I tried calming my nerves, but the shaking won't stop. Inilagay ko sa ilalim ng lamesa ang mga kamay ko para hindi niya iyon makita. I can't stop my trembling hands, I can't calm my erratically beating heart. Bakit ganito parin ang epekto niya?
"This fcking asshole."
He didn't hear my whisper, even if I wanted to, it wasn't loud enough for him to hear. Ganun parin kalawak ang ngiti niya na para bang dapat akong matuwa na nandito siya ngayon. I tried to not adjust my vision, to prevent myself from seeing him, but my damn useless eyes won't cooperate. Seconds later, I could clearly see the smirk on his face, the sparkle in his eyes. I hate it. He wore a gray suit with a white button down polo. His hair was clean cut, he looked like an accomplished man. He tried to look like one.
"What are you doing here, Steve?" I called and his name made my tongue sting. Para iyong sugat sa dila ko. "I already declined your company's request for meeting."
"Hindi ako naparito para doon, Desdemona."
Desdemona. He called my name...and at that moment, muntik nanamang umikot ang mundo ko sa kanya. Ang tanga ko lang kung gagawin ko iyon ulit.
He shrugged, his smirk started to fade. "I just wanted to see the Snob Queen. Plus, I'm here to fetch you." ngumiti siya.
"Fetch me?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Come on, Dee. We haven't seen you for a decade, the whole class missed you. You should attend the reunion. You were the Class President, we need you to lead tonight's event. Your presence is a must."
I clenched my fist. "As far as I can remember, I never had attachments to any of you."
It was his turn to raise an eyebrow. "Really?" yung ngiti niyang nakakapang insulto ang naging dahilan ng pag iwas ng mga mata ko sa kanya.
It is true, I never had any attachments to them. Hindi ako ganun kaclose sa mga naging kaklase ko noon. I was the snob nerd witch, I have that resting bitch face. They don't talk to me, I don't like to mingle with them. Masyado silang maiingay at pasaway sa klase. But they were happy, I could hear the way they used to giggle during class hours, I could hear it in my ears.
I stood up and fixed my things, ready to leave. "No, I'm not joining that stupid reunion. Umalis ka na dito."
I was about to head to the door when he grabbed my arm. "Hanggang kailan ako sayo hihingi ng tawad?" he said. I stared at the way he held my arm.
"Get your hands off of me, Steve." I stated each word with gravity. Matalim ang tingin ko sa kamay niyang nakahawak sa akin. He ignored my plea and continued to bring back what happened years ago.
"I already asked for your forgiveness, Desdemona. For more than a hundred time, I begged you. Hindi mo parin ba ako mapapatawad? Hindi mo parin ba iyon kinakalimutan?"
Marahas kong inalis ang pagkakahawak niya sakin bago ibinalik ang mga mata ko sa kanya. "I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Palmero." I denied.
He smirked and scoffed at me. "Really? Then why are you dodging me? " he slid his hands in his pocket and stared with arrogance on his face. "I saw you following me around, few days ago when I was with Layla. Ganon ba ako kahirap kalimutan? My god, Desdemona. We were just kids, we were so young back then and it's been years, move on. Please."
I could only clench my fist. Gustuhin ko mang sampalin siya ay hindi ko magawa. Nanginginig parin ang mga kamay ko. I was about to speak when David came in.
"Ma'am, is there anything wrong?" he asked.
"Your boss and I are just talking. mister. Nothing to be concerned about." Steve indirectly ordered David to leave, pero nakatingin lang sakin si David.
"Ma'am." he said, eyes on me, as if he was waiting for me to say the words and he'll do exactly what I wanted.
Punch him until he bleeds, I wanted to tell that to David. I wanted him to do something cruel to this man, something painful. Something that could make him beg for my mercy. Gusto kong utusan si David ngayon mismo na kaladkarin ang lalakeng ito palabas at itali siya. Probably hit him with a baseball bat. I wanted David to murder this man. I could only make those criminal acts in my head.
"Nothing, David. " he just nodded and stood silently as he switched his eyes between me and Steve.
"Mr. Palmero thinks that I'm not yet over him, that I'm still dodging him because he was a liar who tricked the fifteen year-old Desdemona years ago. Ang kapal ng mukha." I stood up straight and faced the man. "Lalake ka lang, Steve. Huwag mong masyadong itaas ang tingin mo sa sarili mo. Hindi ka ganon kaimportante sa akin."
I could see anger in his eyes, my words hit his ego hard enough to trigger him. He stepped closer and David immediately came in and hid me behind his back.
"Sir, I would like you to stay where you are." he said, blocking Steve from reaching me. Matalim niyang tiningnan si David mula ulo hanggang paa.
"Kaming dalawa ang nag uusap dito, kaya kung maaari lang, huwag kang makikialam." he said. David was stiff, with his broad shoulders and years of training in the academy, Steve will surely go straight to the hospital to have his face fixed. Pero ayoko nang umabot pa sa ganon.
"Let's go, David." I ordered and was about to walk out when Steve challenged me.
"Attend the reunion, Desdemona. Convince me that you're already over me."
***
"That fcking asshole! I will make him eat his balls, his ugly, microscopic and minute balls!" Adriana screamed at the top of her lungs kaya inilayo ko ang telepono sa tenga ko. Dapat pala ay hindi ko na sinabi sa kanya. Tss. I stared at the car's window. I dined out, I was so stressed by Steve Palmero that I ate dinner outside the mansion. We're on our way home when Adriana called to check on me. At isang malaking pagkakamali na naikwento ko sa kanya ang nangyari kanina.
"Fcking show up your ass, Desdemona Requiem Voltaire! Attend that fcking reunion and make that man eat his words!"
I rolled my eyes and asked for her to calm down. "Hindi ko siya papatulan, Adriana. Why should I take his challenge? Wala siyang makukuha sakin dahil kinalimutan ko na siya." I answered when I saw David glancing at me from the rear view mirror. When I caught him, his eyes quivered and he fixed them on the road. Tss. Isa pa to.
"Oh please. Can we all just agree that you are not yet over him? You don't even date other men because of him! Ano ba kasing nakita mo sa lalaking iyon at gustong gusto mo siya? "
"That was before, Adriana. I was young and stupid."
"Young, stupid and blind. Mabuti na lang at hindi naging kayo, because he'd make you cry more than you did. But this advice from your good friend, you must follow. Go to that fcking freaking bar and slam him! Pati narin yung mga kaklase mong alam kong walang ibang ginawa noon kundi ang paglaruan ka. Make them all pay!" if she continues her game, she'll run out of voice. She's always screaming.
