Change of Fate

Chapter 19

It was after lunch that I arrived in the province. I was invited to attend a birthday party and I cannot decline. Over the weekend naman ang party and sinabing pwede mag stay overnight ang ibang guest na malalayo pa ang byahe. It's fine with me na rin, since I will consider this party as my rest from work.

Nag pack ako ng mga damit sa isang bag at ibang essentials na kakailanganin ko. Nakailang messages na ang na-rereceive ko sa phone. Maybe knowing what time I will arrive.

Nag drive na ako sa pupuntahan hanggang sa nakarating sa destinasyon. Inaayos pa lang nila ang lugar ng party noong nakadating ako. Pumasok na muna ako sa kwarto kung saan ko balak matulog mamaya. Magpapahinga na lang muna rin ako dahil ang haba ng byahe.

Nagising ako nang oras na para sa party ng kakilala. Naririnig ko na ang tunog ng musika at tawanan ng mga tao sa baba nang nakalabas ako ng banyo at habang nagbibihis. I wore a black off shoulder top with sheer long sleeves, paired with a short red pencil skirt and black heels. I decided to put my hair into a bun and wore light makeup for the night.

Bumaba na ako para makihalubilo sa mga bisita at batiin ang may birthday. Everything is having fun as I also had fun talking to people and catching up to those I haven't seen for months or years.

Lumalim ang gabi at afterparty na. Nagkayayaan mag-inuman kaya pumayag ako at hindi naman ako babyahe ngayong gabi.

Alam kong tinatamaan na ako ng hilo pero umiinom pa rin ako! I also know I am saying a lot of nonsense things na tinatawanan na lang ng mga kasama ko! Hindi ma-register sa utak ko kung ano ano sinasabi ko basta alam kong grabe na pagkamadaldal ko!

Nagkayayaan kami na lumipat sa isang table para sama sama na ang pagkakatuwaan namin at magkakakilala naman kami. Nahihilong tumayo, pumunta na kami sa kabilang table. There, I saw a man looking at me or guni guni ko lang iyon? Umiikot kasi ang paningin ko!

Galen sat on a long chair like he owns it. I stared at him as it brought me back to my college days.

How I was fascinated by him but decided to just have a crush on him because I can't have any distraction. How I always looked at him in secret during that one minor class. How I was euphoric whenever our eyes met and then looking away at the same time. How, out of nowhere, I fell for Phillip and my attention changed.

Now, it makes me feel bad because it sounds like I used Phillip to gain attention from someone else. Parang gago lang. Kakasabi lang na ayaw sa distraction, pero nahulog sa iba.

Being with Phillip felt suffocating, just like my ex before him. Ang daming bawal, ang daming rules. Maybe it's only my ego who got hurt when he let me go without a fight. But, that scarred me. Making me believe I will forever be hard to keep and love.

I don't know what came to me that I decided to sit next to Galen, and even leaned my head on his shoulders! Tsansing!

Everything felt like a blur as I was sitting next to him. I even wanted to hold his hand and act as a couple in front of everyone else!

Carlo, I believed that's his name, went to us to talk to Galen. All I heard were gibberish words except the word pang-habangbuhay.

I swear, lumabas na talaga ang sobrang pagkakapal ng mukha ko nang ayain siya magpakasal. I don't even know what came to me! Pumirma pa nga agad ako! Inunahan na siya!

I don't even want to blame the alcohol because I felt this is the most sober thing to do! I also felt that I was taking advantage of our current drunken situation but to hell with that! This is my chance!

We kissed after Galen signed the paper. Akala ko nasa alapaap na ako. Ramdam ko ang mga kamay niya sa akin, ang kanyang malambot na labi na nakahalik sa akin.