Twenty Questions and a Gift pt. 1

        THERE WEREN'T flickering lights. There was no booming music. Hindi pumipintig ang sahig. Masyado na rin kasi silang matanda para sa ganoong scenario. Besides that, it would be Monday the next day.

        And nobody wanted to spend their Monday with a crippling hangover. Well, everyone except Jojo.

        Nang mapansin ni Linnie na nagbubukas na naman ng panibagong bote si Jojo, tinapik niya ang kamay nito. "Problemado ka ba? You're drinking non-stop."

        "'Pag gustong malasing, problemado agad? 'Di ba p'wedeng gusto ko lang lubusin 'tong kumpleto tayo?"

        Lalong humina ang "Favorite Color" ni Carly Rae Jepsen. Linnie turned to Dolly who fiddled with the Bluetooth speaker. Nakasandal ito sa balikat ni Paulo habang nagse-cellphone. "What? Ba't gan'yan ka makatingin?"

        "Jo's using her favorite excuse again."

        "Hayaan mo na. Ako naman magda-drive, e," Paulo assured her.

        Nakangiting inagaw ni Jojo ang bote.

        Napabuntonghininga na lang si Linnie. Umayos siya ng pagkakasalampak sa sahig. Inihilig din niya ang ulo sa tuhod ni Teo.

        Noong medyo may energy pa silang lahat, nagpatugtog si Eli ng "Budots Remix". Eli twerked passionately, much to everyone's entertainment. Enzo shook his head a few times while taking a video. Anyway, Charlie ended up being Eli's victim. Hinila at pinilit itong sumayaw ng huli.

        Nang pumailanlang naman ang "Akin Ka Na Lang" ng The Itchyworms, hinila ni Teo si Linnie. They didn't twerk or anything. He held her hands and swayed her arms for her. Nauwi sila sa simpleng pag-headbang.

        "Akin ka na lang, iingatan ko ang puso mo," Teo mouthed some of the lyrics. Linnie scoffed everytime he did.

        It just didn't make sense. She has always been his.

        "I can't believe it's only 7:45 PM and I'm this tired," Enzo groaned. Sumalampak ito sa sofa, katabi ni Teo. "Parang ang tanda ko na."

        Naramdaman ni Linnie ang kaswal na paghaplos ni Teo ng buhok niya. "Ako may birthday. Sa 'kin mo pa sasabihin 'yan?"

        "We're all going to be 30 years old in a few years," Linnie chimed in. "It doesn't matter."

        Dolly laughed. "Tigilan niyo nga! Thirty's not that old. Kung makapagsalita naman kayo, parang katapusan na ng mundo."

        "Tama!" Sumingit si Eli sa pagitan nina Pau at Charlie. He placed an empty soju bottle on the glass coffee table. "Truth or dare na lang tayo. Game?"

        Linnie stretched her legs under the table. "That came out of the blue."

        "Sabi niyo, feeling niyo ang tanda na natin, e 'di maglaro tayo ng pang-grade six."

        "You only play truth or dare when you want to know something." Naningkit ang mga mata ni Pau. "Ba't 'di mo na lang diretsuhin 'yong gusto mong ma-hot seat? We're all adults here."

        "Totoo." Si Jojo. "Saka malay mo, ilang years pa bago maulit 'to na magkakasama tayong uminom."

        Umismid si Eli. "'Di pa natin naiikot 'yong bote, iniintriga niyo na agad ako."

        "Hay. You just admitted you wanted to ask someone something," Enzo mumbled, making everyone chuckle. Eli only made a face.

        Linnie glanced at Teo. "Hey, birthday boy. What about you? Anong gusto mong gawin?"

        Nagkunwaring nag-iisip si Teo. "Uminom, ha-ha."

        "Besides that." Linnie shot her friends a look. Sabay-sabay kasing bumulanghit ng tawa ang tatlo habang abala sa phone. Apologetic na ngumiti si Paulo. She turned to Teo again. "Come on. Ano nga?"

        "Masolo ka," kibit-balikat na sagot ng boyfriend niya.

        "'Tangina, gumagano'n si Daddy Teo?" nang-aasar na kumento ni Eli. Nagkunwari pa itong kinikilabutan na ikinatawa nilang lahat. "Pero seryoso, anong gusto mong gawin? Ikaw masusunod, born day mo, e."

        "Hmm, usually kasi, nagdi-dinner lang kami ni Linnie kasama sina Dad. Ayon lang."

        "Boring naman no'n," humihikab na sabi ni Jo.

        "Lay off him." Linnie sighed before standing up. Umupo siya sa sofa at saka, sumandal kay Teo. Umayos naman ng upo ang lalaki. He stretched and wrapped his right arm around her, pulling her close. "It's his birthday."

        "Sakit niyo naman sa mata," nakangiwing sabi ni Eli, sabay bato sa kanila ng kanina pang yapos na throw pillow.

        Laughing, Teo quickly caught it. "Birthday ko nga, 'di ba?" Pang-asar pa itong dumila. "Wait, anong oras nga pala kayo uuwi?"

        "Ay, wala na. Pinapauwi na tayo, guys," hirit ni Paulo.

        Pumalatak naman si Dolly, nakisakay rin sa biro ni Pau. "Ang mamanhid pala natin, e. Matuto naman tayong makiramdam, guys."

        Nagkunwari pang nagliligpit ang dalawa.

        "Drama niyo," tumatawang sabi ni Teo. He threw the pillow back to Eli. Muntik iyong makatama ng bote. Mabuti na lang at nasalo ni Charlie. "Sorry, Charlie."

        "It's okay. Likot-likot kasi ni Eli, e."

        "Ako pa tuloy?" nakangusong tanong ni Eli.

        The two exchanged knowing looks before. Sabay ring tumungga sina Eli at Charlie sa kani-kanyang bote. The rest of the group were left to wonder what that was about.

        "May napapansin ako," deklara ni Jojo.

        Tuluyang inubos ni Linnie ang laman ng pangatlo niyang bote ng soju. "What?"

        Jo pointed at her and Teo. "Clingy niyo ngayon."

        Enzo snorted a laugh. "They've always been like that. Why are you only noticing now?"

        "Hindi~ Iba 'yong ngayon, e."

        "True," Dolly chimed in. "Si Teo, wala. Clingy talaga 'yan. Si Linnie naman, nagiging clingy lang 'pag lasing. Napansin lang ata ni Jo kasi 'di pa naman lasing si Linnie."

        Linnie reached for the unopened bottle of soju. Ibinigay niya iyon kay Teo. He immediately understood what she wanted to do. He opened the bottle for her.

        Diretso iyong tinungga ni Linnie hanggang sa maubos. Itinuwad niya iyong bote. "I'm going to be clingy whenever I want."

        Teo clapped. Nangingiti rin itong napailing. "'Yan ang baby ko." He pulled her close again and began scratching her chin. Linnie grimaced. Hindi naman kasi siya pusa. Gayunpaman, hinayaan niya ang pamumula ng mga pisngi sa harap ng mga kaibigan.

        That earned an applause from her friends. With her head slightly spinning, she couldn't tell whether they were sarcastic or proud.

        Mukha namang pareho.

        The next few minutes were a bit hazy. They ended up playing truth or dare. Nasa gitna sina Paulo ng pang-iintriga kay Enzo nang subukang tumayo ni Linnie. Muntikan siyang mabuwal.

        "Ayan, soju pa," kantiyaw ni Dolly.

        "Where are you going? Magsi-CR ka ba, babe?"

        Linnie shook her head. "Kitchen lang. Stay put. I can manage naman."

        Napapalatak si Teo. Akmang tatayo na ito nang mapansin si Charlie. Charlie held onto Linnie's arm. "It's okay, Teo. Ako nang sasama. Kukuha rin naman ako ng tubig."

        Linnie was about to protest but she also wanted to save face. Gobbling up all that soju was a bad idea. Iyong huli siguro niyang inom ay noong birthday pa ni Paulo. Kahit ilang hakbang lang ang layo ng kusina sa sala, napakapit siya kay Charlie.

        He helped Linnie toward the counter. She stared at him intently. Ito na rin kasi ang kumuha ng mga baso at pitsel.

        "Bakit gan'yan ka makatingin, Linnie?" nakangiwi nitong tanong.

        "Nothing. Parang at home na at home ka, e."

        Charlie gasped. His eyes widened. Pagkatapos niyon ay paulit-ulit itong yumuko. "Sorry, I didn't mean to come across like that. Gusto ko lang talagang tumulong kasi alam mo naman, bago lang ako sa shop pero in-invite niy—"

        "Charlie," she cut him off. "I was joking."

        Napamaang ito. "Ah."

        "You're fitting in just right. No wonder Eli likes you."

        "Honestly, same thoughts. 'Di ko rin in-expect na papayag siyang mag-date kami, e, ni-reject niya na ako befo—wait. You knew?"

        Linnie nodded while sipping her water. "It's really obvious. Bakit gulat na gulat ka? Don't tell me they don't know yet. 'Di pa alam nila Enzo?"

        Charlie grinned. "Then I won't tell you, ha-ha."

        "Not to be rude but Teo said you're an Eli variant. I didn't expect you to be more like Enzo when you're tipsy."

        "What does that mean?"

        "Don't tell him I told you, pero nagulat daw siya na ang tahimik mong malasing. Halos 'di ka kumikibo, e."

        "I think it's because I have an older sister."

        "Hang on. Hindi ba baligtad? You're acting like you're the older sibling."

        "Well, siguro kasi sa amin, parang siya 'yong bunso," natatawang kuwento ni Charlie. "Do you get what I mean?"

        Linnie smiled, nodding. "No worries." Muli siyang sumimsim ng tubig.

        "Not to be rude or anything—" Charlie mumbled a disclaimer. Muling napasulyap dito si Linnie. "—and this could be the alcohol talking but I really wish I could find a love like you and Teo's."

        "That's definitely the alcohol talking," she joked. "Bakit mo naman nasabi 'yan? You just met Teo a few weeks ago. Ako naman, kanina lang."

        "Exactly." Charlie smiled. "Being a pansexual is hard. I mean, ina-assume agad ng iba na madaling makahanap ng tulad ng inyo ni Teo, because gender isn't an issue."

        "But?"

        "Pero 'di gano'n kadali."

        "To be honest, I never understood why people are against your community. I think love is the same for everyone, no matter what your gender is. Ang hirap hanapin. At the same time, ang hirap din i-maintain, when you finally find your person."

        "You and Teo make it look so easy, though."

        Linnie chuckled. She still felt tipsy. Muli niyang nilagyan ng tubig ang baso niya. "'Di pa ba nakukuwento ni Eli? We broke up last March after being together for almost seven years."

        "So?"

        "What do you mean 'so'?"

        "So what if you broke up? Baka nga 7-year itch lang 'yan, e."

        Humigpit ang hawak ni Linnie sa baso. "What are you saying?" Napamaang ulit si Charlie. "I'm not mad or anything. It's just my resting bitch face. Genuine 'yong tanong ko, ha-ha."

        "Well—" Tumungga ito ng tubig. "—people say relationships are challenged during their seventh year, or kapag malapit na mag-seven years. Kapag nalagpasan naman daw, sure nang 'yon na 'yon. They're meant to be."

        Linnie bit her lip. She knew about the 7-year itch "myth". However, she never thought of it until now. Hindi rin pumasok sa isip niya iyong posibilidad na baka sinusubukan niya lang si Teo.

        Na baka sinadya niyang pahirapan at pakumplikahin ang lahat.

        "That makes sense," buntonghininga niyang sabi.

        "Ha?" Mahinang natawa si Charlie. "Sorry, I'm saying nonsense. Don't take me too seriously. Tipsy na 'ko, e."

        "No, it's okay. It's good to hear an outsider's perspective."

        "Babe~"

        She and Chariie turned to Teo who childishly ran toward them. Nang makalapit, sadya nitong itinupi ang mga tuhod, maipatong lang ang baba sa kanang balikat ni Linnie.

        "Why?" She placed her hand on his cheek."Do you need anything, birthday boy?"

        "You," Teo answered pouting. "Babe, sa 'kin tumapat 'yong bote. I chose dare. Actually, pinilit nila ako, ha-ha."

        "What's the dare?"

        "Seven minutes in heaven daw." He gave her a peck on the cheek. "S'yempre ikaw heaven ko, so sa 'yo ako dumiretso."

        Linnie chuckled. "Too cheesy, Teo, even for you." Sumenyas siya kay Charlie na ngiting-ngiti. "You are so drunk. Pasok muna tayo sa kuwarto natin, okay? You can do your dare and sleep for a bit."

        Despite Teo obviously having a larger build, Linnie did her best to guide him to their room. Nangantiyaw naman sina Jojo, kesyo baka raw totohanin nila iyong heaven sa dare.

        Linnie managed to raise her middle finger as a response.

        Inside their room, she helped Teo lay on the bed. Maliit siyang napangiti nang mapansing nakadilat ito. "Sleep it off muna. I'll wake you up after a few minutes."

        Linnie sat on his swivel chair. Isa-isa niyang isinuksok ang mga charger sa plastic organizer. Kaya naman pala hindi pa napapansin ni Teo iyong isa pa niyang regalo. He wasn't really the ditzy type so he probably just forgot to clean the desk and nightstand.

        Hindi tuloy nito napansin iyong puting charger ni Linnie na ibinalik niya noong umaga. He definitely hasn't checked the drawers, too.

        "Anong pinag-uusapan niyo ni Charlie kanina?" narinig niyang ungot ni Teo.

        "Myths," Linnie answered with a smile. "And how they aren't true."

#