Adore You

Chapter 6

"This tastes terrible." Puna ko pakatapos inumin ang binigay ni Raine na shot. Napangiwi ako sa tapang at ramdam na ramdam ko ang pag daan ng init sa lalamunan.

Tinawanan lang ako ng kaibigan. "It's vodka, silly! It only tastes good when you're drunk. Just keep on drinking until it feels like water." After giving her stupid advice she downed her own drink. Just like me napinta rin sa ekspresyon niya kung gaano ito katapang.

"Lagi tayong beer kaya it's time to step it up a notch. Don't you think?" She was too eager to get wasted. So eager to get us both messed up. Too cheery to even lift my spirit.

I grabbed another glass and drank it. Lumiwanag ang mukha ni Raine at parang sayang saya sa nangyayari. "That's it! Let's keep on drinking!" She exclaimed and grabbed another shot.

The neon lights did wonders and my vision started to failed me. Tumawa ako dahil may biglang naalala. My father is in Bicol and surprisingly with Finn and what I assumed is with his mother.

"Raine," tawag ko sa kaibigan.

"What?" Tanong niya habang nakatuon ang mapungay na mata sa dagat ng mga tao na nagsasayawan. Are we such a sad sight here drinking our sadness in this table?

"You want to dance?"

"I want to drink." She muttered in a slur voice. "Kaloka! Just one bottle and I'm already dizzy." I chuckled at her irritation and drank some more.

Tumingin sa akin si Raine. "What are you thinking?" Her question was mumbled in a soft tone. This isn't the right place to pour out my heart but is there really a right place for anything?

I coughed awkwardly before starting. "Someone died." Mariin kong sinabi. Her expression didn't change. Kumuha lang siya ng isa pang shot kaya napabuntong hininga ako.

"The little brother of Finnegan Daventry," Kuwento ko. "died days after the car crash." Parang may bara sa lalamunan ko and my eyes were heating up but I don't dare cry. Umubo ako at tumawa ng bahagya. "the maid said that the he was in a coma for days."  Pinigilan ko maluha pero nang nakita ko na si Raine na umiiyak parang napunit ang puso ko.

"He couldn't make it." Bulong ko.

"It was an accident, Cora."

"That accident cost a family a son and a brother." I said miserably. "You know," tumawa ako ng mapakla. "I went to their estate to apologize." Amin ko kaya lumaki ang mga mata ni Raine.

"Too bad they weren't there. So I did what I could do to ease my guilt. I looked for the brother when he came back. He was cold but very kind. Naiisip  ko na sana nakilala ko siya bago mangyari ang lahat."

"It wasn't yours or Clementine's fault." Nagkibit balikat lang ako sa sinabi at tinignan ko ang mga luha niya. Not minding my own tears.

"I'm sorry for this awful welcome party." I chuckled because we're really wasted.

"Ano ka ba! Then we'll go out again tomorrow. Tapos sa sunod ulit. Pede rin naman araw araw!" Hagikhik niya at umiling nalang ako.

Humikbi ako at hinayaan lang na ramdamin ang sakit na pilit kong tinatabunan. Kahit ngayon lang. Kasi ngayon lang pwede. The lights were dim enough to hide our faces.

I don't know how much time we spent inside this bar pero alam kong kailangan na naming umuwi. I can't drive and looking at Raine, mas malala pa ito sa akin.

"Let's call it a night." Yaya ko paalis at halos mabuwal ako sa puwesto dahil sa hilo. Napangiwi ako at hinilot ang sentido.

"Raine! Come on!" Mabagal ako na lumapit sa kaniya at kahit masakit ang ulo tinulungan paring tumayo ang kaibigan. We were swaying and it dawned to me that this was a bad idea. Paano kami uuwi?

With shaking legs and almost nauseas I maneavured our way out. Feeling ko sabog na sabog na ako at 'di tumutulong ang usok. Niyugyog ko ang kaibigan.

"Huy! Ano ba. Buhatin mo naman ang sarili mo."

"I don't want to go home." Reklamo ni Raine and my eyes narrowed. I renewed my hold of her and grunted kasi ang bigat!

"Please, akala ko ba mag s-sleep over ako sainyo. Don't blow me off kasi ayaw ko rin umuwi!" Dahilan ko.

"May natanggap ako na tawag kanina. Mom said that my... fiancee is at my condo." Naduwal si Raine bigla kaya binitiwan ko. Huli na nang natanto na dapat hindi. She fell face down on the floor.

Sa isang iglap nabawasan ang pagkalasing ko. I knew she got it worse than me. Nanatili lang ito na nakadapa sa semento. Napangiwi ako at 'di alam kung paano siya papatatuin ulit.

"This is bad." Yumuko ako at hinawakan na ang braso niya. "Sorry about that." I laughed while she said nothing but slurred words.

Napatigil ako bigla. I can't bring her to my house. Impyerno lang doon. The only reason that I left Clementine is because Selia is back from her vacation.  Siya lang naman ang may kaluluwa doon. I know Raine doesn't like her fiancee so I can't bring her there. Saan kami matutulog? Sa kotse?

I don't dare drive at kung ito pa ang pagkakatiwalaan ko baka pati kami mamatay na rin. Natawa ako at natigil lang ng mayroong lumapit na 'di kakilala.

"I'll take her home." Sabi ng lalaki. Napalunok ako at napa atras ng bahagya. He looked at Raine in my arms. She looked awkward clinging to me because I'm not really doing a good job at holding her.

"N-No! I mean, ako na. I can manage naman." I nervously spat out. The stranger shook his head at kinuwa si Raine. He easily carried her in his arms kaya natakot ako.

"What are you doing!" Sigaw ko. "Sino ka ba?! Put her down or else I'll call someone!" Panakot ko kahit ako ang natatakot. Luminga linga ako but not a single soul was there!

He was surprised at my outburst. "Lucian," he said. Then he looked at Raine sleeping in his arms. "And this drunk lady is my fiancee."

A/N:
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