THE BAD HABIT (BISAYA)

07

Z.

Hapon na. Gikan pako sa hospital, as usual, I talked to my mom. Unconscious gihapon sya pero I'm patience enough to wait.

Ga drive nako ron padung sa bar ni Levin. He texted me nga naa daw syay big news.

Unsa nasad kaha.

I went inside the bar and immediately saw Hickey.

Gituyo nakong mo tambay usa sa entrance kay wa pa sya naka bantay nga naabot na ko.

Naa ra niya akong tibuok atensyon not until she stopped moving. Na estatwa sya kadali, starring somewhere.

Nag dali dali kog duol niya nya gisalo ang baso nga hapit na mahulog.

Naunsa jud ni sya?

“Careful, Hickey” hunghong nako.

Na shock pa sya gamay pagka kita sa akoa. She didn't speak, ga tulala ra.

Then as I was about to kiss her forehead, a woman called me.

“Zayd! Hi lovey..” I recognize her voice.

Wala ko nag ka mali kay pag lingi nako sa nanawag kay s'ya jud. Nihalog sya nako diretso.

“Yuni..” ana ko ug gigakos sad sya.

Mao ning sulti ni Levin nga big news? Eunice is finally home after years of staying sa Canada.

“Long time no see, lovey”

I smile at her, “Uh-huh, long time no see and I miss you”

This woman is Levin's cousin and also a good friend of mine. Sa Canada jud siya ga puyo kay didto man sya gipanganak and usahay ra mo visit aris pilipinas.

Eunice is like a sister to me.

She giggle ayha nibuhi. I checked her from head to toe. Dakoa nag gibag'o bayhana uy.

She clang her arms on my arm, “I missed you too. Specially your-

Nahunong syag storya kay nakadungog mig nabuak.

I averted my eyes to Hickey. Nagpamaak syas iyang ngabil while ga punit sa nabuak.

Atay! Nabuak ra gihapon ang baso nga akong gi salo ganiha. Naunsa namani?

“What happened?” tingog ni Levin nga bag'o ra naabot.

“God! Her ankle is bleeding” worried nga sulti ni Eunice.

Mao pa say pag ka kita nako sa iyang tiil nga ga dugo.

“Fvck” I cussed and is about to help her, “Hickey, you're bleeding. Let me-

I stopped talking as a man's arm pull Hickey away from the broken glass. “Let the other take care of that, Key. Come with me..” he gently utter.

Na estatwa kos nasaksihan.

“Awe~ you're such a gentleman” anas Eunice.

Wala koy laing nabuhat. Nag tanga rako while ga tan aw ni Hickey ug Levin nga padung sa office ni Levin.

What is that?

“I think my cousin liked that pretty woman” Eunice conclude.

“No way!” tubag dayun nako.

“Yes way”

Nag lagot na hinuon kog sugod sa gi ingon ni Eunice.

“No way. I said no way.” usab nako with a territorial tone.

“And why?” Eunice roll hee eyes, “It's obvious-

“Because, she's my girlfriend.” diretso nga tubag nako.