Pieces of Me

Six

"Kuya, you're a guy, right?"

"Gusto mo ibalik kita ulit sa wheelchair? Anong klaseng tanong yan!? Mukha ba kong girl? Macho kong to."

"It was a rhetorical question!"

"Mangangalkal ka lang ng utak ng may utak may nalalaman ka pang ganyan. Para san yang theoretical question mo?"

"Rhetorical kasi."

"Isa na lang babambuhin na kita ng saklay. Tumbukin mo na kasi kung ano man yang niluluto mong ek ek sa utak mo."

"Ang harsh."

Tanungin mo na kasi! Daming arte. Mamaya layasan ka na naman ni Nico. Kanina tinaguan ka na ni Dean. Gora na tanong na! Kekemerut pa eh.

"Magtatanong ka ba o-- putek HUY MENGGAY GISING!!"

"Isusumbong na talaga kita kay Tatay. Eto na nga kasi. Let's say you're in a committed relationship na medyo rocky and confusing tapos you meet someone else while you and your girlfriend are on a break... tapos you realize na you're starting to have feelings for the new girl... anong gagawin mo?"

"Tungkol ba to sa pogi mong physical therapist?"

Bukelya. Stealth mode rhetorical kemerut ka pa ha?

"Ha!? WALA NA BA KONG KAPATID NA HINDI CHISMOSO'T CHISMOSA!?"

"Kalma huy. Alam mo namang hindi uso ang sikreto dito sa pamilya natin. Lalo kung kay Coleen at Ate Niki mo sinabi. Ganito lang yan. Dapat ayusin niya muna yung isa. Dapat plantsado. Tapusin kung wala na. Mahirap magsimula ng bago kung may ongoing pang kaguluhan."

"Paano kung naayos mo na? Kunyari, tinapos mo na. Mga ganong katagal bago ka magparamdam dun sa bago mong nakilala?"

"Agad agad."

Ay.

"Asus. Hindi ka pwedeng maglaro ng poker, Menggay. Kahit taga-Cotabato kitang kita yang pagbagsak ng mukha mo eh. Kelan ba huling nagparamdam sayo si pogi?"

"Two months ago."

"Ayun lang. Baka hindi na confusing yung relationship niya. Baka naayos na. Better luck next time ka na lang, ganon."

Aray ko.

"Meng... marami pa diyang iba. Mas pogi. Mas lahat lahat. Hindi pa katapusan ng mundo uy. Malay mo naman yung talagang nakalaan para sayo eh andyan lang sa tabi tabi. You'll meet someone who deserves you. Ikaw pa ba? Swerte kaya ng makakabingwit sayo."

"Uutang ka no?"

"Gago. Anong akala mo sakin, poor!? Excuse me."

"Magpapalakad ka na naman dun sa editor ko no?"

"Huli ka na sa balita uy. Nakailang date na kaya kami. Speaking of... dito ka na muna. Maliligo na ko. Susundo ako eh."

"Si Dean ba nasan?"

"Sumundo din yata. Kapag wala kang nakikitang naglalakad na taong-usok, wala yun dito."

"So ako na lang talaga ang walang love life?!?"

"Galaw galaw kasi. Panay ka mukmok sa condo mo eh. Yung libro mo nga pala kelan lalabas?"

"Next week. May book launch sa Fully Booked High Street. 6PM. Be there, please. I need all the moral support I can get."

"Ngayon ka pa dinaga? Pang-ilang libro mo na ba yan?"

"Iba this time eh. Ewan ko ba. Parang first time jitters ulit. Basta please, andun kayo dapat lahat."

~•~•~•~

"Stop fidgeting! Everything's going to go great! People will love your book! Everyone's already raving about it online. Relax ka lang. Nicomaine! Smile!"

Ilang timbang asukal kaya hinithit nitong babaeng to? Eh sa hindi ako makalma eh bakit ba? Sige ikaw lumabas dun! Bwiset. Paano kung matapilok ako? Paano kung bumigay tuhod ko? What if I suddenly forget how to read? Tsk. OA mo bes. Batukan kita sa bangs. You can do this, self! You can do anything you set your mind to. Nakakalakad ka na nga ulit o. You finished writing your book! You even joined a gym! AT AT AT natandaan mong mag-toothbrush bago umalis ng bahay. WINNER DIBA? Kaya kalma ka na. Chill. You got this. You---

"Maine! You're up! Break a leg!"

Eh gago pala tong... anong break a leg? Bastos na to... teka teka mamaya mo na durugin yang editor mo. Smile. One step at a time. Breathe. Atta girl.

"Good evening everyone. First of all, thank you for coming tonight. You have no idea what this book launch means to me. And to see you all here, it really warms my heart. To be honest, I didn't think I had it in me to finish writing this book. You all know what happened to me and I for a while I didn't think I had it in me to start writing another novel, let alone finish one as it was a very emotionally and mentally exhausting road to recovery...  but here I am, I made it to the finish line.  I am a living, breathing testament of hope and the miracle of second chances. So when you pick up a copy of Second Chance Love, remember that nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself."

Palakpakan na may kasamang hiyawan! Hindi ako nagbuckle! Iieeeh people are clapping! This is all you, Nicomaine. You did this. You should be proud of yourself.

"Thanks, everyone. I really wish I could tell you just how special this book is to me but for now, here's an excerpt from the book.

'She looked in the mirror and smiled. She liked this version of herself - the fire was back in her eyes, the smile warm and genuine and fierce. Yes. She looked fierce. After so many months of seeing nothing but a dejected tear-stained face every time she looked in the mirror, this was a welcome change. She was ready. Ready to face the unknown. Ready to fight for what she deserved. She was ready to love again because she had finally, finally learned to love herself first.'

Second Chance Love is not just about finding the right guy but more importantly, it's about finding and loving ourselves first."

"Our dear Maine will be signing copies in a few minutes. Ladies and gentlemen, Nicomaine Mendoza."

I did it! Yehehes! I did it I did it I did it! Pat yourself on the back, Nicomaine. You deserve it. Hep hep mamaya ka na mag impromptu dance party pag-uwi mo. Pag wala ng nakakakita sayo. Oh my gosh! Nakaraos din. Ang galing galing galing mo girl! Woo---

"Maine?"

Hoo-tangina ang pogi mo pa rin leche ka.

"RJ."