Silent Shot

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

“Happy Birthday, Lira!” the crowd chants. Kakatapos lang tumugtog ng birthday song at nakatingin ang mga tao habang papalapit sa akin ang four-tier cake. Mom did an awesome job preparing for the party. Most of my schoolmates were here, invited ata ang buong school dito sa birthday ko but I know they attend only because they are part of the socialites. I’m not close with anyone except Jacob and Grace.

“Make a wish, hija!” Mommy hugged me sideways. I smiled and closed my eyes. I was not sure what to wish because what I wanted was so out of my reach. Tawid-dagat ang layo ng taong gusto kong hilingin na makasama ngayon.

I blow the candle with a wish of good health for my family. Nagpalakpakan ang mga tao. Mommy hugged me tight and Daddy did, too.

“Happy Birthday, hija!” Daddy whispered.

“Thank you, Dad, Mom.” I kissed them both I their cheeks.

People swarm toward us. May mga kinamayan si Daddy na associates at ganoon din si Mommy. May mga lumapit din sa akin, mga kaedad ko na anak din ng mga business partners nina Daddy. They offered gifts and greetings which I accepted with a smile.

Though I feel shallow, like something was missing and just prayed for the party to end.

“Happy Birthday, Lira!” Jacob popped in front of me with a wide smile and a square box.

“Salamat!” I chuckled.

I excused myself from Mom and Dad tutal tapos na din naman ang mga pagbati ng kaedad ko at halos lahat ng businessman na naroon ay sina Daddy naman talaga ang puntirya.

Naglakad kami ni Jacob papuntang buffet. Hindi pa ako kumakain kaya ramdam ko na ang gutom.

I noticed Jacob was out of this world. Natutulala ito at parang malalim ang iniisip.

“Have you seen Grace?” I asked.

“H-Ha? Hindi pa?” sabi nito na tila nagulat pa.

I knotted my forehead. “Hindi ka sigurado?”

He cleared his throat and then shrugged. “I just arrived so…” hindi na nito tinapos ang sinasabi at nagsimula na lang kumuha ng pagkain sa buffet. I feel like he was hiding something but I couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

“Ano na naman ang pinasok mong gulo, Jacob?” I asked in a whisper, rolling my eyes while getting my own food.

I felt him stiffened. “Wala! Why do you always assume that I’m in trouble?”

“You are bothered!” humarap na ako sa kanya. “And its so obvious. So what is it?”

Jacob sighed and shake his head. “Wala na akong maitago sayo.” pagsuko nito. “Just promise me not to tell a soul. Alright?”

Kumunot lalo ang noo ko at nailapag tuloy ang plato sa lamesa ng buffet. “Ano na naman ‘to, Jacob?” tanong ko na nanliliit ang mga mata.

“Hi, Lira!” Grace popped in between us and hugged me tight. “Happy Birthday!” she mumbled. I chuckled at her cute way of greeting me. “Sorry, I’m late!”

“Thank you!” I chuckled. “Bakit ka nga ba late?”

She sighed heavily. “Family drama.” then she smiled. “But I’m here na!” she grinned though I can see how sad her eyes were.

“Get your food and join our table, Grace.” Jacob said while filling his own plate. He was smiling handsomely but I can’t let go of what we were talking about. Iilang araw pa lamang na wala si Viggo pero may problema na agad na kinakaharap ang kapatid nito.

So much for taking care of things, Selira! Bakit pa kasi ako nangako kay Viggo? Or better yet, bakit ba ako ang pinaghabilinan niya ng kapatid niyang trouble magnet yata. Hays.

Grace turned and smiled innocently at Jacob. Tila bigla itong natauhan na naroon nga pala ang crush nito kaya hindi makabasag pinggan na naman ito kung kumilos.

“H-Hi, Jacob.” Grace greeted. Jacob turned to her and smiled, hindi na ibinalik ang bati. He really was flustered.

“Una na ako sa table.” sabi nito sa amin and gave me one final look as if saying we should talk later.

Grace turned to me when Jacob left. Namumula ang mukha nito dahil sa pinipigil na kilig. Ako naman ay hilaw ang ngiti na ibinigay sa kaibigan dahil sa pag-iisip kung ano kaya ang trouble ni Jacob.

“May after-party ka, Lira?” a boy asked from behind me.

I smiled and shook my head. “Wala, e. Saka na daw kapag eighteen na.”

“Alright! Cool.” at umalis na ang lalaki.

Bumaling ako muli kay Grace na mukhang tapos na kumuha ng pagkain. Niyaya ko na ito papunta sa table at nauna nang maglakad papunta roon. Bumabati sa akin ang mga nadadaanang kakilala at sinusuklian ko naman sila ng ngiti.

Nakita ko si Jacob sa table namin at napansin ko ang pagkagat nito ng labi habang nakatingin sa cellphone. I wonder what’s his deal. Hindi naman madalas magkaroon ng problema si Jacob but once he does, I can only pray.

“I think that guy was hitting on you.” sabi ni Grace nang makaupo na kami. Mahina ang boses nito kaya naman pinahina ko din ang boses ko.

“What guy?” I asked.

Jacob must’ve heard our conversation. “Yeah, what guy?” lumingon-lingon pa ito sa kung saan kami galing.

I knotted my forehead on his nosiness but let it go.

“Um, yung lalaki kanina. Yung nagtatanong ng after-party?” sagot ni Grace na naghahalinhinan pa ang tingin sa amin ni Jacob. I can’t blame her doubting look because Jacob’s reaction was so shocked.

I chuckled awkwardly. “Hindi naman siguro, Grace.” sabi ko at itinuon ang atensyon sa pagkain.

Having secret admirers and knowing someone likes me does not deliver any good feelings to me. Akala ko ay sobrang saya at kilig magkaroon ng mga ganoon but those are not the feelings I’m having.

Instead, para akong nahihiya na kinakabahan. I’m uneasy walking around campus, and I can’t look at any boy’s eyes.

I’m curious why though. I like Viggo but I can look at his eyes and I feel something when I was with him.

“Uh, siguro nga, mali ako.” si Grace na ngumiti pa rin naman ng makahulugan sa akin.

“Oo, Grace! Mali ka lang. Walang magtatangka na magkagusto kay Lira sa personal.” tumawa pa si Jacob pagkasabi noon.

Kumunot ang noo ko at bumaling na kay Jacob ngayon.

“Kanina ka pa, ah?” medyo naiinis na sabi ko. Grace sipped on her drink but kicked my foot under the table. Siguro ay tumaas ang boses ko.

“What?” Jacob asked innocently, his mouth filled with food.

“Bakit parang kanina ka pa nang-iinsulto? You sound as if no one will like me!”

Jacob immediately swallowed his food. “I’m not even thinking that! I’m just saying. Diba wala ngang magconfess sayo ng harapan? Puro letters, paramdam lang, mga torpe.”

Totoo nga ang sinabi ni Jacob. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit puro takot ang mga nagkakagusto sa akin. Their cowardliness makes everything awkward whenever I see them in the hallway, in the homeroom, or cafeteria.

I just cleared my throat and decided to shut up. Ngayon ko lang naramdaman na boring ang birthday ko. I don’t know if it was because there are no clowns or any childish stuff or just because Viggo wasn’t present.

**

The day after my party, I realized that there’s a lot of things changed now that I was fifteen. Parang biglang nag-iba ang tingin ko sa mundo. Bumilis ang oras, at hindi ako nawalan ng gawain. Dumadaan ang araw na parang isang kisap-mata lamang ngunit napakatagal ng ikot ng orasan sa gabi.

I also noticed that my sleeping habits changed. Mas kaya ko nang magpuyat ngayon. Not that I want to, pero pinagkakait talaga sa akin ang antok.

Everything was so boring. I get mad in simple things but say sorry real quick. I was not used to my mood swings, I was agitated by it.

Until my first period came.

“That explains the mood swings lately, anak.” my mommy chuckled. “Hormones. You are true dalaga na talaga, hija! I am so proud of you!”

I rolled my eyes. Ano naman ang nakakaproud sa sitwasyon ko ngayon? It hurts like hell. Hindi ko naman akalain na ganito kasakit ang dysmenorrhea! My mom was saying her dialogue while here I was, curled on my side like a turfgrass millipedes!

“Madam, may bisita po.” sabi ng kasambahay.

“Sino raw, manang?” her hand was caressing my back and somehow it was not soothing unlike when I was sick. This dysmenorrhea is too painful.

“Si ser Viggo po, madam.”

Halos manigas sa lamig ang buong katawan ko dahil sa pangalan na narinig. Kailan pa siya nakauwi? Bakit ngayon pa siya umuwi kung kailan ganito ang nararamdaman ko ngayon?!

“Oh!” mommy quickly got up. “Nakabalik na pala siya. Siguro ay may ipinaabot na pasalubong si Madel.” my mom chuckled. “Anak, maiwan na muna kita at haharapin ko ang bisita.”

I groaned my frustration and then I’m all alone in my room again. Viggo is here! Yet I can’t even stand up to see him! Naiiyak ako sa inis lalo pa nang bigla kong naramdaman na miss na miss ko na si Viggo.

Ang sakit ng puson ko, sobra. I can’t even stand up, what more to walk? Baka kahit ngumiti kay Viggo, hindi ko magawa ngayon!

“Hija! Viggo brought a lot of pasalubong for us! The maid will bring yours here later. Too bad you can’t thank Viggo, I told him you’re not feeling well.”

I groaned from another shot of pain. “Nandyan pa ba siya, Mom?”

Mom waved her hand. “Pinauwi ko na para makapagpahinga. Kakauwi lang pala at dito tumuloy dahil mas malapit ang bahay natin. He dropped the pasalubong and I went on his way.”

I groaned louder this time but not because of the pain. I didn’t have the chance to see Viggo!

“Let me charge your hot compress, hija.” Mom said.

I was busy drowning myself with hormonal anger when I heard my phone beep. A text message from Viggo!

Viggo: I heard you’re not feeling well. Are you okay?

Then my phone beeped again.

Viggo: I will visit again soon. Magpagaling ka.

A long exhale of relief came out of my mouth. I never thought Viggo can cure my dysmenorrhea but his message kind of did.