Hello Lust, Goodbye

Chapter 2

Just like any other good kid, Rimuel also had his downside. We were fifteen years old when he got into a new friends who influenced him to drink alcohol despite of being a minor.

"Miss Dizon, may I talk to you for a moment?" I felt a sudden nervousness when our math teacher, ma'am Canare approached me; the adviser of section two, Rimuel's section.

"Yes po ma'am."

"I know you and Rimuel were friends, do you have any idea why he was absent?"

I shook my head. "I'm sorry ma'am, I have no idea po." I lied for him. I knew where he was and I did my best to stop him from cutting classes, but my best wasn't enough.

"Ganoon ba miss Dizon? Well if you see mister Valencio, can you remind him that he just missed another quiz and he might fail if he continued his habit. You are an honor student miss Dizon; he is your great friend, so I am rooting that you can help him improve specially in academics. See you around."

Tumango na lang ako bago siya makaalis. Huminga ako nang malalim at saka bumagsak ang balikat ko. Ilang beses ko ng sinabihan si Rimuel; minsan nakikinig naman, madalas hindi.

After eating my lunch, I decided to spent my remaining break hours to look for Rimuel. He mentioned that they were going to Adam's house, the transferee who have been his friend since the first day of class.

Nasa labas pa lang ako ng gate nila Adam, rinig ko na ang ingay nila. Walang humpay na tawanan at kalokohan ang nabalot sa tahanan nina Adam.

I pressed the door bell for how many times before someone actually opened the gate.

"Oh Jemina." Pulang-pula ang mata ni Alexis na bumungad sa akin. Si Alexis na hindi rin gaanong pasaway pero nahahawa sa mga kalokohan ni Adam. "Looking for your boyfriend?" Tumawa siya habang medyo malikot na ang katawan na parang hindi mahanap ang tamang balanse.

"Rimuel is not my boyfriend." Paulit-ulit ko ng pinaliwanag sa kanila na matalik lang kaming magkaibigan ni Rimuel pero wala pa rin silang tigil sa pang-aasar sa amin.

He grinned playfully with his reddish eyes that were kinda creeping me out. I wasn't use of seeing drunk people. "I didn't even mention a name Jemina."

I took a deep breath to calm myself. "It's obvious that you are referring to Rimuel. Palagi ninyo nga kaming inaasar diba..." I shook my head. "Tsaka bakit nga pala hindi kayo pumasok? Tinatanong kayo sa 'kin ni ma'am Canare." I said, before I could even forget my main purpose here.

He tsked. "Hayaan mo siya, minsan lang naman um-absent eh--"

"Bro sino ba 'yang dumating, bat ang tagal--- oh woah oh." Adam stopped when he saw me. "Hey Jemina! Wanna join us?" Just like Alexis, his eyes were also kind of Red.

Umatras ako nang hindi na ako masyadong komportable sa amoy na dumadaloy sa ilong ko; amoy alak, ang baho.

"No, I just need to talk to Rimuel."

Adam playfully grinned. "Rimuel? Come on, Rimuel is here. You can talk to him inside." I stepped a little backward when I felt uncomfortable by his teasing smile.

"No... c-can you just tell him that I'm here?"

Adam and Alexis looked at each other with a grin on their lips.

Mapanuksong tumawa si Adam habang umiiling-iling. "I'm sorry but I can't, but you can come inside. Dali na! Don't be shy."

Nagpumiglas ako nang hablutin niya ang palapulsuhan ko. Masyado akong payat para malabanan ang bulto niyang katawan kaya nahatak niya ako papasok sa gate, pero hindi ako nagpatinag at pilit nagpumiglas. "Let. Me. Go!"

"Hey bro, let her go!" I finally saw Rimuel running towards us.

Inagaw niya ang palapulsuhan ko mula kay Adam at saka niya ito tinulak palayo sa 'kin.

"Woah." Adam faked a shock. "Chill bro. Inaaya ko lang siyang sumama sa loob."

Rimuel didn't mind Adam, he instead grabbed my wrist and pulled me outside Adam's gate until we reached another house and there he placed my back on the wall.

"What are you doing here Jem?" Nakahawak niya sa magkabilang balikat ko at matiim na nakatitig sa akin. Unlike Alexis and Adam, his eyes weren't that reddish, but his fare skin was.

I gulped in nervousness. I could feel his warm breath against my lips, but I could also smell the unpleasant smell savoring his lips.

"I... I j-just need to talk to you."

"Talk about what?" Pinakawalan niya na ang balikat ko at saka niya ginulo ang buhok niya. "Hindi ka na dapat pumunta rito Jem. Tignan mo nangyari, muntik ka ng pagtripan nina Adam."

I glared at him, feeling my nerves getting irritated. "Eh bakit ba kasi sumama ka pa sa kanila? Hindi mo ba alam na may quiz kayo sa math? Sa 'kin ka hinahanap ni ma'am Canare. Nagsinungaling pa 'ko para lang sa kalokohan ninyong 'yan."

He held my shoulders like he was trying to calm me. "Jem minsan lang naman 'to."

I removed his hands on my shoulder. "Bahala ka riyan. Susumbong na kita kay tita Rica." I walked away before he could even say another disgusting word.

Nakakainis! Naging kaibigan niya lang sina Adam, napabayaan na niya ang pag-aaral niya. Hindi lang 'yon, parang mas masaya na siyang kasama sina Adam kaysa sa 'kin na best friend niya.

I was looking at the side window of our car, feeling the heaviness of my chest while thinking about Rimuel and what just happened a while ago. The truth was, I was afraid that he'd forget me because of his new set of friends; friends that were definitely cooler than me.

Uwian na pero hindi pa rin talaga siya nagparamdam ulit sa 'kin. Dati palagi siyang sumasabay sa service ko kapag uuwi na kasi nakatira kami sa iisang subdivision, pero ngayon mukhang hindi niya na 'ko kailangan.

I was back in reality when I saw a very familiar back walking like a zombie on the street of our subdivision.

"Mang Bernie, can you stop the car po?"

My driver stopped as soon as I told him to. "Bakit po ma'am?"

"Saglit lang po. May titignan lang ako." Bago pa siya makaangal, lumabas na ako sa kotse.

I ran towards the zombie guy and I was never wrong. It was Rimuel who was losing his balance on every step he makes.

"Rimuel!" Hinawakan ko ang magkabila niyang balikat upang magkaroon siya nang tamang balanse. "Lagot ka kay tita Rica kapag nakita ka niyang ganyan."

I stunned when his warm hand touched my cheeks as he looked at me like I was his favorite painting. "My lady, ikaw pala."

I took a deep breath. "Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo ha? Bakit sumama ka pa kay Adam para lang mag-inom? Diba mahigpit na bilin sa 'yo ni tita na wag kang magpapasaway?"

"Ma'am Jemina!" Napatingin ako sa driver kong papalapit na sa 'min. "Ano pong nangyayari?"

I sighed. "Mang Bernie, can you get him inside the car and then we go home."

Napakamot sa ulo si mang Bernie nang pagmasdan niya si Rimuel. Umiling-iling pa siya na parang hindi makapaniwala pero di rin nagtagal ay inalalayan niya na ito patungo sa kotse.

I gasped as the the car continued its way towards our house. I stunned when Rimuel's head dropped on my shoulder. My gaze slowly turned at him, and my heart started tingling my chest when I saw his face up close; his beautiful eyes were closed while his reddish lips was slightly parted. I looked away as I started calming the thunderous heart of mine.

Since we were finally back in the Philippines after seven years, my mom decided to visit the cemetery where my grandmother and grandfather were buried. 

After that, we went at my aunt's house and spent the rest of the afternoon with them. I looked at the wall clock and it was six p.m already. I was kind of bothered because me and Rimuel have talked about seeing each other supposedly today.

Finally, mom decided to went home and as soon as we arrived, I looked for a sign of Rimuel, but there was no any sign. It was night. What should I expect? But did he ever tried looking for me today?

I was afraid that he might thought that I was gone again for the second time. I didn't want him to think that way, because what he feel painful, was painful for me as well.

The next day, me and my mom went at the church. After mass, mom was driving our way home. My brows crossed, looking at the side window, when I saw a familiar body walking like he was dancing crazily on the street.

"Mom can you please stop driving."

"Why anak? What's wrong?" She continued driving, but this time slowly.

"Please mom, may titignan lang po ako."

She finally stopped the car. "Ano 'yon anak?"

"Wait lang po." I went out the car and ran towards the zombie walking man.

"Rimuel?"

Tinignan niya ako at ang makinis niyang mukha ay balot ng pamumula. Namamaga rin ang kanyang mga mata at ang mabango niyang pabango ay natabunan ng amoy ng alak.

"J-Jem... m-my lady.. i-ikaw ba 'yan o nanaginip l-lang ako?" Even his voice was shaky.

"Rimuel anong nangyari sa 'yo? Bakit lasing na lasing ka?" I held his shoulders and fixed his clothes.

"Jemina anak!" Mom ran towards me. "What is happening here? Oh-- Rimuel?"

A smile flashed on Rimuel's face. "Hi... tita Nina." He waved his hand at mom, but he was really not looking great.

"Mom can you please help him get inside the car?"

Mom was looking at Rimuel with disbelief flashing on her face.

"Please mom..." It felt painful for me, seeing my mom like he was disappointed to my best friend.

Mom looked at me, immediately her eyes glistened in sympathy. "Sige anak."

I sighed in relief when mom continued driving towards our house with Rimuel sitting beside me.

I stunned when his warm hand touched mine. He intertwined our hands making my heart thump. "Please... p-please don't l-leave... don't l-leave... m-me again."

Napaigtad ako nang marahang bumagsak ang ulo niya sa balikat ko. Dahan-dahan dumako ang tingin ko sa kanya at halos bumaliktad na ang puso ko nang muli kong makita ang maamo niyang mukha sa malapitan.

His alluring eyes were closed while his healthy looking lips was parted. I turned my gaze on our hand that were still intertwined.

Mahigpit ko pang hinawakan ang kamay niya. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ako magkakaroon ng pagkakataon na makasama siya. Parang ayaw ko ng matapos ang araw na ito at ayoko ng bitawan pa ang malambot niyang kamay; sana palagi ko na lang itong hawak.