The General's Only Daughter

Chapter 5

“For real?” Lawrence asked.

“Yep.” I answered and continued eating. “I don’t have friends outside my family so what am I going to do in social media? Plus I have Netflix, Disney+ and other entertainment platform and those were enough to kill my time when I am bored” I added.

“That make sense.” Sage agreed. Tumango naman ako.

“Kung may mukha ako na kagaya mo, Cali. I would take a selfie every minute and post them in my social media accounts!” Iling na saad ni Chas.

“I would do the same.” Winter said.

“Why don’t you create a social media account now? I mean, you have us, w-we can be your friends, right Sage?” sabay siko ni Bryce kay Sage. Tumikhim naman si Sage bago tumango.

“Oh, brilliant! Oo nga Cali, gooooo gawa kana now.” Excited na gatong ni Winter.

We finished our food before proceeding to their mini plan for me, ang gumawa ng social media account. After arguing with them about what should be my username on i********: and twitter, finally I decided to go with @itsmeCali then I go by Cali Dela Cruz on f*******:. Then they all added and followed me on sss,IG and twitter.

“Perfect! Now let’s choose your profile picture, wait I’ll airdrop to you all your pics” Oh gosh, ang hyper ni Winter.

“Kailangan ba mukha ko profile pic ko? Pwede bang si Jennie nalang ng BlackPink?” suhisyon ko then these two girls look at me as if I was the weirdest person on earth. Napailing nalang yung tatlong lalaki sa harapan namin habang kumakain ng prutas, pampatanggal umay daw sa kinain nila.

“What do you think of your account, a fan account?” Winter rolled her eyes. “I think this one would be a best fit!” Winter suggested while showing me the picture.

“Mukha naman akong gulat na gulat d’yan.” I commented but it’s not a bad choice.

“No, ang ganda kaya. You look like you were lost and that made you look stunning.” Seryosong sabi ni Chas. Tinignan ko ulit sa phone ko ‘yong picture, tama nga sya, naalala ko na ang scenario sa picture na ‘to I was under the tree then Winter suddenly called my name so I looked at her then she captured it.

“May I see?” napatulala ako nang biglang magsalita si Sage. I mentally slap myself, ano baa ng ikinakahiya ko? Eh pag nai-profile picture ko na ‘yan e makikita rin naman niya. Inabot naman ni Winter ang phone niya kay Sage.

“I made the right choice, right Sage?” Winter asked.

“You did.” Tango ni Sage sabay balik ng phone ni Winter sa kanya.

Ano pa baa ng magagawa ko? So I set that picture as my profile picture on my sss, ig at twitter. Then they let me choose my cover photo on f*******: and twitter. I just go by a minimalist design with a quote “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe.

“You sure are very encouraging person aren’t you?” Winter asked.

“I guess, I am?” I answered unsure which made her chuckled. Maya maya ay biglang sunod sunod na tumunog ang notification ko. When I look at my screen, I saw many friend request. Before I knew it, it was because Winter and Chas tagged me in their posts. Winter posted a picture of the three of us, it was candid. She tagged me and Chas, and then they both tagged me on IG and twitter too. I put my phone on silent as I don’t have energy to browse it. I continued eating my apple, good thing that nanang included some fruits in my lunch.

“I’m sorry again guys, I need to go but don’t worry I’ll let someone send you home.” Winter apologized for the nth time. She has an emergency so she cannot sent us home. We told her that it’s fine but she really felt bad.

“I can drop them off.” Sage suddenly offered. His friends stared at him as if he’s crazy. Sumipol naman si Elton, it’s already 5 o ‘clock kaya gising na ang isang ‘to.

“Bago ‘yan Sage ah.” Makahulugan niya itong tinignan.

“What? Is it a crime to be a gentleman?” Sage said acting innocent. Umiling naman sila at tumawa lang.

“Oh that would be great, Sage. Thank you!” Pasasalamat ni Winter. And with that being said, nasa kotse na kami ngayon ni Sage. We told him to just drop us off sa waiting shed sa school but he insist to drop us home, he decided to drop Chas off first since mas malapit ‘yong kanila kesa akin.

“Thank you, Sage. Cali, bye see you on Monday!” paalam ni Chas. I waved at her.

“Lipat ka dito sa harap.” Utos ni Sage. Oh, right. Kanina kasi si Chas ang sa harap, syempre kailangan ko lumipat alangan naman pag mukhain ko siyang driver ‘di ba? Sinunod ko naman siya at lumipat sa harap.

None of us talk, sabagay we aren’t close to start a conversation and I don’t know anything about him to start a conversation. I’d rather be quiet, tsaka I heard he easily get piss off so I won’t push my luck. Tahimik rin naman siya, I think he doesn’t want to start a conversation and just want to drop me off talaga. Hindi rin siya nagpatugtog kaya sobrang tahimik talaga. At halos mapatalon ako nang tumunog ang phone ko. Dinukot ko sa bag ko ‘yong phone ko and I saw an unknown number calling me. Tinitigan ko lang ‘yon dahil hindi naman ako sumasagot kapag unknown tsaka tanging pamilya ko lang nakakaalam ng number ko and Chas pala.

“Why didn’t you answer?” nagulat ulit ako nang magsalita si Sage. Deretso lang ang tingin niya sa kalsada.

“Uh, unknown number e. Hindi ako suumasagot ng unknown number.” Paliwanag ko.

“What if it’s an emergency?” tumunog ulit ang phone ko. What the heck sino ba ‘to. Tinitigan ko ulit ‘yon.

“I think you should answer it.” Sinunod ko naman siya pero hindi ako nag salita. I answered the call and put my phone on my left ear, waiting for the person on the other line to talk first.

“Where are you?” tanong ng nasa kabilang linya. Hindi ko nahihimigan ang tinig niya kaya hindi ako sumagot.

“Hello? Are you there?” tanong ulit ng nasa kabilang linya.

“You’ve got the wrong number mister. Bye.” But before I could hung up he talked again.

“Don’t hung up! Hindi mali ang number na tinatawagan ko, Calista.” I was too stunned to speak. Why does this guy know me? I check the phone number again baka kasi alam ko tas hindi ko lang na save with name. Baka pinsan ko na kakapalit lang ng phone number tas hindi ko na save, pero walang past conversation sa messages e. If pinsan ko ito na kakapalit lang ng number dapat may text conversation kami. I heard a sighed on the other line.

“This is Damian.”

“Damian…?” I uttered, trying to member the name, wait.. the trouble maker Damian? I gasp. I could sense Sage looking at me then back to the road.

“Yes, you lend me your first aid kit before. Do you remember me now?” he asked.

“Oo.” Sagot ko, where did he get my number?

“Whatever your questions are, save it later. I need your help, please come over. I will text you the address.” He said, what the heck why would I? It’s almost 6 o’clock and he is a stranger to me.

“Bakit naman sa tingin mo na pupunta ako?” I challenged him, is he crazy?

“Please Calista. I’m bleeding, I am living alone, and I can’t call a Doctor. I know you always carry a first aid kit with you. Kahit ihatid mo lang ‘yong first aid kit mo.” He said and heave a sigh. The think of him alone and bleeding made me anxious, I told him to text me the address.

“Sage pahinto nalang sa tabi, please. May kailangan akong puntahan.” But Sage didn’t stop.

“Sage.” Tawag ko ulit sa kanya. Tumunog ang phone ko ulit, at text iyon ni Damian telling me the address.

“I hope it wasn’t the Damian that I know.” He said as he pulled over.

“He is.” I answered honestly.

“Don’t go.” Napatitig ako sa kanya, he look serious. Well, he always do.

“Kailangan ko siyang puntahan. Please unlock the door.” I said calmly. The more I got delayed the more that guy loses blood.

“You don’t know him. He might do something to you.” He said, why is he irritated? It’s not like magpapahatid pa ako sa kanya don.

“It’s none of your business.” I said, he looked at me unbelievably then I heard a click sound, sign that he unlock the door.

“Thank you.” I thanked him before going out.

I rang the bell as soon as I arrive outside Damian’s condo unit and you know what’s funny? We live on the same building.

“Come in” Damian said as soon as he opened the door. Nauna na siyang maglakad, I closed the door before following him. He sat on the couch, nakatayo ako habang pinagmamasdan siya. He has bruises on his face and arm. Basagulero talaga. Napairap nalang ako.

I cleaned his bruises, tinulungan ko na rin siya mag apply ng betadine sa mga sugat niya. I didn’t utter a word, hindi rin naman siya nagsalita. Hanggang sa matapos kong tulungan siya na gamutin ang mga sugat niya.

“Alis na ako.” Pagpapalam ko pagkatapos kong iligpit ang first aid kit ko. Iniwan ko iyon sa mini table niya “Iwanan ko na ‘to, kailangan mo pa e”

“Thank you.” Saad niya. “Here,” kumuha siya sa bulsa niya ng 3 thousand at iniabot sa akin.

“You’re welcome.” Saad ko at tumalikod na.

“Take this, pamasahe mo. At pagkain na rin.” Ulit niya, nilingon ko naman siya as I sighed.

“I don’t need it, and please delete my phone number, I didn’t authorize you to save it. At kung saan mo man nakuha ang phone number ko please tell him/her to not do it again.” Naiinis kong sabi sa kanya.

“I got it from your school ID, but yeah, I will delete it.” Kinuha niya ang phone niya at pinakita sa akin ang contacts niya na ngayon ay wala ng naka save kahit isa. A-ako lang ang nasa contacts niya? He has nothing to call, was it the reason why he called me? Medyo na guilty naman ako, but still, nasa katwiran naman ako. Hindi na ako nagsalita at umalis na.

Pinindot ko ang elevator papunta sa penthouse ng condo na ‘to, yes, nanang and I live in a penthouse. My father wants a spacious place kasi baka dumalaw raw nila ni kuya kapag may time sila. I didn’t mind kasi sanay rin ako na malawak ang lugar na tinitirhan ko.

Pagka uwi ko ay nilaro ko muna ang pusa ko at nakipag kwentuhan kay nanang bago pumasok sa kwarto ko para mag half bath. Bigla naming pumasok sa isip ko ang contacts ni Damian na walang laman, kinuha ko ang phone ko at hinanap ang nag iisang unkown number which belong to Damian.

“Save my number.

-Calista”

Matapos ko siyang itext ay binuksan ko ang wifi ko para tapos na mag pop out lahat ng notification ko pagkatapos ko mag half bath. I went to the bathroom and take my time doing my half bath routine. I put my night pajama on. And went to my vanity to do my skin care routine. For my skin care routine, nagtotoner and moisturizer ako for my face. Lotion naman for my body. When I was younger, nanang used to do this all pero syempre dalaga na ako ‘no kaya ako na gumagawa nito ngayon. Pagkatapos ko gawin ang skin care routine ko ay kinuha ko ang phone ko ngunit nadatnan ko iyon na may tumatawag and it’s Damian. What’s his deal now? Gabi na ah.

“Hel--,”

“Oh f**k, thank God you finally answered!” and to my surprise, it wasn’t Damian’s voice.

“f**k it, Calista. This motherfucking bastard is here and beat me up to death sa kasalanang hindi ko naman ginawa!” That’s Damian’s voice from the background. “Argh! Tangina ka talaga, Sage! Pasalamat ka at nanghihina pa ako kundi, binasag ko na ‘yang pagmumukha mo!” What the hell is happening? An image of them fighting at school flashed on my mind, pinatay ko at tawag at dali-daling lumabas ng kwarto ko.

“Oh, hija gabi na ah. San ka pupunta?” Nanang is in the living room watching a show.

“Uhm, nang may pupuntahan lang po ako sa baba saglit. Kaibigan ko po.” Pagpapaalam ko sa kanya.

“Ay nako, hija. Gabi na, paakyatin mo nalang ‘yang kaibigan mo ditto.” Suhisyon ni nanang.

“Nang, I really need to go. The security of this building is tight so you don’t have anything to worry about, hmm?” I smiled at her at dali dali akong lumabas.