After dinner, we cleaned up the table. Ares went inside to rest because he was feeling sick. I noticed Cali staring at her cellphone while holding the plastic cups she was about to throw in the garbage plastic.
"That's a pretty picture of you. What art museum iyan?" I asked cheerfully, trying to ease her mood again.
"Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo." She was trying so hard to put on a smile, but I figured it was a fake. It was so obvious in her eyes. As far as I know, she and Manu broke up recently. "I really love it there."
"Mamaya iyang muni-muni niyong dalawa, maging inom-inom na," Marco said jokingly and sat on the arm rest of the chair I was sitting on.
Cali laughed softly. "Let's drink." Nagdesisyon siya.
"Your wish is my command, Madam!" Lucas chuckled and placed the bottle of liquors he already got from the house. It was already their plan to drink after the meal. Everybody cheered except me.
"Patabi ako." Sinubukan ni Maki isingit ang sarili sa upuan ko.
"Hindi tayo kasya," nakasimangot na sagot ko naman. Ang dami-dami namang upuan! He pulled my hand up to make me stand. Then, he sat on the chair and made me sit on his lap.
"Eh, 'di solve?" nakangising sabi niya sa 'kin.
Inirapan ko lang siya bago tumawa. Lucas used a spoon to open the cap of a beer bottle. Tinanggap ko iyon at sumimsim nang kaunti bago nilapag sa hita ko, hawak sa dalawang kamay ko. Hindi ako mahilig sa beer pero ayaw kong maging KJ.
"How about you, Luca? No jowa?" I asked him since we were talking about a love life of our common friend.
He shrugged. "Fling lang, 'di jowa. Hindi ko naman kailangan niyan. Kung may darating, salamat. Kung wala, okay. Hirap makahanap ng seryoso ngayon. Iba-iba rin naman ang priority sa buhay, eh. Hirap."
I was still on my second bottle of beer while they were already on their fifth bottle of hard liquor. They drink so fast. Hindi ko kayang sumabay. Sinandal ko ang likod sa dibdib ni Maki. He held my waist and pulled me closer, kissing my temple.
"Okay ka lang? Hindi ka pa ba inaantok?" he asked gently in my ear.
Tumango ako at pinasadahan ng daliri ang braso niya. "I'm good. Beer lang naman itong akin."
"Cali, lasing ka na agad?!" Esme looked stressed and shocked, tapping Cali's cheek to make her go back to her senses.
"Kailan ba hindi?" She was already blushing.
We all laughed at her. But we fell silent all at once when she suddenly cried and buried her head on Koa's shoulder.
"'Nandito lang ako," Koa said softly, caressing her back.
Napakurap-kurap ako, hindi alam ang gagawin. I panicked inside when she started crying so hard in his chest that it was a difficult sight to watch. I had to avert my gaze for a minute.
"Oh, gosh." Esme didn't know what to do.
I heard Marco sighed. "Nasaktan talaga nang husto," bulong niya sa akin. Dahan-dahan akong umiling.
"Iinom lang pero hindi tayo iiyak dito!" Lucas tried to cheer Cali up.
"Ang sakit-sakit pa rin. What if my decision was wrong? What if I stayed and fight with him? What if I start regretting this more now? What if I can't handle it anymore?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni Cali, umiiyak pa rin.
"There goes the what ifs." Esme laughed bitterly before pouring herself a shot.
"Ayaw ko na mabuhay," bulong ni Cali.
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Drowning Emotions (Isla Series #5)
RomanceISLA SERIES #5 Marco, the luckiest surfer in the island but was unlucky when it comes to love. Rejected countless of times by his first love. Ica, an actress, on the other hand, was there willing to give him everything... until it turned to nothin...
