The Twist In Our Journey

1.5

THE SOUND of loud music filled my ears. I didn't like places like this but this woman dragged me here and I can't even protest.

"Are you okey?" she asked. Malakas ang pagkasigaw niya dahil hindi ko iyon maririnig kung normal lang na boses ang gagamitin niya.

I am not," nakasimangot kong sagot. For 25 years I have never been to a bar. Is it what they call it? I guess so. I've read some scenes in a book about this place and it never piqued my interest.

I looked around the area, too many people dancing, too many people drinking and there are some who are flirting. Exactly the environment I am not comfortable to be in.

"You know what? There are a lot of people here, I am going home," I whispered. I was preparing to leave when Katarina grabbed my hands.

"Please Mer, kahit ngayon lang," she pleaded. Her eyes are begging me to stay. How can I say no? Goodness! Mapapasubo na naman ako nito.

I took a deep breath and nodded. Biglang nag-iba ang ekpresyon niya. Bumalik na ito sa dati. Isa pang malalim na hinininga ang pinakawalan ko.

You got fooled again, Mer. I scolded myself. Hindi na ako nasanay sa kaibigan kong magaling umarte.  I always say yes even though I completely know I'm about to get scammed. Look at her smiling now.

Niyaya na niya akong umupo at dahil maraming tao, do'n kami napunta sa medyo madilim na parte.

Nahihilo akong pagmasdan ang ilaw na may iba't ibang kulay sa gitna. Kahit ang musika ay hindi ko gusto ang tunog. Masakit sa tainga at nakakagulo ng utak.

"Want some drinks?" Kat asked. My gaze narrowed into a squint.

"I don't drink," I replied. Never tasted a drop of alcohol before. Wala akong balak tumikim ng mga inuming nakakalasing.

"Please Mer, ngayon lang naman. Damayan mo 'ko. Last na 'to, I promise," sabi niya at itinaas ang isang kamay tanda ng kanyang pangako.
Still childish at the age of twenty-six. Kailan pa kaya siya magma-mature.

"Fine, 'wag lang 'yong masyadong malakas ang tama. Baka uuwi akong gumagapang," sabi ko. She just chuckled and went to the counter to order some drinks. Maya-maya ay bumalik na siya.

"What's that?" tanong ko. Iba-iba kasi ang dala ng waiter na kasama niya. I am not familiar to any of it.

"Uh, I just remembered some. Ito raw, Palawan Wit, it's a kind of beer. The white one is Vodka, I think. The rest, I don't know. Let's just try it," she stated. Excited siyang umupo at pumalakpak na parang batang binigyan ng tsokalate. Mas matutuwa pa nga ako siguro kung talagang pagkain na lang ang binili niya.

"Should I pour it or directly drink it from the bottle?" I asked. I certainly have no idea.

"Come on, how come a bookworm like you haven't read any details about the proper way to drink alcohols?" she teased. I rolled my eyes and decided to ignore her statement.

Naglagay ako ng konting inumin sa baso. Susubukan ko muna at baka hindi ko makaya. I'm sure na mababa lang ang alcohol tolerance ko kasi hindi naman talaga ako umiinom.

"Geez!" I exclaimed. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang init na dumaloy sa lalamunan ko nang inumin ko ang likido.

"Sa una lang 'yan," Katarina said and gulped her drink. Hindi naman halata na sanay siya sa mga ganito.

"Ang pait!" was my first impression. I immediately ate some chips to chase the bitter taste away. I can’t believe I am doing this for her.

"Bakit ba tayo naririto?" tanong ko. I took another shot, this time I let it go directly to my throat. Para hindi ko masyadong malasahan.

"To find a man with a car," she replied. Tiningnan ko siya nang masama. Kita mo 'to, sa process pa lang ng pagmo-move on naghahanap na kaagad ng kapalit.

"Tsk, can't you live without a man for atleast a month?" I asked. Naka-ilang baso na ako at habang tumatagal nawawala ang mapait na lasa nito. Is that magic? Or I guess my tongue is now used to its taste that's why.

"Bakit pa paaabutin ng isang buwan kung marami namang nanliligaw diyan?" sabi niya. Kailan pa ba magbabago ang babae na 'to. Palagi ko naman siyang pinagsasabihan pero parang hangin lang iyon na pumapasok sa tainga niya at lalabas rin maya-maya.

Pinagmasdan ko ang hawak na baso. Medyo nararamdaman ko kasing nahihilo na ako.

"Is it because of these liquids? I was all aswoon after drinking it," I said.

"As—what?" she asked.

With eyes half awake, I stared at her.

"Im queasy," I replied.

Nakita ko siyang napakamot sa ulo at parang natatawa. What? I just gave her the exact description of my feelings.

"I should never invite you for another drink after this. You speak uncommon terms. Dudugo yata ang ilong ko sa'yo," sabi niya.

"Ah, maybe it is because of this colorless, flammable, and volatile liquid. A buy product of plant fermentation. Tsk, it's making me nauseous," I added. Hindi ko na masyadong mapigilan ang dila ko.

"Okey, that is enough for you," sabi niya at inagaw ang inumin na nasa kamay ko.

"I'm talking about ethanol," wika ko. Pumikit ako saglit pero mas lalong gumagalaw ang paligid. Pagkamulat ko ng mga mata, nakita ko ang waiter na dumadaan. I called him.

"Do you have any hot liquid which has components that are extracted and is water soluble with low levels of bicarbonate and high levels of magnesium?" I asked. Parang hindi naman niya ako narinig at nakatunganga lang siyang nakatingin sa akin.

"Never mind her," Katarina said, dismissing the waiter. I glared at her. Hindi pa nga kami tapos mag-usap, pinaalis na niya kaagad ito.

"I just want a cup of coffee," I said.

"You should have just told him that!" sagot niya. Napahalukipkip siya habang tinitingnan ako. Is she frustrated or something?

Whatever. Geez! My head.

"We have to go!" she uttered abruptly. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla na lang niya akong niyayang umalis pero nang sulyapan ko siya, hindi siya sa’kin nakatingin.

She was looking at a man sitting by the counter who was talking with a girl beside him.

I am guessing that must be her ex-boyfriend judging from her expression a while ago.

Not a bad choice though. Matipuno ang katawan nito at hindi ako sigurado sa kulay ng balat kasi malikot ang ilaw. But he has thick eyebrows and a nice chin. At dahil naka-side view siya, I could clearly see his prominent lower jaw.

Bagay naman sana sila ng kaibigan ko, kasi maganda naman siya. She has a brown wavy hair, thin lips and a narrow nose. She was also sexy that's why I wonder why no man had ever stayed with her. Bulag lang siguro ang mga iyon.

"We really have to go," she said again. It came out almost a whisper.

Is she hurt?