I fell in love

Chapter 11

"Nope," inagaw niya sa kamay ko ang baso na may lamang tequila. "Not anymore, Mariz." Ininom niya yung laman nito.

"Nandito ka naman, Althea." I pouted.

I just want to drink more tonight. Not because I want to lose control, but because I'm craving a moment where I can actually feel light again.

I want to have fun, to forget for a while, to laugh without thinking, to let the noise drown out everything that's been weighing on me lately.

There's this heaviness I've been carrying around, and I know drinking won't fix anything, but a part of me believes that maybe, just for a night, it can help me escape it.

Don't get me wrong, I know for a fact that I no better than Althea. Part ako ng kalokohan na ginagawa namin. However, for once, I want it to just be nothing. I want to forget it.

"I can still take a few shots, you know?" Pagkompirma ko sa kaniya. 

"That's not gonna work, Mariz. You already had four shots of margarita and seven shots of these." She said.

Sanay naman ako sa ganitong alak. Ewan ko ba, ang hina-hina ko sa beer pero kapag hard, nakakaya ko. Nag iiba nga lang kapag tumatagal na. Hindi katulad ng beer na naisusuka ko agad.

"Last three shots, Babe. I promise, after that, hindi na ko iinom." Bulong ko sa kanya. "Three shots of tequila, please..." nakangiting saad ko sa bartender. 

Tiningnan niya pa si Althea, asking for approval without saying anything. Tumango lang yung katabi ko.

"Namumula ka na," she whispered. "Pinagpapawisan ka pa."

Nawala sa kanya ang atensyon ko nang itapat ng bartender sakin yung tatlong shots ng tequila. "Thanks," I said with a wink.

"What was that, Althea?" I then licked my lips after drinking a shot of alcohol.

"Keep your legs closed, Mariz." She held my right thigh.

"Nakaayos naman ako ng upo," tinignan ko pa yung mga hita ko.

"Sinabi ko naman kasi na magpalit ka. Masyadong maiksi yang suot mo." She replied.

"It's fine, Babe, you're here, with me, I... am rest assured," napahinto ako dahil sa panlalabo ng paningin. The alcohol is now kicking. "That I'll be safe." I showed her my sweet smile.

I can feel the alcohol starting to settle in after those shots of tequila. It's warm in my chest, slow in my limbs, like something heavy but comforting sinking into me.

I can still think clearly. I know where I am, who I'm with, and what's happening, but my eyes are beginning to blur around the edges.

The lights smear just a little when I blink, and everything feels slightly softer, slightly farther away, like the world is shifting into something looser and less sharp.

"Yes, I know. It's just that..." Huminga nang malalim si Althea. Pumikit pa ito nang mariin.

"Mariz!" Someone shouted my name. "Hey," Itinagilid ni Amber yung mukha niya, asking for a peck on her cheek na agad kong ginawa.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" I asked her. She's a family friend.

"Just, you know, adult things..." she pointed out the round table with two girls and three guys.

"Sila lang kasama mo?" Nagtatakang tanong ko sa kaniya. 

She doesn't usually go out alone so it's a bit confusing. 

"No, I'm with Liv. She's at the hotel, she didn't wanna join me." Paliwanag niya sa akin. 

"Okay..." Sagot ko lang. "Enjoy!" Dagdag ko pa.