The Second Time Around (The Starving Squad #1)

Chapter 17: Give Me Sleep

Fresia was probably too hard on Bullet. He was trying to say sorry for something that isn't his fault. Alam niyang wala sa lugar ang galit niya rito. She overreacted. But she couldn't just take it back.

Nagulat siya nang makita niya ito sa apartment noong Lunes. She thought that he would give her some space, just for a few days. Pero nasa apartment niya ito kaagad nang sumunod na araw.

Eksakto namang first day niya noon. It's normal for her to be irrational and moody when it's that time of the month. At dahil si Bullet ang madalas mangulit sa kanya, ito ang napagbubuntunan niya ng inis.

Pero ngayong patapos na ang period niya ay kaya na niya itong patawarin. Maybe she'll say sorry too. Plano sana niya itong ayaing manuod ng sine, since she was a bit harsh to him the other night. So, she went home early that night... only to find the house empty.

Napaaga yata ang uwi niya. Wala pa ito sa bahay.

Inilagay niya ang gamit sa kwarto at saka naghintay sa sala. She waited for him until eight. Gutom na gutom na siya ay wala pa rin ito. Thinking that he might be coming a little late, she sent him a message. Tinanong niya kung anong oras ito pupunta. Kung sobrang late nitong uuwi, baka magsarado na ang mga mall.

She frowned at his reply. Sorry. Might not come tonight. I'm on a date.

There goes her forgiveness. Sana man lang ay nagsabi ito kaagad para hindi siya parang tangang naghihintay rito! Hindi pa siya naghahapunan. He should have known better! Gutom pa naman siya. Lalo tuloy siyang nayamot.

She tossed her phone somewhere and rummaged the kitchen for some food.
L Thankfully, may mga nakatabi pang ulam sa fridge. Nagsaing na lamang siya at saka iyon iniinit para kainin. Hindi na rin siya lumabas ng bahay para manuod ng sine. Tutal, marami namang movies sa USB ni Bullet. Ang mga iyon na lamang ang panunuorin niya kahit napanuod na niya iyon dati.

--

"She didn't reply," Bullet told Mickey.

Binigyan siya nito ng isa pang baso ng alak. "Ano ba'ng sinabi mo?" tanong nito.

Ipinakita niya ang text message niya kay Fresia. Umiling si Mickey.

"Dude, gago ka ba? Bakit ganyan ang sinabi mo? Who's your date? Me?"

Mickey doesn't understand. He wasn't there to witness how cold Fresia was towards him. He wasn't there when she rejected his invitation to go out and watch a movie. Masakit kayang ma-reject. Akala yata ng mga babae nakakatuwa silang amuin.

Palibhasa kasi, nasanay silang sila palagi ang sinusuyo.

He doesn't even know what he did to make her that angry. Biruin mo, apat na araw na itong galit sa kanya! He tried to apologize. He tried to appease her anger, but nothing worked. He needs a night off from Fresia.

He drank the liquor and raised his empty glass.

"Just give me another drink," sabi niya sa kaibigan.

Mickey obliged.

"Ano'ng plano mo ngayon?"

"Maglalasing."

"Tapos dito ka na naman matutulog?" naiiling nitong tanong.

"Don't worry, I'll take the couch."

Mickey lives at the bar. May kwarto ito sa itaas. It's actually just one room, with a mini-fridge, a TV, a toilet and a shower, a bed, and a couch. Kapag naglalasing sila ni Felix, sa couch o sa sahig sila nito natutulog. Mickey doesn't like them invading his private space but he has no choice.