Lumilindol.
That was the only reason that Thea could think of why all of the things that surrounded her were moving and spinning.
She asked for water to wash the bittersweet taste in her mouth as well as get rid of the weird feeling on her gums and inner cheeks. Pakiramdam niya kasi ay parang puno ng bulak ang bibig niya.
“How many of these have I had?!” pasigaw na tanong niya sa bartender matapos siyang abutan nito ng bottled water. She pointed at the emptied glass in front of her.
Sumenyas ang bartender gamit ang kamay pero sa kahit anong gawin niya ay hindi niya mabilang kung ilang daliri ang itinaas nito.
“I think you’re showing me… two, three fingers but I’m not sure.” She narrowed her eyes just to count. “Is it four or… or… how many please?”
“Five, miss,” imporma nito. Napahalakhak siya at nahampas ang bar countertop na siyang ikinakunot naman ng noo ng bartender. “Okay lang po kayo?”
“I’m… fine. Perfect,” natatawa pa ring sagot niya. She was so utterly amused kahit wala namang obvious na nakakatawa sa sinabi nito.
“Okay lang po ba talaga kayo?” the guy asked with voice laced with worry..
“Yeah… Don’t worry too much. It’s just that…” Napahalakhak ulit siya. “I’m a teacher… and I can’t count!”
“Nasaan na po 'yung mga kasama niyo, ma’am? Hanapin na natin para masamahan na kayong umuwi. Lasing na kayo.”
“I really have no idea where they are. I thought they were there, somewhere there,” aniya na nagtututuro kung saan-saan. “And then they’re… gone. Kaput!” She continued on laughing and laughing when a warm hand touched her shoulder at iniikot siya patagilid ng bar countertop.
“I think you have had enough for the night, angel” said a baritone that was so familiar and so beautiful on her ears.
“Hey…” she breathed dreamily. She looked up to the tall, imposing, familiar presence. “You’re the silhouette knight. My silhouette knight.” She tried giving him her best smile as she looked up at him, squinting, trying to get a better look. “Thank you very much sa tulong kanina… what’s your name?”
“I’ll take it from here, Dennis,” kausap nito sa bartender. “I think the lady has had enough for the night.”
Sumaludo ang tinawag nitong… She giggled. She forgot the name of the guy!
“What a mess,” she muttered to herself. She giggled some more. Masaya ang feeling niya and she could not understand why.
“Come on, angel, stand up. Let’s get you out of here.”
The silhouette knight assisted her up but it just made everything worse. Hindi lang umiikot at gumagalaw ang mga bagay sa paligid niya, mukhang na-displace pa ang mga ito sa mga kinalalagyan. Her knees suddenly softened and turned into a mushy cup of Jelly Ace kaya nang itinayo siya ng lalaki ay tumiklop ang mga iyon at napasalampak siya sa sahig. Lalo pa siyang napahagalpak ng tawa sa naging posisyon niya.
“Lampa pala ako… ngayon ko lang nalaman,” kausap niya sa sarili. She was giggling some more. “I think I’m as crazy as… crazy as… crazy!”
Narinig niyang napamura ang lalaki sabay tanong kung okay lang ba siya.
“No, I’m not…” Patuloy lang din siyang tumatawa. “Am I drunk? I think I’m drunk. Am I?”
“Yes you are, angel,” he said as he scooped her up from the floor, like scooping a wounded kid or a crazy drunk that she was, and walked towards God knows where. “And I think you need to go home now.”
