Pandora's Box

Nag-vibrate ang cellphone ko sa aking bulsa. Hindi ko alam kung pang-ilang beses na itong tumunog. Basta ang alam ko ay wala akong maintindihan sa tinuturo ngayon ng kalbong professor namin.

Aside from the fact na ilang araw nang walang paramdam si Kell, stressed na rin ako sa film project at exams namin. Isa pa 'tong si Brianna na nag-arrange ng Grab-A-Date party mamaya. Wala akong balak pumunta pero dahil nag-aalala ako kay Brianna na baka mahimatay ulit siya, kailangan kong pumunta at maghanap ng ka-date.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko at hinanap ang pangalan ng lalaki na pwede kong maging ka-date ng walang malisya.

"André!" Pambungad kong text sa kanya.

"Koko! What's up? :)" André's smiley emoji was a good sign he would agree to be my date.

"Pwede ba kitang maging date sa party?" I replied.

Biglang lumitaw ang caller ID ni André sa screen ko. Napatingin ako sa harap at nakitang nakatalikod pa rin si Prof. Pinindot ko ang reject button at biglang may message ulit si André.

"Are you finally asking me out on a date?"

Kung nandito siya ngayon, nasapak ko na sana siya. "Not in a million years," I typed back. "Para lang sa party mamaya."

"Fine. We're even now then."

"Thanks." I tossed my phone inside my bag as I saw Mr. Johnson fix the glasses over his eyes.

When he suddenly looked my way, I held my breath. Wala akong idea kung ano ang sinasabi niya for the last half an hour. Wait, nakita ba niya akong gumagamit ng phone ko?

"Miss Fernandez, can you share to the class what you're looking at on your phone?"

When Mr. Johnson repeated my name, I knew I had to stand up to avoid the looming embarrassment inside the room.

Bago pa ako malunod sa kahihiyan, may biglang kumatok sa pintuan namin. "Excuse me, sir. Can I talk to Miss Fernandez?"

Kilala ko kung kanino ang boses na iyon.

"Oh, of course, Mr. Atkinson," biglang bumait ang tono ng boses ng professor namin. Iba talaga ang power ng isang anak ng senador. "Miss Fernandez, you may go."

Dahan-dahan akong umalis sa kinatatayuan ko at tumungo ako sa labas ng silid namin.

Walking out of the room, I prepared myself to face Jalen waiting for me outside. His back casually leaned against the wall as he slipped a hand inside his ripped jeans pocket.

"Hey," bati niya na nakangisi. Bakit ba lagi siyang nandito sa university? Hindi ba dapat nasa duty siya?

"Oh, bakit?" I greeted back with a serious face.

Jalen straightened himself up, facing me. "I want to talk about the film project. What days will suit you?"

"Days? Hindi ba pwedeng ibigay ko nalang sa'yo yung script pag tapos ko na?"

He scoffed. "You sound like you don't want to do this project."

"Hindi naman sa ganun..." I paused, breaking my gaze away from him.

"I'll just tell Flora that you don't want to work with me then."

I flexed my neck up, throwing invisible arrows towards him. "Fine. Pwede ako ng weekends."

"Cool." He gripped his backpack over his shoulder, turning his back from me.

Letting out a sigh, I checked my phone again and saw Brianna's message. "Can you help me find a decent guy for tonight?"

Saan naman ako hahanap ng "decent guy" para sa kanya?

I looked up, skimming the hallway. The only guy I could see now was the one with a black Balenciaga backpack hanging on his shoulders. There was another one sitting on the corner with a thick book in front of him, but he was definitely not Brianna's type of guy.

Shaking my head, I turned my attention back to my phone. "Bri, kung si Logan nalang kaya?"

"Alam mo namang hindi yun papayag."

At alam kong gusto lang niyang ipakita kay Tyler na naka-move on na siya. And I fully wanted to support her on that.

Swallowing my pride, I jogged forward towards the tall guy as I saw him turn to the side, making a stop in front of a vending machine. "Jalen!" I called out, making him look over his shoulder.

His brows creased in the middle when I reached him. "Did I forget something?"

"Hindi. I mean, wala." I exhaled a breath and continued, "Pwede ka bang sumama sa party mamaya? May Grab-a-Date party kasi and I was wondering if you can come."

"Sure." He answered without hesitation. I actually didn't think he'd agree at once.

"Wala kang duty?" My curiosity failed to keep my mouth shut.

Jalen shook his head. "I'm off duty today."

"Eh bakit nandito ka sa campus?" Tanong ko ulit.

He paused as the bottle of water dropped from the vending machine. Yumuko siya para kunin ito. Binuksan niya yung lid ng bote at uminom ng tubig tsaka siya tumingin ulit sa akin. "To see you."

Ako naman ngayon ang napatigil. Napaka-casual nang pagkakasabi niya kaya hindi ko tuloy alam kung ano ang gusto niyang ipahiwatig.

"Text me the details?" His lips twitched up, waving his bottle of water at me. "See you tonight."

#

Ramdam ko pa rin ang mainit at magaspang na likido na dumaloy sa lalamunan ko matapos kong tikman yung Long Island. Mixture siya ng tequila at vodka na bigay sa akin ng kasama ko.

Sa totoo lang, hindi naman talaga ako umiinom. Sa tuwing pumupunta kami dito sa The Sandbar, juice lang talaga ang inoorder ko. Bigla tuloy akong nahilo.

Tumatalbog yung mga ilaw sa loob ng bar kaya mas lalo pa tuloy umikot ang paningin ko. Bakit ba kasi si André pa yung sinama ko ngayon dito?

"Why do you look like you don't want to be here?" André's voice broke my melancholy.

Turning to the guy beside me, his smirk only made me regret my decision of being here tonight. "Ayaw ko naman talagang pumunta dito."

André guffawed, his cheeks puffing out. "So, bakit mo ako niyayang sumama?"

I pressed my forehead with my hand. "Kasi nga kailangan kong bantayan si Bri."

André continued to chuckle. "What? Mommy ka ba niya?"

"Ayaw ko lang na may mangyaring masama sa kanya. Tsaka, baka mamaya may gawin pa yung gagong Tyler na yun." Napatingin ako sa lalaking tumatalon ngayon sa gitna ng dance floor, his arms all over the blonde girl in front of him. He certainly didn't care about Brianna's feelings at all.

"Nandito na pala kayo!" A voice caught my attention as I felt a hand on top of my head.

Without even turning to my side, I already knew who it was.

"Hey, cap!" André greeted him with a fist bump. "Let me guess, you don't have a date tonight."

Logan's eyes glinted as he took the seat across from mine. "Hindi ko kailangan ng date."

"You mean no one can handle you anyway, bro," André mocked, chugging his small glass of tequila.

"Teka, hindi ba dapat si Audrey ang date mo?" Logan turned the conversation around. It was his turn to put on a smirk.

"K asked me first, so how can I say no?" André winked at me.

I made a face at him. "Sana pala si Logan nalang ang tinanong ko."

Ngumiti naman si Logan nang biglang mapatingin siya sa likuran ko. "Bakit magkasama sina Bri at Jale?"

"K!"

Napatingin ako sa boses ng babaeng paparating. Brianna waved with one hand, the other holding a flashy glittery bag.

The guy behind her grabbed my attention as he greeted me with a cold stare. His black leather jacket made him stand out despite his disheveled chocolate hair.

Brianna leaned towards me, marking my cheek with the glossy pink tint from her lips. "K, thanks ulit sa pag-set up sa amin ni Jale," she whispered.

I noticed Jalen's eyes still fixed on mine, kaya tumingin ako sa ibang direksiyon. Nakita ko tuloy yung naglalaplapan sa may entrance ng bar.

I heard André and the other guys interview Jalen in the background when my phone suddenly vibrated from the table. Lumitaw ang isang text message galing sa isang taong matagal ko nang hindi nakikita.

"K, sorry been busy lately. Kumusta?"

Nag-iisip palang ako ng ita-type kong reply kay Kell nang biglang may kumuha ng kamay ko.

"Let's dance!" Brianna's voice caught my ears as I saw her trying to convince her date to hit the dance floor.

Jalen remained seated, sheepishly turning down Brianna's request. When he glanced at me, I choked in the air.

"Koko, are you okay?" André tapped my back.

Nodding, I finally stood up from my seat and pulled my date's hand as if my life depended on it. "Let's go!"

André stared back at me, mouth hanging open. "Are you serious right now?"

I sent him a death note with my eyes, tightening my grip on his wrist. "Sige na, André!"

André gritted his teeth. "Oh for fuck's sake!"

Hinayaan kong gumalaw ang katawan ko sa kanta ni Bruno Mars na Finesse. Magaling naman akong dancer... sa imagination ko. Pero in reality, mas matigas pa sa bato ang katawan ko. Buti nalang at dikit dikit ang mga tao ngayon kaya hindi masyadong pansin ang awkward dance moves ko.

Pinilit kong huwag isipin si Kell. Malamang ay hindi na naman yun kumakain ng maayos. Ayaw na ayaw pa naman niya ang nag-o-order ng fast food. Yung luto lang ni Manang Isang ang nagpapagana sa kanyang kumain. Kaya nga pinilit ko ring matutong magluto para sa kanya.

Maya't maya pa ay naramdaman kong parang bumigat yung hangin sa loob ng kwarto. Ang init na rin ng sikmura ko at parang gusto kong dumuwal. Bago pa ako magkalat dito sa loob, naisipan kong lumabas muna saglit.

Matapos kong makipagsiksikan para makarating sa labas ng bar, nakahanap rin ako ng pwesto sa gilid para umupo muna. Agad akong nabalot ng malamig na hangin kaya niyakap ko ang aking sarili.

Nasanay akong binibigay ni Kell ang jacket niya sa akin kaya hindi ko na naisip magdala pa. Nakalimutan kong wala pala siya dito. Kainis.

Taking my phone out of my purse, I finally replied to my best friend's message. "Okay naman kami dito. Ingat ka diyan." Miss na kita...

"Hey." A familiar voice stopped me from typing another message on my phone.

Turning around, I saw Jalen approaching with his hands tucked in his leather jacket. "Sorry, I saw you coming out of the bar. Are you okay?"

"Okay lang ako, thank you." Nilagay ko ulit yung phone ko sa aking purse at tiningala siya. "Salamat pala sa pagsama kay Bri."

"I actually thought you were going with me." Seryoso ang pagkakasabi nito habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Ha?" Hindi ko alam kung paano mag-react sa kanya. Alam naman niyang yung kapatid niya ang gusto ko. Pero bakit kung makahirit siya parang interesado siya sa akin?

The guy remained quiet for a couple of seconds, then he took off his jacket and handed it to me.

Tinignan ko lang siya habang inaabot niya yung jacket niya sa akin. Naka-itim na tshirt nalang siya ngayon kaya napahalukipkip siya. "Bakit mo binibigay sa akin?"

"I don't mind the cold," he answered, finally taking a seat next to me on the concrete.

"Eh di ikaw rin ang lalamigin niyan."

Jalen scoffed, placing the jacket over my shoulders. "Why can't you just say thank you?"

I froze on my spot, feeling the warmth of his jacket on me. "Okay. Thanks."

May nilabas si Jalen mula sa bulsa niya. Napatingin ako sa kanya at nakita ang binubuksan niyang lollipop. Bago niya ito isinubo sa bibig niya, nilingon niya ako. "Want one?"

"Bakit lagi kang may dalang lollipop? May problema ba sa blood sugar mo?"

Jalen suddenly burst out into a laughter. "This is sugar-free."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "So, bakit nga?"

"Why are you mad at your mom?" He asked back.

I pressed my lips. Ang random ng taong ito. Tsaka, below the belt pa ang tanong niya. "Teka, ako unang nagtanong," reklamo ko.

He shrugged. "I used to smoke a lot. Lollipops help me prevent the urge."

"Okay. So, bakit ka nag-start mag-smoke in the first place? Peer pressure? Na-stress ka ba sa med school sa States?" I asked again.

"You didn't answer my question," he muttered.

Napasinghap ako. Mukhang hindi ko malulusutan ang gabing ito nang hindi ko nasasagot ang tanong niya.

"Iniwan niya ako nung bata pa ako. Sabi niya wala raw akong kwenta." My voice cracked as soon as I said that.

"Did you ever ask her why she said that? Maybe there's a reason behind it," Jalen suddenly commented, making me turn to him again.

Umiling ako. "Kung ano man ang rason niya, hindi pa rin yun sapat para iwan niya ako... kami ni papa."

"You're lucky she's still alive. You need to find a space in your heart to forgive her while she's still here," he suddenly advised.

This time, my throat dried up, trapping all the words wanting to come out. I couldn't even blink or move my mouth.

Ano'ng ibig niyang sabihin?

"Koko! Jale! You're both here!" André's voice caught my attention, breaking my gaze away from the guy beside me.

"Think about what I said, Konstant," Jalen hushed before standing up.

Tumayo na rin ako habang pinoproseso ko pa yung mga sinabi niya.

André tapped Jalen's shoulder. "Sorry, bro. I'm in charge of her so, I'll drive her home."

I just followed André in silence without looking back at the guy who just opened a Pandora's box that I never even knew existed.

🍭

A/N: Naku André may moment yung dalawa eh... 😌 tsaka bakit nga ba hindi si Audrey ang kasama mo? 🧐