Chapter 9: Wicked Nursery Rhymes (Part 1)

How I wished it never happened. Sana hindi ko na lang sinabi iyon— no. He shouldn't have gotten to the dorm in the first place edi sana hindi nangyari ang tagpong iyon. But it all happened in a blink of an eye. Matapos ang huli kong sinabi, Gray literally dropped his jaw and he was stunned for a while. I don't know if he is expecting such answer but it seems that he didn't. His eyes were sad and his mouth was gaped open when I made my dramatic exit.

Yes, iniwan ko siya doon na hindi pa lubusang makapaniwala sa sinabi ko. If it was another situation, it was one of the best confession of the Philippine history (like yeah, whatever) but then it wasn't like that. Hindi iyon ganoon kadali. I don't know if I would feel lucky about being the girl that a Gray Ivan Silvan like despite the million— okay I'm exaggerating. There are ao many girls who like him but he likes me. I should be privileged but I wasn't. It felt so burdensome.

Gustuhin ko mang manatili sa kama at magmukmok buong araw, I cannot. I mean I can pero masyado akong loser  kung ganoon. Hello? After the Amber vs Bridle yesterday, being absent would only make everyone think that I am affected. Kailangan patunayan ko sa kanila na hindi ako loser gaya ng iniisip nila. Andi and Rese heard about what happened. Hindi ko pa nakakalimutang may pakpak ang balita and who knows if they have been there when I did the "Iced coffee challenge". Tss! Ngunit hindi nila ako kinulit doon. Naramdaman siguro nila na ayaw ko munang pag-usapan ang tungkol doon and I am thankful to them for being considerate.

Bago pumasok ay ilang beses muna akong napabuntong-hininga. I even punched my chest few times— heart massage kumbaga at paulit-ulit na pinaalala sa sarili na magiging okay din ang lahat. Iyon na siguro ang pinakagasgas na motto sa mundo but it is one of those which keeps us going.

Maingay ang classroom nang pumasok ako but they become silent when I passed through the alley at dumeretso sa upuan namin kung saan ako na lang ang wala pa. Eh? What's wrong with them? Nang makaupo ako ay saka lang din sila muling nag-ingay. Itinabi ko na lang ang bag ko habang pinakiramdaman ang mga tao sa paligid ko especially Gray. I know everything will be awkward between us—

"Amber may assignment ka ba?", Gray asked and my eyes widened in surprise. Hindi ba't kakasabi ko lang na magiging awkward na ang lahat sa pagitan namin but why is he like this? He's acting like nothing happened. He's even smiling widely.

"A-assignment?"

"Nakalimutan mo Bestie? Haaay naku!", Je said at naglapag ng 1/4 na papel sa harap ko. It was his own paper. "Kopyahin mo na habang wala pa si Ma'am."

Hmm, why are they really like this? Acting like nothing happened at parang wala lang? Nakalimutan na ba nilang galit ako sa kanila dahil mas kinampihan pa nila ang ubod ng pampam na si Math?! I eyed them a deadly glare ngunit walang epekto iyon sa kanila. I pushed the paper back to Jeremy.

"No thanks."

"Pero Bestie—"

"May assignment ako." Okay that was a lie. Ni hindi ko nga maalala na may assignment kami! Ang bumabagabag sa utak ko kagabi ay ang mga nangyari. And thanks to Honey for adding the agony of the physical pain. Nang tingnan ko siya ay may namagang bahagi ng mukha niya. Great, that was where my fist landed on her face yesterday.

My phone rang at rumehistro doon ang numero ni Reo. Hindi naman ako nagdalawang isip na sagutin iyon without minding the two guys beside me.

"Reo."

"Hey pretty! I hope I am not disturbing you in the middle of the class."

Pretty? Did he just call me pretty? I wanna blush on such thought.
"No. Hindi pa naman nagsisimula ang klase."

"Great then. Tungkol nga pala dun sa sinabi ko sa iyo—"

Kung kailan gusto kong magtagal pa bago pumasok ang guro ay saka naman ito dumating. As much as I want to linger in the call but I just can't dahil nakatayo na ito sa harap. Pumasok na ang guro namin kaya kahit gusto ko pang makipagtelebabad kay Reo ay hindi ko magawa. Napakalaki ng reminder sa dingding na nagsasabing "TURN OFF YOUR PHONES DURING CLASS HOURS."

"I need to hang up. Can you send me a message?"

"Sure Pretty. Take care", he said at pinatay ang tawag. I kept my phone in my pocket at nagfocus na lamang sa harapan.

"Sino yun Bestie?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "None of your business", sagot ko sa kanya and he only pouted. Yeah, they're still acting like it was it was just a normal day. Hello who are they kidding? They don't need to give me much of their attention now (kasi hindi naman ako attention seeker gaya ni Math) and they don't have to act like they really care (kasi alam naman naming lahat na pinagtulangan nila ako kahapon) and I'm perfectly fine with this set up (yes I Am) at wala akong pakialam sa kanila.

Call it pride or ego but I am not really compromising with them that easy. I mean yeah, they act like it's nothing but that's not what I want. Ang nais ko ay marealize nila ang ginawa nila kahapon. And how I was publicly humiliated because of them!

When it was break time, I decided to go somewhere na malayo sa kanila. I saw the off-limits building na under renovation. I Decided to walk pass the sign at pumasok papunta sa rooftop. Mabuti pa dito. Tahimik at walang mangugulo—

"Sinong nandyan?", a voiced roared.

Shit. I'm sure it was the engineer at kilala siya na terror. I'm sure if he will see me, mare-report ako sa guidance dahil hindi ko sinunod ang nakapaskil na instruction na bawal pumasok dito. I have to find an alibi!

Naramdaman kong may humila sa akin and the next thing I know, that someone was hugging me and it was Gray. Naramdaman ko ang kakaibang kaba. It wasn't because the engineer will see me but because Gray is hugging me.

"Gray..."

"Just stay still", he whispered.

"Anong ginagawa niyo dito?", wika ng engineer nang makita kami. I blushed on the thought that he saw us hugging! God, ano kaya ang iniisip niya ngayon?!

Gray pulled me away from him ngunit nakaakbay pa rin sa akin ng hinarap ang engineer.

"Pasensya na po Sir. Anniversary po kasi namin ng girlfriend ko and I surprised her here", he said. What a liar!

Wait, why does it seem so familiar? Doesn't he use the same line on our first encounter?

Pilyong ngumiti ang engineer. "Ganoon ba? Oh sige , tuloy niyo na. Pasensya na sa disturbo basta pagkatapos, baba na agad kayo kasi delikado dito."

"Areglado Sir!", Gray said.

"Tsaka boy, helmet law ha? Mauna na ako Hihihi!"

Natawa si Gray Sa sinabi nito. HELMET LAW? What's that?

When he disappeared ay tinanggal ko ang nakaakbay na braso ni Gray. "Tss! Anniversary huh?"

"That just saved our asses for the second time", Gray said and winked.

I rolled my eyes at him agad na umalis. Meh! Didn't I say that I don't wanna stay with them for break time?

"Bye girlfriend! Happy anniversary!", I heard him shouted and I prevented myself from looking back.

Oh Gray.... Please....

The whole day passed and the three of them acted like nothing happened at pinanindigan nila iyon sa buong araw.  Unfortunately, I am not buying that crap at mas piniling dumistansya na muna sa kanila. Thanks to my headset na siyang malaki ang naiambag para sa pambabalewala ko sa kanila.

***

Paulit-ulit na tiningnan ko ang repleksyon ko sa salamin. Kanina pa ako nagpapalakad-lakad sa harapan niyon at sinipat ang sarili ko.

"Amber, maupo ka nga. Ako ang nahihilo sa iyo eh", saway ni Therese sa akin. They were so supportive in me. Sa katunayan ay sila ni Andi ang pumili na suotin ko itong black skirt at royal blue na fitted long sleeved top which displays my back. Tinernuhan ko iyon ng asul na pumps na pinili din nila. Andi has a good fashion sense so I trust her with this. Siya din ang nag-apply ng light na make up sa mukha ko.

"Relax Amber. Maganda ka kaya chill ka lang", paalala ni Andi. "So tell me how does this happen that you decided go on a date with Ryu, I thought you don't like him because he's so evil."

"It's not Ryu Andi. It's Reo."

"What difference does it makes?"

"The spelling of their name. Duh", pamimilosopo ni Rese.

"Reo is my puppy love."

"So mukhang tuta?"

"No. He's very handsome."

"So does Gray knows about it?", she asked
.

I shook my head. I did not tell any of them tungkol sa dadaluhan kong inauguration at sleepover. The other night we cleared things up. Hindi man iyon ang totoo but I made it clear to him that I don't like him even if I do. Hindi ako nakatulog buong gabi dahil sa kakaisip sa mga nangyari sa buong araw. Bad day, eh?

There was this Amber against the whole world. And Gray's confession. Huh he wants me to give him a go signal if the feeling is mutual? Okay, there is gender equality but then taking into consideration the culture and tradition of confessing, hindi magandang tingnan kung magmumula iyon sa isang babae.

Ni hindi nga niya lubusang kinlaro kung anong klaseng "like" ang nararamdaman niya and I cannot assume that there is a mutual understanding between us. Remember, do not assume unless otherwise stated. And I really hate this setup. Like he kisses me whenever he feels like doing it and I spilled it right in his face the other night. Or maybe he just kiss me because he's bored. At dahil doon ay namamaliit ko ang sarili ko. I feel like a low class slut. Puro lamang siya pahaging ngunit wala pa rin namang ginagawa. He said he likes me but I am not assured that I am the only one that he likes. Just me. He can like as many as he can at wala akong magawa doon dahil hindi naman kami nag-usap upang magkaroon ng "exclusive liking" for each other only. And now he defined it, I guess it's not the perfect timing for it.

"Hindi naman niya kailangang malaman."

Rese sighed samantalang suportado naman ako ni Andi. Sa kanilang dalawa, Rese likes Gray for me while Andi keeps on telling me to try all the bees around me. Geez, what does that even mean?

Tumunog ang cellphone ko and it was from Reo who was waiting outside. Nagpaalam na ako sa kanila at agad na bumaba ng dorm. Gaya ng inaasahan, Reo looks so dashing in his clothes. He looks like a model who came out from a glossy magazine.

"Hey", bati niya. "You look so pretty."

Nahihiyang napangiti lang ako at binati rin siya. I cannot help but let out a smile after brushing my hair at the back of my ear. I also told him how gorgeous he was. He replied with a smile at niyaya na akong umalis. We left the dorm at agad na tinungo ang sasakyan niya na naghihintay sa labas.

Pagdating namin sa function hall na nasa building lang kung nasaan ang bagong bukas na toy company ay namangha ako sa mga dumalo. As expected, the Loyola's are known in this industry kaya hindi na nakapagtatakang mga kilalang negosyante ang nandoon. The ribbon-cutting was already done when we arrived kaya malaya akong napapakilala ni Reo sa kanyang mga magulang at kamag-anak.

They welcomed me warmly and we get along so well. Since it's a business launching, I didn't find myself enjoying in such party, thanks to Reo who keeps me company. Nakaupo lang kami ni Reo sa sulok and he never leave my side.

"Pasensya ka na ha? I know you're not really fond of things like this. Alam kong ayaw mo sa mga ganito", he said habang umiinom sa kanyang kopita. He offered me some wine but I refused at pinili na lamang ang nga soft cocktail na available.

"It's fine. Nasanay na ako sa ganito", sagot ko. Yeah, I have attended so many parties kahit labag sa kalooban ko ang mga iyon. I'm glad that he still remembers that I hate parties. Sinabi ko kasi iyon minsan noong rehearsal namin sa Snow White.

Reo entertained me well ngunit nang tinawag ito ni Chancellor Judas (who was there too, and I'm not surprise since they're relatives) ay naiwan ako sa mesa. Inaliw ko na lamang ang sarili ko sa pamamagitan ng pagtitingin-tingin sa paligid nang may marinig akong pamilyar na boses.

"I'm surprised to see you here Just Amber."

I glared at him when I heard him said Just Amber again. "I thought you're done calling me Just Amber because the last time we talked at the museum, you dropped the Just."

He smiled at naupo sa upuan na inuokupa ni Reo kanina. "I was being considerate because you might still be grieving that time but from how I see it now, you're not so I guess I'll pick the Just that I dropped."

"Whatever Zywon." I rolled my eyes at nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa kanya. Kung dati ay ako ang nais makipagkaibigan sa kanya kaya ko siya kinukulit noong nasa Athena pa kami. But now it's the other way, he's annoying me since then. And have I mentioned that he's also evil like his brother? Well he's less evil but still evil. Whatever.

"I see you're with Loyola", wika niya at nilingon ang paligid. "Does Silvan knows about this?"

See? What's with people always linking me to Gray? Like I said, Gray and I have no label so I don't need him to approve everything I do. And we just had a closure, if it's the right term. Closure for the little friendship na namantsahan dahil sa nangyari noong isang araw. Others may think that it's a very lousy reason to stain a friendship but it's not about just a simple quarrel. Ang issue doon ay ang kawalan nila ng tiwala sa akin and choosing Math over me. They think I am in fault at higit sa lahat, sila ang pinakahuling tao na inaasahan kong hindi kakampi sa akin. But I was wrong. Ang nangyari pa ay sila mismo ang naglaglag sa akin.

"Kilala mo pala si Reo? And why should Gray be informed about this?", I asked and grimaced.

He let out a smirk which resembles Ryu's, only it's a little less annoying. "I'm here so it simply means there's connection between the Deltran and Loyola. And why he shouldn't be informed?"

I rolled my eyes on the question that he answered to my question. "Ewan ko sa iyo."

"Are you planning to stay for the sleepover?", he asked.

"Yeah probably."

"Tsk."

Nagtatakang napatingin ako sa kanya. What's with his reaction by the way? "Why?", I asked.

You don't know huh?"

"What?" Ano ang hindi ko alam?

"About Loyola."

I raised one brow to him. Yeah, he's Zywon who's got a reliable source in the Genesis but it's Loyala's company and not the organization and he cannot warrant me that whatever he will tell me is reliable.

"So what's with him?"

"He got bad reputation with girls."

I rolled my eyes. Geez, akala ko naman kung ano na. Sa ilang oras naming pagsasama ni Reo dito, he already told me his bad reputation with girls. He said it's only because he hasn't found the one yet.

"Not new to me."

"Then why are you still going out with him?"

"Look Zywon, this is not going out okay? Reo and I used to know each other. Yeah, he told me about this so called bad reputation but it's not as worse as your brother", wika ko sa kanya. "How's your relationship with Mom and Ryu by the way?"

I haven't got much news about them. Hindi naman kasi nagkukwwento si Zywon tungkol doon. And Mom hasn't mention anything about Zy.

"Just fine."

"That's it?"

"Why? What do you expect? I'd say I kissed my brother and—"

"You're over reacting", putol ko sa kanya. See? Magkapatid nga talaga sila ni Ryu.

Tumikhim si Reo kaya naagaw niya ang atensyon namin. Zywon left the table at agad na bumalik sa pinanggalingan niya. Nagtanguan lamang ang dalawa, I guess they both don't like each other that much.

"Kilala mo si Deltran?", he asked. Napansin kong nag-iba na ang musika, it became nursery rhymes, which gives some feels for the toy company.

"Yeah. I'm kinda acquainted with him", simpleng sagot ko at napatigin sa paligid. "What's happening?" I asked when the people with their kids are getting excited.

"Ah, time to choose for the kids and teens to join the pajama party and sleepover. Don't worry, the two slots are already reserved for us", wika niya at pinanuod namin ang emcee habang tinatawag ang mga pangalan ng mga batang matutulog sa playhouse at maging sa mga menor de edad. Tuwang-tuwa naman ang mga batang napili. In fact ay magaganda ang mga privileges ng nga napili. They call us Ten Lucky Indians (in my case, I'm really lucky since I'm included due to influence) and the kids as Ten Little Indians. There were gift certificates and other freebies.

It was almost 10 PM nang umalis na ang mga bisita. Pinalipat naman kami sa nakalaang silid para sa pajama party at gayundin ang mga bata sa kabilang silid kasama ang mga yaya nila. We're instructed to change into pajamas that was provided by the company. The room we occupied was not bad at all. There were drinks, board games, foods and others. May mga xbox din doon at kung anu-anong pwedeng pag-aksayahan ng oras. May nakatayo na ring christmas tree doon dahil magpapasko na.

I felt comfortable with the pair of pink PJ's that was given to me. When Reo comeback after changing, he looks good in his blue PJ's while Zywon looks hilarious in his polka dots PJ's! He threw me a dangerous glare when I laughed at him so I acted like zipping my mouth.

Ang nangyari sa loob?

Nothing. Kanya-kanyang trip. There were six girls at apat naman silang mga lalaki. Naglaro sa xbox ang dalawang lalaki samantalang si Zywon ay nasa kama at abala sa pakikinig ng music mula sa cellphone niya while Reo and I talked endlessly kahit manaka-nakang may inaasikaso ito sa kanyang laptop, which he said some business na inutos sa kanya ni Chancellor Judas kanina. Maraming pagkain sa mesa ngunit busog yata ang lahat. Tanging si Zywon lamang ang panay subo ng tsokolate na marahil ay kinuha niya mula sa mesa. Malakas ang musika sa paligid na pawang mga nursery rhymes. Can't blame them, we're on a playhouse after all.

Hindi nagtagal ay si Reo na ang hindi nakatiis. Tiningnan niya ang paligid at nagbuntong-hininga.

"We're supposed to be enjoying with each other, look around may kanya-kanyang mundo ang bawat isa."

"So? What are you planning to do?"

"We will enjoy", he said at tumayo. "This is a playhouse, we're supposed to be playing", deklara ni Reo sa lahat. The girls rushed towards the table kung nasaan kami at tumayo din ang dalawang lalaki maliban kay Zywon na abala pa rin sa cellphone niya. Everyone was eager to play except him kaya tumayo si Reo at nilapitan ito. He pulled the headset kaya tinapunan siya ng masamang tingin ni Zywon.

"What?"

"Everyone will play."

He looked at him blankly. I thought he was about to protest ngunit sa halip ay inihagis lang niya sa sentro ng malaking kama ang kanyang cellphone at tumayo. Have I told anyone that there was only one bed? It was so huge na marahil ay magkakasya kaming sampu.

Nang naupo sila sa mesa ay matagal pa bago kami nakaisip ng lalaruin. I guess this was the hardest part, choosing what game to play. Nagkakagulo na sila kung ano ang lalaruin samantalang naaaliw naman ako sa pakikinig sa musika na puro nursery rhymes.

Sa huli ay hide and seek ang napili nilang laruin. They prepared a ribbon na itatali sa mata ng taya at hahanapin nito ang lahat ng kalaro. It wasn't the usual hide and seek dahil hindi naman gagalaw ang iba at nakapiring pa ang taya. Sa totoo lang ay ayaw ko sa larong ito. Magkaka-tsansa lamang ang mga lalaki na hipuan ang mga babae. O di kya ay sa kung saan-saan pa mauntog ang magiging taya but I guess I cannot complain in their chosen game since majority chose it.

Bago pa man magsimula ang laro ay nagpakilala muna ang bawat isa at masasabing matataas din ang antas ng mga pamilya nito. There was Margaret Verdida, anak ng kilalang pulitiko, Joyce Tan na mula sa kilalang pamilya ng mga negosyante, Kirby Altamira na anak ng malalaking recreational at fitness gym sa bansa. The other guys were Marky Aquino, anak ng may-ari ng kilalang toy company rin at Andrew Chin na nagmula sa pamilya na kilala sa larangan ng commercial advertising. Gusto kong manliit sa sarili ko. How should I introduce myself then? Amber Sison, daughter of a late wicked organization man? Tss. I chose to introduce my name at hindi pa nagdagdag ng iba pang mga detalye. I'm glad that they did not force me to introduce myself more.

At mabuti na lamang ay hindi ako ang naging taya dahil madadagdagan lamang ang self complains ko. The game started at wala akong ginawa kundi manatiling nakatayo doon. Geez, I'm not in the mood to play. Sana ay nagkwentuhan na lamang kami ni Reo, matutuwa pa ako kaysa ganito. Uh, this is so boring.

"Ayaw mo sa laro?", Zywon whispered. Hininaan niya ang boses niya upang masigurong hindi siya marinig ng taya. Kahit mukhang hindi rin siya nag-eenjoy sa laro, he follow the rules and participated well.

"Isn't it obvious?", I whispered back. I am acting like a brat here and I know I am but I cannot help myself. Hello, I'm some sort if introvert and a former nerd so things like this doesn't interest me at all. Not even a little.

Zywon was a little immune to my brattiness kaya hindi na lamang niya pinansin ang sinabi ko. "Ah, kaya pala mukhang mas gusto mo pang maupo at titigan si Loyola gaya ng ginawa mo kanina",   he said at bahagyang sinulyapan si Reo. What the hell? Iyon lang ang ginawa ko kanina? And how did he knows? I thought he's focused on his phone. This little scoundrel!

"Shut up Zywon. Bakit mo nga pala naisipang dumalo?", I asked. We still keep our voices low.

"Dad forced me to attend with him. I'm not planning to stay long but then I saw someone whom I think I need to watch over."

"Really? Sino?"

Napangiwi siya at napakamot sa ulo. "Ah Just Amber! Forget it."

Tss. Lahi na siguro ng mga Vander ang pagiging engot. They will tell you something and when you asked, they'll be annoyed! Tsk! Kasalukuyan akong nagrereklamo sa aking utak ng bigla na lamang kaming nakarinig ng sigaw. It was coming from the next room, which was the kids and their guardians/nannies' room.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

The shout was loud and I am pretty sure something serious happened on the other room!

#

—ShinichiLaaaabs