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La la - The cab

Braylee

        I opened my eyes when I heard a thud as if a door was closed. I rolled to the other side and even if my sight's still blurry, I could see Piper's shadow tiptoeing towards her bed. Her hair was disheveled, her high-heeled shoes are in her hands, and her breathing is heavy.

       "P," I whispered.

       "H-hey..." I could tell she was surprised to find me awake. "Go to sleep, B. That was one heck of a party," she chuckled. My eyelids were to heavy that I found myself drifting to sleep again.

***

         I woke up feeling really heavy. My head felt it's about to explode and there's seemed to be a rumbling in my stomach. I tried to remember what happened last night but everything's like a television on static. All I can remember is Reika tucking me to bed.

         "Oh my God! Reika" I gasped when I saw my own reflection in the mirror. Gulong-gulo ang buhok ko at kalat na kalat sa mukha ko ang lipstick ko. Mukha akong espasol sa kapal ng pulbo sa mukha at mga braso ko, ang masaklap ay may mga doodle ang mukha ko; may drawing na sungay sa noo ko, may bigote ako na super curly, at kumapal pa lalo ang kilay ko.

        "You look messed up," I heard Piper laugh. I looked back at her and saw her sitting on top of her bed. Her eyes are still droopy. Just like me, she looked so horrible and stinky. 

        "We're both messed up," I sighed, sprawling on my bed again. 

         There was a sudden knock on our door, I was too tired to stand up, thankfully Piper was nice enough to open it.

         I smiled when I saw Riley, Lucho, and Warren. They came over with a bunch of Watermelons. Just like Piper and I, the three of them looked so horrible especially Riley.  It's a good thing the landlady let them in.

        "Who did that to you?" I couldn't help but worry as I hugged Riley. Was it his dad again? Did he encounter a rotten homophobe again?

       "It was an honest mistake!" Warren suddenly yelled, surprising Piper and I.

       "Sumisigaw ka na naman! Batuhin kita diyan ng pakwan eh!" Riley yelled back, picking up the largest Watermelon they brought.

         "No yelling please, there's already a pounding in my head," Lucho begged. His hair is just as messy as the rest of us but the weird part is that he's got a lipstick stain his neck jaw. I guess slutty lucho was on the roll again last night. Eww.

        "Juday bless you," I patted Lucho's shoulder. 

        A flash suddenly went off, making us all yell in the process. "Oh shut up, you babies," Piper's voice was hoarse as she pressed the camera's shutter again. "This is a happy story to tell in the future... how we all got wasted on Braylee's Birthday."

        "Hoy loka, asan ka pala? Ba't bigla kang nawala kagabi?" Riley asked, giving her a piercing look.

        "I-I..." Piper seemed speechless but she returned the piercing look to Riley. "Eh kayo ba't kayo nang-iwan?!"

         I covered my ears from all the yelling. "You guys, this is the worst hangover ever,"

       "Sorry we messed up your birthday party," Piper sighed as she hugged me from the side.

        "What?" I laughed. "Okay, hindi ko man maalala ang mga nangyari kagabi but i'm pretty sure I had lots of fun last night. And it would be even more fun if you tell me every single thing that happened this time," I gave them my puppy dog face.

         All of them laughed which could only mean one thing... hindi nila sasabihin sa akin.

         Next thing I know, the five of us are sitting on the floor. All of our hair are disheveled, we all look so dry and droopy, we're suffering from a bad hangover but we're all laughing as we're eating watermelons.  

        "Happy Birthday, Braylee!" They greeted one by one as they raised the slice of watermelon they're holding.

****

        I was on the verge of tears habang pinapanood sina Mommy at Daddy sa pamamagitan ng tablet. They're in my brother's hospital room. The entire room is decorated with birthday buntings na teletubbies pa ang design. The three of them are wearing birthday hats while Mom and Dad are holding a cake, written on it are the words: HAPPY BIRTHDAY CUTIE BRAY-BRAY

         My heart felt like melting when they began singing the birthday song. My Brother can no longer utter a single word but he managed to smile and I could tell that if he could only speak or sing, for sure bibirit talaga siya kahit birthday song lang 'yan. I know because that's what he did on my sixteenth birthday party, bumirit lang naman siya ng Happy Birthday kahit basag-basag ang boses niya. He did that to make me laugh. He's done some stupid stuff in the past just to make me laugh. I guess I got it from him.

        "I love you so much,"  I uttered with all my heart as I tried to stop my tears from falling. 

        Mom faced the tablet right in front of Kuya's face kaya naman sa pagkakataong 'to alam kong maririnig niya ang bawat sasabihin ko. "Kuya Bryan, mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal kita. Kung sana nandiyan lang ako sa tabi niyo. Kung sana nandiyan lang ako sa tabi mo para kulitin ka."

       Kuya continued to smile, he tried to move his hand but to no avail. 

      "You love me too, I know that. I'll always know." Sabi ko kasi ito ang nararamdaman ko. Kahit sa tablet lang kami nagkakausap, kahit hindi man siya makapagsalita, kahit hindi man siya makagalaw, alam kong gusto niya paring maramdaman kong mahal na mahal niya ako at nararamdaman ko nga ito.

        Kung ako lang talaga ang masusunod, sasama ako sa kanila kaso ito ang gusto ni Kuya, ang huwag kong pabayaan ang pag-aaral ko. Hindi rin naman madaling sumunod sa kanila sa ibang bansa. Kung sana may teleportation powers lang talaga ako edi sana kasama ko palagi ang pamilya ko.

         Nang matapos ang higit isang oras kong pakikipag-kwentuhan sa mga magulang ko. Tuluyang pumatak ang mga luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilan. Mabuti nalang talaga at umalis si Piper kaya solong-solo ko muna ngayon ang kwarto. Pwedeng-pwede akong umiyak hanggang sa magsawa ako. Happy birthday nga naman, Braylee.

         Biglang pumasok sa isipan ko si Denver. Hindi pa ata kami nagkakausap mula nang game kagabi. Alam kaya niyang birthday ko? Ba't di siya nagte-text o tuma--OH MY GOD! NAIWAN KO ANG CELLPHONE NI DENVER SA KWARTO NI RILEY KAGABI!

         Dali-dali akong nagbihis. Tutal nakasuot na ako ng university shirt, nagsuot na lamang ako ng denim jumper. Akmang kukunin ko ang jacket na nasa dulo ng kama ko nang bigla kong mapansing hindi naman ito sa akin. 

        Pinulot ko ito at pinagmasdan ng maigi. Pamilyar ito pero hindi ko maalala kung kanino ito. Nakikita kong umaambon na sa labas kaya naman sinuot ko nalang ito. Habang naglalakad sa hagdan, wala sa sarili kong naipasok ang magkabilang kamay sa bulsa ng jacket at bigla akong may nahawakang isang piraso ng papel. Nakalukot ito at para bang nakalimutan lang na itapon.

        Huminto ako sa huling baitang ng hagdanan at binasa ang nakasulat dito.

10 THINGS I'M THANKFUL FOR:

1. Meeting Braylee 

10 THINGS I REGRET:

1. I should've met her first

2. I should've been a better brother

        My heart felt like it was about to pop out of my chest. There's that heart fluttering feeling again, the butterflies in my stomach are on a rampage, and I can feel my cheeks heating up. Only one person could've written this. 

        ****

        "Birthday girl? What brings you here?" tanong ni Riley nang pagbuksan niya ako ng pinto. It's sunday in the afternoon kaya heto siya at pina-pamper ang sarili sa pamamagitan ng paglalagay ng mask. Sana hindi mahapdi, may sugat pa naman siya sa lower lip niya. Ano ba kasing problema ni Warren at nanuntok bigla?

         "I think I left my bag here last night?" I smiled as I jumped up Riley's bed.

         "Ay oo!" sabi ni Riley at agad itong kinuha mula sa ilalim ng kama. 

        "H-hindi mo naman siguro binuksan ang phone diba?" I couldn't help but ask. Si Lucho kasi noon, nambukas ng phone.

         Riley's eyes widened. "OMG! Are there juicy stuff in your phone? May textmate ka na? Hoy Braylee ha, laging tandaan, don't send nudes!"

         "I'm innocent, Ri!" I giggled. "I'll sapnu puas to you only," I joked and winked.

          Agad napangiwi si Riley, disgust all over his face. "Saan mo ba natutunan yan?! Hindi ka ganyan noon?"

         "But you still love me right?" I couldn't help but ask, a hopeful smile in my face.

         "You don't have a dingdong, braylee. I don't love you," Riley rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. But despite of this, he blew me a kiss and winked. That's his way of saying he loves me. 

          "Nasaan pala si Piper?" pag-iiba ni Riley ng usapan. He sat beside me and crossed his legs. Buti nalang he's wearing proper clothes and not a bathrobe. He once crossed his legs habang nakabathrobe lang and I almost fainted after seeing his dear friend. That was traumatic.

         "She said may bibilhin lang daw siya, hindi ko na na-ask saan kasi nag-call bigla ang parents ko," paliwanag ko.

        "Hey, how about we go that favorite buffet place of yours tonight? And this time, no walwal. Round 2 of celebration!" pag-aaya ni Riley kaya agad akong napangiti sa tuwa at tumango-tango. And no walwal so ibig sabihin maalala ko na ang lahat ng mangyayari.

         "But you have to do this one favor for me," Riley grinned kaya muling nakunot ang noo ko. 

        "Please don't make me wear a short dress again," I jokingly rolled my eyes.

       "No," Riley said with pride, his head held high. "But there's this guy I set you up with. It turns out, birthday din pala niya ngayon. He's single and decent. Kababalik niya lang galing Madrid mula sa internship niya."

        "I don't need a boyfriend, Riley." I reminded him while hugging him from behind.

        "You don't nga, pero what if this could be the guy for you? And besides, I think this guy is a good catch. He was a high school friend of mine and he was always nice. Ganito, think of this as a way of having a new friend?" paliwanag ni Riley habang nilalagyan ng lotion ang arms niya.

        "How about Piper?" tanong ko. "Are you setting her up with someone too?"

         "Yes!" Taas-noong pagmamalaki ni Riley. "I have a guy reserved for her but he's in Japan at the moment. "

         "Wow, you're playing cupid!" biro ko sabay palo ng marahan sa dibdib niya.

         "Kesa ba naman mapunta kayo sa mga badboy! Kalerkey!" Napahawak si Riley sa eyebrows niya. "Tons of dangerous guys out there! I want you girlies to be careful! I was rooting for Warren in the past but the guy's been weird lately. Nagiging violent, nakakatakot."

         "Hey, don't say that!" suway ko agad kay Riley. "Maybe Warren's just under a lot of stress."

          "I Hope so, B. I  Hope so."

****

       Habang naglalakad ako pabalik sa dorm, chineck ko ang cellphone ni Denver at nakita kong deadbat na pala ito. Kinuha ko na lamang ang sim card at nilipat ito sa cellphone ko. Habang ginagawa ito, bigla kong napataan ang isang pamilyar na bulto na makakasalubong ko.

       I couldn't help but smile seeing him in his teddy bear costume again. He looks cuter this time kasi may dala-dala siyang mga balloons. Huminto ako sa paglalakad at hinayaan siyang makalapit sa akin, hindi maalas ang ngiti sa mukha ko. 

       Nang malapitan niya ako, huminto siya tapat ko at inabot sa akin ang string na kumokonekta sa limang kulay pastel blue na mga balloons. "Happy Birthday, Teddy." His voice is muffled dahil sa suot niyang costume.

       "Bakit wala si Moo?" pabiro akong bumusangot.

        "Bye," aniya at biglang tumalikod saka naglakad palayo. Pero mabilis naman siyang umikot at bumalik sa harapan ko dahilan para matawa ako. 

        "Wanna go with me on a short roadtrip?" tanong niya.

       "Promise we'll be back by 6pm?" tanong ko. I don't want to seem demanding pero nakapangako kasi ako kay Riley.

        "May lakad ka?" tanong ni Denver.

        "I have a blind date," I admitted and smiled.

***

         "Oh my God!" Para akong batang nagtatakbo palabas ng kotse ni Denver nang mapagtantong nasa nature park kami, ang nature park kung saan ko siya dinala nang unang beses kaming magkakilala sa bus. Tuwang-tuwa ako kasi sa wakas, nakabalik ulit dito. 

         Tinanggal pa ni Denver ang suot niyang costume kaya nauna na akong magtatakbo sa pathway. At gaya ng inaasahan, agad kong narating ang cliff-side kung saan naroroon ang mga tanim na rosas. Pulang-pula ang mga bulaklak na nakakadagdag sa sarap ng pakiramdam.

         The entire place feels so good lalo pa't hindi masyadong mainit, malamig-lamig ang hangin at naririnig ko ang mga alon sa karagatan. This place looks beautiful at night and in daylight.

          "No wonder you love this place, ang ganda pala rito." Narinig ko ang boses ni Denver kaya naman agad akong napalingon.

         May ngiti siya sa kanyang mukha habang naglalakad palapit sa akin dala ang isang picnic basket. "Sabi mo noon lagi kayong nagpupunta rito ng pamilya mo diba? Sana tama ang desisyon kong dalhin ka dito sa birthday mo."

         Tumango-tango ako. "Thanks for taking me here, Denbear. Memories of my family are always the best to reminisce."

         For awhile there, all we did was look at each other and smile. We didn't exchange words. We just looked at each other and nothing felt weird about it. 

       Standing in the middle of this field of roses, hearing the waves crashing below, feeling the warmth of cold air, and seeing Denver smiling as he stands right in front of me---Priceless.

****

        "Cooler? Seriously, Denver?" hindi ko napigilang matawa. Sa loob kasi ng picnic basket niya ay isang maliit na cooler na naglalaman ng mga ice cream sandwich.  

       "This is your fault. You got me hooked on this shit," Denver playfully glared at me as he takes a bite out of his ice cream sandwich.

       "Do you really have to cuss?" I raised my eyebrow and jokingly acted like a mean girl.

        Denver chuckled. "Nga pala, iniiwasan mo ba ang mga texts at calls ko?"

       "I left my phone in Riley's room last night. Ngayon ko lang nakuha." Kinuha ko ang cellphone ni Denver mula sa bag at inabot ito sa kanya. "I think I have to return this to you now."

        Naglaho bigla ang ngiti sa mukha ni Denver. He looked at me with a blank expression. And not a moment later, he nodded. "Naiintindihan ko kung ayaw mo nang makipag-usap."

       "Huh?" hindi ko napigilang matawa habang kunot-noo. "Isasauli ko na yung phone mo kasi ang hirap may dalawang phone. You can still reach me on the same number."

      "Oh," Denver's smile suddenly returns to his face. He then chuckles like a cute little kid, making me smile even more. 

         I feel comfortable sitting here next to him. Nakaupo kami habang naka-fold ang mga tuhod sa harapan namin. Yakap-yakap ko ang tuhod ko samantalang siya naman ay nakapatong lang ang mga palad niya sa tuhod niya.

      I grabbed my own phone and checked the time. It's already 4:43 in the afternoon. 1 hour na byahe so makakaabot pa ako sa date ko.

        "You checking the time?" Denver asked kaya muli akong napatingin sa kanya. He has that blank expression on his face again.

        "Yup," ngumiti na lamang ako.

       "For the date?" tanong niya muli. 

        "Yup," tumango-tango ako at napabuntong-hininga. I checked my date's profile once more and sighed. It's just a date but why does it feel so wrong? It's not like we'll do the nasty because that would be ewwww.

       "Do you think it's okay?" wala sa sarili kong sambit habang nakatitig parin sa profile niya. He's kinda cute. He looks like a hispanic mix. 

        "What?" Something about Denver's voice sounded off kaya agad akong napaangat ng tingin. I was surprised to see a dark expression on his face. He looks  pissed. Malayo ang tingin niya, siguro sa karagatan nakautuon ang tingin niya.

         "D-do you think it's okay to go on a blind date?" I found myself stuttering while looking at him.

        Umiling si Denver. His jaw seemed tense, like he's holding something back. 

        "Why?" I couldn't help but ask. "May problema ba?"

         Denver returns his gazes at me, his jaw still tensed up. He has this blank expression on his face but his eyes say something different, it's as if he's in pain. "Because I love you," he said nonchalantly.

         "W-what?" I gaped. And in that moment, my heart felt like it stopped beating.

          "It's going to be a problem because I'm in love with you." Denver repeated, still with his nonchalant tone and blank expression.

           "Y-you're kidding right?" I felt numb.

           "I'm afraid not," Denver chuckled, shaking his head. His chuckle sounded bitter.  I could tell he was still dead serious. "Apollo you stupid fuck." I heard him whisper under his breath.

END OF CHAPTER 40!

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