Bitter Aftertaste

Chapter 1

Crybaby

I'm currently eating at Sail's restaurant for lunch. Dito na ako dumiretso dahil kakagayak ko pa lamang patungong unibersidad. I'm still wearing a sunnies to cover up my swollen eyes.

I skipped three hours of my morning classes for waking up late. Inalala ko ang nangyari kagabi, nakauwi naman ako ng maayos dahil kompleto pa ang katawan ko nang magising kanina.

I'm certain that there was no any accident happened between me and the guy apart from having scars from my knees after I stupidly fell at the ground though I passed out after puking in his shirt.

Hindi ko na rin naabutan si Sierra at Esther kanina, mabuti na 'yon dahil hindi ko pa sila kayang harapin, alam kong nakarating na sa kanila ang balita kagabi, duh we're occupying the same apartment.

Pagkatapos kumain ay kinuha ko ang aking phone sa aking purse na himalang naka-survive din katulad ko kagabi. I had to be honest, in past three months, last night was the worse. I never been drunk like that, yes I puke several times but I never passed out and had to ride home with some stranger guy.

'Where are you na, Paola? Study tonight, don't forget.' -Esther

'You'll be out at eight p.m, sunduin ka namin ni Esther' -Sierra

'Paola. It's quarter to nine, where are you?' -Esther

'If I find out you're at the nightclub and does drinking again, I will call your brother.' -Sierra

'We're still outside the university. Where are you? Answer our call.' -Esther

'Where the hell are you, Paola? Call us back! Now!' -Pierre

I had received 53 messages and 49 calls from the three of them. I remembered turning off my phone before going to the nightclub last night. Hinintay pa talaga nila ako sa university kagabi, I had them worried.

Napahilot ako sa aking sintido at napabuntong-hininga. Kailangan ko manghingi ng pasensya, naabala ko na naman sila.

Hindi ako dumiretso sa unibersidad pagkatapos kumain instead I decided to walk around the park near the university. Naglakad ako sa kahabaan ng baybayin malapit sa ilog at naupo nang makakita ng bakanteng upuan.

Iba't ibang uri ng estudyante ang makikita mo rito sa parke. May estudyanteng nakatambay at nagkukwentuhan sa ibang benches, may iba namang nag-aaral at naglalaro ng uno cards at iba pa, ako lang ata ang nag-iisa.

Marahan akong napapikit nang maramdaman ang simoy ng hangin. Mabuti na lang at hindi masyadong mainit.

"Paola?"

Nilingon ko ang nagsalita at nakita ang isa kong kaklase sa major subject. She's smiling genuine at me before sitting beside me.

Gusto ko sanang mapag-isa ngunit magiging bastos naman ang tingin sa akin kung paaalisin ko siya.

"I'm throwing a party at my place. You are invited."

We barely know each other, we're seing each other's faces for a short period of time, isang major nga lang kami nagkikita kaya hindi ko ngayon maintindihan kung bakit niya ako iniimbeta.

I fixed my sunnies. "Count me in."

Umuwi na ako sa apartment bago pa lumubog ang araw. Nagpahinga muna ako saglit sa aking kwarto at nang sumapit ang ala-sais ay isang katok ang gumising sa akin.

"Hindi ka pumasok?" Bungad ni Esther nang idilat ko ang aking mga mata.

"I planned to but laziness took over me."