Saving Harper

Fiction

My eyes slowly opened, and my head exploded with pain instantaneously. I looked at the photo frame on the bedside table as my eyes adjusted, and I frowned. My high school barkada? It wasn't the one I have on my side table. Shit. I'm still at my parents' house! I can't believe I got drunk at the party last night and hindi ako nakauwi. I groaned.

The throbbing pain in my head increased. Nagulat ako when I felt movement sa kama ko and I quickly turned to the other side. My eyes widened when I found Xavier sleeping beside me.

Napaurong ako pa layo sa gulat. Hindi ko alam kung lasing pa rin ako, but I miscalculated my move. I grabbed on to my comforter even if I know it won't help as I felt myself falling backwards. I landed on my back with a large thud kahit may carpet ako to break my fall.

Buti nalang tulog pa si Xavier at hindi nya yon nakita. I quickly looked at what I was wearing—a large shirt and just my underwear! Puta! Dahan-dahan akong umupo at sumilip kay Xavier. He was still sleeping, pero dahil nahila ko na yung kalahati ng comforter ko, I can now see that he was only wearing his boxer shorts.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

I panicked. Gusto kong magtago pero saan??? I decided to lie down again on my floor and closed my eyes hoping that I was just dreaming.

I tried recalling what happened last night.

After the slow dance with Xavier, we went back sa table namin nila Jem and nag inuman ulit. Then I remembered kuya Terrence suggesting we play a drinking game like how we used to do nung college pa kami. The three bottles of Jack Daniels were quickly diminished then pinalitan na ng Bacardi 151, the bane of my existence pag sa inuman. The last time I drank that, I ended up waking up with a painful bukol on my head na hindi ko maalala saan at paano ko nakuha, and my shoes were found in the driveway. Liv had to recount for me kung anong pinag gagagawa ko at kung paano ako nakauwi.

The last thing I remembered from last night was losing three consecutive times at the drinking game. Then wala na. I couldn't even remember climbing up the stairs of this house, entering my room (much more with Xavier), and even dressing myself. Tangina did he dress me up?!

I can't believe I can't even do a walk of shame right now dahil nandito ako sa bahay namin. More like I wanted to run away just thinking about what else I could have done last night na hindi ko maalala.

I groaned to myself and I covered my face with my hands and rubbed it in frustration. Feeling ko mas lalung sumasakit yung ulo ko ngayon dahil sa sarili ko.

I opened my eyes defeatedly and I found Xavier at the edge kung saan ako unang naka pwesto, nakadapa and nakasilip saakin wearing a cute lopsided smile. "Hi." He greeted me. Hindi ko alam kung may kahihiyan pakong natitira. Why does he look so good kahit bagong gising?

"Hi." I said nervously.

"Bakit ka nandyan?" He asked examining me at buti nalang talaga di nya nakitang nahulog ako. 

"Sleep walking." I answered kahit alam nya na yatang nahulog ako. But he didn't know it was because I was so startled to find him sleeping beside me. He laughed gently and offered his hand to help me up.

I took it and pulled my comforter as I moved back on the bed para di nya makitang naka panty lang ako kahit naman alam na nya yon. Nakakahiya parin.