She's the Real Challenge

12: Just a Favor

Sage drank his fourteenth tequila shot just so he could actually claim that he drank more than she did. Kahit knocked out na si Ken, gusto niyang maging legit ang pagkapanalo niya. And knowing Ken, she'd probably try to find loopholes so he didn't want to leave any.

Sinubukan niyang gisingin si Ken. He shook her shoulder, poked her cheek, and even took a picture of her face with a bright flash. Napangiti siya sa litrato, hindi niya i-de-delete 'yon.

Kahit Number 1 Hater niya si Ken, hindi niya magagawang iwan itong mag-isang natutulog sa may bar kaya binuhat niya ito papunta sa sofa.

"Why is Ken sleeping?" tanong ni Lily. Hindi niya napansin ang paglapit ng dalaga sa kinauupuan nila.

"She drank too much tequila and passed out," nag-aalangang sagot ni Sage. Ken willingly participated in their drinking bet pero kinabahan siya sa pagbabago ng facial expression ni Lily.

"Oh, shit." First time niyang marinig na magmura si Lily.

"Relax, it's just tequila. Buhay pa siya," he said, forcing himself to laugh. Maybe keeping it light would keep him on Lily's good side. Mukhang experienced manginginom naman si Ken kaya nakapagtataka ang reaction ni Lily.

"No, Sage. You don't understand," Lily said. "I need to take her home now."

"Bakit ka nagmamadali?" Sage asked. She was treating it like an emergency and it was quite confusing for him. Wala naman siguro silang curfew.

Lily's phone suddenly rang and she answered it before she could answer Sage's question. Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Lily at napanganga ito habang nakikinig sa kung sino mang kausap nito sa phone. "I-I'll b-be there," Lily stuttered as she ended the call.

"Is everything okay?" Sage asked.

"My mom's in the hospital so I need to get there. But Ken..." Lily turned her head left and right but clicked her tongue. Hindi nito nahanap ang kung sino mang hinahanap nito.

"May maitutulong ba 'ko?" Chance nang bumawi ni Sage sa pagiging indirect reason ng pagka-knockout ng best friend nito.

"Actually, yes. I need a favor. I would ask Matt or Heidi to do this but I can't find them right now. For sure, nag-aaminan na naman 'yon ng feelings na babawiin nila bukas—but that's not the point. Sorry, too much info." Lily took a deep breath. "So, pwede mo bang ihatid si Ken pauwi?"

"You have interesting friends." Sage smiled reassuringly at Lily. "Ako nang bahala kay Ken. I hope your mom's okay."

"OMG, thank you so much! I really have to go, paubos na rin kasi 'yong battery ng phone ko, I might not be able to contact my parents." He was half-expecting a hug pero tumalikod na si Lily at naglakad papuntang exit.

He turned back to the sleeping girl. "Kendra! Gumising ka na, please?" Shinake niya ulit 'yong balikat ni Ken. "'Di pwedeng magpaka-Sleeping Beauty rito, walang hahalik sa 'yo." Syempre, 'di siya narinig ni Ken at hindi rin ito gumising. He exhaled and called his driver.

* * *

"Sage, Babe! Where are you going?" Hinawakan ni Claire ang braso niya habang naglalakad siya palabas ng club, buhat si Ken sa balikat niya na parang sako ng patatas.

"Let go, Claire. I don't remember inviting you." He wasn't really surprised, though. Maganda ang mukha ng ex niya pero makapal din.

"But it's your birthday. Let me celebrate it with you. Let's go to that condo you have in Aerist. 'Di ka nagdadala ng babae do'n, 'di ba?" She traced her finger up and down his forearm. "Binyagan natin 'yong kama mo."

"Wow. Did you just invite yourself to my home after you invited yourself to my party? I'm busy, see?" sabi ni Sage, sabay turo sa buhat niyang babae. "Una na 'ko."

"Wait, Sage! Sino ba 'yan?"

Patuloy lang naglakad si Sage at sinundan siya ni Claire. "Girlfriend ko." He turned around just in time to keep Ken out of Claire's reach. Nakahanda na ang kamay nitong sabunutan ang natutulog na Ken. "So layuan mo na ako, okay?"

"Anong girlfriend? 'Yan 'yong sumapak sa 'yo no'ng pageant ah."

"It's just how we show affection." Sage knew how stupid it sounded but his intoxicated brain couldn't generate a better excuse.

"'Yan na ba 'yong bago mo? Walang-wala naman 'yan sa ganda ko eh!" Napatingin na ang mga tao sa direksyon nila sa lakas ng boses ni Claire. The enraged actress reached for Ken but Sage caught her wrist.

"Don't you dare touch her." He let go of Claire's wrist roughly before turning towards a bouncer. "Security! Please escort Ms. Monterro out of here." He walked away and didn't look back even as her screams got louder after being seized by bouncers.

* * *

Dumating na ang sundo ni Sage, ang Rolls-Royce Phantom VII ng ama niya na minamaneho ni Mr. Roger. Hindi pa pinapanganak si Sage, chauffeur na ito ng pamilya nila.

"Bago mong girlfriend, Sage?" Mr. Roger asked as he opened the rear passenger door for Sage who gently placed the unconscious Ken on the leather seat.

"Ay, hindi po. Ano lang, uh, may nakisuyo," Sage replied as took the seat beside Ken. Mr. Roger nodded but Sage saw his knowing smile.

"Saan ko kayo ihahatid, hijo?" tanong ni Mr. Roger pagkaupo nito sa driver's seat.

And that's when he remembered that he had no idea where Ken lived. "Sandali, may tatawagan lang po ako." He called Lily who thankfully answered after two rings.

"Sage? Kamusta? Is Ken giving you a hard time?"

"Nah, she's actually a lot nicer when unconscious." He heard Lily giggle. "So saan ko pala siya ihahatid?"

"Hindi ko pala nasabi, sorry. She lives in Aerist Tower—"

"Wait, Aerist? You mean the condo in Ayala Avenue?"

"Oo, 'yon! You know the place?" Lily asked.

Of course, he knew. Aerist Tower's penthouse was his sanctuary, ang tanging property niyang hindi niya pinagdadalhan ng babae. "Yeah, I'm familiar with it. Ken must be rich to be able to afford a unit."

"Well, she is... sort of. Anyway, please just drop her off in Unit 27G. 1234 ang combination para sa front door lock niya."

Natawa si Sage. "Nag-passcode pa siya."

"I know, right? Lagi ko siyang sinasabihang palitan na 'yon eh," Lily said. "Anyway, please get her home ASAP."

"What's the rush? Is Sleeping Beauty also Cinderella?" Habang dumarami ang nalalaman niya tungkol sa two-in-one princess, lumalaki ang interes niya rito. She was an endless pit of mysteries that threatened to consume him.

"You know how people are a bit different when they're drunk? Our princess has four stages of drunkenness. Nasa first na ngayon at hindi mo gugustuhing mabiktima ng fourth... I think."

"Marami na akong nakainuman. I'm sure, whatever this princess does when drunk isn't that bad," Sage said.

"Okay, I warned you. But just so you know, the stages are Sleeping Ken, followed by Hungry Ken, Crying Ken then—" Lily's voice was cut off by three beeps. Did she end the call? Sage called her again but she couldn't be reached anymore.

Sage sighed. He was tempted to just wait for Ken to get to stage four so he could satisfy his curiosity. Pero may hinala siyang Extra Violent Ken ang fourth stage at ayaw niya ngang maging bikitima noon. "Pahatid po sa Aerist Tower, Mr. Roger," he said.

The vehicle began to move. Sage was about to fall asleep when they passed through a hump. Ken lost her balance and her head landed on Sage's lap. Hinayaan niya lang si Ken sa ganoong posisyon. Hinawi niya pa ang buhok nito. He smiled. Kung gaano ito kabangis makipagtalo, ganoon ito kalumanay matulog.

They passed through another hump and Ken began to stir. Her eyes opened slowly and a word escaped from her lips. "McDo."