Chapter 55
"Isa pa." I said to Russel.
"Sigurado ka? Eh parang di mo na ata kaya eh." he said as he pours me another glass of whiskey.
"Wala kang bilib saken eh! Kaya ko to. Ako pa, Russ?! Ako pa? Hahahahahaha." I saw him shaking his head kaya lumagok na lang ako ng alak. "Dude, wala na bang mas tatapang pa sa Double Black? Shit! Wala akong maramdamang tama!"
"Elmo, lasing ka na. Siguro dapat umuwi ka na." he said as he puts my glass awa.
"Ouch dude. Ayaw mo na ba saken? Akala ko pa naman friends tayo." I said, acting hurt.
"Hindi sa ganun. Kaya lang nag-aalala lang ako sayo kasi baka mapagalitan ka ng girlfriend mo." he said. I guffawed at him and he just looked at me curiously.
"Hahahahahaha. Girlfriend?! Baka ex bro. E-X. Past tense na kami nun eh. Hahahaha. Dito ko pa naman siya unang nakilala. Alala mo?! Dun oh! Third stool from the left. Diyan siya nakaupo nun. Tapos andito ako. Dito sa pwesto kong to. And we were talking about how my race went. And then came her big mouth and told me that drag racing is illegal. Naalala mo?! Hahahahaha." I laughed. "Well bullshit. She broke up with me." I said. I felt tears rolling down my cheeks kaya agad ko silang pinunasan.
"Pre..."
"Shet. Nakakabakla to. Sorry. Hahahaha. Alak nga kasi! Yung matapang ha?" I said.
"Tama na alak." he replied.
"Duuuuude. Wag kang ganyan. Pati ba naman ikaw sasaktan mo pa ko?" I said dramatically.
"Dude, tama na. Lasing ka na eh. Alam mo mabuti pa, umuwi ka na. Makakapagdrive ka ba?" he asked. I nodded at him and gave him money.
"Keep the change pare." I said as I bid goodbye.
I walked to my car and stopped by the driver's side and stared at the bar's name. Aracama. This motherfuckin' place is where I met her. And this place is where I seek refuge because she left me. Well fuck my life. I'm a lost boy again.
I went inside my car and started the engine and drove off the place. Where should I go? Every place is connected to her. The condo, the house in Tagaytay, the headquarters... Saan ako pupunta?
"Elmo?"
"Kuya..." I said as I hugged Kuya Tim. And there goes the tears again.
"Elmo ano ba?!" he asked, annoyance evident in his voice. "Will you let go of me?"
"Kuya iniwan na niya ko..." I cried.
"Who? Lexine's teacher?" he asked. I nodded and I heard him chuckled. "Karma mo na yan. Pansin mo?"
I wiped my tears and sat on the couch. He just stood by the lazy boy and watched me as I sob.
"Mahal na mahal ko siya pero wala na siya saken ngayon. Bakit ganun? Siya lang ang babaeng minahal ko pero ganito pa ang nangyari?"
"Dahil sa ginawa mo noon. Julie was your karma." he said, bitterly.
"Kuya, I told you. Walang nangyari between us." I said.
"Alam ko..." he admitted. I looked at him and he just walked towards the kitchen. Nang makabalik siya ay inabutan niya ko ng isang malamig na baso ng tubig.
"Pero..."
"Hindi ako nakinig sayo?" he said. I nodded and he heaved a deep sigh. "I knew all along that what she told me wasn't true. Pero mas pinili ko ang maniwala sa kanya because I loved her so much. Kaya lang nakita kong ikaw ang mahal niya and I saw that you secretly loved her too. Kaya nagalit ako. Because I knew that when the time comes na pakawalan ko siya, you would pursue her. Kasi possible kayo eh. And I admit that ever since you were born, the attention was drawn to you. Ikaw na lang palagi ang narerecognize. Kahit pa anong gawin ko, mom and dad never noticed me again. And that added up to the reasons why I hated you. Pero as the years passed and I saw how you left Mina alone? Dun ko naisip na hindi ka nga nagbbreak ng promise mo. And when you met Julie? Sabi ko, finally nakakita na ang kapatid ko ng babaeng malayang magmamahal sa kanya. I saw how happy you were. Yung mata mo ngumingiti rin everytime Julie is mentioned. And the next thing I knew, napatawad na pala kita."
