The Invitation
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"Minsan na nga lang akong tinatawag, sinundan pa ng..." I couldn't grasp what he said after that.

Pinaulit ko iyon pero inirapan niya lang ako at umiling. Pinanatili ko muna ang ngiti sa mukha kahit nainis ako sa pag-irap niya. I can't do anything bad to him unless I finally get what I want.

"Do you really like him that much?" walang preno nitong tanong kaya napakurap ako. Am I that obvious?

"I-I don't know. He's just so gwapo..." sabay kagat ko ng labi na ikinangiwi niya.

"Pogi rin naman ako, ah?" he asked—well, more like asserted, so conceited. I know you are but you're moreno.

Ako naman ngayon ang napairap, "I told you I don't like Morenos." I honestly told him and cringed when I remembered those times I thought I liked him.

"Discrimination ka sa'ming mga kayumanggi." musot niya sabay halukipkip sa upuan. Napangiti ako bigla nang makita iyon. He looked like a big stupid baby.

"That's my personal opinion."

Napabuga siya ng hangin at napaikot paharap, "Pero may girlfriend na nga siya."

"It's not like I want him as my boyfriend." I started to feel a little pissed. He really doesn't have to repeat that again. Nakakainis. "I only see him like a handsome idol that I want to keep watching until I become addicted to him," I explained even if he doesn't care.

"Then why ask for his instagram?" taas kilay nitong tanong.

I groaned, "He's pogi nga."

"Kaya ifofollow mo?"

"Obviously?" halos mawala na ang itim sa mga mata ko kakairap. Ba't hindi niya nalang ibigay? Ang dami niyang arte! "Sinong idol ang gusto mo pero hindi mo ifofollow? Brain, Ysmael, brain."

Hindi niya ito pinansin at mas lalong nagmusot. "Pero ako hindi mo ako finollow back, saan na yung hustisya sa'ming mga Moreno?" he asked as if I was discriminating against him.

"Why would I? Idol ba kita?"

I mean, it's not like his Instagram is something I should be looking forward to. Puro lang nga 'yon hayop.

"Hindi pero pogi rin ako."

Hindi ko na mapigilan samaan siya ng tingin, "Yabang mo, alam mo ba? If you're not gonna give me, edi don't. It's not like I can't find him in your followings."

Bago pa ako makabunot ng cellphone ay naunahan niya akong hablutin ang kaniya at nakita ko kung paano niya iblinock yung account ko at iprinivate ang account niya.

Mabilis akong napapasok sa opisina niya para hablutin ang kaniyang cellphone. Tila ba'y nanlumo ako sa ginawa niya. Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang kamay nito at sinubukang kunin ang cellphone niya pero sadyang malaki at malakas siya kaya ibinuhos ko nalang ang inis sa pagpasadahan ng mga kuku sa balat niya.

It seemed like I hurt him but I didn't really feel guilty at all. I mean, I do but I must not feel it right now. Not unless I get Noah's account.

Pareho kaming napasigaw nang bigla tumagilid ang swivel chair niya. It was a result of our adrenaline that we found ourselves hugging each other just to keep the chair from toppling. Well, I shouldn't be here right now, sitting on his lap and hugging his head. Kasi kung hindi niya lang ako ginamit na hawakan upang hindi siya tuluyang matumba ay hindi rin sana ito mangyayare.

He was too astounded by what he did. Well, either do I. But instead of being dumbfounded, I took advantage of the time to steal his phone from him. Napabuhakhak naman ako ng malakas nang makuha 'yon at mabilis na tumakbo paalis atsaka nagtungo sa nag-iisang kwarto upang makatago.

When I successfully locked the door, I immediately browse through his following. He had a lot of followers that's why I didn't plan on searching there. Nakita kong bumalik sa 48 ang following niya kaya nakamusot kong in-unblock yung account ko at finollow ulit.

Pagkatapos noon ay nakangiti na hinanap ko ang account ni Noah at hindi nga ako nadismaya dahil agad ko itong nahanap.

Mabilis ang mga daliri kong pinindot ito at ang dating ngiti ay unti-unting napawi nang makita na halos lahat ng litrato niya ang may kasamang babae. I already know it was his girlfriend from the way he held her. And all I could say was 'better luck next time, Crisceana'.

Napaingos nalang ako at imbes na pumunta sa ibaba ay pinatay ko nalang ang cellphone ni Ysmael at nakamusot na lumabas.

Agad niya naman akong binalingan ng tingin nang maramdaman niya. He has this playful smile that annoys me even more kaya imbes na ibibigay ng maayos ay nagkunwari akong itapon ito pabalik sa kaniya.

However, as my eyes fell on the phone he was holding, my hand, body, and heart all came to a halt. Mabilis akong napakurap at tinuro siya. "W-what are you doing?"

My anxiety spiked unexpectedly, and it wasn't due to my trauma, but rather to the images he could have seen.

Labas biloy na nginitian niya lang ako at napakasaya na umahon sa pagkakaupo. "You don't need to worry. I didn't do anything with your accounts or messages. I only browse your gallery and saw my pictures in it." pagpipigil niya sa tawa niya atsaka marahan na inabot sa akin ang cellphone ko. "Nga pala, if you want another picture of me, don't be embarrassed to ask for it. Kasi kahit kasama ka pa, gagawin ko 'yon."

Nginitian niya muna ako bago dahan-dahan na kinuha ang kaniya mula sa kamay ko, "Salamat nga pala sa pa-followback. Huwag kang mag-alala, sisiguraduhin kong hindi ka madidismaya sa pagfollowback mo sa'kin. Just look forward for tomorrow." kindat niya bago ako sinarahan ng pintuan.

Hindi ko nagawang makagalaw agad. Everything he said was going straight through my head. I was filled with rage, irritation, and embarrassment, yet all I could do was gaze at his sleeping face in my phone.

It all started when I awoke in the middle of the night in search of something to drink. Hindi ko naalalang nasa sofa pala ito natutulog kaya halos napatili na ako sa gulat nang mapatid ang kamay nito.

He drank all three bottles of beer without handing me one, so I figured he was in deep slumber. Hindi ko mapigilang mapatitig sa mukha niya. Even though it was dark outside, the lights from the lampposts made their way to Ysmael's sleeping face.

Even with his recently shaved facial hairs, it was coated in a rosy flush. It was a nice sight, but it became much more adorable when I heard his tiny snores. Napakagat labi akong pinanood siya at maya-maya ay natatawa.

I wanted to squeeze his nose, but I couldn't because I didn't want to wake him up and find myself in his face like a weird stalker.

Kaya ang ginawa ko ay kinunan nalang siya ng litrato at vinideohan na rin para may pang-asar ako sa kaniya. Ang hindi ko alam ang pagsisisihan ko pala ang ginawa ko. Kasi sa halip na burahin niya noong may pagkakataon ay pinabayaan niya lang ito sa gallery ko.

I returned home like a soulless ghost. Pabagsak akong napaupo sa upuan sa tanggapan at nakatitig sa kawalan. It was still all over my head right now and I can't seem to get it off.

Hindi ko na alam kung pang-ilang kahihiyan 'yon na ginawa ko sa harapan niya but I am sure that it was the most embarrassing ever.

Napaayos ako ng upo nang bigla na naman sumagi sa isipan ko ang katanungang: Baka akala niyang may gusto ako sa kaniya?

Napasubsob ako sa throw pillows at napatili. What if it's really what he thinks of me? Mas lalo lamang lalaki ang ulo nito!

Nabalik lang ako sa hwisyo nang bigla akong tawagin ni Beviene. I was about to roll my eyes at her when daddy suddenly came out from the hallway. Bahagyang nagulat pa ito nang makita ako.

"You're here?" his face brightened as if he was happy to see me.

Napaarko nalang ako ng mga kilay upang pigilan ang mapairap. Minsan ay naguguluhan talaga ako sa kaniya. Iwinaksi ko nalang sa isipan ko ang tungkol sa kaniya at tumayo.

"Of course, I live here."

"I thought you won't be home again tonight because of your work. By the way, have you eaten? Gusto mong—"

"Nah, no. Not really. I want to sleep already, I feel so exhausted right now." I interrupted and made my way towards the staircase before he stopped me.

"Wait, Crisceana..."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at hindi sinagot. "The Mayor is inviting us for his heir's birthday celebration tomorrow. Wala ka namang trabaho sa linggo, hindi ba? So, I assume that you can come?"

Kinunotan ko siya ng noo, "Why would I?" I asked, trying hard not to sound too rude.

"Because you're a Silverio and they're expecting us, there."

Umahon na naman ang inis ko sa kaniya. He's at it again trying to ruin my mood. Why does he have to keep on mentioning that I'm a Silverio and that I should do this and that? Pinapabayaan nga ako ni Grandpa kung ano ang gusto kong gawin tapos siya ngayon, na wala namang ganoong naambag sa pamilya kundi ang dumihan ang pangalan namin.

"Just because I'm a Silverio that I need to do 'it' like a Silverio? Is that it?" may halong inis kong tanong.

These past few days, other than the pain and sufferings, he also made me feel like wanting to change my surname.

He smiled and insensitively nodded, "Yes. That's what I mean. You're Grandpa has been building our name for decades, I hope you won't think I am doing this for myself but purely for your grandfather." he smiled, which I despised.

I sneered and couldn't help but look to Beviene, who, when she gripped daddy's wrist, I imagined knew me better.

"What will I get if I go there?" I asked like someone who negotiates things.

His lips parted a little and he was a bit confused, "You can make friends of his daughter or maybe meet some big businessmen. It could be an opportunity, Crisceana." natutuwa niyang sambit.

Napatitig lamang ako sa ngiti niya. Seeing it again was priceless. Kahit pa man na hindi ako ang dahilan doon ay hindi ko mapigilan ang haplusin ng init ang puso.

I loathed my dad a lot and I couldn't hate him less. But even with that fact, he was still my dad. Like a courteous daughter to his dad, I couldn't help but say yes to his invitation.

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nyariina
1/27/'21
7/27/'21