14 Chapter Thirteen

"Ang dami mong bisita kagabi anak? Lahat sila mga kaibigan mo? Teka, bakit hindi mo inimbitahan ang mga ka-team mate mo sa league?" sabi ni Agatha.

Kasulukuyan silang kumakain ng almusal. Araw ng linggo. At magsisimba sila ngayong mag-anak, at siyempre, kasama si Issa.

Medyo nabilaukan si Issa sa iniinum niyang juice nang narinig niya ang step-mother niya na tinanong ang kuya niya kung bakit hindi niya inimbitahan ang mga varsity players. At kinakabahan siya sa ano ang magiging reaction ng kuya niya.

Kalmado lang si Arvin. Ngumiti muna siya kay Agatha at sinabing, "Mom, they preferred to attend other parties instead of going to my party. Sa tingin mo ba, gusto ng mga high school jocks makihalubilo sa mga dating ka-schoolmate ko sa St. Bernard? I mean, these guys are cool. But, compared to my former classmates in St. Bernard, they could not jive in."

Napahalakhak naman si Agatha, "Oo nga naman. Compared sa mga ka-schoolmate mo dati sa St. Bernard, your former classmates are not athletic unlike your team mates."

"Exactly!" tugon naman ni Arvin na medyo natawa rin.

Pero, umentra si naman si Martin, "Ang sabihin mo, may pagka-silahis ang ilan sa mga kaklase mo sa St. Bernard. Kagabi nga, nahuli ko ang isa sa kanila na naka-red lipsticks."

Nagtinginan sina Arvin at Issa. Hindi na sila kumibo.

Dagdag pa ni Martin, "At ang suwerte ko sa iyo, anak. Dahil hindi ka bakla gaya ng isa mong kaibigan na umattend ng party kagabi."

Gumawa ng alibi itong si Issa, "Dad, may ka-lips-to-lips siyang girlfriend kagabi. Nauna na yung girlfriend niyang umalis kasi may pupuntahan."

"Talaga? Eh, maayos ang pagkapinta ng lipsticks sa kaibigan ni Arvin a. Akala ko nga, siya mismo ang naglagay ng lipsticks sa labi niya. Hay naku! Heto na naman ako, namatay na naman sa maling akala!" sabi ni Martin.

At nagbuntong-hininga naman itong si Arvin.

Doon sa garahe, habang hinihintay ni Martin na ihanda ng driver ang kotse dahil paalis na sila patungong simbahan. Si Arvin at si Issa naman ay nasa sala. Binulungan ni Arvin si Issa, "Thanks talaga, sis! Hayaan mo. Sa susunod, makakabawi din ako sa iyo."

"Wala yun. Para ano pa na magkapatid tayo." sabi naman ni Issa.

At sa hindi inaasahan, dumating ang ilang miyembro ng varsity, kasama rin si Erin Brits, sa bahay ng mga Dela Rosa. At inabot ni Erin Brits ang regalo nila kay Arvin. Pagbukas ni Arvin ng regalo, naglalaman ito ng jacket na mamahalin.

Nagpasalamat si Arvin kay Erin, "Salamat sa regalo niyo."

Sabi pa ni Erin, "Wala yun. Friends are always friends. Especially, if friends shared common interest. Gaya ninyong dalawa ni William, you both love to play sports."

Dagdag pa ni William, "Alam mo, Arvin? Nagtatampo na kami sa iyo. Hindi mo man lang inimbita ang buong team sa party mo kagabi?"

At hindi na makasalita si Arvin. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang sasabihin niya. Gagawa na ng alibi itong si Issa, pero hinarangan agad siya ni Erin, "It's ok. Apology is accepted. I know you prefer to spend quality time with your childhood friends. And so, William and I plan to have a surprise party for you."

Sabi naman ni William, "Pare, we rented this resto-bar. It is so cool. It would be a great bachelor's party. Dahil tayu-tayo lang magkaka-team mate ang magsasalu-salo. In short, no girls are allowed."

"Oh! What a shame!" reaksyon naman ni Erin. Duda na rin ni Issa kung sarkastik ba itong si Erin.

And finally, para hindi na rin magduda ang buong team at ang daddy ni Arvin, nagdisisyon na rin siya na dumalo sa bachelor's party, "Sure, I'll be there!"

"Oh, wow! It's our pleasure for us that you will come tonight." sabi ni Erin.

Dagdag pa ni William, "And, you can wear that jacket tonight. Ako ang pumili niyan."

Napangiti lang si Arvin, "Sige, pare. Kita-kita na lang tayo mamaya. Text niyo na lang sa akin ang location."

Pag-alis nila, tinanong ni Issa si Arvin, "What is this, Kuya? A joke?"

"Of course, not! It's my birthday. I am so popular at school. And, I have friends in St. Anne too. How thoughtful of them to organize a party for me!" sabi ni Arvin.

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At 8:30 PM, sa isang resto-bar sa Timog, kung saan gaganapin ang party na inorganize nina William at Erin, dumating si Arvin. At nagulat siya na maraming nagdagsaang bisita. Karamihan sa kanila ay mga volleyball players at cheerleaders. At mga iba pa sa kanila ay malalapit na kaibigan ng mga varsity team sa ibang school.

The party is hip with cool music. Lahat ay nagsayawan at naginuman. And, Arvin feel happy to have his schoolmates around.

And, when he felt a little tipsy, Erin tagged him to the girl's restroom. She put her arms around him. She touched his hair as she nearly kissed him. But, Arvin pushed her back. Then, he went out and left her behind the restroom.

Then, Erin felt annoyed, "Hey, what was that? I thought you liked me."

He answered her back, "You're not my type. I'm sorry."

Nandun din si William sa labas, na kagagaling lang sa men's room. At nagulat siya na lumabas si Arvin galing sa girl's room. Then, he entered the girl's room and asked his girlfriend, "Are you seducing my team mate?"

"Nope. We are just drunk. That's why. But, nothing happened." sagot naman ni Erin.

At nagdududa na tuloy si William, tinanong niya muli si Erin, "Tell me, are you in love with Arvin?"

"Of course not, he is not my type. I said we're drunk. Tapos ang usapan. Why are you still asking me questions? You're my boyfriend. And, we planned this party for your friend. If people get drunk, they do crazy things." sabi naman ni Erin.

And, William started to doubt the loyalty of his girlfriend.

Kaya kinabukasan, sa school, kinomprontahan ni William si Arvin, "Are you sure that there's nothing happen between you and my girlfriend last night?"

Sagot naman na naiiritang si Arvin, "Ano ka ba? Para kang plakang sira! Paulit-ulit ang tanong! If there's something happened last night, do you think that your girlfriend normally stay with you until morning? Of course, she would plan something for us to do that thing elsewhere!"

Bira naman ni William, "Oh, I see. You decided not to kiss nor to do that thing with her because you preferred to do it with your cheerleader crush who attended the party last night! Bakit? Pangit ba sa paningin mo ang girlfriend ko?"

At natawa na lang si Arvin. Akala niya kasi kung ano na ang sasabihin ni William at pagsigawan pa sa buong school na bakla siya.

Sagot naman ni Arvin with a mischievous grin, "Exactly! That's my point. Kung ako sa iyo, palitan mo ang girlfriend mo. Dahil pangit sa babae na nakikipaglandian sa ibang lalake, lalung-lalo na kapag lasing. You think you got her respect. Of course, not!"

At medyo natauhan si William.

Nagpaalam si Arvin, "Will, I will go now. Mahuhuli na ako sa klase ko. Kita na lang tayo mamaya sa practice."

And, William just nodded at him.

When Arvin left him, he'd just got received a text message from Erin. He ignored and deleted that text message. Dahil naka-focus siya sa cellphone niya habang naglalakad siya, hindi niya namalayan na nabungo niya si Issa.

Issa is on a hurry. Her bag fell on the ground. But, being a gentleman, William assisted him to lift her bag and gave it to her.

Issa thanked William, and then hurried to go to her next class. And, William gazed his eyes on her. He is looking at her long and smooth hair and said to himself, "I wished my girlfriend has that beautiful hair!"

And, he continued to walk away, going to his next class.

When he entered the room, he was shocked to see Erin colored her hair into blonde.

She asked him, "Do you like it?"

Taka naman ni William, "But, why? I mean, why do you need to color your hair?"

"Nothing. Feel ko lang. Today is Monday. It is a brand new day! I wanted to do something different." sabi niya.

Pumasok na rin sa classroom sina Joey at Rebecca. Nagtinginan sila dalawa na medyo natatawa dahil nakita nilang naka-dye ang buhok ni Erin.

Umiling na lang si Joey at binati niya si Erin, "Nice hair!"

Sagot naman si Erin sa kanya, "Thanks for the compliment, even though you are not my type!"

Napanganga sa gulat naman sa reaksyon itong si Joey.

And, Rebecca had just pat his shoulder and said, "Move on, Joey! She already told you. You are not her type!"

At ito naman si Miggy, sa aktong gusto niyang asarin si Erin, sinabihan niya si Rebecca, "Becky, you are a natural blonde. Be proud."

"Thanks, Miggy!" sabi ni Rebecca with matching smile.

Dahil doon, naasar na naman itong si Erin kay Rebecca. Sabi pa niya sa sarili, "Why do you always get what you want? Tingnan ko lang kung ano ang lagay mo sa gagawin ko mamaya sa iyo sa gym!"

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