Episode One

2006-08-06T07:14:00.000-07:00

Face down in my pillow; Chas try to wake up me. She eagerly dragged me downstairs where Ycah and Cynthia is drinking coffee, while my best friend, Jenard is having a smoke in the living room. Chas is saying something but still in daze, I can’t understand it. They all shouted, well maybe except Jenard who is very quiet. Chas noticed that I wasn’t listening.

“Why on earth, you’re still in daze about last night gig!” Chas screamed. I felt her voice walk through my ears. It was a loud screech and I could feel my eardrums blast off. “I thought about it.”

“What are you saying about?” I asked blankly. My hands extended as I grab the coffee in the table. I drink half of it and stare at my palm for full ten seconds. “About what it is? The thing you were saying to me earlier.”

“About the gig last night, silly bummer. Stellar, uh can you comb your hair before we talk about it? It’s a bit messy today. And oh, take a shower too, because your spongebob pajamas are so cute that I might grab it!”

“You’re so corny, Chasy Sanchez.”

I run upstairs and take a long shower. The bubble soap is very moist that I soaked myself with it the shower scene. I dress myself and comb my hair in its proper place. I even put some hair clips so it would be very girly. Put some lip balm and some lotion won’t hurt. I rush downstairs and saw them all in the living room. Jenard, in the other hand, is still smoking. I sat down beside him and pinch his arms.

“Stop it, Stellar. You’re making me fussy.” Jenard said, while he drew some cloud of smoke in my face. He smiled at me stupidly and makes some face. He was cute with his black shirt and rugged pants. “Hey, sorry about last night.”

“Sorry for what?” I asked him.

“The roadie thingy at the band. The gig, remember? You take that stupid thing because you wanted, too right? And you didn’t tell me that you still have practice for the next months play.”

“It’s okay, jerky. That was my job after all.”

“No, it wasn’t. It’s Andrew’s not yours, lazy bum.”

“Sus, I told you it’s okay. Your lead vocalist will be angry if a boy takes my place in my roadie, right?”

He smiled at me and I smiled back. I suddenly remember, Chasy is telling me story about her lovelorn boyfriend who dumped her last week. She cried at my shoulder and carries the chip at her back. It was hysterical and was a dumb situation for her and her craphole boyfriend. I turned my back and told Chasy that this time; I will listen to her tentatively.

“Okay, what’s the story?” I asked her laughing.

“Oh sheesh! Don’t laugh as if you don’t know what happened last night, right?” She said, wide eye.

“What about last night?”

“Andrew! You don’t remember? Jenard was right; you have a short-term memory that if you sleep, you can’t recall a thing or two. About last night, Andrew is with another girl that night and you slap him in front of many people at Dish! That was amazing, bruha!”

“I dumped him last night, too. He was freaking stupid. Take that, he has three
Girlfriends whom he is functioning besides me. Make that four if you add me. Who would like him? Only crazy women would love him.”

“Like you?”

“Well, maybe. Drop the subject change the topic.” I told her. “Are you going to be the bad girl on our play? Midsummer Night’s Dream?”

“Hermia? No, Julie will do that. I quit it already because my financial needs are sucking my whole being already. It was a heck of dumbest job I ever had.”

“Theater?”

“No—owning a million dollar restaurant.”

“With lotsa girls and infamous actresses from your alma mater, Knoller.” Jenard quips. He lit another cigarette and blew number of cloudy smokes. He always teases my alma mater. Aside from being a knoller since I was born, I was doing a lot a teasing scene with him. “I prefer longer conversations with Ateneans like me from the woods of Katipunan.”

“Whatever you say, true blue Atenean.” Chas remark. Being a knoller like me, we respect our alma mater that use to be hated by many people from other school such as St.Paul College and De La Salle. “A true black Atenean, rather, Mr. Jenard Ramirez.”

“Stop the crap already you two.” I said. “There will be a gig tonight at Saguijo. I will be the roadie again.”

“Again?” Jenard asked.

“Just for tonight, Atenean. Well, Helena would be angry if you took some smoking belcher again at Saguijo. Moreover, please, don’t drink many beers there. You might take Helena home.”

“Shut up.”

Forgotten Miseries

Episode One