I fell in love

Chapter 18

"Last two shots." Althea declares with authority. "Uuwi na tayo after this."

Tumango lang ako. I let her order my drink.

"Here, babe." Inabot niya sa akin yung tequila. "Siguraduhin mong kaya mo pa, ha?"

"Yes," I smiled. "promise."

I shut my eyes tightly as I felt the sharp burn of the alcohol slide down my throat. It was starting to get too much.

I could already tell that I wouldn't be able to handle another drink. My body was giving me away, and I wasn't even trying to pretend I was fine anymore.

We had been drinking for a while now. Althea and I had been seated at the same corner of the bar for what felt like hours, just talking, laughing, leaning closer with every sip.

The music had faded into background noise, and the buzz of people around us no longer mattered. But I'm not a heavy drinker, not even close. 

I don't do this often, and tonight, I didn't pace myself at all. I kept drinking without thinking, caught in the rhythm of her voice, her stories, the way she looked at me when I said something stupid.

She seemed fine. Calm. Composed. But I was already feeling the weight of it all. My head was light, my chest warm, and I was starting to laugh a little too easily, talk a little too loud.

 I could feel it settling into my system.

The kind of drunk that softens everything, that makes you bold and clumsy at the same time. And part of me didn't want to stop, not while she was looking at me like that, not while it still felt good. 

"Ikaw na uminom niyan. I'm sleepy." Mas inilapit ko siya sa akin.

Hindi siya nag salita. She drank a shot of tequila with no complaint as her eyes remained staring at me. It was as if she wants me to watch her do what she just did.

I found myself watching her closely as she brought the last shot of tequila to her lips. There was something so effortless in the way she moved, the way she tilted her head back and let the liquor slide down her throat.

It was smooth, confident, and far too attractive for something so simple. She didn't even flinch. Just placed the glass back down, calm and collected, like it didn't burn at all.

The whole time, her eyes never left mine. And that was the part that got to me. The way she held my gaze while drinking made my stomach twist a little.

It was like she was daring me not to look away. And I didn't. I couldn't. I suddenly became aware of myself.

She made me conscious in a way that felt both thrilling and nerve wracking. It wasn't just how good she looked. It was the way she made me want to look good too, just to keep up with the fire in her stare.

"Let's go." She said after a while.

Feeling dizzy, hinayaan ko siya na alalayan ako. Damn. I can imagine how hard my head will hurt tomorrow morning.

"Sandali. Mag sayaw muna tayo." Mahina kong bulong sa kanya."

Lumapit lalo siya sakin. "What?" Hinapit niya ng mas mahigpit yung lower back ko.

"I want to dance," I shouted. "Saglit na lang to, I promise!" I even raised my right hand.

Pinakatitgan niya ako bago siya tumango at sumang-ayon. 

"Mag babanyo muna ako. Umupo ka muna tapos babalikan kita."

Pinaupo niya muna ako nang maayos kung saan kami nakapuwesto kanina.