White Lies

Burning

"Surprise!"

Lea was startled as she enters her condo with Dawn sitting on her couch.

"Oh. Wow. What are you doing here?" Lea chuckled.

She just came from her concert after-party. Looks like this will gonna be ang long night.

"To congratulate you syempre!" Dawn says as she envelope Lea in her arms. "Galing-galing mo mana ka talaga sa akin!"

"Seriously Dawn, what is it?"

Lea kicked her shoes off and flopped herself beside her bestfriend.

"No Lei, ako dapat magtanong nyan sayo. Besides, you have been very busy this week sa concert mo. And I clearly see you didn't enjoyed the after-party. That's why I am here!" Dawn explained and showed a bottle of tequila.

"I had few wines sa party kanina. But that, I cannot refuse." Lea chuckled.

"Okay good because I am giving you the feel-free-to-get-wasted card tonight."

--

Lea was starting to get tipsy. The wine and tequila on her system already taking effect.

"Dawn, what did I do to deserve you? "

"Ano umpisa na ba ng Tonight with Dawn Zulueta?"

Lea choked on her drink, the liquid burning her nose and throat. She coughed so hard and threw a lemon slice at Dawn.

"What the hell Dawn! Papatayin mo ba ko?!"

"Sorry Lei, oh my God. Okay ka na? Tubig. Tubig." Dawn giggles while offering her water to drink.

"Its not funny. Kailan ka pa nagka-talk show?"

"Ngayon. Pilot episode ko tonight."

"Unbelievable. Pasalamat ka maganda ka. Okay. Shoot." Lea replied as she refilled her shot glass again.

"Ano ba nakain mo at sinabi mo kay Aga na kasal ka na?"

Lea faltered from taking the shot.

"He was cornering me Dawn. I had no other choice."

"But to lie?"

Lea released a sigh and drank the tequila on her hand. This talk definitely need some liquid courage.

"Did you even consider how Aga would feel before blurting that out? Sana sinabi mo na lang na, hindi mo na siya gusto kesa yung tutuldukan mo na agad yung gusto niyang umpisahan kasama ka. Do you even see how is Aga these days?"

"Oh please. Stop with the guilt trip."

"Hindi kita gin-guilt trip Lei. Sinasabi ko lang kung ano yung nakikita ko."

"I was caught off guard okay? Wala na kong ibang maisip na way para tigilan niya na ko. Dawn nasaktan din ako nung makita ko yung mukha niya after niyang marinig na kasal na ako. Doble yung sakit. I want to take it back Dawn sobra."

"Lei mag-usap kaya kayo, yung walang distractions. Sa totoo lang, pakiramdam ko its not about a matter of unfinished business between you too. Hindi naman kayo magiging single ng ganyang katagal kung wala kayong inaasahan sa isa't-isa. Pinaparusahan nyo lang mga sarili nyo."

"Akala ko kasi okay na ko eh, pero everytime na nakikita ko siya Dawn, bumabalik yung sakit."

--

"Okay. Thanks Ronalisa!"

Vice tapped the security code of Lea's condo expecting very wasted people inside. The door beeped and he went in. As expected, he saw Lea sleeping on the couch and Dawn on the bed.

"Nakakaloka. Nagpaka best actress in a basag na basag role naman itong si Lea."

He went straight to Dawn who is sleeping peacefully on the bed.

"Dawn. Dawn! Huy. Kaloka. Supporting role ka lang dito, ikaw pa talaga humiga sa kama."

"What time is it na?" Dawn sat up and searched for Lea.

"Alas tres na. Bakla ka ng taon. Pinabayaan mo yung alaga mo, andun sa couch. Bangon na kayo, may dala ako food for hangover."

Vice went to the kitchen and rummages through the cabinets for soup bowl.

Dawn stood up and went to Lea to wake her up.

"Lei. Lei gising na hapon na pala."

She nudged her shoulderd but nothing.

"Lei." she tried again and held her arm. But Dawn quickly pulled her hand away.

"Oh shit! Lea! Oh my God, you're burning."

"Ano, bakit?" Vice got alarmed and ran to the couch. He touched Lea forehead and confirmed she is indeed burning.

"Lea? Lea? Oh my- Vice she's not waking. C-call Chard dali dalhin natin siya sa ospital!"

"Okay. Okay. Kalma. Kalma." Vice's hands were shaking.

"Hello Chard?"

"Vice?"

"S-sino.. Aga? Asan si Chard?"

"Nagd-drive eh. Teka bakit nasa iyo cellphone ni Dawn?"

"Magkasama kayo? Ah-eh Aga emergency pakisabi, bilisan nyo, si Lea kasi-"

"Ano nangyari kay Lea?!"

---

🙃

#WhiteLies