Chapter Two: Zenna

I sighed. I'm starting to get bored.

It's already evening and I'm in my usual place, usual dress, and usual look. I'm Zenna, once again, and not that weak Serina that I pretend to be at school. But even if I'm the real me at the moment, I couldn't be my usual self. Hindi ko magawang makipag-usap sa ibang tao, hindi ko magawang sumayaw ngayon sa gitna ng dancefloor kasama ng iba pa na narito rin sa bar, at lalong hindi ko magawang magsaya. Dahil hanggang ngayon, naiisip ko pa rin 'yong nangyari kaninang umaga.

"Zenna, you're acting different," Nikka, my friend, said while looking intently at me. "Hindi lang 'yan dahil sa hindi mo pagpasok kanina sa mga klase mo, tama ba?"

I rolled my eyes. How can she read me too well? We've only been friends for a few months, and yet, she knows me as if we'd known each other since we're babies.

"You're too smart, Nikka."

"I'm not. I'm just observant. So tell me, what's the real reason?"

I drank my shot of tequila before looking up to meet her eyes.

Nikkalyn Andrada, the very first friend I made as Zenna, have these doll-like eyes that look so good even without mascara or eyeliner. But even if they are indeed gorgeous, most of the time, they're blank. Para bang walang emosyon, walang laman. Kaya siguro kaming dalawa ang mas nagkakasundo sa aming apat na magkakaibigan. Kasi parehas kaming walang laman. We're both empty on the inside, no matter how much we try to hide it.

So just after looking at her, I was already able to tell her everything that's been bothering me.

"I got into a fight. Obviously, hindi ko pinag-isipan 'yon kaya tuloy nauwi sa pagka-cut class ko. Pero 'yong pinakakinaiinis ko, ay 'yong may tumulong doon sa babaeng nakaaway ko—kay Alexis."

"I'm guessing that's a guy."

"And, you guessed it right. But not just any other guy. He's different. Ang gwapo niya, Nikka. Pero napakasama ng ugali, napakayabang, at sobrang nakakainis."

Nikka chuckled, as though I was making a joke. "And then what? What did this handsome dude did to you, for you to say all those nasty words about him?"

Muli akong napa-irap. Hindi ko alam kung nagtatanong lang ba talaga siya, o inaasar na ako. Pero bandang huli, hindi ko rin naman napigilan na sagutin ang tanong niya. "He poured his smoothie on me."

"Ohhh. . ." Nikka's smile grew wider, before grabbing her shot of tequila and drinking it in one go. "He's gutsy."

"Gutsy?" I said. My mouthed hanged open because of the word she used. "More like nasty! Tinapunan niya ko ng smoothie, Nikka. Kalalaki niyang tao, tapos ginawa niya yon sa 'kin."

"Baka naman kasi may ginawa ka kay Alexis na kinagalit niya?"

Umiwas ako ng tingin. Grabe, napakagaling talaga ni Nikka. Wala talaga akong maitatago sa kanya.

Sa halip na sumagot pa, uminom na lang ulit ako ng tequila. Mukha namang hindi na rin kailangan ni Nikka ng sagot, dahil alam kong ngayon pa lang, alam niya nang tama siya. We stayed silent for a moment, and just watched how people dance from our seats. But when I heard a voice that mentioned me from the booth behind ours, it immediately took my attention.

"Uy, guys! Si Z 'yong nasa kabilang booth, 'di ba?" sabi no'ng lalaki, malamang sa mga kasamahan niya.

"I think so. Puntahan ba natin?"

"Wait, who's Z?"

Bigla akong natigilan at muntik pang mabilaukan sa sagot na narinig. I'm in my territory, the Moonlight bar, and yet this guy from the other booth doesn't know who I am? Is he not from here?

Because of my curiosity, I stole a glance from the other booth and saw three guys sitting there. Ang isa ay nasa gitna kaya hindi ko nagawang makita ang mukha niya, pero ang dalawa ay nakita ko. Pamilyar sila, siguro madalas din dito kaya kilala rin nila ako. So then, why? Why doesn't that other guy know who I am?

"Zenna, eavesdropping is not a good habit." Nikka suddenly said, pulling me away from my train of thoughts.

I made a face that instantly made her smirk. "I'm not eavesdropping. Masyado lang malakas ang boses nila kaya naririnig ko."

"Okay. . . So, anong pinag-uusapan nila?" she asked, her brow already curved up.

"Ako."

Just after answering Nikka, I heard my name mentioned once again. "Tara, subukan nating lapitan si Z. Hindi ka naman tatanggihan no'n, Cloud. You've got the looks! She'll say yes instantly."

Cloud? Haven't I heard that name before? I thought.

Maya-maya lang, nakaramdam na ako ng presensya mula sa likuran ko. Si Nikka ay napatingin na rin, kaya sigurado na akong may tao nga sa likuran. It's them, probably. But why am I kind of feeling uneasy? It's just those guys, but I feel like there's something wrong. I just can't point my finger on it.

"Zenna, you've got company," Nikka said.

I took a deep breath, and prepared myself. For what reason? That I don't know. Then I forced my well-known sweet smile, before turning around to face those three guys.

But before I could even say a word, a familiar face shut me up. I couldn't believe it, it's him! It's that nasty guy from this morning!

"Hi!" he said, a smile plastered on his face.

Do you know how hard I wanna punch you right now? was the words I badly want to say. Gustong gusto ko siyang sigawan, o 'di kaya ay sampalin sa oras ding ito! Pero bago ko pa man magawa ang mga 'yon, naalala ko nang ako nga pala si Zenna ngayon.

If I acted that way, and tell him that I was that girl he poured his smoothie at, then that's just the same as me telling everyone in this bar that I'm pretending to be weak and unattractive every morning in my school. And that's social suicide.

So I took the chance that this nasty guy doesn't recognize me, and then acted the way I usually do whenever I am Zenna.

"Hi. I'm Zenna," I said, before taking his hand for a handshake.

His smile grew wider. Siguro nasa isip niya ay nakuha niya na ang loob ko, dahil ganito ako umakto sa kanya. Well, sad to burst his bubble, but I'm still mad at him. And he'll experience how I get mad, Zenna style.

"Hey, Zenna. . ." He trailed off. He's rubbing his nape, maybe because his nervous, or maybe he's just trying to make it look like he's intimidated. Because after looking at him, I realized how confident he is. "Let me be frank with you. My friends told me that you'll go out with any guy as long as they're good looking. So, I came here to ask you. . . Do you want to have a date with me?"

I knew it. This guy is so full of himself. He doesn't even realize that his friends are cheering for him from his back. Siguro akala niya, makukuha niya agad ang gusto niya. Funny. But his charm won't work on me.

"Sige, since naging prangka ka, paprangkahin na rin kita," nakangiti kong sagot. "Which is it that you really want. . . To go on a date with me, or to have sex with me?"

He bit his lip just to keep himself from smiling. He must've been enjoying this, but not for long.

"You got me. Of course, it's the latter. So, what's your answer?"

Nginitian ko ulit siya. But this time, I gave him my sweetest smile ever. A smile that would stay in his thoughts for quite a long while. Then without averting my eyes, I said, "No. My answer's no."

Shock was evident in his frustratingly handsome face, as well as in his friends'. And with just that, I'm satisfied. So without saying another word, I winked at him, turned around, faced Nikka and smiled at her before walking away with her out of the bar.

Oh, Cloud. You've just mess with the wrong bitch.