GETTING TO KNOW MS. ANGER | MaColet

THE PAST III ⚠️

TRIGGER WARNING:
offensive/foul language and alcohol abuse

———

Three fucking days.

Tatlong araw na mula nang makarating kami sa Maynila, pero parang walang nagbago.

Hindi pa rin ako makatulog nang maayos, at sa bawat sandali, naririnig ko pa rin ang mga salitang iniwan niya like a shadow, haunting me every time I closed my eyes.

“Nics, what do you want for dinner?” tawag ni Shawn mula sa kusina.

I sat in the single sofa, staring blankly at nothing. My response was flat, lifeless. “Anything.”

“Okay, Boss.” masiglang sagot niya.

I sat there, my fingers curling into the armrest as another wave of frustration hit me. Everything felt suffocating, the walls of this condo, the silence, even Shawn’s attempts to make things seem normal.

But nothing was normal anymore.

“Can you order beer?” I suddenly asked. "Or anything… kahit anong inumin na makakatulong para mabilis akong makatulog."

“How about sleeping pills? Alcohol’s not a great idea.” sagot ni Shawn mula sa kusina, sinisilip ako nang bahagya kaya kita ko sa mga mata niya ang pag-aalala.

I clenched my jaw. "I don’t want pills, Shawn. Just get me beer. Or kahit anong hard drinks." sagot ko ng mas madiin.

Narinig kong pinatay niya ang stove at naramdaman ko ang kanyang presensya habang papalapit siya, hanggang sa umupo siya sa long sofa sa tapat ko.

“Nics… you’re still a minor—”

The moment the words left his mouth, something inside me snapped. Mabilis akong tumayo, cutting him off mid-sentence while my fists clenched at my sides.

“Ganyan naman ang tingin niyo sa akin, di ba? A minor who can’t handle anything.”

Shawn’s eyes widened slightly, taken aback. “No, Nics, that’s not what I meant—”

“Then what?” putol ko ulit sa kanya. “What did you mean, Shawn? Huh? That I’m too young to know what I want? Too young to feel this fucking pain? This isn’t some teenage drama, Shawn. This is real. This is my life, and if you can’t deal with that, ibalik mo na lang ako sa Bohol!”

Tatalikod na sana ako, pero mabilis niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko

"Fine, I’ll ask Kuya Dave to get you the beer. But you’re eating dinner first."

——

“Nico, ang aga naman niyan?” bulyaw ni Kuya Dave mula sa kusina.

“Magpapaantok lang.” I muttered, not even bothering to meet his gaze.

“4 AM in the morning? Akala ko ba you and Shawn agreed na kakain muna bago uminom?” sunod na tanong niya sa mas matigas ang tono.

I rolled my eyes at hindi ko na siya pinansin. I pushed the tab on my second can of beer and drink it down the bitter taste burning my throat.

As I was about to crack open another can biglang tinabig ni Kuya Dave ang kamay ko. “That’s enough. Kung ikukulong mo lang lalo ang sarili mo, paano ka makakausad, ha?”

Padabog na tumayo ako at tinapatan siya ng tingin. “You don’t get how it feels to wake up in the middle of the night, choking on memories that won’t let me sleep!" bulyaw ko at mabilis kong binangga ang balikat niya habang dumaan.