Mishap and The Aftermath

Chapter 3

When I was young, I don't know who or what 'alcohol' is.

I was a top student. Never ako napunta sa cream section, but I was always on top sa section namin nung high school. Talk about how boring my life was back then?

But when I tasted it during college, it never stopped flowing in my veins.

My mom was strict, so so strict. Even until now. I had to be home around 6pm during my teen years, and if I'll stay outside overnight, she has to gather everyone's (na kasama ko) contact number. I can still remember how I went home drunk, how I was fighting with a wall and talking to it like it will talk back, then pag-uwi I had to be straight face kasi kung hindi, patay na siguro ako ngayon. That, changed a bit. She knows I drink. Occasionally. But she still had a lot to say about my life, and it's sometimes suffocating.

True to what Kamille said, ang dami na ngang tao. And hindi na ko makahinga.

Only she and King have a car, so we were divided into two groups. Bobby, Ferdi, Celeste, Ate Raquel, and me ride on King's.

"Ako na sa unahan para di kayo siksikan." Announced ni Bobby nung pasakay na kami. Madali syang hinila ni Ferdi at Celeste.

"Wait, si Avi daw sa harap." These two! Sobrang clueless ng mukha ni Bobs. Tapos itong dalawa nag-sisignalan sa kilay nila, na hindi talaga ma-gets ni Bobby.

Wala naman akong nagawa dahil hinila na nila sa likod si bakla. I was the last one to hopped in. "H-hi." Sabi ko sa poging driver namin. Infairness ah, malinis yung car nya. I mean not totally. There were documents there and there but it's not too messy the way I expected a man's car would be. Amoy perfume nya din yung buong car.

He smiled. Wait, is that butterflies on my stomach? Gaga, self. Di mo pa nga kilala ng lubos. But a little crush won't hurt, does it?

"Magkaka-work kayo?" He asked, particularly to everyone.

"Yas!" Maarteng sagot naman ni Bobs, papansin as always.

"Wow, actually ako nagpasok kay Zeke diyan sa company nyo. I resigned a year ago. Share ko lang." Sabay tawa. Ang pogi ng tawa. Oa ko na!

Sayang di ko sya naabutan. One year ago, I was still in my first company. Sobrang different nila ni Zeke. Si Zeke, ang dumi ng sasakyan eh. Minsan ako nalang nag-aayos pag sinasabay nya ko pauwi. Tapos lagi syang amoy yosi. Pogi din naman si Zeke pero sobrang workaholic, pag sa office kami di mo yun makakausap. Nakaka-chikahan ko lang yun pag sa ganto tapos sobrang deep ng mga convo namin about life. Asan na ba yung gagong yun?

I was deep in thoughts, nung bigla syang lumapit sa gawi ko and pull the seat belt. "Ok lang?" He asked. Sa sobrang pag-iisip ko, I forgot to wear it. "Ako na." He put it on me. Shit, bakit ako pinagpapawisan. Napansin nya din siguro yun kaya inayos nya yung aircon sa side ko. "Ok ka lang?" He asked concernedly.

"O-oo, mainit lang sa labas." Sabay paypay ko kunwari using my hands. Sino ako diyan.

"Ah, kayaaaaa!" Biglang sabi ni Bobby nang malakas. Ferdi and Celeste immediately cover his face. Literally buong mukha, using all their hands. Tawa sila nang tawa. Kahit si Ate Raquel, gets na ata. Bwisit na mga toh.

Mabilis lang naman kami nakarating sa MPT Suites galing dun sa beer house. "Sige, baba na kayo dito." Sabi ni King nung makarating kami sa main entrance nung building. They all obliged. But I stayed.

"Samahan na kita, nakakahiya naman. Grab driver yern?" I joked.

"Ok. Park lang tayo." He nodded, laughing.

Binaba ko yung glass sa side ko and tell the bitches, "Samahan ko na mga teh."

"Yes go girl, I'm so proud of what you become!" Oa na sagot naman ni Bobby. Tangina ka bakla, sasakalin kita mamaya when I have the chance.

I don't know if girls who have boyfriend na may car do this, I can't help but watch him as he drive. Bakit ang lakas ng dating every move? Tapos yung veins pa sa braso. Hala bhe, ayoko na!

Pagdating namin sa parking, wala na daw available sabi ni kuyang guard. The heck? So naghanap sya ng ibang parking sa ibang building. "Matagal ka na sa MarCo?" He started.

"Ahm, actually magpo-four months palang ako sa 7." I answered, still watching his arms. Self, stop! Di naman ako super obvious na nakalingon sa kanya, like mata ko lang yung nakatingin.

"Oh! Bago ka lang pala, kaya pala ngayon lang kita nakita." He said while waiting for the stop light to turn green. "Nakakainuman ko na kasi sila pag dinadamay ako ni Kamille. Schoolmates kami nung college."

"Nung December ko sila last nakasama." He added.

Malapit lang naman yung nahanap nyang parking but we have to walk. I can't help but noticed how he do the sidewalk rule. Kiligs! Siguro bading nga talaga ko. Kelan pa ba ko huling nagka-crush? Wala naman kasing pogi sa office, and iilan lang naman silang guys. Si Aries may girlfriend na, Karlo is bad news. Zeke, screams totropahin. And Bobby likes boys.

Kung si Zeke grabe ako barubalin, itong pinsan nya pinag-oopen pa ko ng pinto. Disney princess ang peg. "Malakas ka uminom?" He asked nung nasa elevator na kami. Ang awkward na ang liit nun tapos puro mirror.

"Saks lang." Lolo mo Vienne, saks ka diyan. Eh every week ka nga sa Xylo.

Nung nag-open yung elevator pinauna nya din ako. The hallway was a bit narrow. Nasa dulo pala yung room na na-book ni Kamille. When we knock and Grace open the door for us, napalingon ako kay King. But I don't see the same expression he had kanina sa beer house.

When we entered, Diva by Beyonce is blasting on the speakers. And I made my runway, bhie hindi tayo magpapa-demure dito. I dance and sing my heart. "Stop that track let me say it fast, I told you give me a minute and I'll be right back."

And this is who I am.