang tanggalin ni Oshlov ang headset ko dahilan para mapataas ang tingin ko sa kanya, technically, sa lahat ng tao sa table. There were all looking at me."What?" I asked and looked at her. "What?" I repeated and immediately shifted the tab. Pinapanuod ko ang isang event kung saan naglalakad sa runway si Cydeo pero nang silipin 'yon ni Oshlov, nasa music na 'to kung saan nagpe-play ang "Only You" by Little Mix.Nakita ko ang pagdududa sa mga mata ng demonyo kong pinsan kaya inagaw niya ang left ear piece ko since she was on my right. Pinakinggan niya rin 'to na para bang kahina-hinala ang pinakikinggan kong kanta.Bago pa mag-chorus ay tinanggal niya na rin 'yon at ibinalibag sa 'kin na hindi ko alam k
Two days of having a secret-on relationship with Cydeo felt exciting. Para kaming mga bata na nagre-rebelde sa mga tao. Us against the world but in reality, it was me against Mezka lang talaga.Naging maganda naman ang takbo ng mga pag-uusap namin ni Cydeo. Habang tumatagal, mas nakikilala ko siya. I was starting to unlike him now. Nakikita ko yung flaws at imperfections niya na agad kong tinanggap because all of them were reasonable and that made him, normal and reachable. With that though, hindi ko na siya gusto kasi unti-unti nang nagiging totoo yung nararamdaman konglove.I sighed after closing the laptop I just used a while ago. Naiayos ko na ang orders at natanggap ko na ang mga bayad. Malamang sa malamang, asikasuhin ko na rin ang pagpapadala ng mga natirang branded bags sa stock ko. Ayaw ko ng nagtatambak ng
I whimpered as I felt someone cuddling me. Dinama ko ang init ng katawan nito habang nakangiti at hindi pa rin dumidilat. Pilit kong inalala ang mga nangyari kagabi hanggang sa matauhan ako.My eyes widened when I realized that the man beside me was Cydeo. Susubukan ko sanang gumalaw pero napatigil ako nang maisip kong, bakit hindi ko sulitin ang oras na yakap niya ako?I reached my phone on the bed side table. I smiled at the camera habang nakayakap siya sa 'kin at tulog na tulog.Gotcha!We already had a picture together on bed. I smirked with that thought and put back my phone on the table.Pumikit ulit ako nang mas humigpit ang yakap niya sa 'kin. I was wondering if Mezka and Cydeo already did that thing but Cydeo was respectful and Mezka was conservative.
Fabrics were too fancy to the point that aesthetic cool lights reflected in every swift of the models' bodies. People who will walk in the show were all wearing heavy and pop makeups, even their bodies had highlighters that will make them glow on stage.As a club goer, I suited myself while grooving with the beat. The ambient sounds will give you a clue to what event you had entered, futuristic-water fantasy theme. I looked around and the runway amused me. The designs weren't just made of crepe papers, celophane or home linings that everyone used to see in amateur modelling shows. I nodded when I realized something, hindi basta-basta ang event na 'to. Maybe that was the reason why Cydeo really wanted to be part and featured in this event. He wouldn't be here if this will not give any credits to what he is aiming for. Kaya nga hindi na rin ako nagdalawang isip na suportahan siya at