A Night With Them

Chapter 10

Race groaned in pain when he felt a severe headache. He tried to get up, but failed, and he just dropped his back on the bed while closing his eyes and massaging his temples.

Hinintay niya muna makapag-adjust ang sarili bago tuluyang iminulat ang mga mata ngunit napatakip ito sa kaniyang mukha gamit ang kanang kamay nang masilawan ito dahil sa sinag ng araw na tumama sa kaniyang mukha mula sa bintana.

He hovered his eyes all around but ended up staring at the ceiling. He tried to remember what had happened last night and how he ended up here in the bedroom inside the cottage he was renting.

Ah it's about Hazel and Zenvil.

He just sighed before getting up and sitting on the bed. He took the pillow by his side and placed it behind him before leaning his back on the headboard. Hindi niya mapigilan makonsensya para sa kaibigan.

Nang marinig niya ang sinabi ni Hazel ay may selos na lumukob sa dibdib niya. Hindi niya mapigilan magselos at mainis sa kaibigan dahil hindi man lang ito nagsabi sa kanila na nakita pala nito ang dalaga.

Nang matapos sila mananghalian kahapon ay mag-isa itong pumunta sa maliit na grocery store na malapit sa Hastoria's resort para bumili ng mga alak at uminom ng mag-isa sa gilid ng dalampasigan hanggang sa inabot ito ng gabi.

He couldn't help but chuckle at his own childishness and immaturity.

He shouldn't act like that. He knew his friends very well because they had been friends since childhood. And he knew he had a reason why he hadn't told them about Hazel.

Napatingin si Race sa pintuan na gawa sa kawayan nang bumukas ito at iniluwa ang mga kaibigan niya na may dala-dalang tray na naglalaman ng mga pagkain.

"Race! Pare!" Tawag ni Travis at inilapag ang hawak na tray sa bakanteng upuan at umupo sa gilid ng kama niya.

He looked like he was shocked upon seeing him awake. May patakip pa ito sa bibig habang nakatingin sakaniya.

"Bakit ka naglalasing?" Seryosong tanong ni Levin at inilapag ang dalang tray sa lamesa.

Sinulyapan niya si Zenvil na nanonood lang sakanila at sinamaan ito ng tingin at inirapan.

Kumunot naman ang noo ni Zenvil sa inasta niya pero nagkibit-balikat na lamang ito at umupo sa bakanteng upuan na malapit sa bintana.

"Alam mo ba nakakahiya ka, iinom inom ka pero hindi mo rin pala kaya." Panenermon ni Levin.

"Nakakabawas ka talaga ng angas," naiiling na sabi ni Travis na para bang malaki itong kahihiyan para sakanila.

"Yes," Zenvil agreed. "Hazel was the one who saw you when you passed out, you idiot," said Zenvil in a monotone voice.

Race looked at them, shocked when he heard the name Hazel. 
 
"Shit," he whispered and tried to remember if he had said something to her pero halos sumakit lang ang ulo niya ay wala parin siyang maalala.

Nalasing lang ako ay nagka amnesia na agad ako?

"Wait!" Travis said while raising his right hand at tinititigan si Race habang nanliliit na mga mata at dinu-duro pa ito sa mukha. "Bakit ka nga ba naglalasing tapos hindi man lang nang-aaya?"

Race didn't answer and looked at Zenvil again. Zenvil's brows furrowed when he noticed that Race was looking at him differently.

"What?" He asked, confusedly.

"May dapat kang ikwento saamin," Race answered coldly.

Napatingin din sina Levin at Travis kay Zenvil nang marinig nila ang sinabi ni Race.

Tinignan naman sila ni Zenvil na may pagtataka ngunit kalaunan ay napalitan ng seryosong mukhang nang mapagtanto ang ibig nitong sabihin.

"Tsk it's about Hazel, right?"

"Yes," si Levi ang sumagot.

Nanatiling tahimik si Zenvil at nag-iisip kung papaano niya ito maipapaliwanag sa mga kaibigan ang tungkol kay Hazel.

He clicked his tongue before he answered, "I saw her on the hospital-"

"Why you didn't tell us?"

"Fucker! Let me finish!" Naiinis sa sagot ni Zenvil at itinikom naman ni Race ang bibig at sinesyahan na magpatuloy.

"As I said, I saw her in the hospital and I thought I was hallucinating. That is why I didn't tell you," He explained.

"That's it?" Nagdududang tanong ni Race.

"Yes that's it," Zenvil said while nodding his head.

"Pero dapat sinabi mo parin," naiinis na sabi ni Race.

"You know, it's not my style of saying or telling stories when I'm not sure if it's accurate, right?" Zenvil said, while crossing his arms and raising his brow.

"That's enough," pagpipigil ni Levi bago pa lumala ang tensyon.

Nag-iwas nalang ng tingin sina Race at Zenvil at sabay na bumuntong hininga. Dumaan ang ilang minuto ay saka muling umimik si Race.

"Where's Hazel?" Race asked.

"We don't know," Levin answered.

"Bakit hindi ninyo alam? Sino naghatid saakin dito?"

"Yung bellboy ng resort na 'to," sagot ni Travis na may hawak na palang tasa ng kape at hinihigop ito sa harapan nila.

Race fell silent at Travis's response.

"Why? You're expecting that Hazel brought and took care of you here?" Nang-aasar na tanong ni Zenvil na ikinainis ni Race.

"I said, that's enough." Madiing sabi ni Levin at napatampal nalang sa noo bago tinignan si Race.

"Yung bellboy ang naghatid sa'yo dito. Sinabi niya na pinapahatid ka ni Hazel dahil naknockout ka sa harapan niya. Imagine our shock nang makita ka namin na halos hindi na makatayo," Levin said while shaking his head in disappointment.

"Bumangon at magbreakfast kana dahil hahanapin natin si Hazel," dagdag niya.

AFTER they ate their breakfast ay nagdesisyon na silang lumabas para hanapin ang dalaga. May nakasalubong silang isang bellboy na may dala-dalang dalawang bagahe.

"Hi, nakita mo ba yung may-ari ng resort na 'to?" Tanong ni Travis habang itinuro ang buong paligid.

"Ah! Si ma'am Hazel po ba?" Paniniguro ng isang bellboy at tumango naman sila.

"Ay umuwi na po kaninang madaling araw."

Kumunot naman ang noo ng magkakaibigan at sabay na nagkatinginan bago ibinalik ang paningin sa bellboy.

"What? Sinong kasama niya?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Levin.

"Yung si Mrs. Reyes po at si Sir Pierce," Sagot ng bellboy habang nakangiti.

Their faces change into grim expressions upon hearing the name of Pierce.

"That fucker," Zenvil muttered.

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Hi my dear readers. How are you? I'm sorry for making you wait.

I am busy with my studies. I was supposed to post this chapter last Wednesday, but there was a power interruption in our place.