Strangers Again

Chapter 1

Matinding sakit na ulo ang naramdaman ko pagkagising sa umagang iyon. Nanatili akong nakahiga, may kaunting pagsisisi sa sarili dahil hindi ko man lang nabigyan ng control ang sarili sa ginawang pag-inom kagabi.

Nilingon ko ang phone ko na nasa gilid ng aking unan at nakitang maraming messages don, lalo na sa group chat ng section namin. Puro messages ng pasasalamat, ingat, at mga photos ng nangyaring after party kagabi ang nandoon. Nag-react na lamang ako ng mga heart at hindi na tiningnan isa-isa, saka tumayo na para maghilamos.

It's a Saturday morning, close to afternoon actually dahil malapit nang mag-alas dose. Matapos gawin ang aking morning routine ay bumaba na ako para makahanap ng makakain. Wala sina Mom and Dad dahil nasa trabaho, ngunit may naiwan namang pagkain sa hapag kaya't iyon ang kinain ko. 

To be honest, I do party occasionally. Lalo na kapag tapos na ang mga tests at tingin ko'y deserve ko naman ang magliwaliy pagkatapos ng mahabang araw na pagsubsob ng sarili ko sa mga libro at pagsusunog ng kilay. Ngunit hindi ako nalalasing ng ganito, it just so happen na mayroon kaming kasamang mga seniors kagabi at sila ang madalas na nagpapalaro at natatalo kami. 

I think I got drunk last night, just a little. I remember most of what happened especially from the start, but the latter part, I'm not so sure. But bits of it, I remember. I remember downing maybe a glass or two, or maybe three? Because I lost a game. And then after that we saw some of our classmates moving in to another table with some of the students from the Engineering department, and Melanie, my bestfriend, said that I would be nice to tag along and meet new people, so we followed.

After that, my memories were a bit hazy. Maybe it's the three shots of vodka that I drank before that's making my head spin a little, or that's making my eyes heavier, but in that moment I thought I can still handle maybe two or three drinks. Maybe from now on hindi ko na dapat i-overestimate ang sarili ko pagdating sa alak. Dahil alam ko na na hindi maganda ang kahihinatnan lalo na ang sakit na ulo sa umaga.

Lots of conversations were shared, mostly about the successful University Days or making an introduction. Thankfully, Melanie, Yvonne, and I were mostly the ones talking within our circle. And some occasionally from our department, but other than that, none.. I think.

I checked my phone again because it keeps on buzzing. I saw conversations between Melanie and Yvonne sa group chat naming tatlo. Nagkakayayaan ng kape.

Melanie: G, coffee?

Yvonne: What time?

Melanie: Mga 4PM? What do you think?

Yvonne: Sure. Si Ayla tulog pa?

Melanie: Mukha nga. Hindi nagsi-seen.

Melanie: Wakey wakey, sleepy head!!!

At tinag niya pa ako sa huling message niya na iyon. I quickly typed my reply dahil pati si Yvonne ay tina-tag na rin ako sa message niya. 

Ako: Sure, sure pupunta ako! See you!

Us three goes way back. And I meant since start of high school, that's when our friendship started. And then after that, hindi na kami mapaghiwalay na tatlo. May mga year kaming hindi magkakaklase pero kami pa rin ang nagsasama. At nadala na namin iyon hanggang magkolehiyo.