Romance Anthologies

[AU] It Happened One Summer - II

Nagsimulang lumabas ang mga kapitbahay nito nang marinig ang malakas na pagbagsak mula sa kanyang kwarto. He pulled Leni upwards so that others wouldn't see her feet and slammed the door shut out of fear of being seen and talked about by other people. Hinihingal itong tumingin ulit kay Leni na halos nakapikit ulit at mga mata nito at naamoy ang masangsang na alak mula sa kanyang hininga.

"You're drunk," he pointed out.

"And I didn't know that you were my neighbor," she wickedly giggled, all fazed.

It is currently too late and too unethical for him to request that the lady leave his area. Napapikit na lang siya sa inis at tinayo si Leni ng maayos saka pinaupo sa kanyang sofa. After adjusting his glasses and his shirt, he proceeded to the refrigerator in order to retrieve some cold water for her. He handed her the bottle, but she declined it, which was exactly the kind of statement he anticipated from a drunk like her.

"Wala ka bang serbesa dyan?" she huffed.

"I'm being nice here, Leni," he snapped and threw the bottle away in her direction. She was left with no choice but to catch it.

"Anlaki ng lugar mo ah," she commented while roaming her eyes around his unit. "Sabagay...why would I be even shocked no, Marcos ka naman."

The non-verbatim backhand compliment. That's what he despises the most. But he couldn't help people who do and say those things, yun naman talaga ang laging first impression. "I bought this myself."

"From your relatives' money na natatanggap mo tuwing pasko?" she took a wild guess. "Hindi 'to insulto ah. Pasalamat ka nga at di ka lumaki sa pamilya na meron ako."

"Your father is in the Supreme Court, if I may remind you," he jested.

"Though mas marami kayong magkakapatis kaysa samin, hindi pa rin kami well-off katulad niyo," she reasoned out.

"Do you...really run your mouth like that when drunk?" Bongbong put his hands on his pockets and stared down at her.

"Hindi ako lasing. Hindi pa. Kanina natatamaan na ako kaya nga ako napadpad dito, diba. Salamat sa patubig mo," Leni chortled jokingly.

"Umuwi ka na kung tapos ka ng uminom ng tubig," he sternly mumbled. "Leave the bottle on top of my counter."

"Hoy, grabe ka naman," she retorted. "Dito muna ako. Mas gusto ko na lang pagchismisan ng mga kapitbahay na girlfriend mong lasing kaysa babaeng kinama mo lang ng ilang minuto pagkatapos inichapwera mo na."

"You're insane," he rolled his eyes at her as he went back to studying.

"Naubos ko ang long island ko sa isang inuman lang, please spare me," she clasped her hands and closed her eyes as she bowed a few times at him to tease Bongbong further.

"Why would you do that?" muntik na siyang masinghalan nito. "Alam mo ba kung anong iniinom mo, ha? That's too strong for a woman like you."

"Malalaman mo ang sagot kapag nagkita kayo ng ex mo," she sheepishly smiled.

Oh. Bulong ni Bongbong sa isip. Somehow, he couldn't relate because he never had a proper relationship. Kung meron man, iyon ay ang highschool love niyang si Louise. It wasn't really serious and it was all in the past now, they parted ways for good at nasa Amerika na rin iyon ngayon nag-aaral. He swore to himself that he'd never get attached the whole college days he'll get or else everything's going to be a mess for sure. Sarili niya nga di niya maayos-ayos, tatanggap pa siya ng panibagong tao sa buhay niya.

"May OCD ka ba?" rinig nitong bulyaw ni Leni.

"Ha?" sagot nito. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing," she breathed out. "Puro ka kasi black and white and neat and clean and organized. Ganito din naman ako pero parang tinalo mo pa yung mga maarteng bakla sa-"