Just the Ticket

Chapter 25

Chapter 25 #jttwbs

"'Di nga, 'di ba kayo natatakot sa undas na Anniversary date n'yo? 'Di kaya may meaning 'yun? Foreshadowing..." Marion shoved another spoonful in his mouth.

Hinablot ni Fern ang song book na seryosong binabasa ni Keno, nirolyo at hinampas sa ulo ni Marion. Iritado namang binawi ni Keno ang song book, nirolyo at hinampas din kay Fern bago nagbasa ulit.

"Itikom ang bibig," Fern warned with a soft glare to Marion, not minding what Keno did.

"May point naman si Mar, 'tol. Araw ng patay... baka mamatay din ang pag-ibig n'yo," ani Keno. His eyes were still on the song book.

Pinilit kong huwag masyado mag-react sa binanggit niyang salita. Pag-ibig... Does that exist at this age? Siguro... batang pag-ibig.

But does that exist between me and Fern?

All of us darted our attention to the laughing Caelan. "Naisip ko lang kapag ice-celebrate nila yearly, 'yung bibilhin ni Velicaria na bulaklak for Eri... meant to be sold para sa mga patay since November 2 'yon."

Marion and Keno shared a laughter with him. Their dark humor sent chills to my being but I kept mum about it.

"Isang hirit pa, itong gitara na ihahampas ko sa inyo."

Mas lumakas lang naman ang tawanan nila sa banta ni Fern. The three even had the boldness to do a high-five in front of their seething friend.

Kasama na nila ako sa mesa. Nagsiksikan sina Caelan, Keno, at Marion sa kabilang upuan. Kami naman ni Fern ang magkatabi sa kabila.

Palabas nga lang ang estilo ng upo ni Fern dahil tumutugtog siya sa gitara. Then he was just humming along with the strings. Sabi kanina ay may bagong gig daw kasi siyang nakuha.

I found it hard to engage in their talk. Si Camara kasi... Pagkakita sa akin, may kung anong ibinulong sa mga kasama tapos bigla na lang silang umalis? She didn't even wave back.

Lumipas ang Christmas at New Year. How I celebrated it only mirrored how I did last year... which I'm already accustomed to.

Kaibahan lang, hindi lumitaw sa inbox ko si Rara para bumati o kahit pilitin ako na sumama sa kanila sa Spain.

Hindi naman totoo ang sinabi ko dati na expired ang passport ko. And I know I would decline her invitation, but I'd rather have her nagging about it than not speaking to me at all...

Valentine's noong tumawag siya sa akin. It fell under the category of missed calls. Nagde-date kasi kami ni Fern sa baywalk kaya hindi ko napansin. I tried calling her back to no avail.

I survived the first year of my course with an average not brag-worthy but I decided to still pursue it in the same school. But before that, the summer vacation took place.

I stepped in as soon as the gates were opened for me. I tried to sense an ongoing party around to no avail. Hadya asked me. Pero... hindi ko talaga alam kung may grand debut ba.

Knowing Camara, she would definitely host one. Pero mukhang wala.

"Ay... Eri..."

Napahinto ako at napalingon sa isang security nila. "Po?"

"Wala daw pala si Miss Camara."

My eyebrows furrowed and I glanced at the main entrance once again. Dahan-dahan akong bumalik sa gate kasi pakiramdam ko pinaaalis ako kahit hindi ganoon ang sinabi.

Bigo akong bumalik sa bahay. Naalala ko si Kuya Drith at naisipan na mas may tsansa itong sumagot.

Me:
Kuya? May debut ba for Rara? Today is her day... or meron at next week lang? When?