[REVISING] If I Fall | Ricci Rivero (Book 1)

SIMULA

Simula

Colorful flicking led lights,  thundering rave-toned music, sweaty grinding bodies, wasted people, liquors burning kidneys and liver, smokes of cigarettes that's destroying lungs, and the sweet smell juice of vapes all around here at VAPOR bar lounge.

"Damn, after one year nag pakita ka rin sa'min!" hiyaw ni Ysay, babaeng kaibigan ko nung highschool ako sa DLSZ, at kasalukuyang matalik na kaibigan ko.

"Oo naman! Ako pa ba?" sagot kong pasigaw dahil hindi namin marinig ang isa't isa.

I moved to US for my high school senior year.

"Anyway, how's US?" tanong ni Kayi, one of my inner circle.  She's also the one who's responsible for adding us in the guest list. She has so many connections!

"It's fine, I mean, laging may mga parties ganon," wika ko at uminom ng shot ko ng tequila at saka kumuha ng lemon.

Napa-pikit ako ng mariin sa dahil sa lasang naidulot nito sa akin. Sanay na pero di maiwasan.

"Edi daming papis don?"

I shrugged my shoulders and nodded.

Tumili si Kayi. Kita na din ang epekto ng alak sa kanya. "I should've been there with my cousin! Sayang,"

"Ingay mo, Kylie!" tumatawang pigil ni Aleck, boyfriend ni Ysay na since high school.

"Tse, it's Kayi kasi. Not my first name please, it's overrated na! And porque, taken ka ni Ysay ah! Mag bebreak rin kayo!" pagtataray niya at ininom ang kanyang shot.

"Speaking of boys, how's Kyrie?" marahang tanong ni Ysay habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Flirting other bitches, I guess." I deadpanned.

"Nako, parang wala silang pinag samahan sila ni cousin." asar ni Kayi.

"He's still an ass, they were in a relationship then mahuhuling may kasama siyang girl sa may bar. Nag bububulungan at may pag hawak na waist pa!" Ysay retaliated.

"Parang kayo ngayon?" asar ni Kayi na nag patawa saming dalawa ng malakas.

"But still, he belongs to this squad. Di maiiwasang magtagpo ulit sila ni Alexis—." Aleck stated before I cut him off.

"Alex," I corrected and rolled my eyes. "I don't care, guys. Kung mag papakita siya, edi mag pakita. I don't really care anymore. He made his choice, and I made mine. We were just like those clichè high school love birds na mag bebreak rin pag graduate."

Never will I ever cry for him. I never cried for that boy. Like seriously, why would I? Besides, I didn't love him to the point of pushing my self-destruct button. I knew for myself na may wall parin dito sa puso ko.

Kayi giggled. "She's back at it again with her cold self, beware!"

They all shrugged it off and talked about another topic. The night is very young and we knew that we had to enjoy since reunion namin ng small circle of friends after ng isang taon hindi pagkakakumpleto— well, di naman talaga kami kompleto ngayon. Wala pa yung isang lalake eh.

We were just reminiscing our memories when suddenly Kayi shouted, "Oh my God! Aljun's here! Girl, ang dami niyang kasamang lalake!"

Agad akong lumingon para salabungin ang mga pares na mata.

And before I could speak, naunahan na ako. "Alexisdria Reign, bakit hindi ka manlang nag pakita sa akin pag dating mo?"

"Kuya, nasa Taft ka and nasa Alabang ako. Alangan naman bumyahe pa ako papuntang Taft para lang mag sabi ng 'Hi, bro! I'm home!'. May jet-lag rin ako kaya di ako naka-pag text sayo. May training ka rin diba? And I already told you for how many times na call me Alex, oh God!" pagmamaldita ko,