Loud music and playful neon lights welcomed us when we arrived at the Republiq. Hindi pa gaanong malalim ang gabi pero marami na ang taong nagsasayaw sa dancefloor at kung hindi naman ay nasa bar lang.
Paul said he knew someone from here and got us a table ready.
"Namiss ko 'to!" sigaw ni Yvanna.
And I couldn't agree more. The last time I remember I partied was during college.
May nagserve na ng halu-halong drinks. Mayroong Bacardi, vodka at iba pa. Masayang masaya naman si Tyline dahil bumabaha ng alak.
She gave me a shot of vodka na tinanggap ko pero hindi ko ininom agad.
"What happened? Tita problems?" sabi niya sabay halaklak.
I rolled my eyes and drank it straight. Tyline screamed, "That's the spirit!"
I was already on my fourth shot when I felt someone looking at me.
"Hinay-hinay," sabi ni Mikhail.
I downed the glass and squeezed my eyes. Bakit may pakialam bigla?
"Yeah, of course." was all I could reply.
Si Tyline ay nasa dancefloor kasama si Tyler, ganoon rin ata sina Paul at Yvanna kaya kaming dalawa lang ang natira rito sa table.
"How have you been?" dagdag niya habang nakatingin sa basong nasa kamay.
Despite the loud music, I could still feel my heart beating fast. Parang tanga. Huwag na, Patricia. Tumigil ka.
"Good. Sana ikaw rin," sabi ko at saka tumayo matapos uminom.
I didn't bother looking back at our table or even at his reactions and just continued walking to the exit. Ayaw ko na doon. Ang dami kong naaalala. Hindi magandang maiwan kaming dalawang magkasama.
The cold night air brushed my face when I got out of the bar. Sumandal ako sa may railings at tumingin sa langit.
"Bakit kailangang magkita pa kami ulit?" bulong ko.
I need to go home. I fished out my phone from my bag at saka nag-dial.
"Cyx, are you busy?" I asked.
"Trice? No, why?"
"I'm at the Republiq and I don't wanna drive. Can you pick me up?" sabi ko nang maramdaman kong may nakatayo sa tabi ko.
"Okay, be there in fifteen," Cyx said then turned off the call.
Hinarap ko si Mikhail, "Boyfriend?" he asked.
The audacity to ask me questions and act like nothing... "What's it to you?" sabi ko na tila ikinagulat niya.
"I was just asking... calm down, P." he said.
"Don't call me that! Alam mo, stop acting like it's nothing. Like this is nothing. You left just like that and you're suddenly here asking me questions?"
Maybe it's the alcohol. Or the cold night... or just my bitter heart speaking.
"I'm sorry." sabi niya habang nakatingin sa mata ko. "For everything."
My tears started to pool. Damn. Tumalikod ako at naglakad palayo. I'll just call Cyx again. I just can't really stay near Mikhail.
"What happened?" tanong agad ni Cyx nang sumakay ako sa sasakyan niya.
"What 'what happened'?" I said while buckling my seatbelts.
"Bakit mugto mata mo?" tanong niya pa ulit.
"Mugto? Pinagsasabi mo d'yan. Mag-drive ka na nga lang. Sa condo ah,"
"May nakakaiyak ba sa bar? O may nakita kang dapat ikaiyak?" he said squinting his eyes at me.
"Wala nga, Cyxto! Ang kulit! Masakit ulo ko ah, wag mo akong pag tripan," sabi ko na lang saka pumikit para hindi na siya mangulit. Konti na lang at baka masabi ko pa sa kanya kung bakit.
"Bukas ka sakin," bulong niya bago nagmaneho.
Kinabukasan, abala ako sa pagsosort ng mga files ng pasyente nang mag-ring ang phone ko.
"Babae! Bakit hindi ka nagpaalam kagabi! Akala namin ni Tyline kung napano ka na!"
I rolled my eyes, "Good morning rin, Yvanna"
"Good morning ka pa dyan! Nag-alala kami, buti na lang sinabi ni Mikhail na may sumundo sayo. Sino ha?" intriga pa niya.
"Si Cyx. I called him because I don't want to drive last night," sabi ko.
I could here the teasing in Yvanna's voice, "Kaya pala. Boyfriend mo?"
"No! Platonic kami n'un!" depensa ko.
"Baka para sayo. E, sa kanya?"
I groaned, "Yvanna!"
Tumawa siya pero hindi pa rin naaalis ang pang-aasar sa tono, "Oo na! Whatever you believe, whatever you say!"
Dati pa akong inaasar ni Yvanna kay Cyx. Sobra raw kasing mag-alala sa akin. Ayaw naman niyang maniwala na hindi kami talo. Ewan ko rin sa babaeng yun.
After the call, I focused on my work again until it was time to go home.
"Martha, please send the needed files for tomorrow on my email. Sa bahay ko na lang iyon aaralin. You can go home too," sabi ko sa isa sa intern sa clinic.
"Yes, ma'am. Ingat po sa pag-uwi!" I only smiled and made my way to the parking lot.
"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" I asked Mikhail who was standing near my car.
"Patricia, can we talk?"
I don't know what got into me but I found myself sitting in front of Mikhail at the coffee shop where we used to go.
