Chapter 1
1670 Words
“CONGRATULATIONS!” sabay-sabay na wika ng kanyang kaibigan sabay pinatunog ang hawak nilang Agiane beer.
Umismid si Mika sa mga kaibigan at hindi niya na napigilan ang pag-ikot ng mga mata sa pagka-asar. She should be celebrating right now but here she is frowning because of her parents’s request. She saw Shania’s curious face when she looked at her friends. Nagtatakang iwinasiwas nito ang mga kamay abago sumipat kay Heater na tahimik lamang sa kinauupuan.
Heather shook her head and then she receives a short curious glanced from her. Nag-usap sina Shania gamit ang mga mata habang siya ay mas lalo lamang na naasar sa ginagawa ng dalawa sa kanyang harap.
“I can see your from here, you know,” walang ganang pagbibigay-alam ni Mika bago umismid.
Nagpakawala nang marahas na hangin si Shania bago lumapit sa kanya. “What happened, Mik? You should be celebrating right now. You just sold a million copy of the installment of your Trilogy entitled Us Maybe.”
Napabuntong-hininga si Mika bago tumingin sa kaibigan. “I am happy...”
“Well, your sigh tells me that you are... not,” wika ni Shania at tinapik siya sa balikat. “Mika, spill. What’s your problem? I’m worried.”
Tumingin lamang si Mika bago lumungkot ang kanyang mukha. She knew she doesn’t look good with a frown, but she can’t but do it in front of her friends. Her mother kills her mood tonight. She literally kills her mood forever.
“Heather is worried too, right?” wika ni Shania at pinanlakihan ng mga mata si Heather. “Right, Heather?”
Heather just shrugged the question off and withdrew her eyes from Shania. Naasar na inambahan ni Shania nang matanggap nito ang malamig na reaksyon ni Heather.
“Kahit kailan talaga, Heather, hindi ka marunong rumesbak,” komento ni Shania sabay napailing-iling.
“I am worried, okay?” sagot ni Heather. “Mika already knows I’m worried, so she doesn’t need to hear it from me.”
Napatingin sa kanya si Shania at tipid na tinanguhan niya lamang ito senyas bilang pagsabi na huwag na lamang sumagot kay Heather.
“So, what’s your problem? Come on, tell me, Mik. You can tell me,” pagtitiyak ni Shania at ikinulong ang kanyang mukha gamit ang mga kamay nito. “No kidding, Mik. I am really worried. Every time you published a book, you have always been energetic and proud. But now, you look so gloomy and... problematic. And you will not give that reaction just to prank us, won’t you?”
Napaismid si Mika sa kaibigan. “What if I tell you I am pranking right now?”
“Then I wouldn't believe you because I’m the one who always does that and not you. You hate being pranked and you wouldn’t do that to us because you know the feeling of being tricked,” sagot ni Shania dahilan para mapabuntong-hininga siya nang malalim sa kinauupuan.
“My mom... she has arranged me for marriage,” pagbibigay-alam niya dahilan para mapasinghap si Shania.
Maski si Heather na tahimik kanina sa kinauupuan ay napalingon sa kanya at pinamilugan nang mga mata.
“What?!” sabay na palahaw ng dalawa.
“My mom did... and there's no way she will withdraw the decision she made. I am getting married this end of the year.”
Kasabay na paglaglag ng panga ni Shania at Heather ay pagpailanlang ng memoryang kanyang pinaka-iiwasang maalala...
“Mom, that’s absurd.” saad ni Mika, hindi na naiwasan ang pagtaas ng boses.
“You don’t get to raise your voice at me, young lady. You said you wanted to have a family, right?” mariing tanong ng ina dahilan para mawalan siya nang kataga na mamumutawi. “I am doing you a favor by making your life easier.”
“That’s exactly my point, mom. I don’t need your help,” asik ni Mika nang hindi na napigilan ang galit.
"I wiped your butt when you were just a kid. I got your first hair fall with me because I always comb your hair and I took good care of you. I let you take Creative Writing because I always support you... up until now,” nanggagalaiting wika ng ina habang ang mga mata ay nagsimula nang manlisik. “All your life, I never questioned your decisions and judgment. I supported you. You never heard no to me. This is the only thing I want for you to ensue my command and you’re saying that you are not doing it?”
Marahas na napapikit si Mika bago sinalubong ang mga nanlilisik na mga mata ng ina. “Mom...”
“You don’t trust me, do you? I can see it in your eyes. God, Mika. Sana pinatay mo na lang ako. At kung hindi mo kayang patayin ako ay sabihin mo na lang para ako na gumawa mismo sa pagpatay sa sarili ko para sa ikakabuti ng buhay mo. Susunod ma lamang ako sa papa mo.”
“Oh, god...” bulong ni Mika pagkatapos ay humugot nang malalim na hininga at nahuhumindusang inihilamos ang mga kamay sa muka. “Please don’t say that. You know how I hate you saying that.”
“Then do as what you are told, Mika. Don’t disappoint me. If your father is here, he’ll agree with me. The man I’m talking about... the man I want you to marry is kind and has a pure heart. You can learn to love him, anak.”
Napilitang napatingin siya sa ina bago ikinuyom ng palihim ang mga kamao sa ilalalim ng hapag-kainan. “F-Fine...”
“Please tell me you didn’t agree?” wika ni Shania para mapabuntong-hininga siya nang malalim.
Malungkot na tumingin siya kay Shania pagkatapos ay kay Heather na ngayon ay malakim na ang gatla sa noo.
“f**k, I already did,” sagot ni Mika dahilan para masapo ni Shania ang ulo at si Heather na napapikit sa kinauupuan.
“You did what?”
Ganoon na lamang ang kanyang pagkagulat nang makitang nasa tabi niya na si Alexanderia kasama ang asawa nito si Alejandro at ang kaibigan nitong si Kyron, Isaac, at si Jackson.
Sa lahat nang mga kalalakihan na naroon ay si Kyron ang pinakamatagal na nagbawi ng mga mata mula sa pagkakatitig sa kanya. Muling napatingin siya dito ngunit ganoon rin kabilid ang kanyang pagbawi ng tingin nang makitang nakatingin pa pala ito sa kanya.
Nang hindi sila sumagot sa tanong ng kaibigan ay nagkakutob agad si Alexandria at binulungan ang asawa. And then Alexandria gave her husband a slithering kiss and then they all winced and looked away.
“Jesus, get a room!” saway niya sa dalawa para mapatigil ito da ginagawa at sabay na mapahalakhak.
Nang makaalis na ang mga kalalakihan ay napayakap siya agad kay Alexandria. Sandaling naestatwa si Alexandria sa kanyang ginawa ngunit nakahuma agad ito sa paghagod sa kanyang buhok.
“What happened?” nag-aalalang tanong ni Alexandria.
“I am to be wed, Aelx... with someone I didn't know,” sagot ni Mika pagkatapos ay isinubsob ang muka sa leeg nito.
“Shut up...” hindi makapaniwalang wika ni Alexandria. “Please tell me you’re just joking.”
“I wish I am. But I’m not, damn,” mariing pajayag ni Mika at humiwalay sa pagkakayakap ng kaibigan. “What am I going to do now? My fantasy of getting married to the man whom I will love whole remains just a wish now.”
“You know what... if you don't like the idea of marrying that man, just say you don’t want it.” suhestiyon ni Shania. “For Pete's sake, you’re twenty-nine, Mika. You are not a child to follow a behest.”
“I already disagree, okay? My mom threatened me that she will kill herself.... god!” sambit ni Mika sabay napahilamos ang nga kamay sa mukha. “Wala namang akong ginawang masama pero bakit ang malas ko? I thought everything will be fine. Tinopak na naman ang nanay ko.”
“Your mom is a little bit of...” panimula ni Heather at sinadyang hindi tinuloy ang sasabihin. “A little bit of...”
“Dramatic?” dugtong niya sa nais nitong sabihin at umismid sa kaibigan. “She is, I am well aware. And I disagree to the fact you labeled it a little. She’s a drama queen.”
“You know what, Mik? You need a rebellion,” suhestiyon ni Shania para mapatangin sa kanya ang lahat.
“I already did, Shan. It didn’t effect on my mother,” pagbibigay-diin niya sa gustong manyari ni Shania.
“What I mean is rebellion in secret, honey. In that way, you will feel in control,” pagpapatuloy ni Shania at nginitian siya nang makabuluhan. “Think about what you want to do that your mom would strongly disagree with and will definitely lose the fight. And then she will have no choice but to accept it because you already did it. For once in your life, Mika, woman up. Be in control. Be the woman who you want to be and not a woman that your mother wants.”
Napaisip nang maigi si Mika bago tumango-tango. “Tell me more...”
Naningkit ang nga mata ni Shania sa kanila at ang unang nakahuma ay si Alexandria. Napatango-tango ito at magiliw na tumimgin sa kanya dahilan para mas lalo lamang siyang maguluhan. Umayos nang pagka-upo si Hather at umiling-iling.
“It would be chaotic...” ang komento ni Heather sabay umiling-iling.
“It would be amazing!” ang komento naman ni Alexandria at eksaheradang tumango-tango.
Napatingin siya sa kaibigan at wala siyang maintindihan sa mga pinagsasabi ng mga ito. She was the one in need, yet she is the one who remained clueless.
“What must I do?” she asked demandingly and then looked at Shania wistfully. “Tell me...”
“Lose your virginity,” diretsahang sagot ni Shania dahilan para mapalahaw si Mika sa sobrang pagkabigla.
- Writer
