Words I never Tell

Chapter 32

Candice

I think I've got a lot of drinks already. Sumasakit na yung ulo ko sa ingay na nanggagaling sa naglalakihang sound system. Ang lakas ng music na sinasabayan pa ng lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko.

No, Ice. This isn't really for you. You can tolerate these things but you can't keep up with it.

Yeah, right. Dad is right. I am just the brain. I have nothing special aside from it. I should just remain at the background because that's my perfect spot.

"Candice, Try mo' to. Masarap 'to."

Pinilit kong ngumiti nang may iabot na namang alak sakin yung mga katrabaho ko. They are part of the Research and Development team kung saan ako nilagay ni Ate Grant.

This week, sobrang dami ng na-accomplish namin kaya naman kinantyawan nila ako na manlibre ng drinks. I asked Ate Grant about it, she just told me that I can arrange it on my free time.

"I think I've had enough." Magalang na tanggi ko sa kanila.

Alam ko naman kung kaya ko pa o hindi na. I am not the drinking type  dahil nga mahina yung panglasa ko at nahihirapan ako makatulog ng maayos.

"C'mon, konti pa lang yung nainom mo. Isa pa."

Napatingin ako kay Irish nang tumabi pa talaga siya sakin at ipinipilit na ipainom yung hawak nitong mixed cocktails na nasa tall glass.

"I'm sorry. I am really fu—"

"Just take two or three sips. Masarap 'to. Favorite ko pa naman ito."

I tried not to banter with my usual sarcasm. I really hate sharing straws pa naman. So I really won't.

"I thought you're cool pa naman kagaya ni Miss Grant." Sabi pa nito.

Grant again. Why am I always being compared to my sister? I know that I am not as good as her. Why there are always things that will remind me about it all the time? The thought is already irritating me.

"You just want me to drink that just to be as cool as Ate Grant?" medyo naiinis nang tanong ko pa dito.

"Just take a sip. Masarap nga ito. Para hindi ka naman nandito lang sa gilid. Ang lungkot kaya mag-isa." Sabi pa nito.

Natigilan naman ako doon. Is she alone too? Just like me?

Kinuha ko yung inaabot nitong inumin at saka sinimulang inumin iyon. She's right. The drink is actually good. Masarap nga iyon.

"Masarap di ba?"

I smiled at her. "Yeah, this one is really good."

Nagulat ako nang sumandal sya sa balikat ko. Wait, are we close ba? Friends na ba kami dahil sumama ako sa kanila uminom at dahil magkakatrabaho kami?

I thought friends meant more than that. Yung inaabot ng months or years to get to know each other first. Sabay na lunch breaks and coffees. Yung late night talks. Weekend plans. Kagaya nung kina Ate Grant at sa mga friends nya.

It's so easy to gain friends naman pala.

"Hey, I think we should all go home." Sabi ko pa na medyo nilakasan yung boses ko. "You're drunk na. Tapos everyone's getting too much drink na din. Baka mapasobra na."

"Don't worry, Ice. Weekend naman bukas." Sagot pa ni Irish.

I literally froze on my seat nang maramdaman na sobrang lapit ng bibig nya sa tenga ko.

I don't like this kind of feeling. I am being repulsive again.

"Want to hang out after this? Coffee at my unit?" Dagdag pa nito.