Bidding Our Time

Kabanata 2

Lumabas ako ng kwarto no'ng umagang 'yon pagkatapos kong magbihis. I heard Ronna talking to someone with her phone pagkalabas ko. She must be talking to the band they've hired for the night of the debut.

Nasa taas pa lang ay naririnig ko na ang ingay ng mga kaibigan ko sa baba. They are talking to each other as if nakalunok ang mga ito ng microphone. But I'm used to it. I'm used to their loudness and it's one of the things I love about them.

Pagkababa ko ay halos nasa dining table na ang lahat maliban kay Ronna na nasa taas pa. I heard them talking about college and all. I can feel the excitement in the sound of their voices. But I know at the back of it, we all still don't want to. Gusto muna naming pabagalin ang takbo ng orasan and feel each other's presence until we get tired, until we're ready. Pero hindi. The world will not wait for you whether you're ready or not, or hurt, or broken. It will continue from rotating. You have no choice but to go with it, para hindi ka mapag-iwanan.

"Hey, Princess Karolyn is here. Have a seat, your highness," Aiman teased, holding out a chair for me and gesturing grandly. I rolled my eyes and laughed. Tumawa rin ang iba ko pang kasama.

"Nasaan na si magbi-birthday girl?" Tanong ni Mica while putting the plates on the table.

"May kausap pa siya sa cellphone niya. She said it was the band." I answered and sat next to Hazel.

"Girl, we need you to help us on the stage design. Hindi kinakaya ng utak ko kung ano magandang gawin sa stage." Sabi ni Hazel pagkaupo ko. "Sure."

Naging maingay pa rin ang mga kasama ko no'ng bumaba si Ronna mula sa taas. From the look on her face, the conversation with the band hadn't gone well.

"Ano sabi ng banda na ni-hire niyo?" Tita asked as she sat in the chair at the center of the table.

"It didn't go well. Sinugod daw sa hospital 'yong vocalist nila because of an accident."

"Naku po diyos ko. Ano raw kalagayan?" Tita asked hysterically.

"She's ok naman na raw. But the doctor said the patient has to stay for a week for her recovery." Sabi ni Ronna at umupo sa tabi kong upuan.

"But the event is in two days. Pa'no 'yan?" Tanong ni Hazel.

"Ikaw na ang kumanta Hazel. Tutal maganda naman boses mo." Pangaasar ni Dave.

"Manahimik ka Dave. Idol mo na naman boses ko."

"I don't know. Maybe I'll ask the resort admin if they have an available band, or we'll have to settle for a sound system if we can't find one," Ronna said, clearly disappointed. She had always wanted a live band for her debut since we first talked about it.

Nagpatuloy kami sa pagkain. They are still talking about the college and the school kung saan sila nag entrance exam.

Ronna and Hazel tried UP and UST since they are planning to take pre-med,and these schools were their choice since junior high pa. Ako naman, I just tried my luck to Ateneo and La Salle because they have good pre-law courses.

Habang si Roi at Dave ay piniling mag PUP nalang to take up engineering. They can't really afford universities like the school we're planning to at gusto nila ng school na maganda pagdating sa engineering.

Si Jonalisa at Mica, since they are cousins, sa Canada sila mag-aaral. Nando'n na rin naman ang family nila at sila nalang ang hinihintay.

Si Olga naman, uuwi ng Mindanao at sa University of Mindanao siya mag-aaral. While Aiman applied to STI in BGC.

Natapos kaming kumain when Tita said not to really help on the preparation of the event. May mga kinuha naman daw siyang organizers for the debut. What we really need to do is to enjoy and make our stay stress-free and comfortable.

Naging Nanay na ng squad si Tita. Simula no'ng naging magkakaibigan kami noong grade seven, kayla Ronna na ang naging hang out place namin. Hindi naman labag sa loob ni Tita since mag-isa lang naman daw siya sa bahay kasama si Ronna. Her Dad is on trip since he's a seafarer. Habang ang dalawa niyang kuya ay nag-aaral sa college at nagdo-dorm sa Manila.

Tita will always call us to go to their house. Gustong gusto niya na pinagluluto kami ng pagkain and would always receive good feedback pagdating sa lasa ng niluto niya.

"Yes, Tita. We'll just help with the stage. We don't want it to look terrible. We've been planning it for a while. We don't want our birthday girl to look like she's in a cage," Hazel joked, making us laugh.

"Sige. Pagkatapos, make yourselves comfortable. You're here to enjoy the vacation." Sabi ni Tita in a motherly voice.

Pagkatapos naming mag-ayos, dumiretso kami sa pavilion kung saan gaganapin ang event. Nagpaalam naman si Ronna na susunod nalang siya dahil kakausapin niya ang admin ng resort to inquire about the band or sound system. Naiwan naman si Jonalisa at Roi para tulungan si Tita mag-ayos ng mga gamit. Si Aiman ay naiwan din para i-check ang sasakyan since hindi na maganda ang condition nito noong papunta pa lang kami kanina.

The surroundings were bright and sunny, with the temperature climbing past noon. The resort was still mostly empty, with only the staff around. Small store stalls lined the back of the cottages, and a playground was at the far end of the resort. I couldn't resist taking pictures of the place. Mabuti nalang at nadala ko ang phone ko.

When we arrived at the pavilion, we were greeted by a forest-like environment. The theme of the debut was "forest." Artificial leaves and large roots adorned the surroundings. The tables and floor had root-like designs, and there were lights that resembled fireflies. Green fabric hung from the ceiling, and in the middle was a chandelier wrapped in leaves.

"Tignan mo oh, halos wala pa kaming nasisimulan maliban sa dalawang malaking puno sa magkabilang sides." Sabi ni Hazel pagkarating namin sa stage.

"Nasaan na 'yong wishing well na ginawa?" I asked.

"Nasa backstage pa. Kunin na ba natin?"

"Oo. Tara simulan na natin."

—

Halos palubog na ang araw nang matapos kami sa pag-design ng stage. Umayon ang resulta nito sa nais naming outcome.

Bumalik kami sa bahay kung saan kami magsi-stay no'ng hapong 'yon. Hindi na rin nakatulong sa amin si Ronna sa paggawa ng stage kasi hinintay niya pang dumating ang admin dahil wala ito and she has to discuss about the program of the event. Halos naglilinis nalang kami ng kalat nang dumating siya dala ang balitang nakahanap na siya ng papalit sa banda. Luckily, the resort has its own band for occasions like this.

Naabutan naming nagbi-videoke ang mga kasama namin sa sala nang dumating kami. Sumali naman kaagad si Hazel at Ronna sa kanila. Dumiretso ako sa taas para mag-halfbath. Nadatnan kong naglalaro ng PS4 ang boys sa mini sala maliban kay Aiman na nasa kabilang kwarto at mahimbing na natutulog.

Pumasok ako sa kwarto namin at humiga. Pumikit ako at nanatili sa gano'ng posisyon ng ilang minuto.

"Why won't you join with them. Nandito ka lang pala." Bahagya akong nagulat sa nagsalita. It was Mica.

"I don't know anything about PS4. And you know I don't sing on videoke." Sagot ko.

"Kasi maingay?" She spoke. "Tara sa labas? Sa shore nalang tayo mag standby. Let's bring Dave's guitar." Anyaya niya.

"Seems like a good idea." I smiled. "Halfbath lang ako." Paalam ko and headed to the bathroom.

***