9 Crisis

Nine

Crisis

It's eleven in the evening. An EDM is booming around the house. Carol grabbed a glass and poured herself a liquid drink. She drank it in one go. The sting oddly relaxed her mind from the unnecessary thoughts.

Napasandal siya sa pinto ng refrigerator. Her eyes closed. The phone vibrated on the counter top next to her. She opened it and got a message from Gelo. She sighed as she typed her reply.

ge_beltran: You know it's his birthday soon, right?

ckaraneta: Yes, Anghelo. I'm his friend too.

Carol poured another one. She remembered that day. The day they stop being just friends. She knows how Rai feels about her. But she chose to ignore it. Carol wished he didn't tell her so then it's easier to pretend.

ge_beltran: Magpakita ka na. Stop being a coward. Alam mong kayang-kaya ka naming puntahan sa inyo.

ckaraneta: Edi pumunta kayo. Hatiran ko pa kayo ng chopper?

Napailing siya sa kaibigan. Thank you dahil sa konsiderasyon niyo. She thought sarcastically. No matter how she loves Gelo, his unnerving words always makes her mad.

ge_beltran: Sobra-sobrang oras na binigay namin.

ckaraneta: ano ka, five-six?

ge_beltran: ha ha let's talk soon

Hindi na nga niya ata matatakasan. She has to face them. They have to have the 'talk'. Sana lang hindi maging crying fest ang araw na 'yon. She hates crying so much. Even in movies. Bea always the first one who cries. Jeorge is the second one who ugly cries and laughs. While she's the one who will teasingly mocked them. And Gelo is one who will give them tissues while rolling his eyes. How she wish she can go back to those days.

"Rai, why did you have to do it? Masaya ka na ba? To see us suffer for abandoning you?" she choked on her own tears.

Naubos niya ang isang bote ng rum. Saka naglakad patungo sa sala where she slumbered off feeling all the guilt and pain that they caused him. She deserved to feel this way. God knows how Rai felt alone all those days and nights. This emotion she's feeling is nothing compared to his suffering.

She woke up, half of her body numb from the position she slept on. Carol functioned like the usual. It's another day in the lab. This is the only normalcy she could get. Inayos niya na ang sarili saka nagmadaling pumunta sa Gustavio.

"Carol, di ka pa tapos?"

Bumalik si Arny para silipin siya. Nakatoka siya ngayon para linisan ang mga lab materials. At least in here, she has a purpose. She turned at the door and smiled at Arny.

"Wait lang, malapit na. Tatapusin ko lang 'to," sambit niya saka inayos ang mga tubes, beakers at pipettes.

She got her backpack saka lumabas. Nakita niya si Arns at Luis.

"I'm done. Kain tayo? Libre mo naman kami, Lu," she said and nudged Luis.

Luis immediately agreed, "Sure, saan niyo gusto?"

They went to Uni Ave, the hub where all the universities meet. This is the lighter version of the Zone. The atmosphere of the whole Uni Ave is the best. Puno ng mga restaurants, places to have fun and whatnot.

"First time niyan manlibre. He's really infuriating," Arns told her silently as they got off from Luis's car.

"Edi lubusin natin. I'm giving you a favor," she replied and winked at her.

"Carol!" Arns exclaimed.

"Shhh. Arns, you're welcome," sambit niya habang tumatango.

They went inside a Javanese restaurant and ordered a meal. The two grilled her with some questions about SUN. If they're so curious of her former school. Maybe they should've enrolled there. But of course she told them anything she can. Until Luis and Arns turned to each other bicker once again.

Napatingin siya sa glass windows saka nakita si Vico na naglalakad. Where is he going? Wala ba itong pang-taxi man lang? She stood up from their table.

"Carol, saan ka?"

Hindi niya pinansin ang tawag nila. Lumabas siya mula sa restaurant saka sinundan si Vico.

"Hey!" tawag niya dito.

As he turned around, she greeted him with a hard slap on his face. He was dumbfounded, holding his left cheek. Her hand tingled from the slap. When he realized that it was her, his face suddenly turned enrage.

"What the hell?" he bellowed furiously.

He looks like he just got off from class. Mukhang pagod at stressed ang mukha nito. Now she's a little bit sorry. Only a little bit though.

"You deserved that. Asshole!" she yelled back.

"You—

She shushed him using her index finger. "Now it's my turn to say— shut the hell up, Vico," she uttered and flashed him a crazy grin. Gulat parin ito sa mga ginawa niya.

"Aww... Masakit ba?" she asked mockingly. The part of his face where her hand hit is reddening. Ang lakas yata talaga nang pagkakasampal niya that her hand imprinted on his cheek.

"What do you think? Bakal ba 'yang kamay mo?" singhal nito.

Natawa siya lalo sa mukha ni Vico. His nose is flaring. Confused as he doesn't know what to do. She stepped closer and gave him a peck on his cheek. He immediately pushed her.

"Ayan. It's gonna get better now," she told him, still beaming.

"Are you a psycho?" His brows furrowing from distress.

Mas lalo lang siyang natuwa sa reaksyon nito. She's been dreading to do that. Napaka-satisfying nito. To slap and kiss him. Although the latter is kind of a stretch. Pero pwede na rin. She can later do it in another scenario where it's just the two of them. Maybe there's bed or not. It doesn't matter.

"OA! Pwedeng baliw lang?" Tumawa siya saka iniwan ito itong bahagyang nakanganga pa sa kanyang ginawa. May kung anong tuwa siyang naramdaman. She got her little revenge against him. Kulang pa nga 'yon. Hindi lang sampal ang gustong gawin niya sa lalaki. There's so many things but that can wait.

Oh Carol, what are you doing with a man whose in a relationship, apparently? She thought and brushed it off. She can later think of that when it's time. Ngunit sa isip niya, wala naman siyang masamang ginagawa. She's just playing and she likes how he's responding.

"Saan ka galing?"

"Anong nangyari sa'yo?"

Their faces are curious and baffled at the same time. Dahil siguro sa ngiting di mabura sa mukha niya.

"Something divine and satisfying happened to me," sagot niya na lang saka pinagpatuloy ang pagkain.

The two finally let it go. Bumalik na sila sa pagkain at pag-uusap. Arny and Luis really talk like they;re an old couple. They don't even notice that she's here. And Arns had the guts to deny that she has a crush on Luis? And Luis, this stupid guy keeps on hitting on her.

Napatingin siya sa oras. "Opss. Gotta go. May pupuntahan pa pala ako," she told them.

Napatingin ang dalawa sa kanya. "Huwag mo 'kong iwan dito," reklamo ni Arns.

"I'm quite offended, Arns," saad ni Luis.

"Tumigil ka nga," Arns smacked his arm. Nailing na lang siya sa dalawa.

"Talk with each other. Weakshits," aniya saka kinuha ang bag.

She went out and hailed a taxi. There's someone she wants to see and talk. Hindi niya alam kung anong sasabihin, sa totoo lang. All she wants is to see her and confirm something.

Mukhang hindi siya matatahimik kung hindi ito magiging klaro sa kanya. Whether she wants to get back at her or just to plainly talk to her. Either way, she has to end this crazy thoughts at the back of her mind.

She pushed the doorbell and waited for a few moments. This must be the right building. She suddenly feel sick. Okay, wala naman siyang gagawing iba. She's going to stay civilized and put an end to this.

The door swung opened and there she was, Kata with her eyes wide open. "How did you know I live here?" tanong nito sa kanya.

"Brix, gave me your address," she replied with a blank stare.

"Of course, my stupid cousin. Pasok ka," she sighed and opened the door.

"Make it quick. My boyfriend's coming over," dagdag nito.

"Boyfriend? I thought..." she trailed off.

She didn't sit or anything. They were just standing there. Kata sighed, her arms folded on her chest.

"Carol, if you're here because of what happened on that island, stop wasting your time. It was just a meaningless sex," she said so casually.

"Do you want me to buy that bullshit?" singhal niya.

"Look, I'm sorry if I confused you pero problema mo na 'yon," anito saka tinalikuran siya.

She gasped in disbelief. "Fuck you," bulong niya saka lumabas sa pintuan.

It's a mistake coming here. Ano bang mapapala niya? She should've known better.

"Carol, wait!"

She stopped on her way.

"Shit. I'm sorry, okay? It isn't fair of me to say this but please don't tell anyone," she pleaded.

Hinarap niya ito. "Dahil ba sa career mo? I'm not that shallow, Kata. Or am I?" Napatungo ang babae saka lumapit sa kanya.

She looked so down. Where is all that strong persona she had? Carol can see fear and panic in her eyes.

"Look, I'm just starting to make a name for myself. I'm not gonna let this shitty sexual escapades ruin everything," Kata tried to explain but it doesn't make sense to her.

"I hate what you did to me but I think the Kata I met months ago was long gone. You're not her," she uttered.

Silence enveloped. Kata got her hand and looked her in the eye.

"Carol, I know what you feel. I've been there. If you want to talk to me, cool your head first then we can settle everything," sambit nito.

Binawi niya ang kamay. "No, don't bother," she ended and walked away.

She got the answer she wants.