Stranger's Tale: One Day in Autumn

Part 8: The Blame

I'm mentally taking down notes kung ilang alcohol ang pinasok ko sa katawan ko ngayon. Ang sakit ng ulo ko. Nahihilo na nga ako. Tumingin ako sa salamin after kong mag-hilamos ng konti. I unzipped my purse to reach for my pocket tissue to wipe my wet face. Wala nang tissue sa loob ng CR na 'to. Lahat pa ng used tissues nakakalat sa floor - over flowing na sa dami, hindi na nakayanan ng basurahan. I then reached for my lipstick, applied some and fixed my eyeliner din. Tied my hair up in a bun kasi after dancing with Greg, I'm sweating so much! 

I studied my face sa mirror. 

Wasted! Shit. Never na ulit na ganito ka-lasing. Argh! 

Feeling ko susuka ako pero ayaw lang lumabas. Hayaan na nga. Hindi naman siguro. I'll just go back to where Greg is.

I reached our seat sa may bar area, and Greg is still there - drinking his almost empty beer.

He bended sa may legs ko, naramdaman ko ang kamay niya na dumapi sa stilettoes ko. Napahinto ako. 

What ---- 

Then I looked down to him, he looked up and reached for a tissue na na-stuck sa may shoes ko.

Nag-side smile sha, "You used too much tissue." then threw it on the side.

"Ha. You can't believe how there's not much space for me to walk on in the girl's toilet." Napabuntong hininga ako, Phew! Akala ko kung anong gagawin niya.

"Are you ready to go back in Bar Eleven? My friends are probably wondering where I am."

"Why? Do they think I would take you back home with me?" He teased.

"No!" I immediately answered, "I told them I will be out just real fast." I reasoned.

"Okay then, after this last dance?" At as usual, that question doesn't need my reply. He directed me towards the dance floor and grabbed my purse from my hand. He then placed my hand over his shoulder, sha naman he placed both his hands around my waist and slowly swayed me to the sexy latin music that's on play.

Buti na lang naka-high heels ako. I looked at him, nakatingin sha sakin. We're only few inches close to each other, kahit na naka-tingala ako at sha slowly bending to meet my eyes. I can feel him tightly hugging me closer to him. Naaamoy ko sha - ang bango niya, and I can feel his chest and muscles - shit he's so sexy! How can I resist. I'm so tempted to kiss him. Something must happen para hindi ko sha mahalikan. 

Slowly I can feel his head tilting to kiss me. Promise, it's gonna happen. I can feel it. Grabe ang heatbeat ko. Feeling ko nga naririnig niya. I can also feel my face getting warmer and warmer - must be the alcohol and the kilig rushing through my veins. I can now feel his breath, smell it. I looked in his red luscious lips - it slowly parted, reaching towards my lips. This time, I just closed my eyes and kissed him back. It felt good - real good. 

Siguro it lasted for a few good seconds. When we parted, magkatinginan lang kami. He held my hand again, "Are you ready to go now?" tanong niya.

Natauhan ako. Parang na-hypnotize ata ako sa lalaking to. Unang una - lagi naman niya akong inaasar, I'm not even sure if he likes me talaga. Pwede din namang dahil lasing lang kami parehas? Ahhh... fine alkohol ang sisisihin ko for this.

I just nodded. Na-speechless ako. We walked out of Viva.

Tumingin ako sa likod ko, kaming dalawa lang, "Where are your friends? Aren't you going to go back with them?" nagtataka kong tanong.

"Yeah, I'll just bring you back to Eleven, then I'll meet them back at Viva - we have to be back soon before curfew."

"Ahhh right." I know US armies here have curfews kaya before 12 bumabalik na sila sa base nila.

When we reached BE's door, I saw Kim standing outside, smoking. 

"Where the hell did you guys go!" Pasigaw niyang sabi. Lumapit sha samin ni Greg, "with him really????" tinignan niya ng masama mula ulo hanggang paa si Greg. Ganyan talaga pag lasing si Kim nagiging possessive.

Natawa kaming dalawa ni Greg. 

"She's so drunk." Bulong ko kay Greg.

"Oh yeah, she is. I'll just leave you here then okay?" Inabot na niya ang purse ko.

"Yup that's fine. Thanks."

"I'll give you a call, alright." 

I nodded, "Okay."

Now this point is a bit awkward. It's like we don't know if we were suppose to kiss good night ba or hug. He was reaching for what looks like a kiss and I was about to just give him a hug, then vice versa. So I just waved na lang nang matapos na pero sa totoo lang I wanted to kiss him.

"Really Mary? Really? Really?" Kulit pa din ni Kim.

"Hahaha. C'mon let's go inside. It's cold here. Why aren't you wearing your coat? Geez." Inaalalayan ko sha to go inside.