Loving Persephone

Chapter 5: Trouble

"Girls who are inexperienced to relationships are the easiest to be fooled," Lev continued as she settled herself on the sun lounger.

Umupo ako sa kabila.

"Hindi naman lahat, Levaine. Depende pa rin sa tao iyon." Tulad na lang ng kadalasang naririnig ko sa mga matatanda na kapag raw mahilig kang magbasa ng mga nobela, mabubuntis ka nang maaga. Naniniwala akong depende pa rin sa paninindigan ng tao iyan. The things you read are like objects floating inside your consciousness that are still waiting to be categorized. It's up to you to decide which one you should take in and which one you should discard and forget. What you do doesn't depend on what kind of books you read; it depends solely on your choices.

"You're only saying that because you've never been into one," kumento ni Lev sabay higa sa sun lounger at nagsuot ng sunglasses.

Sa katunayan, hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung bakit nila sinasabing madaling maloko ang mga babaeng walang experience sa relationship. Marami akong kakilala na marami ng naging jowa pero paulit-ulit pa rin namang nasasaktan.

"You should get yourself a boyfriend, Percy, but make sure to get a man without tangled strings."

Pagkatapos niyang sabihin iyon ay nanahimik na siya. I'm not sure if she's already fallen asleep or not because her sunglasses were covering her eyes pero dahil nanahimik na siya, nanahimik na lang din ako hanggang sa tumunog ang aking cellphone sa tawag ni Mommy.

"Hello, mom?"

"Why aren't you texting me?" she questioned sternly.

"I'm sorry. Naubusan po kasi ako ng load."

"Bakit hindi ka nakitext sa pinsan mo? You made me worried, Persephone!"

"I'm sorry po. I was planning to but," they were either busy having fun or were sleeping due to hangover, "then you called first so--"

"Papaloadan kita para makapagtext ka sa'kin. Tatlong araw lang kayo r'yan, hindi ba? Wala naman sigurong plano ang mga pinsan mong mag-extend. You know how their mind works."

Posible iyon pero sana hindi na magbago pa ang isip nila. I miss my room already. I miss the smell of my sheets and the sight of my posters attached to my bedroom wall. Kapag binalak nilang mag-extend pa, my mom would just bombard me every now and then and I don't want that.

"Now tell me what you did yesterday. Anong ginawa ng mga pinsan mo?"

"The usual. Naligo sa pool at sa dagat."

"Nag-inuman ba sila? Kayo lang ba talaga ang nariyan?"

"Ah--"

"Is she asleep?" Nanlaki ang mata ko nang marinig ang boyfriend ni Lev na ngayon ay nakatayo sa gilid ng sun lounger.

"Who was that? May kausap ka?"

My heart throbbed in panic. "W-wala po. Guest lang na may kausap na iba," I lied, darting a meaningful gaze at Jorge. Mukhang nakuha naman niya ang nais kong iparating dahil bahagyang nag-iba ang ekspresyon niya sa mukha. He sat on the edge of the lounger where Lev was occupying.

"Sige. I trust you, Percy. Don't you ever lie to me."

"Yes, mom."

"I'm hanging up. Update me whenever you can."

"Opo."

Napabuga ako ng malalim na hininga matapos ng tawag ni Mommy. She's a bit of a psychic. Sana hindi niya nahalata na nagsisinungaling lang ako.

"Was that your mother?" Jorge asked. And for the record, this is the first time he's trying to make a conversation with me.

I nodded my head before glancing at Lev. "She's already asleep, I guess," answering to his first question.