melt in the fireplace | Buenvenidez Series #5 [ON-GOING]

2

Chapter 2

Still suffering from a bad jetlag, I managed to pull myself together and dressed up for a night out. Hirap na hirap akong pumili ng susuotin dahil hindi pa ako masyadong nakakapag ayos ng damit kaya pinili ko nalang muna 'yung una kong nahila na body-con dress.

It fitted my petite body well. I let my hair down since more than half of my back was exposed. I looked at my face from the reflection while I am trying to put some highlighters. I have these chinky eyes because my father is a born Japanese. Sa kanya ko rin nakuha ang kutis ko. While my jet-black hair and the rest of my features came from my Mama.

"Mag cab nalang tayo papunta doon." 

Dani entered my room wearing a simple fitted pants and tube top. Tumabi siya sa akin habang inaayos niya ang maikli niyang buhok kaya binigyan ko siya ng kaunting space. She then chuckled a bit before she parted my hair. Kumunot ang noo ko at mas lalo siyang natawa.

"Tinuloy mo pala!" She laughed.

"Huh?" 

"The tatts, Yuriko. Tinuloy mo pala, ha? Ang ganda. Sinong artist?" She asked.

"Si Pierre.." I answered blankly.

"Ex mo?" Tanong niya.

I lazily nodded and sighed. "Siya lang 'yung may alam noong design kaya sa kanya ko pinagawa."

"Buti okay kayo?" Takang tanong niya.

I snorted and shook my head. Umalis na ako sa harap ng salamin bago ako nagtungo sa cabinet para kumuha ng heels.

"In fairness.. sabagay, good break up naman, e.." 

"May good break up pala?" Taas kilay kong tanong.

"Meron. Kung casual parin kayo sa isa't isa..." 

I scoffed. "Casual.." Ulit ko.

Her eyes immediately widened as if she concluded something. Nagbuntong hininga nalang ako at pinagpatuloy ang pagkabit ng strap ng heels na susuotin ko. Bahala siyang mag-isip dyan.

I am not a saint nor a naive. I'm twenty two and I have a life. I had. Hindi rin ako inosente. I had exes and one of them was Pierre whom I recently had a casual relationship with. Tinigil nga lang namin noong sabi niyang gusto niya na ulit magseryoso. At alam niyang hindi ako ang makakapagbigay sa kanya noon.

We're still good and we're still friends. Naroon siya noong wake ni Mama at alam niyang aalis rin ako sa bansa. Maybe that's also the reason why we didn't get back together anymore despite of our on and off relationships. Aalis ako at takot siyang baka hindi ko na siya kailangan.

"So anong nangyari? Hindi kayo nagkabalikan?" 

Dani seemed to be invested with that part of my life because she kept on asking me even when we're already on our way to the pub. Tipid akong tumango sa kanya habang ang mga mata ay nasa mga gusali na nilalampasan namin.

"Sus, pakiramdam ko naman makikipagbalikan ka parin doon kapag bumalik ka sa Pilipinas.." Aniya.

Tss. I can't see it happening. He probably got himself a woman now at ako naman, I just know I am not expecting Pierre in my life anymore. What we had was good. 'Yun lang ang masasabi ko.

I exhaled an ample amount of air when we entered the pub. Tahimik kong sinundan si Dani hanggang sa makarating siya sa may bar counter. She looked like she's searching for her friend so I just stood up on the side and waited until she found him.

Nasa dulong upuan sa may bar counter 'yung kaibigan niya. From a distance, I could easily figure out that he's drunk and alone. Nang lumapit sa kanya si Dani, nakita ko kaagad ang pagsilay ng hilaw niyang ngiti sa kaibigan. He's facing me so I could clearly see his features.