He took a swig of beer from the tall glass and easily made it half-empty.
Wow, Moe. Galit ka ba sa beer? Pagbibiro ng kaibigang si Rocco habang nakatingin sa kanya na inom ng inom. Lumaki ang mata nito nang makitang naubos nya ang buong laman ng tall glass.
Tumawa sya ng mahina. Alam kasi nyang kaya din nitong umubos ng isang beer in a matter of minutes like he did. Rocco is a regular drinking buddy and best friend.
Isa pa nga. He moved his glass para tagayan ulit ng kaibigan.
Hindi ito umimik habang binibigyan sya ng makahulugang tingin, but poured another glassful anyway.
Alam nyang alam nito ang latest personal 'issues' nya and he's thankful that his friend isn't a meddler. Marunong itong maghanap ng tiempo kung kelan magtanong o mag-share ng opinyon.
He had been feeling down lately at hindi nya matutukoy kung saan galing ang sakit na nararamdaman. He couldn't tell whether it was his heart or his pride that took the blow and the more he thought about the things that had recently unfolded, lalo syang naiinis sa sarili. He felt like the situation had taken control over him instead of him holding the reins.
Moe?
Napaangat sya ng tingin nang marinig ang boses ni Rocco.
You ok? Tanong nito, bakas sa mukha nito ang pag-aalala.
Yup. Tipid nyang sagot. Ilang beses na rin silang nag-inuman nang ganito-more drinks, less talk. He wasn't ready to vent on his best friend. It was enough na sinasamahan sya nito.
Bumuntong-hininga ito habang nakatingin sa kanya at tila may gustong sasabihin ngunit nagpipigil.
Say it, Roc. Matamlay nyang sambit dito. He knew that eventually, kailangan din nyang ipalabas ang saloobin. There was no way that he could avoid talking about the matter forever.
Bumuntong-hininga ulit ito na tila nag-iisip kung paano sisimulan ang sasabihin.
Uhm...I don't...I don't know...kung...
He let out a bitter laugh. He was thankful that his friend had been good with timing as regards talking about the delicate subject pero ngayon parang naiirita sya na hindi nito masabi-sabi ang gustong sabihin.
Why don't we get this over and done with? Sabihin mo na kasi.
Moe...It's just that...I...
Why? Are you scared that I can't handle the truth? Is that it? Na hindi ko kaya? Am I really that weak, Roc? Medyo tumaas ang boses nya na ikinagulat ng kaibigan.
Moe...hindi...hindi sa ganun...
He faked a laugh and shook his head.
You're all the same...all of you...
Moe...It's not that...it's not that I find you weak...pero ano kasi....Sagot ng kaibigan na mukhang alalang-alala.
What? You think I've gone mad, too? Inis nyang dagdag. Nararamdaman nyang nag-iinit na ang tenga nya.
Moe...lower your voice. People are looking...Pagsaway ng kaibigan habang nililibot ang paningin sa mga tao sa loob ng bar.
Fuck them. Inis nyang sagot as he threw his head back on the lounge chair.
Moe...I think...I think kailangan na nating umalis. Nakarami ka na. Mahinang sambit ng kaibigan habang tinitingnan ang beer bottles na nakapatong sa lamesa nila.
I'm not drunk. He answered rather stubbornly.
Bumuntong-hininga ito na tila nagtitimpi at pagkatapos ay tumingin sa may entrance.
Moe...we really have to go now. Sambit nito, giving him a meaningful look as though trying to send him a secret message.
Napakunot-noo sya at lumingon sa direksyon kung saan palipat-lipat ng tingin ang kaibigan and he suddenly straightened on his seat nang makita kung sino ang tiningnan nito.
All of a sudden, tila natanggal lahat ang alcohol sa katawan nya as he was woken up with the jolt of pain in his chest habang tinitingnan ang tao na syang dahilan ng lungkot nya. She was giggling as she listened to her guy companion who seemed to be cracking some jokes. He let out a sigh habang sinusundan ng tingin ang mga ito as they passed by their table...They-his ex-girlfriend and her new squeeze.
He covered his face with his hands in frustration.
Oh God, fuck my life.
