Reckless Abandon

Chapter Fourteen

Enrico's POV

Pulling up in the driveway, I can already hear the noise from the backyard where the party is. I took the way to the front door, and I already see a few people coming in and about. And just by looking at the amount of cars piled outside, I instantly know that this place is packed. I looked down and saw a girl passed out on the ground, still holding a red Dixie cup on her hand.

Geez. Muntik ko pa siyang maapakan.

I successfully made my way in, oddly feeling claustrophobic in this sea of people with empty faces, even when ever since I was thirteen I am already used to this particular scene, whether it be on clubs, houses, or boats. The noise from the loud trippy music sang to my ears, as if it's blaring right next to my face, but looking around, everything just feels so muted.

I see people laughing, kissing, slamming tables, talking, whispering to one another, yelling, dropping to the ground, smashing bottles, knocking into furnitures, but I don't hear them. All I know is that they are all saying the same senseless things.

A few people immediately recognized me as soon as I entered the room. Marahil ang iba nabigla sila sa biglang pagpapakita ko sa mga ganitong ganap after what happened at Sizty's. I was MIA at every clubs and parties for weeks... until now.

I have never been in this house before, but I heard its owner is a Congressman, and whoever his son was, threw a swashbuckling party that already thrashed the whole place. Typical rich boy things.

"Chico!"

I spun my neck around and saw Sandro, a friend of mine who basically is just like me, but not really. A spoiled, trust fund kid, who would not do anything sensible other than taking pride from being a record holder of standing upside down drinking from the keg for ten minutes. Hindi ko alam kung paanong hanggang ngayon hindi pa napupuno ang ulo niya ng beer sa pagkakatiwarik niyang ganun. Or maybe his brain fluids are already swimming with gin and juice. I don't really know.

I gave him a tight smile and grabbed his arm to wrap him with a half embrace. "Sandro."

"Buti naman nakarating ka! I heard about what happened! Ano, kamusta ka na?"

If you want the truth, ayoko na sanang pag-usapan ang nangyari. But, well. "I'm alright."

Inakbayan niya ako at pumunta kami sa kitchen para kumuha ng inumin. I settled for a bottle of beer, while Sandro mixed his own drink of God knows what they are.

"So, Chico," Sandro started by calling me by my nickname. "I heard you got pretty fucked up."

I secretly rolled my eyes. "Sinong may sabi?"

"People who saw." he answered, shrugging.

I bite my cheek to hide my annoyance. How credible are drunkards and drug addicts in telling stories from an incident like that? "Not gonna lie. That motherfucker wanted to kill me."

"Ah, is that why you dipped?"

"Parang ganun na nga. Just wanted to stay on the low for a while. Gusto ko lang munang hindi magpakita sa maraming tao. You know, to stay away from prying eyes." I traced the lining of the bottle and added, "Also, I met a girl."

"What!"

"Yeah, she turns out to be the cousin of that fucker."

"No way. That's some real fucked up shit, man."

"I know."

I saw him mix another drink. Mindlessly watching Sandro do his chore, I can't help but wonder about her.