The Story of Another Us

chapter three

The Story of Another Us

chapter three: are you seriously asking me that?

Minsan akala mo nananaginip ka lang pero minsan totoo na pala. Kadalasan mapait ang katotohanan. Minsan napaka tamis naman.

Hindi pa din talaga ako naniniwala kanina na totoo 'yung mga nangyayari. Sino ba naman maniniwala na ginawa ko talaga lahat ng 'to sa isang araw lang? At hindi pa tapos ang araw ko.

"So what's next on the agenda? Cuddle? Sleep? Shower together?" sarkastiko kong tanong. Kakatapos lang namin mananghalian at naglalakad na kami sa hindi ko alam kung saang parte nitong malaking bahay na 'to.

We had ribs. Yes, ribs. Kanina pala habang nag-uusap kami ni Nicolo nag-text na si Epps sa kitchen staff na iyon ang gusto naming kainin. Merienda na lang daw ang chicken mamaya. It is just past one in the afternoon.

Natatawa lang sa tabi ko si Nicolo habang naglalakad kami sa likudan ni Epps. Nagtitipa ito sa kaniyang cellphone habang naglalakad. "We are going to Sunnyside," sabi niya sa'kin.

"What are we supposed to do there?" tanong ko.

"You are going to pick up a new set of clothes. It's in your job description."

Umirap lang ako. Why did I even sign that contract? I should've had a lawyer present so I know where the hell I'm going to direct my life in the next four months.

"Kat—" tawag ni Nicolo pero mabilis ko siyang pinutol.

"Wait, let's just clear one thing. Nic is the fictional character. You are Nicolo. Kat is the fictional character. I am Kater. Gets?"

"Alright, Kater," tuloy niya na. "Are you sure na wala kang gagawin today? Pwede naman natin 'tong ipa-move."

"No, it's okay. Baka kasi next week maging busy na ko kasi second week na ng school. For sure tambak na schoolwork. Let's get this over with now."

"Okay," sagot niya lang. Tapos biglang pagliko namin nandoon na kami sa entrance. Oh, oo nga pala. Aalis kami.

Si Kuyang nagsundo sa'kin kanina din ang driver namin. May isa pang lalakeng sumakay sa passenger seat na naka barong. Bodyguard ni Nic, perhaps? Nasa gitna ako naupo ng kotse at nasa magkabilang gilid ko si Epps at Nicolo.

"Uhm, wait," sabi ko habang papalabas kami ng mga bakal na gate. "I really don't ride in the middle seat."

"Noted," sabi ni Nicolo. "Nahihilo ka ba?"

"With ninety-nine percent chance na mahihilo ako."

"Should we switch seats?"

"No," sagot ni Epps. "Do something about this Nic."

"Maybe you can rest your head on my shoulder?" tanong niya. Alam kong medyo nahiya din siya sa sinabi niya dahil mahina niya lang ito na tinanong.

Hindi na lang ako nagsalita at nagtago na lang ng isang ngiti sa aking sarili para hindi na siya mas lalong mahiya. Ewan ko din ba, lumakas ang t***k ng puso ko bigla. Kinabahan din ako. We kissed earlier and this is the first time again that we'd touch. Nae-excite ba ko? Ewan ko din. Basta ang alam ko umakyat ang dugo sa mga pisngi ko. "Why do you let her push you around? You're the future first son here. Not her."

Hindi naman ako natatakot kay Epps kaya hindi ko ako nags-censor ng mga sinasabi ko. Hinahayaan ko lang na marinig niya. Baka iyon na din ang dahilan kung bakit natatawa si Nicolo. "She's the one who will help get me that title. I should listen to her."

"Tell me more about yourself," sabi ko sa kaniya.

"You should know me inside out. You made me. Kailangan mo ba talagang malaman kung sino ako?"

Napatungo ako ng kaunti. Oo nga pala. Hindi ko naman kailangan malaman kung sino si Nicolo. All we need for this to work is Nic. Still, nagpalusot ako. "Just still the basic stuff. Like, I don't know, do you have allergies?"

"Only if I eat too much shellfish. Other than that, I'm good."

"Shellfish. Alright."

"You?"

"Bagoong is a cannot be. But sometimes I can't resist," sabi ko sa kaniya at nalasahan ang bagoong sa dila ko. Kailan ba ko huling kumain no'n? "How do you sleep?"

"What do you mean?"

"n***d?"

Natawa naman siya. "No. I easily get chilly. I wear pajamas to sleep. But I easily get too hot too. It's weird."

"Same," sagot ko. "Fast questions?"

"Game," sagot niya.

"If you were to have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?"

"Dead or living?"

"Either."

"Isaac Newton."

"Really?!"

"I'll tell him to stay away from that apple tree—"

Hindi pa siya tapos magsalita tawa na ko nang tawa.

"—Physics is an a***e. Seriously." Kahit siya natatawa sa sinabi niya.

"Oh my gosh," sabi ko sa kalagitnaan ng mga tawa ko. Mabilis naman akong tumigil sa pagtawa dahil may itatanong pa ko. "If you could bring one person from the dead for a day, who would it be and why?"

"My grandfather. I'd love to hear his stories just once more."

Natameme naman ako sa sagot niya. Napaayos ako ng upo nang kaunti. Napansin niya naman 'yun. From the corner of my eyes I see him looking at me with a smile.

"What?" he asks.

"Nothing. Just... it's sad. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," he says and takes hold of my hand. Hinatak niya ang kamay ko at sinandal ko ulit ang ulo ko sa balikat niya. I should feel weird na biglaan niya na lang akong hinawakan pero mas weird yata na hindi. I just feel immensely sad that his grandfather passed away. Nakaka-comfort 'yung paghawak niya sa kamay ko. "Can I ask a couple of questions now?"

"Sure."

"What makes your day happy?"

I smile. "I'm happy every day."

"What makes you extra happy?"

"When I see a baby?"

"Baby?"

"Yes. They're adorable."

"Agreed," sagot niya. "You know, with those little fists? And that no-teeth smile."

Nangiti ako lalo. "Yeah, gusto ko na lang silang iuwi lahat."

"I'll bring you to one of our sponsored orphanages. You'll love it there."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'll fix an appointment," he says. "Next question?"

"Sure."

"Dogs or cats?"

I groan. "Seriously? Are you seriously asking me that?"

"Yeah?"

"I love animals. Kahit ano. Kapag may naligaw na octopus sa tapat ng bahay ko I'll fill my bathtub and put it there."

"An octopus?"

"I'd have my own sanctuary in the future. With my own tigers and lions and sharks and yeah, that octopus."

"Seryoso ba 'yan?" natatawa niyang tanong.

"I'd love to have a pair of each. I just think they're amazing, you know?"

"Wild animals?"

"I love elephants too. I'd cuddle one if I can."

"You're weird. In the best way."

"Thank you," sagot ko. Madalas ko naman na naririnig 'yan na ang weird ko daw. Hindi naman na bago 'yun. When they hear my dreams they all laugh. Little did they know I stop at nothing until I reach it.

"You can continue your little chitchat later," putol ni Epps. Alam mo iniisip ko talaga kung 'yung Epps short for epal lang eh. Kitang may moment kami ni Nicolo dito. Myghad. The disturbance. I cannot. "We're near."

Napatingin ako sa labas. Oo nga 'no, malapit na kami. Palibhasa patay na oras kasi kaya wala masyadong tao. Diretso parking lot kami na may direct entrance sa mall. 'Yung mga bodyguard kanina ni Nicolo, I'm sure nasa gilid-gilid lang 'yung mga iyon at nagmamasid.

"We'll split here," sabi ni Epps. May inabot naman itong envelope kay Nicolo. "You know what to do," sabi niya bago humarap sa'kin. "You come with me."

"I'll see you later," sabi ni Nicolo at ngumiti. Kumaway lang ako sa kaniya at sumunod na kay Epps.

"Ako lang ba bibili ng damit?" tanong ko.

"Yes."

Tahimik lang kaming naglalakad. Wala naman kasi akong gustong sabihin sa kaniya at gusto ko naman din tumigil sa pakikipag-usap kahit saglit dahil kanina pa ko nakikipagkwetuhan kay Nicolo. Pumasok kami sa isang shop na walang tao pero ang daming damit. Parang kasing laki yata ng department store ang lugar at may sarili pa silang elevator.

"We'll scan through each aisle. You need to have four-months' worth of wardrobe."

"In case you don't know I have my own clothes," sabi ko sa kaniya.

"I know, but we have to build your image too. I can't let you be reckless with what you wear. I decide on everything."

Umirap ako. Wow. If only I knew this control freak would be the one handling my life I really wouldn't have signed that contract. Pero dahil nga't pinirmahan ko na hindi na ko aangal. At totoo nga ang sinabi niyang iisa-isahin namin ang mga rack. 'Yung mga alanganin sa paningin niya na damit pinasukat niya pa sa'kin. Which is like a hundred. Maiiyak na ko sa pagod. Pati sapatos hindi nakaligtas.

Pagod na pagod at haggard na haggard na ko for sure. Walang price tag ang mga damit kaya hindi ko alam kung magkano ang inabot pero sapat ang dami ng damit para hindi ipauwi sa'min at id-deliver na lang daw sa bahay nila Nicolo.

Para ko nang kinakaladkad ang mga paa ko kung nasaan si Nicolo. Nasa coffee shop daw kasi ito at doon naghintay. Antok na talaga ko. Gusto ko na lang umuwi. Halos alas sais na ng gabi. Nag-collapse ako agad sa upuan dahil pakiramdam ko susuko na ang mga binti ko. Si Epps naman nakalunok yata ng isang boteng Enervon dahil hindi manlang yata napapagod.

"Hey," bati ni Nicolo.

"Hey," mahino kong tugon sa kaniya at tinungo ang ulo ko sa lamesa. Ah, finally. Some darkness. And peace and quie—

"Did you finish it?" tanong ni Epps kay Nicolo.

"Yeah," sagot nito. "Kater, do you want something? Caffeine to boost you up?"

"No thanks, I'm good," sagot ko sa kaniya.

"Alright, we should go back home."

Halos mapapikit na ko sa antok. Habang naglalakad para na siguro akong zombie.

"You okay there?" Nicolo asks.

"Just tired."

"Need a hand?"

Humawak ako sa braso niya. Gosh, ang tigas ng muscles niya. Gusto ko sanang pasimpleng pisilin pero wala na kong energy. Medyo tulog na ko nang makarating sa kotse nila. Napagitna na naman ako. s**t na 'yan talaga.

Hindi pa gumagalaw 'yung kotse umiikot na 'yung paningin ko. Sumandal na ko kay Nicolo. "Fact: I can't stand air fresheners."

May narinig naman akong natatanggal hanggang sa susunod na na mga segundo puro hangin na lang at wala na ang nakakahilong amoy ng mga artificial chene ng mga 'yan. Agad naman na nabawasan ang hilo ko.

"Do you need some meds?"

"No," sagot ko. "Just sleep."

"We're taking you home now. I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Napagod ka."

"It's fine. It's not like I'm not getting paid."

I can feel his shoulders shaking as he is suppressing laughter.

"I don't think I can sleep though."

"Why not?"

"You're still a stranger."

"Of course. Just rest, then."

"Hmm."

Natahimik naman sa loob ng kotse. Buti na lang at hindi na nila naisip na magbukas ng sound system at baka bumaba na lang talaga ako sa kotse na iyon at maglakad na lang pauwi. Sumandal lang ako kay Nicolo at hindi naman siya gumagalaw. Wow, this is peaceful alright.

"Kat?" he says after about half an hour of silence.

"Kater," I correct him.

"We're near."

"How did you know? Do you know where I live?"

"I checked your address. So yeah."

"Okay," sagot ko.

"Last question."

Nagtaka pa ko noong una hanggang sa naalala kong naglalaro nga pala kami kanina. "Go ahead."

"What's a perfect day?"

"Rain. Books. Hot coffee or choco. Biscuits. Doughnuts. Oversized shirts and underwear. And..."

"And...?"

"Cuddles."

"Of course," he answers. I can hear a smile lacing his words.

"Last question," sabi ko sa kaniya.

"Okay."

"If you knew you were to die in the next hour, what would you do now?"

"I'd tell you how pretty you are. You don't seem to know."

Natawa ako. Hindi ko alam. Kilig ba 'yun? Haha. Parang hindi kasi. That statement is just ridiculous. "That's sweet," sabi ko.

"That's the truth."

"Thanks," sagot ko na lang.

"We're here," sabi niya at inintay na humiwalay ako sa kaniya bago siya gumalaw. He opens the door and steps out. Bumaba na din ako. Nag-thank you muna ako sa mga tao sa loob. Mabait pa din naman ako kahit gaano ako kataray at some point.

"Thank you," sabi ko sa kaniya.

May inabot naman siya sa'king paper bag.

"What is this?"

"I saved you a trip from the bookstore."

Tumango ako at napangiti. Nothing better than a free book. "Thank you, really."

He nods at me. "Well, good night."

"Good night. I'll see you soon, I guess."

"Sooner than you think," he says then winks at me.

Jusq, Nicolo. 'Wag kang ganyan imbis na matutulog na lang ako baka ma-energize pa ko at mapuyat. Natawa na lang ako. "Okay, then. You know how to reach me. Ingat pauwi."

"Thanks."

Like a real gentleman he waits for me to get inside the house before he gets inside the car and they peel off our driveway. Napa-walling pa ko ng slight sa pinto. Naalala ko na may binigay nga pala siya sa'kin at binuksan ko ito.

It is the new Fitzgerald book. The mint green cover with the golden lettering is beyond beautiful! Nakabukas na ang ibabaw ng plastic at alam kong may ginawa si Nicolo dito. Paghatak ko at pagbuklat biglaan akong napangiti.

happy first day :)

- nicolo

Kailan ko daw siya makikita ulit? I can no longer wait.

"Sooner than you think."