The Second Time Around (The Starving Squad #1)

Chapter 31: Liar, Liar

"What's wrong with you?"

Mickey gave Bullet another drink. He's sitting next to Felix, drinking his 4th glass of whiskey. Napasapo siya sa tanong ng kaibigan. What's wrong? Everything.

Paulit-ulit niyang minura ang sarili. Why does it have to be like this? Why does he have to fuck things up? Ayos na e. Ayos na ayos na. But somehow, his past found a way to catch up. What a twisted turn of events.

He exhaled. "I fucked up, guys."

He ignored his gut feel before. Kahit noong nalaman niya ang pangalan ng kapatid ni Fresia ay binaliwala niya iyon. He should have stayed away. He should have left her alone when he had the chance. Ngayong hindi na niya ito kayang iwan, saka naman niya nalaman ang totoo.

"What do you mean you fucked up?" kunot-noong tanong ni Felix.

"Remember the woman I cheated on Leila with? She's Fresia's sister."

Napamaang ang dalawa niyang kaibigan. Mickey gave him another drink. Felix finished his with one gulp.

"Nakita ni Fresia 'yong nawawalang bala. Nasa kapatid nya."

Napakasaya pa nila kagabi. He thought about telling her the truth, but seeing how happy she was when he told her that he loves her, made him not go through with the plan. He loves her. At least that part is true.

"Kaluguran daka," he admitted to her last night. "It means—"

"I know what it means!" she told him, her eyes shining. "Yan lang saka mekeni ang alam kong Kapampangan."

He already lost a lot. He was finally happy to have found love again... tapos ganito pa ang sitwasyon. Fresia would be really hurt if she finds out the truth. Ayaw niya itong saktan. Keeping things from her is selfish, but it's the only way he knows how to keep her.

"May plano ka bang sabihin sa kanya ang totoo?" tanong ni Mickey.

Umiling siya. "Hindi ko alam. I don't want to lose her."

"Lying won't make the truth go away, Bro."

Uminom siyang muli ng alak nang tumunog ang phone niya. Damn it, she's calling again. Tumingin siya sa orasan. Mag-a-alas nueve na pala. Nagpaalam siya rito kanina na mali-late siya ng uwi. He just needs to be away from her for a while. He needs some space to think.

"Are you going to answer that?" Felix asked.

He exhaled and picked up his phone. Lumabas siya ng bar bago sagutin ang tawag.

"Hey, matagal ka pa ba?" tanong ni Fresia sa kanya.

Hinimas niya ang batok. "Pauwi na."

"Great! Bilisan mo, ha. Hindi pa ako naghahapunan."

"Bakit hindi ka pa kumakain?" kunot-noo niyang tanong.

"I was waiting for you."

"Fresia..." For her to endure her hunger just to wait for him... it made him guiltier. "If I'm not home in 15 minutes, kumain ka na, okay?"

"Okay. Drive faster then." She let out a laugh. "Ingat!"

--

Ideally, Bullet would have driven a little drunk and probably have gotten into an accident. That would have been an easier escape. But he couldn't bear the thought of Fresia waiting for him, probably starving right now. So he went back to the bar and gave his keys to Mickey. Felix offered to take him home.

He arrived a little later than fifteen minutes, but when he got inside, he saw that she still wasn't eating. Nakalapag lamang ang mga pagkain sa mesa. Nakaupo si Fresia roon, naghihintay.