Between All The Almosts (Between Lines #6)

Chapter 2

Viral

Nagising ako sa sakit ng ulo na parang may drumline sa loob ng bungo ko. Putanginang hangover.

Napakurap ako, vision still blurry, and noticed one thing immediately: This was not my bed. Second: May dalawang katawan na nakadikit sa'kin—isang lalaki sa kanan, isang babae sa kaliwa. Parehong nakayakap na parang stuffed toy nila ako.

Ah. Right i had sex last night. Threesome.

Memories of last night flashed in pieces—shots, kissing, hands everywhere, the room spinning, laughter, moans, bodies. A lot of bodies.

I groaned, carefully removing their limbs off me like detangling wire. Dahan-dahan akong tumayo, feeling my thighs and back protest.

Yeah. Definitely threesome. Good one, if the soreness was any indication.

I rubbed my temples. "Tangina, never again... sa susunod na week," I muttered.

Just as I grabbed my boxers, my phone blared on the bedside table. Sunod-sunod. Parang may sunog.

Hindi ko na tiningnan ang caller ID and answered, "Hello?"

"ASHTON RAFAEL!"

Ay. Putang ina. Napaatras ang tenga ko.

"PALAGI MO NA LANG PINAPASAKIT ANG ULO KO! Ano nanaman 'tong nababalitaan kong iskandalo niyo nung may-ari ng bar sa seaside?! Kundi ko pa napilit umamin si Mari HINDI KO MALALAMAN?! Nakakahiya, Rafa!"

Tinanggal ko bigla ang phone sa tenga ko, halos mahulog sa lakas ng sigaw ni Mama. Pero hindi ko napigilang ngumiti nang malaki—satisfied, happy, proud.

"Ma, calm down," I said habang inaayos ang bedsheet na nawala sa pwesto. "It's just a little prank and—"

"WHAT PRANK, RAFAEL?!" she screamed again.
"Topic ka nanaman ng buong Palawan dahil sa kalandian mo?! Even our farmers ay topic ka?! Anak naman! I told you to change your lifestyle! Hindi puro tawag ng laman, bisyo, at kalokohan ang atupagin mo!"

I rolled my eyes, stretching my back. "Ma naman, ang aga-aga—"

"AGANG AGAAAA?!" she yelled, near feral. "Alas-dos na ng hapon, Rafael! TANGHALING TAPAT KA NAGIGISING!"

I blinked. "Talaga?" I checked the clock...2:14 PM. "Oh," I said. "At least gising na?"

"MAGSALITA KA PA, TALAGANG PUPUNTAHAN KITA DIYAN!"

I sighed but couldn't help the smug smile forming again. Because if even my mother—my queen of composure, my donor of allowance, my light and darkness—was this worked up?

Then Shen definitely affected by the video. And definitely reacted the way I wanted.

"Ma," I said sweetly. "Promise, nothing serious happened. Just... konting pang-aasar."

"KANINO NANAMAN?!"

I glanced at the two unconscious bodies on the bed. A smirk tugged at my lips.

Then, like it was the most normal thing in the world, I replied,

"Ma, it's a long story." And God—I couldn't wait to make it longer.

"HUWAG KA MAGSIMULA NG MAHABA-HABANG DRAMA DYAN, RAFAEL!" Mama snapped. "UMUWI KA NG PALAWAN NEXT WEEKEND. WE WILL TALK."

Ayun na naman 'yong family meeting na mas nakakatakot pa sa thesis defense.

"Ma—"

"No buts! And Rafa..." biglang lumambot ang boses niya, "please, anak... ayoko lang makita kang masira sa ginagawa mo."