Just The Strings (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 32

#JustTheStrings

Kabanata 32

Psalm helped me—but only after he was done laughing hysterically. Para na nga siyang naiiyak sa katatawa, e. Imbes na tulungan niya agad iyong kapatid niya, ang unang ginawa niya kanina ay ang ilabas ang cellphone niya at i-record lahat ng sinabi ni Saint. And I was pretty sure he'd never let Saint hear the end of it. Lalo na at ilang beses niyang ni-replay iyong video at paulit-ulit niya talagang pinanood. GDL boys are weird and crazy.

"Mamaya na nga 'yan," I told Psalm. Pang limang beses niya ng pinapanood iyong video at tawa pa rin siya ng tawa. Ni hindi niya ako tinutulungan na itayo si Saint mula sa sahig kanina, e. Mabuti na lang ay dumating sila Austin.

"Last na," he said. "Panoorin mo rin kasi. It's hella funny! Right?" tanong niya kay Austin at Cohen na pareho namang tumango. "Wait lang. I'll just send the vid to Maggie and I'll help you."

Napailing na lang ako.

Dapat kasi, ihahatid na nila ako sa bahay... Pero hindi ko naman magawa na iwanan na lang si Saint sa kamay nila. Knowing them, they'd do something to Saint bago ito patahimikin. Saint's at his most vulnerable state. And Psalm's dead set on collecting things that he could use to blackmail him. Kaya hindi ko talaga pwedeng iwanan si Saint.

And I was risking meeting his parents while Saint was drunk! And I didn't plan on meeting them while dressed like this. Kitang-kita iyong likod ko.

After a few minutes and few hysterical laughter from Psalm, sa wakas ay tinulungan na nila ako na maibaba si Saint mula sa van. He was really hammered. Hindi ko alam na ganoon pala nakakalasing iyong Johnny Walker. So much so that Saint was almost being dragged by Psalm and Austin.

"Dahan dahan naman..."

"He's a big boy. I'm sure he can live with the dragging," sabi ni Psalm tapos patuloy na hinatak si Saint. Kulang na nga lang iwanan nila sa sahig tapos hatakin nila, e. Grabe talaga sila. Pagkatapos nilang gawing source of entertainment iyong kapatid nila.

Nung malapit na kami sa pinto, bigla akong napahinto. Sila Psalm at Austin, diretso lang sa pagpasok kay Saint.

"Mom's not around. And Dad's still working," sabi ni Cohen. First time naming mag-usap. Mabait naman si Cohen. Tahimik siya pero mukhang mabait siya at saka pala-ngiti. I think he's the most likable one sa kanilang magkakapatid.

"Ha?"

"You look like you're going to have a heart attack."

I bit my lower lip and smiled a little. Halata pala na kinakabahan ako. Kasi naman first time ko na nga dito sa bahay nila, tapos kasama ko pa si Saint na lasing. Sobrang hindi ito iyong hinihiling ko na first impression.

"Do you want water or coffee?" he asked.

"Water na lang," I replied.

Pumasok kami sa loob tapos hanggang doon lang ako sa sala. Naiintindihan ko na si Saint nung ayaw niyang umakyat sa kwarto ko... Ganito pala iyong pakiramdam noon. Na parang sobrang nakakahiya na umakyat ka. Tapos parang nasa foreign na teritoryo ako. Tapos sobrang lakas pa rin ng kabog ng dibdib ko dahil baka biglang dumating iyong parents nila. Paano pa kaya si Saint na palaging tinitignan ni Mama na parang sinusuri ang bawat galaw niya?

The maid gave me water and I said thanks. As I was waiting for Psalm and Austin, tinignan ko lang iyong bahay nila. Their house was alright. Parang kagaya lang naman din ng mga bahay ng mga kaibigan nila Papa. What was different with their house was the Spanish vibe. Puro concrete and yellow lights mostly. Sobrang aristocratic nung dating. And I think mag-eenjoy si Kath dito dahil instagram worthy iyong bahay nila Saint lalo na iyong landscape sa labas.