Chapter 4

"Oh, you know her name!" Oshlov declared in a sarcastic way, na parang may ipinapahiwatig siya.

Cydeo shrugged. "Yes. Madalas siyang usapan sa College of Commerce, specifically my blockmates, kaya hindi ko rin maiwasang makinig. Sorry if that offended you," he reasoned out. His voice made my knees weak. It was husky baritone which got me distracted. Napatingin ulit ako sa labi niya sabay balik sa mga mata niya. Damn, I was seeing an angel.

Mezka giggled which caught my attention. "You're a campus crush pala. Before naririnig ko na yata ang names mo sa guy friends ko sa student council. You're a chic daw and now that I see you na, I proved that surreal. You are gorgeous nga talaga," she said with an excited voice. Nailang ako sa compliment na binigay niya kaya hindi ko alam kung paanong ngiti ang gagawin ko. "Anyway, paniguradong kilala niyo na si Cydeo and if you don't mind, I am Mezka Avanzado nga pala." Then she smiled but it never amused me. I already knew her, the it girl in our college. Nilingon ko na lang ulit si Cydeo at nakita kong nakatuon na ang tingin niya sa phone niya. "By, let's eat muna. Later na 'yan," Mezka whispered to him though I heard it. Cydeo just nodded. Inilapag niya ang phone sa gilid ng table.

"My teammates are making me hurry. Baka hindi na namin kayo masamahan nang matagal," he said while looking at me. Napangiti na lang ako at tumango.

Ibiza, that was so not you! Gusto kong sampalin ang sarili ko dahil para akong tuod sa kinauupuan ko. I couldn't even blab a thing at halos panuorin ko lang sila. Pakiramdam ko ay tumitiklop ang dila ko kapag magkasama silang dalawa, because it kept making me feel like I was too far from then. Yes, I could flirt but—

"Teammates? Naglalaro ka rin pala?" Finally, Oshlov broke the awkwardness. Na-realize niya rin siguro na hindi ako nagsasalita kaya siya na ang gumawa ng conversation.

"A bit. Track and field," Cydeo answered, and I knew it. Hindi man halata sa balat niya pero he used to be a varsity runner. Humble lang talaga ang 'a bit' niya dahil nanalo na siya sa ilang competition university-wide.

"Hindi halata sa balat, ha? Anong skin care mo?" biro ni Oshlov na hindi malaman nina Cydeo kung biro o hindi dahil... Sino bang hindi mawi-weirdo-han na may nagpapatawang mukhang emo? Oshlov was in her mood today which meant all black na naman siya, pati eyeliner, eyeshadow at lipstick.

"Cydeo needs to take care of his skin," Mezka interupted. I knew that because... "He is a model kasi," she added.

"Wow. Multi-talented." Then Oshlov laughed sarcastically after she commented and glanced at me as if telling me that I got a good taste with guys.

"Super!" Mezka exaggerated. "As in! He knows everything. Cool yet humble. Into business na rin siya since siya ang hahawak ng company nila kaya nga he is in commerce. Do you know Izquierdo Resort and Restaurants? He will handle that," she continued. It was impressive that she bragged her boyfriend's achievement without sounding boastful.

I mentally rolled my eyes. Yeah, right. He knew almost everything plus he got the looks though still kinda lean, the reason that I like him.

Cydeo was quiet, so was I. Busy siya sa pakikinig kina Mezka at Oshlov samantalang busy naman ako sa pagtitig sa kanya na hindi niya napapansin. His face was just too perfect. Maganda ang features niya, idagdag mo pa ang kinis at aliwalas ng balat niya. Iisipin ng ibang dugyot na lalaking bakla siya sa unang tingin dahil tipid ang galaw niya pero kapag nagsalita na siya, lalaking-lalaki.

"Aren't that tiring? Council VP internal, achiever, you also help your parents in their business, ballerina and exploring artsy things!" Instead of answering, Mezka just smiled at Oshlov. "May hindi ka pa ba kaya?" Oshi asked once again.

Mezka looked away. "Marami naman akong hindi kaya na pwedeng kaya ng ibang tao and I think, everyone can do what I can do rin naman. It is a matter of time, passion, and courage," she stated then smiled. Napatigil doon si Oshlov na akala mo ay biglang naging dead kid. Akala ko mapupuno na naman ng katahimikan pero nagsalita na si Cydeo na hawak ang cellphone niya.

"I think we have to—"

"Oh fuck!" Napatayo si Oshlov samantalang nanlaki naman bigla ang mga mata ko. Napatigil rin si Cydeo sa dapat niyang sasabihin at mabilis na inilapag ulit sa ang phone niyang di mabitaw-bitawan ng tingin kanina. He became panicked.

"Sadya 'yon, ah?" Oshlov exclaimed to the guy who poured the red iced tea on Mezka's skirt, our uniform. Nakatayo na rin siya at tulala sa damit niya. "What the hell! Ngingisi ka lang? Are you some kind of shit? Kalalaking tao—"

"Hey, stop," Cydeo commanded which really made Oshlov stopped. "Mezka has a spare clothes in her locker. I think we have to go." Mabilis niyang dinampot ang bag niya at ang bag ni Mezka saka inalalayan si Mezka na maglakad nang mabilis dahil nakatingin ang mga tao. That couple hated too much attention so I could say that that was their action when it comes to those things. Lumayo kaysa lumaban. Hindi katulad ng katabi ko.

Mabilis kong nilingon si Oshlov na akala mo ay close na close kay Mezka. "Overacting, bitch. Affected ka ba masyado?" I asked.

"How 'bout you? Halos hindi ka makapagsalita kanina? Nasaan yung Ibiza the little monster na kilala ko? Tumiklop na?" Then she laughed. "Kung hindi ko inaaliw si Mezka, malamang nabisto ka na titig na titig sa boyfriend niya."

"Oshlov, ang lakas ng boses mo," I warned her.

"Takot ka? Sa ibang lalaki nga, open ka na ginagago mo lang sila tapos kapag si Cydeo—"

"Iba si Cydeo," I cut her off.

Her eyes widened. "Romantic naman. Kinilabutan ako. Naka-drugs ka ba?" She gave me a distorted face. "Hoy, Ibiza. 'Wag kang masyadong pabebe. Hindi bagay. Malayo ka kay Mezka," she added.

Malayo

ka kay Mezka.

Malayo

ka kay Mezka.

Malayo

ka kay Mezka.

And it meant, malayo ako sa babaeng magugustuhan ni Cydeo. I sighed. Pinili ko ang buhay na 'to at wala akong pinagsisisihan pero hindi ko maiwasang mapaisip... na kung hindi ba ako si Ibiza na alam ng lahat, magbabago kaya ang buhay ko?

Fuck, no!

Yeah, there's no way out of this bitch side of mine. Kailangan kong panindigan kung sino ako, kung saan ako magiging masaya.

"Ibiza," Oshlov called my attention while still thinking about what she just said a while ago, the four words sentence. Siniko niya ako kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin pero hindi niya pinansin 'yon kahit may kalakasan at ngumuso sa hindi kalayuan. Sinundan ko naman 'yon ng tingin at nakita ko ang cellphone... cellphone ni Cydeo.

Mabilis akong naalerto dahil Cydeo always used his phone kaya tumayo ako pero hinawakan ni Oshlov ang braso ko. Napahinto ako at nilingon siya, "Oh?" I said, no interest in my tone.

"Anong ginagawa mo?" she asked.

"Tatayo. Kukunin ko ang phone para isauli—"

"No! Ayan na ang chance mo." Napakunot-noo ako sa sinabi niya. "Bitch, why slow? Kunin mo yung phone tapos i-check mo. Baka may magamit kong l**k kung paano mo mapapapayag si Cydeo sa dare. Nakalimutan mo na ba? Pumasok ka ngayon for that shit. And the consequence is F.O. Mawawala ka na sa grupo."

"Edi tanggalin niyo ako," wala sa interes kong sagot.

"So pipiliin mo yung Cydeo na 'yon over us? Eh, hindi na pala kailangan ng dare dahil halata namang ayaw mo sa amin—"

"Fine! Just stop blackmailing me. Titinidurin kita." I sighed. Wala na nga akong nagawa kung 'di mabilis na kunin ang cellphone na may ilaw pa which indicated that it was not locked yet.

Tinignan ko 'to, perhaps ay tinitigan. Tama nga na kay Cydeo at ang lockscreen ay silang dalawa ni Mezka. He was holding her waist while looking at her samantalang nakangiti si Mezka sa camera.

I wished Cydeo could also look at me that way.

"Patingin!" Oshlov exclaimed but since mabilis ang reflex ko, naiwas ko agad sa kanya ang cellphone. Nang itaas ko nga ito ay napansin kong namatay ang screen kaya mabilis kong pinindot. Nang umilaw ulit, napatigil ako dahil walang lock.

Side to unlock.

To make sure, I tried it and it unlocked. Napakunot-noo ako. Hindi nagla-lock si Cydeo ng phone? Was it because of Mezka? Shit, Cydeo was a fucking faithful and honest boyfriend!

"What happened?" Oshlov asked, curious.

"It was locked," I lied so she would no longer chase for it.

"Hala! Paano na 'yan? Anong plano? We have to use the phone!" frustrated, pabulong siyang sumigaw. Gusto kong tumawa sa itsura niya dahil gustong-gusto niya talagang ituloy ang dare. Walang hiyang demonyo.

"I will bring this home. Ako na bahala magpa-open ng phone and ako na rin ang mag-check ng laman. Baka may makita akong hint," I explained, not saying that I will just open the phone merely to know more about the guy I like.

"Are you sure? Ayaw mo ng tulong?" She raised a brow dahilan para mas malahata ang on fleek niyang kilay.

"Yes. I will chat you right away about the plan. Ako na ang bahala." Because honestly, I had no way out of this dare. Demonyo si Oshlov at hindi 'yan papayag na hindi gawin ang dare. I mentally sighed, kailangan kong pag-isipan nang maigi ang plano at sana may makuha akong kung ano man sa loob ng phone niya para matigil na itong pinsan ko.

Ipinasok ko na sa shoulder bag ko ang phone niya at tumingin sa paligid. I would do this overnight and would probably give back the phone tomorrow. I moved quick yet I still did it smooth and perfect. I trusted my own ways and not this demon. Yes, I was a badass pero kailangang hindi madehado si Cydeo sa plano. I couldn't lose him because I was already a step higher than the lowest.

"Okay. I trust you, bitch." Oshlov raised her hand. Makikipag-pinky promise siya na parang bata pero imbis na little finger, middle finger ang gamit niya.

I rolled my eyes. Wala na nga akong nagawa kung 'di sakyan ang trip niya. "Fuck you," I snorted.

"Hard, bitch." She laughed which made me give her a grimace.

"I only fuck guys, Oshi," I claimed.

She gave me a disbelief look. "And who says I do it with bitches?" She laughed again, louder as if telling me that I was an idiot to believe her punch line.

"As if. The hell I care." Tumayo na ako at mabilis na naglakad. Hindi ko siya nilingon. Dire-diretso lang ako hanggang sa natanaw ko si Mezka sa kalayuan. Napakunot-noo ako. She was talking with another guy.

Bumagal ang lakad ko at inobserbahan ko sila. Napansin kong nakapagpalit na siya ng damit. Well, malapit lang naman ang univ-canteen sa building namin dahil tatawid ka lang. Mukhang kararating lang din nila sa spot na 'yon.

Mezka looked so happy while the guy was touching her shoulder. Uh, that was bad. Bitch, I thought you were perfect. You should never hurt Cydeo. If you couldn't be contented just by loving him whole-heartedly, I could, I would, I had to.

I smirked. So now I got a better reason for this dare, huh.