Sadyang Mapaglaro Ang Tadhana (Feeble Love #2)

Kabanata 14

Drunk

That's when he realized that it was me. Namumungay na ang mga mata at amoy ko rin ang alak sa kanya. It's obvious that he's drunk.

"I'm c-razy." He laughed. "W-hat the hell did you do to me." He was talking to himself.

Napahinga ako ng maluwag. Hindi niya siguro ako makilala dahil sa kalasingan. Buti na lang! Pero bago pa man ako makaalis sa harap niya, nagsalita ulit siya kaya napatigil ako.

"I really l-ike y-ou. And it's killing me that I couldn't do anything--

Hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin niya dahil nabuwal siya sa pagkakatayo. Napasobra siguro siya ng inom!

Tiningnan ko siya na nakahandusay sa sahig. What should I do? Tutulungan ko ba siya?

"Are you okay?" Mabilis kong tanong, lumapit sa kanya.

But he didn't respond. Tulog na ba siya? Anong... anong gagawin ko dito!? I gently slapped his face to confirm. But he just groaned.

"You need to get up. Maaapakan ka rito. Where's your friends?"

He groaned again. May sinasabi siya pero hindi ko naman maintindihan. And suddenly he laughed. Alcohol can really make someone crazy. And he's the example. I tried to pull him up but I just can't. Matangkad siya at ang bigat niya.

"Excuse me. Can you please help me with him?"

Hinarang ko ang kakapasok lang na lalaki at tinuro ko si River sa sahig. Kumunot ang noo nito. He was wearing a coat and he look decent. Parang may dinaanan lang at hindi naman madalas na customer nitong Bar.

"River?" Sambit nito at mas lalong lumapit kay River.

Napaawang ang bibig ko. He know him?
Tiningnan ko siya habang inaalalayan niya si River na tumayo.

"Did you know him?" Tanong ko.

Kunot noo niya akong tiningnan. "Yeah. And who are you? Another girlfriend?" His face was serious.

Another girlfriend?

Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko. Is he really this player? Ibig sabihin ba madami siyang girlfriend?

My heart suddenly feel so heavy. I knew already when I first met him na ganoon nga siya. Pero hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit... na kahit anong masama kong isipin sa kanya, iba pa rin ang nararamdaman ko.

This is the sign. I should get out of this shit before it's too late. Mas mabuti nang masaktan ngayon.

"N-o. I'm not." Mabilis na sambit ko. I really need to get my self out of here.

"Therese? Therese!"

Napalingon ako sa nagsalita. It was Sophia! Kakagaling niya lang sa dancefloor. Nakasunod sa kanya si Jason, mukhang nag-away na naman sila.

"What are you doing here?" Tanong niya ng makalapit. Tiningnan niya ako simula baba. She smirked.

"I received your text." I said. Hindi ko  talaga alam kung bakit pumunta ako rito!

She raised her brow. May duda pa rin, dahil hindi naman talaga ako sumasama sa kanya sa mga bar trip niya.

I shook my head before I turned again my look to the unconscious River. Magkakilala rin si Jason at yung lalaki kanina kaya sabay na nilang binuhat si River. And they look annoyed. Si Jason, dahil siguro nag away sila ni Sophia. And about the other guy, well I think it's normal to him. He looks serious and annoyed at the first glanced.

"What a fucking wasted." I heard Jason uttered.

Tiningnan ko sila na hirap na hirap kay River. Nasa harap na sila para dumaan kaya gumilid ako. Sophia was clueless, so I pulled her.

"Anong nangyari dyan?" Si Sophia, ngayon lang napansin.

I shrugged. Hindi ko na siya sinagot dahil paniguradong madami siyang itatanong. I barely want to go home. Mali ang pagpunta ko rito. Tama nang malaman ko na ganoon siya. I'm just really tired figuring out my feelings towards him. I guess this is a sign. I should stop here before it gets worst.  I need to protect myself from him.

Hindi ko alam kung anong oras na ako nakauwi kagabi. Sabado ngayong araw kaya may plano akong umuwi ng bahay.

To: Mark

Uuwi ako ngayon sa Parañaque. What about you?

I informed Mark. Kung uuwi rin siya, mas mabuting sumabay na lang ako sa kanya. Nakakatamad magdrive. I'm just really tired.

Pero ilang saglit pa lang tumunog na agad ang phone ko.

Mark calling...

"I'm here." Pagbungad niya. Naguluhan agad ako sa sinabi niya.

"Ha?"

"I said I'm here." He said again.

Mabilis kong kinuha ang gamit ko. Ang bilis niya naman? I'm merely wearing my short and my usual pambahay shirt. Tiningnan ko ang itsura ko sa salamin, okay naman na at napagdesisyonan na hindi na magpapalit.  I already prepared my things kaya hindi naman na ako tumagal at bumaba na.

There was Mark, leaning on his car.  Ibinaba niya ang sunglasses na suot. May hawak din siyang fruit drink. Napansin ko rin ang suot niya. He was wearing a summer printed polo shirt and a white trouser.

"May pupuntahan ka?" Tanong ko. Agad niyang kinuha ang bagpack ko.

"Didn't you read your Mom's message?" His forehead creases.

Ha? Mom didn't message me. O baka hindi ko lang natingnan. I'm not sure, though.

Inilagay niya sa tabi ng black niyang duffle bag ang bag pack ko. Binuksan ko na rin ang pinto ng passengers seat para makapasok.

"Are you avoiding your Mom?" Tanong niya nang makapasok siya.

Inabot niya ang paper bag na may laman na fruit drink at shawarma sa akin na kinuha ko naman bago niya pinaandar agad ang sasakyan.

I didn't respond to his question. Hindi naman sa iniiwasan ko si Mommy. After that incident, they treated me like something so fragile. Oo nga at pumayag sila sa gusto ko. To live alone on my condo, to drive a car and to seek for my dreams... but they still can't trust me.

Naiintindihan ko naman na nag-aalala lang sila sa akin. But I am really okay.  

Everyone has gone through something. I could have defined myself by the dark days, but instead through that 'incident' I realized my light.

Sabi nila ay mas nilalapit ko lang ang sarili ko sa panganib, that I am trying to hurt myself  in the future.... when in fact I am striving to save my self. What is wrong of facing your fears? Your trauma? It won't make you weak.

"Hindi." Sambit ko.

Ilang segundo siyang natahimik. Alam kong hindi rin siya naniniwala sa akin.

"Both of our family is at Batangas. And were going there."

Nagulat ako, though ganoon naman talaga ang family namin, kahit sobrang mga busy, biglaang sabay magb-bakasyon o mag-aaya maghangouts. Both of our mothers are business partners  and our fathers are best friends. I didn't lie when I said na  parang kapatid ko na talaga si Mark.

"Drop me home first. I didn't brought beach clothes."

Mark chuckled after what I've said. Para bang may masama sa sinabi ko. I glared at him.

"God Therese you're quick to judge. I didn't said that were going to a beach. I said Batangas." He chuckled more and it was annoying.

"I didn't said that too. Hindi ko naman sinabi na nag assume ako na pupunta tayo--

"Okay. Okay." Mas lalo siyang tumawa at dahil nainis na talaga ako, kinurot ko ang braso niya.

I missed this. And I wish I could make myself like him the way I like... River. Perhaps, that would be better.

~~