OIAL 9.0

The guards opened our gigantic victorian gate and bowed as the car passed them by.

The car stopped in front of our house. Paglabas ko sa kotse ay mausok sa may pool area namin. Nagtataka kong sinundan ang pinagmumulan ng usok. It smells like barbeque.

I saw kuya's friends on the side, si kuya Lincoln and Theodore was grilling the barbeque, kuya Everett was fixing the led lights, kuya Liam was just seating at our sun lounger watching them, as usual, while my kuya is preparing the table.

"Dapat ay sa hotel nalang nila Theodore tayo nag celebrate! My arms hurt because of this god damn lights baka ma-kuryente pa ako!" Reklamo ni kuya Everett, at iritadong isinabit ang mga led lights sa artificial tree sa gilid ng pool.

Tumawa si kuya Liam, tunayo siya at inakbayan si kuya Everett. "Don't worry, Eve, my bro. My hospital will take care of you kapag na-kuryente ka nyang led lights."

"Fuck you!" Asar na sagot ni kuya Everett.

Kulang sila ng isa, si Terrence.

"Aish, hanggang kailan ko ba babaliktarin itong barbeque? I can just send some chefs to cook here and let them do it!" Binitawan na ni kuya Theodore ang mga stick ng barbeque at umupo sa sun lounger na katabi ni kuya Liam.

Napa-iling nalang si Kuya sa katamaran ng mga kaibigan niya.

Hindi nila ako napansin dahil maingay at abala sila. Malakas ang pop punk music na naka-play sa speaker.

I clapped my hands and they all looked at me.

"What are you guys doing?" Kunot na noo na tanong ko. Nagtataka kung anong

mayroon.

They are hotshots in business world pero heto sila at nagkakabit ng led lights, nag iihaw ng barbeque, at nag aayos ng lamesa.

"Oh, here's the Devyl." Pag bati ni kuya Liam sa akin.

Minsan nag tataka ako kung paano naging doktor ito, tamad siya at kain lang naman nang kain.

Hindi halata na tagapagmana ng isang malaking ospital sa bansa.

He just changed the 'Devyn' into 'Devyl' which made it sounds like devil!

Kuya Everett came to me and messed my hair. His business is the most famous airline in asia, Ford's Airline. He is a pilot and I always got a discounts on their airline when we're travelling.

"Kapalit ng pagsira ko sa engagement party ni Terrence at Thalia." Lumapit sa akin si kuya. Ginulo nito ang buhok ko at hinalikan ako sa noo.

What's with them and messing with my hair?

If this is for Terrence where is he? Nilibot ko ang paningin pero wala talaga siya.

Naka-apron si kuya Lincoln na lumapit sa amin ni kuya habang may hawak na barbeque.

"Tikman mo, masarap ang nag marinate at nag-ihaw." Inabot niya sa akin ang barbeque, at tinanggap ko iyon.

Kumagat ako, at masarap nga! Kumunot ang noo ko, anong masarap ang nag ihaw na sinasabi ni kuya Lincoln?

Naka-tikim siya ng batok mula sa aking kapatid.

"Siraulo ka! Mag ihaw ka nalang doon." Utos ni kuya at itinulak niya si kuya Lincoln patungo kay kuya Theodore na nag iihaw na muli.

I laughed and bite at the barbeque again.

"Does the barbeque taste good? Ako ang nag ihaw niyan!" Pag mamalaki pa ni kuya Theodore sa akin. Malaki akong ngumiti at nag thumbs up.

Kuya Theodore is in hotels and a travel aganecies.

"Liquior is here!" Sigaw mula sa likuran ko. Kuya's friends cheered in delight. Lumingon ako, na sana hindi ko na lang ginawa.

"Oh, Amelie!" Pag bati ni Thalia sa akin, she greeted me like we're friends.

Ibibigay ko kay kuya ang stick ng barbeque at inilagay niya iyon sa isang plato na nasa pabilog na lamesa.

It was Terrence, with her lovely fiancee, Thalia. Silang dalawa ay naka-ngiti, at masayang binati ang mga kaibigan.

Pasimpleng napa-irap ako nang kumalas si Thalia sa pagkaka-akbay ni Terrence at lumapit sa akin si Thalia at niyakap ako.

Plastik akong ngumiti, "Hello there, Thalia." I made it sound like I'm really happy that they're here, kahit na hindi.

Saglit lang ang pagyakap niya sa akin at bumitaw agad. Pinasadahan ko siya ng tingin. She had a great fashion sense.

She is wearing a pleated beige assymetrical satin dress, with a strappy heels. On her arms is a black dior micro bag.

Terrence smiled and greeted me. The smile that he used to give me before was different from his smile now. Before, it felt warm and comforting, now it feels like a stranger was smiling at me. It's foreign.

Tsk, pati ba naman ngayong gabi ay makikita ko sila? Akala ko ay nasa beach sila dahil sa post ni Terrence kanina?

"I'm done setting the table up. Devyn, change your clothes and go down here after." Utos ni Kuya sa akin.

"Okay." Tinanguan ko na lang sila lahat doon at tsaka pumasok sa loob.

Why does we have a big god damn house?! Nangangawit ang binti ko kakalakad pero nandito pa lang ako sa sala.

"Argh. My feet hurts." Reklamo ko sa aking sarili at tinanggal ang white gucci crystal pumps ko.

I lazily sat on our Brabu pearl sofa, and just let my feet off the ground.

I stare at the crystal in my shoes, I sighed. His foreign smile still lingers in my head.

"I wish I could be happy like him."

Umiling ako, trying to chase away that thought. I really need to move on.

Determinado akong tumayo, tama! Kailangan ko na mag move-on.

Isinuot ko ang pumps ko at isinukbit muli ang bag para dalhin sa kwarto. Naka-isang hakbang na ako sa hagdan nang may maisip.

Come on, Devyn. Lalaki lang iyan, maganda ka, mayaman at matalino. Grasya na tinanggihan niya pa. Pangungumbinsi ko sa aking sarili at tumango-tango.

"Amelie? What are you doing?" Terrence's baritone voice echo in our sala.

"Scheishu!" (Fuck!)

Gulat akong napa-talon at muntik nang ma-out of balance dahil sa gulat.

Narinig ko ang mabilis na pag hakbang niya sa kinaroroonan ko at naramdam ko ang mainit niyang braso na pumulupot sa aking bewang.

"Okay ka lang?" I felt his breath on the top of my head.

Kahit naka-akyat ako sa isang baitang ng hagdan ay napaka-liit ko pa rin kung ikukumpara sa kaniya.

Nag-init ang pisngi ko, at ramdam ko ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko.

Mabuti na lamang ay naka-talikod siya sa akin, at hindi niya makikita kung paano mamula ang aking pisngi.

It seems like he's hugging me from behind.

"I'm okay. Let go, Terrence." Hinawakan ko ang braso niya na nasa bewang ko at pilit na inaalis ito, pero mas hinigpitan nya lamang ang yakap sa akin.

"I-I'm sorry, Devyn. I swear, I tried to love you." Bulong niya, basag ang kaniyang boses.

Hot tears streamed down my face.

I know that he tried, pero baka na sa akin talaga ang problema.

Maging ang magulang ko ay inabandona ako, siya pa kaya na walang nararamdaman para sa akin?

Why didn't I saw it coming? It's like a god damn cycle. For once, people will make me feel precious, then leave afterwards.

"Alam ko naman iyon, Terrence. That's the reason why.... Kaya hindi kita hinabol." Pilit ko pa ring tinatapos ang mga salita kahit na ang sakit na.

Terrence kept on whispering his apologies to me as I cry. My back was on his chest and his hard arms on my waist.

"I'm the one to blame kasi alam ko naman na I'm never enough to make you stay, but I let myself drown into my fantasy where you are my happy ending."

Sinamantala ko ang panghihina niya at tinanggal ko ang kanyang braso na nasa bewang ko at humarap sa kaniya.

He looked miserable as I am, but does we bleed the same? He's got a new girl, while I'm still stucked by our memories and cannot move on.

Hinawakan ko ang kaniyang dalawang pisngi at inangat upang magtama ang aming paningin. His gray eyes looked sad, but I know that sadness won't be long because after this, he'll come running to his new girl and will find happiness with her.

"I-I wish you all the best....." the best was me, and you've just lost me. I wiped my the tears on my cheeks and smiled bitterly at him.

Maybe, this lifetime wasn't for us because we are destined for someone better.