Chapter 2: Chapter 01- Tragedy
"You have known Felli for years. Do you think that girl would really commit?"
Bhea said while giving me her darkest side eye. Naniningkit din ang mga mata ni Rio habang nakatingin sa akin at kay Bhea.
Then Rio shrugged to the question and said, "Maybe?"
"Her ego for men. It'll crap her out!"
Then, the girls laughed it out, agreed to what Piola exclaimed. Except me. I have nothing to say with the topic so I was just silent. Well, the fact na maingay sa banda namin ng malakas dahil sa pang-aasar nila.
"Hey!" I spat.
Wala paki ang mga taong makakarinig sa paligid. Nakasimangot ako sa kanila habang sumisimsim ng wine sa kamay. I rolled my eyes on them. Not annoyed or what. Sanay na rin naman ako sa kanila.
"We know you, Felli," at nagtawanan na naman sila, likely, they are the only who's enjoying the flow. I didn't know why they aren't think of getting tired in teasing me with those creepy men randomly. They wanted me to call this guy out of nowhere after giving me their numbers kahit na 'di naman kilala.
Even freaking blind dates!
A slow and melodic music drifting through the exclusive and secluded club that caters only to premium elite members. To us. Limiting to their access, hindi naman sana ako magiging member kung hindi dahil sa kaibigan ko. Piola, who is the one and only daughter of governor-elect in the province. With its refined adorn interior and decor, one glance at the inside, it will embrace you with elegance and privilege. Thus, naturally casting each one of us.
"I don't mind, girls." Umiiling ako sa kanilang harapan.
Napalingon sa akin si Bhea. "You did not entertain the guy I introduce you last month. do you? What is wrong with you, Felicity?"
"Is that the Montecillo guy?" dagdag na tanong ni Rio habang iniinom ang wine.
"Yeah."
Bhea chuckled.
" And I am a busy person. I don't have time for dating. Tama na, girls. And..."
"And?" dagdag na tanong ni Rio.
"I checked the guy's background. His everything. And he is an actor. You know, I am a bit off to publicity."
Rio looks confused and said, "Girl? Are you not a public figure too? You are not getting younger! Kaloka ka, Fellie!"
"It's not because he wants only fame or ano. You know that he was the president of the drama club on our batch!"
Yeah. Whatever.
"He screams talent and such! Now, I will tell him na ayain ka ulit ng second date. He is a good man, girl!"
I groaned. I felt like they go corner me with this topic. That no matter how I complain and resist them to stop. Wala ang akong magagawa. They will still push it to me to do what they want. Well, I have been introduced to men in my college years. But because I am busy with academics and business stuffs, I do not let myself tried a serious relationship, not even once. Not just I still have my hang ups to one of my flings, though. But now, I couldn't think why they are still pushing me into this stuff, when they've been doing most of their lives like this since we're in college.
So, I am their favorite topic all over our little girl's night out. Hearing all their nonsense whims about me, I'd rather want to stay in the ranch than here. But then, Piola brought some serious topic about business. Bigla akong nabuhayan doon at may isang naging interesado. Aside from her father being a politician, they has businesses here in the country too. She told us that she were being trained by a great apprentice suggested from her father. Piola as the president to one of their casinos is a nightmare for her.
"Have you heard about the recent news involving the Rios?"
Kunot ang noo nang tiningnan ko s'ya.
"Rios who?"
At sabay-sabay napalingon sa akin. Imbes na ang mata ay na kay Piola, now the creepy attention is all in me. I swallowed hard. Kitang-kita pa naman sa ekspresyon ng mukha ko kahit na mag-pretend akong mali lang ang narinig. But who the heck is the Rios, though?
"I mean, i-is that a girl?"
I told them as my excuse, praying this time that I knew things around. That I am still keeping myself updated to things. Walang bahid ng pagtataka sa mga reaksyon nila. Imbes na pagtakhan ay kitang-kita ko sa ekspresyon ni Rio na tila natatawa sa maling nasabi ko. I guess, I said really something wrong. Napalingon muna sila sa isa't isa. Rio then laughed first, and all the girls laughing together now. Tumawa na rin ako para 'di masyadong halata na stupid ako sa lagay ko na 'to. Nagtagal ang tawanan hanggang sa bumaling ang mga mata sa mga bagong dumating.
As they walked silently to their reserved seats, a group of men got all the attention of the people inside except the three. They are looking in the different direction as we sat on the left side of the large room. They are also four just like us, and everyone of them looks unfamiliar for me. With almost the same embodiment, they look so define and sophisticated. where their figures are undoubtedly paragons of business acumen. Binaling ko rin ang tingin sa paligid nang mapansin kong kahit pa'y mga rich single titas are quietly observing their moves breathtakingly. Seems like these men absorb the air sensually for the moment of time.
"Kaya matagal na akong nagtataka eh,"
"Rather than having an active sex life with men, Felicity's busy finding out it with women!" Piola exclaimed, agreeing to what Bhea said.
Now, they all cheered in unison, grabbing the attention, full of laughs in the whole room. They even keep yelling my name, my whole fucking name altogether! Agad ko na lamang na tinungga ang baso na may lamang wine. I suddenly feel embarrassed when I noticed that the bartender took a glimpse in our place. Tipid at nahihiya akong ngumiti sa bartender to save my friend's ass. Sandali rin akong napaisip. Pansin ko rin ang paglingon sa banda ng mga lalaki sa gilid. At nakumpirma kong nakatingin nga rin sila sa banda namin nang hinanap ng mga mata kung saan sila nakaupo kanina. Oh! This is just a part two of involving myself another scene of embarrassment.
"Why are you hiding, Fellie girl?" pang-aasar ni Rio.
I did not respond. Using my lips and eyes, I pointed it out. It took me a couple of times to do it until she got it right. Rio looked then gave us a warning look. Shocked expression got all over her face. Her mouth forms a big-O to confirm that it is serious the next words she will say something.
At dahan-dahan na tinakpan ang bibig gamit ang dalawang kamay. Ngunit agad naman na nagbago bigla ang ekspresyon niya. The two girls looks suddenly confused. I have no idea for God sake.
"Girls. Do. Not. Fucking. Look."
She said while rolling her eyes using her maldita look.
"Bakit?"looking confused and had no idea while looking at me giving me so not ladylike. I laughed at their face expressions na akala mo'y isang contest na padamihan ng nakain na hilaw na kalamansi.
"It is the group of Siliman boys."
"Huh?"
Sandaling kumunot ang noo ni Bhea at tumango. Pumangit din ang itsura ni Piola at hindi na nag-abala na lumingon pa. Napatango na rin siya gaya nga nang sinabi ni Rio na 'wag lumingon. Tamad na sinalinan kami isa-isa ng wine ni Piola, habang nananatili pa rin ang sandaling katahimikan.
I raised my eyebrow on them, waiting for someone who will explain that.
"So you won't gonna tell me who the hell are they?" Mabilis na sumulyap si Piola sa kanila bago pinukol ulit sa akin ang tingin.
I nodded. Not just idea, but the whole damn guys. My friends knew who are they, and each one of them personally. They judged them. Samantalang ako ay hindi ko alam. It was just a one moment of time to glance at those men, then viola!
Her eyes narrowed. "What'd you think, Bhea?"
"Well, the mysterious and the darkest one. He is missing on their table."
She said like we are in an investigation meeting. I lazily stared at her. Not interested though.
"Ay, wala ba?" lumingon din si Rio.
Are they making fun of me now? Just because I have the convenient access to look at the men in the corner, they're mocking how I respond to their expressions. Saglit lang din 'yon at parang walang nangyari.
"'Di n'yo ba talaga sasabihin sa'kin?"
Then a few moment of silence, each one of them looking at their eyes like a hawk.
She then cleared her throat before speaking. And she sighed.
"The one involving the serious and controversy was the one's who's missing. The Rios," si Piola na nakahilig na sa couch ang katawan. Not having fun with the conversation huh.
"The presence of the heir of Rios' businessess was not there because..."
The fuck.
"Nevermind. I do not want to hear a thing about it." Mariin kong sabi sa kanila at bahagyang natigilan ang lahat. Ngunit nang pinagpatuloy pa ni Piola ang istorya. I acted like I didn't hear a thing and leaving them uninterested. But then it was becoming shockingly intense and raw.
"Congressman Rios..." saad n'ya na parang kami lang ang makakarinig. "...leading to the assasination of Vice-Governor Apollo's crime incident last four days ago. And so, the absence of Rios' father to important meetings in the Congress, mas madidiin tuloy na siya nga ang primary suspect. Napatay ang bise-gobernador Tandang ng Quezon, Fellie."
I stared blankly at her after hearing the news. Wala akong masabi. Nang mabanggit ang isang pamilyar na pangalan ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala. Umiiling ako sa kanilang harapan. No, it did not happen.
I had known Tandang, or Apollo Sze as a great politician and a man of wisdom. As our family connected to politicians in the province, I am close to some of his family. Then, my vivid memories of him was with her wife running as a councilor from the campaign three months ago.
As far as I know, all clean and no bad records from his leadership because he was the standard. Why does it need to be him? Why does he need to suffered like that? I took a face palm and a heavy sigh. Kumawala ako nang malalim na buntong-hininga at napansin nila 'yon.
Wala ni isang gustong magsalita sa amin. I'm in a heavy and empty feeling. I cannot attempt to talk as I cannot resist the teary eyed. Natikom ko na lang ang bibig, tinitigan ang mamahaling vase na nasa side table.
Bumalot ng matinding katahimikan na tila ibang-iba sa ingay kanina. By the moment it the sensitivity of pain rushed into my veins, I cannot help myself thinking. Violence, indeed, is the solution of all the things.
Iginala ko ang mga mata. Now that I had realized our table was the only loudest one. Hindi rin matanggal ang mga titig naming magkakaibigan sa isa't isa. It has been few days since it happened.
They looked at me in awe and comforting. I can sense that they want to hug me right now. Yet, to cause a scene publicly will not be a good part for us since there are wandering eyes around.
"Guys, we're not here for drama, okay?"
Napansin yata ni Bhea na tahimik at malungkot ang mga mata na mayroon ang lahat. Piola looked so much affected dahil kanina pa rin siya naiiyak habang nagkukuwento. Yet, she's just resisting her tearful eyes. She told us about the relationship with the vice-governor and his father in terms of personal, political, and business affairs.
And to tell the fact, that the Rios she was talking right now is the main villain of the story. I may not know and heard a bit about them other than politics. But based from their stories, it was true. He is the main suspect of the assassination that people should find out. The justice from Tandang, he deserved more than someone's lives. He's served the town with great honor and responsibility to face the challenges, and empathy to served for the people in all fair and power.
Sandali akong nakaramdaman ng luha sa mga pisngi. I immediately wiped it up and smiled at them after. Inayos ko na rin ang pagkakaupo ko sa couch. Tinabihan naman ako agad ni Rio. She leaned on me as taping my shoulder back.
"I-I didn't know about i-it," they nodded.
I swallowed hard. Didn't want my tears to fall so hard and just a moment, it might burst out of nowhere. Sumisinghot ako habang
I am very thankful with these three little bitches I have since college years. Kahit na sa Manila ako nag-aral, malayo sa kanila, even if we just met in weekends.
It was a family gathering, with my cousins, and far relatives. We did some fun activities outside and golfing is what we want to do. I thought of the first encounter we had in a golf club near Sariaya in Quezon too. It was just a brief moment to cherish. didn't expect that it would lasted up until this day.
They thought me mixed of emotions. A life of many surprises. They are beyond relationships like my own sisters. While we still have the chance to be together every time one is in need, I know that they are what I should be the one to be thankful. If there are people that I might commit to once in my life, I can decide right away without thinking doubts. This is what friends are for.
"I want to know more," I said in my cracking voice.
"M-More..."
They nodded in chorus.
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