No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 34- A hug of rest

Silence.

Then, I lifted my glass once more and downed the rest of my drink in one go.

And as the warmth of alcohol filled me, I realized-walang kahit anong lasing ang kayang magpatigil sa sakit na iniwan niya.

I slammed the empty glass on the table, the sound cutting through the music around us. My chest felt heavy, my throat burning-not just from the alcohol, but from everything I was trying to swallow down.

"Tara, magpakalunod sa alak." I forced a grin, but my hands trembled. "Para kahit ilang oras lang... mawala 'yung sakit."

Sheena's jaw tightened. "Mikha-"

"Huwag mo akong pigilan, Sheen," I cut her off, reaching for the bottle. "Bakit? May mawawala pa ba sa'kin?"

Gwen sighed, rubbing her temples. "Mikha, hindi ganito 'yung sagot."

I let out a bitter chuckle as I poured another drink. "Alam ko. Pero wala rin akong sagot, Gwen."

I lifted the glass, staring at the golden liquid. "Hindi ko alam paano magpatuloy nang wala siya. Hindi ko alam paano huminga sa mundo na wala na siya sa tabi ko."

I downed the drink in one go, the burn barely registering.

"At least ito," I whispered, tapping the rim of the glass, "kahit saglit, nalulunod 'yung sakit."

Stacey looked away, swallowing hard. Jho exhaled sharply, shaking her head. Pero walang pumigil sa'kin.

Kasi alam nilang kahit anong sabihin nila, wala na silang magagawa.

Aiah took everything with her when she left.

At ako? Wala na akong natira-kahit sarili ko.

I let out a hollow laugh, one that didn't quite reach my eyes. The alcohol was starting to take effect, numbing the sharpest edges of my pain but never fully erasing it.

"Tara," I said, standing up and nearly stumbling before Gwen caught my arm. "Sumayaw tayo."

Sheena frowned. "Mikha, lasing ka na-"

"Eh ano ngayon?" I grinned, but it felt wrong even to me. "Sige na! Di ba dapat nag-eenjoy tayo?"

Stacey and Jho exchanged glances, hesitant. Pero alam kong ayaw nilang iwan akong ganito, so finally, Jho sighed and stood up. "Fine. Pero huwag kang mawawala, okay?"

Gwen groaned but followed. "Kung madadapa ka, babatukan talaga kita."

Tumawa ako, kahit wala namang totoong saya sa loob ko. "Go lang, Gwen! At least may nararamdaman pa akong sakit, 'di ba?"

Sheena rolled her eyes. "Diyos ko, Mikha."

Hinila ko silang lahat papunta sa dance floor, the loud bass of the music vibrating in my chest. I closed my eyes, letting the sound drown out everything-the memories, the heartbreak, the reality that outside of this moment, I was completely, utterly lost.

I moved to the beat, my body swaying like I was trying to shake off the pain, as if I could dance it all away. Pero kahit anong gawin ko, nasa loob ko pa rin 'yung kirot.

The flashing lights, the deafening bass, the sea of people moving around me-it was all a blur. My body swayed with the music, but my mind was somewhere else. Somewhere in the past, in the warmth of Aiah's arms, in the sound of her laughter.

I tried. I really tried.

Pero kahit anong pilit kong ngumiti, kahit anong galaw ng katawan ko sa beat ng musika, hindi ko na kayang labanan ang sakit.