#2: Strumming the Pain

Strumming 44

When I woke up the next day, I was wondering why my body is aching. I was barely awake when I roamed my eyes around the room, and my eyes widened when I realized that I'm not in my room. Parang nagising ang buong sistema ko dahil doon. My gaze went to the man beside me, and I saw his naked back. He's sleeping like a baby, hugging the pillow, at naka-kumot din siya.

One might think something happened last night, but seriously, nothing happened. It was an innocent sleep, really. He managed to take a shower last night, but he asked me not to go. After he took a shower, I think he's still tipsy. Staring at the wall, I tried to remember what happened last night. I'm not drunk to forget what happened.

"Can you stay? Mamaya ka na umalis," inaantok na sabi niya sa 'kin, naglakad siya palapit.

"Late na... Matulog ka na," sagot ko naman sa kanya

He looked at me with sleepy eyes before taking one more step closer to me. He put his head on my shoulder, and I was stunned. I tried nudging him, but he didn't budge. I thought he was asleep, but then, he looked up again to meet my eyes.

"I'm scared this might just a dream." he whispered, looking directly in my eyes.

I stayed with him last night, but I didn't notice that I fell asleep. When I checked the time, I saw that it's just five in the morning. Dahan-dahan akong umalis sa kama para hindi magising si Kirk, naramdaman kong masakit ang batok ko. Oh, well, judging by how tall my pillow is... sasakit nga talaga ang batok ko. Tatlong patong ba naman ang unan ko. Bakit ba ang daming unan sa kwarto'ng 'to?

I looked back again to the sleeping Kirk before I opened the door to go to the room occupied by me. Napaatras pa ako dahil pagbukas ko ng pinto ay saktong lumabas din si Vinnyx ng kwarto niya. It was obvious that he just woke up, magulo pa ang buhok niya. He's sleepy eyes quickly widened upon seeing me. He even rubbed his eyes and slapped himself softly to check it he's still dreaming.

He immediately checked the name to see whose room it is, then he looked at me with wide eyes. He pointed his finger at me, couldn't utter a word. We were in that scenario when we heard a door opened, our attention went to that direction. We saw Jacen, I don't know if he just woke up— he looked more presentable than Vinnyx, that's why.

His brows furrowed upon seeing us like that. Takang-taka siguro siya kung bakit nakaturo sa 'kin si Vinnyx at walang sinasabi. He, then, checked the name, too, before his gaze went back to me, looking confused. Alam kong naglilikot na ang utak nilang dalawa kaya naman nagsalita na 'ko.

"He was drunk last night... Hinatid ko lang siya." I said, nervously. I don't even know why I'm nervous. Totoo naman ang sinasabi ko!

"Inabot ka ng umaga? Gaano kalawak 'yang loob ng kwarto ni Kirk?" Vinnyx sarcastically asked.

"You know, just... Uh! I'm innocent. Don't think anything dirty." sagot ko lang naman sa kanya.

Umalis na 'ko roon, hindi na naghintay ng iba pa nilang sasabihin. Dumiretso na lang ako sa kwarto ko para maligo. Masyado pang maaga pero bahala na. I'm planning to go to Juliana's cafè para iwasan si Vinnyx at Jacen. Honestly speaking, there's nothing to worry about when it comes to Jacen, he likes to mind his own business ever since. Kay Epione nga lang yata 'yun interesado, e.