It Was Always You (The Navalta Series # 1)

Chapter 13

Iginiya ako ni Eli sa likuran kung saan nakalagay ang mga inumin. May mga bartenders doon at nagsisigawa at nagmimix ng mga inumin. There are too many kinds of alcoholic drinks and I am not one to drink too much and to party this hard. But I have decided to enjoy, so, I will drink and have fun tonight.

May ibang tao rin na nandoon, umiinom at nagswi-swimming pa ang iba. Heck,may naghahalikan pa sa gilid ng pool.

“What do you want to drink? We have lots of them.” Eli asked while smiling. “Anything would do. I want to get drunk tonight.” Excited kong sagot sa kanya.
“That’s the spirit!” sabi ni Eli at kinausap ang bartender para magbigay ng drinks sa akin. He gave me a glass of blue drink with lemon on it.

“Try this one, you’ll like it.” Si Eli nang inabot niya sa akin ang drinks. Tinanggap ko iyon at walang pag-alinlangang ininom. It sent shivers down my body to my stomach but the taste of thed drink is satisfying and sweet. Hindi siya ganoon kapait tulad ng inaasahan ko.

Eli cheered me when I drank it at uminom din siya ng shot na binigay sa kanya. I bet that was a hard drink. He asked another one for me and placed it on the countertop table between us and we talked. We talked and drank.

We ate some food na nakaserve doon. They had Mexican food, Spanish, and Middle Eastern dishes. I ate all the Middle Eastern food that was served in front of us while drinking while nodding my head and rocking my body along with the music.

“That guy from awhile ago, Ryu, right? Is he your boyfriend or something.” Kuryusong niyang tanong. His hands are now on my waist, rocking our bodies together as the music kept playing.

“Oh my God, no. He’s just a family friend.” Malakas na depensa ko sabay iling kahit na nakakadama na ng hilo dahil sa mga nainom. I put my hands on his shoulders to dance along with him.

He smiled and pulled me closer. My body surrendered and I am really drunk. I just smiled back at him.

I saw Eli’s face light up at hinarap niya ako. “Good.” he put his hands on my chin, iniangat at aking mukha at nilapit ang mukha niya sa akin at nagbabantang halikan ako
when I realized what he is about to do and pulled away and asked him if he wants to swim.

Napailing si Eli, grinning and a little annoyed but he nodded and he took his shirt and pants off at inilagay sa bakanteng sun lounger sa gilid ng pool before he faced me again. Tanging boxer shorts niya na lang ang tanging suot niya.

I smiled at him and removed my top and bottom, leaving me with my bikini. Eli moved his hands to my waist para bumaba na ng swimming pool when I felt someone covered my body with a coat only to find out it was Ryu nang lumingon ako.

He pushed Eli away from him at magkasalubong ang kanyang mga kilay. Hindi ko pa siya nakitaan ng ganitong klasing galit sa mga mata niya. “Back off, man!” si Ryu iyon.
I heard Eli laughed, feeling insulted, “What the fuck is your problem, man? We were just having fun. Oh, come on, leave her alone. She is not even your girlfriend.”

Lumapit si Eli at hinuli ang kamay ko when Ryu strongly pulled me away from Eli. “I said, back off!” si Ryu. Di na nanlaban si Eli at initaas niya ang kanyang kamay, senyales ng pasuko, “Whatever, dude.” Then he jumped off the pool.

Nagulat ako sa pangyayari and Ryu picked up my clothes while he wrapped me in his arms at iginiya papasok sa bahay. Jigs and Rav saw us and hurriedly ran to us. “Let’s go home.” Baritonong pagsabi ni Ryu sa dalawa. Nakita ko na tumango ang dalawa at sumunod sa amin ni Ryu na ngayon ay papalabas na ng villa.

I was about to protest but I am too drunk and all I did was lean on Ryu. Sobrang nahihilo na ako at gusto ko na lang mahiga.
“Oh my God, is she okay?” narinig kong tanong ni Clara kay Ryu when she saw us. “She’s drunk, I need to take her home. Thanks for having us.” At umalis na kami palabas ng villa. I felt my body getting heavier na parang di ko na kayang maglakad when I felt na binuhat na ako ni Ryu.

Nakatulog ako habang kinakarga ako ni Ryu pauwi. Nagising ako at napagtanto nasa kwarto ko na ako. I am already in my sleeping clothes. My head is still spinning at sinubukang tumayo when I saw a human figure beside my bed.

Sitting at the chair beside my bed was Ryu. His face full of seriousness.  I was about to ask him what happened when I felt something sa lalamunan ko. I think I’m going to throw up.

Agad na tumayo si Ryu and he hurriedly assisted me so we can go to the bathroom. Saktong nasa banyo ay sumuka nga ako. Hawak ni Ryu and buhok ko para hindi humarang iyon habang sumusuka ako.

Maya maya ay nakadama ulit ako ng discomfort, and there, I vomitted again and again hanggang sa wala na akon maisuka. I tried to sit up straight as I angrily said to myself. “I will never get drunk while eating Middle Eastern dishes again. Shit! I feel awful.” I heard Ryu let out a soft chuckle. Oh great, of all people, si Ryu pa ang nandito at nakawitness ng pagkalasing at pagsuka ko. Now, my life is complete.

Itinayo ako ni Ryu galing sa pagsusuka and wiped my lips with the tissue. Inilalayan niya ako pabalik sa kama at pinahiga ulit.

Nahihilo pa rin ako hanggang ngayon. Kahit gusto kong magising at hindi makabalik sa pagtulog ay trinaydor ako ng aking mga mata. Bumagsak ang katawan ko sa aking kama at nakadama nang sobrang antok.

My body felt heavy that even when I want eyes to stay open, masyadong mabigat ang nararamdaman kong antok. Siguro ay dahil sa kalasingan ko.

I felt na umuga ang kama ko sa gilid ko at naaninag kong nakaupo si Ryu doon at inayos ako sa pagkakahiga.

I reached out to him and held onto his hand, “Please stay here with me, tonight.”

He held my hand and caressed it. “I’m not going anywhere, baby. Sleep now.” He said in a sleepy voice. Those were the last words I heard before I drifted to sleep.

“Let’s just say, I don’t like Middle Eastern dishes.” I said to Calvin and we continued eating. When we finished lunch, Calvin paid for the food and we went back the office.

Dumating ang alas sais ng hapon at nagdesisyon na akong umuwi. I arranged my things and turned off my laptop and went out of my office. “Bye, Nisha. See you tomorrow.”
Paalam ko kay Nisha at nagtungo na tuluyan palabas.

I was walking with my head down dala sigurong pagod when I realized, I have no car today. Ryu picked me up. Crap, ang hirap pa naman mag-abang ng taxi ng ganitong oras.

I checked my watch at binunot ang cellphone. Siguro magtry na lang akong magbook ng Uber. I opened the app nang may bumunot ng phone ko. It was Ryu.

Tumawa siya nang makitang sumimangot ang mukha ko nang hinarap siya. He checked the screen on my phone and he probably saw I opened Uber when he said, “Let’s go, I’ll drop you off your place.” At binalik niya na ang phone ko.

“That’s alright, I’ll take the uber.” Nakita ko ang pagngiti niya bago ako sinagot, “Ky, you know you can’t book an uber or a taxi at this hour.”

Nanahimik ako dahil alam kong tama siya. Binaba ko ang aking kamay na hawak hawak ang cellphone, when I felt his hand on mine at hinila patungong elevator. He pressed the down button at nang tumunog ay pumasok na kami sa loob.