Invisible Strings

07

"Thanks, that's so nice of you."

"Let us sit, Art. I'm hungry." Dominic jokingly interrupted us.

Art laughed at Dom. "Guys, nandito na si Dominic kasama jowa n'ya!" He announced to everyone.

Oh my Lord, akala ko seryosong tao si Art.

Our first few minutes was spent introducing myself to their friends. May mga models and artista na nandito, maybe around twenty people are present.

To my surprise, no one's really asking about how Dominic and I started dating. Mas marami silang tanong about my work, obvious trying to get to know me better without making me feel uncomfortable.

I was biting my barbecue when Dom whispered in my ear. "I've already told them the story of how we've met, the fake one, ofcourse, so you don't have to lie about that. I got you."

Before I even get to answer, one of Dom's friend, Atom, the businessman, teased us. "Ang sweet naman may pa-bulungan sila."

The dinner was filled with jokes and teasing. I somehow slowly getting used to it. They were all nice here. I feel comfortable.

Some of their friends went home early, yung may mga anak na. Around ten people left to stay and have some drinks.

"She's not drinking," sabi ni Dom kay Art noong abutan ako ni Art ng alak. "She'll take me home when I'm drunk." Biro nito.

"Dude, 'wag na kayo umuwi, you can use one of my guest rooms."

"Loko lang, di ako iinom masyado. I need to take Arin home."

"You call her Arin?" Art's girlfriend, Aya, asked Dom.

"That's her nickname. I call her babe or love most of the time though." Inulan na naman tuloy kami ng tuksuhan.

According to his friends, this is the first time Dom ever introduced someone to them kaya kakaiba 'yung happiness ng mga kaibigan n'ya now that I am around. Somehow, I feel more guilty about this stint. They all looked genuinely happy for us.

'Yung konti na inom nila is a scam, at around twelve midnight, Dom's not just tipsy but dead drunk. I was thinking kung iuuwi ko ba s'ya sa unit n'ya o sa unit ko or we'll just stay here. Hindi ko kaya buhatin si Dom so I decided to just stay here. Glad that he's keeping some bag of clothes and toiletries sa sasakyan n'ya. While Aya's kind enough to give me some disposable underwear and let me borrow her clothes.

Art helped me carry Dominic inside the guest room. When he left us, inumpisahan ko'ng punasan ng basang towel si Dominic sa mukha. He's sitting in the bed, eyes closed, mumbling some drunk words.

"Thanks, baby." Dom said while trying to open his eyes and smiling at the same time.

"Just don't talk!" Inis na sagot ko. "I don't know why am I helping you. Pwede naman kitang hayaan na lang sa buhay mo. You're causing too much trouble in my life. Get up, you need to brush your teeth and change clothes, you stink! Amoy alak ka," pagalit ko pa dito.

I helped him walk to the bathroom, I even helped him brush his teeth and wash his face. I sighed heavily, thinking if I should call Art to help me change Dominic's clothes.

I went out of the room and finally decided to call Art. Bahala na mapahiya pero wala akong balak hubaran si Dominic! I was looking around pero napatakbo ako pabalik ng guest room when I saw Art and Aya making out in the living room. Good heavens, why am I even here?

I starred at this drunk guy sleeping peacefully on the bed. Bahala na s'ya hindi magpalit ng damit. Now my problem is, saan ako matutulog? I don't want to sleep beside Dominic. Agh! Bahala na, it's past one in the morning so I decided to wash up and then just sleep on the floor.

My body aches, probably because of sleeping on the floor, pero parang ang lambot na ng hinihigaan ko ngayon? I slowly opened my eyes and found myself in the bed. Sakto naman na bumukas ang pintuan ng guest room nila Art, Dominic entered carrying a tray of breakfast. Iba na din ang suot n'yang damit at mukhang nakaligo na din s'ya.

"Hi," bati nito sa'kin sabay ngiti na parang alangan. Malamang nahihiya 'to na nalasing s'ya. "Lunch?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa tanong n'ya. "Lunch? Oh my goodness, what time is it na?" I was panicking because I have work at hindi ako nagsabi na late o leave ako today!

"It's twelve already, you should eat. Hindi kita ginising because I feel guilty that you slept on the floor. I carried you to bed, too."

"I have work!"

"Mica called kanina around nine in the morning, sorry I answered it and told her na hindi ka makakapasok."

"What reason you said to her?" I am more worried that Mica might get the wrong impression that I slept with Dominic dahil for sure hindi ako titigilan noon.

"I just told her na pagod ka."

Napahilot na lang ako sa sintido ko. Sigurado ako, kung anu-ano nang maduduming bagay ang tumatakbo sa utak ni Mica ngayon.

"Here, you should eat."

I started eating while Dominic's just sitting in the corner of the bed. "Why are you glancing at me? Nahihiya ka ba na nalasing ka?"

"That. And some other stuff."

"What is it?"

"Just fragments of memories from last night that I'm not so sure if you really said or not."

I remember the words I told him last night when he's drunk. I feel guilty. Pakiramdam ko I was backstabbing him. "You're just drunk."

"Right. Right." Dominic said as if trying to convince himself. I feel more guilty even though I know I shouldn't be.

I finished eating and fixed myself. We thanked Art for letting us stay the night and well the morning and lunch too.

Instead of driving me home, Dominic suggested to spend the day together since both our schedules are free. Pumunta na lang kami sa Starbucks near my place, like usual, to grab cakes and coffee.

There were few people who recognized us, lalo na si Dominic. A group of girls approached Dom and asked me to take pictures of them. I was about to get the phone from her fan but he stopped me and smiled at her fans. "Wait, I'll ask a staff to take photo of us," Dom said.

One thing I noticed is that Dominic's slowly becoming accommodating sa fans n'ya, lalo na sa mga babae. Maybe his old partner doesn't want him to be close to any girls before? I should ask him that some other time.

May lumapit na isang staff sa amin. I moved away from them a little so they could take their photo. The first shot was done but Dom said they should take another one.

He reached his hand to me and said, "Love, come here, let's take some photos with them."

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