Sailing Alone

One Step Forward

Shit. Shit. Shit. Ang sakit ng ulo ko. Uggggh.

Fvck. Shit. Fvck. Fvck. Hindi pwede. Hindi totoo.

Nagmadali akong bumangon sa kama ni Zach - sa sarili niyang condo niya ako dinala. Kampante naman ako na walang nangyari dahil hindi naman ako gagawan ng kahit ano ni Zach. Ganoon ko siya kakilala. Pero pucha, sana hindi totoo ang mga naaalala ko.

Nahihilo ako habang naglalakad kaya napasandal ako sa may pintuan pagkatapos ko itong buksan.

"Ah. You're finally awake. How are you feeling?"

"Please. Please. Please tell me I didn't do what I think I did last night."

Please po, Lord, have mercy.

"Tough luck, babe. You did."

"Oh, fuck," nanlulumo kong sabi. Napaupo na lang ako sa sahig. "How the hell am I supposed to face her?!"

"Hate to break it to you, babe, but that's not even the only problem that you have."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Some bastard was actually taking a video of when those guys were harassing you instead of helping you. The video was up to the point where I told Vic off and called her an asshole. So yeah, you'd have to do something about that, too."

"Shit. Fuck."

Okay. So apparently may video ako na lasing at nababastos, nakunan din si Zach na inaaway si Vic, at umamin lang naman ako kay Vic pagkatapos kong itago ang nararamdaman ko ng mahabang panahon. Great. Just great. Lord, kunin niyo na po ako.

"I already talked to your mom, coach, and manager. They were all worried so I told them you were resting. You still have to call them."

"Shit, Zach. What am I supposed to do?! Sigurado ako ang dami na namang usap-usapan. Ayokong humarap sa mga tao at lalong ayaw kong harapin si Vic! Leche naman!"

Sinabunutan ko na ang sarili ko sa pag-iisip. Bakit naman sabay-sabay pa?! Pucha. Bakit ba kasi ako naglasing?! Ay pucha. Si Vic at Bang nga pala yung rason. Pero kahit na! Dapat di ako nagpadala. Mika naman eh! Anong nangyari sa lahat ng self-control mo? Stupid lang.

"You don't have to. Not yet, anyway."

Tiningnan ko si Zach. Kakatapos lang niya magluto at nakangiti sakin.

Eh kung sapakin ko kaya siya para mabura yung ngiti niya?! Ang laki-laki na nga ng problema ko at may part din siya doon, ngingiti-ngiti pa?

"I haven't given you your birthday, championship, and graduation gift. It's one to two weeks vacation in the U.S."

Ano daw? Trip sa U.S.? God knows how much I want and need that trip pero hindi naman pwede. Volleyball. And hindi small time gift ang gusto niyang ibigay, hindi ko kayang tanggapin.

"You can't refuse. It's a family gift for all the occasions we've missed."

"Hindi ako pwede. The league already started."

"You underestimate my power, babe. I already got a yes from Coach Ramil, your fam, and your manager."

"What?! Paano mo naman nagawa yun?"

Ano siya may magic power? Baka naman pwede niya rin ipalimot kay Vic lahat ng nangyari kagabi.

"I told you, I talked to them already. I told them that you would probably try to seem fine but I'm sure that you actually need some time off. Walang problem sa fam mo at sa manager mo. Sila na daw bahala maghandle sa media and fans. Noong una, ayaw pumayag ni Coach Ramil na one to two weeks kang mawala. Pero I convinced him that you would only miss one game and be back before the next. After a little bit more guilt tripping, he said okay."