Beer and Empty Hearts

Blurb

It was quarter to 1 in the morning. Everyone was getting crazy and was in their best outfit.

"You ok, Hana?" I was minding my own business at the bar counter when I heard a familiar voice.

Tumingala ako sa boses na yun at nasilayan ang aking fiance for almost 9 years.

Yes! This man standing beside me was my fiance for fucking nine years!

We were both 18 when our parents arranged us for marriage. The plan was to be wed right after we finish college. But this mother fucker here kept delaying it for his major important reasons. It's fine anyway. I like it more. It's favorable for me too. More time for freedom. I'm hoping for another lame reason this year to be honest.

"Ow! You're here. What you doing here Nathan?", tanong ko.

"Kate's friend is celebrating her birthday at VIP room. I went out to smoke then I saw you here". Tumango tango ako.

"Are you alone? Your driver is waiting outside, right?" Sunud sunod na tanong nito.

"Yes and no. My driver's on leave . I went here all by myself."

"You drive? You shouldn't come here all alone. Nagpasama ka sana sa pinsan mo." Hindi ko mapigilang maipaliing sa sinabi niya.

"I think you should go back. Mamaya may sumabunot pa akin dito", prente kong sagot.

Napakunot siya. "And who would do such thing?"

"Babe!"

"Her", nguso ko sa bagong dating na si Kate.

Mabilis siyang lumingkis kay Nathan at binigyan ito ng mababaw na halik. Nakangisi pang tumingin sa'kin.

"Hi Hana! Sorry, ngayon ko lang napansin na nandito ka pala", pasensyoso nitong sabi.

"Di naman halata", bigla naman itong sumimangot nang marinig ang sagot ko.

Kate is Nathan's girlfriend. They're been dating for 3 years. Nathan met her when he's getting his masteral in the states and eversince then, they started this secret love affair. It's only me and few of their friends know about this.

I don't see the point of saying no the first time Nathan told me about it cause these fucking letters, I D O N O T C A R E were evident in my face. Bahala sila. My only condition was, kapag nagkabukingan huwag na huwag nila akong idadamay.

The first time I met Kate, I was so welcoming towards her. She's lucky I'm her boyfriend's arranged fiance. Cause who the fuck would welcome their fiance's sidechick? No one. Only me. But she didn't return the favor. She kept showing me her bitchy attitude and guess what? I returned it double.

"Anyway, I think we need to go back babe. Hana looks like a poor third wheel hag here if we continue to stay, right Hannah?" nang-aasar nyang sabi.

"Yeah I think so too Nathan, since I don't want Kate to look like below average girl beside me. Sayang naman ang outfit and make up. You dont want to waste such effort, right Kate?", biglang sumama ang tingin nito sa'kin.

Sasabat pa sana ito ng bigla na siyang hatakin ni Nathan. Nakaramdam na ata.

"We should go. Text me if you want to go home, Hana. I'll drop you off", sabi ni Nathan bago tumalikod kasama ang girlfriend nya. Hindi naman makapaniwalang tumingin sa kanya si Kate. Nag-away pa habang paakyat ng hagdan pabalik sa VIP room nila.

Whatever. Its not my problem to deal with.

Habang lumalalim ang gabi or should I say madaling araw, mas lalong dumadami ang mga tao. At mas ramdam ko na rin ang tama ng alak sa katawang lupa ko. Napadami na ata ang inom ko dahil tinatawag na ko ng banyo. Hilo man ay tumayo ako at pumunta ng comfort room.