Strawberries and Cigarettes ✔

parte sua (prima pars)

Josiah Louis

As I downed my 4th shot of tequila, the soothing taste of it started to run down my throat down to my stomach.

"Seriously, dude, what's holding you back from chasing her? I thought you'd do anything for her?" My bud, Skyler, suddenly asked.

"You also know that I've been an ass to her. I left without leaving an explanation. Mukha bang tatanggapin pa ako nu'n?" Inabot ko ang bagong lapag na shot glass sa table at muling nilagok ito.

5th shot and I can already feel my head spinning.

"So, you mean, hahayaan mo na lang na may ibang pumorma sa kaniya habang ikaw nandito, nagpapakalunod sa alak?" I turned my gazes at him and he immediately put both of his hands up.

"Whoa, dude, chill. I'm just asking." Natatawa niyang sambit.

Alam kong hindi imposible ang sinabi ni Sky. My baby is so beautiful and she could easily make men swoon over her and make them kneel from their knees, and that's not new to me. I've experienced that first hand.

I can still remember vividly how fascinated I am when I first saw her in Ilocos 2 years ago.

"Okay, Mom, I got it. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine here. Yeah... Thanks, Mom... Love you too." I sighed after ending the call.

I took a deep breath before going out of my car to breathe some fresh air. The almost 3 hour drive from Manila made me so tired and I felt like I was suffocated inside.

I went to the nearest tree from the street where I stopped earlier to answer my Mom's call.

I slid my right hand inside my pocket to get my cigarettes and lighter. I placed the cig in my mouth when a soft purring voice got my attention. I immediately looked at the direction where it was coming from and saw a petite figure of a very fair girl who was looking up at a certain tree.

She's very oblivious of the stare I'm making towards her because she was so busy staring at the tree.

I don't even remember what has gotten into me when I unconsciously stride my way towards her and only stopped few inches away.

Now what, Jolo? What are you gonna do?

She was still unaware of my presence that I even had the time to check her from her head to her toes.

She was wearing a white spaghetti strap dress paired with a pink shoes, and I don't freaking know why I suddenly imagined her wearing a white long gown, holding a bouquet of flowers while walking down the aisle.

Damn.

Her almond shaped eyes bore into mine and I almost startled from my spot. My mind went haywired and I suddenly don't know how to start a conversation, so I said the most random thing I could say.

"Hi, do you have a lighter?"

You blinked once. No. Twice. You must be weirded out.

"Excuse me?" Damn. Even your voice sounded like an angel.

I chuckled to hide my nervousness from you.

I'm no Saint or an innocent man when it comes to girls. In my 21 years of existence, I've encountered a lot of different girls. I only have no time to explore 'cause I've been too busy being loyal to someone who are not.

I teased you because that's the only way I could thought of doing. Hindi naman kita puwedeng halikan, I forbid myself to do so lalo pa noong nalaman kong magsi-seventeen ka pa lang. That's fucking illegal!