Three O'clock | Hexagon Series # 1

Five

Lumabas kami ni Love para mag-bonding. It had been a year since we last saw each other, kaya marami kaming gustong gawin. We went to the arcade, pumasok sa Ice Cream Museum, nag-shopping sa mall at bumili ng kung anu-ano. We watched a movie, kumain sa labas, at sa huli, we went to a place that we often visited together.

Sa bar.

It’s a place where we forget our problems—a place where only loud music and alcohol are the therapy we need.

"It’s been a while since we last came here. I wonder if their drinks are still good." Asik ni Love habang papasok kami.

"Nothing has changed here. Maybe it’s not like before when we had to fake our age to get in, but the drinks still taste the same."

Tumingin siya sa akin na may ngiti. "Are you still a good drinker?"

"It’s been a while simula noong huli akong uminom, pero let's see." I replied, winking at her.

As we entered the bar, sinalubong kami ng sari-saring amoy—usok ng sigarilyo, vape na may iba't ibang flavor, malalakas na pabango ng mga lalaki, at ang paborito kong amoy: amoy ng alak.

"May I have two absinthe cocktails? One with sugar, one au naturel." agad na order ni Love pagkarating namin sa counter.

"Got it, coming right up!" sagot ng bartender.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "May problema ka ba? Usually, sa huli tayo umuorder ng hard drinks, bakit nauna?"

Nginitian niya ako. "Wala, miss ko lang uminom ng matapang. Let's drink hard alcohol, no easy drinks for now."

"Paano pag nalasing tayo, paano tayo makakauwi?"

"You can still drive us home just like before."

Pinagkrus ko ang braso. "Tapos muntikan na naman tayong mabangga gaya ng nangyari before?"

"Then we'll die together." she replied with a grin.

I could only smile at her silliness. Just then, our order arrived, so I raised my glass and cheered with her.

"We'll die together..." asik ko bago tinungga ang cocktail.

After finishing one glass, I felt a tingling and burning sensation in my stomach—isang napakagandang pakiramdam.

I miss this. I miss alcohol.

May pumasok na ideya sa isip ko kaya nakangisi kong nilingon si Love. "Let’s play a game."

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "What game?"

"Paunahang mamatay." sagot ko.

Tumawa siya. "Hampasan ng bote, ano?"

"Sige, tapos kainin mo yung bobog?"

"Ikaw mauna!" Tugon niya dahilan para mapahagalpak kami sa tawa.

The laughter we shared echoed with the loud music inside. Nagpatuloy kami sa mga biro at kwentuhan habang umiinom, until I started feeling a gentle dizziness from the amount I had consumed.

My whole body started to warm up, and I leaned back in my chair as my vision spun. My stomach was so full from the drinks that I felt like I might vomit.

"Should we order another glass of vodka?" Love suddenly asked, looking tipsy as well.

I held my stomach, trying to suppress the urge to puke. "Let’s do that…"