Klivennius Sartona
Hindi ko na nai-park nang maayos ang aking sasakyan. Mabilis akong pumasok sa loob ng South. I immediately scanned the area, but I can't find them.
I picked up my phone when it started ringing. Si Nazarene.
"Where are you?" bungad ko sa linya.
Hindi siya sumagot agad ngunit nakarinig ako ng mumunting ingay.
"Hoy, nasaan sila?"
Narinig kong tumikhim siya bago sumagot.
"I'm upstairs," he answered. My forehead crumpled. What?
"Fuck you! Sabi ko sa'yo bantayan mo
Bakit ka nandiyan—"
"Fuck! Go upstairs. Nandito sila—"
I immediately hanged up the call and ran to the second floor. Nahirapan pa ako dahil sa dami ng taong nagsasayawan sa dance floor at mga naglalampungang mga couples kung saan-saan.
I started feeling worried and anxious about something.
I spotted Naz and Cesz. Infront of them, was a guy. Nakahandusay na 'to sa sahig. Mukhang sinuntok.
I searched for Shawne, and I found her near Naz and Cesz was located. She was with Georgette. Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Shawne na nakayuko lamang.
I wanna go to her and greet her because it's her special day. Shawne's special day na nakalimutan ko pa at kung hindi ko pa nalamang nandito sila, ay hindi ko rin malalaman kung anong meron. Damn, I'm so stupid! Idiot, Klive!
Pinuntahan ko si Naz, bahagyang nanlaki ang mata niya nang mapansin ako ngunit saglit lamang ito dahil ibinalik niya rin ang tingin sa lalaking nasa harap.
He smirked.
Sumulyap pa ako kila Shawne, and I noticed that her shoulders were shaking. Is she crying? And why the fuck is she crying? Sinong nagpaiyak sa kaniya?
Agad kong kinwelyuhan si Naz. "What happened?" nagtitimpi kong tanong.
"Ask that asshole," he replied while pointing at the guy infront. The guy has a bruise in his left face, a sign that he received a punch or punches from someone.
"What? Why would I ask him? Are you idiot? Sa'yo ko pinabantay diba? Bakit umiiyak si Shawne?"
"Fucking chill!" He hissed. Tinanggal niya ang pagkakakwelyo ko sa kaniya at nilapitan 'yung lalaki.
"Bro, sa sobrang tagal mo..." mabagal na sabi ni Naz.
"Hinalikan ng gagong 'to —" Hindi pa natatapos na magsalita si Naz, ay dumapo na ang kamao ko sa mukha ng lalaki. Napaupo na naman ito dahil sa lakas ng suntok ko. What the actual fuck?
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. Parang may tumusok na punyal sa puso ko. Fuck.
I know it's my fault. Dapat alam ko ang ganap ngayon. Dapat kasama niya ako ngayon and i'm not in that fucking class 'til 9 pm. I can't blame Naz and Georgette, kasi dapat pasalamatan ko pa sila na sinamahan nila si Shawne. Mas lalong ayaw kong magalit kay Shawne dahil alam kong hindi naman niya sinasadya ang nangyari.
I turned to Shawne, na ngayon ay nakatingin na sa akin habang nanlalaki ang mata. I immediately grab her wrist at hinila paalis sa lugar na 'yun. Sinenyasan ko si Naz na kuhanin si Georgette at iuwi sa kanila. Aivan isn't fucking answering his phone.
Dinala ko si Shawne sa aking kotse. I made her sit in the front seat, beside the driver's seat. Nang makasakay siya ay sinuot ko sa kaniya ang seatbelt.
I glanced at her, but she was just looking down.
I sighed. Mabilis kong pinaandar ang sasakyan nang makasakay din ako.
I pulled off the car beside the driveway. We're in the middle of a bridge.
I'm hearing her little sobs. Unti-unting kumuyon muli ang kamao ko. Klive, it's not her fault. Lasing lang siya, okay? Okay.
I waited until she calmed down. Inabot ko ang tissue sa dashboard. I slowly touch her chin para maiharap sa akin.
I clenched my teeth when I saw how red her eyes is. Damn, did she cried a lot?
I wiped the droplets of tears in her cheeks. Kapupunas ko lang, may bumagsak muling luha.
I sighed again. Hinarap ko na siya nang tuluyan. I caressed her cheeks and wiped the tears that keep on dropping from her eyes.
"Hey, I'm sorry," Mas lalo siyang naiyak. I heard her sobs again so I reached the bottled water at the backseat. Inilapit ko ito sa kaniya ngunit iniwas niya ang kaniyang mukha. Bumuntong hininga ako.
"I'm sorry, Shawne. It's your birthday, but I forgot it. Me, that is your boyfriend, forgot it. I'm sorry." I hugged her as I said that.
Suminghot siya ngunit nagawa pang magsalita.
"N-no, I'm s-sorry," she said.
Kumunot ang noo ko, pinigilang huwag ikuyom ang mga kamao na nakapirmi sa kaniyang likod, umaalalay sa kaniya.
"Why are you saying sorry? I'm the one who forgot about your special day. Hmm," Hinapit ko pa siya papunta sa akin.
"N-no! I was drunk and that guy kissed—"
Mabilis akong umiling. "It's okay, baby. Ang mahalaga, walang nangyari sa'yo, okay? I don't fucking care if that guy kissed you. I'm sure you didn't kissed back and you didn't like what he did. Ang importante, sa'kin ka pa rin," Hinaplos ko ang kaniyang mga pisngi. "It's okay. Don't cry. Nasasaktan ako kapag nakikita kitang umiiyak. Gusto mo ba 'yun?" I chuckled, trying to light up the mood.
Naramdaman kong tinutulak niya ako nang unti-unti, ngunit hindi ako pumayag.
"What if —"
Pinigilan ko siya ulit sa kaniyang sasabihin.
"Shh. Let me just hug you," I said those words, na para bang makakapagpanatag ng loob ko ito, ng loob naming dalawa.
We stayed there for another 30 minutes. Shawne was probably tired, so when I turned to her, she's sleeping already. Sumisinghot-singhot pa siya. Hininaan ko ang aircondition ng kotse at kinuha ang jacket sa backseat para ipatong sa kaniya.
May natitira pang oras bago matapos ang birthday niya.
I immediately drove to the nearest mall. Nang makarating ako sa parking lot, sinulyapan ko si Shawne na mahimbing ang tulog. I got out from my car. I just need to buy something.
When I return, Shawne's still sleeping. Pumunta ako sa side niya. I got the square red velvet box from my pocket at nilabas ang nasa loob nito. Sinuot ko ito sa kaniyang leeg nang dahan-dahan para hindi siya magising.
"Happy Birthday, Shawne. I love you," I said as I kiss her forehead, nose, cheeks, and her lips.
