Love Lingers: Down the Line

Prologue

Prologue

It was ringing and swirling in her head. The beating, the chatters, laughters, and all around yelling.

She heaved a deep breath, massaging her temples. Yuchi wanted to join some of her friends (which were really friends of her cousin, Chace) dancing near the stage. Everyone seems to be having fun, so she wanted to try it out herself.

But the loud thumping and the flashing neon lights weren't a good combination. Perhaps it was the cocktails she had, too. But the right side of her head was painfully throbbing and it hurts even more from the bright lights flashing around the area.

Yuchi stood up.

"Sa'n ka pupunta?" her cousin asked coming back from the restroom.

"Outside. Papahangin lang."

"Sige, 'wag ka ga'no lalayo, ah? Baka maligaw ka. Dalhin mo phone mo."

She nodded. "Yup. It's here in my bag."

"Balik ka kaagad sa table natin, ha?"

"Yes, Kuya," she said even though she really wanted to go home.

But that would defeat the purpose of her night out, let alone her whole vacation.

For the remaining three months, she tasked herself to unwind, enjoy, to try something new, and to meet people so she convinced her family to go home for vacation.

Sakto rin na mag-isa siya kanina sa bahay at paalis si Chace. Wala rin siyang ibang kasama dahil may kanya-kanyang lakad ang mga pinsan at tita niya.

They went out for holiday shopping and they refused to go to the same place to avoid spoiling the surprise, but Yuchi did her holiday shopping early so she stayed behind.

"Sama ka na lang sa 'min. Birthday no'ng isang kaibigan ko, magpapainom 'yon. Sayang naman 'yong libre," he said. He even went on with how his friends and Yuchi would click to further convince her to come along when she easily agreed.

His eyes widened in surprise. "Talaga?"

"Yup! Sama ako, Kuya."

"E, naligo ka na ba?"

"Give me twenty minutes to get ready."

"Hala? Twenty?" Chace peeked at his watch. "Late na ako sa usapan namin, e."

"Tell them I'm coming along. Kahit fifteen minutes lang, please?"

"Sige na nga, tumakbo ka na sa banyo. Mag-wisik ka na lang."

She winced. "No! Mabilis na shower lang promise. Kahit mag-timer ka pa ng fifteen minutes."

"Oo na, sige na. Bilisan mo, ha!"

"Yes!"

She was excited to come along. She even wore one of the black dresses her mom made her last year. It was shimmering against the light and she liked the chunky boots she paired with it.

Black wasn't her usual color and her outfit wasn't her usual style either. But she liked how it made her feel different and pretty in a new way she hadn't thought it would turn out to be. It was a sight refreshing to see in front of the mirror. She even got some compliments from his cousin's friends.

The place was already filled when they arrived. It was only half past nine and some people were already drunk, she even saw someone hurling their stomach near the entrance before they got in. 

She never understood how some people would go beyond their drinking limit. I mean, couldn't they feel it if they're already drunk to avoid vomiting?