After The Fall GxG)

Chapter 14

I go open the door and call out Elle.

"Elle, I'm here na." No answer. I go to the kitchen and see a note on the fridge.

"Babe,
Went to the grocers around the corner. Be back in a few.
Didn't bother calling you Kasi I'll just be a minute.

Muah,
Elle". Says the note. I take out the box of OJ and get myself a glass from the cupboard.

I go to the table and sit down to drink my juice.  I take my phone out of my bag and check if Em sent me a message.  Nothing.  So I dial her number.  It's ringing.

After 5 rings, she picks up.

"Hey baby." I greet her warmly.

"Hi babe."  She answers back

"How are you?  I've missed you."  I say forlorn.

"Been busy babe.  Actually, you've caught me in a bad time.  I have an 8:30 meeting and I'm about to leave the house."  She says hurriedly over the phone.  I look at my watch.  It's 8:09 am there. 

"Do you need anything?  Or is there something you wanted to say babe?"  She added.  I could hear someone greeting her good morning followed by the opening and closing of a car door. 

"Uhm...nothing.  I just want to hear your voice."  I tell her.

"Sorry babe.  I gotta go. I'll call you later."  She says before  hanging up. 

"I love you."  I say to no one.  I feel tired and hurt all of a sudden.  It's slowly creeping up from my gut, to my chest, up  to my throat.  Choking me.  I just shake my head and downed the juice.  I need a stronger drink.  I say to myself. 

So, to the wine chiller I go and I select a Malbec to drink.  I didn't bother to get a wine glass.  I open it.  Thank fuck for twist caps!  I mentally celebrate.  I didn't even bother to let it breathe for a few seconds before pouring it into the glass I was using. 

I close my eyes as I let the acidity of this Argentine blend meander in my throat. 

Nalulungkot ako.  Yung puso ko ang bigat-bigat.  No matter how hard I try to be nonchalant about the whole situation I am in with my girlfriend, I just can't help that I'm hurt.  I can't shake it off.  Damn.  I hate feeling this way pa naman

Time and attention. Yan Lang naman kailangan ko. It wasn't always like this with Em. We used to be so happy. So connected. Now? That connection is teetering on the brink of disconnection and possibly collapsed on its own.

Before I know it, naubos ko na ang isang bote.  I look at the time.  It's 8:30.   Almost twenty minutes ko Lang naubos ang isang bote ng wine. 

Nadatnan ako ni Elle na sinisipat kung bakit wala ng laman ang bote.  I feel a little woozy too.  Damn.  Where did the time and the wine go?

"Baby.  Are you okay?"  Nag aalalang tanong ni Elle sa kin pagka-upo nito sa tabi ko.  Ni hindi ko namalayan na dumating na siya.

I gaze at her and give her a small and bitter smile as I hold the bottle of wine in front of me. She takes it from my hand and put it on the table in front of her.