The Architecture (Batchelor Series #1)

13

The world outside the car blurred, lights bleeding into one another as Baltazar drove in silence. My eyelids felt heavy, and everything around me buzzed like a low hum. Sobrang lakas ng tama ko. I tried to focus, pero ayun, talo na naman ako ng alak. Good thing, Baltazar was driving. Knowing him, lagi siyang maasahan, kahit pa sa mga ganitong klaseng pagkakalasing.

I let out a half-conscious groan, shifting in my seat. Pikit pa rin ako, but I could feel his eyes on me every now and then. I could almost hear the wheels turning in his head, like he was trying to piece together what happened earlier. Alam ko he was probably confused, and I couldn't blame him.

“Puta,” I muttered under my breath, just low enough for the word to disappear into the engine noise. My head spun as flashes of the night came rushing back. The party. The drinks. Baltazar and that girl, Beatrix, talking at the corner. Laughter. Then—my lips on his.

What the hell did I just do?

I squeezed my eyes shut tighter, willing the memory to fade, but it wouldn’t. Nandiyan lang siya, right in front of me. It wasn’t just the alcohol; it was the jealousy creeping in, nagiging hayop kapag masyado nang matagal mong kinikimkim. I saw Beatrix laughing at his jokes, leaning in a little too close. Alam kong walang mali doon, but something inside me snapped. I kissed him. Just like that.

I felt like an idiot. How could I face him after that?

As if reading my mind, Baltazar let out a small sigh, breaking the silence. I could sense him stealing glances at me, probably wondering what the hell was wrong with me. He didn’t say anything though, just focused on driving, as if that would make everything less awkward.

Sa labas, the streets were almost deserted. It was late, and most of the houses we passed had their lights turned off. Nakakapagtaka na rin, bakit hindi pa ako sinisigawan ni Baltazar after that kiss. He wasn’t the type to let things slide, lalo na kapag ganito ka-grabe. But here he was, driving me home like nothing happened.

When the car finally stopped, I opened my eyes, squinting as I adjusted to the dim streetlights. I wasn’t sure where we were at first until I heard Baltazar’s voice.

"Here na tayo," he said softly, probably checking to see if I was still too wasted to stand. I heard him type something on his phone, probably messaging someone for my address. Tsk. Wala kasi akong sinabi sa kanya kanina, sobrang sabaw ko na.

After a few moments, I heard the familiar sound of a chat notification. Si Edcel yun, for sure, ang tanging savior pag ganitong mga kalokohan.

"Nasa Magsaysay St. pala tayo," Baltazar muttered to himself, then turned off the engine. I felt his hand gently shake my shoulder. "Tara, Manuel. Dito ka na."

My whole body felt heavy as I slowly unbuckled my seatbelt. It took me a second to process that we were outside my house. Our house, more like. Drakon, my older brother, was standing outside, looking half-amused at the sight of me being carried out like a sack of potatoes.

“Manuel, ang kulit mo talaga, diba sabi ko bawal uminom? Pucha, tingnan mo itsura mo ngayon," Drakon said, shaking his head as he walked towards us. He clapped Baltazar on the back. "Ikaw yung Baltazar na sinasabi ni Edcel? Salamat, bro, sa paghatid dito sa lasing kong kapatid.”

I groaned in response, still too out of it to even come up with a comeback. I felt Baltazar and Drakon lift me up, practically dragging me towards the door.

Just as we reached the porch, another familiar voice boomed through the house. “Mama, tingnan mo itong bunso natin! Para na namang kinatay na kambing kapag lasing. Diyos ko, Josephina, ano bang ginawa mo’t pina-alok mo ‘to ng alak?” My Papa voice filled the small hallway as we entered, making me wince.

My Mama just shrugged her face and shoulder. “Malaki na 'yan si Ting-ting.”

Tangina. Busted na naman ako. Pero sige, tulog na lang ako at baka di nila mapansin kung gaano ako nalasing. I half-opened one eye and caught a glimpse of my dad’s face—stern but with a hint of amusement. He was always like that, pretending to be mad pero alam kong natatawa din siya.

“Ikaw na bahala kay Manuel,” Kuya said, leading us to my room. Baltazar nodded, still quiet, like he was in deep thought. I could feel his steady hand holding onto me as we moved down the hallway. Sa totoo lang, I didn’t want him to leave just yet. His presence was oddly comforting, kahit na kanina lang eh halos nagsisipa ako ng inis habang kausap niya si Beatrix.

When we finally reached my room, Baltazar opened the door. Everything inside was the same—my books, my neatly organized desk, the blue walls. If only I wasn’t drunk as hell, maybe I could’ve appreciated it more, but all I could think about was how awkward tomorrow would be.

“Okay lang kayo dito?” Kuya Drakon asked, his voice softening as he looked between Baltazar and me.

“Yeah,” Baltazar replied, setting me down on the bed with a gentleness that surprised me. His hands lingered for a second longer than necessary.

Once Kuya Drakon left, Baltazar stood there for a moment, just staring at me. His eyes, usually full of laughter, were serious this time. "Manuel..." he started, but then he trailed off, like he didn’t know how to finish the sentence.

I blinked up at him, the alcohol making everything feel heavy. I wanted to say something, anything, but all that came out was a slurred, “Sorry, pre.”

He didn’t say anything for a while, just looked at me with this unreadable expression. And then, finally, he spoke. “What’s going on with you, Manuel? Bakit mo ‘ko hinalikan kanina?”

His question hung in the air like thick smoke, and for the first time that night, I felt sober. I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. How do you even explain something like that? Na nagselos ako? Na every time I see him with someone else, it feels like there’s this heavy knot in my chest?

"Di ko alam, pre," I finally muttered, closing my eyes. "Siguro kasi—"

I stopped myself before I could say something I couldn’t take back. The alcohol was loosening my tongue, and if I wasn’t careful, I might say more than I intended. Lalo lang magiging magulo.

Baltazar didn’t push for more. Instead, he just sighed, like he understood more than he was letting on. He sat down beside me, his weight making the bed dip slightly.