Fade to Black

Don't Go Away

02.
Don't Go Away
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"No I can't come, Isla. I'm busy!" I said for the nth time. She was forcing me kasi to come with her sa event ng boyfriend niya.

"Nahihiya ka lang gawa nung last time e!" I almost rolled my eyes when I remembered the last time I saw them. I got called bata! "Please, Alyt? I swear I'll force Iver to make them forget about last time. Kailangan ko lang talaga makapunta dun kasi isusurprise ko sana siya..."

Here she goes again with her panguso and her annoyingly big eyes. "Fine! Pero ikaw gagawa ng assignment ko sa GenBio."

Lumabi siya pero di kalaunan ay pumayag din. She's that desperate for a guy? Can't relate.

After our class ended, pinauwi ko sa driver namin ang gamit ko then we rode Isla's car para dumaan muna sakanila dahil kukuhanin pa niya yung regalo tapos mag bibihis din kami. Alangan namang pumunta kami sa bar in our uniforms diba?

"Ayos ba?" she asked after showing me her explosion box. Cheesy pero ang effort so I'll give her that.

"Well, kung mahal ka naman kahit brief lang ibigay mo masaya na yun." I joked.

We both took a quick shower. Humiram din ako sakanya ng damit kasi di naman ako prepared makaladkad. Buti nalang pareho kami ng body built so everything she has fits me.

Suot ko ang black longsleeves na pinatungan ko ng white na cropped polo at matchy white skirt. "You look great!" she eyed me from head-to-toe.

"You don't look bad," inirapan niya ako at hinatak pababa. We had to take a taxi because according to her, papalayasin siya sa bahay once her parents know about her activities.

Isla is older than me by months so she's 18 now. She's legal pero in her parents' eyes she's still a baby kaya they're super strict sakanya.

I am not legal yet. Pero di na bago sakin ang pag-inom and such since Grade 12 na din naman ako. I've had my fair share of inumans and bar hoppings.

Thankfully, nakapasok kami easily sa bar since kakilala ni Isla yung owner nung bar. Family friend ata or something? I didn't bother to ask because I don't really care.

We sat sa isang round table na sobrang far sa stage. "God, I'm so nervous." she hugged the box she was holding. "You'll come with me naman diba? Backstage?" I nodded para matahimik na siya.

To be honest, di naman ako yung magsusurprise pero kinakabahan din ako. He makes me nervous for no reason! I haven't been playing around lately kasi naapektuhan ako nung sinabi niya sakin.

"Ayan na Black Label pucha ang pogi talaga ni Alt sarap bugbugin ng halik!" rinig kong sigaw ng mga babae sa kabilang table. I rolled my eyes upon hearing some nasty remarks.

"Hi this is Black Label's Alt and tonight we'll be playing one of our favorite songs from the Be Here Now album." ngumiti siya saglit and then they started playing Don't Go Away by Oasis.

I stared at him in awe. Siya na nga siguro ang living proof na may favorite si Lord. Aside from being talented musically I heard na he is very smart and artistic din. He's a third year student sa DLSU-CSB, I don't know his course though kasi di ako interesado sakanya! Di talaga!

I tapped my cheeks. I wish I could stop having thoughts of him in my mind kasi it's not healthy! Plus he thinks I'm too young for him so obviously there's no chance for me.

"Will you drink?" tanong ni Isla na kanina pang kabado dahil malapit na matapos ang performance ng banda.

I shook my head dahil alam kong papagalitan ako pag umuwi akong lasing. Plus, I wasn't in the mood to drink.

When their performance ended, they thanked the crowd then rushed backstage. That was our cue to enter. Tinahak namin ni Isla ang kumpulan ng mga tao para mapuntahan ang banda.

"Fuck do I look okay?" I assured her na she looks okay so many times pero mukhang di ata siya masasatisfy sa sagot ko.

"One more time you ask me that, di na talaga kita sasamahan sa kalandian mo!" banta ko sakanya.

Ngumuso lang siya at huminga ng malalim. She knocked thrice sa waiting room ng Black Label. "Oh? Bro, si Isla andito!" tinawag ni Apo ang ka-banda. "Uy, Margaret long time!" I faked a smile.

Di ko padin siya kabati no! He kept on teasing me kay Alto when we were leaving the restobar. His friends apologized though kasi lasing lang daw talaga si Apo.

"Isla?" Iver came over then hugged his girlfriend. Medyo umiyak ng kaunti si Isla. Kwinento niya kanina sakin na nag-away sila and she wanted to make it up to him through the surprise. Thankfully, mukhang effective naman dahil ngayon ay para na silang linta uli.

Napatingin kaming lahat sa gawi ni Alto na mukhang kakadating lang. Humiwalay muna ang dalawa para makadaan si Alto. Sumunod ako sakanya dahil nangangalay akong tumayo.

"San ka galing bro?" tanong ng chismosong si Apo.

"Smoke," sagot naman ni Alto habang inaayos ang gamit niya. Mukhang aalis na siya. Buti naman! I really can't move freely when he's around.

I sat next to Forest na kinakalikot ang hawak niyang Nintendo Switch. "Bro, wala kang ibang games dito? Animal Crossing lang... at Cooking Mama? The fuck?" agad na lumingon si Alto at inagaw ang Switch.

Ano kaya username niya sa Animal Crossing? Should I ask him para maging friends kami dun?

"Tangina kulit ng kamay mo. Kay Ishi nga yan." medyo inis na ipinasok ni Alto ang Switch sa bag niya.

Ishi? Is that the name of his new girlfriend? Sounds ugly to me.

"Una na ko," paalam ni Alto. Aalis na sana siya pero hinarang siya ni Isla sa may pinto.

"Pwede mo ba isabay si Alyt? Baka kasi mag tagal ako kina Iver eh nakakaawa naman."

Putangina.

Iniiwasan ko nga tapos ididikit sakin ng ganto ano ba yan! Hindi ko din naman kayang magreklamo dahil tama siya. Mababagot lang ako at di ko naman alam kung san pupunta ang dalawang yan. Mamaya sa motel pala tas kaladkad padin nila ko.

"Can she ride though?"

I gasped. Putangina ano daw? Ang bastos neto ah!

"Oo naman! Magaling yan no." ngumisi si Isla sakin. "Nakasakay na yan sa motorcycle ng ex niya dati kaya may experience."

Pumikit si Alto tapos tiningnan ako. "Fine," mabilis siyang naglakad papunta sa parking lot ng bar. Ipinatong niya ang helmet sa ulo ko at inayos ang pagkabit dito.

I awkwardly sat there. Pucha napakasinungaling ni Isla. I have never tried riding a motorcycle! "Uhm, san ako kakapit?" I asked shyly.

I heared him sigh bago kunin ang kamay ko to para iyakap sakanya. Jusko po. Jesus take the wheel!

Sobrang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko. Tangina sasabunutan ko talaga si Isla!