THE ONLY EXCEPTION

13.Blame it on the alcohol

Carla is in the SC office fixing the post-activities of a project she co-headed. Nung annual tree-planting. Slowly, the tree planting events crept to her head. Paano ba naman, she didn’t see it coming that Chard would even go. Ang malala pa nito, sinama nito si Andrea. Nung una, she insisted that he should not come pero when he said that Andrea is coming, she didn’t even protested. And she pushed herself way beyond her limits not to notice them sa event pero hindi niya nagawa ng 100 percent. Inaalalayan talaga ni Chard si Andrea.

“Okay ka na ba, Carla?” Drew’s voice snapped her thoughts back to reality. Kasama niya din kasi itong nagffile ng papers.

“Ah, yeah, I’ll be done in a sec. Nagmamadali ka ba? May date?” napangiti si Carla.

“No, we’re celebrating the success of the tree-planting. We’re drinking tonight. Hectic kasi this past few weeks kaya ngayon lang magcecelbrate.” Sabi ni Drew.

“Ah, ganoon ba, pwedeng sumama?” tanong ni Carla. Kahit yata siya ay nagulat sa balak niya.

“Hah?” Napatanong si Drew. “Yeah, sure. I’ll wait for you.” Ang nasabi na lang ni Drew. First time din kasi na sasama si Carla sa Labyrinth.

“Okay. Patapos na ako.” Carla said as she closed the folder. Then they made their way to Labyrinth. Bakit nga ba siya iinom. Ah, naiisip niya kasi si Chard. Besides, two weeks na din silang hindi nag-uusap. Iinom nga ba siya dahil hindi niya nakikita si Chard o dahil ayaw niya ng alalahanin si Chard? Bahala na.

NAKAUPO si Chard at inaayos ang bag niya. Nasa locker room siya ng basketball team. Kakatapos lang niya mag-shower at pauwi na din siya. 

“Pare, buti hindi affected and laro mo sa practice kanina.” Sabi ng ka-team niyang si Nico. “I hear about you and Andrea. Sorry pare.” Patuloy ni Nico.

“Nico, talaga. It’s nothing. It was just bound to happen,anyway.” Ang comment naman ni Chard. Sa totoo lang, hindi niya alam kung bakit hindi nga siya affected sa break-up nila ni Andrea nung isang araw. She insisted on a lot of things kasi. It seemed like their relationship has changed the way she used to be. 

“Sige, I’d better go.’ Sabi ni Chard sa lahat ng tao sa room. Lumabas na siya ng pinto nang biglang nag-ring ang phone niya. Si Migs.

“O, dude, what’s up?” Chard answered. Sa dinig pa lang ng background parang alam niya na kung nasaan ito. “If you’re inviting me to Labyrinth, sorry na lang, I’m dead tired to drink.” Sabi ni to kay Migs.

“Dude, no, it’s about Carla!” Migs said on the other line.

“What about her?’ parang na-alerto ang utak bigla ni Chard.

“She’s here in Labyrinth. Pare I think she’s drunk. There’s this tall guy, yung upper batch, parang ihahatid siya pero Carla is not herself. I just thought I’d let you know.” Chard suddenly felt himself running towards Labyrinth, hindi na siya nag-elevator at nagstairs na lang. Nawala yata ang pagod sa narinig at dahil na din sa galit o sa inis. Hindi na din siya nakapag-paalam kay Migs ng maayos.

Chard didn’t need to enter Labyrinth dahil nakita niyang kakalabas nga lang ni Drew at ni Carla. Drew’s arms are wrapped around habang inaalalayan siya. Chard rushed to them.

“Pare, ako na maghahatid.” Chard immediately removed Drew’s arms around her. Nilagay ni Chard nung kamay niya sa balikat ni Carla.

“Ako na maghahatid.” Salo naman ni Drew.

“Ako na.” now Carla is with Chard.

“Ano ka ba niya? Ako na maghahatid.” Pamimilit din ni Drew na halatang nakainom din.