Denial Stage of Ezra (Part 2)
Kumain kami ng lunch at nagsimula naman maging cold si Dior. Bigla syang walang kibo. Pinag walang bahala ko iyon. Paminsan minsan ay binibigay ko sa kanya at kay kuya ang mga pagkain na ayaw ko.
"Gusto mo?" I look at him giving me macaroons at pinagsalin ng lemonade sa baso.
After eating lunch, we spent the rest of the noon in the entertainment area. They are busy playing poker, pati si Ate Jastice na kanina na nag ssketch at napalaro na rin kasama nila. Si Dior na nasa tabing couch na busy sa cellphone nya. Mukhang nag lalaro nanaman, he even talking to someone. Buti na lang at naka earpods sya.
Nag sisimula na ring dumami ang tao. Full moon break, so sure na dadami ang tao sa hotel. Itinukod ko ang kamao ko sa ulo ko.
I feel sleepy. Ang dami ko kasing nakain kanina. That's bad for my diet.
Halos malaglag na ang ulo ko sa aking kamao nang biglang may umupo sa tabi ko. I smell Dior's perfume.
"Sandal." Saad nya at wala ako sa sarili na sumandal sa balikat nya.
"Sinong kalaban mo?"
"Hmm? It's a gamble game."
"Pustahan? Anong pusta?"
"Merchandise? It's for Sabina."
"Anong kapalit?"
"Jordan." Napamulat ako.
"Ganon ka mahal iyon?" Tumango sya.
"It's collectable. Sealed and Brand new. Naubusan si Sab noong nakaraan cause mom needs to confiscated her phone cause she's always late fall asleep and too early waking up. It's bad for her. —reinforcement here sa bot." Rinig kong saad nya.
"Dagdag pa ang effort mo pag nanalo ka."
"Actually wala syang kapalit. Ang merch ang price. Bibigyan ko ang tropa ko ng Jordan kapalit ng merch when we win.— nice one Josh!" Tumango na lng ako at tuluyang pumikit. That's Dior, Kaya mahal na mahal sya ni Sabina because he spoiled Sab so much.
Nagising ako noong ginising ako ni Ate Jastice para mag prepare. Nag gear kami at napagkasundoan na hatiin kami sa 2. So ang magkateam ay sina kuya Dam at Kuya together with their girls. While us are Kuya Travis, Ate Jastice, me and Dior.
Rules are simple. We only need i man standing and that's the man will considered as winner. Syempre mas maraming hindi mapapatumba syang panalo. So the main target to considered as dead is the chest and back of the head. That's 2 points. We never advise the head. Basta iyong dibdib ay okay na.
Nakasuot naman kami ng gear.
Iniwan kami ni Ate Jastice at Kuya Travis. Ang daya talaga.
"So what's the plan?" Tanong ko kay Dior.
"Buti 'di sila nag tandem ni Ate Jastice." Ngusi si Dior sa akin.
"Why?"
"Magaling si Ate Stacey sa shooting. They always camp with Ate Jastice. Tinuturuan nila si Ate Jastice sa shooting." Tumango ako.
"I will find a perfect spot for you. Sure ako they will leave Ate Gwen behind as their last man. I will search for Ate Gwen and will rendezvous with you again. Okay?" Tumango ako sa sinabi nya.
Dior smiled.
"Hide well and shot everyone that come for you. I'm sure Kuya Axel or Kuya Dam will search for you. Kayang kaya ako ni Kuya Dam." Ngumuwi ako.
"Show them your skills in gaming." Humalakhak sya. We found a perfect spot. Mas mataas ang terrain and my malaking puno.
"Pag may ahas, tumakbo ka na lang."
"The heck! Wag ka na umalis. Sama na lang ako." Saad ko tinawanan nya ako.
"Joke. They have cameras around. Once na makita nila na nag papanic ka pupuntahan ka nila. Mag tago ka lang. Wait for me here." Tumango ako.
Ilang oras akong nag hintay sa kanya hanggang sa nainip ako. But surprisingly, i seen Ate Gwen alone.
"Tsk." Saad ko noong 'di ko sya natamaan. Tumakbo si Ate Gwen so i try to chase her. Napaka tagal na nging tahuan namin hanggang sa nabaril ko sya sa dibdib.
"Hahaha! That was fun. I guess you win." Tawa nya sa akin.
"Sorry Ate, are you the last man?"
"Nope. Si Axel." Nanlaki ang mata ko. Omg! So Dior is searching for Kuya.
"Well, Axel is not good nor bad in this game. Kaya nga sya nag aya eh." Sweet nyang saad.
Nagkwentuhan kami ni Ate. Sinabi ko sa kanya na hihintayin ko si Dior dito.
"You are close with him."
"Well we have the same age, Ate. And i have no choice. Kaysa out of place kay Kuya Dam and Kuya."
"He cling around you. Is that okay? You look couples, kung hindi alam na mag pinsan kayo." I blink and look at Ate Gwen. She look serious.
"He is like that ever since we are high school I guess and we are like best buddies. Her sister Sabina is lower grade than us so we intend to have the same sched. Is that bad Ate?" Umiling sya.
"Well, do you think it's bad?" Napaisip ako. Do i think?
Kung tutuosin laging distant ang ibang lalaki sa akin. I always ask Dior for his opinion even it out of his reach. I mean sa mga bagay na dapat ako naman ang mag decided.
Masama ba na sobra kaming close ni Dior?
"Of course, it's not bad. Sorry kung tinanong ko pa. Maybe you love and sees him like how you sees your brother. Parang kapatid."
No. I never see him as my brother. Best friend pwede pa. But brother? A part of me denied it and I don't want to look at him like that. It's enough that he is my cousin.
Nagulat kami nang dumating si Kuya.
"Ang daya ni Dior."
"Natalo ka ni Dior?" I ask with shocking face.
"I ask him for a talk. I was about to walk away but he shoot me. So it's counted." Tabang na sabi ni Kuya.
"That's Baste for yah, Kuya. So we only have 2 more player to hunt. Bye Ate." Tumakbo ako at hinanap si Dior. I found him being trap between a terrain and Kuya and Ate Stacey trap him.
Nagtago ako ilang distansya kay Ate Stacey. I look at Dior.
Stupid Dior! Do you see me? Look around.
Ahh, bahala na nga.
Inasinta ko si Ate Stacey at natamaan ko sya. Agad naman akong pinatamaan ni Kuya Dam kaya nawala ang atensyon nya kay Dam. Natamaan ako ni Kuya Dam kaya I'm out.
"Come on! Shoot him! Sebastian!" Utos ko at ginawa nya naman.. Tumawa ako at pumalakpak noong nakita ko na tinamaan sa dibdib si Kuya.
Nag tago pa si Dior. It's over but he still never lose his guard. Maybe because he thinks that Ate Gwen is still alive.
"Dior! Come out! You stupid!" I shouted and laughed cause we win.
"It's over!" He came out and kuya Dam shoot him with irritation.
"Meron pa kaming isang player, Ezra!"
"Who? Ate Gwen, I killed her. So basically Dior was the last man standing." Saad ko and Dior walk closer to me.
"What happened to the plan, you dummy?" Tumawa ako kay Dior.
"I get tired of waiting it's too boring." I said. He become serious this time.
"Waiting for me to come back? You get tired?" Tumango ako. Ang boring.
"Yeah. Wala man lang ako nagawa."
"Don't be." He whisper. "Pardon?" Napakurap ako. Ano iyon? Anong don't be?
"Don't get tired when it's about waiting.. for me." I tilt her head and look at him with confusion.
The statement attack me differently. Para bang may bagay sa akin na gustong sumang ayon. Paano pag life and death? Do i still need to wait for him?
"I will come back when i say i will come back. Just don't get tired okay?" Paglilinaw nya. Tumango na lang ako. That's weird.
We meet the others and take a selfie. Syempre with Dior as the last man standing.
"Lalo na siguro when Sabina is here." Tumawa kaming dalawa ni Dior. Pinag umpog namin ang mga kamao namin.
"Lets all remove our gear. So what you guys wants from us? Pick one of your opponent." Agad akong nag isip kung sino at ano. Wala naman akong gusto but i want to say sorry to Ate Gwen to shooting her.
"Hmm? Mine is Ate Gwen. Hmm sorry if i need to kill you. Dior is really determined to win. Maybe a bottle of champagne? Or your best makeup." Tumawa si Ate at tumango habang yakap yakap sya sa likod ni Kuya. Ang sweet.
"Ako si Kuya Axel. Sorry Kuya, utakan na lang kasi. Hahahha. Iyong sa kotse kanina. Siguro iyon na lang. I need to buy Jordans for my team players kapalit ng merch ni Sab." Paliwanag ni Dior. That's a good consequence! Ang galing ah!
"I told you, it's all good. No need to bother. But if you insisted. Okay." But in the other hand it's a lot of money. Kahit maliit na gasgas iyon, the repaint must be the whole side at least.
"That was a good trade! Baste! Nice!"
I ask Ate Stacey for a extra shirt. Gusto ko mag palit ng top man lang.
"Ow no. Sinundo lang ako ni Dam sa ospital. We just buy clothes in open malls. Sakto lang ang binili ko, Ezra. Sorry." Tumango ako at ngumiti.
"It's okay Ate. I didn't know kasi na mag paintball tayo. I thought it's just golf. No biggie, Ate. I will ask Ate Gwen na lang." ngumiti ako at nagtungo ako sa elevator. Only to find out that she's size small and I'm small -medium size. Hindi kasya at hindi komportable.
"My shirt, Ezra. Ayaw mo?"
"Nah it's to big. I will ask Dior na lang. Anyway! I need to go! Sa baba na lang ako magpapalit when Dior have extra. Nakita ko ang gym bag nya sa sasakyan. We will rendezvous Sab in one of the malls in district 1."
"Mag iingat kayo. Ahh, Ezra, can i ask favor please?"
"Ano ba iyon kuya?"
"Just avoid calling Dior as Baste. He is way distracted by that." I blinked. Talaga?
That's sad.
"Do you think so Kuya?" Tumango sya. Syempre he knows. Of all the people, sya pa ba ang tatanungin sa mga behavioral ng tao, he is a human scanner.
"Does it cause trouble?" Muli syang tumango kahit wala sa akin ang atensyon nya ngayon dahil sa nagcheck na sya ng phone.
"How serious? Hindi ko naman napapansin. 'Di naman sya naiirita."
"Just try to avoid. I'm not forcing you. I'm asking a favor. Its up to you if you do it or not." Ngumuso ako.
"A'right. I'll avoid it. I need to go." Lumapit ako at humalik sa kanyang pisngi.
"Enjoy the full moon, Kuya." I said and went outside their hotel room. I go straight to Dior's car and knock his window.
"Do you have extra shirt?"Kinalkal nya ang gamit nya to look for it. He is topless. Nag papalit siguro sya.
I shift my gaze. His body is proud as ever. Halos naman silang lahat sa pinsan ko. Maging si kuya Axel. That's why girls drool over them because of their appearance plus they good looking features.
And it sucks for us girls. Like some of girls ask for their types or likes. Duh! Ask themselves! I will never give my brother and my cousin too easily. Lalo na itong si Dior.
Napaisip ko. Why would i not?
Si Dior na lang ang single sa family namin na lalaki.
Erase erase! I should focus talking to him. I look at him while he is looking for extra shirt.
"Sinundo lang pala ni Kuya Damien si Ate Stacey. They just buy clothes in mall along the way, that's why it's enough for their stay. Then i ask Ate Gwen but her shirts are too small for me. Ghad! I love her body. Pang runway." I burst in frustration! Sana ako rin. Inabot ko ang tshirt nya. It was brown Versace medusa embellished. That's cool.
"And your bottoms?"
"I'm wearing bike shorts underneath. Pawisan lang talaga ang top body ko." I grab his hygiene kit and towel. It smells like his perfume.
"Use this." Tumango ako.
"Wait for me, Baste." Napakagat ako sa labi ko. Ahh! Kasasabi lang ni Kuya eh. Hay nako! Ezra!
Tumakbo na lang ako sa may clubhouse. I ask for the comfort rooms and they guide me the way.
I put some powder and tin and good to go. Muli akong bumalik ng sasakyan at nilagay ang gamit sa likod na upuan.
"Let's meet Sabina in the Mall. I'm kinda hungry too."
"We can eat here again if you are that starving." Umiling ako.
"Nah! Sa mall na." So i just browsed pictures and post it in socials. I seen Kuya and Kuya Dam post of their girls.
Nakakainggit!
Then Dior's story pop. Its was me. Natawa ako. So i repost that post.
With caption of 'Best Dude.'
Nag park si Dior sa basement parking and sabay kaming bumaba ng sasakyan. Saka ko lang napansin na pareho kami ng suot magkaiba lang ng kulay ng shirt.
"Nag paintball kayo. Inggit akoo!" Saad ni Sabina nang makapasok kami sa isang asian style restaurant. Humalik ako sa pisngi nya.
"You look good! Para kayong mag couple ni Kuya!" Nagkatinginan kami ni Dior.
"Well that's for someone na 'di alam na mag pinsan kayo. I love the shirt by the way. May gan'yan din ako." Ngumisi si Dior sa sinabi ni Sab.
"So how was the Event? Do you enjoy it?" Nanlaki ang mata ni Sab.
"Omg! Benjamin is really awesome. Nagawan nya ng paraan to make our tickets to become meet and greet and then have an actual duel with the champions. Nakalaro ko si Vee! Omg! That's insane! And you know Ezra, she told me that I'm actually good for a gamer. And told me that I'm good with my outfit. I even make her sign my shirt! Gosh! Ipapaframe ko ito!" Halos umirit si Sabina! She's an avid.
"Kuya! I got a merch and i make your fav player sign. Pero sayang wala ka! E'di sana nakalaro mo rin sila." Pang aasar ni Sab.
"Well i enjoy the paintball game with them. Benj, hindi ka nakasama sa game kanina. But we won. So half na lang ang ibibigay ko. Basta akin ang merch." Napalingon kami ni Sabina kay Dior. Ngumiti si Benjamin.
"Wag na Dude. Para sa kanya rin naman iyon 'di ba?" Napalingon si Sabina.
"What's that?" Ngumisi si Dior at nilabas ang cellphone. Pinakita nya ang merchandise collectable na napalanunan nila sa isang game. That's way expensive for collectible.
Nanlaki ang mata ni Sab.
"Galingan mo sa finals and i will give you this as reward." Napanganga sya.
"Really! Omgosh! I can't believe it! Thank you kuya!!" Tumayo sya at inabot ang leeg ni Dior kahit nasa kabilang side sila ng table. Sabina is spoiled princess of Dior. Minsan nag rereklamo si Dior na nauubos ang shopping allowance nya para lang maibili si Sabina ng gusto nyang bags. Nag rereklamo sya pero binibili nya parin para lang mapasaya si Sabina.
Knowing us, we never reused out expensive outfit. So we intend to sell it then give to charity. Ganun ang turo nina Tita and mommy.
To give to those who are not as fortunate as us. But i know walang sobrang hirap sa Luna.
"I will pick it up to the event organizer of the game. Wait for it. Wala pa sa akin. I ask my friends to help me win in a team game. So basically i need to pay them. But it's fine. I know you wanted it so bad." Paliwanag ni Dior at tinap ang balikat ni Sab para bumitaw. Humalik sa pisngi si Sab bago kumalas sa yakap.
"Still! Thank you. Wala akong mahanap niyan sa online." Nag kwentuhan kami hanggang sa hindi na namin namalayan ang oras. We intend to shop a little. Nakita ko tuloy kung paano maging happy si Sab kay Benjamin.
"Nanliligaw ba sya kay Sab?" Umiling si Dior.
"Hindi pa. I don't allow her to enter relationships. Even she is old enough, feeling ko kasi, Sab is way immature to experience love and pain of heartbreaks. Tingnan natin ang pasensya ni Benjamin." Ngumisi ako.
"Parang si Tito Damien lang."
"Sab, mag tira ka ng allowance 'cause after finals may vacation tayo remember. We will buy swimsuits."
"Ah! I forgot about that. Nandyan naman si Kuya. Hahahah!" See? She rely to her brother.
We went home after that.