Hey, My Almost

Prologue

"I can't go home ma" I told my mother over the phone. Kinukulit niya kong umuwi sa probinsya kung saan ako pinanganak at lumaki, Camarines Sur, because of some reason na hindi ko naman maintindihan.

"Tss, same reason again?" She concluded. "He's not here, if you were thinking about him. C'mon Viel, it's been years." Mama said desperately, pero may tunog nang pagkabigo, dahil alam niyang di nya ko mapapapayag na umuwi.

"I really can't ma, I still have things to do, midterms is waving. Besides, uuwi din naman ako this sembreak." Paliwanag ko sa kanya. "And it's not about him, okay? Matagal na kaming tapos, and yeah it's been 2 years, so" pagpapatuloy ko habang gumagawa ng assignment namin sa Personality Dev.

"Okay fine. Just make sure na uuwi ka this sembreak. We just miss you, magpiplane ka naman kasi, well anyway I know, di na magbabago isip mo. Oh siya, I'll end this, just take care okay? Love you" Bigong sabi niya, na alam kong nakabusangot na.

"Yes mama, I will, you guys take care also. Love you too ma, and to papa also." Sabi ko after I ended the call.

I am currently living my life here in Manila for my studies, I am already in college, second year student to be exact, and taking Business Administration major in management. I like doing business that's why I take this course and ofcourse because I will be taking over our company. That's just my simple goal, study and finished my schooling. No lovelife included. I don't have time for that, after everything that happened about my past relationships. All are failed!

My life is so simple here, I usually go out too with my friends na walang kapaguran during Friday night, dahil wala naman daw pasok kinabukasan. Just like the usual college life, party at the bar. Nasa kasalukuyan ako ng aking pagmumuni muni tungkol sa mga ligwak kong buhay pag-ibig na hindi ko alam kung may sumpa or what, ng biglang tumunog ang phone ko.

A Message Receive

Courtney: girl party later, birthday ni Ream, remember? Same place. Sundo ka or you'll just go there?

Sunod sunod na tanong niya, she's my bestfriend and Ream is our blockmate. Court is tactless girl, she will say whatever she wants, lalo na kapag alam niyang tama siya. We became friends when were 1st year.

Ako: alright. Be there before 9. i'll just bring my car, like the usual.

I hit the send button, and wait for her reply.

Courtney: okays. See yah😉

After I read her text, I put down my phone and take a bath. It's already past six, so I better get ready, bago pa nila ko bulabugin.

It's already seven nang matapos ako. After kong magbihis, tinext ko si mama na lalabas ako and I will be attending a birthday celebration,and she only said okay. It's my usual routine kapag aalis, kahit na nasa malayo sila, pinapaalam ko parin ang mga whereabouts ko.

I went to the bar, where Ream will celebrate his birthday. Thank God I chose this attire, shorts, loose shirt and white sandals na parang tsinelas lang, because my instinct was right, his party is a foam party.

I enter the place to look for them, and Court saw me.
"Viel, you're finally here, tara dun na tayo sa labas, andon na sila." Then she dragged me going to the place.

"Ream really loves this kind of party. And you didn't told me it's a form party, buti na lang ito naisip kong isuot." Pagdadabog ko sa kanya, at humagalpak lamang siya.

"Wag ka nang magtampo, I forgot to tell you. Sorry na" she said at niyakap ako na parang inaalo ako.

Tss. I hate this kind of party, uuwi na naman akong basa, buti na lang I always bring extra clothes.

We reached our table, Ream is here, drinking already like there's no other day.

"Happy birthday Ream!" I greeted him and kissed his cheek

"Thank you Viel, I thought you're no longer coming" sabi niya habang nakaharap sakin ngunit malikot naman ang mga mata na tila may hinahanap.

"C'mon Ream, were friends, and besides how can I forgot when you threatened me with your whatever logics. Tss"

Humagalpak silang lahat dahil sa tinuran ko, Ream just shrugged. The music is too loud. I started also drink. Nakailang shots na ko ng iniinom naming hard liquor, when my eyes stopped sa isang lalaking nakatayo di kalayuan sa inuupuan ko. Nakatingin siya sa akin. Nakatitig is the right term. Hindi ko magawang salubungin ang titig niya kaya binaba ko na lang ang tingin ko sa hawak niyang inumin. Ngunit nakatitig pa din ako sa kanya, hindi nga lang sa mga mata niya, coz I feel that there's something in his eyes kapag tinititigan siya.

"Viel!" Dinig kong tawag ni Reinna kapatid ni Ream, pero di ko siya pinansin, abala ako sa pagtitig sa di ko kilalang lalaki.

"Hey, earth to Viel Almasco! Please!" Sigaw niya sa mukha ko na nakapagpabalik sa diwa ko. Damn this man, I don't even know him.

"What?! Reinna,really sa mukha ko talaga?" I told her with annoyance in my voice. At tinawanan lang ako ng loka.

"Para ka kasing lutang girl, ano lasing na ba?" natatawa niya sabi, at iiling iling habang nagsasalin ng alak sa baso namin.

"Huh? Nope, you know how high my alcohol tolerance is" pagyayabang ko sa kanya na ikinangiwi niya. Ako naman ang napatawa sa reaksiyon niya. Pasimple kong iginalang muli ang aking mga mata para hanapin yung lalaki, ngunit wala na siya sa kinatatayuan niya. Bigo kong ininum ang alak na nasa harap ko.

"Let's dance Viel?" aya sa akin ni Reinna.

I followed her para mawala din ng kaonti ang tama ko. She's getting wasted to be honest. I was enjoying  dancing with her, ng bigla siya nawala sa panigin ko.
Maybe she's with someone now, damn that girl, parang nagpapalit lang ng damit.

Bumalik ako sa kinauupuan ko at tinungga ang alak na nasa harap, napapikit ako dahil sa lasa nito. When I open my eyes, I met his eyes bore to mine. Those eyes, the way he starred at me sent shivers down to my spine and my heart beats erratically.

Ako ang unang nagbitaw ng tingin at nagsalin ng alak at dali daling ininum ito upang maibsan ang pagbilis ng pintig ng aking puso. Habang bumababa ito papunta sa aking sistema ang siya namang panginginig ng aking kamay nang umilaw ang hawak ko na palang cellphone.

Numero lamang nakalagay, at hindi pamilyar saakin kung kanino galing. I immediately open it to read the message from an unknown number. Pero bago ko tuluyang mabasa, muli kong inangat ang aking paningin sa lalaki at nagulat ako ng may hawak na siyang cellphone, seryoso at tutok na tutok dito, tila ba may inaantay na mensahe o tawag, at muli siya tumingin sa gawi ko na para bang may pinapahiwatig ang titig niya, bahagya niya inangat ang kaniyang cellphone, at tumayo ng tuwid bago humakbang at tuluyang nilisan ang buong lugar.

Saka ko pa ako tumayo upang sundan at hanapin siya, hanggang sa makalabas na ako ngunit hindi ko na siya makita. Hanggang sa napadpad na ako malapit sa may kalsada,  at doon ko na nakita ang pagharurot ng isang motor paalis sa lugar na ito. Alam kong siya yon, dahil sa kaniyang soot.

Saka ko pa lamang binuksang muli ang aking hawak at binasa ang mensahe. My eyes widened when I saw the message.

From:
Unknown number: Hi