THE REBEL'S HEART

“Babe, are you free this weekend?” Luis groaned as he heard that voice. Akala niya ay umalis na ito when he moved to the other room after their tumble in bed. Kahit na naglalakbay ang kamay ng babae sa likuran niya to seduce him ay wala nang epekto ito. Once he beds someone for the night, it’s final and goodbye. No second round. That’s his rule. A one night stand is just for one night. No second servings.   “Sasha, I don’t do weekends. Will you please leave? You’re overstaying. I told you to leave before I Just let me sleep in peace. May karera pa ‘ko mamaya.” Agad na nawala ang mga kamay na nasa katawan niya and he felt relieved. Finally, makakapagpahinga na siya. He heard the fumbling of the sheets at ang pagsara ng pintuan. Maya-maya ay may nagbukas na naman nito.   “s**t! What the hell! Anong problema mo?!” Napabalikwas siya ng bangon nang binuhusan siya ng malamig na tubig ng babae gamit ang isang timba na hindi alam ni Luis na mayroon pala sa pad niya. She was livid with anger na kaya naman niyang tapatan kung kinakailangan. Ito pa ang galit gayong siya nga itong basang-basa.   “Ilang ulit kong sinabi sa’yong Isha ang pangalan ko kagabi tapos hanggang ngayon Sasha pa rin ang tawag mo?!” He stared at her like she’d grown four heads.   “So? Ano naman? It sounded the same! Isa pa, I don’t need to know your name. I don’t give a damn who the hell you are! You were just some slut I picked up in a bar. Get out of here now bago kita ipakaladlad sa security! You ruined my sleep and you f*****g soaked my bed!” He was about to go to the bathroom when the girl intercepted him and slapped him hard on the face. Sa sobrang lakas ng sampal ay napamura pa ang babae at napakapit sa pinangsampal na kamay. He saw her stare at her reddened hand. Nagpigil si Luis na patulan ang babae. Mukhang napasobra naman ang pagsagot niya rito. He’s never a morning person at sa ginawa ng babaeng pagbasa at pagsigaw sa kanya ay lalo siyang nainis kaya’t nakapagsalita siya ng hindi maganda.   “You had your fun. Now, it’st time for you to leave.” He emphasized the word leave. He looked at her coldly and she flinched. In his 27 years ay wala pang nakatagal sa titig niyang iyon. They cower and feared him when he uses that stare.   The girl took her bag and ran out of his unit. Naiwan pa ang timba sa sahig na sinipa na lang ni Luis when he went to his bathroom to shower. He had to call the cleaning lady to fix the mess. Baka kailangang papalitan niya pati ang matress. Pati ang carpet niya basa. Living independently for three years has it perks ngunit hindi kasama doon ang paglilinis ng condo. Bigla niyang na-miss ang buhay niya sa rancho at ang mama niya. Kumusta na kaya sila? Sana makauwi siya sa isang buwan sa birthday ng pamangkin niya. He decided to ignore that thought to avoid the feeling of homesickness at nag-focus na lang sa paliligo at pagbibihis.   When he’s all dressed, he called the cleaning lady. It was her schedule that morning and he just wanted to check if she was on her way. Kaso ay may sakit raw ito kaya’t magpapadala na lang raw ng kapalit ang agency. He also ordered a new mattress and carpet. Sila na rin ang mag-iinstall kaya’t wala na siyang iisipin pa. Luis checked his schedule and groaned. He has a pictorial for the Sports Limited magazine. Balak pa naman sana niyang mag-gym hanggang tanghali. He could just cut his gym time para makapunta ng maaga sa venue ng shoot. He remembered that he had to call his brother.   “Bro, what time tayo mamaya?”   [“Seven pm. Dito ka na lang raw matulog sabi ni Shan. Namimiss ka na ng mga pamangkin mo.”]   “Kumusta ang pagbubuntis ni Shannon? Hindi na ba umiiyak ang kambal kapag naaalala na hindi na sila ang bunso?” He smiled when he heard his nephew’s voices at the other end of the line. They were shouting Ninong Pogi.   [“Nope. Mukhang effective ang pagkausap mo sa kanila. Ready na raw silang maging Kuya.”] Natawa si Luis sa sinabi ng nakatatandang kapatid na si Darius na ama ng mag-aapat na taong gulang na kambal na inaanak niya. Sikreto nilang tatlo kung anong sinabi niya para hindi na malungkot na magkakaroon na ng bagong baby sa bahay nila.   “I’ll be there around 8 na siguro. May shoot ako ng lunch. I’m not sure what it would be packed up. By the way, congratulations on the Platinum album. Naniniwala na ‘ko na magaling ka ngang kumanta.”   [“Gagu. Magaling naman talaga ‘ko! Sinasapawan niyo lang ako dati kaya hindi ako napapansin.”] He had to laugh nang sinaway ni Shannon si Darius sa pagsabi ng salitang Gago.   “Si Shannon talaga ang magaling, nadamay ka lang. O sige na, aalis na ‘ko. Pupunta kong gym eh.”   [“Sige. Ingat pagmaneho. Huwag magsyadong mabilis. Nasa BGC ka, wala ka sa racetrack.”]   “Oo na. Mamaya na lang.” He ended the call. It made him feel better to talk to family after an irritating morning. Silang dalawa ang laging magkausap ni Darius dahil sila ang nasa Maynila. Nasa Cavanah Valley ang pamilya nila at minsan lang siya makauwi doon para mabisita sila.   He went down to the building’s parking lot and couldn’t help but smile as he looked at his prized possession. Nakakamanghang pagmasdan ang makintab at makinis nitong pintura. He love that car dahil bukod sa pinaka-aasam niya ito, his Ferrari was the first one he bought with his own hard earned money. Ilang taon rin niyang pinag-ipunan ito. Nakuha niya mula sa sarili niyang pagod at pagsisikap. Being a car racer and commercial model made him afford to live luxuriously lalo na at wala naman siyang pamilyang ginagastusan at sinusuportahan. He got in and drove outside then cursed as he realized that he left his tablet at his pad. He parked at the sidewalk in front of the building. Luis closed the top down of his car and was about to go out when he heard a bump. Nanginig ang buong katawan ni  Luis nang makitang bisikletang nakadikit sa pintuan ng kotse niya. Ang mas lalong ikinainis pa nito ay ang makitang babae ang sakay ng bisikleta. Lagi na lang siyang napeperhuwisyo ng mga babae. How could his day be worse than it already is?