Chapter 5 : Bitch

Chapter 5

Malapad ang ngiti ko na naglakad papunta sa café. Napagusapan kasi namin nila Christine at Vera na doon na lang kami magkita. Habang naghihintay sa dalawa ay umorder muna ako at itinuon ang mata sa phone ko.

Napaangat ako ng tingin ng may maramdaman akong lumapit sa may mesa. Ngumiti ako sa pag aakala na sila Christine iyon pero naglaho ang mga ngiting iyon ng mapagtanto kung sino iyon.

It was her. Rita Danielle.

She smiled at me. A friendly one.

"Hi I'm Rita, you are Dahlia, right?" nagtataka man ay tumango ako.

"I just want to clear something up, if you don't mind," she still wearing her friendly smile kaya ngumiti na rin ako.

"Sure." tipid na sagot ko.

“Ahm, about the photos. Theseus and I were just friends,” she smiled then she suddenly held my hand.

“Huh? Why are you telling me that?” naguguluhan kong tanong.

Hindi pa rin nawawala ang ngiti niya sa akin.

"Theseus and I talked yesterday, he was so annoyed because you avoided him raw. Then he sisi me! I was shocked naman, like what the hell did I do?! I was annoyed at him too because he was accusing me but then he confessed that he likes you raw, and he thinks that you misunderstood me being with him.” tahimik akong natawa habang pinakikinggan sya.

Ang cute nya kasi magsalita. Naalala ko tuloy sa kanya si Vera, my super conyo best friend.

“You don’t have to explain anything to me, Rita.” binigyan ko siya ng malapad na ngiti.

She sighed.

“But I still want to clarify anything to avoid misunderstanding. I just want you to know that I like him as a friend. He's like a big brother to me. Maybe napansin mo how excited ako every time he's around, that's because he's the one who save me when I was on a verge of death," malungkot itong ngumiti na tila may naalala

"Sorry for being clingy with him. I am not aware that I unintentionally hurt someone with my actions. I am sorry. Don't worry, I am going back abroad, I visited lang them kase I really missed them na. I hope we can be friends Dahlia." I smiled at her and then nodded.

"I think that will be nice, so friends?” nakangiti kong sagot sabay lahad ng kanan kong kamay sa kanya na agad naman niyang tinanggap.

She clapped her hands. "Friends! Yey! I have a new gorgeous friend na!" natawa ako sa ikinilos nito.

Mga ilang minuto pa siyang nagtagal at nagkwentuhan lang kami hanggang sa dumating na sila Vera.

Well, I think Rita Danielle is one of really kind. No wonder, Theseus and Rita became friends.

Hindi maalis sa labi ko ang malapad kong ngiti. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwala. Panaginip ba ito? Kung panaginip ito sana wag na ako magising.

Kidding!

@dahlia.nicaleigh.moretti

Don't forget my birthday tomorrow! Have a good day!

@theseus.ferarri

Of course, I won't.

I smiled widely when he replied that fast.

@dahlia.nicaleigh.moretti

See you later!

@theseus.ferarri

I'm not going today. I have a class.

Napasimangot naman agad ako.

@dahlia.nicaleigh.moretti

Ok.

@theseus.ferarri

Don't be mad, please?:(

I burst out laughing. He's so cute!

My smile never fades the next day. Kahit pa masyadong marami kaming ginawa ay hindi maalis ang kasiyahan sa loob ko. Mas lalo pa akong nabuhayan ng ngitian ako ni theseus kanina. Christine and Vera have no idea that there is happening between me and our substitute teacher. Isa pa ay wala naman mali dahil studyante rin naman sya, yun nga lang ay fourth year college na sya habang grade 12 lang ako. Sa mata ng ibang tao hindi malabo na husgahan nila ako pero ano ba ang gagawin ko? Hindi ko pa naman magiging boyfriend si Theseus at manliligaw pa laman siya. Wala naman sigurong mali kung piliin ko munang maging masaya at huwag isipin ang sasabihin ng iba.

I will never have a boyfriend until I am still a minor.

I want to have a normal relationship, kaya mas tama siguro kung tumuntong muna ako sa edad na labing-walo bago pumasok sa isang relasyon. Sana lang ay huwag mapagod si Theseus maghintay kung totoo nga na seryoso siya sa akin.

My parents never told me that I can't have a boyfriend. They said that as long as I know my limitation, it's okay for them. They only want the best for us, and as a daughter, I won't break the trust that they give in me. They are kinda strict when it comes to me, kaya hindi na ako magtataka kung maghigpit sila dahil ako lang naman ang nag-iisang anak at apo na babae. Ang lahat naman ng mga pinsan ko ay mga lalaki. That's why they spoil me but not through luxury things. I'm really not into that kind of stuff, a simple thing is enough to make me happy.

Tomorrow is my birthday and I expected him to come. Bukod sa kaibigan ng mga Moretti ang pamilya nila, he said that he will start courting me on my 16th birthday. I'm starting to get nervous, what if he didn't come? Paano kung magbago bigla ang isip niya?

Sa ilang araw na lumipas ay medyo nag iba naman ang pakikitungo nya. Kung dati ay malamig lang ito tumingin, ngayon naman ay ngumingiti na ito ng tipid, but I'm contented with that. I hope his feeling won't fade no matter what. But when the time comes and he doesn't like me anymore, I don't think I can get over with him easily. Kahit na masaktan niya ako ay hindi rason yon para mawala ang nararamdaman ko. I will love him even if he doesn't love me back but not blindly. God, my family, and I, myself were always my priority.

I got a text from Christine, saying that she doesn't have a class this afternoon. Vera suggested that we should hang out today. We decided to watch a movie instead of going somewhere. Christine said that she gonna pay for our tickets, kaya naman hindi na kami nagreklamo pa. Ang akala ko nga ay romance ang pipiliin niya dahil mahilig sya dito pero laking gulat ko ng ipinakita niya sa amin na horror iyon.

Sa amin tatlo, si Christine ang pinaka matatakutin sa ganitong movie, kaya naman nakakapanibago, since she hates horror movies. Humiwalay muna ako sa kanilang tatlo to buy popcorn and drinks. It took 10 minutes before I can buy our food, dahil marami ang bumibili.

''Here's our food!'' sabi ko ng makalapit sa dalawa.

''Omg! My favorite barbeque flavor!'' si vera na excited matapos makita ang bbg popcorn.

''May cheese jan?'' tanong ni Christine.

I shook my head to tease her. ''Wala na raw. Barbeque lang nabili ko.'' I lied.

She doesn't eat barbeque flavor because it's salty daw.

Sumimangot sya. ''Weh? Niloloko mo na naman ako eh!''

Hindi ko na napigilan pa na humalakhak. ''I was kidding!'' umirap ito.

Nang magsimula na ang movie ay walang ibang ginawa si Christine kun'di sumigaw. ''S***a! Ayoko na! Wahhh!'' she shouted when the ghost suddenly appear on the screen. ''Hey, pinili mo 'to magtiis ka!'' natatawang asar ko.

''You want to prank us right? Nagbackfired tuloy sayo yung plan mo!'' dagdag ni vera.

Hindi na nakasagot pa si Christine dahil nakatutok ang mata nito sa screen. Hindi pa rin ito natigil sa pagsigaw, nahiya na nga kami dahil sa pinagtitinginan na sya ng mga tao.

''Piste ka! Takte! Ayan na takbo!Gaga ka multo yan!'' Vera and I started to laugh when she suddenly talked to the screen.

Tulala lang si Christine matapos ang movie hanggang sa makalabas agad kami. She looks so tired, maybe because she keeps shouting and arguing with the screen. Natawa na lang kaming dalawa ni Vera.

We bid goodbye around six pm. Our driver pick me up while Vera pick up by her dad, si Christine naman ay sinabay nila dahil malapit lang ang bahay nila kay vera. Nang makarating sa bahay, My parents we're not yet home. Kuya Damien and Kuya Dalion were the only ones there. They said they are doing their thesis, kaya naman hindi ko na sila pa ginulo.

Kinabukasan, maaga akong nagising ng dahil sa sobrang excitement. Nang magising ako ay nakaalis na raw ulit sila mom. Si Kuya Darius naman ay tuloy pa dahil madaling araw na ito nakauwi.

''Ma'am may nagpadala po nitong package sa inyo po nakapangalan.'' natigil ako sa pagkain ng sabihin iyon ng isa sa anak ng kasambahay namin.

Si Cathy, she's two years older than me. She's kind but there is something about her aura that make me unlike her. Morena sya at kitang-kita ang pagkapilipina niya. She's trying to be close to me but I stay away from her. I feel that she's hiding something, that's why I don't like her to be my friend. Even though, I still respect her as a person

''Thanks.'' tipid kong sabi.

I looked at her when she was holding the box tight, kaya hindi ko agad makuha. ''Hey, give it to me.'' medyo inis kong sabi.

She smiled at me sweetly and that make me more irritated. ''Ay sorry, hindi mo pa ba bubuksan?'' tanong nito ng maiabot niya sa akin.

My brows furrowed. ''No. So if you don't mind, you can leave me alone now.'' sabi ko ngunit hindi pa rin siya umalis.

''What?'' inis ko siyang tinignan ng nanatili ito sa gilid ko.

''Kilala mo pala si Theseus Vlad?'' pag usisa nito.

''Yes, problem with that?'' bahagyang tumaas ang kilay ko.

Umiling ito. ''Wala, nakikita ko kasi sya sa University eh.''

Oh, she likes him?

''And?'' masungit kong usal.

''A-ah eh nakakahiya naman sabihin-”

I cut her off.

I smirked. ''Dapat lang talaga na mahiya ka.''

''Oo nga eh, nahihiya ako ng sobra sa kanya.'' muntik na akong mapairap.

She didn't get me huh? What I mean is saying that in front of me! The guts of this girl, arhg!

''So, what are you trying to say?''

''Gusto ko siya.'' biglang pag amin nito.

Hindi na ako nagulat dahil kanina pa lang ay halata na sa kanya.

''Ano naman?''

''Diba magkaibigan tayo? Pwede bang layuan mo sya? Please lang matagal ko na siyang gusto. Kung kaibigan talaga turing mo sa akin lalayuan mo siya.'' she started to cry.

Damn. What a great actress. Friends? I don't even like her.

''Are you that desperate?'' nakangisi kong tanong.

''M-mahal ko s-siya.'' the hell I care.

''Oh, funny you! First, I just want to remind you that we're not friends. Second, I don't care about your feelings. And Lastly, I like him. And no one's gonna make me stay away from him. You're just nothing to him yet you act as if you own him.'' umirap ako.

Napasigaw ako ng biglang may naramdaman akong malamig sa ulo ko. ''Omg!'' I glared at her.

''What the hell is your problem?!'' sigaw ko.

Dinuro niya ako. ''Ikaw! Napakadamot mo!'' umiiyak niyang sabi.

''My god Cathy! Why did you do that?!'' sigaw ko.

''Bwisit ka! Malandi ka napaka bata mo pa ganyan ka na.'' then she started to pull my hair.

''H-help!'' sigaw ko dahil patuloy siya sa paghila ng buhok ko.

Nakaladkad na ako na ako sa sahig kaya naman hindi ko maiwasan maiyak. Yes, I can fight through words but I can't hurt other people!

I’m weak when it comes to physical fight!

''Let go of me bitch!'' mas lalo niya pang hinila ang buhok ko.

''Cathy, let go of my sister!'' rinig kong sigaw ni kuya carius.

Para naman natauhan si Cathy. Tumakbo ako kay kuya at agad yumakap dito. ''What happened princess?'' nag-aalalang tanong nito.

''Kuya she pulled my hair!'' sumbong ko.

''You, leave! I don't want to see your fucking face ever again here in our house!'' galit na sigaw ni kuya.

Mapple looked so hopeless. ''S-sir sorry po. H-hindi na po mauulit. H-huwag niyo po sana tanggalin ang scholar k-ko.'' she begged.

''Just leave for now!'' seryosong sabi ni kuya.

Tumakbo naman ito dahil sa takot.

''Kuya, wag mo na alisin yung scholar nakakaawa naman si Mang kung di makapag-aral ang anak niya, ayokong tanggalan ng pangarap si manang.''

He sighed. ''Are you sure princess? She hurt you.'' tumango ako.

''Don't tell them kuya.'' I'm pertaining to my parents.

He looks so pissed. ''They should know that!'' iritadong sabi nito.

''Kuya, today is my birthday. If they get mad, mawawala sila sa mood.'' pang uuto ko.

Tinaasan ako nito ng kilay. Nagpapacute na naman ako kaya natawa ito. ''Fine.''

''Yey! Thank you kuya! Love you.''

''Love you princess and Happy birthday.'' then he kissed my forehead.

I'm so excited! I can't wait to see him!