Every Bad Thing

Chapter Thirty-Two

I inhaled and closed my eyes, letting the burn of the smoke leave a trail in my throat. I smirked, tilted my head up and blew the smoke to the air. I opened my eyes and slightly flipped the cigarette stick to remove the unwanted ashes.g

"Pahingi." may umagaw ng sigarilyo mula sa kamay ko. Sumimangot ako at hindi na nagulat nang makita na si Rachel iyon.

She dropped to the seat beside me, taking a hit on my stick before giving it back to me. She let the air pass through her nose. 

"What are you doing here, by the way? Maaga ang pasok mo bukas..." her eyes dropped to her wrist, checking her watch for the time.  "Or should I say later since it's already past twelve?"

I was about to call it a night until I received an invite for a house party. I never say no to parties, especially ones with free drinks. At kahit naman na hindi ako pumunta dito, I'll still end the night with a few bottle of liquors. I can't sleep without it anymore. It's become a necessity than a simple indulgence.

I shrugged. "Our prof doesn't give a damn about our attendance, or the lack of it."

"You're getting worse, L. Baka maka-academic probation ka pa n'yan. You already have three back subjects because you failed it, baka nakakalimutan mo." nilakasan niya ang boses para mangibabaw ang sinasabi niya sa maingay na music.

Tumawa ako. "Ikaw ang nagturo sa akin ng  mga kalokohan sa college, baka nakakalimutan mo." 

"Oh, please. You're a mess on your own. Don't point your dirty finger on me." she rolled her eyes at me. "In fact, be thankful because I saved your dying social life."

Ngisi lang ang naging sagot ko. She's telling the truth. Fourth year high school, I begged my parents to transfer me into a different school. I've isolated myself from people the whole year and graduated without a friend.

Nang dumating ang college, mag-isa lang ako dahil Business Administration major in Internal Auditing ang kinuha ni Hadeon. Mean while, I'm struggling with Architecture. Laking gulat ko nang naging kaklase ko si Rachel sa isang Gen Ed course. I didn't even know that we're attending the same university. 

Mas lalo akong nagulat nang bigla na lang siyang lumapit sa akin at kinausap ako. Like the feud between us never happened at all. She asked my schedule, and when we found similar vacant period, she made plans. That's it. 

We've been friends for almost four years now. Kahit na graduate na siya ng college ay nagha-hang out pa rin kami. And just like this, she still gets invited to college parties. Her outer circle is broad. Now, I'm barely fourth year... Barely, dahil may mga binagsak akong subjects at mga back subjects ako na hindi ko kinuha dahil lang sa gusto ko.

"Game and more drinks at the back!" a guy shouted.

A wild smile plastered on Rachel's face. Tumayo siya at kinuha ang kamay ko. She pulled me towards the back door of the house. May mga tao na roon. They're forming a wide circle. Sa gitna ay may isang tao at may nakalapag na bote.

I already know that they're playing Drink or Dare. Nakisali si Rachel sa kanila at ako naman ay hinanap ang lamesa kung saan matatagpuan ang drinks. I managed to find it. Nanatili ako roon. Umiinom habang pinapanuod silang naglalaro at nagkakasiyahan.

Since half of the crowd are already drunk, the dares were getting wild. I needed a lot of alcohol to join that kind of party. Nang maubos ko ang ika-limang bote ay alam kong handa na akong makipaglaro sa kanila.

My head was already light when I headed towards where Rachel was. Tumatawa siya nang matagpuan ko. Nang makita akong papalapit sa kanya ay inangat niya ang braso para salubungin ang paglapit ko sa kanya. She placed her arm over my shoulder.