Melodious

Verse 10

"Bakit ka ba kasi lumapit dun?" tanong ni Patricia, habang hinahagod ang likod ng kaibigan.

"Iwanttoseeifit'sworthit," Maine barely got her words out. She was slurring them altogether—buti na lang sanay na si Patring na intindihin ang drunk-Maine language. "Kungmaymagandabangnadulotyungpag-alisko."

Another shot.

"Kungmasayabasiyasaginagawaniyakasifinallynatupadnayungpangarapniya."

Another shot.

"Kahitakoyungnagingkapalitnun."

"Paanong ikaw yung naging kapalit nun?" Patricia asked her. Maine forgot to tell her that part of the story. Ngumiti ng mapakla si Maine, at tinignan ang kaibigan na nakakunot ang noo. Then, she laughed. A full, blown-out laughter like Patricia just told her the best joke in the world. Patricia just looked at her with sympathy, lightly shaking her head at her friend.

"Excuse me, miss?"

Patricia looked up from Maine and to the newcomer, which was a guy who looked drunk enough he could barely support himself. "MENGGAY!"

"Hah? Sino ka?"

"Anong nasuka? Di pa nga ko sumusuka eh!" sigaw nung lalaki, na mukhang tangang nakangiti kay Patricia. Nilingon nito si Maine at kumaway. "Hi, Menggay! Long time no see! Naaalala mo pa ko? Yung pinalitan ng bespren mo?"

Maine squinted for a bit and then giggled. "Napoles? Ikaw ba yan?"

"Menggaaaaay!"

"Napoleeees!"

The two lurched forwards for a hug, absolutely forgetting Patricia who got stuck in between them. She shoved both of them aside, holding both by the head none too gently. "Hold up, outsider here. Maine, you know him?"

Maine bobbed her head eagerly, walking over to Napoles' side and hooking her arm around his. "Patring, meet Jerald. High school schoolmate. Nanligaw 'to kay Val dati. Jerald, meet Patring. Nakilala ko abroad."

"Abroad? Nag-abroad ka pala?" Jerald glared down at her jokingly. "Alam mo bang kung saan-saang lupalop nakarating si Paps kakahanap sa—"

"Je."

Jerald froze and Patricia glanced to the new voice, her mouth almost dropping open in shock as the said guy gripped Jerald's shoulders and gently pulled him away. Another guy strode towards them and slung the drunk Jerald's arms around his shoulders.

"You're Alden Richards," Patricia blurted out, blinking numerous times and then worriedly glancing at Maine, who somehow found her way back on the bar stool with her head tucked in her arms.

He nodded, though his eyes were set on the sleepy girl beside Patricia.

"Can I talk to her?"

"I doubt you'd be able to get anything from her. Lasing na lasing 'yan."

"Lasing?"

"Yes," Patricia said warily, but that didn't stop him either. He still walked towards Maine and hesitated at touching her, so he settled for holding her elbow.

Maine immediately jerked up, bleary eyes widening that Alden immediately took his hand back.

"Excuse me po? Shinopokayo?" Maine blinked up at him, squinting. There was too much light that spots danced around her eyes. "You look... familiar."

Alden glanced at Patricia but the latter just shrugged, clueless as well.

"Hindi mo na ko naaalala? It's me, your RJ."

Alden felt his heartbeat stop when Maine suddenly stood, her face inches from his. She still reeked of alcohol, hair messed up and eyes unfocused but hell-bent on scrutinizing him. She licked her lips and Alden internally cursed, knowing full-well that he shouldn't have noticed that.

Immediately, however, Maine pulled back, snorting. "You don't look like my RJ."

His heart fluttered. "Pero ako talaga 'yun. Meng."

"RJ doesn't even know I'm here."

"Meng."

"Hindi yun maniniwalang pumasok ako sa bar."

"Meng."

'"Tsaka busy yun sa—" she stopped herself and bit her lip, suddenly noticing Patricia who stood with a weird look on her face. "Patring? Uwi na tayo, please?"

"Of course," Patring said kindly, sending a sharp glare towards Alden's direction. Maine swayed when she took a step forwards, but Patring was quick to catch her. Alden took a step aside, but took over Patring when he noticed that the latter was struggling to carry Maine.

"I'll walk you to your car," he said briskly, and against her better judgment, Patring followed.