Status: in-progress.
LOVE-NAT, isang makulit na lovestory!
Chapter 45-1. Tequila Baby.
10:55 PM
Sanchez Residence
Eleonor Malicsi Dimaculangan
I was in an inverted sitting position on the sofa, sa salas nila Max. Imbes na nasa lapag yung paa ko, siya itong nakadantay sa sandalan. Para kong binitin ng naka patiwari, my head was hanging on the edge, habang baliktad akong nanunuod ng TV.
Tahimik ang buong bahay, si Max nasa kwarto na niya, yung bagong maid, mukang nagpapahinga na din. Ako na lang ata ang bukod tanging gising. I flipped the channel and smiled in amusement ng gumana yung remote kahit pinindot ko ito ng nakabaliktad.
Sa totoo lang, I was tempted to go home. Ayoko na sanang mag-stay pa dito kila Max ng dalawa pang gabi... di naman siguro ako papagalitan ni Tita, syempre, anak nga niya itong nangaaway sakin ee. Hmp.
But who am I kidding? Si Max yan! Si Max...
And it was back again, that aching feeling in my chest. It was horribly painful. Sa totoo lang, I don’t feel any hatred or anger towards Max neither for Sef. For truth be told, SA SARILI KO ako naiinis, nagagalit. Wala naman akong ibang dapat sisihin hindi ba? Kung hindi ang sarili ko?
Grabe Ellie, sobrang EPIC FAIL ka!! Parang sa lahat na lang ng bagay, lahat na lang, failed ka!!
Whenever I think about Max... iniisip ko kung ano yung gusto niyang sabihin na hindi niya masabi-sabi, na kailangan pa niyang lumayo sakin? Na kailangan pang maging ganito? Pano kung habang-buhay na kaming hindi magkikibuan? Forever na niya kong hindi kakausapin? Bumigat lalo ang dibdib ko... Max is my older brother, my best friend. Kaya importante siya sakin. Halos buong buhay ko, sinanay ako ni Max na andiyan lang niya sa tabi ko... tapos ngayon? Pag-lumingon ako, wala na siya...
... Siguro yung hindi niya masabi sakin, yun yung SAMA NA LOOB NIYA na naipon all these years. Siguro nga, I must have taken him for granted. Lagi ako nagpapalibre sakanya, lagi ko siyang inuutusan, lagi ko siyang inaaway... parang lahat ng masasamang ginawa ko ke Max ee pumasok sa isip ko.
And Sef? Well, Sef would be another thing. Haaaiiii...
I’ve known that it would come into this... that he would reject me... alam ko na yun, alam nating lahat yun. But what I wasn’t expecting ee, na sa ganitong paraan ni Sef gagawin... making it more painful, more unbearable. Alam niyo ba yung feeling na, pinresent mo na sakanya yung best painting ng sarili mo pero... wala, rejected ka pa din? Oh well, hindi din naman ako umasa na irereciprocate ni Sef yung nararamdaman ko, I know that was impossible... ang akin lang... sana... hinayaan na lang niya kong ma-in love sakanya, hayaan lang niya ko na maramdaman ko toh even for a little more while... hanggang sa ako na lang mismo yung titigil... hanggang sa ako na lang yung mapapagod tas, aayaw na lang ako. Hindi yung ganitong... pinagtutulakan niya ko mismo papalayo!!
I closed my eyes so darn tight and let out one deep breathe. I tried to convince myself na lilipas din toh Ellie... lilipas din ang lahat ng ito...
Suddenly, I could hear footsteps coming down the stairs. Si Max. He appeared from behind the couch that he was looking down on me as I was looking up at him. Halos matagal din kaming nagtinginan, pero wala samin ang kumikibo. Until, Max’s lips slightly parted as though he was about to speak ng biglang may nag-doorbell.
DIIIIIIING ~ DONG!!
“I’ll get it.” He muttered in a deep voice at madali siyang lumabas ng pintuan.
Bumangon na ko sa pagkakahiga-slash-upo ko sa sofa, sino naman kaya ang darating ng ganitong oras? I instinctively turned off the television. Sa totoo lang, for some unexplainable reason, I was feeling quite relieved na may bisitang dumating. Para bang kailangan ko ng kahit na ano, kahit na sino na makakapag-layo sakin mula sa lahat ng mga iniisip kong to.
“Hay naku!” Isang napaka landing boses ang narinig kong papasok sa pintuan. I knew that voice. Sino pa nga ba? Edi ang pinsan kong si AJ!!“Anong petsa na Ellie?” He was already standing in front of me, may dala-dalang malaking paper-bag mula sa Penshoppe. Actually, bihis na bihis si AJ at umaalingasaw ang kanyang perfume. He was wearing his black tight pants, paired with a Converse, at super mega fit na purple polo-shirt yung tipong gusto ko na siyang pahiramin ng bra dahil dun sa dalawang DOTS na bakat na bakat sa dibdib niya.
Napanganga lang ako kay AJ. I was staring at him, not a d**n clue kung anong pakay niya. At teka, was he wearing make-up? Parang may glitter-glitter yung mukha niya?
“Hi Ellie.” Napalingon ako dun sa isa pang boses. Standing by the door before Max was Brad. Isa pa toh, bihis na bihis din siya. Infairness naman kay Brad, he looked charming especially with his gray vest at yung stylish niyang hat.
Napansin kong nakakunot ang noo ni Max and he was glaring suspiciously at Brad. “A-anong meron?”
“Ellie, hello? Remember? Sabi mo you’re going with us sa block party namin?”
Weh? Totoo? May ganun? Actually, di ko na kelangan sabihin out loud ee, kasi sure ako obvious na sa facial expression ko yung gulat sa muka ko.
I threw a look at Brad, who simply nodded with a smile thus confirming what AJ had said.
“Saan?”
“Basta, ba-bar tayo!! Wag ka ng tanong ng tanong! Les’ Party!!” Excited na sinabi ni AJ, pulling me up the sofa. “Dumating kahapon yung mga damit na ibebenta ng Mama mo. Dun na kita kinuha ng damit. Oh diba? Dalian mo na!!”
“Huh?”
Parang obvious din na wala ako sa sarili ko. Normally, I would have protested or make an argument na tinatamad ako, na hindi ko trip ang pumarty. Pero ngayon, parang, part of me really wanted to go... basta kahit saan. Kahit nga yayain nila ko mag-Boracay ngayon sasama ko ee. Basta, kahit saan na malilimutan ko tong mga prublema ko!! Yung walang Max at lalo ng walang Sef!!
“Sandali lang,” Max’s voice was domineering as he pulled AJ by the shoulder, hence stopping me as well. His face was ten times serious and his eyes were burning with disapproval. AJ slightly whimpered in fright, lalo pa’t sakanya lang nakatitig si Max. “Disoras na ng gabi, hindi na sasama si Ellie.” It was a declaration, a statement na parang wala akong choice kung hindi gawin yung sinabi niya.
In normal circumstances, I would have thanked Max for saying something like that. Pero hello? Wala siyang karapatan na mag-acting na Kuya ko ngayon!! Especially when he’s the one who started this stupid fight!!
Hindi makasagot si AJ, alam niyang seryoso si Max, so I was the one who made the move. Hinatak ko talaga si AJ sa braso and continued ascending up the stairs. “Ah basta, sasama ko!” I hissed louder, more foreceful, parang bata na pinilit yung gusto niya. I glared at Max, daring him, challenging him to argue with me, willing him to talk...kung ayaw niya ko umalis sabihin niya sakin. Oo, sakin mismo at hindi kay AJ, hindi kay Brad at hindi yung para kong hangin na hindi niya nakikita.
But Max only looked away, his eyes casted downwards... and he didn’t say another word.
Ascend
High Street Fort Bonifacio, Global City
01:15 AM ng madaling araw
Eleonor Malicsi Dimaculangan
First time ko dito sa Ascend and I have to say, maganda yung lugar filled with the prettiest people in town. Syempre andito na ko ee. Haha. Joke! Animales, nakaka ilang shot ka na ba ng Baileys at mukang may tama ka na Ellie? Sabihin pa ng mga tao, tanggera ka!! Haha.
But kidding aside, mas okay dito kesa nun sa The Manor. Mas high-end, mas ok yung place, yung venue. This time, nakinig na ko when AJ forced me to wear a 3-inches heels na hindi ko alam kung san niya napulot, at maong pants, paired with white blouse atchaka jacket with red linings. (PICTURE) Nung una akala ko sobra naman akong overdressed, baka pagtawanan naman ako... but I stand corrected, Dios mio... parang pantulog lang pala itong suot ko kumpara sa ibang girls na andito. Haha. But to hell with them, kahit nga ata naka-pajama ako I wouldn’t care less dahil INUMIN lang naman ang ipinunta ko dito!! (Uh, note pala sa mga minors, wag akong tutularan! Haha.)
We’ve been partying for an hour already at parang pakiramdam ko sobrang bilis ng takbo ng oras. As much as I hated to admit it, mukang nag-eenjoy ako! Ganito nga siguro pag maraming iniisip, naeenjoy sa pag-inom at pag-party. Hindi ko rin alam kung gano na kadami tong naiinom ko, basta ayokong may laman yung maliit na basong nasa harap ko. Hindi ko rin alam kung anu-ano tawag sa mga inuming ito, basta Baileys lang yung alam ko kasi yun yung pinaka masarap na natikman ko ngayong gabi.
Mababait naman mga ka-block nila AJ at Brad, very welcoming naman sila. At sobrang lakas din nilang mang-asar... wala silang tigil sa pang-iissue samin ni Brad. At ito pa, Brandon pala ang totoong pangalan niya kaya pinalayaw sakanya ee Brad. Non-stop ang tawanan sa table namin, at kahit naka-upo lang kami panay ang sayawan at pag-groove sa music. Party kung party!! WOOOOHOOO!!
Si AJ naman, na siyang naka-upo sa tabi ko ee parang trumpilyong umiikot ang mata sa paghanap ng mga BOYLETS niya.“Cuz, ang gwapo nun.”He whispered to me, eyeing the white, chinito guy by the dance floor.“Malalaglag ata panty ko!”
I laughed so hard. Si Brad naman na naka-upo sa other side ko leaned down my ear, kasi mahirap magkarinigan sa lakas ng music, “You sure you don’t want to order anything else?”
I smiled at him.“Nah, I’m ok. Busog pa ko.”
Suddenly, AJ tightly gripped me by my arm, halos mawalan na ko ng dugo sa higpit, yung ulo niya nakalingon sa may entrance door. “OMG, Cuz!” He said, “Ito talaga, pati bra ko mawawalan ng silbi...”
I frowned at AJ.“Masaki-” I was just about to tell my cousin na masakit na yung braso ko, but I froze and felt my heart stop sa sumunod na sinabi ni AJ, “Animales, si SEF?!” Napatingin sakin si AJ, his eyes widening in surprise. Bumilis tibok ng puso ko, yung tipong kala mo kape tong kanina ko pa iniinom, para kong aatakihin sa nerbyos ee. I felt my hands turn cold. Dios ko, bakit ganito? Pangalan pa lang yan aa... ganito na epekto sakin... I stared hard on the table, unable to move.
“SEF!” AJ shouted and my heart sank, parang gusto kong magtago at higit sa lahat gusto kong batukan si AJ. Kung joke man toh, sisipain ko talaga palabas dito ang pinsan ko. Yung ibang ka-blockmates ni AJ ee lumingon na din, masyado naman kasing obvious tong si AJ ee. Kung maka tawag WAGAS!! By the way the girls reacted, I knew... AJ wasn’t joking.
“Ahy, kilala mo AJ?” sabi nung isa nilang classmate na babae. “Ang gwapo!! Model ba yan?”
“Pakilala mo naman kami!” Dagdag naman nung isa at hanggang sa halos lahat ng babae na kaklase nila ee nakatingin na kay Sef.
“Ellie,” AJ nudged me hard. “Si Sef oh!” He repeated. I wanted to scream at him at sabihing, SO ANONG GUSTO MONG GAWIN KO??? TUMAMBLING?! But I decided not to make a big fuss over it.
Easy lang Ellie. Easy lang. Act cool. “Asan?” I asked trying to sound calm as possible, pero hindi ako makalingon. I reached for another glass of Baileys. Parang gusto kong mag-dive ngayon sa pool na alcohol ang tubig at una kong ilulublob si AJ!!
“Duh, pano mo makikita kung ayaw mong tignan?”
This time, dahan-dahan akong lumingon at ayun nga, there, amidst the crowd stood Miguel Josef Uy Monteverde... and something very painful pierced right through my chest just by looking at him.
Lord naman, alam kong masamang uminom pero... wag naman po Kayo magbiro ng ganito...
“Uh,” Buti na lang parang napansin ni Brad yung biglang pag-iba ng mood ko. “You want to go over there?” Tinuro niya yung bar na nasa may far corner. “Let’s go get some more drinks.”
Mabuti pa nga. “Sige.” I nodded. Yun lang ang kailangan ko, maraming-maraming ALCOHOL!!
Sabi nga nila, the very first step of flirting is through the eyes – at doon magaling ang isang Enzo Ruiz Monteverde. He was giving the look to the long-haired morena girl across the bar while drinking his cocktail. Actually, kakagaling lang niya dito sa Ascend kagabi. If there’s a career in partying, siguro si Enzo na ang tatanghaling Pangulo ng company na yun at ang pinsan naman niya ang Vice-President.
Suddenly, something caught Enzo’s attention. “What’s up with you & Sef?” Naputol agad ang malagkit na tingin ni Enzo sa babae, and his eyes soon landed on a pair standing beside him. Isang matangkad na lalaki, mga six-foot ang tangkad and a cute short-haired girl. Enzo’s eyes lingered a little longer on the girl, not really his type, meron namang figure ang dalaga but she doesn’t have enough front nor back na papasa sa taste niya, tapos boyish look pa. But still, he was curious... especially when he heard his cousin’s name being mentioned.
Interesting... Enzo thought sheepishly at the back of his mind as he continued to eavesdrop.
“Huh?” Sagot ng dalaga. “Ano naman meron samin?” Enzo, being an expert in dating women, knew that kind of evasive answer. Yung tipong may something, dine-deny lang.
The 6-footer guy leaned on the bar as he looked intently at the girl. Enzo smirked, he could read the guy’s eyes. Interesado ito sa babae, hindi lang alam kung papano poporma. “Sa totoo lang,” the guy said. “I heard what Sef said back in MUP. Yung araw na pinuntahan kita to ask you out on a date?”
The girl looked up at him. Her face quite unreadable.
“I think Sef’s an @ss.” Nasabi ni Brad and Enzo, for a minute, could have laughed so loud. Man, this guy is awesome!! Enzo thought, grinning widely in amusement. He was in fact tempted na saluduhan si Brad.
“Sana hindi ka nakinig sakanya.” Brad continued. “I mean, I know someone who’d do anything to go out with you. Kaso lang simula pa lang, tinurn down mo na siya agad ee. Haha. Nawalan na tuloy na lakas ng loob.”
Ellie playfully slapped him by the arm and gave a smile, at napatingin lalo ng matagal si Enzo sakanya. He likes her smile.
Suddenly, in an act of complete randomness, Enzo raised his drink and shouted. “ANYONE WANTS TO CHALLENGE ME? RACE TO 30 SHOTS! LOSER, PAYS!!” Nag-hiyawan mga tao ng WOOOHOOO and started gathering around the bar. Natigil tuloy bigla ang usapan nila Brad at Ellie.
“Whoa, anong nangyayari?” Ellie asked, looking curiously around.
“It’s a game. Unahang maka-inom ng 30 shots. Pag-tumumba ka, or nag-suka ka, you lose.”
“Talaga?” Ellie gave a childish grin and Brad doesn’t like the look of it.
Tonight, Ellie wanted nothing but to drink. It was probably her desire for alcohol, or her want to forget her problems that made her shot her hand up in the air and shouted for everyone to hear. “AKO!! AKO!! I’LL TAKE THE CHALLENGE!!”
Brad’s eyes widened in horror while Enzo gave an evil smile. “And, there’s my challenger!!” He pointed at Ellie, despite the fact na marami ng iba pang nagvovolunteer. Another cheer from the growing crowd.
“Sandali lang Ellie.” Brad has to shout dahil sobrang ingay na ng paligid nila, he even attempted stopping Ellie by the arm. “Are you sure? Sabi ni AJ you hardly drink. Hindi mo kaka--”
Ellie laughed at him. “Sus. Kaya ko yan!! Wala kang tiwala sakin! Wag kang magalala, kung matalo man, si AJ pagbabayarin natin! HAHAHA.” With that, Ellie made her way towards the bar, where Enzo and her 30 shots of Tequila awaits.
To be continued.
Sanchez Residence
Eleonor Malicsi Dimaculangan
I was in an inverted sitting position on the sofa, sa salas nila Max. Imbes na nasa lapag yung paa ko, siya itong nakadantay sa sandalan. Para kong binitin ng naka patiwari, my head was hanging on the edge, habang baliktad akong nanunuod ng TV.
Tahimik ang buong bahay, si Max nasa kwarto na niya, yung bagong maid, mukang nagpapahinga na din. Ako na lang ata ang bukod tanging gising. I flipped the channel and smiled in amusement ng gumana yung remote kahit pinindot ko ito ng nakabaliktad.
Sa totoo lang, I was tempted to go home. Ayoko na sanang mag-stay pa dito kila Max ng dalawa pang gabi... di naman siguro ako papagalitan ni Tita, syempre, anak nga niya itong nangaaway sakin ee. Hmp.
But who am I kidding? Si Max yan! Si Max...
And it was back again, that aching feeling in my chest. It was horribly painful. Sa totoo lang, I don’t feel any hatred or anger towards Max neither for Sef. For truth be told, SA SARILI KO ako naiinis, nagagalit. Wala naman akong ibang dapat sisihin hindi ba? Kung hindi ang sarili ko?
Grabe Ellie, sobrang EPIC FAIL ka!! Parang sa lahat na lang ng bagay, lahat na lang, failed ka!!
Whenever I think about Max... iniisip ko kung ano yung gusto niyang sabihin na hindi niya masabi-sabi, na kailangan pa niyang lumayo sakin? Na kailangan pang maging ganito? Pano kung habang-buhay na kaming hindi magkikibuan? Forever na niya kong hindi kakausapin? Bumigat lalo ang dibdib ko... Max is my older brother, my best friend. Kaya importante siya sakin. Halos buong buhay ko, sinanay ako ni Max na andiyan lang niya sa tabi ko... tapos ngayon? Pag-lumingon ako, wala na siya...
... Siguro yung hindi niya masabi sakin, yun yung SAMA NA LOOB NIYA na naipon all these years. Siguro nga, I must have taken him for granted. Lagi ako nagpapalibre sakanya, lagi ko siyang inuutusan, lagi ko siyang inaaway... parang lahat ng masasamang ginawa ko ke Max ee pumasok sa isip ko.
And Sef? Well, Sef would be another thing. Haaaiiii...
I’ve known that it would come into this... that he would reject me... alam ko na yun, alam nating lahat yun. But what I wasn’t expecting ee, na sa ganitong paraan ni Sef gagawin... making it more painful, more unbearable. Alam niyo ba yung feeling na, pinresent mo na sakanya yung best painting ng sarili mo pero... wala, rejected ka pa din? Oh well, hindi din naman ako umasa na irereciprocate ni Sef yung nararamdaman ko, I know that was impossible... ang akin lang... sana... hinayaan na lang niya kong ma-in love sakanya, hayaan lang niya ko na maramdaman ko toh even for a little more while... hanggang sa ako na lang mismo yung titigil... hanggang sa ako na lang yung mapapagod tas, aayaw na lang ako. Hindi yung ganitong... pinagtutulakan niya ko mismo papalayo!!
I closed my eyes so darn tight and let out one deep breathe. I tried to convince myself na lilipas din toh Ellie... lilipas din ang lahat ng ito...
Suddenly, I could hear footsteps coming down the stairs. Si Max. He appeared from behind the couch that he was looking down on me as I was looking up at him. Halos matagal din kaming nagtinginan, pero wala samin ang kumikibo. Until, Max’s lips slightly parted as though he was about to speak ng biglang may nag-doorbell.
DIIIIIIING ~ DONG!!
“I’ll get it.” He muttered in a deep voice at madali siyang lumabas ng pintuan.
Bumangon na ko sa pagkakahiga-slash-upo ko sa sofa, sino naman kaya ang darating ng ganitong oras? I instinctively turned off the television. Sa totoo lang, for some unexplainable reason, I was feeling quite relieved na may bisitang dumating. Para bang kailangan ko ng kahit na ano, kahit na sino na makakapag-layo sakin mula sa lahat ng mga iniisip kong to.
“Hay naku!” Isang napaka landing boses ang narinig kong papasok sa pintuan. I knew that voice. Sino pa nga ba? Edi ang pinsan kong si AJ!!“Anong petsa na Ellie?” He was already standing in front of me, may dala-dalang malaking paper-bag mula sa Penshoppe. Actually, bihis na bihis si AJ at umaalingasaw ang kanyang perfume. He was wearing his black tight pants, paired with a Converse, at super mega fit na purple polo-shirt yung tipong gusto ko na siyang pahiramin ng bra dahil dun sa dalawang DOTS na bakat na bakat sa dibdib niya.
Napanganga lang ako kay AJ. I was staring at him, not a d**n clue kung anong pakay niya. At teka, was he wearing make-up? Parang may glitter-glitter yung mukha niya?
“Hi Ellie.” Napalingon ako dun sa isa pang boses. Standing by the door before Max was Brad. Isa pa toh, bihis na bihis din siya. Infairness naman kay Brad, he looked charming especially with his gray vest at yung stylish niyang hat.
Napansin kong nakakunot ang noo ni Max and he was glaring suspiciously at Brad. “A-anong meron?”
“Ellie, hello? Remember? Sabi mo you’re going with us sa block party namin?”
Weh? Totoo? May ganun? Actually, di ko na kelangan sabihin out loud ee, kasi sure ako obvious na sa facial expression ko yung gulat sa muka ko.
I threw a look at Brad, who simply nodded with a smile thus confirming what AJ had said.
“Saan?”
“Basta, ba-bar tayo!! Wag ka ng tanong ng tanong! Les’ Party!!” Excited na sinabi ni AJ, pulling me up the sofa. “Dumating kahapon yung mga damit na ibebenta ng Mama mo. Dun na kita kinuha ng damit. Oh diba? Dalian mo na!!”
“Huh?”
Parang obvious din na wala ako sa sarili ko. Normally, I would have protested or make an argument na tinatamad ako, na hindi ko trip ang pumarty. Pero ngayon, parang, part of me really wanted to go... basta kahit saan. Kahit nga yayain nila ko mag-Boracay ngayon sasama ko ee. Basta, kahit saan na malilimutan ko tong mga prublema ko!! Yung walang Max at lalo ng walang Sef!!
“Sandali lang,” Max’s voice was domineering as he pulled AJ by the shoulder, hence stopping me as well. His face was ten times serious and his eyes were burning with disapproval. AJ slightly whimpered in fright, lalo pa’t sakanya lang nakatitig si Max. “Disoras na ng gabi, hindi na sasama si Ellie.” It was a declaration, a statement na parang wala akong choice kung hindi gawin yung sinabi niya.
In normal circumstances, I would have thanked Max for saying something like that. Pero hello? Wala siyang karapatan na mag-acting na Kuya ko ngayon!! Especially when he’s the one who started this stupid fight!!
Hindi makasagot si AJ, alam niyang seryoso si Max, so I was the one who made the move. Hinatak ko talaga si AJ sa braso and continued ascending up the stairs. “Ah basta, sasama ko!” I hissed louder, more foreceful, parang bata na pinilit yung gusto niya. I glared at Max, daring him, challenging him to argue with me, willing him to talk...kung ayaw niya ko umalis sabihin niya sakin. Oo, sakin mismo at hindi kay AJ, hindi kay Brad at hindi yung para kong hangin na hindi niya nakikita.
But Max only looked away, his eyes casted downwards... and he didn’t say another word.
Ascend
High Street Fort Bonifacio, Global City
01:15 AM ng madaling araw
Eleonor Malicsi Dimaculangan
First time ko dito sa Ascend and I have to say, maganda yung lugar filled with the prettiest people in town. Syempre andito na ko ee. Haha. Joke! Animales, nakaka ilang shot ka na ba ng Baileys at mukang may tama ka na Ellie? Sabihin pa ng mga tao, tanggera ka!! Haha.
But kidding aside, mas okay dito kesa nun sa The Manor. Mas high-end, mas ok yung place, yung venue. This time, nakinig na ko when AJ forced me to wear a 3-inches heels na hindi ko alam kung san niya napulot, at maong pants, paired with white blouse atchaka jacket with red linings. (PICTURE) Nung una akala ko sobra naman akong overdressed, baka pagtawanan naman ako... but I stand corrected, Dios mio... parang pantulog lang pala itong suot ko kumpara sa ibang girls na andito. Haha. But to hell with them, kahit nga ata naka-pajama ako I wouldn’t care less dahil INUMIN lang naman ang ipinunta ko dito!! (Uh, note pala sa mga minors, wag akong tutularan! Haha.)
We’ve been partying for an hour already at parang pakiramdam ko sobrang bilis ng takbo ng oras. As much as I hated to admit it, mukang nag-eenjoy ako! Ganito nga siguro pag maraming iniisip, naeenjoy sa pag-inom at pag-party. Hindi ko rin alam kung gano na kadami tong naiinom ko, basta ayokong may laman yung maliit na basong nasa harap ko. Hindi ko rin alam kung anu-ano tawag sa mga inuming ito, basta Baileys lang yung alam ko kasi yun yung pinaka masarap na natikman ko ngayong gabi.
Mababait naman mga ka-block nila AJ at Brad, very welcoming naman sila. At sobrang lakas din nilang mang-asar... wala silang tigil sa pang-iissue samin ni Brad. At ito pa, Brandon pala ang totoong pangalan niya kaya pinalayaw sakanya ee Brad. Non-stop ang tawanan sa table namin, at kahit naka-upo lang kami panay ang sayawan at pag-groove sa music. Party kung party!! WOOOOHOOO!!
Si AJ naman, na siyang naka-upo sa tabi ko ee parang trumpilyong umiikot ang mata sa paghanap ng mga BOYLETS niya.“Cuz, ang gwapo nun.”He whispered to me, eyeing the white, chinito guy by the dance floor.“Malalaglag ata panty ko!”
I laughed so hard. Si Brad naman na naka-upo sa other side ko leaned down my ear, kasi mahirap magkarinigan sa lakas ng music, “You sure you don’t want to order anything else?”
I smiled at him.“Nah, I’m ok. Busog pa ko.”
Suddenly, AJ tightly gripped me by my arm, halos mawalan na ko ng dugo sa higpit, yung ulo niya nakalingon sa may entrance door. “OMG, Cuz!” He said, “Ito talaga, pati bra ko mawawalan ng silbi...”
I frowned at AJ.“Masaki-” I was just about to tell my cousin na masakit na yung braso ko, but I froze and felt my heart stop sa sumunod na sinabi ni AJ, “Animales, si SEF?!” Napatingin sakin si AJ, his eyes widening in surprise. Bumilis tibok ng puso ko, yung tipong kala mo kape tong kanina ko pa iniinom, para kong aatakihin sa nerbyos ee. I felt my hands turn cold. Dios ko, bakit ganito? Pangalan pa lang yan aa... ganito na epekto sakin... I stared hard on the table, unable to move.
“SEF!” AJ shouted and my heart sank, parang gusto kong magtago at higit sa lahat gusto kong batukan si AJ. Kung joke man toh, sisipain ko talaga palabas dito ang pinsan ko. Yung ibang ka-blockmates ni AJ ee lumingon na din, masyado naman kasing obvious tong si AJ ee. Kung maka tawag WAGAS!! By the way the girls reacted, I knew... AJ wasn’t joking.
“Ahy, kilala mo AJ?” sabi nung isa nilang classmate na babae. “Ang gwapo!! Model ba yan?”
“Pakilala mo naman kami!” Dagdag naman nung isa at hanggang sa halos lahat ng babae na kaklase nila ee nakatingin na kay Sef.
“Ellie,” AJ nudged me hard. “Si Sef oh!” He repeated. I wanted to scream at him at sabihing, SO ANONG GUSTO MONG GAWIN KO??? TUMAMBLING?! But I decided not to make a big fuss over it.
Easy lang Ellie. Easy lang. Act cool. “Asan?” I asked trying to sound calm as possible, pero hindi ako makalingon. I reached for another glass of Baileys. Parang gusto kong mag-dive ngayon sa pool na alcohol ang tubig at una kong ilulublob si AJ!!
“Duh, pano mo makikita kung ayaw mong tignan?”
This time, dahan-dahan akong lumingon at ayun nga, there, amidst the crowd stood Miguel Josef Uy Monteverde... and something very painful pierced right through my chest just by looking at him.
Lord naman, alam kong masamang uminom pero... wag naman po Kayo magbiro ng ganito...
“Uh,” Buti na lang parang napansin ni Brad yung biglang pag-iba ng mood ko. “You want to go over there?” Tinuro niya yung bar na nasa may far corner. “Let’s go get some more drinks.”
Mabuti pa nga. “Sige.” I nodded. Yun lang ang kailangan ko, maraming-maraming ALCOHOL!!
Sabi nga nila, the very first step of flirting is through the eyes – at doon magaling ang isang Enzo Ruiz Monteverde. He was giving the look to the long-haired morena girl across the bar while drinking his cocktail. Actually, kakagaling lang niya dito sa Ascend kagabi. If there’s a career in partying, siguro si Enzo na ang tatanghaling Pangulo ng company na yun at ang pinsan naman niya ang Vice-President.
Suddenly, something caught Enzo’s attention. “What’s up with you & Sef?” Naputol agad ang malagkit na tingin ni Enzo sa babae, and his eyes soon landed on a pair standing beside him. Isang matangkad na lalaki, mga six-foot ang tangkad and a cute short-haired girl. Enzo’s eyes lingered a little longer on the girl, not really his type, meron namang figure ang dalaga but she doesn’t have enough front nor back na papasa sa taste niya, tapos boyish look pa. But still, he was curious... especially when he heard his cousin’s name being mentioned.
Interesting... Enzo thought sheepishly at the back of his mind as he continued to eavesdrop.
“Huh?” Sagot ng dalaga. “Ano naman meron samin?” Enzo, being an expert in dating women, knew that kind of evasive answer. Yung tipong may something, dine-deny lang.
The 6-footer guy leaned on the bar as he looked intently at the girl. Enzo smirked, he could read the guy’s eyes. Interesado ito sa babae, hindi lang alam kung papano poporma. “Sa totoo lang,” the guy said. “I heard what Sef said back in MUP. Yung araw na pinuntahan kita to ask you out on a date?”
The girl looked up at him. Her face quite unreadable.
“I think Sef’s an @ss.” Nasabi ni Brad and Enzo, for a minute, could have laughed so loud. Man, this guy is awesome!! Enzo thought, grinning widely in amusement. He was in fact tempted na saluduhan si Brad.
“Sana hindi ka nakinig sakanya.” Brad continued. “I mean, I know someone who’d do anything to go out with you. Kaso lang simula pa lang, tinurn down mo na siya agad ee. Haha. Nawalan na tuloy na lakas ng loob.”
Ellie playfully slapped him by the arm and gave a smile, at napatingin lalo ng matagal si Enzo sakanya. He likes her smile.
Suddenly, in an act of complete randomness, Enzo raised his drink and shouted. “ANYONE WANTS TO CHALLENGE ME? RACE TO 30 SHOTS! LOSER, PAYS!!” Nag-hiyawan mga tao ng WOOOHOOO and started gathering around the bar. Natigil tuloy bigla ang usapan nila Brad at Ellie.
“Whoa, anong nangyayari?” Ellie asked, looking curiously around.
“It’s a game. Unahang maka-inom ng 30 shots. Pag-tumumba ka, or nag-suka ka, you lose.”
“Talaga?” Ellie gave a childish grin and Brad doesn’t like the look of it.
Tonight, Ellie wanted nothing but to drink. It was probably her desire for alcohol, or her want to forget her problems that made her shot her hand up in the air and shouted for everyone to hear. “AKO!! AKO!! I’LL TAKE THE CHALLENGE!!”
Brad’s eyes widened in horror while Enzo gave an evil smile. “And, there’s my challenger!!” He pointed at Ellie, despite the fact na marami ng iba pang nagvovolunteer. Another cheer from the growing crowd.
“Sandali lang Ellie.” Brad has to shout dahil sobrang ingay na ng paligid nila, he even attempted stopping Ellie by the arm. “Are you sure? Sabi ni AJ you hardly drink. Hindi mo kaka--”
Ellie laughed at him. “Sus. Kaya ko yan!! Wala kang tiwala sakin! Wag kang magalala, kung matalo man, si AJ pagbabayarin natin! HAHAHA.” With that, Ellie made her way towards the bar, where Enzo and her 30 shots of Tequila awaits.
To be continued.
