THE ONLY EXCEPTION

13.Blame it on the alcohol

“I’m someone her dad trusts.” Chard tried to be patient. “Gusto mo tawagan pa natin siya, eh.” Chard gestured to get his phone from his pocket. Hindi na nakaimik si Drew kaya binuhat niya na lang si Carla. Buti na lang sa tabi lang siya ng Labyrinth nag-park. Alam niya sa sarili niya na hindi niya madadala si Carla sa bahay nila, siguradong magagalit ang Daddy nito. So he just called him at sinabing Carla isn’t well and ihahatid na lang siya first thing in the morning, pumayag naman ang dad nito. He started the car and decided to bring her sa condo. Ano bang nasa utak ng babaeng ‘to?

CARLA OPENED her eyes and tried to get herself up from bed. Pero naramdaman na niya ang sakit ng ulo niya agad.She tried to remember kung bakit parang ang comfortable ng higa niya. Nasaan nga ba siya. 

“Ohmygod” napaupo siya bigla sa kama. Wala siyang maalala. Ang huli niyang naalala ay kasama niya si Drew at ihahatid sana siya. She’s sure hindi niya kwarto ‘to. She stood up and tried to walk slowly pero she still bumped into something hard. Napaupo siya sa floor. Then the door opened swiftly. And the lights went on. Napatayo si Carla sa nakita.

“What am I doing here?” pagtataka ni Carla.

“Buti naman gising ka na! You want some coffee? Gatorade?Water?” sabi naman ni Chard habang lumabas ito ng pinto to go to his kitched. Carla followed.

“I said what am I doing here?” pamimilit ni Carla.

“Kung iinom ka, gawin mo with your friends, kina Amie o di kaya sa family mo.” Chard pulled a gatorade out of the ref and handed it to Carla. Hindi mo na kailangan tanungin pero galit na galit ito.

“FYI, I’m with my friends.” Sabi ni Carla.

“Friends?” Chard flared up. “ Carla, some of the guys in Kalayaan are known for bad reputation. Anong gagawin mo if they take advantage of you?”

“They won’t do that to me.” Carla said, not minding sa inooffer na Gatorade.

“They won’t?” Chard stepped closer to Carla “Carla, you’re a very attractive girl, hindi mo baa lam yun? Sabi ni Migs the guys are already putting their arms around you.”

“I push them away! Pinapamanmanan mo ba ako?” pati si Carla galit na kahit masakit ang ulo.

“Yeah right, push them away with what? Your drunk strength? Buti nga Migs had the guts to call me.” Sabi ni Chard.

“I want to go home.” Ang tanging nasabi na lang ni Carla. Parang wala na din siyang lakas makipagtalo.

“I called your house. I said ditto ka na matutulog kasi you’re not feeling well. Besides it’s one in the morning, if hindi mo alam.” Chard threw himself on the couch.

“What? It’s 1?” Nagulat na tanong ni Carla. “Edi sana hindi mo na lang ako kinuha. The last time I remember, si Drew ang kasama ko at ihahatid daw niya ako.” Padabog na sabi ni Carla na nakatayo sa harap ni Chard.

“Drew?” napatayo si Chard. “Si Drew maghahatid sa’yo? That guy is reeking of alcohol. Tapos gusto mo siya ang maghahatid sa’yo?”

“Eh wala namang mangyayari eh!” alam niya deep inside, may point si Chard.

“I’m not putting you on his hands, Carla! I’m not risking it.” He took a step closer to Carla. “I’m not risking seeing you getting hurt!” madiin na sinabi ni Chard.

“Stop it! Stop caring for me, I’m going home.” Carla headed for the door pero naunahan siya ni Chard at hinarangan ang pinto.

“You’re not going, Only a sober person can drag you out of this place.” Chard said at umalis lamang siya sa pinto nang umalis si Carla at pumasok sa guest’s room. She banged the door loudly. Halatang galit na din.

Carla sat on her bed and called the only person she can trust. Ate Trina niya. She was already crying and hindi niya alam kung bakit.Basta she wanted to get out of there.She begged her to fetch her there and moments later, narinig na niya ang doorbell pero di pa din siya umalis ng kwarto. She waited until ito mismo ang kumatok ng pinto. Then nagpasalamat si Trina kay Chard while she just passed him. Pikon na pikon pa din siya pero hindi niya alam. Maya maya pa ay nasa kotse na sila. They grabbed a coffee sa nearest coffeshop at sa kotse na ito ininom. Magsasara na din kasi iyon. 

Trina: Do you want to tell me something?

Carla: Ate, it’s nothing.

Trina: Nothing? Galit nag alit si Chard and look at you, you can’t stop crying. Ano ba talaga nangyari?

Carla: We just had a fight.

Trina: about what?

Carla: Galit na galit siya. Pinagsasabihan niya ako about drinking. I hate it when people tell me what to do. 

Trina: Nag-alala sa’yo yung tao. Concern yun sa’yo. 

Carla: Ate, hindi ko alam. The thought of seeing him so concerned just tears me up inside. 

Trina: /napatingin kay Carla at walang sinabi/

Carla: Yes, I didn’t see it coming either. 

Past 3AM na pero Chard is still wide awake. Hindi pa din siya makatulog kahit nagtext na si Trina kanina para sabihin they are safely home. Feeling niya galit na galit pa din siya lalo na ng hindi magpaalam si Carla sa kanya. Ano ba ang problema ng babaeng iyon? He’s dead tired pero he can’t get his eyes to close for a sleep. Chard knows Carla, hindi umiinom ang babae, bakit naman iinom yun? To impress Drew? Nasisiraan nab a siya ng bait?

At kailangan pa ba niyang mang-hawa? Feeling niya kasi masisiraan na din siya ng bait sa sagutan nila kanina. Bakit hindi na lang siya maging grateful that someone else is looking out for her? With that, he just decided to watch some movie sa cable. No, he won’t fall asleep.