Science and Faith

Seven -- Trouble

Ice keeps his cool as he goes inside his car. He just excused himself from the girls a while ago. He’s not really into this kind of place, and he’s not really comfortable being surrounded by women wearing only few inches of cloth.

Once inside his ride, he sighed at the thought of what he had just discovered earlier: Sandra lied to him. Bakit nito ginawa iyon? Hindi naman sya masamang tao para hindi nya ito bigyan ng tulong. So why need to lie? Had she told him the truth, he’d still be willing to help her by any means.

Ice took a deep breathe. He’s not the type who gets mad easily, and right now, he knows he isn’t mad at Sandy. He is just mad at the situation. He feels frustrated knowing that there is someone who will resort in this kind of lie.

Ano na ang gagawin nya ngayon? Will he confront Sandy about what he heard? Or will he keep pretending not knowing the real thing and just go with her play?

Maybe, she was too desperate hence creating this lie. Maybe, she just had no choice but to make up stories. Maybe, she did not mean lying in the first place.

Those were the thoughts that came rushing his mind. Lots of maybes. Hindi nya alam kung anong dapat gawin. Because, right now, he is just covered in utter frustration.

---

The bar isn’t too crowded yet, Sandy noticed. Medyo maaga pa naman kasi. The fun usually starts at 11. Pabalik na sya kasabay si Mitch sa table nila. Ganoon na lang ang pagtataka nya nang hindi nya nakita doon si Ice.

“Hey, where’s Ice?” She asked the girls.

“I think he said he’s going to get something in his car.” Sagot naman ni Isabelle, sabay inom nito ng cocktail drink na hawak nito.

She just nodded at Isabelle’s answer. She then reached for the cocktail glass and brought it to her mouth. She felt a little nostalgic after tasting the bitter kick of the alcohol. She couldn’t imagine how life her dull was until today. Laking pasasalamat na lang nya na wala si Ice dito. Hindi sya makakainom kung sakali.

“Sandy. Let’s go dance. Ang dami ng ng hot guys oh.” Aya sa kanya ni Mitch. Tinanggihan nya ito at sinabing mamaya na sya. Pumunta na sa dance floor sila Mitch at naiwan syang mag-isa dun sa may table.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas pero walang bumabalik na Ice sa table na ito. Sandy wonders where he is. He’s probably staying in his car right now to avoid these girls and this place, she thought. Obvious naman kasing hindi komportable si Ice sa lugar na to. Just to make sure, she texted him. Ang sabi naman nito ay maghihintay na lang ito sa kotse.

I brought him here so I could have company. Yun pala. He’ll just act like my driver. Sandy grumbled at the thought.

She just continued sitting, enjoying the music quietly while drinking. When suddenly, may isang lalaking lumapit sa kanya.

“Hey. Sandy?”

Inangat nya ang tingin nya para makita kung sino yung tumawag sa kanya. She could smell his familiar scent. Ilang buwan na din mula ng magkita sila nitong lalaking nasa harap nya ngayon.

“Josh.” She said and smiled.

“Wow. Glad that you remember me.” Sabi ni Josh pagkaraan ay umupo ito malapit sa inuupuan nya.

“Why, of course! So how are you? Long time no see!” She said while flashing a genuine smile. How could she forget Josh? He became her boyfriend during the time she couldn’t even remember. They lasted for almost six months, the longest relationship she ever had with.

Nung mga panahong yun, curious sya kung ano ba ang pakiramdam ng pumasok sa isang pangmatagalang relasyon. But, she realized na hindi pala ganun kadali iyon. She got bored and fed up doing the same things over and over. Her want and desire to be in a long-term and serious relationship had faded since then. Kaya nga mas naeenjoy nya ang pagiging single to flirt with guys that she likes at the moment. Kung meron man syang naging boyfriend, one month na yung pinakamatagal. Madali syang mag-sawa, yun yung dahilan kung bakit hindi na nya sinubukang makipagrelasyon ulit.