Ang Lexicon ni Alexi para kay Alex

kambal

kambal

noun

: nagka-brother-complex si julia

Everytime I hear the word "birthday party", I would always associate it with spaghetti and fried chicken, cake, party hats, gifts and all those (wholesome) stuff. When I reached college, I realized that parties usually described in young adult novels are a legit part of the other side of reality.

"Happy birthday, Charlie!" Our attempt to greet him in chorus failed; ang sabog ng kinalabasan kaya natawa na lang tayo. I hugged him tightly before handing him our gifts.

"Thanks, nag-abala pa kayo," Ang sabi niya habang nakatingin sa mga hawak na regalo. (You gave the brightest idea to give him an original Gibson pick, a new white capo and a plain black guitar strap)

When I first met Charlie's other friends that night, I didn't know what to feel— Kung dapat bang ma-intimidate ako or if I should feel lucky to be with these guys in this huge 4-walled room. (that is, Charlie's place) Maraming mga taga-higher batch na galing sa same college at yung iba, galing sa ibang universities. Some of them were the Varsity Guys, the Beauty Queens at yung iba naman mga ka-blockmates ko. I noticed Ulap who acknowledged our presence by waving at us. Napansin kong nakatali ang buhok niya at kitang-kita yung pink strands ng buhok niya. (Good thing Mr. Santos never notices this; she does a good job in hiding her pink colored strands under her jet black hair.)

According to the birthday boy himself, yung iba raw na inimbitahan niya ay mga dati niyang bandmates (At duon ko lang nalaman na maliban sa Asan si Crispin? meron pa pala siyang dating banda), high school and college friends.

Kalat-kalat yung mga tao at may sariling mga usapan habang yung iba kumakain. Nakita kong hinatak ka ni Jasmine para makipag-usap sa grupo ni Tamara. I was left alone so I decided to go to the kitchen. Gusto ko sanang lumapit kay Charlie kaso kausap niya si Ulap at Cyd. Nahiya naman akong sumingit sa usapan nila kaya lumamon na lang ako habang busy lahat. (probably the best way para hindi masyadong magmukhang out of place)

I was pretty amazed with Charlie's cooking skills. Siya na may birthday, siya pa nagluto at hindi halatang minadali kahit sabi niya minadali daw niya. I particularly liked his Pork and Apple Sausage Rolls and his Strawberry & Cream sandwich sponge. Sabi mo nga maliban sa Music, dapat nag-Culinary Arts na lang siguro siya kaysa HRM.

Napalingon ako sa may kabilang pintuan at nakita ko yung isang lalake na matangkad at gwapo na hindi ko kilala. May kausap siyang magandang babae na pixie cut ang buhok— akala ko nung una si Julie, si Juno pala 'yon. Na-realize ko lang dahil nakita kong tatlo yung hikaw niya sa tenga. (one thing that differentiates her from her twin)

"Ang sarap nung uni na kinain namin sa Nagoya! Grabe ang fresh nung seafoods nila d'on, nakaka-orga—"

At tinakpan ng lalake yung bibig ni Juno. Tumawa sila pagkatapos.

Inalis ko na lang ang titig ko sa kanila at tinapos ang kinakain ko.
Andaming beer sa mesa at halos lahat kumukuha. Ako naman, kumuha ng coke na nasa pitsel at pag-inom, nagulat ako na may humagod. May spike pala!

"Ayos ba? Rum Cola."

Napalingon ako— Yung lalaking may bleached hair na naka-all black ang suot, ang nakita ko na nakatingin sa'kin. Malalim na masarap sa pandinig ang boses niya. Napansin ko na may pagka-singkit ang mga mata niya at maputi ang balat. (I imagined him dancing to Exo's Overdose in front of me.)