Chapter Two

           “Let’s drink?”

            Napa-angat ng tingin ang sekretarya sa kanya mula sa phone nito. Nagtataka. Nagdududa.

            “Raincheck muna, Awa.”

            “Why?”

            “I have a date tonight.”

            Sana all.

            She wanted to say, but she bit her tongue before she could utter a word.

            “Parang lagi kang may date, ah?” she asked instead, pinagkrus niya ang mga braso at isinandal ang pwetan sa edge ng mesa. “Seryoso na ba kayo niyang dini-date mo?”

            She heard her friend chuckle. Alam na niya agad ang ibig sabihin nun.

            Ba’t pa ba kasi siyang nagtatanong?

            “You know I don’t do the same date twice, Awa.” Mia gave her a quick smirk. “I’m not about to tie myself to anyone this early.”

            “Twenty-seven, and you still think it’s too early to settle down.”

             “It is for me.” Mia shrugged, her lips slightly pouting. “Look, just because we’re of the right age doesn’t mean we have to automatically get married.” tuluyang nilubayan ni Mia ang ginagawa’ng pagkalikot sa phone at sumandal sa swivel chair nito. “Marriage is a lifetime commitment, Awa, you can’t just jump into it dahil lang sa nasa tamang edad ka na. Hindi palaging batayan ang edad.”

            “Saan nanggagaling ‘yan?”

            Hindi makapaniwalang tumingin ang kaibigan sa kanya. “Seryoso ka ba sa tanong mo?”

            She inclined her head to the right, and cleared her eyes and her face off with emotions to show Mia she was serious.

            “We’ve been friends since I could remember, Asia Winnessa, you can’t pull something like that on me anymore.”

            She rolled her eyes.

            “Just humor me.”

            Na-iling ang kaibigan. “If you want to get yourself wasted tonight, I’m sure your cousins wouldn’t mind getting drunk with you.”

            “You know how they drink, Mia.” she reminded her. “Drink ‘til they drop. Delikado ang atay ko sa kanila. Baka ikamatay ko nang maaga.”

            One of her reasons why she doesn’t usually invite her cousins whenever her system craves for booze. They wouldn’t stop guzzling glass after glass of alcohol until they’re completely wasted. Laging gusto ng mga ‘yun na malasing to the point na halos gumapang na sila pauwi. She only does that when she’s tremendously tired and stressed from work.

            “Buhay pa naman sila, a?”

            “Ha. Ha.” pinaikutan niya ito ng mga mata bago umayos ng tayo. “Maybe I’ll just sleep this one out instead.”

            Mia studied her carefully, “I reckon that has something to do with what Rafeal came for?” she finally decided, eyeing her suspiciously, daring her to lie.

            “He delivered this.” Iwinagay-way niya ang envelope sa harap nito. “It’s an invitation.”

            Pahablot na inagaw ng kaibigan ang hawak at mabilisang binasa ang nakasulat dito. Pinagkunutan siya ng noo ni Mia pagkabalik nito ng tingin sa kanya. “And this should be a problem?”

            “For me?” she asked rather satirically. “Certainly.”

            “Bakit ka ba kasi nakikinig sa sinasabi nila?”

            “Uh, duh, baka kasi pamilya ko ‘yung nagsasabi nun?”

            Mia exhaled noisily. “Okay, gets ko naman. But, Awa, you have a choice to ignore the things you hear from people, even from your own family.”

            “But I don’t think we’re allowed to do that to our family, Mia.”

            “Mas makinig ka sa parents at mga kapatid mo. The rest of your family could say anything else but that should just be it.”

            She started to say something but Mia beat her to it.

            “Sino ba sa mga Aunties mo ang maraming kuda?”

            “’Yung mga malalayong kamag-anak na namin.” She replied. “Alam mo naman ‘yung mga anak ng mga Lolo’t Lola ko na supportive ‘yun sa’min.”

            “Oh, ayun naman pala, e, bakit ka pa nakikinig sa kanila?”

            “Because I was raised and taught to listen and respect those who are older than me.” Awa replied with a deadpan expression.

            “Edi ikaw na ang mabait, girl!”

            “Ewan ko sa’yo.” sinimangutan niya ito. “Go, have fun spreading your legs, though.”

            A flirtatious smile appeared on her lips. “Oh, you know I will.”

            “Ew!” nag-taasan ang mga balahibo ni Awa sa batok. “Please don’t smile like that at me again.”

            She left her secretary still laughing at her hysterically.

            Saya ka, girl?

            Inayos nalang ni Awa ang mga nagkalat na files sa mesa niya. Guess she’d be going home and sleep, just like what she told Mia a while ago. She wouldn’t be going out on a date, anyway, because she has no one to go out with.

            She must admit, it’s frustrating on her part, to see her friends and cousin date guys here and there, tapos siya ni isa man lang ay walang gustong mag-aya.

            Aware naman siyang mahirap siyang pakisamahan, especially since hindi siya nagpapasindak sa mga lalaking gusto ang mga babae’ng submissive.

            She’s not even easy to please. Dahil nga sa hilig niya ang magbasa ng libro, nailalatag na rin niya sa isip ang mga posibleng mangyari sa date niya; kaya hindi na siya nasusurpresa, making it hard for her to feel kilig, kasi expected naman niya’ng may mangayayaring gan’to o ganyan.

            Maybe I should read contracts and files more, fictions less.

            Hindi na niya naabutan sa pwesto nito ang sekretarya pagkalabas niya ng opisina. It was still early, around seven in the evening, and yet her floor already seemed deserted. Kung sabagay, she’d usually go home either very early or very late, she’s never seen her office around this time.

            She waved goodbye to Kuya’ng Guard before she left.

            One of the few things she learned from her parents: always treat your employees as equal and with respect. Not only it is right, but it makes a good relationship and environment around your workplace.

            Awa may have this bitchy and resilient image around the corporate, and even around the company, but that would typically come off during office hours― she keep things professional whenever she’s working. She does treat them rightly; she doesn’t want to retire labelled as a “horrid boss.” She owes the company to the employees, too, for working hard and doing each of their jobs well.

            The drive home was quiet. Even her unit was quiet.

            Her life is quiet.

            Or so she thought.

            “What the―?”

            The sight that welcomed her was horrendous: nagkalat na empty plastics ng junk foods― she could even see tiny little crumbs of food on the floor, empty bottles of alcohol, unorganized ang mga muebles sa living room, at nagkalat ang mga gamit ng mga invaders ng unit niya.

            She heard laughter coming from her kitchen― her scared kitchen! ― kaya doon na siya dumeretso, kahit kating-kati na siyang linisin ang kalat na iniwan ng mga ‘yun sa living area.

            And she was awfully right!

            In her kitchen stood four of her closest cousins: Ember, White, Last and Aye. Ember was in front of the stove, a ladle in hand, probably cooking something for dinner, laughing at whatever Last said; White was beside her, sinisilip ang niluluto ni Ember; Last was sitting on top of her kitchen counter, makalat na kumakain ng chips at tawa nang tawa; Aye was on the dining, choking on her beer.

            She would typically get a memo from any of them if they plan to come over, although sanay na rin naman siyang sumusulpot nalang ang mga ito sa unit niya unannounced. Minsan pa’ng nauuna ang mga ito sa kanya, kagaya ngayon.

            “The fuck?”

            Sabay-sabay na lumingon ang mga pinsan sa kanya. “Hi, Ate!” they chorused.

            “You know how I hate the mess, guys, seriously.”

            Last rolled her eyes at her. “You hate almost everything.”

            “Don’t start with me.”

            “Ay, mainit ang ulo.” sarkasitong sagot nito. “Meron ka?”

            “Malapit na maluto ‘to, Ate.” Ember announced, clearly diverting her attention from Last. “Gutom ka na?”

            “Hindi pa naman masyado.” Tuluyan siyang pumasok sa kitchen at pinulot ang isang empty can ng beer na pinag-inuman ni Aye. “What’s for dinner?”

            “Adobo’ng manok.”

            “Wala ka na bang ibang alam lutuin?”

            “Oo nga, Ate Em,” segunda pa ni Last, “purga na ako sa adobo mo, e.”

            “Sa ito lang ang madaling lutuin, e.”

            “Also frying!” Aye excitedly added, nakataas ang isang kamay na parang gusto’ng mag-recite. “Especially eggs and hotdogs.”

            They groaned in unison.

            “Hindi rin talaga pwedeng hindi mo binibida ‘yang itlog at hotdog mo, ano?”

            “What?” Aye shot them a quizzical look. “Okay, it’s not my fault you, guys, have such dirty minds!”

            “Ang madumi lang ang utak dito ay ikaw.” Last argued.

            “Hindi, a!” defensive na sagot naman ng nakababatang pinsan. “Kayo nga ‘tong madumi agad ang inisip sa sinabi ko, e.”

            “Okay, you two, cut it out.” sayaw na niya.

            Last and Aye would almost always find a way to bicker around. Hindi niya ba maintindihan bakit ganito ang dalawang ‘to. If it’s how they bond, hindi niya sigurado.

            “White,” she called. “Prep the plates, I’ll just get changed.” Tiningnan niya si Last at Aye, nagbabanta. “When I come back I better not see a single mess on this area or I’d send you both out of my unit.”

            “Ako nang bahala sa kanila, Ate.” Tatawa-tawang sabi ni White. “Go change.”

            She took a quick shower at mabilisang nagbihis, inayos niya na rin ang tutulugan nilang mag-pipinsan, dahil sigurado naman siyang dito matutulog ang mga ‘yun.

            Pagkababa niya, maayos na nga ang kitchen niya. Kahit ang living area niya, hindi na masyadong masakit sa mata ang kalat.

            “Inayos na rin namin ‘yung living area, Ate, baka hindi mo na kami papasukin sa susunod, e.” bungad ni Last pagka-upo niya.

            She just gave her cousin a smirk. White took it as her cue to start blessing the food, pagkatapos ay parang patay-gutom na nagpa-unahan si Last at Aye sa pag-abot ng kanin at ulam. Hinayaan nalang nila.

            “You got the invitation, Ate?” asked White, gracefully serving her plate with food. “Sabi kasi ni Kuya Raf siya na magdadala nun.”

            “Kuya Raf’s here na?” conyo’ng tanong ni Aye. “Kailan pa?”

            She dolefully nodded her head at White’s question. “Dapat ko na ata’ng ipa-blacklist ang isang ‘yun sa kompanya.”

            “What?” sabay-sabay na tanong ng mga pinsan.

            “Bakit naman, Ate?” tanong ni Ember na busy sa pagsasandok ng pagkain sa pinggan nilang dalawa. ‘Did he do something?”

            “Lagi kasi’ng bad news ang bitbit nun, e.” she grumbled. “The last time he visited, he was being chased by a lady, and he introduced me as his girlfriend!”

            White made a face. “Yea, heard that. Muntik ka na nga raw sampalin nung babae, diba?”

            “Yes!” she hollered. “The audacity! Talaga’ng sa teritoryo ko siya magkakalat?”

            “Buti hindi ka sinaktan, Ate?” Ember pushed her plate towards her. “Kain na.”

            “Si Ate Awa pa ba naman ang hahayaan ang sariling masaktan sa isang catfight?” natatawang tanong ni Last, there was a hint of pride in her voice. Palibhasa kasi ay pareho silang patola. “Either the woman went home with a scratch in her face, or with a dwindling confidence.”

            “Grabe,” protesta niya agad, “para niyo naman sinasabi’ng ang sama ng ugali ko.”

            “Hindi ba, Ate?” taas ang isang kilay na tanong ni Last.

            “Medyo lang naman.”

            “Potato, potahto.”

            “But you should be there, Ate.” Pagbabalik ni White sa usapan. “Magtatampo lang sa’yo si Ate Pat.”

            She groaned.

            “Isa pa, we’re all gonna be there. Weird lang kung wala ka.”

            “Parang others ‘to si Ate.” Last stated, shaking her head. “Hindi naman invited ‘yung ibang kamag-anak, e.”

            “Pupunta naman ako.” Sinimulan niyang himay-himayin ang pinaka paborito niyang parte ng manok: hita. “Nag-oo na ako kay Raf, e. Date niya ako.”

            “May tinatakasan na naman siyang babae?” pang-uusisa ni Ember.

            “Parang.”

            “What do you mean?”

            “Gusto raw kasi siya’ng ipasok ni Tito sa isang arranged marriage.”

            Halos mabilaukan ang mga pinsan sa narinig.

            “Seryoso ba ‘yan?” nanlalaki ang mga matang tanong ni Last. “Seryoso sa ba si Tito?”

            “You know they rarely ever kid, Last.” She reminded, isa-isang sinusubo ang mga nahimay na karne. “And with how Raf’s been living his life, I’m not even gonna wonder why Tito came up with this decision.”

            “What’s actually surprising is, umabot nang ganito katagal ang pasensya ni Tito Santi.”

            She nodded her head in agreement to White.

            “Kung ganun, mukhang mauunahan ka na naman makapag-asawa, Ate.” pang-a-alaska ni Last. “Galaw-galaw din.”

            “Kung tusukin kita nitong tinidor?” ini-amba niya ang ngayon ay hawak na tinidor sa nakababatang pinsan. “Makapagsalita ka, a, may jowa ka ba?”

            “Wala. But I have a line of guys asking me to date them.” Nang-iinis na sagot ng pinsan. “And I’m young, Ate.”

            “Why don’t you try dating apps kasi, Ate?” Aye probed. “How long are you even gonna dislike online dating, anyway? You’re not getting any younger, baka naghihintayan lang kayo niyan ni Prince Charming mo.”

            “For about as long as you guys keep on insisting I try it out.”

            “But she’s right, though.” White chimed in. “I remembered someone telling me that waiting is time consuming; that it delays a lot of things in life because we keep on waiting for, certain things, and people, to arrive before we finally move forward.”

            “Ano naman ang drama mo, Datu Puti?” taas-kilay na tanong ni Last.

            “Huli…” White started.

            Tatawa-tawang dinugtungan ni Ember ang sinabi ni White. “… pero ‘di kulong.”

            Nalukot ang buong mukha ng pinsan.

            “Leche kayo!”

            “Choose your battles kasi, Last.” ngisi niyang tukso rito. “Next time, make sure it’s not gonna back fire on you.”

            “Lintek lang ang walang ganti, Ate.”

            “We’re gonna be waiting then.” she ended her speech with a wink, and a groan of protest coming from Last.

            Napuno nang tawanan at asaran ang buong kitchen niya nang gabi’ng ‘yun. As the night got deeper, their long conversation was then accompanied by a tall pitcher of pre-melded drinks, smoke and drunken words turned to sobs.