Annoying

I wiped the sweat off my forehead and neck using my hanky and combed my damp hair. My phone rang again.

"Ma'am. Sandali lang ho, ah? Traffic kasi eh. Malapit na po," Manong said on the other line.

"Okay po. Just make it a bit fast po, please? I badly wanna go home." I said and hung up the phone.

Napapikit ako ng mariin nang maalala ang senaryo kanina. Everyone from our batch knew about Forth's reputation. Some even find it amusing and cool. While me? I hated it. I don't like guys playing with someone's feelings, making out inside the premises, smoking, drinking and getting into fights. They are bunches of idiots.

Maayos na ang disposisyon ko matapos makaidlip. I stared at the ceiling for minutes, feeling light and better now.

Gusto ko pa sanang tumunganga kaso naalala kong may usapan kami ng mga kaibigan ko. I just stayed for a few minutes, nakatingin sa puting kisame. Tinatamad ako at ayaw sanang pumunta pero baka magtampo ang mga kaibigan.

My phone rang. Kinapa ko ito mula sa side table. I saw Giana's name on it. I swiped the answer button. Mula sa pagkakahiga ay umupo ako sa kama. Isinandal ko ang ulo sa headboard, ang cellphone ay nasa kanang tenga.

"Hello, Gi," I said in a small voice.

"Cary! Saan ka na? Nandito na kami. Kararating lang namin ni Shane." I heard noises from the background. Hindi pa masiyadong malakas ang tugtugin dahil maaga pa.

"Well, I just got up. Mag-aayos na ako ngayon. I'll be there in a few." I said and got up.

It took me almost 20 minutes to shower. I did my lotion and skin care. I blow dried my hair too. Hindi na ako nahirapang maghanap ng susuotin dahil hinanda ko na ito bago pa maligo.

Wearing a dark red thin-strapped spaghetti dress ending above my knees, my tan skin glowed, mas lalong nadepina ang aking bone structure sa napiling outfit. My straight black hair is on loose curls, hanggang ibaba ng dibdib ang haba. I paired my outfit with a gold Cartier necklace and earrings and a black YSL heels.

I looked at my reflection at the mirror. My high cheekbones got more defined by the make up. I got a round expressive eyes, narrow nose and thin red lips, which I inherited from my mom. Wala akong namana ni isa kay daddy. I am the young version of Cecilia Veronica Zulueta-Velasco. Magkapareho ng mukha at postura, sa ugali lang nagkaiba.

Some people say I look snob and intimidating. Mukhang mapangmaliit at masama ang ugali. Maybe its my features. Mukhang maldita. Well, I guess it's fine.

Alas otso ng gabi nang makaalis ako ng bahay. I hailed a cab. I just texted my parents about my whereabouts. As usual, I got no response. But at least, they know where I am and that I am still alive.

Sumabog ang malakas na musika sa buong lugar. The blinding strobe lights, bottles of liquor, gyrating bodies, people dancing wildly and drunk people seated on the couches welcomed me. Hindi na kami mag-aalala dahil lahat kaming magkaibigan ay nasa legal na edad na at responsable naman sa mga kilos.

I spotted my friends at the right corner, malapit sa dancefloor. Kumaway si Shane sa akin, doon ko napansin ang dalawa pang lalaking hindi pamilyar sa sa akin na nakikipag-usap sa mga kaibigan ko.

"There she is!" Macy beamed. "Ang hot naman talaga! Nagliliyab ang kagandahan sa malamig na gabi!" She teased. Natawa ako roon at inikutan siya ng mata. Shane whistled playfully.

"Sana all may dede," Giana laughed.

I sat beside Jayle whose busy texting someone. Nakangiti pa at animo'y kinikilig. Siniko ko siya ng bahagya. Lumingon siya sa akin, nangingiti pa sa kausap.

"Oh, hi! Sexy naman!" She beamed. I smiled at her and put my purse at the table. I poured the Jack Daniels on a glass while listening to the girl's conversation.

I glanced at the two guys who's now gawking at me. Malagkit ang tingin ng isa samantalang ang isa naman ay nakatingin lang na parang inoobserbahan ako. I almost roll my eyes at the former whose smirking arrogantly.

"Ay, by the way," Macy spoke. "This is Marcus," tukoy niya sa lalaking seryosong nakatitig sa akin. The man nodded and smiled a bit. I smiled back too, na naging ngiwi na yata nang lumipat ang tingin ko sa isa. "And this is Brent. They are my classmates."

The annoying man grinned at me. "Nice to meet you, beautiful," he said in a rasp voice. I almost scoffed at Shane's little giggles when he spoke. Mukhang type niya pa yata. The man looks fine, though. Pero kagaya lang pala ng kampon ni Del Rosario. Perv and arrogant.

I just nodded coldly and averted my gaze. Giana simply pinched the side of my waist. I flinched a bit and looked at her confusedly.

"Mukhang type ka," nguso niya roon sa mukhang manyak na lalaki. I lazily leaned on the headrest, pinaglalaruan ang ngayo'y hawak na baso ng alak.

"Anong balak niyo ngayong bakasiyon? Two months na lang end na ng school year," Jayle said at ibinaba ang shot glass na may lamang vodka, bahagya pang nakangiwi. I never really liked its taste, mabuti siya at nakakaya niya.

"Ako, we're going to US to visit our grandparents." Shane said.

"As usual, pupunta kaming La Vida," tukoy ni Giana sa probinsiya nila. "Annual family reunion," she added.

"Buti pa kayo, may plano. Ako, sa bahay lang. Well, my parents don't want to risk it." Macy shrugged.

Her father is a congressman and her mom is a criminal lawyer, parehong nasa field kung saan uso ang marurumi at madudugong laro. Delikado nga para sa kaniya iyon kaya mas mabuting mag-ingat. Lalo pa at kalat na sa lahat ang balak na pagkandidato ni Tito Sebastian, ang kaniyang ama sa pagka- senador, at si Tita Merrigan na kaniyang ina naman ay may malaking kasong hinahawakan at balita ko'y sindikato ang kalaban niya. Lalong mapipika ang mga kaaway ng kaniyang mga magulang dahil pareho silang kilalang mahusay sa larangan ng politika at abogasya, baka madamay pa silang magkakapatid.

"Ang boring niyan, babe," Jayle commented. "But its for your safety naman. Balita ko mas lalong nagiging aggressive ang mga kaaway niyo. You need to be extra alert and careful."

Macy nodded at that. "Well, I understand naman. I'll just try to be productive everyday siguro, para hindi ako maburyo." She turned to me. "How 'bout you? Anong plano?"

Nagkibit- balikat ako. "Wala akong plano. I'll probably just stay inside the house or...do some things to ease my boredom." I said.

"Things like what?" The annoying guy suddenly interrupted. I almost rolled my eyes but I don't wanna be that harsh so I kept my poker face.

I raised a brow. "Things that should be out of your business," I lazily said.

Sinaway ako ni Shane habang ang iba kong kaibigan ay nagpipigil ng tawa. Si Giana ay nakisegunda pa sa pagsaway pero natatawa naman.

Ang isang lalaki ay nangingiti pero nanatiling tahimik. He's kind of fine than this cocky creature. Pormal at mukhang marespeto kaysa sa kasama.

Jayle laughed a bit. "Sorry sa kaibigan namin. She's just like that," she added. The man smirked.

"No, it's fine." He said.

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at inabala ang sarili sa pagsi-cellphone.