Bitter Aftertaste

Chapter 2

Name

"Kamusta na ang tuhod mo?" He asked.

I scowled. Hindi pa rin matanggal sa isip ko ang sinabi niyang crybaby ako. I regret being oblivious when I was drunk.

"It's fine." I answered. Kinailangan kong magsuot nang jeans ngayon dahil sa pasa at sugat na natamo ko sa pagkadapa. Hindi talaga maganda ang dulot ng alak kapag nasobrahan.

He raised the glass of tequilla and glanced at me. "You sure you don't want this?"

Is he tempting me? Ganoon ba talaga ako kadesperada tingnan kapag alak na ang usapan? Tsk. "No. Drink it for me."

He shrugged. "I don't usually drink tequilla, I prefer wine but as you wish." Then he drunk it.

Kung hindi talaga siya umiinom ng tequilla, bakit niya bitbit iyon dito? It doesn't make any sense.

He stared at me for a minute. I caught a sign of gentleness in his eyes. "Some people has to leave for the benefit of others. He might left you with no reason but surely he has the reason for not letting you know."

Naiwan akong nakatulala. The scene last night rushed like a waves. Para nga pala akong baliw na sigaw ng sigaw kagabi.

I shut my mouth. I don't want to talk about him right now, siguradong lalaklak na naman ako ng alak pagkatapos.

"I hope your theories are right." I answered before leaving him behind.

Kasalukuyan ko ngayong pinapanood si Sierra na kunot-noong nakamasid sa malayo. Magkasama na kami ngayon sa garden, naka-upo kami sa table. I wondered where the heck Esther had gone? Kanina ko pa siya hinahanap ngunit kahit anino, walang nagpapakita. 

The side effect of alcohol to Sierra is making her blush. Sierra has a chinese blood, we both have the fair skin but hers is a little bit sensitive.

"Alam mo ba-"

I cut her off. "Sino na naman ang pagchi-chismisan natin?"

She pursed her lips. "I hate Isabela. She's lucky my bitch mode is off kung hindi ay nakatikim na 'yan sa akin."

I bit my lower lip. Pinipigilang matawa. "Your bitch mode is always on, Sierra. Isabela is lucky because she's wearing red at her birthday."

Ganoon naman talaga ang sabi. Chinese people tends to wear red in this kind of occasion to attract fortune. Paniguradong alam 'yon ni Sierra dahil chinese rin siya.

"She rolled her eyes at me. Wala naman akong ginagawa sa kaniya. Inimbita pa niya ako kung tatarayan din pala ako buong gabi."

I chuckled. "Be matured enough. Kapag tinarayan ka, sampalin mo." Biro ko pero mukhang nakumbinsi ko roon si Sierra.

Nilingon niya ako at tumango-tango. "Ito na ata ang oras para maging matured enough."

We both laughed but we were interrupted by sudden screamings from the pool side.

Agad kaming nagtungo roon at pilit dumaan sa dagat ng tao. Sierra being campus journalist used her skills to easily found a way to move apart such crowd.

Ganoon na lamang ang gulat ko nang makita si Esther na walang malay sa pool side, sini-CPR siya nang isa ring bisita.

My hands and knees begin shaking as we made our way towards her unconcious body. It was like everyone gone muted, wala akong marinig maliban sa mabilis na tibok ng aking dibdib sa sobrang kaba at takot.

Esther looks like she's out of life! She went pale and cold.

"C'mon, Esther!" The guy who does the CPR groaned.