Dancing with the Devil

Chapter 14

"What happened?"

I am worried as hell. I know something is up, we have a morning class tomorrow, sinong nasa tamang pag-iisip ang mag-aaya uminom? Of course, no one. We all prioritize our studies, dito pa lang ay alam ko nang may ibang rason.

"Ayon's mouth is mum, she won't even talk about it." Nagkibit-balikat si Sera sa akin.

If Ayon won't talk then it's no use. We can't force her to tell us a thing. Ugali na niya 'yan, she likes to keep everything to herself. She's not used to confinding things, and all that we could do is make her feel our presence.

"Come on, baka nagpapakalunod na yun sa alak. Hindi pwedeng siya lang, baka ubusan pa tayo." Biro ko at dumiretso na sa kanyang sasakyan.

"What the fuck bro? Are you broken-hearted or what?" Ngiwi ko nang makita ang nagkalat na bote sa kanyang harapan.

Counting the empty bottles in the bottle? If this isn't Ayon, kanina pa lasing ang kung sino mang umiinom. I sat next to her and snatched the bottle of beer on her hand.

"Binasted ka na ba ng kuya ko?" Biro ko sa kanya. "I told you, he's an asshole!"

She only glared at me. I know she won't get offended by my words, kilala ko na siya. She'd rather want me to make everything light than the opposite because she'll have a hard time. 

She's not very good at expressing her emotions. Hinahayaan nalang namin. Hindi naman niya kailangan ng advice namin, ang kailangan niya ay presensya namin. If she ever asks for our help we will always be ready to lend a hand, for now, it's only a shoulder that we can give to her.

Tahimik lang kami sa table at may mga sariling mundo. Sera as always the friendly one, kinakausap at ineentertain ang mga lumalapit sa table namin. I'll just nod at them and converse politely if asked, especially kapag hindi ko naman close. 

From time to time, I look at Ayon to check her out. She's sporting a straight face looking at the bottle in her hand. Kung titignan mukha lang niyang ineenjoy ang pag-inom ng tahimik, but if you'll observe closely she's in her deep thoughts. She also excludes a somber aura that is usually friendly and energetic whenever we go out. 

"Stop looking at me, hindi naman ako maglalaho bigla." Irap niya.

Umirap rin ako, ngunit hindi na nagsalita at itinuon nalang sa iba ang tingin. In front of us people flock on the dance floor, getting wild as the nights progress. Sa club mo talaga makikita ang iba't-ibang uri ng tao.

May mga taong nagsasayaw at saya. At may mga taong nagpapakalunod sa alak kapalit ang panandaliang pagkalimot.

"This is nothing, I'm just wondering about things. Hindi mo na kailangang mag-alala sa akin."

My head immediately snapped back to her. "Sa mga sinasabi mo mas nag-aalala ako," angil ko sa kanya.

She might be the bravest and strongest woman I have known but she can be so fragile that I don't want her to turn into broken pieces that might be hard to tend. 

When something hurts you, it would cut you so deep and would leave you scars that you don't know if time could even mend it. Sometimes, time is not enough to mend your broken heart— the scars that it gives you will be the daily reminder that it hurts you and that you are still hurting.

Time heal all wounds does not apply to everything because there are wounds that are beyond to be fixed.

"Ang oa mo na, tama na. Chill, okay. I'm fucking fine!" She showed me her signature smirk. "I'll reach out if I need you, remember that." Her lips finally curved into a gentle smile.