C7 Chapter 6

Hindi ko alam kung anong mahika ba meron ang Demitri na iyon.Sa tuwing makikita o makakasama ko siya,parang kakaiba ang pakiramdam ko.I don't know what is it.Ngayon ko lang to naramdaman sa tanang buhay ko.That person treat me special and valuable even though I'm not.

I'm just a lame person who don't feel any pain.I maybe unique but there's nothing special with me

"Yashleng ano ba yung nasusunog hija?Nangangamoy pabrika natong condo mo"napalingon ako sa gawi kung saan ko narinig ang boses na iyon.Nagulat ako nang makita si MommyLa sa harapan ko

"O ba't ganyan ka makatingin sa akin apo?Hindi pa naman patay ang lola mo"wika niya pang muli

"M-MommyLa,why are you here?"

"Bago ko yang sagutin,patayin mo muna yang kalan mo"sambit niya at napatingin naman ako sa kalan.

What the fudge!Ito pala yung sinabi niyang nasusunog kanina!The food that I cook is burning!Agad kong kinuha ang fire extinguisher at inapula ang medyo malakas na apoy.Nang matapos ay halatang sunog na sunog na ang niluto ko at umuusok pa ito.Damn it!Kasalanan to ni Demitri!Kung di niya sana binabagabag ang utak ko edi sana makakakain na ako ng almusal ngayon

"Bwesit talaga yung Demitri na yun!"I cursed

"May sinasabi ka ba hija?"nagtatakang tanong ni MommyLa

"Ah nothing.Just don't mind it.By the way,your not answering my question yet MommyLa"

"Nalimutan mo na namang mag 'Po at Opo' Yashleng.Paano ka igagalang nang mga tao niyan kung ganyan ka magsalita"ani pa niya sabay higop ng bottled coffee niya

"I don't care about that fucking tradition of this country"I rolled my eyes on her

"You should atleast have to consider it.Wala ka sa ibang bansa Yashleng,nasa pilipinas ka pa rin"muli niyang wika at inilapag ang mainit-init niyang kape

"It's Yashlyn po not Yashleng"hindi ko talaga gusto kapag ganyan ang tawag niya sa akin.Parang pambata yung pangalan,nakakairita

"Ganun na din yun Yashleng.Kumain ka na ba?"

"Nakita niyo naman siguro na nasunog yung niluto ko diba?"sakastikong wika ko.Nah-ah don't lecture me about respecting my family.I've also talk with my grandma this way and mukhang nasanay na din naman siya sa ugali ko

"Bakit hindi ko kasi binantayan hija.Mahal na ang mga pagkain ngayon.Buti ka pa nga may grasya yung iba diyan nagugutom na lamang sa kalasada"eto na naman ang walang humpay na sermon galing sa lola ko.Kaya hindi ko gusto kapag may kamag-anak na pumupunta dito sa condo ko.They welcome me with their sermons,not warm hugs.

Hindi ko na lamang pinansin ang iba pang sinabi ni MommyLa.Nag busy-busihan na lamang ako sa kusina para di mapakakinggan ang mga sermon niya.

My grandma,Kara Illuminate Shang was always been like that to me.She had unending rants minsan nga lumubog nalang ang araw,wala pa rin siyang tigil sa panenermon sa akin

"Yashleng,paki bukas ng pinto.Dumating na yata yung pagkain natin" sigaw sa akin ni MommyLa

Nag order na naman siya ng walang kwentang pagkain pero ayos na din as long as hindi ako ang magbabayad sa mga binili niya.Guton na din ako,ngayon pa ba ako a angal ha

Agad kong binuksan ang pintuan at tumambad sa akin ang isang lalaking walang suot na pang itaas.Tumambad sa aking mga mata ang mga pandesal niya sa tiyan at mukhang araw-araw siyang nag wo-work out

Tangina eto pala yung sinasabi ni MommyLa na pagkain!Ayos na din pang lunch yung 6 pack abs niya

Duh ano batong mga thoughts ko hindi naman ako manyak tulad ng ibang babae shit

"Yashlyn?Ikaw na ba yan?"napatingin ako bigla sa lalaki.How do he even know my name?Ngayon ko lang ata siya nakita dito

"Before I answer that could you wear some shirt you moron!"I said habang tinatabunan ang mata ko

"Ay shit sorry"wika niya at agad naman siyang nag palit ng damit

Pumasok na ako sa loob at sumabay naman siya sa akin.Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na may dala pala siyang paperbag at mukhang may dala ito pagkain.May malaking box din sa may likuran niya,malamang binuhat niya ito kanina kaya naka topless siya

"Dexter andito kana pala kanina ka pa namin hinihintay hijo"bungad naman sa amin ni Mommyla

Teka familliar sakin yung name na Dexter...Hindi kaya

"Dexter Troy Alvez?"wika ko at naningkit ang mga singkit kong mata sa lalaking nandito ngayon

"Buti naman naaalala mo pa ako Yash akala ko kasi nakalimutan mo na ako" wika niya at napakamot na lamang sa kanyang ulo

"You look....Different"yung na lamang ang nasambit ko sa kanya habang tinitignan sila ni MommyLa na inayos ang pagkain namin

Dexter was my childhood friend dati sa China.My family and I used to live there back then when I was young.If I'm not mistaken I was 3 years old that time when I met him.He used to live in China dati dahil ofw ang mga magulang niya doon

Nag iba nga lang ang panahon simula nong nag separate ang parents ko.Bumalik kami dito sa Pilipinas.Nagkaroon pa rin kami ng communication ni Dexter.Minsan nga bumibisita sila dito sa pilipinas.Actually dito din nag grade school si Dexter at nakasama ko siya.Pero bumalik ulit sila sa China at simula non hindi na kami nagkita pa

"Dati ang gwapo ko lang ngayon sobrang gwapo ko na diba Yash"wika ni Dexter sabay kindat sa akin

"Your looks improved but your silly attitude wasn't"I rolled my eyes on him at umupo na sa hapag kainan

We start eating these foods that Dexter brought for us.As usual Chinese food na naman ang kinain namin.I wasn't expecting something new.Kapag andito si MommyLa siguradong pagkaing instik ang pupuno sa sikmura ko

"Sinama ko na dito si Dexter kasi gusto ka raw niya makita"puna sa akin ni MommyLa habang napatango lamang si Dexter

"Bakit ka ba napadpad dito sa Pilipinas?"tanong ko kay Dexter

"I'm staying here for good.May business natinayo sila Mommy dito and I needed to take care of it.Dito na rin daw ako mag aaral sabi nila"ani niya habang hinihipan ang noodless sa harapan niya

"The economy here is unstable.You should go back to China,mas magandang mag business doon"wika ko sabay inom ng malamig na tubig

"Ouch parang ayaw mo ata akong makita Yash ha"Dexter said while acting like he's hurt

"Hindi ka pa rin nagbabago Dexter kaya bagay talaga kayo ng apo ko"nasamid naman ako ng bigla dumaldal si MommyLa

Napalunok din bigla si Dexter at napaiwas ng tingin sa akin.The awkward atmosphere had been present in our dining area.Kasi naman dati biruan lang ang mga ganito ni MommyLa but now it sounds serious.Nasa teenager stage na din kami ni Dexter and nakakailang pag usapan ang mga ganyang bagay.

Pagkatapos naming kumain,umalis muna ako doon at nagpunta sa may rooftop.I want to breath some fresh air para naman maging maayos ang mood ko.Akala ko makakapagpahinga na ako pero may biglang nagtakip sa aking mga mata.Pinilit kong ialis ang kamay niya ngunit nagpupumiglas ito

"If this was a trick,it wasn't funny at all"I said in a pissed tone

Hindi pa rin siya nag salita at mas humigpit pa ang pagtakip niya saking mga mata

"Who are you stupid dumbass!Let me out"I shouted

"Before I do that,guest first who is this"he chuckled

Yeah the voice I heared was in a monotone and I know who is this moron

"Alisin mo na ang kamay mo Dexter or else I'll punch your face"

"Okay,okay ang rude mo naman"ani niya habang tumatawa ng malakas

I just gave him a annoyance look.Mas lalo pang lumakas ang tawa niya.Para na siya sinasapian, ang tanga talaga

"Iba kana talaga Yash pero ang cute mo pa din pag nagagalit"he said while pinching my cheeks

Inalis ko kaagad ang kamay niya and he seems to he surprised on what I did

"Why?Diba gusto mo namang pinipisil yung pisngi mo dati?You also like the guessing game right?"

"Dati yun hindi na ngayon.A lot of things have change Dexter.You should be aware of it"I said while looking at the lifeless sky

"But you still consider me as a part of your life?I mean dati sabi mo speacial ako para sayo.Sana di nagbago yun"he said while smilling at me

"Yes,after all you still do good things on me.I still consider you as my so-called childhood friend"

"Yeah a friend.I'm just your friend"bigla nalang siya napayoko at ngumiti ng mapait

"Ano ba sa tingin mo?"I raised my bow at him

"Wala"he look away from me

"Okay"

Honestly I missed him but I don't know to start a conversation with your long lost friend.I should research something about that

"Umm Yash?"

"What?"

"Are you free tonight?"mukhang nahihiya pa siyang tanungin ako

"Wala naman akong gagawin,bakit?"

"I thought you don't mind joing me for dinner?"now his convincing me

"I want to but andito si MommyLa.You know I shouldn't leave that grumpy woman alone"ani ko ngunit napatawa lang ulit siya sa sinabi ko

"Don't worry di naman maiiwang mag isa ang MommyLa mo.Pupunta ang mga kaibigan niya dito mamaya"paliwanag pa niya

"What the heck?Bakit di ko alam yan?

There throwing a party on my condo unit?Arrghhh"

"Baka hindi niya sinabi kasi alam ni Lola Lumin na di ka papayag"he chuckles

"Of course,a bunch of old ladies will having fun at my condo.That's disgusting!"

"You should get used to it.Hayaan mo na si Lola Lumin masaya naman siya dun"

"Well I'm not"I still disagree.My condo isn't a place for fun.It's for persons who wants peace at their lives

"So sasama ka ba sakin mamaya?"muli niyang tanong sa akin

"I'll try if I'm in mood tonight"

"Right,I'll go ahead.Hinihintay na ako nila"

"May mga kasama kang pumunta dito sa pilipinas?"nang iintriga kong tanong

"Some acquaintance of mine.Mga chinese din na gusto mag tour dito sa pilipinas"

"Okay,I thought your girlfriend was there too"

"Nah I don't have a girlfriend.But if I will,I want to commit with this girl I'm talking to right now"

"Whose that unluckily girl huh"

"Matalino ka nga sa acads pero ang slow mong mag pick up ng motives"pabulong niyang wika

"Ah excuse me?Iniinsulto mo ba ako?"

"Hindi haha sige na magkita nalang tayo mamaya.Nice meeting you again Yash"he said as he ran away from my sight

Bumalik naman ako sa kwarto ko at natulog saglit.Pero hindi din maayos ang tulog dahil dumating na ang mga kaibigan ng MommyLa ko.They were like teenagers who groove with the upbeat music.Dapat talaga kumuha nalang ng sariling condo si MommyLa.If this scenario will happen everyday,I don't think I can still live with her.

Aaminin ko,marami ng nagbago simula nang lumayo ako sa kanila.My illness got into worser than I thought it would be.I suffer from desolation without the presence of my family or even friends.Kahit si Dexter na pinaka close kong kaibigan dati ay walang nagawa upang pigilan ang sakit ko

Speaking of Dexter,I'm preparing for our date—oh let me rephrase that it's just a friendly date.A date for two best friends who didn't seen each other for a long time.I arrive at this cool and classy restaurant.Mix country food ang inihahain nila.Mas gusto ko nga to kaysa sa mga restaurant na may specific country food like Chinese restaurant, japanese,etc.

I saw Dexter waving his hand at me so I immediately go to his place.He seems good looking with his white polo shirt and slightly tattered jeans matching with a pair of expensive shoes.He really achieve the glow up he needed.Dati tumutulo pa ang sipon niya ngayon mga babae naman ang tumutulo ang laway sa kanya.I can see it cause many women around us can't stop looking at him.Well,my best friend never fail to amaze people with his looks and charms.I wonder why he doesn't have a girlfriend yet.

"What took you so long young lady?"he said while assisting me to seat infront of him

"The Boomers party"

"Oh sana sinamahan mo nalang si Lola Lumin"he chuckles

"No way,mas mag mumukha pa siguro akong Lola kaysa sa kanila.Crazy elders,acting like they were just 16 years old"

"Kaysa naman sa 19 years old college student na sobrang matured sa buhay at hindi man lang magawang magsaya"

"Hey,are you pertaining to me?"I raised a bow on him

"What do you think so?"

"Your so annoying Dexter"

"Maybe we should eat first?"he said as he held the menu towards me

Their service was impressive.The food arrive fast and it looks delicious.Buti nalang libre to ni Dexter kasi wala akong perang dala pambayad sa lahat ng ito.I was about to take a bite when I saw a familiar face.It's heading towards us.

It's happening again.The butterflies in my stomach are arising and my heart can't stop pounding.As he glance to me,I feel something strange about him.Right, it's only Demitri who can made me feel this shit.

"Yash,nandito ka din pala?"wika niya at bigla siyang napatingin sa kasama ko.He seemed surprised seeing me with somebody else since I don't like interacting with people

"Nakikita mo naman ako diba?malamang nandito ako"I said sarcastically.I heard Dexter chuckle for a while and go back to his usual mood

"Sorry di ka na mabiro HAHAH boyfriend mo ba to?"sambit niya at inakbayan si Dexter

Err,feeling close

"Soon to be boyfriend palang"Dexter said while smirking at me

"He's just my friend,okay?"I said while looking at Demitri

"Akala ko ba wala kang friends?"he said while pointing a glance at me and Dexter

"It's non of your business moron just get out of here!"

"Ikaw pa tong galit eh nag tatanong lang naman ako.Kaya pala nagmamadali kang—Oh Chaie nandito kana pala"ani pa niya nang tumambad sa aming harapan si Chaie.She's wearing a red fitted dress with medium length heels and slight makeup.She's really beautiful.Wala ako sa kalingkilan ng kagandahan niya.

"I didn't know it's a double date"she chuckles

"No we aren't dating,maybe you and him?"I said while pointing at Demitri

"We just need to discuss something haha.Enjoy your dinner!"she said and grab Demitri's arm

I spot the two of them talking and laughing about something but I don't know what is it.They seems to have fun.Ano kayang pinag uusapan nila?

I caught Demitri staring at me so I immediately avoid his gazed.I look at Dexter whose peacefully eating his beef stake.

"Is there something wrong?"he said out of nowhere.Umiling lang ako sa kanya at tinuwid ang aking tingin

"You should eat.There food here is delicious.You should take a bite Yash"he said while grabbing his beverage

"Maybe next time,I lost my appetite"

Dexter keep on entertaining me with his stories but I can't focus on him.My ears hears what he said but my eyes are all on Demitri.I can't understand what Dexter's saying,I'm more curios about Demitri and Chaie.

I feel mad and annoyed.There's also a sudden prick in my heart.I can't understand, why am I having this kind of emotion.I suppose to be emotionless but this feeling....I can't understand what is it

Am I jealous?