Kabanata 1
"Exodus 14:14 says, 'The Lord shall fight for you and He shall hold your peace'."
Taimtim akong nakapikit habang nakikinig sa Pari na nag-e-ebanghelyo sa unahan. I can hear the solemn song started to play.
People often tease me when they found out that I am going to church. They says that it's a miracle for a demonic girl like me to go to places like this. But to be honest, my frank personality doesn't reflect my habits. Hindi ko pa rin naman nakakalimutan na magsimba.
Nang matapos ang misa ay lumabas na ang dagat ng mga tao. Pinauna ko muna ang mga iyon bago ako naglakad paalis. I paused walking when a I saw a beverages stall. Saktong uhaw na rin ako.
"Pabili nga ng palamig," ani ko sa may kabataang tindera.
"Palamig? Samalamig po ito, 'te. Hindi palamig. Hehe," nakangiting pagtatama niya.
"Palamig... samalamig..." I stopped functioning for a seconds. "Parehas lang naman, ah! Ikaw talaga... kamusta ka na nga pala? Nakalabas na ba sa kulungan si Marites? Grabe, ang laki mo na. Noon ay batang musmusin ka pa lang. Tanda ko pa noon, inaalagaan pa kita kasama si Aling Bikya na Lola mo." I laughed.
"Kilala mo 'yan, Izay?" tanong ng isang matandang babae sa dalaga.
"Hindi po, Tiyang," nalilito at natatawang sagot ng babae habang inaabot sa'kin ang palamig.
Humagalpak ako ng tawa at inabot ang bayad sa babae. I don't know her. I just want to influence positive vibes today.
Madali kong ininom ang inumin bago nagtungo sa parking lot para kunin ang bicycle ko. I got it from my brother, years ago.
Napatingin ako sa side mirror ng bisekleta at sinuri ang hitsura ko. Totoong sa ilang anggulo, mukha pa akong bata. Yes, I am no type of girl but a woman. I have a natural baby face. Madalas pa akong mapagkamalan na menor de edad dahil sa mukha ko, saying that I kinda look like a baby.
Baby mo.
While rearranging my bicycle, I saw a familiar back of a person on the mirror. He's sucking the filter of a cigarette while leaning on a ducati. Napasinghap ako dahil siya 'yong lalaki na nakita ko sa 7/11 last month.
I was really charmed by his exquisite look that I've think about him for a couple of days. Hindi ko inakala na makikita ko ulit siya. Malay ko ba kung voice actor siya sa anime at isa siyang onee-chan, of course his schedule are overloaded.
Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papalapit sa kanya. He probably noticed my presence that he moved his head towards me. Nanliit ang mga maliliit n'yang mata na para bang inaalala kung sino ako.
"Uh, hi!" bati ko. "Do you still remember me?"
He scanned me from head to toe. "Uh, no? What's your name again?"
I smirked. "Yiee, interested?"
God, forgive me for flirting with a man in front of the church. Pramis, ngayon lang po ito. Amen.
He smiled and leaned closer to his motorcycle. "Chigao. I just forgot your name so I'm asking."
If we're probaby not in a public place, titili na ako ng pagkalakas-lakas! He said chigao. Lakas maka-anime! Yamete kudasai?
Char, I'm innocent.
"Sige na nga! I'm Cathace. If you think it doesn't sounds good, you just can call me baby instea—I mean, Ace or Cath." I flirtatiously laughed afterwards.
He coldly smirked with what I said.
Diyos ko, ba't naman kasi ang hot ng smirk na 'yan.
"Ace sounds boyish. I prefer Cath," he cheekily said.
He puffed on his cigarette once again before throwing it on the nearest trashcan. He look like a good boy regardless of being cold, pero bakit siya naninigarilyo?
"Why are you smoking?" nakapangalumbaba kong tanong.
"And why are you asking?" he seriously asked.
"Uh, masyado ka namang seryoso." I put my hand on my chest, specifically at my heart. "Bakit puro English ka? Don't you know how to speak in Tagalog?"
"Bakit ka curious?" diretso niyang sabi.
Namilog ang mga mata ko at tumawa. He's cute!
He just shrugged and glanced at his small wristwatch. Mabilis niyang kinuha mula sa pagkakatali sa slacks niya ang susi at sumakay na sa ducati niya. He wears the helmet and took a glimpse on me.
"Bye, Miss." He smiled once again, but it didn't reached his eyes like what smile he gave me earlier.
I don't know but I saw sadness and despair in his eyes... like he's undergoing in a hard situation.
I realized that he's leaving. Sumakay na rin ako sa bisekleta ko at nagpedal. I did sign of the cross one last time before leaving.
Lumingon siya sa akin. I don't know about his expression but he looked tensed with the knowledge of me pedaling with the same direction.
He lifted the screen of his helmet and slowed the pace of his motorcycle.
"Are you following me?" he assumed.
WTF?
I pursed my lips, containing my laugh. "No! Rito ang daan patungo sa apartment ko. As if I'd follow you."
Ngumiwi siya at ibinalik ang mga mata sa daan. He went back to his normal driving pace.
"But if you want, then I'll follow you. Saan ka ba nakatira?" pang-iintriga ko.
"Just focus on driving instead of me, Cath," usal niya.
"You might fall... for me."
After he said those words, he started to overtake the motorcycle and left me flabbergasted on the road.
I tried to reach him out by pedaling faster but he was very fast that I cannot. Ipinagkibit-balikat ko na lang ang nangyari at umuwi na. It's like I'd die. Crush ko lang naman siya. Plus he has my number, kung magbago man ang isip n'ya at tawagan ako para makipagdate, oh e'di one call away lang ako.
I'm not a typical cyclist that brings bike for façade. Nagbi-bike lang ako kapag hindi naman kalayuan ang pupuntahan para makatipid sa pera dahil hindi naman bumubukal ang pera. Kung magbi-bike naman ako para lang maging astig tingnan, I don't have time for that.
"Bulaga!"
Napatalon ako nang marinig ang malakas na boses ni Karen mula sa likod pagkapasok ko sa apartment. Napaatraas ako sa gulat at napahawak sa dibdib.
Sino ba namang hindi magugulat sa pagmumukha niya? She's wearing a demon headban and scary make-up. Nakasuot din siya ng kapa na parang pang-superman.
"Loka ka!" sigaw ko sa kanya.
"What do you think? Cute ba ako rito?" She laughed evilly.
"Medj. Pero ano'ng trip mo? Para kang tanga," natatawa kong sagot.
"Pakyu ka talaga mhie!" natatawang utas niya habang inaayos ang headban na  unti-unting nalalaglag mula sa ulo n'ya.
Pabagsak akong umupo sa couch at tiningnan siya. "Kidding aside, okay naman. Just scary, para kang si chakadal."
Ngumiwi siya. "Lumaban kasi ako sa online competition, we'll act and dress as a horror character like Valak or Annabelle, and the winner will got money. Humina na rin kasi ang bar na pinagta-trabahuhan ko so I tried."
I sincerely smiled. Among all of friends I've encountered, Karen is the best. She never judged me of who I am. She never judged me with my past, for I don't with her, either. She's like my sister.
"BTW, I saw the chinky-eyed guy on the church earlier," balita ko sa kanya.
Napalingon agad siya sa akin. "Chinky-eyed? 'Yun bang ikinwento mo sa'kin na nakita mo sa 7/11 last month na gwapong mukhang hapon na kinabaliwan mo na at paulit-ulit mong sinearch sa Facebook ang pangalan pero hindi mo nahanap kaya nawalan ka ng pag-asa?" mahabang tanong n'ya.
"Grabe ka naman! 'Wag mo akong ibuking. Hindi naman masyado!" I put my index finger near her mouth to shut her up.
"Pero oo, siya nga 'yung nakita ko sa 7/11 last month. Alam mo bang pa-fall siya? Girl, kuko pa lang yata niya ay ibang level na! Kabog na kabog ang mga blockmates ko na manyak!" I said.
I suddenly remember what Haruto said, 'Just focus on driving instead of me, Cath. You might fall... for me.'
It's fine for me if he's not the one, pero kung siya man, why not? Hindi masamang tanggapin ang biyaya.
"I'll leave you for now, Cath. Dami ko pa nga palang gawain!" Tumayo si Karen at pumasok sa loob ng silid n'ya.
I decided to also go to my room and take a shower. Pagkalabas ko mula sa banyo ay tumunog ang notification bell sa cellphone ko. Kinuha ko iyon at binasa. It's a text from Shanelle, a model.
Shanelle:
Hi, Cathace! It's Shanelle. I'm still up for inviting you to our model agency. If you don't mind, please reply. I am anticipating for your response!
Me:
Kiss muna.
Shanelle's been offering me the opportunity to be a free lance model to their modelling agency. Hindi naman ako masyadong interesado at isa pa, may sideline na ako sa isang coffee shop. Baka tuluyan na akong mabaliw kung may isang trabaho ako habang nag-aaral 'tapos dadagdagan ko pa.
Muli akong nakatanggap ng message kay Shanelle.
Shanelle:
Please be serious with this. The quantity of our models are decreasing and having you as one of us is a great idea, you surely have a potential.
Me:
I'll think about it. Medyo busy rin ako sa acads kahit bobo ako, so...
A few minutes later, my phone rang. And it's Shanelle again.
"Hello?" panimula ko.
"Hi, Cathace! We're truly desperate to have you. Ipinakita ko sa founder ng agency ang public photos mo sa Facebook and he said you really have the looks. I am hoping for a yes."
Bumuntonghininga ako at sumagot ng simpleng 'okay' bago siya pinagbabaan. People can really be desperate, sometimes.
Kinuha ko ang pulbo sa pouch ko na nasa drawer. Naglagay ako ng kaunti. I removed the towel in my head and blow-dried it . Mayamaya ay narinig kong muling natunog ang cellphone ko. I heaved a breath at iritado iyong sinagot.
"Why are you so hardheaded, Shanelle? Parang mas matigas pa sa pader ang ulo mo. Isang taon ka nang kulit ng kulit sa'kin. I told you, I'm not interested and I'll think about it. You can just text me, bakit ma—" Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita nang makadinig ng mahinang tawa mula sa kabilang linya.
Nanlaki ang mata ko at napasinghap. Wait, that's not Shanelle! Parang boses yata iyon ng lalaki!
"Uh, hi?" said by the guy on the other line.
"Wait, sorry. Sino ba 'to?" tanong ko.
He cleared his throat before speaking.
"Sorry, Cath. It's Haruto. I just wanna ask you something?" patanong n'yang sabi.
I was shook. I checked the caller and found out it's an unregistered number.
Napa-kurapkurap ako at umiling. Pinatay ko agad ang tawag at napaupo sa kama. May hiya ka pa pala, Cathace!
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Illuminativity