Chapter Two

My sister and I decided to go shopping the day after. We thought of buying gifts for Nana and Jam. I can't choose what to buy for Jam. Nakabili na kami ng mga damit at bag para kay Nana. Bumili rin si Ate Zaf ng dress and shoes for Jam. Pero wala pa rin akong maisip na gift for her! 

"Bagay kay Jam 'to." Itinuro ni Ate Zaf ang kulay pink na relo. It's so cute! 

"Omg, yes! I'll buy this for her." Pumila na kami ni Ate papunta sa counter para bayaran ang mga pinamili namin. Kaso nga lang, ang haba ng pila. 

"God, bakit ba ang daming tao? Kailan pa kaya tayo makakaraos dito." Inis akong napapadyak. Pet peeve ko kasi ang pagpipila ng matagal. 

"Marami talagang tao kasi nasa mall ka, Erin. Wala ka sa bundok." 

"I know. You don't have to talk about mountains. You're so random." I rolled my eyes.

Hindi na nagsalita si Ate. When I looked at her, I saw her smiling at some bunch of attractive guys na nakapila sa counter 3. Not gonna lie, they are good-looking. I shook my head before diverting my attention to my phone. This isn't new to me anymore, my sister is a bit flirty. I don't know why she's that attracted to some strangers.  

"You look stupid while smiling at those guys. Wala namang special sa kanila. Boys are boys. You'll never find your true love sa mga nakikita mo diyan sa gilid-gilid." Hindi na 'ko nakatiis kaya nasabi ko 'yan. 

"They're so gwapo kaya. Especially that guy wearing a gray hoodie and specs." Napairap ako sa sinabi niya. A guy wearing hoodie and specs is almost every girl's ideal type. 

"Hanggang tingin ka lang naman." Paninira ko pa sa trip niya sa buhay. 

"Shut up, please." 

"Shut up, please." I mimicked her while holding the tip of my hair. Ganyan kasi ang posture niya ngayon, halatang nagpapa-cute sa mga lalaki. The latter didn't even bother to look at my sister. Natatawa ako na naaawa sa kapatid ko. 

Palabas na sana kami ng mall nang may bumangga sa akin. That hurts a bit, ang lakas kasi ng impact ng pagbangga sa upper arm ko. Muntik pang mauntog 'yong noo ko sa ulo ng taong 'to. But what bothered me the most is the fact na nakaramdam ako ng something wet sa braso ko. 

"Oh my god!" Napaawang na lang ang bibig ko nang makita kong natapunan ng shake ang white dress ko. It spilled on my dress and arm. Sheez! 

"I'm sorry, miss. I didn't meant to do it. My friends were teasing me and they accidentally pushed me. I'm really sorry." Paulit ulit na paghingi ng paumanhin ng lalaking nakasuot ng black button-down shirt and pants. Yes, he's undeniably handsome. But who cares? He just spilled some mango shake on my dress! 

Pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga tao but I don't care. Parang gusto ko tuloy ipahiya ang lalaking 'to sa harap ng maraming tao. I was just having a normal, shopping day but he ruined my day! Can't I just have a good day today? Nakakainis. Tapunan ba naman ng mango shake ang white dress mo? Ang galing. Sobrang galing. 

"Sorry?! You just spilled some mango shake on my dress. How could you be so careless?! You should've been more careful! Accidents are everywhere. Are you even aware of that? Besides there's a wider space out there, bakit kailangang makipagsiksikan ka?" I yelled at the guy who spilled the mango shake on my dress.

He's attractive, I admit it. He got a perfect facial structures and good physique. But who cares anyway? I'm fuming with frustration. 

"Hinaan mo ang boses mo." My sister whispered but I didn't listen to her. This dress is very special to me!

"I'm really sorry, miss. Bigyan na lang kita ng pera so you can buy a new dress. Magkano ba kailangan mo?" See? Akala niya siguro mukha akong pera. 

"I don't need your money. And for your information, this dress is much valuable to me that nothing can replace it!" 

"Then... what do you need from me? I already said that I am sorry. It was just an accident."

"Tiklop ka pala sa isang turista, bro." His friends were just laughing at him. Eh sila ang dahilan kaya natapunan ako ng mango shake. 

"Stupid." I murmured. 

"What did you say? Stupid?" Ang pogi rin ng accent niya pero wala pa rin akong pake.

"Yes. Stupid. You and your friends are stupid." Raising my brow, I flashed him a mischievous smile. 

He stared at me with those luminescent eyes of him, I thought I'd melt. What the heck, Erin? "Miss, alam kong kasalanan ko but you crossed the line. Ikaw na mismo nagsabi that accidents are everywhere. No one  wanted this to happen, not even me.  Hindi mo nga alam how to accept apologies." Naiiling niyang sabi at tinalikuran ako. What the heck was that? 

Napanganga ako kasi ang gwapo talaga niyang tingnan habang nagsasalita. Based on his features and accent, he looks like a foreigner. 

Oh, scratch that Erin! Don't ever admire or think of him kasi naiinis ka sa kanya, okay? Pero napahiya talaga ako ng slight doon, ah. Natapakan ang ego ko ng lalaking 'yon. Pinahiya pa niya ako tapos iiwan niya ako dito na parang tanga? Hindi ako papayag. 

I was about to follow that guy and grab his shirt when my sister stopped me. "Don't you ever try to make a scene. You'll end up going to jail." 

I rolled my eyes and looked around me. All eyes were on me. "Gusto ko lang naman bumawi sa lalaking 'yon!" 

"Stop humiliating yourself, Zephyrine. Learn how to control your anger issues, please. Wala ka sa atin." 

"Okay fine!" I grumpily said.

I will not like it if I'll try to cause another scene. Magugulat na lang ako eh bukas nasa TV na ako. I'm too gorgeous to be labeled as a troublemaker. 

"I'll buy you a sweater to cover up the stain on your dress." Ate Zaf told me. "Hintayin mo lang ako sa washroom." 

"Where's the washroom, anyway?" I asked. 

She raised her brow. "As if I know? Go and ask the sales ladies." And with that, she left to buy me a sweater. 

I frustratingly fixed my hair and went to look for the washroom so I can wash up already. Pakiramdam ko ang lagkit ng left arm ko. I look like a walking mess. That guy, really. He's getting into my nerves! Sinusumpa ko, ayoko na siyang makita pa ulit. 

"Kamusta lakad n'yo?" Jam asked while helping us place the paper bags on the table. 

"Okay naman." Ate Zaf replied shortly. For her, okay lang. For me, it was a bad shopping day. 

"Oh? Bakit nakabusangot itong si Erin?" Tanong ni Nana nang makita niya ang mukha ko. 

Sobrang sama talaga ng loob ko at hanggang sa bahay, hindi pa rin maipinta ang mukha ko. Uwing-uwi na nga ako kanina habang namimili kami ng groceries ni Ate Zaf sa supermarket. It was so weird to wear a sweater over my dress. Some people even stared at me, judging my fashion style inside their minds! So embarrassing. 

"Eh kasi naman Nana, tingnan mo 'to!" Hinubad ko ang suot kong sweater at pinakita kay Nana ang mantsa sa left part ng dress ko, specifically sa sleeves nito. Dilaw na dilaw pa talaga. Great. Just great. 

"Anong nangyari diyan? Ang puti niyan kanina ah. Para kang nakabangga ng food coloring na yellow, Zeph." Dagdag pa nitong si Jam habang nagpipigil ng tawa. Inirapan ko siya.

"Uminom ba kayo ng mango shake? Kaya namantsahan ang damit nitong si Erin?" Tanong ni Nana. 

"Hindi po! May bumangga po kasi sa akin na lalaki, may hawak po siyang mango shake tapos natapon sa dress ko. Ang annoying niya, hindi marunong tumingin sa dinadaanan!" Feeling ko, sasabog ako sa inis. "Right, Ate?" I looked at my sister who's silently watching us. 

She just nodded while taking her blazer off. "Did you saw his face, Ate Zaf? He's attractive pero ang sama ng ugali niya. Binangga niya pa ako. He ruined my day." 

"Hindi ko nakita ang mukha niya kasi nasa gilid lang ako. Ayokong mapahiya kasama ka." 

Wow ha? Grabe talaga. Kapatid ko ba talaga itong si Ate Zaf? 

"Ate naman eh!" I pouted. 

"And let me correct you, Erin. Hindi niya sinadya na mabangga ka. Nagkaasaran silang magkakaibigan at natulak siya kaya nabangga ka niya. Walang may gustong mangyari 'yon. It was an accident." Kalmadong sabi ni Ate Zaf. 

"Eh 'yon naman pala eh. Kumalma ka lang, Zeph." Sabi ni Jam. 

"Pwede ko namang labhan 'yan, anak. Gagamitan ko na lang ng matatapang na detergents pa matanggal ang mantsa sa dress mo." Pagpapagaan ni Nana ng loob ko.

"Thanks, Nana." I hugged her. Hinagod naman ni Nana ang likod ko.

"Oo nga naman, Zephyrine. Ang arte mo lang talaga." Sabi ni Ate that made me upset. 

"You don't know kung gaano kahalaga ang dress na 'to sa akin. My friend gave this dress to me. You won't understand." I coldly said. 

She won't understand nga naman talaga.  So she doesn't have the right to invalidate my feelings. 

"I understand you, Erin. But you should learn how to control your anger. You can't just be a bitch to anyone. Kahit saan ka pupunta, tinatarayan mo ang mga tao. Hindi mo sila kilala personally so show them some respect. And not everyone knows and understands your childish attitude. Baka mapaaway ka pa. Matuto kang ilugar ang pagiging mataray mo lalo na kapag nasa public places ka." Pangaral ni Ate sa akin at saka nag-walk out.  

Nagkatinginan kami ni Nana. She just gave me a small smile bago niya sinundan si Ate. 

"Tinarayan mo na naman ang lalaking nakabangga sa 'yo, 'no?" Jam carefully asked me. She knew my attitude well. At naiintindihan niya rin ako palagi. 

Wala akong nagawa kundi ang tumango kasi totoo naman. "I have my own reason why I became assertive. I have the right to be mad lalo na't sa mall pa ako natapunan ng mango shake. That guy even left me dumbfounded. Napahiya ako lalo." Naiyak na lang out of frustration. 

She caressed my hair. "It's okay, Zeph. Your feelings are valid. If I were you, ganoon din siguro ang magiging reaction ko." She tried to comfort me and somehow, I felt a little better. 

"But Ate Zaf was right. I am childish and I don't know how to control my anger issues." I smiled bitterly. 

My sister's statement was a bit harsh but she's actually right. I am grumpy and I often react assertively kahit nagso-sorry na ang isang tao. Sa huli, saka pa ako magsisisi.