Kabanata 11

The next day, I woke up with a pretty bad headache. Ugh! How I despise hangovers.

"Ouch," Sinapo ko ang noo ko at sinikap na umupo sa kama.

I heard a knock from outside my room's door that made me jump a bit.

"Come in!" Sigaw ko. I leaned on the headboard and shut my eyes close. Ang mga kamay ko ay nanatiling sapo ang noo habang ang kabila naman ay nakasabunot sa buhok ko.

"Hey,"

Napamulat ako ng mga mata at nag-angat ng tingin sa lalaking nagsalita. Namilog ang mga mata ko nang makita si Ares na nakatayo sa may pinto at may hawak na tray na puno ng pagkain.

Napaayos ako ng upo.

He started to stride inside my room and closed the door behind him using his foot. He gracefully walked towards my bed and put the tray full of food on my bedside table.

"A-Anong ginagawa mo dito?" I managed to say but then I stuttered.

"I'm sorry for barging in. Madame Ina ordered me to deliver your food here and wake you up. You were wasted last night." He explained as he arranged the food on my table. "Wha-" He bit his lip, hesitating if he should ask a question or not.

"Go on." I urged him to continue what he wanted to ask. 

"What.. What was the last thing you remember from last night?" Tanong niya sabay tingin sa’kin.

"The last thing I remember was..." Pinilit kong isipin kung hanggang saan ang naaalala ko sa mga nangyari kagabi.

"Was?" Hindi makapaghintay niyang tanong. Nakita ko pa ang paglunok niya.

"I chugged Jägermeister?" Hindi siguradong sagot ko.

He loudly sighed in relief na nagpakunot ng noo ko.

"Bakit? Do you, perhaps, know something that I don't? Like, may kagagahan ba akong ginawa kagabi?" Naguguluhang tanong ko sa hindi makatingin sa aking si Ares.

"Uh.."

Our talk was interrupted with a loud knock on my door.

"Athena?!" I heard Apollo's loud voice outside calling my name. "Atheeva Narelle Alessandria!" Now he's calling me by my full name.

Bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa nito ang kapatid kong pawis na pawis at kunot na kunot ang noo.

"Oh," naisaad niya nang makita ang kaibigan sa loob ng kuwarto ko. Bahagyang gumalaw ang kilay niya.

His lips then slowly formed a mischievous smile that made me irritated.

"It's not what you think."

"It's not what you damn think, De Bonnevie."

Sabay na saad namin ni Ares na nagpahalakhak ng malakas kay Apollo.

"Para naman kayong guilty at defensive niyan. Para kayong nahuli sa akto?" His brows twitched, a silly smile still crept on his face.

Sa irita ay dumampot ako ng unan sa gilid ko at itinapon sa direksyon niya na agad niya namang nasalo.

"Chill." He chuckled. Seconds after, bigla siyang sumeryoso. "Anyway, nagjogging lang ako, sumikat ka na." Umirap siya.

Kumunot ang noo ko. Ano raw?

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Nameywang ang magaling kong kambal at eksaheradang suminghap.

"You're all over the net, Atheeva Narelle!"

"What is this all about?" Dumagundong ang boses ni Daddylo sa living room.

"The first ever issue of the prim and proper Athena Alessandria de Bonnevie!" Ani Lander na parang tuwang tuwa pa.

"Shut up, Lander. You're not helping." Saway sa kaniya ng nakatatandang kapatid na si Kuya Dave.

"You don't remember that this happened last night, Athena?" Seryosong tanong sa akin ng matanda sabay lahad sa akin noong ipad. Naroon ang video mula sa twitter na naglalaman noong halikan namin ni Luke. Umani iyon ng ilang milyong views ilang oras pa lang mula nang ma-upload ito.

The caption says: Unfortunately, the prim and proper Athena de Bonnevie is not who we think she is. There's nothing wrong with girls being liberated but I hate how she hid inside a mask and pretended as prim and proper which she is obviously not. Seems to me she's ashamed of being liberated?

Sa comments ay maraming nagtatanggol sa akin. Mayroong iba na neutral, at mayroong iba na sang-ayon sa user na nag-upload noong video sa twitter. That's because they don't know the whole story.

Ang hilig lang talaga ng mga tao gumawa ng issue. It’s like their life depended on it and if there's no tea being spilled everyday, they couldn't go on with their lives. I don't really understand why they liked meddling with someone else’s business like it's their own. Like they needed to know about it.

Shouldn't they meddle with their lives instead? Bakit ba ang hilig nila makialam ng buhay ng may buhay? 

jian @jiannabie • 4h

replying to @TrendingToday

Lol the DJ was at fault. He shouldn't have taken advantage of the girl's drunken state. She was obviously drunk but he was so eager to kiss her lol. Smh.

ely @elyramadrid • 4h

replying to @TrendingToday and @jiannabie

lol girl she was obv leading him on

jian @jiannabie • 4h

replying to @TrendingToday and @elyramadrid

shut up. the girl is obviously drunk. it's a bare minimum not to take advantage of drunk girls. pls, get the fuck out of my sight if you think girls deserve to be treated like shit.

Ilan lang 'yan sa mga sagutan sa comments section ng tweet na 'yon na nabasa ko. Pinigilan ko ang sariling mapahalakhak. Baka isa-isa akong batukan ng mga pinsan ko dito dahil wala namang nakakatawa.

I just find that user jiannabie funny. She's so savage and straightforward! Sandali kong ni-stalk ang account niya at masasabi kong on point ang mga tweets niya.

Abante babae • men r trash, says her bio.

"Athena?" Tawag ni Dad na nagpabalik sa'kin sa kasalukuyan.

"Ah, yes. I can't quite remember anything from last night. Ang huli kong naaalala ay 'yung nagchug kami ng mga kaibigan ko."

"If you were not drunk and were in your right mind that night, would you still make out with that boy named Luke?" Tanong niyang muli.

"No. Maybe I'd talk and dance with him but not to the extent of making out. Besides, I don't like him and I wouldn't give him permission to kiss me like that." I shrugged.

"Do you feel harassed while watching this video? Do you feel harassed knowing that someone took advantage of your drunken state? Do you feel any regrets?" Daddylo interrogated me more.

"Uh.." Nag-dalawang isip ako. "Kind of. But I was at fault, too, you know.."

Malakas na umangal ang mga pinsan ko, lalong lalo na ang kapatid ko. Tahimik naman sa isang tabi si Ares na nakahalukipkip at katabi si Kuya Dave.

"Anong at fault? You were drunk! Obviously, hindi mo alam ang pinaggagagawa mo! Not taking advantage of drunk girls is a bare minimum! Lumapit ka sa kaniya, obviously drunk. He smelled the liquor on you but still didn't mind. He didn't even dismiss you politely because he knows you were drunk! You know what he did instead? Tried to get under your damn underwear, sister!" Nanggagalaiting sigaw ng kapatid ko.

"That's enough, Apollo Alessandrio. Wala tayo ngayon dito para mag away-away. We're here to help your sister and be with her throughout this nonsensical issue. That's what family does." Dad's serious voice filled the whole room. The jolly Alexandrius is now gone at this very moment. All I can see is the mighty Alexandrius de Bonnevie with authority not even one could withstand.

"Should we file a case against that DJ? Tatawagan ko na si Kuya Ryden to help us-" Kaagad kong pinutol ang suhestiyon ni Mari.

"Maybe we could try to talk it out, please? Pwede naman siguro itong madaan sa usapan. The higher ups should stay out of this mess, unless it gets out of hand. This issue is between me and Luke. If he regrets what he did, then I'll forgive him. Ayaw ko ng gulo kaya huwag na sana natin itong palakihin. I'm already fine with him asking for forgiveness.." Pinal at may halong pakiusap na saad ko.

"Damn. Why are you so kind-hearted?" Naiiling na bulalas ni Lars.

Dismayadong umiling ang mga pinsan ko. Halatang hindi sang-ayon sa desisyon ko. Mas gusto nilang makulong si Luke sa ginawa niya sa akin. Samantalang si Daddylo naman ay tumango-tango lamang. Si Mommyla ay tahimik na nakikinig sa amin at nasa tabi ni Dad.

"Oh my God! I heard the news! Ayos ka lang ba, anak?" Si Mama sa kabilang linya.

"Ma, calm down, okay?" Kalmadong ani ko sa ina na nasa kabilang linya at natataranta at hindi malaman ang gagawin.

"How can I calm down knowing my daughter has been talked badly over the net? Hija, I know you're not easily affected by these things but I am still worried like mad! I am your mother and I' will always worry for you, my daughter.." Mama’s voice broke. 

"I'm sorry for this mess, Mama. I promise I'll clear this.." I said, teary eyed.

No. I am not crying because I was affected by the issue. Nasasaktan ako kasi maraming nasasaktan at nadadamay sa kaguluhang ito. My family worried too much for me while I just remained calm. The family name is slightly tainted because of the issue, too. So the least I can do for their peace of mind is to clear everything.

"No, no, anak. No need to be sorry, okay? Wala kang kasalanan. If you think na naaabala mo kami, no. We would naturally be worried for you because we are family. Pamilya mo kami, pamilya tayo. Kaya huwag mong sisihin ang sarili mo. Nandito lang kami palagi sa tabi mo, anak."

Mama said that made me relieved.

I ended the call after my small talk with Mama. Feeling relieved that my family was with me the whole time. Hindi nila ako kailanman sinisi sa nangyari. 

Nag-alala ako ng husto sa mga kaibigan ko but I found out that my friends are upstairs. Nasa mga guest rooms at tulog na tulog. Mom said dito na inuwi ni Apollo ang mga kaibigan ko at ipinagpaalam na sa mga magulang nila. May kalayuan kasi ang bahay nila at kung iisa-isahin pa ni Apollo na ihatid sila, hindi niya kakayanin lalo na't pagod siya at madaling araw na noon.

"Signeur, the Rosza family has already arrived at the premises of the village." Informed one of our bodyguards.

That's Luke's family. Inimbitahan ni Dad ang pamilya nila dito sa manoir para sa gagawin naming pag-uusap. Their family also wanted to talk the matter privately. In fact, sila ang nakiusap para sa "meeting" na ito. Pinaunlakan ni Dad sa kagustuhan kong idaan lang sa masinsinang usapan ang lahat.

Nasa office ako ni Dad. Kami lang ang narito, hindi na sinali ang iba pa sa mga pinsan ko dahil baka magkagulo lang lalo na't mainit ang dugo ng mga lalaki kay Luke Rosza.

Bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa nito ang pamilya Rosza. Natanaw ko si Luke kasama ang mga magulang at ang nakababatang kapatid na minsan ko nang nakasalamuha sa ospital noong ma-injure siya sa paglalaro ng volleyball.

"Good morning, monsieur Alexander." Mr. Rosza bowed his head to my grandfather who's sitting on his swivel chair. Ako nama'y nakaupo sa upuan sa harap ng table niya.

"Good morning. Please have a seat." Iminuwestro ng matanda ang mga upuang katapat ng inuupuan ko. Agad na umupo sa katabing upuan ko si Unnie Rosza. Umupo sa katapat na upuan ko si Luke at ang mga magulang niya'y nakaupo sa gilid niya

Nginitian ko si Unnie, lowkey telling her that I recognise her.

"Hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa. Let us talk about the issue right now." Panimula ni Dad. His voice was stern and full of authority. "My grandchildren wanted to take legal actions against your son, Mr. and Mrs. Rosza, for harassing their beloved cousin, Athena. But my granddaughter here, asked us to just talk it out so that the trouble would not escalate further. Just see how kind-hearted my granddaughter is." May halong pagmamayabang ang tono ni Dad kaya halos mapairap ako.

Nilingon ako ni Mrs. Rosza. Sinsero ang kaniyang ekspresyon with a hint of motherly love.

"Maraming salamat, hija." Ngiti niya. Ngumiti rin ako pabalik.

"Athena.." Luke called my attention. "I want to apologise for what I did last night. I truly regret it and learned a lesson from it." Luke's sad eyes bore into mine. I can say he's sincere. Sa tagal kong pakikisalamuha sa mga tao, marunong na akong mangilatis.

Ngumiti ako.

"Huwag na sana itong maulit. Hindi lang sa akin, pati na rin sa ibang babae. Ayaw mo naman sigurong mangyari ang nangyari sa atin kagabi kay Unnie, hindi ba?"

Agaran siyang tumango. "As an older brother, I'd totally punch someone in the face if ever he harasses my sister. Kaya naiintindihan ko ang naging reaksiyon ni Apollo noong gabing iyon. Alam kong maling mali na hinayaan kong maghalikan tayo kahit alam kong lasing ka. And I'm not justifying any of my actions that night. Kasi kahit saang anggulo, mali talaga ako at alam ko sa sarili ko iyon. I'm so sorry, Athena."

Matiwasay ang naging pag-uusap namin. Hindi na nakialam pa ang mga pinsan ko at hinayaan kami ni Dad sa mga mangyayari pagkatapos. Pero hindi pa rin mawala-wala sa kanilang sistema ang pagkadisgusto kay Luke. But I know someday, they can forgive him.

Though, Kuya Math banned Luke from the club. Hindi ko na siya mapakiusapan pang bawiin iyon dahil tanggap na ni Luke at inaasahan niya na ring mangyayari iyon. Hindi na siya makakatugtog pa sa kahit saang clubs na pagmamay-ari nina Kuya. Nababahala nga ako na baka makaapekto ito sa trabaho niya at hindi na siya tatanggapin sa iba pang club para tumugtog. He's a great DJ.

Umalis rin kaagad ang pamilya Rosza matapos naming ma-settle ang isyu. Tuwang tuwa si Dad sa mag-asawang Rosza dahil pawang mababait ito at hindi tinotolerate ang pagkakamali ng anak. Anila'y kahit ayos na raw ang dalawang partido ay didisiplinahin pa rin nila ang anak.

After that talk, I've decided to release a statement on twitter. I made a long thread na umani kaagad ng ilang libong likes at retweets ilang minuto pa man ang nakalipas mula nang ma-i-tweet ko ito.

athena @atheevanarelle 

I'm not required to explain myself to everyone but for the sake of my family's peace of mind, I'll leave a statement here.

10k Retweets • 7k Quote Tweets • 13.5k Likes

| athena @atheevanarelle 

First of all, I never confirmed your assumptions about me being the prim and proper De Bonnevie. Hindi ko kailanman sinabi na ganoon ako dahil alam ko sa sarili ko na hindi ako ganoon.

| athena @atheevanarelle

Second, I didn't try to correct any of your assumptions about me because what's the point anyway? May masasabi at masasabi pa rin ang mga tao sa akin kahit anong gawin ko. So I chose to stay quiet and lowkey, not minding every damn business that's not mine.

| athena @atheevanarelle

Third, I am not liberated. I have friends, though, pero hindi ko ikinakahiya na ganoon sila. Iba't iba ang katangian ng mga babae at nirerespeto ko kung ano man ang mayroon sa mga kaibigan ko, o sa ibang babae, na wala man sa'kin. I just tend to do crazy things whenever I'm drunk, that I don't even do when I'm on my right mind. And that's what I'm not proud of. Who wants to be proud of doing crazy shits, anyway?

| athena @atheevanarelle

Fourth, this issue is between me and Luke. Bakit kayo nakikialam ng buhay ng may buhay? This is my personal life you're meddling with. Hindi ako artista para pag-usapan niyo lang ng basta-basta. Oo, alam kong kahit na anong gawin ko ay may masasabi pa rin ang mga tao sa'kin because we cannot please anyone, at galing pa ako sa prominenteng pamilya. Pero hindi enough reason ang pagiging De Bonnevie ko upang may free pass na kayong pag-usapan ang personal na buhay ko at insultuhin ang pagkatao at pagkababae ko.

| athena @atheevanarelle 

Fifth, like I said, this issue is between me and Luke. Huwag niyong idamay ang buong pamilyang De Bonnevie sa issue na ito. Wala silang kinalaman dito. Yes, I am a De Bonnevie, the misunderstood De Bonnevie. But this is my issue and my whole family is out of this.

| athena @atheevanarelle

Sixth, huwag na kayong umiyak mga iyakin. Hindi ko sasampahan ng kaso si DJ Luke. We talked the matter PRIVATELY at wala akong ibang ilalabas na impormasyon sa naging pag-uusap namin maliban sa hindi ko nga siya ipapakulong sa salang panghaharass kahit na gustong-gusto ng mga pinsan kong magsampa ng kaso laban sa kaniya.

| athena @atheevanarelle

To sum up everything, I am not prim and proper. I am not liberated. The only thing I can say is that I'm kind enough to let this issue pass. Hindi ko sasampahan ng kaso si Luke and the people who said mean things to me through their tweets. My cousins wanted to take legal actions against those dummy accounts bashing me, anila'y napakadali lang raw iyong ipa-trace. But I told them to let this issue slide. I just hope we all learn a lesson from this issue and I hope things are already cleared. That's all.

Nakita ng mga pinsan ko ang ginawa kong thread. Biglang sumulpot ang mga lalaki sa kuwarto ko at pinalakpakan ako.

"Grabe, prim and proper whomst? I only know the brave, strong, and kind-hearted Atheeva Narelle Alessandria de Bonnevie!" Ani Law at tumawa ng malakas.

Nailing ako sa kalokohan ng mga pinsan. My brother went near me and hugged me tight, even kissed my temple.

"I'm so proud of you, sis. Please don't ever forget that I'm always here for you, no matter what." Malambing niyang bulong sa akin.

Napahagikhik ako sa kasweetan ng kapatid at niyakap siya pabalik.

I'm so glad to have this family. Nasa tamang pamilya nga ako.

Nagising na ang mga kaibigan ko at paunahan pa sila ng hingi ng patawad. Kesyo naaalala raw nila ang nangyari kagabi, na hindi ko naman maalala, at sila pala ang nagtulak sa aking lumapit kay Luke at magbody shot sa kaniya, that lead us to almost making out.

I shushed the three kasi we were all drunk that time. Na-settle na rin naman kaya ayos na. Bahala na ang society sa kung anong iisipin nila. Basta ayos na kami nina Luke, ng pamilya ni Luke, ng pamilya ko, at ng mga kaibigan ko.

Ares was at the manoir the whole time. He never left. When he got a chance to talk to me, he immediately grabbed it.

"Athena," he called me.

Nagulat na lang ako nang bigla niya akong hilahin palapit sa kaniya at ikinulong sa mga bisig niya.

Ibinaon niya ang mukha sa leeg ko.

"I'm proud of you, so damn proud.." He whispered in a husky voice.

I bit my lip. Being in his arms felt safe yet awkward. Nakaramdam ako ng kaunting pagkailang sa kaniya kasi... naaalala ko ang nangyari noong nasa manoir na ako. How stupid of me to actually believe that night that he was a dream. But realization hit me by the time I woke up.

Naaalala ko ang matinding pagrespeto niya sa akin.. at ang kunpesyon niyang hustong nagpabilis ng tibok ng puso ko.

Hindi ko man maalala ang nangyari sa club, pero tandang tanda ko ang nangyari sa manoir. Kung paano ako humiling na.. gawin ang bagay na iyon. Kung paano niya tinanggihan dahil alam niyang lasing ako. Kung paano niya ako tinawag na baby. At kung paano niya nasabi ng walang pagdadalawang isip ang nararamdaman para sa akin sa pag-aakalang hindi ko na maaalala iyon kinabukasan.

Kahit sa totoo ay tandang tanda ko pa. At hirap na hirap na akong kalimutan ang mga sandaling iyon. Parang otomatiko iyong tumatak sa isipan ko.

At hindi ko na magagawang kalimutan pa kailanman.