Winning Hurricane

XXV- Acetaminophen

Amanda's just.. clueless.

"Amanda.." Barb tried to laugh while shaking her head.

Napansin kong hahawakan ni Hurricane ulit ang kamay ko pero tinaas ko na 'to sa lamesa bago muling lumagok ng wine.

"Amanda.. I have a girlfriend." Hurricane politely said. He's too stiff, I wonder if he's still breathing..

Mahirap bang sabihin yon?

"Oh! I don't get it why you guys get yourself a girlfriend kahit super obvious ng feelings mo. Kent was like that dati before magka lakas ng loob!"

"Amanda, no.. Barb's just my best friend."

"As they always say."

Pinipilit kong balewalain ang sinasabe ni Amanda.. but every words she say stung..

"No. Chandy's my girlfriend." Hurricane finally said, lahat sila napatingin kay Cane. Amanda looked too shock as her eyes travelled on mine. My face remained blank but I tried to smile.. to assure her it's okay.

But I guess I am not really good in faking emotions.. I'm better in masking them with my stolid face.

"Oh.." then she laughed awkwardly, "I am very sorry, Chandy! I am just fooling around. I don't mean anything I've said!" she excused bago napalagok sa wine niya.

"It's okay."

"Huy, I am just kidding ha! Hindi naman lahat ng mag best friend in-love sa isa't isa."

"Hon."

"Okay, I'll shut up na."

I just gave her a nod. Pero tuluyan na akong nawala sa mood, gusto ko na lamang umuwi sa Manila at mag-pahinga. Gusto ko nalang humiga at tumulog.

I don't want to entertain the thoughts and pain creeping inside.. ayokong isipin na may nararamdaman padin siya para kay Barb.. tapos na'yon.. Wala ng kahulugan ang mga tinginan nila..

He pursued me.. he promised he will make me see 'us'..

All I have to do is to have faith in him..

**

When the party ended Barb's already wasted. She's too drunk. Tawa lang siya ng tawa, she even hugged me nang mapatingin siya sakin. "You're so lucky, Chandy." She slurry said.

My face remained blank as I tried getting her off of me. She reeks of alcohol,at ayoko ng pakinggan ang iba pa niyang sasabihin.. wala na akong lakas ngayong araw.

"C'mon, Barb."

Kinuha siya ni Hurricane sakin at dahan dahang nilagay ang kamay ni Barb sa balikat niya. He looked at me apologetically.. hindi ko alam kung para saan ang 'pasensya' na'yon sa mga mata niya.

"Wait here, babe. Papasok ko lang si Barb sa kotse."

"I'll help."

Tumango lamang siya at nauna ako sa pag-lalakad. I opened the car's door for Barb, Hurricane tucked her in very carefully, inalis niya ang wig na suot ni Barb bago pinahidan ng panyo ang pawis sa noo neto.

My heart clenched as I stood here. Watching my boyfriend taking care of another girl is too much.. pero hindi ako makapagreklamo.. dahil hindi naman basta basta ang babae na inaalagaan niya..

It's one of the things I have to accept if I really want this relationship to work..

Tumalikod na lamang ako, pilit binabalewala ang paninikip ng dibdib ko. Huminga ako ng malalim bago nag-tama ang mata namin ni Cyclone. He's with his cousins, hindi masyadong malayo sakin.. then his eyes travelled to the man behind me.

He was about to walk towards us nang umiling ako. No, I don't want him meddling, if I have issue now with Hurricane sa aming dalawa lamang yon. I can talk to Cane alone. I can handle this alone.. with him.

"You're too wasted," I heard him said to Barb, his voice were soft.

Mas masikip sa pakiramdam. Ang hirap lang siguro tanggapin na hindi lamang siya sakin 'ganyan' makipag-usap, hindi lang siya sakin 'ganyan' tumingin.

No, Chandy. You're just being dramatic. You're thinking too much, you should stop.

I closed my eyes as I heaved another sigh then I turned around to get his attention.. if I can.

Napaangat ang tingin niya sakin bago umayos ng tayo. Tinanggal nadin niya ang wig niya bago ngumiti sakin. He reached for my hand, slightly pressing it.

"Baby, sorry." He sounds so apologetic.

"For?" I asked. My voice whole as I stood here with all my strength.

He met my eyes as he placed his other hand on my cheeks, he licked his lips as he cleared his throat. "For everything. For going here with Barb instead of going with you.. for Amanda.."

"Then why did you go with her if you'll just be sorry after?" mabagal at mahinahon kong tanong.

Parang hindi niya alam kung anong isasagot niya sakin, napatigil siya saglit bago mag-iwas ng tingin.

Huminga siya ng malalim bago inalis ang kamay sa mukha ko. "We.. we already planned it before.. I just can't cancel our plans."

So dahil wala kaming plano agad kaya.. kaya kay Barb siya sumabay?

"Do you love her?"

Hindi ko mapigilan hindi itanong. Alam kong pagsisisihan ko to, pero.. pero gusto kong marinig. Dahil ayokong ipagpatuloy to at maging tanga lang.

"As her best friend, yes. Pero hanggang doon lang yon. Ikaw ang girlfriend ko, ikaw ang gusto ko. You know that, right?"

Gusto? So.. kaya hindi siya sumagot nang sabihin kong mahal ko siya kasi gusto pa lang niya ako?

This night is too much..

"Hey, babe. You shouldn't worry about her, what I felt for her.. nakaraan na'yon. I'm already yours, okay?"

Bumitaw ako sa pagkakahawak niya bago muling sinalubong ang mga tingin niya.

"Then tell it to yourself. You're the one who needs more convincing."

Pumikit siya bago muling nag-mulat, hindi natutuwa sa nangyayare. "Chandy naman.."

"Go.. drive her home. I can handle myself."

"No. I'll drive you home."

"Then sinong mag-hahatid sa kanya?"

"Don't worry about it. I won't let my girlfriend question her worth or place in my heart." He sincerely said before grabbing my nape.. placing a long kiss on my forehead. "Wait here,"

Umalis siya saglit, pinanood ko siyang kinakausap si Cyclone. Cy looked at me before nodding at Hurricane. Maya maya pa bumalik na siya sakin at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

"Let's go."

"Are you sure?"

He smiled at me warmly before he stopped walking, "I already made a mistake. But know that starting today.. you will always be the priority." Then he enveloped me in his warmth.

If this is stupidity.. then I hope this will be worth it..