Sin City

04: Love Potion

"Mag Mabuhay na kasi tayo!"

I glared at Ruth who's sitting on the edge of my bed. Kaka-Mabuhay lang namin noong isang araw, good thing Rouqil wasn't working that night kaya hindi ako nairita sa prisensya niya.

"Ruth naman, mabuhay tayo ng mabuhay, yung atay ko mamamatay na," I whined and laid on my bed.

She stood up and looked at me, malapad itong napangiti sa akin. "Come on, Yohan's working tonight at sabi niya sa akin last time na ililibre niya tayo dahil inaya natin sila ni Rouqil mag lake," she sweetly smiled at, trying to convince me.

I raised a brow. "Tayo ba talaga o ikaw lang?"

"Syempre tayo!" she immediately answered.

I sat on my bed. "Hmmm," I mischievously smiled at her. "Wag na wag ka masyado nagpapaka attach diyan kay Yohan, tatlong buwan ka nalang dito," pangangaral ko sa kanya.

"Alam ko kaya nga sinusulit ko, gaga!" she hissed at me before walking out.

Napabuntong hininga nalamang ako at napailing. Heto naman kasing si Ruth, imbes na mag move on and mag heal dito sa Vegas, unti unti nang na a-attach kay Yohan. I knew Yohan was one of the reason why she keeps going back to Mabuhay. It's not right, though. But I can't blame her, it's easier to forget about the pain than deal with it.

"Tara, mag Mabuhay na tayo," matamlay kong sabi kay Ruth nang makalabas ako ng kwarto ko. She was sulking on the couch while eating my granola bars.

Biglang sumigla ang mukha nito at agad na napatayo. "Talaga?!"

I rolled my eyes at her. "Yeah, basta libre mo ha," nakangising sagot ko sa kanya.

"Tonight's on me!" she excitedly exclaimed and immediately locked her arm on my arm.

"Ruth!"

Agad kong mahinang kinurot sa bewang si Ruth nang marinig ang masayang sigaw ni Yohan nang makita kaming papasok ng bar.

"Hey, Nardan!" he greeted me too. I sweetly smiled at him at agad na umupo sa bar stool. "Hi, Yohan. Busy night?"

"Kanina, sobra," sagot nito habang umiiling pa. Bakas pa sa boses nito ang pagod. "Ngayon, medyo bearable na," he added.

"Wala na naman ba si Rouqil?" Ruth curiously asked nang maupo ito sa tabi ko.

He shook his head. "Wala, medyo hassle nga eh," dismayado nitong sagot.

"Is he working at another place right now?" I curiously asked too. Napaka workaholic ni Rouqil kaya nakapagtatakang hindi na namin siya nakikita buong linggo.

"Oh no, he's in another state right now," he casually answered while mixing drinks for another customer. He gestured at us to excuse himself para makipag usap siya sa iba pang customer.

"Tetext ko nga 'yon," Ruth mumbled kaya agad akong napatingin sa kanya. She's already scrolling on her phone.

"Who? Rouqil?" I raised a brow.

"Yeah," she nonchalantly answered. "We're text buddies. Gusto mo ba number niya?" nakangiti nitong sagot. I made a face and immediately shook my head. I'm fine without Rouqil's annoying remarks.

"So what do you guys want?" Yohan came back to us to asked us. Matamis itong nakangiti sa amin ni Ruth. "And as promised Ruth, your first drinks are on me," he winked at her.