Free Falls and Second Chances

Chapter 1: Drake and I

Author's note: This story contains a lot of mature language and scenes that may not be suitable for young readers.

May parts na more on reminiscence, so you have to read it in order para di kayo malito sa storyline. HEHEHE

Updates may also be inconsistent cuz I'm busy most of the time. Chour.

I hope you'd like it tho. Enjoy! Wuvyuuu!

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"Shit naman, Drake. I asked for two more days, diba?-- Dalawang araw lang kasi, napag-usapan naman na natin to eh! Lilipat din ako, nakaimpake na nga yung mga gamit ko dyan, diba?--"

Atat na atat, amputa.

I raked my hands upon my hair in frustration. Pigil na pigil yung boses ko pero sa totoo lang, gusto ko na talagang suntukin yung pader sa sobrang inis na nararamdaman ko ngayong araw na 'to. Na-late na nga ako kaninang umaga dahil sa tyempong kinailangang magpagasolina ng sinasakyan kong jeep kung kelan gahol na ako sa oras, pinasukan pa ako ng supcall kung kelan patapos na yung shift ko. Ngayon naman, kung kailan akala ko makakauwi na ako para makapagpahinga, tumawag si Drake, yung former live-in partner ko para ipaalam na ngayong araw na lilipat sa apartment yung bagong girlfriend niya. Talk about a day that's shitty as fck.

Drake and I met at a friend's gig at Tomas Morato last year. We had a few drinks, talked a little bit, found out that we were both working in the BPO industry, had the same taste in music and frustration in arts, and we hit it off just like that. We started texting, hung out for coffee or beer whenever we had spare time, and before we knew it, kami na. Walang official na ligawan. All we had was a sudden mutual decision popping out of our heads at a random time to make it official, whatever was betweeen us. I don't really think we had real feelings for each other though. What we had was more like a necessity to have someone we could call our own, someone to fulfill our needs.

Nag-decide kami na magsama sa isang bahay para makatipid sa bills at dahil nga hindi naman talaga namin mahal ang isa't-isa, mabilis din kaming nagkasawaan. After five months, it just felt like I was living with a stranger. Paminsan na lang kami nagkikita sa bahay, sa kadahilanang magkaiba kami ng shifts. It's either that or we just preferred to hang out with our own separate circle of friends during our spare times.

The other week before, Drake and I finally sat down and talked about us. Nagtapat sya na may iba na syang mahal, that he cheated habang kami pa. Di na ako nagtaka. Matagal ko na din namang ini-expect yun. It was just like pareho lang kaming nag-aabang ng tamang tyempo para tapusin na ang lahat ng kalabuang meron sa amin. Kalmado akong nakipaghiwalay sa kanya, pero humingi ako ng isang linggong palugit para makahanap ng bagong apartment na lilipatan.

Di naman ako nahirapang maghanap ng bagong titirhan, thanks to a friend who recommended me a decent and budget-friendly one-bedroom flat somewhere in Tandang Sora in QC. Pinlano kong lumipat sa day-off ko at napagkasunduan na naming bibigyan nya ako until Saturday pero masyado yatang atat ang bago nyang jowa ngayo't di man lang makapaghintay na makalayas ako. As if naman gugustuhin ko pang makipag- "one for the road" farewell sex dyan sa damuhong yan.

"Nari..." Rinig ko ang pagbuntung-hininga ni Drake sa linya na para bang nahihirapan. "I'm sorry, I..."

I took a deep breath, counted up to ten, at nang pakiramdam ko ay kalmado na ulit ako, saka pa lang ako muling nagsalita.

"It's okay. Uh, what time is she coming ba? Kakatapos lang ng shift ko, napa-overtime lang ng konti."

Drake heaved a sigh of relief.

"Mamayang gabi pa naman sya darating."

A text message notif popped up on my phone's screen. It was the Grab driver. Nasa labas na daw sya ng building. Agad akong tumayo sa kinauupuan ko sa may lobby at nagsimula nang maglakad palabas.

"Okay, I'll be there in 20 minutes. Bye."

Binaba ko na ang tawag at agad na sumakay sa puting Toyota Vios na nakaparada sa parking space ng Vortex Heights.

"Nari Cortez, Ma'am?" Pag-confirm ng driver.

Tumango lamang ako at tipid na ngumiti. Tinext ko agad yung kaibigan kong si Kyla. Siya yung nag-suggest ng apartment sa akin.

"Sudden change of plans. Need to move in to new apartment before evening. Can you fetch me at Drake's? Need a hand with my stuff."

"Ayt. See you there. Where you at?" Napangiti ako. Maaasahan talaga tong babaeng to kahit kelan.

"I'll be there in 20. Ingat."

With that, I plugged my earphones in and let myself drift into the music as I leaned into the window, absent-mindedly looking out into the traffic outside.