When Yesterday Fades

CHAPTER 2

I storm out of the house, feeling angry and frustrated after the fight with my dad. I don't know where to go.

naisipan kong pumunta na lang sa nearest bar tutal nando'n naman ngayon ang mga kaibigan ko.

As I walk in, the loud music and dim lights hit me, and I feel a sense of relief. I spot my friends at a table and make my way over to them.

"Hoy, Phoenix. Akala ko ba hindi ka pupunta kasi jungle day???" una akong nakita ni alexus, agad naman ako nitong inakbayan.

jungle day means family day, hindi ata ako makakatulog kung family day ang itatawag ko, eh mukha naman kaming mga ewan sa bahay na kulang na lang eh mag sabunutan.

tatlo laban sa dalawa, lima laban sa isa.

ang mga tunay ko lang naman na kapatid ang kakampi ko sa bahay, si ate lory at Iris. tapos 'yong dalawang mag ina naman 'yong magkakampi, si sarah at sabrina.

"Hey," they say as I sit down. anim silang nasa table pero si alexus, astrid, rhianna, and avery lang ang kilala ko. may dalawa silang kasama na hindi ko kilala, mukhang galing ibang school dahil bago lang sa paningin ko.

tinanguan ko lang sila, at saka kumuha ng bote ng bull sa table.

"What's going on? You look upset." tanong ni avery.

I tell them about the fight with my dad, tinawanan lang ako ng mga 'to sabay pat sa likod ko. sanay na sila sa ganitong problema ko dahil hindi naman na 'ko nawalan ng problema sa tatay ko, kung hindi sa kaniya ay kay demonyitang sabrina.

"That sucks, man." - astrid.

"Nako! 'yang sabrina na 'yan malapit ko na talaga matiris 'yan! Sabihin mo lang kung kailangan mo na ng resbak ng matuto naman 'yang ponyeta na 'yan!" galit na saad ni rhianna.

"But getting wasted isn't going to solve anything." avery. seryosong nitong sabi.

pito kaming magka-kaibigan at si avery ang masasabi kong mother of the group. ito kasi ang takbuhan naming lahat kapag may problema sa grupo at sa kung ano pa mang trouble ang gawin namin.

I know she's right, but I just want to forget about everything for a while.

I order a drink and start to sip on it. My friends start to chat and joke around, and I try to join in, but my mind keeps drifting back to the argument with my dad.

lumalalim na ang gabi, I drink more and more, and my inhibitions start to lower.

I find myself laughing and having a good time, but I know deep down that it's all just a temporary escape. The alcohol is only masking my problems, not solving them.

Eventually, the night comes to an end, and we all stumble out of the bar, laughing and joking around.

lasing na si astrid, inaalalayan na lang ito ni alexus at ni avery. si rhianna naman nawawala na, lumandi nanaman 'yon, shutangina parang bula lagi kapag may inom kami tapos makikita mo na lang may hickey na sa leeg kinabukasan.

Sa hindi kalayuan, may nakita akong babaeng tila mas wasted pa ata kay astrid, hindi ito magkamayaw sa pagtawag ng uwak. nasa tapat ito ng sasakyan niya.

Hindi na ako nagdalawang isip pa at nilapitan na ito, I reached out and touched her shoulder. To my surprise, she turned her head to look at me. Her eyes were glazed over, but there was something in them that made me feel a connection.

"Hey," I said softly. "Are you okay?"

She didn't respond, but I could see her lips moving as she tried to form words.

Sa hindi katagalan ng pagtititigan namin. Nagulat ako ng bigla nitong hawakan ang leeg ko at higitan palapit sa kaniya.

!!!!