Fire Catches Rain

Prologue

Vereniel

The place was dark and the smell of alcohol drifted in the air. Toxicating. People were dancing everywhere and some were boldly making out at the corners of the club. The bar was filled with drinks half-consumed and some bottom-dry.

Kung ilang kopita na ng martini ang naubos ko ay wala na akong ideya. At wala na rin akong pakalam. All I want is to forget (the dumbest excuse of course of anyone) the curse that fell upon me ever since I first opened my eyes in this freakin' world.

"Buwisit." I ran my fingers through my hair as if it was the one pissing me off. I glugged the remaining amount of alcohol from my glass. "Who the fuck she thinks she is?" then whispered in the air, "That itchy bitch."

"Wow, brother, you're a mess. Always."

Naniningkit ang mga matang nilingon ko ang katabi. "The hell you're doing here?" walang amor kong tanong sa kaibigan, saka ibinalik sa kopita ang tingin. "Gimme a refill..."

"You've had eough," saway ni Drac na sinenyasan ang bartender na huwag na akong bigyan. "You can crash your dignity a thousand times but don't destroy your sanity with alcohol," payo pa ni Drac.

"Sino ka ba?" Ang ibig kong sabihin ay sino ba ito para payuhan ako nang ganoon? Dapat naisip na niya iy on bago pa magpatayo ng languang lugar gaya niyon.

Drac tsked. "Ako lang naman ang may-ari nitong club, bro. At kaibigan ko ang kawawang nilalang na kausap at katabi ko ngayon." He winked at me like idiot does.

"Lalo mong pinasasakit ang ulo ko." My head felt heavy and my eyes wanted to droop. My cheeks felt hot. Pero malinaw pa rin ang isipan ko. Isa sa mga bagay na pinaka-ayoko sa sarili. Kahit anong pakalunod sa alak ang gawin ko, malinaw pa rin ang isip ko. Naiinggit ako sa paligid ko, sa mga taong wala na sarili kahit dalawang bote o kopita pa lang ng alak ang naiinom.

Anong klaseng kaluluwa ba mayroon ang mga impakta't impaktong ito? Animo walang mga problema ang mga walanghiya. Nakukuha pang gumiling, sumayaw, at tumawa na walang pakialam sa mundo. Motherfuckers.

Habang ako? 'Eto, masakit na nga ang ulo, hindi pa mapuknat sa utak ko ang mukha ng babaeng nanggago sa akin.

Leche talaga... I hissed inwardly. Hope she'll die ASAP. Isinubsob ko ang noo sa malamig na counter. Aah... This is great.

I heard Drac tsked. "Vereniel Tria..." His voice sounded like introducing a dear friend to his beloved audience. "The boy who's being chased by Victoria's."

"Who's fucking Victoria?" Nilingon ko siyang hindi nag-aangat ng mukha. My left cheek pressed against the cold surface. Wala akong matandaang ganoong pangalan na naging girlfriend ko. Sa dami ba naman nila.

"Victoria's Secret," paglilinaw ni Drac na sinundan pa ng mahinang tawa.

Vereniel chuckled sharply. "Victoria's Secret..." I murmured with a sting of hatred. "But that bitch wore Barbizon brand! She broke my favorite Ferarri and runaway with my thousand dollar with another son-of-a-bitch."

Natawa si Drac, saka tumungga sa boteng kanina pa nito hawak."Lesson one-oh-one:" nang-aasar na wika nito "never date a girl who wore Barbizons and even Victoria's."

"Yeah. From now on I'll look for a girl who wears nothing underneath their skirts." Tumuwid ako nang upo nang makaramdam na ako ng pangangalay ng likod sa pagkakayuko. Then my eyes scanned the dark room. Laser lights were blinding my eyes. But it didn't prevent me from spotting a sexy girl in a short black shorts; her white tube top was tucked in it. She looked so simple, yet eye-catcher. Papunta itong exit ng Sexy Club.