Class Reunion: Section Rose

Chapter 7: Pills and Potion

Angelica Pielago's POV

Patuloy lang sa pagdangundong sa loob ng bar na kinaroroonan ko ngayon ang musika na nagmumula sa mga naglalakihang speakers na nakapalibot sa buong kwarto. Kanina pa ako dito. Inaantay ko si Jane at Michiko. Napaaga ang pagdating ko kesa sa napagusapang oras ng pagme-meet up namin.

The bass of the music echoed inside of me. Damang dama ko ang pag-agos ng musika na sinasabayan ko ng paginom ng alak. I'm such a mess.

The liquor is strong. Kumakapit ito sa lalamunan at tila ba sinusunog ang loob ko. But I've been drinking this ever since I came to this bar about half an hour ago. My whole body is already numb and the sensation of the burning liquor had faded long time ago.

I don't usually drink. I don't have a high tolerance for liquor either. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano ko ito nagagawa. I should've blacked out by now.

Ano nga ba ang rason ko kung bakit ko ito ginagawa?

Tatlong araw na simula ng maaksidente si Kervince. Tatlong araw na simula nung mawala saamin si Kyle Louis. Tatlong araw narin akong walang tulog at tila pagod na pagod na ako.

I'm trying to drink myself to sleep. Desperado na akong makapagpahinga. Tila naguumpisa na akong mabaliw. Depression? Anxiety? Paranoia? Aba, hindi ko alam. Magulo lahat. Everything isn't making any sense. Everything seems to be watching me. The dead student. Dahil siguro ito sakanya?

"A girl as beautiful as you shouldn't be drinking alone." Napalingon ako para lamang mamatahan ang isang napakagwapong nilalang na may pulang buhok. Napangiti nalang ako. Ano naman kaya ang kailangan nya?

"Mind if I join you?" Matamis na tanong nya. His eyes are so captivating. Automatikong napa-oo naman ako. Who can say no to this beautiful creature? Tila hini-hypnotize nya ako sa mga titig nya.

His eyes roamed my body. Hindi ko alam pero nakaramdam ako ng pagka-proud sa sarili ko. Who wouldn't feel proud knowing that a very hot guy like him is checking you out, diba?

There's something in the way that he looks at me. Pinapainit nito ang aking katawan. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba ito sa appeal ng lalaking ito o dala lang ito ng alak na iniinom ko. Isa akong sensitibo at konserbatibong babae ngunit hinayaan ko lang na pagpyestahan ng takam na takam na tingin ng lalaking ito ang katawan ko. Sa totoo pa nga, mas lalo ko pang ibinaba ang tube ng pulang minidress na suot ko, revealing my cleavage more for him to see. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na umakto ako ng ganito. Inviting a stranger to have his way with me? That's not so me at all. But right now.. Just... Maybe... Maybe I want it to happen. Maybe I want him to make love to me at ipalimot saakin lahat ng masasamang bagay na dinadanas ko ngayon. Perhaps it could help me?

I crossed my legs hoping that the short skirt of this mini dress would slip up. And it did. Nakita kong napalunok ang lalaki habang nakatitig sa legs ko.

"My name is Ash, by the way." He said and attempted to look away from my legs by looking at my face. Pero wala pang isang sekundo ay nalaglag na ang mga maiinit na tingin nya sa dibdib ko. Humarap ako sakanya, allowing him to see my chest more clearly. Aliw na aliw akong i-tease ang lalaking ito.

"Damn." He cursed. Napangisi naman ako. Oh god, I'm enjoying this.

"I'm Angelica." Pakilala ko. For the first time ever since pumasok ako sa bar na ito, ngayon lamang nawala ang atensyon ko sa alak na iniinom ko.

"Angelica. It suits you." Nakangising sambit nya sa may tenga ko. His warm breath brushed on my neck, sending shivers down my spine. Oh shit. He's turning me on.

"You're so beautiful, I might end up kissing you right now." He chuckled jokingly. But it wasn't the time for jokes para saakin. The moment he pulled away, I grabbed his collar and slammed my lips on his. Kumandong ako sakanya and he placed his hand on my back as a response. Agad naman nyang sinagot ang mga halik ko and soon, we were fighting for dominance. But I lost. Hindi ko kinaya ang mga halik nya. It's as if his kisses are more powerful than the liquor I was drinking kanina lang. Ngayon ko lang na-experience ang ganitong ka-passionate at intense na halik. Although konserbatibo ako, I'm not a stranger when it comes to sex. May experience rin ako, hindi nga lang ganoon karami.

When he broke the kiss, hingal na ako. But I wanted more. I wanted to feel his touch. His warmth. His kisses. I wanted everything. So I started kissing his neck. He let out a small groaned before sliding his hand down to my butt and giving it a small, tight squeeze. Dahil doon, a moan slipped out of my mouth.

My god, I'm making out with a stranger. Isa itong kahihiyan para saakin. But my wild side seems to be taking over. Wala na akong pake sa kahit ano man. Right now, it's just me and Ash. Just the two of us.

"I want you." Eager nyang sabi. Before pa ako makasagot, nagulat nalang ako ng bigla syang tumayo na bitbit parin ako. I wrapped my legs around his waist for support. He started kissing me more. Hindi ko alam kung saan nya ako dadalhin but it's not like I care. Medyo lasing na ako at hindi na diretso magisip.

Ilang minuto pa ay naramdaman kong may bumukas na pinto. When I turned around, I saw a room. Hindi ko alam na may ganto pala dito? Nasa pangalawang palapag kami while the people that are partying are below us.

Walang hirap na ibinalabog nya pasara ang pinto at itinulak ako dun sa isang pulang king sized bed na nasa loob ng kwarto. He smirked at me and I bit my lower lip in excitement. Hindi na ako makapagantay! Nagbabaga na ang katawan ko.

"Let's make this more fun, shall we?" Pinaibabawan nya ako at kumindat. May inilabas syang isang maliit na pakete na naglalaman ng dalawang kulay pink na tableta. Biglang kinabahan ako. Are those drugs? Like the ones people use to spike someone's drink?

"A-ano yan..?" Kabadong tanong ko. "Relax, baby girl. It's a love pill." He winked again and popped one pill on his mouth. Pagkatapos ay tinungga nya yung isang itim na bote na nakatayo sa bedside table. A love pill? As in yung ginagamit nila para matulungan palakasin ang sexual desires nila?

Bago pa ako makareact, he kissed me and transferred the liquor to my mouth together with the pill. What the?
The liquor was really strong and bitter. I winced.

"What the hell was that?" I said in disgust. Ash smirked. "Love potion?" Sambit nya.

Biglang naginit ang katawan ko. Not in an overwhelming kind of way. After a while, nagsimulang mangati ang lalamunan ko. What is this?!

Until maging mahapdi ito. Pilit kong kinakamot pero walang nangyayare. It's itching from the inside! Just what did Ash made me drink?!

I looked up at him, scared. Isang malapad na ngisi lang ang sumalubong saakin. Ubo na ako ng ubo.

"A-As...h." I stuttered.

My throat and my insides felt as if it was burning. I was so desperate. My nails are digging into my skin at bawat ubo ko ay ultimong lalabas na ang mga baga ko.

Until I coughed one time and blood splattered out of my mouth. Nagsimula akong mataranta.

"A...a...sh.." Pilit kong sinabi kahit hindi na ako makapagsalita. Tuloy tuloy na ang pagagos ng dugo sa bibig ko.

Ash crawled on the bed at pinatungan akong muli. I was desperate for air. Parang may malaking bagay na hinaharangan ang air passage ko at hindi ako makahinga.

"Do you like it, Angelica?" His voice wasn't sweet anymore. Kinilabutan ako. What did he do to me?!

"It's a love potion specially made just for you." He laughed. I grabbed his shoulder, attempting to stand up pero hindi ko magawa. Nagluluha na ang mga mata ko. Dahil sa sakit, my nails dug deep into his skin. Nakangisi lang sya saakin. Parang Walang nararamdaman get sakit kahit nagdudugo at nasusugatan na sya dahil saakin. Gusto ko mang pigilan ngunit hindi ko magawa. Wala akong control sa sarili ko dala ng matinding panic.

The door opened at may ilang lalaking pumasok. A guy stood in front of us at tinanggal yung hoody na nakatakip sa ulo nya. No, it wasn't a guy. It was a gi—

"Hello, Angelica. Having fun with Ash?" She smiled at me. Mas lalong nanglaki ang mata ko. Anong ginagawa nya dito?!

Huli na ng makita kong maglabas sya ng isang pulang rosas at itapon sa direksyon ko. Although, it wasn't just a normal red rose. Rather, it was a white rose painted with a red substance. Paint? Or.......

Biglang nagflashback saakin ang mga pangyayare sa hospital 3 days ago. Realization hit me at napuno ako ng takot.

It wasn't paint. It was blood....

"Surprise." Bulong ni Ash saakin bago may maramdaman akong isang napakalakas na sampal sa pisngi ko.