Almost Feels Like Always (COMPLETED)

HUDSON (TWELVE)

I LET out a groan when I felt my head throbbed. It was aching real bad. This is the downside of partying hard. Sinubukan kong takpan ng unan ang mukha ko para bumalik sa pagtulog but, shit. This headache was killing me. I need a glass of cold water.

Dinilat ko ang mga mata para lang mariing pumikit ulit dahil sa sinag ng araw na tumama sa mukha ko. I was like a vampire getting burn from the sunlight. Crap! I hate mornings. I hate hangover. I hate going through the day knowing I can't talk to her. Tang ina. Can I just drink another bottle of Jack and go back to sleep?

Nang mai-kondisyon ko ang mga mata ay unti-unti ulit akong dumilat. There. Better. Nakaramdam ako ng pananakit ng katawan pagbangon ko. Napaungol lang ako. I scanned the whole room and realized that I was in Kuya Gibbs' condo. This is his room. Pinasundo na naman ako ng mga gago kong kaibigan kagabi. Malamang sermon na naman ang almusal ko ngayon at maisip ko pa lang, kumikirot lang lalo ang ulo ko.

The clock says it's already 6:45 in the morning. It's too early for me. I wanna bury myself back to bed but my throat felt dry and my head was still throbbing. I really need water. And an aspirin. Hinawi ko ang comforter sa katawan ko at tumayo na mula sa kama.

For sure Kuya Gibbs is still here. 8 A. M. siya pumapasok sa opisina, minsan nga mas late pa. Isa ring tamad 'yun, eh. I was expecting him to yell 'mabuti naman at gising ka na! Ilang araw ka ng lasing! Blah blah blah' when I walked out the door but it didn't came. Instead, tawa niya ang sumalubong sa'kin. 

Himala! He's not a morning person either. In fact, he's usually grumpy on mornings. Anong hangin ang pumasok sa unit niya para ma-good vibes siya ng ganito kaaga?

His laugh echoed in the living room again. It's coming from the kitchen. May narinig akong boses ng babae. So, that's why he's in good mood. May kasama siyang babae. Naitirik ko na lang ang mata. 

Classic Gibbson Uriel Ventura.

Natanaw ko siya na nakatayo sa harap ng countertop. He's making coffee. Lumipad ang tingin ko sa babaeng nakatalikod at nakaupo sa high stool ng kitchen island. Naka-bun ang buhok nito ngunit may mga hiblang nakatakas mula doon. Marami na akong nakitang babae na ganoon ang ayos ng buhok but this one looked and felt familiar. Sumikdo ang puso ko. Memories of last night rushed through my brain.

No... It was just a dream. It can't be real, right?

Kuya Gibbs turned around and saw me. He grinned. "Oh, here he is!"

I froze as the woman turned to me, too. Shit. It wasn't a dream. It was real. She's here. She's fucking here in my Kuya's condo, looking so beautiful and dreamy. 

Umaga pa lang at kagigising niya lang pero tang ina, bakit ganito na agad siya kaganda? Bumaba ang tingin ko sa suot niya. She spent the night here? What the—

"Good morning, H." Nag-aalangang bati niya sa'kin. Pati ngiti niya ay alanganin. Siguro ay tinitimbang niya ang reaksyon ko dahil hanggang ngayon ay hindi ako makahuma.

"Y-You're here..." Ang tanging nasabi ko.

Kuya lazily rolled his eyes. "Of course, she is. You called her last night."

I did?! "What?"

Autumn bit her lip upon seeing my shocked face. Who can blame me? I can't believe that I did all of the things I did last night. All along I thought I was just drunk.

"Hindi mo na maalala because you were so drunk." Sabi ni Autumn na ngayon ay kunot na ang noo. Kuya Gibbs laughed in a mocking way.

"Nakakahiya. You let us down."

I glared at him. "Shut up, Kuya."

Umiling lang si Kuya. I ignored him. Bumaling ako kay Autumn. "Dito ka natulog?"