Ventures of the Sly Cat

04: Battle of Feelings

ISLANNA

My hands are shaking as my arms and feet slowly turned into ice.

Mukha pa rin akong wasted na broken-hearted na tao habang nakikipagsabayan sa pace ng lakad nitong ni Robin. I thought the Arevalo would give me a chance to erase the hell out of my face, when Robin said we should hurry gawa malapit na mapuno ang venue.

The venue is a 30 minute ride from our subdivision. Pero dahil friday at rush hour ngayon, sigurado maraming sasakyan ang nakikipagsapalaran ngayon sa traffic. So in the end, I endured the embarrassment I started.

"Nunber one: Huwag ma fall sa kapatid ng kaibigan. Number two: Kapag hindi mapigilan, mag-aral kung paano umiwas sa baril at suntok. Number three: Kung softie ang family, mag-aral kung paano mag-embalsa ng pera. Number four: Tumakas,"

I heaved a sigh while I listen to my seatmate here in the passenger seat. Kung paano ako napapunta sa sitwasyong ito, let me tell you a story.

As I struggle to clean my mascara smudges, the Arevalos' car suddenly stopped in the sidewalk. Yeza, at first, tried her best to look calm. However, as soon the shotgun's door opened and a voice of a man roar inside, muntik nang matusok ni Yeza ng cotton buds ang aking mata.

"Arevalos miss me so much! Oh, how sweet of ya'll." The man exclaimed as he went inside. Robin, turned at him sharply, saka lumingon sa amin. "Aw. Someone's grumpy! But dali na. Marami akong chika sa iyo, saka mababatukan ako ni kuya 'pag hindi niya ako naabutan mamaya sa backstage!"

"Yen, palit kayo." madiin niyang utos sa kapatid. "Eh, kuya, hindi pa kami tapos dito." protesta ni Yeza upang mas lalo talasan ni Robin ang kanyang tingin. I thought Yen was brave and rebellious against her brother, not until she deeply sighed and apologetically turned at me.

I still look like a mess.

"Sorry, sana mapatawad mo ako in the end of this ride." aniya saka bumaba ng sasakyan. Nilingon ko si Samuel, na napakamot ng ulo. He then entered the door beside me. I jumped in startlement.

"Sorry. My bad."

My mouth opened slightly when he suddenly became stoic. Seryoso, Bipolar ba ito? Umupo siya, wala 'man lang pakialam sa presensya ko, kaya napausod ako sa kabilang side ng upuan. Hindi 'man lang marunong mag-excuse!

Plano ko sana siyang barahin. But realizing I really don't know much about him, and he and I are not close, I chose to zip my mouth and wait for this ride to end.

***

Pagkatapos ng halos isang oras na biyahe, we arrived at the venue.May malaking ngiti sa labi kong pinagmasdan ang kabuuan nito. Then all of the possible things that I could imagine, enters my mind.

"Andito na tayo,"

Itinigil sa harap ng mismong entrance ni Kuya Robin ang sasakyan. Mula sa aking pwesto, malinaw kong napapanood ang pagpasok ng mga tao na may hawak hawak na banners. Ang iba ay may mga headbands na may mukha. Habang ang ilan naman ay nakasuot ng outfit na nagko-compliment sa color ng na nire represent ng kanilang school.

"Islanna, halika na."

I was snapped out of my zone when Yeza called me. Agad akong sumunod sa kanya, pero bago ako makababa, nagsalita si Kuya Robin, "Do you mind na hintayin muna ako with Yeza? Wala na kasi parking dito, kaya pupunta pa ako sa likod,"

My lips curved into a shy smile as I turned to him, "Ah, okay lang, kuya. Message nalang kayo kay Yeza if nakapasok ka na," I replied, and he nodded.

For the last time, I bid a look to my seatmate na mahimbing na natutulog. I mischievously smile, at sinadyang isarado ang pintuan ng malakas.