Time and Fallen leaves

I'm Only Me (When I'm Not Sober) II

"Leeon?!"

Tila nawala ang kalasingan ni Erin nang makitang mas lasing pa si Leeon sakanya. His hair is disheveled, hindi na rin nito maimulat ang kanyang mga mata, his mouth has traces of vomit as if he let it out for the 3rd time.

Umangat ng tingin si Leeon upang tingnan kung sino ang tumawag sakanyang pangalan. A subtle shock is visible but due to his drunken state, nawala rin ito agad. Nagpa gewang-gewang itong pumunta sa sink and struggled to open the sink dahil automatic sensor ito. Erin's instinct was to help him and so she did.

"What are you doing in a men's bathroom" it wasn't a question, Leeon was confident Erin was lost, but oh boy if he knew how wrong he was. He grab a hanful of water from the faucet at ibinasa ang mukha nito, given how drunk he was, it was no surprise if his entire shirt is soaked as well.

"Are you for real" Erin doesn't even realize that she already scoffed by the sight of drunken Leeon. He was about to say something when he start to gag, he immediately went back inside the cubicle causing Erin to follow along. She started to pat Leeon's back hoping it would help him feel much better.

Agad na naalerto si Erin nang marinig ang boses ni Jade at Yuna papasok ng comfort room. Despite the heavy music playing from the outside, rinig niya pa rin ang matinis na boses ng mga ito.

"Leeon?!"

"Girl, why would my cousin be here?"

"Idk, malay mo"

Rinig na usapan ng dalawa. Erin suddenly felt relieved, finally, she won't have to deal with Leeon anymore —not that she doesn't want to, she just doesn't know how. This is her first time at a bar, her first time drinking, and first time encountering this. Let Leeon be handled by the professionals they say.

Akmang tatayo na sana si Erin upang tawagin ang atensiyon nila Jade nang hilahin siya ni Leeon pabalik. Leeon placed a finger on her lips which she immediately swatted instinctively.

"Don't tell them I'm here" his eyes were pleading, as if he really doesn't want others to see him in this state —even his cousin. Erin remember how Leeon saved her from embarrassment during the school festival, it's time for her to do the same. Tumango siya at naupo sa tapat ni Leeon, she saw how Leeon's eyes struggle to keep awake dahil sa sobrang kalasingan. He didn't even drink much, sadyang mababa lang talaga ang alcohol tolerance nito.

Nang mapansin ni Erin na wala nang tao sa labas ay binuksan niya na ang cubicle door ngunit sinarado ito agad ni Leeon. Erin look at him with creased forehead, ngunit ngumiti lamang ang binata. A smile so genuine that his smile can be seen even from the dimly lit room.

"Thank you" pabulong nitong saad at muling pumwesto sa toilet bowl and vomited. Erin immediately sit up to assist him. Erin was too busy caressing Leeon's back that she did not notice how the stall door opened.

"What are you two doing here?!" Nanlalaking matang lumingon sa likod si Erin. She saw Chrys and the complete gang peeking behind him, their eyes full of curiosity. If they were in a different situation, Erin would find their expressions funny. But what's funnier is the view from Chrys' and others'; Erin with wide eyes while her back placed on Leeon, Leeon who looked at Erin because she's not caressing his back anymore only then realized why Erin looked so shocked right now.

Nakpikit itong ngumiti sa kinaroroonan nila Chrys, a bit of vomit still visible on his mouth. He waved hi to them before finally loosing consciousness, and everything for Leeon went black.

***

"Jade and Yuna went to the girl's bathroom, why didn't you ask for help?" Chrys look at Erin through the rearview mirror. Mabuti na lamang at madilim sa loob ng kotse dahil hindi napansin ni Chrys kung paano umiwas ng tingin si Erin.