Torn Between Dreams and Reality

CHAPTER 77 Escape

CHAPTER 77 Escape

**DRIC’S POV**

“I know you’re aware of what I do. I date various girls almost every night, man,” Zac reminded me. “I can always give you some.”

Pero hindi ko kailangan ng ibang babae para makalimot ako. “’Wag mo na ako idamay sa bisyo mo, pre.”

“Bisyo?” lito nyang tanong.

Nawala sa utak kong hindi pa pala sya gano’n ka-galing sa tagalog. “Habits. Bad habits,” I notified.

He made a short laugh. “Are you a virgin?” he asked then put his both hands up like he was surrendering, “Sorry if I asked but I’m just wondering and I wanna make sure if –“

“Yes, I am,” I cut him off. Wala namang masama sa tanong nya. Hindi din naman ako nahihiyang sagutin yo’n dahil hindi naman masamang wala ka pang nakakasiping na babae. Sa katunayan, dapat pa nga ‘yon ipagmalaki.

He put his hands down saying, “Okay.”

Pinagpatuloy naming dalawa ang pag-inom dito sa bar na madalas tugtugan ng banda namin. Ngayong gabi, napansin kong hindi nag-table ng babae si Zac. At mabuti naman nakaramdam siguro sya na hindi ako komportableng makakita ng kung ano-anong kalaswaan sa harap ko ngayon, dahil na din sa problemang hanggang ngayon ay dala-dala ko.

“You still love her, don’t you?” Biglaan nyang tanong habang tahimik kaming umiinom, habang nilalasap ko ang pait ng alak na dumadaloy sa lalamunan ko.

Sumagot ako ng hindi sya tinitignan at nakatuon ang pansin sa kawalan, “I don’t know if a day will pass that I won’t.”

He shook his head, maybe because he pities me. Pero hindi awa ang kailangan ko ngayon kung hindi kausap. Yung makikinig sa mga sintimyento ko.

“She taught me how to love again, but she forgot to teach me how to stop,” I added.

Inabot nya sa akin yung huling bote ng alak na in-order namin. “Don’t worry bro, one day, I still believe that someone’s going to hug you so tight that all of your broken pieces will stick back together.”

Then he called a waiter and ordered another round of beer for us. “I’ll be paying for this.” He told me.

I disagreed and said, “no.”

“Man, your spending money and wasting your every night, since that day, drinking and drowning yourself from liquors. Let me pay this time,” he said looking at me like I can’t argue anymore. “And by the way, why don’t you make yourself busy rehearsing with your band mates or doing other stuff you love instead of this?”

“Sayo pa talaga nanggaling ‘yan?”

“What?” Alam kong naintindihan nya yung sinabi ko, hindi lang nya siguro nakuha yung punto ko.

“Is that what I really need to do? Then why are you wasting money and time for alcohol and girls every night too?”

“Don’t divert the focus on me. I’m not broken and this is what I love to do.”

Hindi ako sumagot at napagdiskitahan kong inumin na lang ang bote ng alak na nasa harapan ko. Halos kalahati pa lang ang bawas nito pero naubos ko ng isang inuman.

“Dude, easy on the beer,” pag-sita sa’kin ni Zac, “I don’t wanna carry you home again.”

Ilang beses na kasi kaming nag-iinuman nitong si Zac. Sya lagi ang tinatawagan ko at inaaya tuwing hindi ko malaman ang gagawin ko dahil ginagambala lagi ni Zoe ang isipan ko. Ilang beses na din nya akong inaalalayan pauwi dahil sa sobrang kalasingan ko. Sobrang salamat ko nga dito sa taong ‘to dahil napagtatyagaan nya pa din akong pakinggan at payuhan kahit minsan halatang nasasawa na sya at nabibwisit dahil alam nyang hindi ko naman sinusunod ang karamihan sa mga payo nya. At isa pa, paulit-ulit na din kasi madalas yung sinasabi ko. Kaya minsan din, pinababayaan ko na lang syang mambabae sa harap ko basta may kausap at kasama lang ako uminom.