Stained

11

Stained
CHAPTER ELEVEN

"FIVE shots for one, please." Order ko sa bartender na nanlaki ang paningin mula sa pagkakabigla. My bad, this night, I ought to make a difference. Paris recommended for me to loosen up a bit and so that is what I'll be doing for the rest of the hours of darkness, but am I really drinking for the right reasons?

Kakapalan ko na ang mukha ko, nais ko lang talaga mawala sa sistema ko ang nangyari kanina lamang. My body was beaten up tremendously by those five words, ending with me acquiring emotional bruises. It is the consequences, the aftermath of it that I am facing. Bakit ba ganoon akong ka-affected? Haharapin ko na ang katotohanan, 'di pa siya nakaka-move on mula sa lalaking 'yon, pero kalaunan, makakalimutan niya na rin naman niya si Lyon? Hindi ba? Tama!

'Di ko pa nga nasisimulan ang misyon kong ligawan siya, tapos kasawian na agad pumapasok sa isip ko. You are better than this, Rome. A blow of the wind break free from me.

"Sir, Sir!" Tawag sa akin ng bartender mula sa kabilang bahagi ng black marble na bar counter.

"Sorry and thank you." Isa-isa kong inilapit sa kinauupuan ko ang limang baso na katamtaman ang laki at puno ang laman. Aking sinuri ang listahan ng mga presyo.

Pagpalain ang lahat, hindi ako mahal. Mali, 'di pala ako namahalan.

Nilabas ko ang wallet ko, dapat na magbabayad na sana ngunit pinangunahan niya ako.

"Libre po ang dalawa sa mga ito. Bale sa first five bars na iinuman mo, Sir, may two free drinks."

"Oh, that's the case? Sige, kukuha lang ako ng pambayad for the remaining three." Dumukot ako ng ilang daan sa pitaka ko. "Here you go. Salamat ulit."

"Welcome, Sir. Have fun tonight!"

I nodded. I totally will. Ang pagiging low tolerance ko ay hindi makakapigil sa akin.

On my table erects various cocktails that come from the package I bought with labels each glass. There goes the Old Fashioned one and Bloody Mary. Next to them are Sidecar, Yellow Bird, and Sex in the Beach. It's ridiculous how these names are something I did not just invent, these are the actual names.

Siguro maiging unahin ko muna ang Old Fashioned, parang chill lang kasi ito. Kasunod naman ang Sidecar kung saan puwedeng isabay ang Sex in the Beach. Tapos doon ilalabas ang Yellow Bird hanggang mauwi sa Bloody Mary. What a hell of a ride!

Walang pasabi-sabi kong tinungga ang isa sa kanila. Sipping through a glass flooded with Old Fashioned tested my taste buds. Every possible tang has been poured into this cocktail. The sweetness of sugar, the sourness of the orange twist garnish combined with a brokenhearted bitter aftertaste exploded through my mouth, letting me squint my eyelids and cringe.

They should replace its title to "Cycle of Relationships". Ganoon na ganoon ang lasa - may tamis, asim, at pait.

One down, four more.

Kakayanin ko kaya ang mga ito? As early as now, my vision is spinning 'round and 'round as if I am stuck in a kaleidoscope world.

The last time I was this intoxicated, I was twenty-two years old. That incident was decent compared to whatever this bullshit I am doing.