Scandalous Affair: Atlas Mate

14

O L I V I A   V A L E Z

I am fucking doomed. 

I woke up with a goddamned headache like someone was smashing it with a hammer. My throat was so dry as the Sahara desert. Every time I gulp, my throat would contract with each other painfully. I could almost feel the muscles scraping. There was also a hallow on my stomach that made me felt more worst. 

But the most worse thing about all of this? 

It was the memories that came rushing back in my mind the moment I opened my eyes.

I remembered it all. My memories last night came like a waterfall to me. Hard, fast, and cold. Talagang nanlamig ako sa lahat ng naalala ko. The way the liquor burned my throat. The heat it made me felt. The cheerful shouts that my mouth did mindlessly. The way I put my hands on the air so carefreely. The way I laughed and hugged people at that party. The way my hips swayed along with the music. The way I closed my eyes as I felt the beat and the hard thumping of my heart. The way I kissed Felix Kings without thinking. And lastly, the way Atlas Mate looked at me like I was about to get punished for my sneakiness and mischievousness.

If I were standing right now, I know my leg will shake from all the things I remembered. And the fact that I puked at Atlas! O, my god! Anong mukhang maihaharap ko sa kaniya?Wala. Shit, wala! Walang-wala talaga akong mukhang maihaharap sa kaniya ngayon. P-paano kung sinumbong niya ako kay Dad? My blood ran cold. Fuck, w-what should I do in case he did tell my dad? Mag best friend pa naman ang dalawang 'yon!

Mas lalo yatang sumakit ang ulo ko sa mga naisipin ko. Of course, Atlas told my dad! He was probably too damn pissed off of me. Who wouldn't be? I puked at him! That was too awful. He caught me sneaking out, drunk from a party god-knows-what I did there, and then I hurled at him. He was already upset that I sneaked out to party, tapos dinagdagan ko pa nang mas masamanng bagay.

I groaned as I pulled my hair from frustration. Talagang malalagot ako nito! This is the first time I disobeyed and sneaked out. Dad would be so angry at me! I don't know what to do. I looked at the clock on my wall, and it says that it was only five-thirty in the morning. I was too drunk, and I came home late, pero bakit ang aga ko pa rin gumising? Damn this body clock. Sigurado akong maabutan ko si Dad at  Atlas kung bababa ako ngayon para mag-breakfast.

Hindi lang ito ang problema ko. Paano ko sasabihin kay Liberty na nakipaghalikan ako sa step-brother niya? Should I tell her? Certainly not. Hindi naman siguro lahat ng bagay kailangan ipaalam sa best friend hindi ba? Err, now I feel bad and guilty. Pero lasing naman ako no'n kaya ko nagawa. Such a petty reason. Sasabihin ko 'pagsinabi ni Felix. I dadahilan ko na lang na lasing ako at hindi ko naalala. What a liar, Olivia Valez. Ugh, I hate myself.

I rolled to my bed, making me groan again. I bit my pillow as I hugged it tightly. Hindi ko muna iisipin ang halik na 'yon. Ang kailangan kong harapin ngayon ay si Atlas at Dad. Should I say sorry agad? Or should I reason out? Of course, I should apologize, but I don't want to see my dad angry at me. Stupid, Olivia, sana inisip mo 'yan bago ka pumunta sa party nang hindi nagpapaalam! Sneaking out was never a good thing anyway! Bakit ko ba naisipang gawin 'yon? Ano bang naisipan ko kagabi at ginawa ko 'yon? 

I sit up slowly as I made up my mind. I'll fake sick today. Yes, what a brilliant idea, Oly. 

Totoo namang masama ang pakiramadam ko. Wala nga lang akong sakit, but that could be considered as sick, right? Yes, Self. You are sick because you are feeling sick. Mamaya 'pag kinatok na ako ng katulong ay hindi ako sasagot. My dad doesn't disturb my sleep. Ganoon siya kabait sa akin. Ipapagising na lang niya ako after an hour para kumain. Hihintayin ko ring umalis si Atlas para pumasok sa trabaho niya bago ako lumabas. P'wede rin naman akong magpadala na lang ng pagkain dito, tutal may sakit naman ako.