✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧
THE bar's dim lighting seemed to flicker as the alcohol took its toll on me. My head spun, and the room swayed slightly with every breath I took. I knew I had reached my limit, but the emotional turmoil inside me kept pushing me to drink more.
Ilang sandali pa ang lumipas, naramdaman kong may lumapit sa ‘kin at tumayo sa bandang likuran ko. Wala na si Hope at Love—nakaalis na sila ten minutes ago—kaya alam kong hindi sila ang dumating. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Her presence was unmistakable, a magnetic pull that I could never ignore. The sweet, addictive scent of her perfume filled my nostrils, bringing with it a flood of memories and emotions.
Akmang lilingon ako sa kaniya, ‘tsaka siya pumuwesto sa tabi ko. Naupo siya sa bar stool na pinanggalingan ni Hope kanina. When I turned to face Poppy, my vision blurred, making it difficult to see her clearly. Ngayon ako nagsisi kung bakit dinamihan ko ang inom. Kung alam ko lang na balak papuntahin ni Hopia rito si Poppy, sana hindi na lang ako nagpakalasing. Pa’no kami makapag-uusap ngayon kung hindi ko na siya masyadong maaninag? Damnit!
“Poppy,” I mumbled, trying to focus on her face. But it was no use. Her features were fuzzy, blending into the shadows and the soft glow of the bar lights.
Bigla siyang bumaling sa ‘kin. “Tapos ka na bang uminom? Ihahatid na kita.” Her voice was gentle, almost like music to my ears. Namiss ko ‘yon.
I blinked, trying to clear my vision, but it only made things worse. The room spun faster, and I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me. “You’re… here for me?”
“Nag-message sa ‘kin si Kuya Hope dahil hindi ka raw nila masusundo. Sira rin daw ang sasakyan mo, kaya ako ang pinakisuyuan niya.” She paused a bit. “Kung tapos ka na, halika na.”
Muli siyang bumaba sa inuupuan niyang bar stool at tumayo nang mas malapit sa gilid ko. She reached out, placing a hand on my arm to steady me, hanggang sa matulungan niya ‘kong makababa. Inakbay niya ang isang kamay ko sa kaniya, habang nakayakap sa likuran ko papunta sa gilid ng baywang ko ang isa niyang kamay.
Dahil sobrang dikit namin sa isa’t-isa, amoy na amoy ko siya. The sweet scent of her perfume was still there, a comforting reminder of better times, but it also made my heart ache with longing and regret.
The drive to Villasis Park was quiet, the hum of the car engine the only sound breaking the silence. I leaned heavily against the window, my mind swirling in a haze of alcohol and regret.
Pagdating namin sa Villasis Park at nang mai-park na ni Poppy ang sasakyan niya sa harap, agad siyang bumaba at umikot sa kabilang side. Siya ang nagbukas ng pinto para sa ‘kin at inalalayan akong bumaba. I stumbled slightly, but she caught me, her arm around my waist as she guided me towards the front door.
Nang makita niyang digital ang lock ng pinto, binalingan niya ‘ko. Kahit nahihilo, inabot ko ‘yon at pinindot ang apat na numerong code. Nang mabuksan ang pinto, muli niya ‘kong inalalayan papasok. The walk up to the house was slow, each step a struggle. Poppy’s support was unwavering, her grip firm yet gentle as we made our way inside.
Nang marating namin ang hagdan, humugot siya ng malalim na hangin, halatang pagod na siya sa pag-akay sa ‘kin. “Ang bigat mo, Faith. Nadagdagan ba ‘yong timbang mo no’ng nawala ako?” tanong niya na parang sarili niya lang ang kausap dahil sa hina ng boses niya.
Tinulungan na niya ‘kong umakyat. My legs felt like lead, but with her steadying me, we finally made it to the bedroom. She guided me to the bed at dahan-dahan akong inihiga ro’n. No’ng nakahiga na ‘ko, mas lalo kong naramdaman ang pagkahilo. The room spinning around me.
Poppy sat on the edge of the bed, and through my blurry vision, I could see the worry etched on her face. Her eyes were filled with unspoken questions, but she remained silent at pinagmasdan lang ako.
Despite my dizziness, I reached out, my hand searching for hers. Nang makapa ko na ang kamay niya, I gave it a weak squeeze, trying to convey what I couldn’t put into words. The touch was grounding, a connection to the one person who had become my world.
“Poppy,” I mumbled, my voice thick with emotion and alcohol. “Bakit… ka umiyak kanina? Bakit… gusto mo ng annulment? Sabi mo… pagbalik mo… itutuloy natin ang buhay… na magkasama. Bakit ngayon… ayaw mo na… ‘kong kasama?”
She looked down at our joined hands, her expression pained. “Faith…”
“Hindi na ba magbabago isip mo?” I whispered, my vision blurring further as tears welled up. “Because I… I need you, Poppy.”
Suddenly, her voice broke through the haze, trembling and filled with pain. “Faith…” Her words were choked with sobs, and I could hear the raw hurt in her voice. “Bakit mo kasi…”
I struggled to focus, but everything was slipping away. The room was spinning, and the edges of my vision were darkening. Gusto ko pa sana siyang makausap nang maayos—malaman ang sasabihin niya at kung bakita siya umiiyak—but my body wouldn’t cooperate.
“…ako niloko?”
The pull of sleep was too strong, dragging me down into darkness, hanggang sa hindi ko na naintindihan ang huling salitang binitiwan niya dahil malabo na ‘yon sa pandinig ko.
To be continued...
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