OC Chronicles

Nalula si Shana sa laki ng bahay nila Leona. One fourth yata ng isla ang sakop ng estate ng mga Zorreguieta. Naglipana rin ang mga armadong gwardiya sa paligid.

Inihatid pa siya ng isa sa mga guards sakay ng club car.

There was a statue of a cavalier knight on a horse in front of the mansion. There were three other mansions in the compound. Hula niya ay kila Ledger ang isa doon.

Dahil bukas ang malaking pinto ay dumiretso na sa loob si Shana. She was about to enter when she heard two people arguing.

Dahil intense ang usapan ay hindi napansin ng dalawa ang pagdating niya.

“She’s not as bad as people make her out to be. Just try getting to know her instead of listening to those mean girls who are clearly insecure.”

“How well do you even know her? You’re clinging to one childhood memory she probably doesn’t even remember. People change. Hindi na siya yung mabait na batang kalaro mo. She’s using you. Wake up, Ledger!”

“That’s not true. Maybe that’s why I liked her before, but that was a long time ago. What matters most is what we are now. I love her for who she is.”

Leona got quiet.

Hindi na nakatiis si Shana at nagkunwaring kararating lang. She didn’t want to hear more of their conversation.

“G-good evening.”

“Shana,” excited na lumapit si Leona. “Come in.”

Nagtatakang napatingin si Shana sa paligid. The party is obviously gonna be held in the living room dahil nakaset up doon ang audio at food area pero walang tao maliban sa dalawa and it’s already seven thirty. Thirty minutes na nga siyang late.

“Where’s everyone?” she asked.

Natawa si Leona, “You’re the first visitor. Mamaya pa raw darating si Ely.”

“Tayo lang?” she wanted to beat herself up for asking. How could she forget that Isabelle also has a party and obviously, nandoon ang iba nilang mga kaklase.

Tila balewala naman iyon kay Leona at nagkibit-balikat lang ito, “Everyone’s free to come kung gusto nila.”

Napansin ni Shana na kanina pa nakatitig sa kanya si Ledger. Their eyes met at agad siyang nagbawi ng tingin.

“Don’t worry, it’s still going to be fun kahit tayo lang,” she smiled at Leona. Sana lang ay walang karaoke dahil hindi siya mapipilit ng mga ito na kumanta. Naalala niya ang dala niya para rito. “I brought you something.”

“Why? It’s not my birthday,” natawa si Leona pero tinanggap ang bigay niya.

“Macapuno Jam and candies. Gawa ni mama.”

Mukha namang natuwa si Leona at sinilip pa ang paperbag. Hindi niya lang alam kung talagang natuwa ito or she was just being polite.

“Thank you. They’re my mom’s favorite. Siguradong uubusin niya ito. I need to hide some for myself.”

Tila doon lang naalala ni Leona na kasama nila si Ledger.

“What are you still doing here?” Leona asked. “Baka malate ka pa sa party. Aawayin ka na naman ng girlfriend mo.”

Walang paalam na umalis si Ledger.

“So rude,” Leona muttered.

“I-is he going to Isabelle’s party?” Shana asked kahit obvious naman na doon nga ito pupunta.

“He wanted me to cancel my party at sumama na lang sa kanya,” reklamo ni Leona. “I’d rather die. Kahit ako lang mag-isa, itutuloy ko ang party. He can hangout with those party animals para naman magkaroon siya ng social life.”

Shana smiled upon remembering the past. It was Ledger’s birthday and she was the only one who came.

Dahil wala pa si Ely, Leona gave her a tour around their huge house, except her parent’s and sister’s rooms. She even gave a room tour of her own bedroom and a closet tour. She noticed how Leona is different from other rich kids. She is not into luxury brands and is very sentimental. Maalaga rin ito sa mga gamit especially gifts from friends and family.

“That’s my older sister, Lavender,” Leona told her when they passed by a huge family portrait pababa ng marmol na hagdan. “She’s in London for college-“

“Good evening.”

Sabay silang napatingin sa pinto when a lady entered the house. She seemed to be in her early fifties, very regal and confident. Mukha siyang typical rich wife, adorned with diamonds, a luxury classic handbag, and a very polished outfit. She looks like the kind of woman who would offer you money just to stay away from her son.

“Tita Emilia,” lumapit si Leona at bumeso rito.

“Have you seen Ledger?”

Nawala ang ngiti ni Leona, “He went to another party.”

Tumaas ang kilay ng ginang, “Instead of attending yours?”

Leona could not answer immediately.

“M-maybe, he’ll come later,” she finally said, bluffing.

Napailing si Emilia, “I think I know where he is. You don’t have to cover up for him.”

Nabaling ang tingin ng ginang sa kanya at saglit iyong napako na tila inaalala kung saan siya unang nakita. Shana secretly prayed na sana ay hindi siya maalala nito.

“This is my friend, Shana.”

“Shana?” tila nadismaya ang ginang nang marinig ang pangalan niya. Buti na lang hindi napansin ni Leona.

“Shana, this is Tita Emilia, Ledger’s mom.”

“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Shana tried to smile.

Emilia smiled too and shook her hand, “The pleasure’s mine. Please call me, tita.”

Nagpaalam na rin ang ginang at naiwan ulit sila ni Leona. While waiting for Ely, Leona made a non-alcoholic drink for her at nagkwentuhan sila about their classmates and expectations for the whole school year. What she loves about her new friends, they listen to her stories too with genuine interest and curiosity. They are not treating her like a free counselor to just listen to their perfect lives. Kahit pa minsan, hindi siya makarelate sa mga ito. The other day, inaya sila ni Ely na mag-tour sa kabilang isla sakay ng Yacht na pag-aari ng daddy nito na para bang sasakay lang sila ng jeep.

“We’re here.”

Napatingin sila ni Leona sa pinto nang marinig ang boses ng lalaki. They were surprised to see a few people getting off the club car. May kasama si Ely.

Ely entered first, hugging both of them. Kasunod nito si Samuel at ang barkada nito na si Liam, his seatmate during Art Appreciation class.

Behind them, may dalawang babae na bumaba sa club car, while a couple was standing outside talking about the cavalier statue.

“Saan mo nahanap yang mga yan, Ely?” natawa si Leona pero halata ang saya sa mukha nito. “Did you steal them from the other party?”

“That’s not true. Dito talaga kami pupunta,” Samuel said. “Hinintay lang namin si Ely.”

Ely and Samuel are neighbors.

“Hi,” bati ni Michiko, their Japanese classmate.

“Hey,” bineso ito ni Leona.

“We were at the other party but we got bored there,” kwento ni Mikhail, Michiko’s boyfriend. “Elysane saw us going home and dragged us here.”

Natawa si Leona.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” bineso rin nito ang dalawa pang bagong dating na mukhang hindi naman mahilig pumarty.

“It’s the first time I see you attending a party, Crimson,” biro ni Michiko.

Crimson is top one in class at bihirang makihalubilo sa mga kaklase.

“We just finished our bible study. Elysane saw us outside the church,” natatawang kwento ni Crimson.

“You’re such a bad influence,” tudyo ni Liam.

“Excuse me, I already asked permission from their pastor,” hirit ni Ely.

Nagtawanan ang lahat.

Naging masaya naman ang acquaintance party. Shana noticed that some of their classmates do not like Isabelle and her friends at tinotolerate lang dahil takot ang mga itong mapag-initan.

Nagpaalam din agad si Mckenzie at Crimson. Sumunod naman si Michiko at Mikhail.

Before leaving, Michiko spoke to Leona,

“I hope you don’t mind. I already texted Solene and invited her. I won’t be able to wait for her. I have a curfew. If she does show up, just try to be casual, at least for tonight. I feel bad for her. She got kicked out of the other party.”

Hindi makapaniwala si Leona, “Sure. I mean, everyone’s welcome here.”

The party continued with five of them left. It was only nine pm at wala namang curfew si Shana kaya kampante siyang magpagabi. Nangako naman si Leona na ipahahatid sila sa driver.

Solene indeed showed up. Kahit nakalight make-up ay halatang galing ito sa pag-iyak.

“H-hi,” Solene tried to smile while looking at Leona. “I’m sorry, I’m late. I hope I can still join.”

Huminto ang tawanan and everyone’s waiting for Leona’s response.

“Come here,” she opened her arms and hugged Solene, who started crying.

Saglit na umakyat sa taas ang dalawa at nag-usap. Shana was just listening while the people around her were making speculations.

Masaya na ang dalawa nang bumalik. Before long, the party was cheerful again.

“You’ve met Shana, right?” Leona asked Samuel and Liam. “She’s new.”

“Yeah. Classmate ko sila sa elective,” Shana replied.

“She thought Samuel was Chinese,” natatawang kwento ni Liam.

“Alam mo, Shana, when Samuel first came here in the island, hindi pa siya marunong magtagalog,” kwento naman ni Ely. “Ako nagturo dyan.”

“Puro kalokohan tinuturo mo. Kaya pinilit kong matuto,” sabi naman ni Samuel. “Napatawag tuloy magulang ko. Paano minura ko yung teacher.”

Nagtawanan ang lahat.

“Actually, mas magaling na siyang magtagalog kay sa sa’yo, Ely,” sabat ni Liam. “Hindi na natin pwedeng ibenta.”

“Dude, mas Pilipino na ako sa’yo. You don’t even know kuya Will,” tudyo ni Samuel kay Liam bago nagkwento. “He once flirted with a girl we met at the beach. He introduced himself as Will. Tapos sabi nung babae, Your name reminds me of kuya Will. Sabi ni Liam -You have an older brother?”

Hindi alam ni Shana kung saan matatawa; sa kwento ni Samuel o sa itsura ng mga kasama niya na nakikitawa pero halatang clueless din at hindi kilala ang artistang tinutukoy ni Samuel. Halatang hindi nanonood ang mga ito ng local channels.

“I only watch international shows. Hindi abot local channels dito,” katwiran ni Liam.

Tumawa lang si Samuel at nagpatuloy sa pagkwekwento, “Tapos nagbiro yung kaibigan ng babae – Bigyan ng jacket. Binigay naman ni Liam yung jacket niya.”

Tawa nang tawa si Shana kaya natawa na rin ang iba kahit halatang hindi makarelate.

Tumigil ang tawanan nang may dumating.

“Hi,” bati nito.

It was Ledger.

“Bakit nandito ka?” Leona snorted.

“May I join?” he asked.

“No.”

“Leona,” mahinahong saway ni Solene.

“Come and join us, Ledger,” aya ni Samuel.

Tahimik na lumapit si Ledger sa grupo at umupo sa tabi ni Liam. Hindi na ito pinigilan ni Leona at muling humarap sa kanila.

Isang ideya ang naisip nito.

“Let’s play truth or dare,” excited na sabi nito.

“In one condition,” mabilis na sabi ni Ely. “Don’t ask me to kiss anyone. And don’t ask questions about Samuel. Ibahin mo naman mga tanong mo.”

Tawa nang tawa si Leona, “Fine. No kissing.”

Nagsimula na ang game. Kay Solene unang tumapat ang bote.

Bago pa makapagtanong si Leona ay narinig nilang nagsalita si Ledger.

“Did you get back with Evander?” he asked.

Tila nasurpresa si Solene sa tanong ni Ledger, “No.”

“How about him and Isabelle?”

“I-I don’t know.”

“Isa-isa lang tanong, Ledger,” biro ni Samuel.

“Truth or dare ba ito o chismisan?” dagdag naman ni Liam.

“How about you and Isabelle?” si Leona naman ang nagtanong.

“No,” deretsong sagot ni Ledger. Bumaling ulit ito kay Solene. “Why don’t you go back to him?”

“Why don’t you go back to her?” Solene replied with the same question. “In case you didn’t know, Evan broke up with me. Not the other way around. So I can’t help you. If Isabelle loves you, hindi magiging sila ni Evan. You already know the answer to that.”

“Ledger, please let’s not talk about this now,” hiling ni Ely.

“Stop asking stupid questions,” Leona warned him.

“I’m sorry,” tumahimik naman si Ledger.

“Why don’t you just date each other?” wala sa sariling sabi ni Shana.

Napatingin sa kanya ang lahat.

“I mean, if Isabelle and Evander have already moved on, kayong dalawa na lang ang mag-date-“

Nagulat siya nang tumawa ang lahat maliban kay Ledger.

“We’re cousins,” madilim ang mukhang sabi nito. “We don’t tolerate incest in the family.”

“Ledger’s mom is my dad’s sister,” natatawang paliwanag ni Solene. “His middle name is Elizalde.”

“I-I didn’t know,” nahihiyang katwiran niya.

“She just met you, guys,” pinagtanggol naman siya ni Ely, “Give her a break.”

“Come on, it’s funny,” biro ni Leona. “Nice one, girl.”

Pinagpatuloy na nila ang spin the bottle. Walang katapusan tawanan ang naganap at marami siyang nalamang secret stories about their classmates.

Akala ni Shana ay makakaligtas na siya pero bigla na lang tumapat sa kanya ang bote.

“If he wasn’t an asshole, would you date Ledger?” Leona asked which caught her offguard.

Ledger glared at Leona, “Seriously?”

“I’m interested to know too,” Solene added.

“I’m going home,” paalam ni Ledger pero agad itong pinigilan ni Liam.

“Nobody’s going home hanggang hindi sumasagot si Shana,” he said.

“I would consider dating him,” she finally said.

Napuno ng hiyawan ang sala.

“But if his parents offered me one million para layuan siya, tatanggapin ko,” biro niya.

Tawa nang tawa ang lahat.

She didn’t dare look at Ledger.