Wicked Games (An Epistolary Novel)

121

My head was pounding. Bumangon ako at tiningnan si Ate Eira na nasa tabi ko. We were at her condo unit kasi roon kami umuwi kaninang alas cinco ng umaga. She rarely stays here because she's still lives with her family in their huge ass mansion, and this was just for emergency situations—like last night. We were too hammered to drive home so we decided to drive here instead.

Tulog pa si Ate so I looked for my phone. Hindi ko iyon nakita sa bedside table so I searched for my pouch. I was still holding my head because we really did go hard last night at the party.

Damn, ang sakit ng ulo ko! Anong oras na ba?

I found my phone still inside my pouch. It says thirteen minutes past nine o'clock in the morning. My body clock must have been used to this lifestyle already. Had I done this on my younger years, baka mamayang hapon pa ako magising. But I am an adult who has responsibilities and needs to work kaya alam ng katawan ko kung kailan kailangan bumangon.

There's no work today because it was a Saturday, so it was okay to wake up late. I went to the bathroom to fix myself. The playboy bunny costume I wore last night was only for a mini photoshoot I did with my friends—and it was supposed to look like Arriana Grande. Ate Eira dressed up as Lady Gaga, Enzo as Shawn Mendes, and Adie as Bruno Mars. Yes, our pegs were singers, and we did a short song cover on Enzo's Tiktok account. Before we went to the party, we changed to our costumes—if it can be called that because that's literally just a white kumot that we put above our heads, together with our sunglasses.

That was why I only had minimal make-up, so it was easy to remove earlier. No matter how wasted I get, I make sure I remove my make-up. I already ruined my liver by drinking, I did not want to ruin my face pa, noh! I also managed to change into more comfortable clothing—a soft cotton shorts and sando, care of Ate Eira's.

"Oh. It's Undas na pala. . ." I muttered when I saw the aesthetic desk calendar on Ate Eira's living room.

Adie and Enzo were sleeping on the guest room.

I walked to the dining area to get some water.

What are we gonna eat today, though?

I was tulala while drinking water when I felt Enzo's and Adie's presence.

"Hey, good morning," I said, voice hoarse. "Aga niyo magising."

"Aga mong magising," Adie retorted.

"Ate Eira's still asleep," sabi ko, but heard her voice. "I'm alive na!" natatawang sabi niya habang papasok sa kusina.

"Happy November 1st!" she greeted us. "What are we cooking?"

Nag-usap-usap sila roon kung ano at sino ang magluluto while I remained rooted on my spot, thinking if I forget something. I feel like I forgot something, eh, I just couldn't pinpoint what.

"What were you thinking?" asked Enzo.

"Parang may nakalimutan ako ga'win. . . hindi ko maalala kung ano," I seriously said.

Shit, ang hirap naman ng goldfish!

"Yesterday was a month-end. Nag-party ka ba ng may deadline ka pa?" tunong nanenermon si Adie, medyo kunot ang noo.

"What? It's not a work deadline! I've done all I've got to do, noh! I'm responsible adult kaya!" I defended myself. "Hindi ko talaga maaalala ano meron kahapon. . ."

"If not a deadline, then an event? A birthday? An anniversary?" it was Ate Eira, and I felt like a bulb lighted on my brain.

My eyes widened in realization, hands in my mouth. "Oh, my gosh!"

I remembered now!

"Ang OA naman," responded Adie upon seeing my shookt reaction.

"Ano 'yun?" Enzo asked.

"It was Julian's birthday yesterday! And I totally forgot!" I exclaimed.

"Ah. . . 'yon lang pala." I rolled my eyes at Adie as he was cooking our breakfast.

"Julian. . . your. . .?"

"Her boytoy, Ate."

Hinampas ko na si Adie sa braso because he's being annoying. Tumawa lang siya sa pikon kong reaksyon.

"I told you he's not!" I frowned at him. "We're friends now. Workmates and also friends. Well, he was my crush before, Ate," I clarified.

"Hindi na ba ngayon?" she chuckled.

Namula ang pisngi ko sa tanong niya. "Well. . . crush pa rin naman."

"Shit, nakalimutan ko! Why didn't I put it in my calendar?" I mumbled to myself, biting my lips in anxiety.

"What are you gonna do about it? Were you planning to surprise him ba?"

"Hindi naman, Ate. At least nabati ko man lang sana. . . and maybe buy him a cake."

"Baka iba na 'yan, ha. 'Di na ata crush 'yan. Parang ano na. . ." Enzo laughingly commented. Hindi ko na pinansin ang panunukso nila at nag-isip ng p'wedeng ga'win.

Should I greet him belatedly? I probably should, right? Because we're friends?

Right.

That's what friends do.

Gosh.

Kaya ba hindi siya nag-office kahapon? He was scheduled in our lab because it was a Friday yesterday. Akala ko naman wala lang kaya hindi siya pumasok and I fought the urge to chat him why.

Paano ko siya padadalhan ng cake? It would be really creepy if I send him one on his residence—I knew it because I had him investigated by Adie. Hindi ko naman minemorize 'yon, noh!

I decided to text Xylene to ask his whereabouts and he gladly replied.

'Boo what an irresponsible crusher 😂' was his reply to me.

I quickly ordered an iced coffee and a small cake to my favorite coffee shop and had it delivered to where Xylene said he was.

I bit my lips as I was monitoring the rider on the app.

I couldn't bear the anxiety, so I just took a bath and fix myself before I drove home. A notification popped on the screen of my phone that was mounted on my dashboard, and I squeeled.

Notification: Julian sent you a chat on messenger.

Oh, my gosh.