Happy & Sad (a short story)

Prologue

4:43 PM

" LEUAN!!"

"Leuan!!"

"Leuan!!"

"Leuan!!"

"Leuan!!"

Tawag ng mga taong nasa likuran ko. Mga taong nakasaksi sa kataksilan ng fiancè ko... my bastard fiancè. Ahahhah ang ganda naman talaga ng timing ng gagong yon... sa mismo pa talagang araw ng kasal namin?! Di man lang talaga sya nahiya sa akin?!

"Taxi!" tawag ko sa paparating na taxi habang patuloy pa rin sa pag-agos ang aking mga luha. Siguro nagmumukha na akong bruha dito sa kakaiyak, yong eyeliner ko nasisra na ng mga luha kong walang tigil sa pag-patak. Iniwan na nga ako ng lalakeng pinangakuan ako ng kasal ay magmumukha pa talaga akong talunan. Kahit totoo naman talaga na ako ang talo, ayaw ko pa rin na mag-mukhang talunan. Yung pinaka-ayaw ko sa lahat ay yung kinakaawaan ako. I don't need others' sympathy.

I went inside the taxi as soon as it stopped in front of me. I wanna get out of this place. I bet lahat ng guess na nasa simbahan ngayon, ay pinag-tatawanan na ako. Maybe, my parents are now fuming mad. Sino bang matinong magulang ang hindi magagalit sa anak na in-indian sa araw ng kasal nito. It's a big disgrace, lalo na't my parents are both influential.

"Manong sa pinaka-malapit po na bar." Anas ko saka isinandal ang ulo sa upuan ng sasakyan. In the corner of my eyes I saw the driver raked a look at my clothes. He must be thinking I'm insane. Huh. Alam ko na ang sasabihin nito.

"Iha... pupunta ka nang bar na naka... naka gown?" nag-aalangang tanong nito. Hahay, pakialamero talaga. I closed my eyes as I muttered my response.

"Pake mo manong?" kainis! Magda-drive nalang nga naninita pa talaga.

I need beer tonight. I'm craving for it. I want to forget the pain kahit ngayong gabi man lang. Tutal hindi naman ako party girl at lasengera na puro lang gimik. I always drown myself with work. I have no social life. Kaya nga dalawang lalake lang ang mga kaibigan ko. They understand me, and they are enough too. I don't need too many friends, Lylle and Ray are enough. So I think it's okay for me to get drunk tonight, plus I don't fucking care anymore.

Nang makarating kami sa pinaka-malapit na bar ay agad akong bumaba ng taxi at nag-bayad ka manong.

'Sam's Night Out' I read the signage as I walked closer to the bar.

The familiar smell of alcohol greeted me as I made my entrance. Dim neon lights are everywhere that made the peoples face hard to see. The music was so loud that it almost broke my eardrums. I almost wanna back out, but I can't... I have to do this. I have to try not being so responsible. Pagod na akong maging good girl.

Ang tonight, I wanna try something new.

I saw couples that were doing a live show, kissing and pleasuring each other as I made my way to the bar counter. Ugh, hindi ba sila nahihiya? They're so vulgar! Where's their privacy?

I stopped on my trails as I realized people were looking at me, staring rather. Ipinagkibit- balikat ko nalang saka ipinagpatuloy ang paglalakad. Maybe they're thinking how weird I am, or maybe they're thinking na I'm already crazy. Well I can't blame them, sino ba namang matinong babae ang pupunta sa bar na naka-gown? And mind you, ball gown at that. Diba ako lang? Well this is a new trend.

"Kuya Martini po." I said as I settled in one of the stools. I sat comfortably there habang naghihintay sa Martini'ng in-order ko. A few moments passed pero wala pa ring naka-lapag na Martini sa harapan ko. I lifted up my gaze only to see a shocked expression from the bartender.