Time vs. Effort

Chapter 2

“Bakit ganun best? Mahal ko nga si Clarence, pero mahal ko rin si Raymond, parang hindi ko kaya magpili…” uminom siya ng isang shot na vodka.

“Grabe, parang twilight lang, ang hirap ng sitwasyon mo,” Lyn patted her shoulder.

Hindi na siya nagpaalam kay Clarence kung saan siya pumunta, dumeretso na siya sa bar. Si Lyn naman, tinawagan ni Beth para samahan siyang uminom, pumayag naman ito, kahit na sinabi nito na wag sabihin kay Ranz at baka masabi pa kay Clarence kung nasaan siya.

“Patay ako kay Dara, sabi ko hindi na mahuhulog ang loob niya kay Abra, like what her father would always tell her nung bata pa siya, “Beth, never say something that you’re not sure of, in short, wag magsalita ng patapos, you never know what happens…” and she drank another shot.

“Alam ko crush mo si Raymond from the first time na nakita mo siya, hindi ba he comes second pagkatapos kay Clarence?” Dara said, sniffing, after nakipag break si Abra kay Dara, “ano ba ang reason kung bakit kayo nagbreak?” hindi umimik si Dara at iniwasan yung tanong ni Beth.

“Basta ipromise mo saakin, kung mas importante ang friendship natin, na kahit kailan, hindi mo papatulan si Raymond,”and she took a big glass and filled it with alcohol, “Promise, hindi talaga, and bakit ko siya papatulan? Ex mo siya, and dating a bestfriend’s ex is a sin,” Beth smiled, “let’s just keep drinking, the night is still young! To the single ladies!” she was obviously drunk, so pinatigil na siya ni Beth sa kaiinom niya.

She felt so guilty, she couldn’t take it, she threw the shot glass on the floor, and it shattered to a million pieces.

“Calm down,” Lyn stood up and hugged Beth, hushing her.

“I have a bad feeling about this, pero dahil kaibigan kita, I will support you, kahit sino pa piliin mo,” she was still hugging her, she felt Beth’s tears on her shoulders.

Suddenly, the doors of the bar was open, Lyn was shocked. She let go of Beth. “Beth, si… Ray..mond…”

Beth turned around, and she felt someone hug her, she was too tipsy to know who it was. “Mahal kita, tama ka, mahal kita, pero…-” she passed out before she could say another word.

“Tama na, ako muna ang magaalaga sayo,” he took the glass from her hand, and put it on the counter. He carried her out of the bar. Sinundan siya ni Lyn, “Sasabihin ko nalang sa boyfriend niya na nasayo siya,” and she turned away.

Isinakay niya sa kotse si Beth, at sumakay na rin at stinart ang engine. They reached the house, wala parin tao sa bahay dahil ang totoo, nasa Batangas ang mga family members ni Abra dahil may family reunion sila, nagpaiwan siya dahil alam na niya na tyempo na niya yuon. He carried her up to his room… Inilapag siya sa higaan niya at kinumutan.

“Cav.. Baby.. ko..” she whispered… nabitawan niya yung lalagyan ng gamut na hawak hawak niya. “Putang ina naman oh! Sinabihan na nga niya ako na mahal niya ako, pero yung lalaki na yun parin ang nasa isip na?!” he shaked his head, and went on his knees to pick up the pills that were on the floor.

“Clarence!!” she screamed, humihingal siya and sat straight on the bed…

“Nalasing ka nanaman, kaya inuwi na muna kita dito…” Abra said at lumabas ng kwarto.

She got out of the bed and fixed it.

Abra entered the room… “Wag ka muna umalis, samahan mo muna ako dito, please?” he begged, his face painted with pity.

She couldn’t stand it, she wanted to stop all this, ayaw nya mamili, she thought, they were both too good for her, she couldn’t pick Abra, there were so many consequences, first she’ll lose her bestfriend,Dara, she’ll never forgive her, secondly, she’ll lose her job, the Phiexies won’t forgive her as well. Being there in the first place is her already a sin to her boyfriend, she didn’t even ask permission.