Among the Fluffiest Clouds

60

Nathaniel Policarpio

5:36 PM

Hade!
Sasabay ba sayo si Lex?

Yes
Sabay ka?

Oo sana 😅
Baka malasing ako hahahaha
Ayoko magdrive
Di ka naman siguro maglalasing?

Hindi naman
Sige. Daanan kita

Thank you Doc!
Nga pala
Read

Nireplyan ka na ba hahahaha
Read

Narinig ko lang kay Lex
Mukhang di ka okay
Kaya baka maglasing ka e...
Sure ka ba talaga na hindi?

Hindi naman ganoon kababa ang
alcohol tolerance ko
And I still have to drive

Okay sabi mo e
See you mamaya!

☁︎

"This should be enjoyed. Stop looking at your phone," said one of Hade's colleagues at Northward, Dr. Ronan.

Ronan picked up Hade's glass of whiskey from the table, he gave it to him. Kinuha naman iyon ni Hade, pero alam niya sa sariling hindi niya na ito iinumin. He believes he has had enough to drink for tonight. That, and he's far too preoccupied to want to drink.

Nawala na si Alexus sa tabi niya, probably he was already roaming around. Naiwan lang siya sa malaking bar lounge kasama si Ronan. It's fine, though. He actually wants to be alone at this point.

His eyes didn't leave his phone's screen. Kahit na agaw atensiyon ang strobe lights sa paligid, ang pop music na um-e-echo galing sa mga speakers, ang kasiyahang nangyayari . . . pero ang isip niya, sa ibang bagay lumalagi.

He thought attending his colleague's bachelor party would somehow help him not to think about her too much. Pero ganoon pa rin naman. He still checks on his phone after every second. Tinitignan kung ni-reply-an na ba siya, o kahit man lang lumitaw ang Read sa ibaba ng messages niya.

Pero wala. Ilang linggo na . . .

It has been weeks, and Alphie hasn't replied to any of his texts. For a few times he tried to call her, but always ending up being ignored. Her last messages worried him to the depths. After reading those messages, he felt a hollow pit in his stomach. And that night, he could hardly fall asleep.

Kung kailan balak niya nang umamin.

Kung kailan gusto niyang makita si Alphie, at sabihin ang nararamdaman niya sa personal.

He had been sending her texts if they could meet up. Nabasa 'yon ni Alphie, by long pressing his message thread. And she chose to ignore. Baka kasi ang gustong sabihin ni Doc Hade sa kaniya sa personal, may nagugustuhan na siya. Hindi niya kayang pakinggan iyon nang kaharap siya. She doesn't want to shed tears in front of him. But what she doesn't know . . .

Hade looked down on his wrist watch, it reads half past eleven. Gising pa rin kaya si Alphie? Kung tatawag siya, sasagutin kaya niya?

Perhaps it's the alcohol kicking in his system, but he let his fingers to automatically dial Alphie's number. Inilapag niya sa mesa ang baso ng whiskey na hawak, agad na tumayo kasabay ng paglapat niya ng cellphone sa tainga. He strode his way towards the exit of the exclusive bar, he had to walk fast to avoid interacting with anyone.