Scandalous Affair: Atlas Mate

15

O L I V I A   V A L E Z

How could I have it back?

I irritatingly grabbed the medicine from the paper bag and drank it. My head pounded more after that old man got the book. What was his problem anyway? So what if it's an erotic book? I bet it isn't as bad as watching porn, right? I mean, you can't see the real thing happening when you read. Then why is he making a big fuss over it? It made me want to shove the book to his throat!

God!

I closed my eyes and tried focusing on my breathing. Calm down, Olivia. Inhale, exhale, and clear your mind. After doing it, I grabbed my phone and checked my social media accounts. Now, I'm feeling quite nervous. I did so many stupid things last night! I won't be surprised if some of them were caught by the camera and posted online. But  I don't want any of that to happen even if the possibility was high. 

Padapa akong humiga sa kama habang hawak-hawak ang cellphone ko. I breathed deeply first before finally opening my social media account. At first, I didn't see any post related to the party, but as I scrolled down, I saw a photo of Prim and me hugging near a tennis table with beer cups. My hands shook a little as I tried zooming it in. I can clearly see my red cheeks, my eyes a little hooded, and I got a goofy smile. Yeah, I looked like a total drunkard. 

The next picture was the one when the first player was puking at the side of the table. It earned a lot of likes and comments. They were teasing the guy a lot. I sighed when relief washed over me. There wasn't any bad comment nor a shameful photo of me. The photos were tagged to me, and all of them were just about the game or me chatting with others. I turned off my phone with a small smile on my lip. I guess I won't get a traumatic experience or shameful one from my first party. I'll consider myself lucky.

For now, I really need to get that book back. No matter what. 

I'll get it by hook or by crook!

With determination built inside of me, I slowly opened the door and peaked at it. Sa ganitong oras ay busy na maglinis ang mga katulong sa salas, kusina, at hardin kaya sigurado akong walang pupunta rito. Pero syempre kailangan ko pa ring mag-ingat, lalo na't sinabi kong masama ang pakiramdam ko, tapos makikita nilang palakad-lakad ako rito. Malalagot talaga ako kung sakali. Mabuti na lamang at katapat na kwarto ko lamang ang ginagamit na kwarto ni Atlas.

Ipagdadasal ko na lang na naninigarilyo siya at wala sa kwarto, para matiwasay kong makuha pabalik ang libro. I was tiptoeing as I cross the corridor. The doorknob felt colder than before, and maybe it was my nervousness eating me. I breathed in before I pushed the door open, and thanks to all the saints, the door didn't make a single noise. I clutched the fabric of my bottom before walking in and shutting the door quietly. 

I looked around anxiously. Where is he? Atlas didn't seem to be around. I almost yelp when I heard the water gushing out from the faucet. He's inside the bathroom! Gosh, I need to find the book quickly as possible, or I'll be doomed. 

Where did he put it? 

 I kept looking around me, and because of my nervousness, the room felt a little suffocating. Beads of cold sweat started forming on my forehead. The room isn't that big, but why can't I find it? Calm the fuck down, Olivia, or you'll never find that book. I closed my eyes and breathed slowly while counting one to three repeatedly. When I felt less tense, I started looking around again, and this time I'm more focused.

Kahit gusto kong halughugin ang buong kwarto para makita agad ang hinahanap, ay hindi ko magawa. Mahirap gawin iyon dahil mabubuko agad ako. Kailangan 'pag-umalis ako rito ay mukhang hindi ko pinasok ang kwarto niya. I need to be discreet. I looked around again and again. Binuksan ko ang iilang kabinet, muntik pa akong mapasigaw sa gulat ng mabuksan ang pinaglalagyan ng mga underwear niya. Mabilis ko iyong isinara, at ramdam ko agad ang pag-akyat ng dugo ko sa mukha.