The Pain You Left In Me

Kabanata 4

Kabanata 4

That World

I want to shut the world out even just for this moment. Ayoko munang maisip ang lahat. Si daddy, ang kumpanya, ang mga gusto niyang gawin ko at ang lalaking gusto niyang lapitan ko na hanggang ngayo'y alam kong tinatapunan pa rin ako ng mga hindi maipaliwanag na titig.

Hilong hilo na ako. My vision's a little bit blurry. It's like the world is spinning in front of me. I'm forcing myself to keep from puking.

Pero kahit na alam kong lasing na ako ay nakuha ko pang tumungga ulit ng alak. This time, whiskey. The alcohols I drank are now taking over my body. Beads of sweat from my forehead and neck start to trickle down my body. It's like I want to rip all my clothes off to ease the hotness I'm feeling. But I'm not that completely drunk. Nasa huwisyo pa naman ako, and I still know the happenings in my surrounding.

Kahit na hiyawan ng hiyawan ang mga tao habang sumasayaw dito sa Nightlife ay hindi ko ito alintana. Para bang nasa kwarto lang ako ng aking condo. Mag-isa. Tahimik habang umiinom at nag-iisip. Ganon naman talaga. You will not be able to feel your surroundings when you are so preoccupied by what you are doing.

It's past midnight, I think. Mayayaman at classy ang mga narito, considering that Nightlife is a very high end bar.

I don't know if dad or mom would approve kapag nalamang umiinom ako ngayon at dito pa sa isang kilalang bar.

I never got drunk like this before. Like I said, I know when to stop but right now, siguro nalagpasan ko na ang limit ko.

So many had happened for the past day, and I am here right now, trying to forget them kahit saglit lang.

Nagulat nalang ako nang may biglang sumalampak sa tabing upuan ko dito sa counter. May narinig din akong nagtatawanang mga kalalakihan sa bandang likod ko.

Kumunot ang noo ko at sinulyapan ang lalaking nasa tabi ko na tumatawa rin habang nakatingin sa mga lalaking nasa likod. Probably his friends.

"Go, Vincent! Kaya mo 'yan!" Sigaw ng mga kaibigan niya. Sa sobrang lakas ay nagawa kong marinig kahit sobrang lakas ng tugtugin ng bar.

The guy beside me chuckles, "Loko!" Sigaw niya pabalik sa mga kaibigan niya. He turns to me.

Naka faded blue longsleeves polo siya, dark blue pants at sneakers. Nakatiklop ang sleeves ng hanggang siko habang bukas ang unang tatlong butones ng kaniyang polo, revealing sliver of his muscled chest.

Gwapo siya, I admit. Well I know how to point that out always. But by the look on his face, he's definitely drunk.

He gives me a half smile. Ang mga mata niya ay mapupungay at mapupula na dahil sa kalasingan. I can even smell the alcohol in his breath, or probably sarili ko lang ang naaamoy ko.

"Hi!" Then he flashes his complete smile. I know boy's moves kahit na wala pa akong boyfriend. But I have bunch of suitors. This guy's trying to flirt with me.

I can't help but I am so amazed to myself right now. Kahit hilo na ako ay nagagawa ko pa ring magobserba ng paligid ko.

"You're Winter Dela Paz, right?"

Nagulat ako nang banggitin niya ang pangalan ko. Even my surname! I'm taken aback and it flashes on my face.

He sees it and smirked at me.

"I've seen you in magazine spreads," nahulaan niya talaga ang itatanong ko. "Always. I've been dreaming about seeing you. And look who's in front of my face! God, Winter, you're more attractive in person!"