Thorns and Roses

CHAPTER SEVEN

Arlene's Point of View

“Sure ka ba talagang okay ka lang? Ihahatid ka na namin,” Ate Irene said in a worried tone. Paulit-ulit siya kaya naiirita na 'ko.

“I said I'm fine Ate, I just need to go home and rest,” I insisted. She smiled and nodded as a sign of defeat. Hindi niya maipipilit ang sa kanya lalo na ngayong gusto kong mapag-isa.

I was about to walk away but Denver grabbed my hand. I instantly turned my back to face him. I raised my left eyebrow because of what he did.

What kind of bullsh*t is this?

He smiled genuinely and took his wallet from his pocket. Kumuha siya ng kulay asul na pera at inabot sa 'kin. Of course I accepted it, I love money.

I didn't even bother to thank him. I walked away with a little smile on my face. Having money kinda cheer me up. I was about to put the money on my pocket but something stopped me.

I noticed that its two blue bills. I think he's not aware that he took two paper bills from his wallet. My smile widen.

Pumara na 'ko ng taxi nang may ngiti sa aking labi. As soon as I sat, I removed the smile on my face and replaced it with a poker face.

“Sa pinakamalapit na club kuya,” sabi ko. Mabilis namang unandar ang taxi para ihatid ako sa aking destinasyon.

Wala akong balak umuwi ngayong gabi, lulunurin ko ang sarili ko sa alak.

Marami pang bukas na mga establishments kahit gabi na. Kitang-kita tuloy mula sa bintana ng taxi ang magagandang ilaw mula sa mga building.

Habang nakatingin ako sa bintana ay naalala ko ang mga nangyari kanina. I sighed. The money cheered me up for a moment but here I am, confuse again because of those sh*tty memories.

I am certain that the memory flashed in my mind earlier is a part of my past. But one thing is making me curious.

Who is the woman in front of me?

Inuntog ko ang ulo ko sa bintana ng taxi dahil sumasakit lang iyon sa tuwing iniisip ko kung sino ang babae.

Hindi nagtagal ay nakarating din ako sa club. I ran towards the bartender and ordered a drink. Umupo lang ako sa harap ng bartender. Wala akong balak sumayaw sa dance floor. Ang gusto kong gawin ay ang magpakalasing.

Kapag nalasing ba 'ko nang sobra ay makakalimutan ko ang alaalang iyon?

- - -

I woke up in front of my desk with a painful headache. Sanay naman akong gumising nang masakit ang ulo pero iba ngayon, doble ang sakit.

Nalunod nga siguro ako sa alak kagabi.

Nang mahimasmasan na 'ko ay napansin kong nakabukas ang laptop. No'ng una hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang naka-type sa screen.

What the. . . Did I just wrote a chapter while I was drunk?

Maraming typo pero unti-unti ko rin namang naintindihan. I continued writing my ongoing novel last night.

This is a proof that I am a talented writer. I can't believe that I managed to finish a single chapter with more than three thousand words while I'm drunk.

I didn't bother to eat my breakfast. Nilinis ko ang sinulat ko kagabi, inayos ko ang mga typo. As soon as I finished polishing the chapter, I clicked the publish button.

Dumiretso 'ko sa banyo para maligo. Napansin ko kasi na puro mantsa ang suot kong damit. Lagkit na lagkit na rin ako kaya gustong-gusto ko na maligo.

Hindi ko na inisip kung ano ang ginawa ko kagabi kasi sumasakit lang ang ulo ko.