DAUNTLESS SERIES: II (BAD AND MESSY)

Chapter Eight

༻✦༺ ༻✦༺

"Happy Birthday, bitch!" Malakas nilang hiyaw saktong pagpasok ni Venera sa unit nito. They showered her with lots of confetti.

Napapitlag ito kapagkuwan ay sinamaan sila ng tingin. Natawa sila. What did they expect? Venera hated surprises. Hindi ang uri nito ang mamimilog ang mga mata, aawang ang bibig dahil sa pagkagulat at mate-teary eyed dahil natouch o na-overwhelm. Hindi si Venera 'yon 'pag nagkataon.

"What's with this mess, bitches?" Mataray nitong saad. Maarte nitong kinuha ang ilang confetti na dumikit sa buhok nito. Tila nandidiring tiningnan nito 'yon at tinapon sa isang tabi.

"Gaga. This is what you called, effort." Si Sachi. Iminuwestra nito ang nagkalat na hearts and rounds balloons at petals of roses sa receiving area. Isang malaking tarpaulin na may nakalagay na 'Happy Birthday Queen' at sa ibaba no'n ay ang larawan ng napakagandang mukha ni Venera na nakasabit sa isang panig ng wall. May ilan ring number balloons float in rose gold na nagsasaad ng edad ng dalaga.

Hinipan ni Sachi ang party blower na hawak nito at itinapat 'yon sa taynga ni Venera. Muli itong napapitlag at hinila ang dulo ng buhok ni Sachi na ikinatawa lang ng huli.

"Happy Birthday, Ven." Leysan softly said. Bumeso ito kay Venera at matamis na ngumiti.

Venera's face soften. Hindi lingid sakanila na si Leysan ang favorite nito sakanilang lahat. It didn't matter though. Both of them were really close. They lived together for four years now. Pagmamay-ari ni Venera ang katabing unit ni Sachi at inofferan nito noon si Leysan na tumira sa unit nito.

Leysan was just like Zafiyah. They were both struggling, juggling part-time jobs while studying hard.

To lessen the burden, the bitchest Venera 'Way ahead of you' Silvestre, offered her to live with her. Takang-taka no'n si Leysan dahil 'yon ang unang araw na nagkakilala ang dalawa pero agad itong inofferan ng gano'n ni Venera. Malaking gaan sa gastos ang hindi pagbabayad ng monthly rent sa boarding house, electricity at water bill kaya ginrab na nito kaagad ang offer.

Leysan didn't know that Venera fell in love with her the moment she saw her. Sakanilang lahat, kay Leysan mas affectionate at mas caring si Venera. She even gave Leysan her old car when she bought a new car recently. Siguro kung kasing yaman niya rin si Venera, gagawin niya rin 'yon kay Leysan. Si Leysan kasi ang tinuturing nilang bunso kahit pa kaedaran lang nila ito. Walang hindi magkakagusto rito. Just one look at her angelic face, and you'll love her immediately. Wala kang masasabi sa ugali nito. Sabi nga ni Venera noon, "For crying out loud, hindi ako naniniwala na may ganiyan ka-nice na tao."

Napangiti si Zafiyah ng maalala 'yon. Who would have thought that these two would hit it off? Puwede bang maging mag best friend ang isang little devil at anghel? Unfortunately, yes. Si Venera at Leysan 'yon.

"Okay, okay. Time for the birthday greet." Sachi squealed. "Ako na ang mauuna." Pumunta ito sa gitna ng receiving area at pabirong nag bow. Natawa sila. "Happy Birthday, ka-finger. You do know that I love you, right? We have different views and opinions and magkaiba rin ang ugali natin pero friendship tayo. Solid tayo. Magtatalo at magkakapikunan lang tayo pero hindi tayo mag-aaway." Sachi smiled, walked toward Venera and kissed her cheek.

Venera snorted, hiding her true feelings. "Sana gumanyan kayo no'ng eighteenth birthday ko, 'di ba? I'm so old for this shit. Twenty-two na kaya ako."

"Haller? Hindi ka pa namin kilala no'n."

"Whatever."

Si Sin naman ang pumunta sa gitna. Tipid itong ngumiti. "Happy Birthday, Queen. This is not me, yenno. Pero need ko magsalita kahit short speech or else they will ruin my paintings. I-blackmail ba naman ako." Disappointed na saad ni Sintreya. Natawa sila. Maging si Venera ay natawa rin. "Happy Birthday, Ven. May you attract someone who speaks your language so you don't have to spend a lifetime translating your soul." Matapos sabihin 'yon ay humalik rin ito sa pisngi ni Venera.

Tumayo si Zafiyah at pinalitan si Sintreya. Pagilid niyang tiningnan si Venera at nginisihan. Umingos ito ngunit nasa labi ang pinipigilang ngiti. "Happy Birthday, Silvestre. I like you face but your personality is better."

"Shut it. Alam kong bitchesa 'ko."

Lalong napangisi si Zafiyah. "Yes, you are. You have a dagger for a tongue and clothes that can kill them with envy. You are the most popular girl in school, the most admire by boys, and the most irritating for anyone. You could be overbearing and unbelievably conceited and too self-absorbed pero ikaw naman ang may pinaka-mabuting pusong nakilala ko."

"Fuck you, Zafi. Super plastic mo today." Inirapan siya ni Venera at umiwas ng tingin. Mabilis at pasimple nitong pinahid ang isang mata nito.

Natatawa niya itong nilapitan at magaan na dinampian ng halik sa pisngi. Pumalakpak sila ng si Leysan naman ang pumunta sa gitna. Nahihiya itong ngumiti sakanila. Hindi pa rin sanay na maging center of attention.

"Happy Birthday, best friend. For some people, you are bitch to the core, the meanest brat but for us, you are the most adorable bitch and the biggest all-time brat who will do anything and everything to help those sick and abandoned kids. You are very soft to all you dearly love. You have a heart of gold but they didn't see it. People hates you because you spit the truth and they couldn't take it. You don't sugar coat and you are just being honest. Bakit gano'n? Kung sino pa 'yong totoo at prangkang tao, sila pa 'yong pinaka hate ng mundo. Like, really, what the hell's wrong with you? You are so kind and so caring and so gorgeous and so perfect and I am your number one fan. I do hope people will learn to appreciate you. Sana makita ka nila sa mas mabuting aspeto. Na hindi lahat ng sinasabi at kinikilos mo, masama. You always have your reason. Whatever it is, I know it's for the best." Leysan smiled warmly and embraced Venera in a tight hug.

"Ven, you set the bars too high." Si Sachi na nakangiti at nakahalukipkip sa isang tabi.

"Just hearing the click of your heels in the floor sounds like power." Si Sintreya na napailing-iling.

Inakbayan ni Venera si Leysan. Hinarap sila nito at mayabang na ngumisi. "Tell me about it. Pero wait. I know it's my birthday pero bakit puring-puri ni'yo naman ako today? Hindi ako sanay, girls."

They smiled sheepishly. Nagdududang nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ni Venera sakanila. Si Sachi ang nagdesisyong magsalita.

༻✦༺ ༻✦༺