The Seductress and the Womanizer

KABANATA UNA

KABANATA ISA

REMINISCE JOY FAJARDO

"NO! No way, mom! No freaking way!" pasigaw na sambit ni Rem dala ng naging reaksyon niya sa sinabi ng kanyang ina. Hindi pwede. Hindi maari. Ayaw niya. Marinig niya palang ang salitang iyon ay nasusuka na siya at naninindig ang mga balahibo dahil sa pangingilabot.

"But you have to. Your dad said that this is the only way to expand our business worldwide," her mother replied with a calm voice, unbothered by her high pitched on the other line.

"Only way? By sacrificing me and my wonderful life? For what? For his business? Oh, come on!" hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya sa ina na mahinang tumawa lang sa kabilang linya na para bang isang malaking 'joke' ang nangyayari sa kanya ngayon.

"You're over reacting it, baby. Sacrificing is too much of a word to put it. Let's just say that you're doing this for you father, for me, for our family and most importantly, for yourself. Besides, what's so wonderful about your life? The partying and all the drinking? Darling, you're just killing yourself," litanya nitong kalmado pa rin ang tinig na may halong pangaral. Kung minsan ay hinihiling niya na sana ay nakuha niya ang ganoong attitude ng kanyang ina.

"Mom, please, I am not being dramatic. Yes, that's the wonderful things in my life and I am not killing myself, I am keeping myself alive," she replied contradicting what she commented about her lifestyle.

"Keeping yourself alive? No, hon. You might be enjoying it, but it will kill you eventually. It is time for you to grow up, to be matured, to look after yourself and to plan your future. Hindi habang buhay ay nandito kami ng dad mo," malambing na sambit ng babae kaya't malakas siyang napabuntong-hininga. Kahit kailan ay hindi talaga uubra ang pagiging maldita at reklamador niya sa kanyang ina.

"I know, mom. I know I should be planning for my future and I also know that I should be independent by now, but I just don't like the idea of getting married. I don't want a husband, or much worst a baby bursting out of my v****a. God! I can imagine how painful it is," she said hysterically. Yes, she's getting married. To whom? She doesn't know and she doesn't want to know. When? Two weeks from now.

"Baby, you need to calm down. Your father will invite your groom later at dinner. You two are going to meet, have some conversation and get to know each other. I am sure that you will like each other," her mother replied trying to calm her down and talked her into coming to dinner later, but she will not. Hindi siya mapapapayag nito o ng kahit na sino na pumunta sa hapunang iyon kahit pa kaladkarin siya. Hindi siya tatapak sa mansyon nila lalo na kung nandoon ang lalaking kinasusuklaman niya kahit na hindi pa man sila nagkikita.

"Mom, I hate to say this but I will not be there later. I will not be coming to dinner. You can invite the groom and his family, but no me. Na-uh. Never. Kung makita nilang unwilling ako, maybe they will cancel the wedding and find another bride which is not me," she reasoned out. Hindi siya nakarinig ng salita mula sa ina kundi ang paghinga lang nito ng malalim.

"Mom, I'm—" naputol ang paghingi niya ng tawad sa ina nang magsalita ito.

"It's okay, hon. Ako na lang ang mag-eexplain sa dad mo, but if he calls you after this please know that I did my best to convince him not to get you married." Awtomatikong kumurba ang ngiti sa mga labi niya. If her mom can convince her dad and talk him out, wala na siyang magiging problema at makakabalik na siya sa dati niyang buhay nang walang iniintindi at iniisip. God, she really love her mom to the core.

"Thanks, mom. I love you so much!" she said nearly squealing because of so much happiness she's feeling.

"I love you, too, hun. Take care of yourself and please visit me some time," her mother replied making her nod.

"I will, mom. I love you, bye," paalam niya bago ibaba ang tawag. Tumayo si Rem sa kama at nagtatatalon sa ibabaw niyon. Yes! It's time to party!

"I'm going to call Jucia," she said to herself before immediately dialling again on her phone. It took a few rings for her friend to answer.

"What is it, b***h?" kaagad na tanong nito sa kabilang linya.

"Let's go bar hopping. I want to be freaking drunk as hell!" she said, not hiding the frustration in her voice. Yes, although her mom will cover for her, she knows that her dad will really come after her when this night ends.

"You know what happen when you are so drunk, Rem. Hindi ka pa ba natututo?" tanong ng kaibigan muli at alam niya na kung ano ang ibig nitong sabihin. Alam niya kung ano ang tinutukoy nito ngunit mas pinili niyang magmaang-maangan lang sa mga oras na iyon. Marami talagang nangyayari kapag nilamon na ng alak ang buong isip at katawan niya. She has no control over her thoughts when she's drunk. Yes, she have a high alcohol tolerance at napakahirap para sa mga tao ang lasingin siya ngunit kapag nalasing naman siya at doon na nagkakaroon ng mga hindi inaasahang pangyayari.

"What do you mean? I have no idea what you're saying, b***h. So, ano ba? Are you going to accompany me or not?" she said dodging the conversation they are getting into.

"No, I'm still at the office, busy finishing some papers," Jucia answered making her frown.

"What?! You're still working? At this hour? It's not makatao na. Who's your boss? I will make gripo to his or her tagiliran," she said exaggeratedly, but she knows Jucia wouldn't mind her concern and what she said. She's really workaholic and work always comes first before anything else. Mabuti na nga lang at perpekto ang nahanap nitong boyfriend na si Lawrence dahil naiintindihan nito ang kaibigan.

"Stop exaggerating and being a b***h, Rem. I'm used to this, isa pa, ilang folders na lang namab ang nandito so makakauwi ako ng 11 pm," sambit nito na sinundan ng paghikab. Napailing na lang siya, mukhang wala na siyang magagawa kundi hayaan na lang ito at tumuloy na sa kung ano ang plano niyang gawin sa gabing iyon.

"Ano pa nga ba? Wala naman akong magagawa kung balak mong paunti-unting patayin ang sarili mo," tugon niya rito sa seryosong tinig. Sinusubukan kung uubra ba sa kaibigan iyon ngunit sa kasamaang palad ay hindi dahil ang sunod niyang narinig ay ang pagpapaalam nito at pagkaputol ng tawag sa kabilang linya.

"She will never listen to me, will she?" naiiling na sambit niya saka bumaba na sa kama at dumiretso sa kanyang walk-in closet. She will just feast her eyes on her shoe collection first before get ready because she's sure as hell that this is going to be a long week.

"WHY me?" maikling tanong ni Ann na malamig ang tingin sa kanya. Her stare is giving her goosebumps, so she simply rub her arms to prevent her skin from crawling.

"Brrrr... It's not cold but your tingin is giving me chills," maarteng sambit niya bago ito talikuran at maunang lumabas sa bahay. Nagpasundo siya sa kaibigan at pinilit itong samahan siya sa isang sikat na bar ngayong gabi. She's not bringing her own car because she knows she will get drunk as hell tonight. Himalang pumayag nga ang kaibigan sa gusto niya dahil sa totoo lang ay kapag siya ang nagyayaya rito ay mabilis pa sa speed of light kung tanggihan siya nito. Hindi niya naman talaga ito tatawagan kung may choice siya, sa lahat kasi ng kanyang mga kaibigan ito ang pinakanahihirapan siyang kasama. Don't get her wrong, she loves Ann as her friend and she treasures her like Eunice, Haven and Jucia, but it's difficult for her, way too difficult for her because their characters are nothing alike. Ann is the literal definition of "a man—a woman rather—with a few words" making it difficult for her to start a conversation or to just go with her. Rem is an outgoing, talkative, loud and a social animal while Ann is the opposite of those words. Hindi niya alam ang hilig ng kaibigan at higit sa lahat ay lagi itong walang emosyon kaya hindi niya rin mabasa ang iniisip nito o makuha kung anong dapat nilang pag-usapan.

"I'm asking you," tugon nito sa sinabi niya habang nakasunod sa kanyang likuran palapit sa kotseng dala nito.

"I have no choice, if one of our friendsagreed to join me clubbing you will not be the one here," she said truthfully. Rem heard Ann said something under her breath and scoffed, kaya't mabilis siyang napabaling ng tingin dito.

"What? Are you saying something?" tanong niyang nakataas ang isang kilay ngunit—gaya nang lagi—malamig na tingin lang ang isinukli nito sa kanya.

"Just stop talking," tugon nito bago siya unahan sa paglalakad at mabilis na sumakay ng kotse nito.

"Is that it? Tatlong salita lang ba talaga ang kaya mong bigkasin?" litanya niya habang naglalakad patungo sa passenger ng sasakyan. Binuksan niya ang pinto niyon at dali-daling sumakay dahil narinig niya ang pag-start nito ng makina.

"May bayad na ba ang mga salita mo kapag lumampas ng tatlo?" tanong niyang muli rito habang kinakabit ang seat belt. Tumingin lang sa kanya ang kaibigan gamit ang rearview mirror bago nito tuluyang mabilis na pasibadin paalis ang sasakyan. Napasigaw siya sa gulat dahil sa ginawa nito, hindi pa kasi siya nakakaayos ng upo at muntikan pa siyang tumilapon kahit na nakaseat belt na. Rem immediately composed herself before turning her head to Ann's direction. Masamang tingin ang ibinigay niya rito ngunit kahit pa gaano ata iyon kasama ay hindi tatablan ang kaibigan. Napahalukipkip na siya saka bumaling ng tingin sa labas ng bintana.

What will she do now?