Paper Memories

Chapter 10-III

Chapter 10-III

"I told you I'm with someone, creeps!"

Tinawagan ko lang driver ko, pero nung papabalik na ako naabutan kong histerikal na si Nabi. Tumakbo siya sakin at halos kumapit na sa suot ko dahil sa pagkakataranta. Naiwan niya pa ang mga pinamili namin maliban na lang sa nakakahong life-sized vintage doll niya. Nagtago siya sa likod ko, habang dahan-dahan siyang sinundan ng isang grupo ng mga kalalakihan na kanina ay kausap lang niya.

But these men are so well dressed...

Still aren't men filthy whatever clothes they wear?

They laugh mockingly, circling us. Mas lalong nagtago si Nabi sa likod ko." Kanina lang ang sinasabi mo boyfriend ang hinihintay mo, bakit nag-iba? Just what kind of lying bitch are you?"

" This is my girlfriend, so get off my nerves!" Ah, gantong palusot pala ang gusto niya. Kahit ano ang nasasabi niya dahil walang kahit bystander o taong dumadaan malapit samin. That's why these men are fearless." I wasn't lying at all! I said a lover is waiting for me!"

"Prove it."

Nabi stuttered." Don't order us around!"

Ayokong sumingit, wala akong balak na pumagitna o sumangayon sa palusot ni Nabi. Pero pinagdidiskitahan na rin nila ako. Nobody wants to be a victim and at the same time nobody has the courage to be a hero. " Why don't you two prove it? Kung hindi niyo yun magagawa, wala kayong ibang dahilan para tanggihan kami."

Out of desperation Nabi pull me closer."J-Just a kiss then, bear with it, Sheena..."

She aiming for either cheeks or lips, she plans to kiss me out of desperation. This girl want to save herself and put me in shame, this is what people do to survive. I push my finger to her lips stopping her, her face was bright red but still fearful from the men." We don't need to follow them. Okay? Just calm down and listen to me."

"Oh, I thought you're a quite one. Lalaban ka ba?" The stranger insulted.

"Leave us alone---we don't owe you anything." Asik ko.

The man smirked, punching the air as if to create a joyous façade."We were about to support your homosexual love, tapos itatanggi mo pala siya? Tinagalan niyo pa sana ang gimik niyong rason."

I lifted Nabi's chin." No love is forbidden, but this is not a show."

"Just stop playing hard to get and come with us!" Somebody tried to grab me but I slapped his hand away even before he laid his filthy hands on me, ang kaliwang kamay ko naman ay nakahawak kay Nabi. First, I can see their amusement. But it slowly turns into aggression." Come on, look at us what do you got to lose?"

"If you're not getting enough ladies, why don't you guys fuck yourselves?" I snarled and shove the first guy who stepped forwards." Give each other the pleasure you want and get out of my sight."

My eyes can see their anger rising, my hands can feel how Nabi's hands tremble." Acting tough, huh? Watch what you're saying, bitch. Tandaan mong babae ka lang."

Men. Fucking men. Napatawa ako sa kinakapitan nila." Lalake ka lang."

Nabi's harasser left as soon as an outsider arrived, yet the fear they left on my project partner is still there. Halos padilim na ng makarating kami sa bahay ni Nabi ng ihatid namin siya ng driver ko. Pansin na pansin na sobrang tahimik na paligid at sa loob ng bahay nila, kaya medyo nakakailang sa pakiramdam. Tinulungan pa namin Nabi na ipasok hanggang sa may pintuan nila ang mga pinamili namin.

Before going inside she look at me with big eyes.

"Ayaw mo ba talagang pumasok sa loob?" Tanong sa akin ni Nabi." Ako pa lang ang nandito kaya tahimik, mamaya pa uuwi si Mama."

Umiling ako." You should start resting."

"You used to be in the top, Sheena." Bigla niyang sabi habang yakap-yakap ang manikang bili ko. "You were so quite back in freshman year but when you talk to others, you seem to charm them. Kaya nung nagsimula ka na maging active sa school ang tingin ko sayo rival, tutal ikaw din ang pinakamagaling sa klase, second best nga lang. Palagi kang nasa mata ko. Kaso eventually naging loser ka na lang, I'm disappointed. My curiosity fell into a drain."

"For you Nabi, you're tactless and self-centered."

My simple statement made her smirked." Just that, huh. I was expecting you to talk about human complexity and duality, that's the sort of thing I heard you say before. Ngayon utal-utal ka at boring magsalita."

I shrugged."Huwag na, its given humans are flawed."

"By the way, I have something to give to you, kind of a trade for this dolls. And for saving me earlier. One of my paintings." Nabi brought up, at ngayon lang niya naisipan buksan ang pintuan Halos papatalikod pa siyang maglakad para masiguradong di muna ako aalis." Ikaw yung nandun, may mga sketches mo ako nung naging model ka nung sa art fundamentals."

I just conceded to waiting for her. At habang naghihintay ako ay dumating na din ang driver ko at tumabi sa kin. He's grinning ear to ear. I wonder if he's genuine and if he didn't regret helping me the first time we met. "In love, na ba sayo yung maarteng munyika? "

"Yung literal na laruan ko o yung kaklase ko?" Tumawa ako kasi nalaman niya kung anong ginawa namin para makatakas lang. "Magaling lang siya magpakitang tao para mapalapit sa iba. Hindi ko siya maiintidihan, moody. Kaya naman nakaka-aattract siya ng mga lalake tulad nang kanina."

"Muntik na kayo dun, Madam. Wala pa naman ako maiaambag na tulong."

"Uh, a scarecrow maybe. I'm not asking you to have a fistfight with them. But, hey when it comes to meI have a conscience and pride. Hindi ako tatayo dun na walang sinusubukang gawin o di protektahan ang kaklase ko.

He laugh, he smell of alcohol." Dapat pala iniwan mo na kanina, Madam!"

"Dapat kong gawin?That's only the world's opinion." Pahayag ko habang umiiling." Pero bahala na ang bawat isa sa gusto nila. -----I justo do what I do and nothing else."

"Uy Madam, tama na ng deep talks ha. Kanina ka pa nagsisimula. Dudugo ilong ko bago pa tayo makauwi." I could regret more that I randomly hired somebody, but he seems to be patient with me. He doesn't mind how some jokes slip from my tongue." Paano mo ako susuwelduhan kung namatay na ako kasi naubos ako ng dugo-------kakanose-bleed?"

I tried not to rolled my eyes." Fine, let's just wait for her."

" English na naman, Madam!"

"Hey... Can you stop calling me like that?"

He smirked, thinking I must be bashful. He looks like he wants to make fun of me. His next words were in a sing-song and high-pitched voice.Mas weird pa ata siya sakin." Sheena, my friend!"

"Ikaw, ano nga pangalan mo ulit?"I almost slap my own face at his ridiculousness, bakit kasi ang tagal bumalik ni Nabi! Hindi pa tapos ang oras ng hapunan pero malakas na ang tama niya!" Anong itatawag ko sayo, kuya o pangalan mo?

He took a gulp from his clear bottle, smirking.

A little later, my driver entered the car and started the engine, but then exited again. He smirked towards the door, and I saw my classmate running towards us.Kinalabit niya ako at pinagbuksan ng pinto ng kotse kahit wala pa at malayo pa si Nabi sa tabi ko.

"Gregory at your service, Madam!"